Colwyn Bay hotel could revive tourist industry

Jan 15 2009 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

plans for new hotel in Colwyn Bay

THE tourist industry could be revived in Colwyn Bay and dozens of new jobs created if plans for a new 51-bedroom hotel get the green light.

In its heyday, Colwyn Bay was as popular a tourist resort as neighbouring Llandudno, but in the last decade all that remains of this thriving industry is a handful of hotels and guesthouses.

Now SP Properties, which also owns the Bay View Shopping Centre, has put in a planning application to erect a new 51-room hotel, as well as a 137sq m food retail unit, on land of Victoria Drive. It is understood the hotel would be a budget chain.

The site, currently occupied by a row of Victorian railway cottages, would have to be demolished to make way for the development.

But not everyone is pleased with the news, including Bill McMillan of Lawson Road: “This is a ridiculous proposal and I’m totally against it. Other hotels in Colwyn Bay are struggling as it is.

“As I understand it they are thinking about using the multi-storey car park at the Bay View centre for parking, but that’s congested as it is. Having such a large hotel on such a small site is madness.”

However, town centre manager Ingrid Lewis was delighted by the news and said most business people in the town would also be in support.

“This is just the shot in the arm Colwyn Bay needs. Think of the jobs it would create and the people it would bring into the town,” she said.

“The company would be spending a lot of money marketing the hotel and the town, which can only be good news.”

Cllr Bob Squire was also in support of the application: “This would definitely help Colwyn Bay’s regeneration and would be a huge step in the right direction. We’ve had lots of rubbish shoved on us in Colwyn Bay, so this is very good news.”

Residents have until February 2 to give their opinions to the council. To do so write to the Planning Dept, Civic Offices, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay. You may also view the plans at the Civic Offices, reference 0/35638.

Is a large hotel just the boost Colwyn Bay needs to regenerate the tourist industry? Or would it be too much for the town to sustain and cause more harm than good? Write to us at the address on page 2, or e-mail news.desk@northwalesnews.co.uk