Council dips out of Chirk dragon project
Chirk Town Council will not go into partnership with a scheme to build a dragon sculpture and cultural centre on the edge of the town.
The man behind the ambitious £4 million plans, Simon Wingett, said he was deeply disappointed the council had not had the vision to form a partnership with the Waking the Dragon project.
He had urged the council to invest £2 million, funded through a loan.
He said: "If this had happened it would have brought in matched funding and the project would have been up and running." After going into private session to debate the request the council voted not to get involved.
Chairman Councillor Frank Hemmings said: "We have taken legal advice and, for a number of reasons, we are unable to support the venture."
The Waking the Dragon project has been scaled down from its original £10 scheme which would have seen the dragon sculpture perched high on an observation tower just off the A5/A483 north of Chirk.
Instead the 80-foot tall bronze dragon sculpture will stand on a man-made hill.
Mr Wingett said: "The site will also include an amphitheatre and a Welsh Centre of Excellence with a cafe bar, farm shop, ice cream parlour and bakery, restaurant and conference facility, and a 4,000sq feet gallery space.
"The centre will showcase the best that Wales has to offer."
