Walsall ready to have its temperature taken

Walsall ready to have its temperature taken

Fancy having something like this monstrosity on the left in your back garden, only bigger?If you live in Walsall in theWest Midlands, it’s going to happen soon.

This is the world’s largest thermometer, at 143ft high, in Baker, California. Never one to be outdone, Holiday Hypermarkets managing director John Donnelly is having a 150ft thermometer built outside his flagship store in Walsall.

“One morning about six years ago, we were driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and we stopped in the first town, Baker, for breakfast,” said Donnelly. “I saw this thermometer and said that one day we would beat it.

“It’s going up next year. Walsall planners have been concerned because it’s so high and we have to make sure it doesn’t get in the way of aircraft.

“But we’re now pretty sure it’s going to be OK.”

The project will cost around £200,000 and not surprisingly, Donnelly is looking for some sponsors.

“It’s a great opportunity for other travel companies to get involved,” said John. “If you’re up on that thermometer, you’re going to get noticed for miles around.”

However, there’s one record that the little town of Baker is sure to hold on to. The thermometer there was built to 143ft because the highest temperature ever recorded in Baker was 143F.

No such heatwaves have been experienced in Walsall.

Heat is on: Baker’s statuesque 143ft thermometer