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.

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..

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

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?

Going, Going, Gone.

Going, Going, Gone., originally uploaded by davidrobertsphotography.

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!