Deganwy Quay Hotel in row with council over signs

Dec 18 2008 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

Signs of discontent at hotel

DEGANWY Quay Hotel is saying it is under threat because planning officers have ordered the main signage for the venue be torn down.

General manager Tony Riley said it would be catastrophic if the signs, located next to Glan-y-Môr Road, are taken down. He says despite numerous meetings with planning officers in Conwy County Council, they have been refused consent for the signs and been ordered to take them down immediately.

He said: “Even if the advertisements do not comply fully with planning requirements, I would have thought it appropriate that some conditions would allow some directional signage to our hotel.

“The Quay Hotel and Spa relies totally on the advertising boards on Glan-y-Môr Road to inform visitors of its existence, due to the fact the hotel is completely hidden by residential housing.

“How is the business expected to maintain this commercial venture when our main point of contact with the general public is denied?” he added.

“This latest nail in our coffin is one more fear I have for the continuance of our enterprise and makes me question whether Conwy County Council really does want a tourism industry in North Wales.”

The Quay currently employs over 100 staff, and turns over £4m per annum.

Tony said: “If we had realised at the outset that we would not be able to advertise our presence to customers, the owners may well have had concerns about whether the venture could be viable. I am at a loss to understand the logic of the officers, particularly as a number of hotels in the area, who also are set back off a main road, have been granted signage.”

He is also furious the application for the signage didn’t go through the planning committee. Instead the decision was made by planning officers behind closed doors.

“It would be nothing short of catastrophic if for the sake of two signs, this monumental investment is doomed to fade out of the community’s economy, taking with it jobs.”

The hotel is now appealing the decision.

A Conwy County Council spokeswoman said: “The reason for refusal was that the signs are prominently located on the boundary of the Deganwy Quay development and the size, design and appearance of the signs and flag advertisements is detrimental to the visual amenity of the area and contrary to the planning policy of the Llandudno/ Conwy District Plan.”