'Yobs are ruining iconic Llanrwst landmark'

Oct 15 2009 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

Tim Maddox and Pat Rowley

ONE of the region’s most recognisable landmarks has been attacked by vandals.

Yobs attacked the Tu Hwnt I’r Bont tea room, Llanrwst, taking slate from the roof, smashing window, dumping litter and glass in the river and using the car park as a race track.

The latest attack is one of many in a spate of incidents at the tea rooms, which have resulted in calls for extra lighting and CCTV to be installed.

“We like to leave the car park open to the public when Tu Hwnt I’r Bont is closed as fisherman and early morning dog walkers like to use it,” explained tea room owner Tim Maddox. “But lately we have had a spate of youths tearing up the car park in their cars. They make anti-social noise, leave an unnecessary amount of litter and glass which inevitable gets smashed or thrown into the river.

“It is becoming a regular occurrence now for either myself or my staff to take it in turns to fish litter and glass bottles out of the river each morning,”

“On top of this one of the tea rooms windows was smashed the other day and slate has be removed from the roof. It’s all very disappointing, these kids obviously have no respect for other people or regard for the consequences of their actions. Broken glass and litter can cause untold harm to people and animals not to mention that of the wildlife in the river. We don’t have to wade into the water to fish out this mess but the scenic views of the river are all part of the visitors experience when they come to Tu Hwnt I’r Bont tea rooms.”

Town Cllr Edgar Parry said he was disgusted with the vandalism. He said: “It’s just mindless brutality against one of our two most treasured landmarks. Llanrwst needs cleaning up.

“This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated.

“Tim and his staff are just trying to run a business and provide a very popular service to visitors and locals alike.

“I want to see extra lighting there at night and CCTV drafted in to stop this from happening again.”

Tim added: “I just want to let the culprits know that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.”

Tu Hwnt I’r Bont tea room has long been a stopping off point for photographers both professional and amateur due to its photogenic beauty and quaintness. The image of the tea room with its yellow and red Autumn vine in bloom has become synonymous with Llanrwst by visitors to the area.