Friday 11 November 2011

Torchlight Parade in Conwy

Torchlight by davidrobertsphotography
Torchlight, a photo by davidrobertsphotography on Flickr.
As part of the official Opening Ceremony for the Wales Rally GB on Conwy Quay, the town was full of entertainers dressed in medieval costumes. With the High Street being closed to traffic in the evening, the opportunity was taken to hold a Torchlight Parade. It weas very atmospheric and a great success, once again, well done to everyone involved.

Wales Rally GB in Llandudno

Rally by davidrobertsphotography
Rally, a photo by davidrobertsphotography on Flickr.

It was great to see Llandudno and Conwy both so busy for the Rally yesterday. We seem to be getting more prestigious events like this coming to the area lately and the Rally has provided a real boost to the towns in what is usually a very quiet time of year. Judging by the array of foreign accents heard, it must have brought a fair bit of money into the area. Well done to everyone involved in organising this event - it was well planned and meant a minimum of disruption to local people.

Pictured is Ken Block's Ford Fiesta RS approaching the start of the Great Orme stage of the Wales Rally GB, which is the final round of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship..

Sunday 16 October 2011

Gone For A Burton

Burton's Llandudno store enters its final few days before closure. There has been a Burtons on the site since 1935. The unit has been purchased by leading coffee shop chain Caffe Nero. No doubt other coffee shops in the area are very nervous of this new arrival.

Sunday 25 September 2011

Recommended in Rhyl

Whenever I've been in Rhyl lately, I make a point of popping in to the Amber Coffee House at 85 High Street. In the past, it's been difficult to find somewhere pleasant to enjoy a good coffee & snack but this busy little cafe (that only seems to have popped up in the last few months) delivers on all counts.

The food selection consists mainly of snacks, with nothing more substantial than an eclectic range of sandwiches and Paninis. However, for a lunchtime snack, it's more than enough and the food is always of great quality. Next time you're in Rhyl, do give it a try.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Travelodge Is Coming....

Clarence Hotel
Clarence Hotel, Llandudno, in 2008 (Photo Credit)

This is an updated version of a piece that appeared on the Blog in 2010. 

The saga of the once proud Clarence Hotel has rumbled on in Llandudno for the last couple of years. It forms a substantial Victorian building, which contains 51 bedrooms and has five and a half storeys, including a basement. The building occupies the whole of Gloddaeth Street’s frontage, between Bodhyfryd Road and Arvon Avenue. The site is within the Llandudno Conservation Area and forms part of an almost continuous frontage of listed buildings along both sides of Gloddaeth Avenue, from Seilo Chapel to Mostyn Street. However, the Hotel itself is not listed. 

For many years a successful hotel, it formed part of a hotel chain until 2001. The building was then sold to a Mr. Ragheb, but did not operate as a hotel to any significant extent and ceased operation entirely in about 2007. Its usage since then has attracted a great deal of both controversy and criticism in Llandudno. 

In 2005, the owner applied to convert the Hotel into 19 apartments, with an arcade of 3 shops on the Ground Floor. It was at this time that the Owner claimed that the hotel had been operating at a Loss since 2002. This application was refused, as Conwy Council wished it to remain a hotel - it stands within the 'Primary Holiday Accommodation Zone' in Llandudno, which has a presumption against any hotel being granted permission for conversion for another use. 

The ground floor (formerly the Hotel's Reception/Public areas) was converted into three separate businesses - the Sakura Japanese restaurant (notorious for the raid by the UK Borders Agency which saw them find an illegal immigrant chef living in a chest freezer in the basement!), a bar/cafe called Rumourz (which allegedly operated without Planning Permission) and the Beijing Chinese Restaurant (which also allegedly had an illegal immigrant workforce). In 2009, all three businesses closed due to various problems and the entire building stood empty. The upper floors of the building cannot be used as the Fire Service has issued a Prohibition order.

Vandalism and theft of pipes etc became an increasing problem in 2010, as attempts to secure the large building were not particularly successful. A fire was started by intruders on the 25th February in a first floor bedroom but was fortunately spotted and dealt with by the Fire Service quickly. Ownership by then had passed to Receivers following the bankruptcy of the owner, who put the Hotel up for sale with a guide price of £1,000,000. 

Rumours of a a sale began circulating in mid 2011, with mention being made of Premier Travel Inn, Travelodge, J D Wetherspoon and Yates and being potential buyers. By this time, the building was in a very poor state both internally and externally. Metal sheeting was applied to the ground floor windows and doors to prevent further damage occurring. On August 4th, a friend spotted that workmen were busy emptying the hotel of anything combustible, so we asked one of them if we could take a look inside. To our surprise, he agreed! 

We went in though the side door and straight into the old Beijing Chinese Restaurant (originally the Royal Oak Bar). No furniture remained, but the old range in the kitchen was intact and still smelt of Chinese food! We then walked through into what had latterly been the Rumourz bar before closure. There were pools of water on the floor here and you could see where a large section of ceiling had collapsed over the bar. There was also an old Punchball coin-operated machine, that had been destroyed by vandals. The smell of damp was very strong. On the ceiling here was a massive plasterwork rose, must have been 10 foot across, still in good condition. There was a very nice tiled floor in this area, must have been original, very intricate design. 

Next up was the old main staircase area - another massive plasterwork ceiling rose and an ancient lift (the sort where you had to slide the metal folding door across) was slotted into the middle of the staircase. A quick peep through into the old Sakura Restaurant (still furnished), and we headed up the once very grand staircase to the First Floor. It was sad to see that some of the carved wooden tops of the staircase bannister had been smashed by vandals but the good news was that there were lovely stained glass windows on the staircase that were completely intact.

On the First Floor, we had a quick look in the Bedrooms, still furnished in some cases with wardrobes etc but everything combustible is currently being removed from the building. There were small items of debris strewn around the entire building and I noticed the electric sockets and switches had been ripped out by thieves. Up again to the second floor, lots more bedrooms with odd pieces of furniture in them and even the odd picture hanging on the wall. Floor was a bit ropey in places, perhaps as a result of thieves pinching copper pipes. Up once more to the top floor, lots of attic rooms that must once have accommodated the staff. Not tiny rooms but not much fun for a tall guy like myself, as headroom was very limited in the corners. The roof was leaking in quite a few places and the plaster had fallen away. A quick look into the room that held the winding gear for the Lift (all original) and we headed back down. 

Clearance work on the hotel continued for a few more days, along with asbestos removal. It certainly seemed clear that the building had been sold but to who? 

News eventually broke in September that the hotel had been sold to the Northold Group of Manchester, who planned to renovate the building and lease the upper floors to Travelodge, whilst intending to let the ground floor separately as two units, a bar and restaurant. 

This is probably the best outcome for a building which, without major investment, would have just continued its gentle decline into dereliction. The new development will being 60 jobs to Llandudno.

Saturday 3 September 2011

Caffe Nero is coming....

Caffe Nero by davidrobertsphotography
Caffe Nero, a photo by davidrobertsphotography on Flickr.

The news that Caffe Nero will be coming to Llandudno will be good for Mostyn Street, I think.

Caffe Nero have confirmed to me that they intend their Llandudno cafe to be open 'late November/early December', which doesn't give them a whole lot of time to refurbish existing premises/apply for change of use. Could it be that speculation about Burtons Corner is misleading and they actually intend to just buy and re-brand an existing cafe business on Mostyn Street? Or are they just very fast workers...?

As always...time will tell.

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Fun In The Sun 2011

Over to Rhyl Events Arena last weekend to do some event photography at the 'Fun In The Sun' series of open air concerts. Headlining the event was Gareth Gates (pictured), supported by a host of local talent getting their chance to shine. It's a shame we can't have events like this in Llandudno.

Full set of photos can be seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davellandudno/sets/72157627535684732/

Sunday 14 August 2011

Llandudno Lifeboat in action

The Llandudno Lifeboat was called out this afternoon to assist two injured kayakers off the Great Orme. I'm always impressed by the bravery and professionalism of the Lifeboat Crews, prepared to turn out in all weathers and risk their own lives to help others - a very worthwhile charity to support.

http://www.llandudnolifeboat.org.uk/

http://www.rnli.org.uk/
"The RNLI is an independent charity, funded by voluntary donations. "

Sunday 7 August 2011

Winch me up!

Winch me up! by davidrobertsphotography
Winch me up!, a photo by davidrobertsphotography on Flickr.

A demonstration of the RAF and RNLI's capabilities at the Emergency Services Day at Llandudno today.

Saturday 30 July 2011

Gwydir Castle, Llanrwst

A trip up the Conwy Valley today and I stopped to grab this photo over the wall of the wonderful Gwydir Castle at Llanrwst. Built in c1490, it is really a fortified manor house but still very impressive, nonetheless.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwydir_Castle

http://www.gwydircastle.co.uk

Sunday 17 July 2011

Great British Summer

Torrential rain all day long in Llandudno today. Not been the greatest of weekends for the town's traders but, being fair, we're had plenty of decent weather up until now.

Photo was taken Sunday lunchtime, barely a soul on the Pier or Promenade, in spite of the Triathlon taking place.

Sunday 3 July 2011

LLANDUDNO

LLANDUDNO by davidrobertsphotography
LLANDUDNO, a photo by davidrobertsphotography on Flickr.

Once the word LLANDUDNO was picked out in colourful flowers visible to everyone that walks along the pier, now they are just filled with concrete - what a shame.

Yachts in the Bay

Summer has finally arrived....for a few days at least. The weather has been glorious in Llandudno this weekend and it's good to see the town and its businesses buzzing with people.

Saturday 18 June 2011

Curious case of the disappearing Poundstretcher

Ever since the Woolworths store in Llandudno closed several years ago, there has been a great deal of speculation about who will be the new long term occupier of the premises. Both Publishers Book Clearance and Alworths have occupied the site but it has been empty for a few months after the demise of Alworths.

Last week, it was assumed Poundstretcher were taking over the premises as their signage was installed right along the shop canopy:

Now you see it....

However, in an interesting twist of events, it is widely rumoured that Tesco have gazumped them at the last moment so the shop can be used for a Tesco Express outlet. This would seem to be borne out by the fact that the Poundstretcher signage has been removed after less than a week in place:

Now you don't...

In my view, Tesco Express will revitalise that part of town and hopefully provide an impetus for other retailers to occupy the empty shops on that block. I understand that both the former Homestyle and Diskos shops are currently under offer.

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Breakthrough

Return by davidrobertsphotography
Return, a photo by davidrobertsphotography on Flickr.

After several years of deadlock, Conwy Councilllors voted today to move forward with the acquisition of the semi-derelict Colwyn Bay Pier.

This has to be good news for this beleaguered structure. The Plan is for the Council to grant a Lease to a local Community Group, who can work to both obtain grant funding for renovation work, whilst also carrying out smaller jobs themselves and reopening some of the pier's facilities to the public. I wish them the best of luck.

Sunday 5 June 2011

Queen's Gardens Fountain

Very pleasing to see a powerful new fountain in Queen's Gardens, Colwyn Bay, a replacement for a rather feeble one that rarely worked due to vandalism. Well done to CCBC's Parks & Gardens Dept for getting this sorted out.

Next on their 'To Do' List - the Cascade water feature in Happy Valley, Llandudno....

Monday 23 May 2011

No Flats

No Flats, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

I saw this graffiti on a sign in the Pwllycrochan Conservation Area of Colwyn Bay. One wonders if the vandal may have a point, as several large Victorian houses in that area have disappeared over the past few years, to be replaced by Apartment Blocks.

Surely allowing Permission for such developments is against the whole ethos of a Conservation Area?

Dereliction

Dereliction, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

I snapped this shot of the side entrance to Colwyn Bay Pier at the weekend. Sad to see how the process of decay is accelerating.

I only hope that the Friends of the Pier are ready to hit the ground running if they are able to assume ownership of the Pier - I understand that Conwy Council will be holding a Meeting in June to decide whether they will buy the Pier and then pass it on to the Friends Group to run.

Thursday 5 May 2011

Ruddigore

Gilbert & Sullivan's Ruddigore


Rhos on Sea Savoyards are performing Ruddigore, an operetta by Gilbert & Sullivan, for 4 nights 18th - 21st May 2011. The Show starts at 7.30pm and it takes place at St. Paul’s Church Hall, which can be found in Rhiw Road Colwyn Bay (almost opposite the Town Hall). Tickets are only £5 for a musical show that pokes fun at both gothic horror and etiquette.


If you would like to reserve tickets, please contact Alison Smith on 07955 070885.


Rhos on Sea Savoyards is an amateur group that specialises in Gilbert and Sullivan; they’ve been around for nearly 30 years: more details on their website at www.savoyards.org.uk

Monday 2 May 2011

Promenade Day 2011

After a rather wet start (due to the high tide, not rain!), the Promenade Day at Colwyn Bay was another big success! As with the Extravaganza at Llandudno, it was good to see so many people enjoying themselves.

Sunday 1 May 2011

Extravaganza!

Ta Daaaa!, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

The Victorian Extravaganza in Llandudno has had perfect weather this year and the crowds have been larger than ever as a result. Good to see so many people enjoying both the event and the town of Llandudno itself - it's what the resort was built for after all.

Credit must be given to the Organisers and Volunteers who put so much event into setting up the event every year. Photo shows the very talented Mr. David Alexander of Alexander's Travelling Show.

Monday 25 April 2011

Sweep of Llandudno Bay


Isthmus, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

Another beautiful day in Llandudno and I took the opportunity to take a few photos from the top of the Little Orme.

Friday 22 April 2011

Busy, Busy, Busy

Busy, Busy, Busy, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

What a day in Llandudno! Town was really busy and it was great to see so many visitors enjoying the town in the glorious sunny weather. Felt like it was the middle of August, not April!

Sunday 17 April 2011

Pig in a Poke

Miniature Pig, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

An adorable little pig, to be found with his pal in the grounds of the Gwrych Caravan Park at Abergele. He enjoyed having his head scratched (by me obviously!).

Monday 11 April 2011

West Shore Sunset

I was up on Anglesey Road on Sunday evening in the hope of taking some decent Sunset photos across West Shore and Conwy Bay. I didn't get anything really exciting but this one is not too bad, I think.

Friday 8 April 2011

Colwyn Bay Pier once more....

Return, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

News has surfaced in the local press that Conwy Council may be preparing to buy Colwyn Bay Pier from the Receivers for £35,000 and then hand it over to the Pier Pressure Group to run.

Regardless of the rights or wrongs of the various parties surrounding the ownership issue, I'm delighted by this news, because it means that the deadlock may finally be broken. The Pier has become little more than a ball to be kicked around by people with various agendas, whilst the Pier itself decays a little more every day.

Let the Pier Pressure Group have it...and let them try to harness the local community to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in with both physical work and fund-raising. It's sink or swim time for them...and I wish them the best of luck.

Sunday 3 April 2011

Descending the Great Orme

The view looking across Llandudno Bay with the Great Orme Tram making the steady descent down to Llandudno from the Summit of the Great Orme.

Prints are available to buy here:
llandudno-emporium.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&p...

Blue Skies


Blue Skies, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

Lovely day yesterday, a real feeling of Summer. I grabbed this shot of Colwyn Bay Pier with a fantastic sky above.

Thursday 24 March 2011

On The Waterfront

Very pleasing to see so much work going on at Colwyn Bay's Promenade. After a couple of decade's worth of council neglect, work has finally started to rebuild and revamp the Promenade. Even in its neglected state, the area was still busy on a Summer's day; think how busy it could be if it looked attractive and had some decent attractions...

We just need to hope that the Pier gets sorted out soon. Fingers crossed on that one!

Friday 18 March 2011

Palace of Pleasure

I found this old photo from about 2005 recently, it shows a vain attempt by an amusement arcade owner to conjour up the spirit of Las Vegas...in Rhyl. I've always seen it as symbolic of Rhyl's sad decline as a seaside resort. The sign, building and funfair behind have all been demolished in the last few years, as part of the Welsh Assembly Government's regeneration plans for Rhyl.

Thursday 3 March 2011

Tower Of Mystery


Tower Of Mystery, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

This odd looking structure is on the beach at West Shore, Llandudno. I believe one of the local residents built it in the 1970s as a look out point for their house (which was on top of the cliff) but dont have any details. It's now abandoned and semi-derelict. Couldnt find a way up to the top of the tower, although we did look!

Saturday 19 February 2011

Vanished Pubs of Conwy

The Black Lion, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

Following on from an old post about the vanished Pubs of Conwy, this is an updated list, with thanks to AngieP and Gwynedd Archives:

Conwy's pubs, past and present, vanished and in other uses (those marked * are still running as pubs today):

The Albion Vaults* (6 Uppergate Street)
The Anchor Uppergate Street (Could be same as Crown & Anchor or Hope & Anchor possibly?)
The Black Horse (West side of Castle Street - immediately to left of Aberconwy house) (In existence in 1795)
The Black Lion (Lyon) (now semi-derelict, Castle Street) (In existence in 1795) (Landlord 1895 - David Roberts)
The Blue Bell* (Castle Street) (Landlord in 1856 - Edward Jones)
The Boot Inn (now r/h side of Alfredos, Lancaster Square) (In existence in 1795) (William Lardner - Landlord in 1798)
The Bull (distinct from the Bull's Head, no idea as to location - any ideas?) (In existence in 1795)
The Bull's Head (High Street, by present Bull Cottages)
The Bridge* (Rosehill Street)
The Britannia Castle Street (Chinese Takeaway opposite NatWest Bank)
The Carpenters Arms (No 6 Berry Street)
The Castle Inn/Hotel* (High Street)(Landlady 1856 - Cordelia Owen)
The Castle View (Bangor Road, Old Co-op Building))
The Cockpit (in vicinity of the Cockpit)
The Commercial Inn Mrs Jane Fielding Llanrwst Rd Gyffin (1929)
The Conway Castle (No. 3 Berry Street) (Thomas Jones - Landlord in 1798)
The Conway [Conwy] Ferry (1798)(Landlady - Mary Davies)
The Conway [Conwy] Mariner (In existence in 1795)(Landlord - Thomas Jones)
The Crown and Anchor, Conwy (Landlord - John Jones)
The Crown Vaults Tavern (High Street, same side as Plas Mawr - Edwards Butchers Shop site?) (Miss Mary Annie Davies - Landlady 1910)
The Cross Keys, Conwy (In existence in 1903)
The Eagles Inn (Now Fisherman's Chip Shop, Castle Street) (In existence in 1795)
The Eccles Inn (Could this be a misspelling of Eagles Inn?)
The Feathers (7 Lancaster Square - currently the Post Office) (Richard Lewis - Landlord in 1798)
The Foresters Arms (Gyffin, now a private house)
The George & Dragon* (21 Castle Street)(Formerly the Tal Y Cafn)
The Hall, Conwy (Landlord - John Thomas)
The Harp Hotel (High Street, where Spar (former Woolworths) is now) (Roger Rous - Landlord in 1798)(formerly The Newborough)
The Hope and Anchor, Conwy (Landlord - Robert Jones)
The Joiners Arms (other side of Wing Gate Wall)(now house called Glanrafon)
The Kings Head (now l/h side of Castle Hotel)(Later known as Castle Vaults)
The Liverpool Arms* (on the Quay)
The Mail Coach/Coach & Horses* (High Street)
The Malt Loaf/Erskine Arms Hotel* (Rosehill Street) (Erskine Refreshment Room - on current car park)(Erskine Tap Room - Church Street)
The Mostyn Arms - Castle Street
The New Inn
The Newbridge Arms (Newborough Terrace)
The Old Bull's Head (High Street, in area where Bull Cottages are now)
The Pen y Grisia, Conway [Conwy] (1798)(Landlady - Catherine Jones)
The Plough Inn (site now occupied by Beresford Adams, Lancaster Square)
The Plough Bach (to left of Plough Inn (above))
The Railway Tavern, No.1 York Place, Conwy
The Red Lion (Lyon) (on High Street, opposite Conwy Pantry) (In existence in 1795)
The Rising Gull (Berry Street)
The Royal Oak Tavern (house to right of 'Smallest House' on Quay)
The Ship Tavern (now Pen Y Bryn Tearooms, High Street) (In existence in 1795)
The Ship (Castle Street)(next to the Eagles)
The Soldiers Rest (by Berry Street Arch) (May also have been called Soldiers Arms)
The Sun, Conway (In existence in 1795 - Mary Jones Landlady)
The Swan (Berry Street, 'up entry by old Co-op')
The Union Tavern (Chapel Street - now Hen Dafarn house?)
The White Horse (Uppergate Street - next to the Albion)
The White Lion, Conwy (Landlord - Nathaniel Atkinson)

Thursday 17 February 2011

Wetherspoon & the Palace Coup

The news that J D Wetherspoon has confirmed their interest in opening a Pub in Conwy must surely strike dread into every existing Conwy Pub Landlord's heart.

A vast Wetherspoons emporium of cheap food and drink can only prove to be the final straw for many of Conwy's already struggling pubs. With the Albion and Mailcoach already closed, how many of the others can survive? Conwy is only a small town and the trade is already spread pretty thinly, especially in the Winter months. What effect, too, will it have on Conwy's cafes and restaurants, as cheap food is a staple of every Wetherspoons?

The word is that Wetherspoon are interested in purchasing the Palace Bingo building and converting that into a pub. This would make perfect sense for them - all of Conwy's existing pubs are way too small for a Wetherspoon style operation - talk of them purchasing the Albion is just fanciful.

Major investment by a business is usually always very welcome but I fear in this case that the competition will be too much for Conwy's independent pubs.

Sunday 13 February 2011

And they're off!!!

The Annual 'Nick Beer' 10k Road Race took place today here in Llandudno, with 750 runners taking part. It is now apparently in the Top 5 10km races in the UK. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves!

Monday 31 January 2011

Frozen...


Frozen Waterfall, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

Whilst out walking today round Llyn Elsi, I passed this frozen waterfall on the Afon Rhiwddolion, just by the Sarn Helen Roman Road at Betws Y Coed. An impressive sight! Llyn Elsi itself was completely frozen over, too.

Saturday 29 January 2011

Conwy Castle


Conwy Castle, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

The weak January sunshine illuminates Conwy Castle and (on the right) one portal of Robert Stephenson's Tubular Bridge of 1848 carrying the Chester-Holyhead railway line..

Saturday 15 January 2011

The Eagle Has Landed

Contemplation, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

After quite a few years of people telling me "you should sell your photos", I have set up a website to promote the photography side of things:

www.davidroberts-photography.co.uk

Monday 10 January 2011

Investment

Under Repair, originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

Good to see some money being spent on repairing Llandudno's Pier - it has become noticeably shabbier in recent years. I've always thought that the owners, Six Piers Ltd, made a large mistake in treating it the same way as their Blackpool piers - Llandudno is a far classier resort and the attractions on the Pier should reflect that.

Try a visit to the Oceans Cafe at the end of the pier and you will find a tatty looking cafe that serves appalling sludge described as Nescafe coffee in paper cups. Who on earth would want to come back and have another one? The Pierhead bar has all the character of a Bus Shelter. Large sections of the pier railings and kiosks appear to be half decorated - why start the job of painting them and then leave it halfway through? Why have the Bar and Cafe open...but not have any Toilet facilities for their customers at the Pierhead? Management's sole focus is on cutting costs, there is no interest in investing for the future, in terms of new attractions etc.

Fact is...Six Piers are slowly killing the Goose that laid the Golden Egg...and Llandudno as a whole will lose out in the end. The Pier should be the town's premier attraction, instead of some third rate catering facilities and a collection of kiosks selling tat.

EDIT: I now see on Oscar's blog that Six Piers Ltd are proposing to increase the rents on the Pier kiosks by as much as 100%. At a time when economic problems are mounting, this surely must be the final straw for small businesses operating from the pier?

Isn't it time we brought Llandudno Pier back into local ownership, instead of the dead hand of Chorley based Six Piers Ltd? With some investment and imagination, it could become one of North Wales' top visitor attractions once again. Who's willing to step forward and put their money up?

Saturday 8 January 2011

Going, Going, Gone.

The area shown in the photo beyond the kiosk is shortly to be demolished and rebuilt, the first stage of the massive Colwyn Bay Waterfront scheme. The sea defences will be rebuilt first (and extended outwards to give more room for facilities), then a newly designed Promenade will be built. I thought it would be good to document this area before it all disappears forever.

Potential design submissions for this are can be seen here:
www.conwy.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=8199&doc=27652

Here's an artist's impression of one of the design entries for this area:

This is a once in a hundred years opportunity to revitalise Colwyn Bay's Promenade and increase visitor numbers. Let's hope they don't mess it up!

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