'Tourism chiefs need to do more to support Colwyn Bay hotels'

Oct 15 2009 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

A COUPLE running a Rhos-on-Sea hotel have warned that unless the Tourist Board and Conwy County Council step in, the holiday industry could be killed off forever in Colwyn Bay.

Colin and Judith Mills have run the Mount Stewart Hotel on the Cayley Promenade for over 30 years and are preparing to pass the business to their youngest son Jordan, 29.

The hotel relies mostly on a pick-up service in which the elderly are taxied by mini-bus from North West England and brought to Rhos-on-Sea.

But while business is ticking along with B&B guests, Colin, 66, and Judith, 65, fear that unless more investment boosts amenities, the area’s last remaining hotels will go.

They are determined to keep the hotel business going, but admit they have in the past called in architects to draw up plans to replace the hotel with apartments, plans which have now been dropped.

“We’re literally the last big hotel standing in Rhos-on-Sea and Colwyn Bay. This hotel should be a premiere hotel,” said Judith.

Colin agrees: “I don’t think a block of flats would look out of place here, but we certainly don’t want to be pushed into that.

“We’ve put our life into this and would like to see it stay as a hotel, but we need more help.”

After buying the once derelict hotel in 1978 and opening the following year, the couple now blame the tourism downturn on the A55 expressway, and tourist attractions closing down and not being replaced.

“Since 1984-85, when the expressway was finished, I’ve noticed the trade went down. It split Colwyn Bay in two and kept traffic flowing, but took people away from here,” said Colin.

“We used to have a pitch and putt golf course in Rhos-on-Sea, but that was replaced by the Rhos Fynach pub car park.

“The council needs to encourage amenities in the area.”

Judith pointed to the derelict state of the Victoria Pier, which is currently in a legal stalemate being fought in the courts between Conwy County Council and former owner Steve Hunt.

“The state the pier is in is the biggest crime that has happened,” she said.

“Sometimes we feel the council wants us to go the same way. People should hang their heads in shame.”

The couple have applied for Assembly and Tourist Board grants to help bring the hotel up to standard, but have been told they must first bring the hotel up to a two-star standard before qualifying.

Colin and Judith feel some of the Assembly and Tourist Board’s requests are bordering on bizarre.

“We’ve just laid out £100,000 of our own money – the lounge has been redone, and we’ve re-floored and decked outside,” said Colin.

“The biggest thing we’ve done is put in a new lift.”

Judith added: “The Tourist Board wanted us to put a phone in everybody’s room, but everyone has got a mobile these days, it would be a waste of money.

“There are certain standards you’ve got to have in the bedrooms. In the double rooms you’ve got to have three lamps, long mirrors and matching coat hangers. They look very nice but are everybody’s coat hangers all matching?”

Colin added: “Our son Jordan was born and bred in Rhos-on-Sea and has got the interest, expertise and experience. We want to give him the chance to keep the business in the family.

“I don’t think any of our family are interested in apartments, that is the easy way out, but Jordan wants to take over and carry on the family tradition.

“I fear he won’t get the support from the Tourist Board and the council.

“If they’ve got any interest in this area they need to back local businesses.”