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Welsh port in ‘bucket list’ bid: Updated

[ April 1, 2019   //   ]

After waiting the best part of a century, the North Wales port of Holyhead is finally to get an iconic landmark and take its rightful place in the list of the world’s must-see tourist attractions.

Years of lobbying by Stena Line seem set to have paid off with the ferry line, which owns and operates Holyhead Port poised to get permission to erect a 100 ft ‘HOLYHEAD’ sign near the lighthouse at South Stack. The design will be familiar to anyone who has seen the world-famous HOLLYWOOD sign which has graced the mountains above Los Angeles for the last 95 years.

Stena Line’s commercial manager Diane Poole commented: “We believe the new sign will provide a real stand out talking point for the region and help Holyhead raise its profile as a key tourism and freight gateway.”

As this is Ynys Mon, not Santa Monica, the Holyhead version of the sign will incorporate a hydraulic mechanism that will be triggered to allow the sign to safely ‘fold’ to ground level whenever wind speeds reach over 60 mph, as they frequently do in this part of the world.

There are also reports that the Welsh Government, not to be outdone by California, is also considering subsidising a Los Angeles-style bus tour of the homes of present and past celebrities in the district, though probably not an open-top one in view of the prevailing climatic conditions. The list of famous people born in, or with connections to the area include comedienne Dawn French, politician Glenys Kinnock and one-time Peterborough United footballer, Alex Lynch.

Update: 12.00 – Stena Line has reported that the project is on hold, for an indefinite period

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