THE hands of Newport’s giant mechanical clock are turning once again as it was officially ‘opened’ by the housing developers who saved it.

The Festival Clock, which once stood in the centre of Newport’s John Frost Square, has now been installed in its permanent new home on the Queensway roundabout outside St Modwen’s £1bn Glan Llyn housing development.

Councillor Ken Critchley, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “In this game-changing year for Newport, it is timely to see the clock back on display and acting as a landmark for one of the city’s largest regeneration projects.

“It can now be found on the roundabout at the Glan Llyn development, a 4,000-home community which will reshape the city’s eastern gateway over the next 20 years.

“It is a piece of artwork that many residents took fondly to their heart.

Over the years, it has travelled from Newport to Ebbw Vale and back again, and we’re delighted that in partnership with St Modwen, Newport City Council has been able to find a permanent new home for this iconic sculpture.

“We’d also like to thank Associated British Ports in Newport for storing the clock while it was decided where the new home for it should be.

“It has been rewarding to see how many different groups across the city have all contributed to the resurgence of this impressive timepiece.”

Rupert Joseland, regional director for St Modwen in Wales said: “As land owner and developer at the £1 billion Glan Llyn development, it was an easy decision for us to make to fund the restoration of this much loved clock.

“The clock will take pride of place outside the development and welcome people to Glan Llyn for years to come,” he added.