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СпутникиРНSpaceXРоскосмосNASAThe costly artwork was inspired by Wiltshire’s famous white horses. But it had two significant defects
A huge dragon artwork on the Wales-England border has completely vanished less than 20 years after it was installed. The 56ft-long sculpture, built in 2009, was meant to provide an iconic welcome for drivers entering Wales.
Cut into an embankment on the A494, its outline was created using 400 metres of steel edging in-filled with 10 tonnes of white marble pebbles. Its inspiration was Wiltshire’s famous hill-carved white horses.
On the opposite embankment, an even bigger white lion emblem greeted people travelling back into England. At the time, the Highways Agency said the two artworks were given Celtic and Anglo-Saxon themes to “fit into that particular landscape.”
From the very start, the Welcome to Wales dragon was controversial and became the butt of brutal humour. Drivers soon noticed the stylised dragon was facing the wrong way – pointing right instead of left.
Its depiction as a white dragon, rather than the traditional Ddraig Goch (Red Dragon), also ruffled a few feathers. In Arthurian legend, the Saxon dragon is white, representing English invaders.
Despite this, some drivers became fond of the familiar landmark, etched on a grassy bank near Deeside industrial park as part of the £61m gateway into Wales scheme. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Lack of maintenance has since seen nature reclaim both artworks, now hidden beneath dense scrub and grass next to the A494 where it’s crossed by the A550 Welsh Road near Shotwick.
“It’s such a shame,” said a local online. Another said the dragon used to be a big talking point, if not exactly a source of pride. “I think we should resurrect it,” he said. .
“How about we get together, embarrass our council and get it redone? Make it look good again.”
As the two emblems lie just across the border, responsibility for their maintenance lies with Highways England. In late 2013, following a public outcry over their shabby looks, National Highways promised action “by the end of the month”.
Yet in a five-year review of the £61m gateway scheme, the agency conceded the £20,000 artworks “do not appear to have received recent maintenance to ensure the visibility and definition of the features is maintained”.
National Highways was approached for an explanation. It pledged the white dragon would soon reappear. A spokesperson said: “We recognise these artworks are important local landmarks and need maintenance.
“To reduce disruption and protect nature at the roadside, we will carry out weeding and clear vegetation as soon as possible as part of our seasonal maintenance programme.”
Some people would prefer the dragon and lion to be replaced by the kind of statement artworks erected elsewhere in the UK. “Should spend a bit more money and have a landmark that is iconic,” said a woman online.
“Like the Angel of the North, the Dream statue near St Helens or The Kelpies near Grangemouth.”
Agreeing, a local man wants North Wales to be more ambitious. “I’ve always said we need a huge dragon on top of Moel Famau, lit up red at night,” he said.
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