Shop windows smashed in Colwyn Bay

Feb 25 2010 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

FURIOUS shopkeepers in Colwyn Bay say vandals are destroying the town after a yob kicked in five windows on Sea View Road causing thousands of pounds in damages.

The drunken yob caused between £1,000 and £1,500 of damage at each shop after smashing up the former Motorworld, Specsavers, Reece James Hairdressers, Dental Centre and Manor House Interiors.

Police are yet to make an arrest but the suspect is believed to have been caught on CCTV.

The damage follows a similar spate 13 months ago when vandals went on a New Year’s Day smashing spree, wreaking havoc in the town centre.

Now the businesses are angry, complaining that the area’s conservation status means traders can’t protect their businesses with heavy shutters.

Carol Walshe has run Manor House Interiors on Seaview Road for the past 14 years with her business partner Nicky Turner.

“I’m absolutely fuming, totally disgusted. It cost £200 just to have the window boarded up,” she said.

“I think it is mindless. A lady over the road saw it – he just pushed his foot through the window. The council won’t let us put shutters up. It is bad enough in Colwyn Bay as it is, but to find that in the morning is awful.

“It is £1,000 of damage. We’ll have to pay the excess and the premiums will go up.”

Nicky added: “You try to bring something to Colwyn Bay but you get people like that who smash your place up.”

Chris Powell is the manager of the Dental Practice on Sea View Road, which also had its windows smashed and damage caused by an attempted break-in the following night.

“It is very annoying and inconvenient because both the windows and locks got smashed. We recently refurbished too.”

Sam Hughes runs Reece James Hairdressers on the street and is furious, as her windows were put through a year ago.

“There is no deterrent. They will go to court and get a £50 fine. If you or I did it, because we work, we would have to pay all sorts of fines and pay the money back,” she said.

“I’ve got bills to pay, a mortgage to pay, now I’ve got to find £375 to pay the excess, just because he felt frustrated or didn’t have a pillow last night.

“If it keeps happening, eventually the cost is passed down to customers, so it affects everyone. Whoever did it should be made to brush up Seaview Road for six months.”

The manager of Specsavers added: “The window was totally smashed in, it is around £1,000 of criminal damage.”

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “Police are appealing for witnesses after the windows of five commercial premises on Sea View Road in Colwyn Bay were smashed in the early hours of Saturday.”

Anyone with information can contact North Wales Police on 101, 0845 607 1002, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Peter Jones-Hughes, Conwy County Council’s principal conservation officer, said: “If a property is located within the designated Colwyn Bay conservation area and the current Colwyn Bay property grant scheme area, it would not be appropriate to install an external roller shutter on the premises.”

richard.evans