Town dumps plan to build huge 27m 'Hollywood' sign like one in UK's 'worst' seaside resort

A bid to put up a giant Hollywood-style sign spelling the name of a seaside town - next to a resort that was once dubbed one of the worst in the UK - has been shelved after neighbours labelled it a "waste of taxpayers' money".

Great Yarmouth Borough Council was seeking permission to install the sign at the Pier Gardens seafront, in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk - which neighbours Great Yarmouth, a seaside town that was named the sixth worst in the UK by Which in 2023. Great Yarmouth already has a similar sign, as does Hemsby - another seaside town a few miles to the north.

The sign would have been made from nine six-metre heavy-duty galvanised steel columns supporting illuminated letters that spelled out 'GORLESTON'. They would have been lit up during the summer season from dusk until midnight.

Similar signs have already been erected at the Pleasure Beach gardens in nearby Great Yarmouth and in Hemsby. The Gorleston sign, which the council had already purchased, is now sitting in storage after the application was withdrawn on Tuesday (July 2).

A council spokesperson said the letters will be used instead as replacements for the signs in Great Yarmouth and in Hemsby if they fail. It was hoped the additional lighting would encourage more activities at the Pier Gardens after dusk during the summer.

The plans faced objections from 25 neighbours with the main concern being that the sign was a "waste of taxpayers' money". Residents felt the cash would be better invested in more litter bins, wheelchair access to the beach or redeveloping the vacant Ocean Room building.

One person said: "A complete waste of money and will spoil the natural beauty of the area. Gorleston does not need this sort of tat."

Another commented: "We don't need a huge illuminated sign naming Gorleston on the promenade. It's an area of historical importance and not Las Vegas."

One resident said the attraction of Gorleston seafront was "the fact that it isn't plastered with tacky, illuminated signs". But one comment supporting the application said the sign would have added to the atmosphere of the Pier Gardens in the evenings.

Another person also did not object but pointed out: "It's Gorleston On Sea. Not just Gorleston. Please use the correct geographical name for the town on the sign."