Victorian in the worst way?

Aug 21 2008 by Our Correspondent, North Wales Weekly News

YET another predictable letter from Roy Spilsbury, not for the first time naming me.

I find it hard to envisage the cycling cavalry speeding into Llandudno via the Little Orme to rescue the Llandudno tourism industry as Mr Spilsbury imagines.

If there are so many cyclists coming to Llandudno by this specified route why is the cycle path from Craigside little used by the cyclists, who prefer the main road?

When I am next in London at a directors’ meeting of British Hospitality I will mention this cavalry charge to Grant Hearn, the chief executive of Travelodge.

If Travelodge does manage to get a toehold in Llandudno these hordes of cyclists may enable him to charge more than £9 a room.

There is no evidence to suggest that cyclists carrying their luggage stay in hotels or guesthouses. The increase is in mountain biking in the more rural areas of North Wales.

Mr Spilsbury, from Penmaenmawr, seems to have a fascination for Llandudno. May I suggest he turns his thoughts and actions to his own backyard, where work will shortly commence on the A55.

Let the people of Llandudno sort out their own destiny.

DAVID T WILLIAMS

Chairman, Llandudno Hospitality Association

I STAYED at Llandudno while on holiday in North Wales and I see in your paper that local hotels seem to dread the prospect of a Travelodge opening soon.

It seems to me that Llandudno is stuck in the old groove of trading on the myth that it is the Queen of Resorts and it has a Victorian fear of progress.

In a resort that clearly has hang-ups it is sad to read of the attitude to “naked hairy men” in the communal changing rooms at the new swimming pool, with people saying kids might be marked for ever after seeing such chaps.

OK, I know we live in a sorry, paranoid and mad world, but in this year of 2008 such views about the human body really are so pathetic.

The sight of a naked guy in a swimming pool changing area is not shocking at all. And here is some news, the guy is not some pervert either.

I suppose in a town which boasts Christmas breaks in September and has such curious views on nudity at its new swimming pool, along with those fears about the Travelodge, it is true to say that Llandudno is Victorian in the worst way.

LUCY BROWN

Alabama, USA

I WAS quite baffled to read comments on the way forward for Llandudno’s Tudno Castle Hotel, which I once owned.

The fact Travelodge wants to invest in it and wishes to make it more appealing seems to be unnerving other hotels.

The Hospitality Association objects when any hotelier wishes to turn their property into apartments because of the loss of bed space, but here is a 56-bedroom hotel standing idle and it does not seem to mind losing the bed space.

When my late husband and I owned the Tudno Castle Hotel it was in disrepair because of flooding over the years. Why don’t the authorities start encouraging investment.

Cllr ANN YATES

Penrhyn Bay