Listed Llandudno hotel is falling apart

Aug 21 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

A TOWN centre hotel is deteriorating rapidly while an £8 million project to restore and develop it is on ice pending a public inquiry.

Last December Conwy County Council approved plans to partly demolish and reconstruct the Grade II listed former Castle Hotel in Llandudno as a hotel and restaurant for national chain Premier Travel Inns.

But because of the building’s protective listed status the scheme had to gain the approval of historic monuments body Cadw, which in June asked that the final decision be taken by the Assembly whose planning department has set an inquiry date of December 16.

Meanwhile the building has been plagued by vandalism and is subsiding. Developer Conwy Estates which is behind the project says it is concerned that the delay is not just adding to its costs but is turning the landmark into an eyesore.

“In recent weeks we have spent over £10,000 trying to make the building secure, but despite our best efforts people are still breaking in. It is being used by drug addicts because we have found needles here, and furniture and fittings have been smashed up,” said Ashley Moore of Conwy Estates.

On Tuesday there was an embarrassing scene when he took a group of councillors and politicians to see the state of the building and found the front door locked and barred.

“The squatters had sealed the padlock and we couldn’t get in,” said Mr Moore.

He is in partnership in the scheme with national company Ethel Austin Properties. Spokesman Henry Prescott said: “At present the building is not just stagnating, it is deteriorating badly, but there is little we can do about it until we have the necessary listed building consent.

“Our plan is to retain the original facade and restore it at a cost of £700,000 which will mean the frontage will once again be a credit to the town and in keeping with the neighbouring buildings.”

judith.phillips