‘Llandudno must link its past to its future,’ says Mostyn MD

Feb 4 2010 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

Edward Hillier

THE new man at the helm of landowners Mostyn Estates says Llandudno needs to attract a younger age group in order to ensure its future prosperity.

But Edward Hiller, 46, says it’s important that while the town may need an additional all-weather attraction, it shouldn’t be at the cost of sacrificing its Victorian heritage.

“The fortunes of the estate are inextricably connected to the prosperity of the town and it is important it continues to develop and progress,” he told the Weekly News in an exclusive interview.

“I believe it is my duty to tread a delicate path between holding on to the historic heritage while encouraging the next generation to holiday here, open businesses, and live here.”

Mr Hillier took over as managing director and chief agent of the estate from Peter Caldwell in November and says he is very thankful to his predecessor for the firm foundations he and other holders of the post, including his father George Hiller, have laid.

“Even though there’s a new person in post it is very much business as usual. I don’t think anyone would want seismic changes in the way the estate operates,” he said.

Although Edward says it is still early days and he doesn’t have any specific projects in mind, he hopes to work closely with the resort’s Development Partnership to look at ways inward investment can be encouraged.

“We expect to be the catalyst for development, but we need to go about it in the right way because it is important to keep the standards of the town and to build on the heritage and highlight it while moving forward,” he said.

“For instance I wouldn’t want to see us rush into a leisure development and then find that it ends up as a white elephant. Anything we do needs to stand the test of time.”

A development which meets with his approval is the extension and remodelling of the Oriel Mostyn art gallery: “I’m very pleased with this.

“We’re going to end up with a national, if not world class, gallery, and I’m hugely encouraged by the Arts Council’s decision to invest so heavily in this project which shows they have confidence in Llandudno,” he commented.

He accepts that parking is a major issue in the town and is pleased that, at the suggestion of the Development Partnership, new electronic signage is soon to be installed on the main routes into town directing people to car parks and indicating how many spaces are available.

“This is definitely a step in the right direction as it will maximise the number of parking spaces currently available,” he said.

He supports his predecessor in opposing a cyclepath on the prom.

A cyclist himself, he said: “There are health and safety risks in mixing cyclists with pedestrians and, while the majority of cyclists are considerate, there is a minority who take risks.

“This issue has been discussed at length and alternative arrangements have been made to take the cycle route to West Shore.”