A group calling itself Friends of Penrhos has been assembled to challenge plans to erect a large leisure and tourism development in Holyhead. The group claims that the scheme is far too big for the location, which is currently owned by Anglesey Aluminium. The plan is to put up around 500 cottages and lodges, as well as sports areas, shops, cafes and bars.

Land and Lakes has the option to acquire 630 acres at Penrhos Country Park from Anglesey Aluminium Metals. The three areas earmarked for development on the firm’s website are Kingsland, Cae Glas and Penrhos. The company says it wants to create a village with leisure and sports facilities, providing visitors with high quality accommodation.

However, Mike Pendragon, a resident of Holyhead, said he was shocked by the sheer scale of the planned development. He added that he would like to work closely with the company to make sure that local residents were not cut off from their local countryside.

Land and Lakes chief executive, Richard Sidi, said that the company was taking the concerns of the public very seriously, and that there would be a report published in the new year. Mr Pendragon said he was concerned that the 600 jobs the scheme claims it will create will not be full-time, high quality jobs, but seasonal, low-paid work.

Mr Sidi said that around 700 people had attended a public exhibition concerning the project, and that he was aware how concerned locals were about retaining Penrhos Coastal Park access.