Colwyn Bay traders fear high street improvement

Dec 18 2008 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

SUPPORT for a £1.4 million project to re-pave Colwyn Bay’s town centre has followed protest from shopkeepers that the 20-week programme will ruin business.

Work to replace paving and street furniture on Station Road is scheduled to begin on January 12 following an Assembly grant which will take around five months to complete.

But traders fear the disruption, noise and dust could make a traditionally quiet trading time even more difficult. The worries follow a similar first phase of the scheme over-running by five weeks on nearby Seaview Road.

However, Colwyn Bay’s town centre manager Ingrid Lewis said things would get worse before they got better, and argued investment in the town was badly needed.

“We have spoken to all the businesses on Station Road and there have been a couple of drop-in meetings for the shoppers to understand what is happening and how the process is going to be underway,” she said.

“Obviously people are apprehensive, but you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Had the money gone elsewhere people would have been screaming, and investment in the town is long overdue.

“We will be organising marketing activities to help retain business throughout this difficult period. It is great having the investment in Colwyn Bay, it will be better in the long term.”

Glyn ward councillor Abdul Khan is chairman of the Chamber of Trade in the town and believed Colwyn Bay would see the long-term benefits from the scheme.

“In order to bring people in we need to improve Colwyn Bay, it is like when you improve your own home, when you carry out work it is inconvenient. It is the end product that you appreciate,” said Cllr Khan.

“The traders on Seaview Road were very worried about the works, they are very positive now. Whatever people lose they will gain in the long term.”