A COUNTY council-backed plan to promote Pembroke Dock’s St Govan’s shopping centre recently hit an unexpected problem when the town centre facility temporarily became a ‘hopping centre’.

An application had previously been made to install signage promoting the St Govan’s shopping centre, just a hop, skip and a jump from the town’s Gordon Street car park and nearby Dimond Street.

The application for the signage, made by Dennis Hall, of Mag’s Bags & Nets at the St Govan’s centre, was recently granted conditional approval by county planners.

However, when the signs were recently erected, sharp-eyed shoppers soon noticed a sign, missing an ‘S’, left St Govan’s temporarily a ‘Hopping centre,’ to the amusement of passers-by.

Mr Hall said the omission of the all-important ‘S’ was a purely temporary problem due to power tool problems encountered by the Pembrokeshire County Council worker installing it.

The missing ‘S’ was swiftly installed the following day.

“The drill ran out of power, he couldn’t finish the job; the sign, in two pieces, was left overnight.

“He came back the next morning and it’s absolutely fine.”

Mr Hall said the successful call for the signs, supported by manager of the nearby ASDA store Charles Larsen, had been made to encourage footfall to the centre, as it was felt many shoppers were unaware of the facility.