Some interesting comment on Oscar's blog about the future of Llandudno:
"Why is retail the problem solver? Retail - modern format retail and the corporate pursuit of it to remain competitive with other places like bangor, wrexham, chester - is what is in part, killing Llandudno, dragging footfall away from the small shop town centre to the majors who can pay the higher rents.
You want positive retail – get Waitrose: im told they would love a store here but cant assemble a site. They choose only town centre locations, like to fit with the community. Brings spend.
Recent major developments in Llandudno have ripped at its character - it started with the shocker of the theatre, redeemed only by the modern glass boxes that don’t fit but somehow make the whole a more positive thing than the sum of its parts; the swimming pool, Parc Llandudno and ASDA. Ysgol John Bright... jesus, a shocking design that we will be paying for through PFI for years to come.
Do I have a solution – no, I wish. I sense a little change – the World Rally Championship is a sign of a town a little more confident in itself; anyone noticed the reduction in caravan events on Bodafon?; the Grand Hotel site is an opportunity waiting to happen presumably if the legals could get sorted; the upper Orme/Ski Area surely has potential.
Look at (smaller) success stories like Abersoch – I don’t like it but its busy, attractive, Beaumaris – again niche makes the most of its setting.
Every time I drive over the Little Orme I never fail to be impressed… the bay is a jewel so why the hell aren’t we starting off with a sign on the A55 @ Old Colwyn saying “Llandudno via Coast” or as the French would undoubtedly say “Route Maritime et Scenique” Who DOESN’T drive that on holidays. Quid pro quo people pass the new “thing” at Eirias Park/Sea front Colwyn Bay, the pier, Rhos and Craig y Don – they all get the chance of footfall.
Why not look at Urban Lighting, Secondary uses of the prom, the opportunities the sea and sailing might bring, why not a season of festivals; A Local Enterprise Partnerships of local business people looking to promote the place. If the Council don’t offer it, sod em, do it yourself….
Little things build momentum; all the planning in the world doesn’t stop for entrepreneurialism, the people who want to make it happen.
Personally I think Llandudno can be salvaged.
thetownplanner "
A very good thread from townplanner indeed. Personally, I think there are a lot of positives to work with BUT you have to look at the stale leadership locally as well. More focus on events, niches and the natural product would all bring dividends if properly managed and the odd risk taken. Change of use in Mostyn street to A3 as opposed to the dogged defence of 'the retail core' which looks indefensible, given the centre of gravity for shopping has shifted to Parc Mostyn.
Not that it will happen of course. In a previous incarnation, I was a tourism and leisure consultant and worked all over the country on major development and regeneration schemes in resorts up and down the country and abroad, as well as events and tourism strategies - many of which have been successfully executed in places like Southport, whose amazing events programme puts us to shame. Being from Llandudno though, I could never win any work in Conwy and eventually gave up on it.
There's no single magic bullet for Llandudno alas, which is why I'd be skeptical of the ideal of a Blue Planet style big attraction. I'd like to see more focus on the events side personally, with big event at key parts of the calendar supplemented by smaller event that use the pubs, bars and restaurants within the town (Southport's Jazz Festival is an excellent example). The return on investment can be superb and, in time the subsidy can be reduced or phased out completely.
We're also missing out on a good quality, linked hotel to the conference centre which would make it of national stature, but again there seems to be little will to fix this at the moment.
12 June 2011 13:36
the "future" problem with planning is that it gets hung up in debates about the numbers of houses, the amount of jobs (measured in hectares of employment land). All very worthy and keeps planners and landowners and agents (and Council officers and stakeholders) in business as they battle out vested interests for years.
Im not a local government planner, (thought I once was). I can get you permission for your development or pick on the process or the facts to make a hole in a case. That's not my point. My point is that the trigger sits outside planning policy or the way its developed and implemented. And i feel as strongly about Colwyn Bay as i do Llandudno
Anonymous 13:36 and I clearly sing off similar hymn sheet. What is needed for Llandudno is a way to recreate it as a place where people want to come AND stay or return. MAYBE that means reducing the areas and number of shops. MAYBE even a reduction in hotels and B+Bs to cut out the rubbish and strengthen the better.
As retail rents drop in the town centre, watch out for falling investment in buildings. It’s a slow creep thats already happening. (look at uppers floors on Upper Mostyn Street)
For me the solution comes from leadership, proper civic or business leadership that cuts through and across politics, brings in the right expertise at the right time, challenges the status quo of declining places (for so many reasons) and (from reading the blog) declining attitudes, challenge the mindset that contributes to decline; foster entrepreneurialism:
Ill throw out a suggestion. Investigate a nightly tourist tax to fund it. (and perleeze don’t tell me that will make Llandudno less competitive… if 50p or a £1 per night is the difference between you going in holiday, you cant afford it in the first place.) How about using it to make it better, cleaner, more attractive?
12 June 2011 14:44