NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2010
The Masterplan for Colwyn Bay - Ambitions :- Inspiring, Visionary and Enthusiastic.
The Daily Post of August 20th.tells it’s readers of plans to give new life to Colwyn Bay. County Council’s Scrutiny Committee approved visionary plans, presented by consultants DPP SHAPE of Manchester, which will bring new life to the town. At present Colwyn Bay appears ‘run-down’ and ‘tired’ to both it’s residents and it’s visitors. Three members of our Executive Committee were fortunate enough to be ‘visitors’ at the presentation and left the meeting full of high hopes.In 2009 the Civic Society put forward, to the Authorities and influential people, it’s suggestions on improving the town centre. We advocated improvements to the railway station, Station Square, the approach to the sea front, the Pier, the Promenade and roads within these areas. All our suggestions , to a much enhanced and professional degree, have been addressed.
The approved Master Plan has exciting, appealing and ‘do-able’ ideas for all areas of the town centre, Eirias Park, the sea front, the congested areas around Lawson Road - even the Pier is given some inspirational attention.
Theatre Colwyn
The Pioneer recently launched an appeal to raise £100,000 needed to regenerate the charming little theatre in Colwyn Bay. This money is in addition to the £750,000 which is to be made available from other sources. The Civic Society is encouraging all it’s members to help raise this money by making a donation, becoming a ‘Friend of Theatre Colwyn’ or ‘Sponsoring a Seat’ and I would encourage the good citizens of Colwyn Bay and beyond to do likewise.This bijou theatre is in desperate need of some T.L.C. It has served the town well over many years and it deserves to be given the treatment it needs In a recent personal appeal Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) and Patron of Theatre Colwyn says - “ It’s a wonderful theatre, a little jewel. It is the oldest operating cinema in the U.K., the oldest theatre in North Wales and one of the oldest in Wales itself - but it is in great need of refurbishment to ensure it meets the expectations of modern audiences and remain financially viable.”
At the entrance to the theatre is a notice proclaiming that the Conwy County Borough Council is proud to own and manage the theatre. This leaves me non-plussed ! Perhaps the Council can show more pride by ensuring all necessary work proceeds.
The Edelweiss Hotel
The future of the building that was once the Edelweiss Hotel is , at present, in doubt. The press tells us that the Colwyn Bay Community Group hopes that the Prime minister will intervene to prevent it’s demolition.I took a look at this building and it’s grounds before it was recently surrounded by an eight foot fence.. There are times when one must ‘let-go’.
This has been a fine and interesting building, it has a proud history but I believe it must now make way to offer a better use for this part of the town. As it happens , the whole site is part of the ‘ grand scheme of things’ by being included in the Master Plan for Colwyn Bay.
The area could be used to offer alternative, attractive and various types of housing . Also , as the Master Plan suggests, a bridge linking the area with Eirias Park - thus the many visitors to the Park could have an attractive and imaginative pedestrian approach to the town centre.
The New Town Centre Travelodge Hotel.
As I write these notes (August 2010 ) the new Travelodge Hotel , being built alongside the Bay View Shopping Centre, is fast taking shape - due for completion in November.When first proposed I thought the site most unsuitable for a hotel - but now, on reflection, I can see , as I assume the developers could see , the potential for a hotel offering rooms for £ 19 a night in that location. For visitors, especially families, it offers affordable accommodation within easy walking distance of the seafront, the shops, the railway, the theatre , Eirias Park and all it’s sporting facilities. I am told those arriving by car at any hour will be offered special parking arrangements on the shopping centre car park- so parking the car overnight or over the weekend will be no problem. With all the above in mind, I see the hotel as a welcome asset to the town and I wish it all success.
The Pier.- A constant reminder of what neglect can do to the image of a town
... But there is hope for it’s revival in some form or other. The producers of the Masterplan insist that this is a focal point in their ambitious rebirth of Colwyn Bay as a seaside resort. Two or three new pedestrian approaches to the sea front are planned. Also two ‘ mini-piers’ in the form of two sea defences, one on each side of the pier. Hopefully, , will be a much admired and used focal point in our town.In the meantime, the owner of the pier is doing no favours, by his attitude, to himself or to those willing to offer support. The acting Chief Executive at Conwy County Borough Council has written to our Welsh Assembly representative and our Member of Parliament advising them that the owner refuses access to the pier to enable surveyors to fully assess the nature and extent of any work required to the structure. They are serving notice under the Building Act in order to gain access. Our M.P. was instrumental in creating a Steering Committee of fifteen local residents who have the pier’s interest at heart.
I am frustrated that signs on the pier that no longer apply are still in place. Open every day, café open, fishing bait and tackle for sale etc. The Trading Standards office have been asked to have those signs removed.
The owner must realise the only way funding can be realised to help rescue the pier is for it to be placed in public ownership. The citizens of Colwyn Bay would place him in high regard if he would commence negotiations in an attempt to move things forward.
The Promenade Railings -from the pier to Rhos-on Sea.
A similar state of neglect to that of the pier is beginning to show itself on the seafront railings. They are badly in need of rust-proofing and repainting. I would plead with the authorities to place this work at the top of the list of priorities .What message does the present state of our promenade railings convey to the many visitors to our sea front ?A Word of Praise and Appreciation.-- Our Town Gardens and Flowerbeds.
The Civic Society would like to express it’s appreciation of the gardens and many, many flower beds within the town environment. They really are a pleasure to behold. The Society is most impressed with the colour and high standard of maintenance shown , particularly in Queens Gardens where the war memorial is to be found. It was decide that the Society could best show it’s appreciation by sponsoring one of the many flower beds found in Queens Gardens. A walk round the gardens this autumn will bring you to the Society’s Sponsorship PlaqueThe old Woolworths Retail Premises- now occupied by ‘At Home Direct .com.
We are disappointed at the appearance of this store , close by St. Paul’s Church in the town centre. It certainly does not enhance this part of the town at present. Perhaps our town manager could persuade the firm to remove the posters, clean the windows and , perhaps show some goods in their windows and clear the mess behind the shutters. It would be interesting to know the length of their lease. Perhaps other businesses with large varieties of assorted goods at competitive prices would have been preferable.Finally, our patience and enthusiasm over Colwyn Bay’s Masterplan must not wane. The vision is there, the aspirations are there and it will take much time , effort and perseverance to make Colwyn Bay the town we all want it to be.