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The man behind the plan for a giant dragon statue and culture centre on the Welsh border said today he is offering people “a chance to create history”.

Simon Wingett said he has worked for five years to progress the £2.5m proposal to get the 80ft bronze sculpture built on the old Roman gateway to Wales at the A5 near Chirk.

A £1m crowdshare funding campaign has started to help finance the project, allowing anybody to invest in the scheme, backed by North Wales tourism boss Jim Jones

The rest of the money will be raised through a Finance Wales loan and cash which he hopes to secure from the Welsh Government, Mr Wingett said.

At the heart of the complex will be the huge bronze Welsh Dragon, based on the country’s national emblem, raised on its hind legs on a 30ft tall slate tower, standing 110ft in the air.

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It will be surrounded by 11 tall monolith stones, decorated with scenes from the legendary Welsh text, The Mabinogion.

There will also be an amphitheatre for performances, a 12 acre garden and a Welsh centre of excellence housing a cafe, sandwich bar and merchandise shop and art gallery.

Mr Wingett said 10% of the profits will go to fund cancer research in Wales and the Marches region.

'A chance to create history'

The project has been made all the more poignant for Mr Wingett whose eldest daughter Bethan is now battling the disease and undergoing chemotherapy at the age of just 16.

More than five years ago when the project was initially given the go-ahead, it was costed at £9m.

But Mr Wingett has spent years refining and scaling back the venture, but without loosing its focus or integrity he insisted, to ensure the complex gets built.

“All the finance elements are now in place,” said businessman Mr Wingett. “I now want to offer the people of Wales the chance to invest first and give them the chance to create history,” he said.

'It will be an amazing attraction'

“The Dragon will be a lasting monument signalling your arrival into Wales and as a unique selling point help create a flagship business-tourism and leisure hub.

“It will also be a conduit to strengthen Wales national and international identity based on its mythological roots, historical past and current world status.

“The project team would be pleased to hear from Welsh construction companies who would very much like to assist in bringing this project to fruition.”

Jim Jones, the managing director of North Wales Tourism, said: “We have been championing this project for some time and it would be fantastic statement to have the world’s largest dragon at our gateway attesting to the confidence in North Wales.

“The dragon will be an amazing attraction.”

According to external consultants the Dragon project could create more than £10m for the Welsh and £3.5m for the local economy every year.

Around 12.5 million home lie within the a one and a half hour journey time from the Dragon which is expected to become an international destination for tourists.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Any potential Welsh Government funding would be subject to an application process and dependant on submission and analysis of a full business plan linked to robust tourism outcomes, along with proof that the necessary private sector funding has been secured.”

To invest visit here or contact the project offices at 25A Chester street, Wrexham LL13 8BG, 01978 354111, or info@thewelshdragon.co.uk