Author Topic: Colwyn Bay Waterfront Redevelopment  (Read 406588 times)

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Offline DaveR

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Colwyn Bay Waterfront Redevelopment
« on: October 08, 2010, 06:25:19 pm »
This Planning Report has recently appeared on the Council's website:
http://modgoveng.conwy.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=20478

It deals with the proposals to construct new sea defences from Rhos On Sea to Old Colwyn. Both the Consultants and Public opinion agreed that 'beach recharge' was the preferred option - this is where sand is dumped on the beach to raise the levels and rock structures built on the beach to hold it in place. This is the most expensive option (at £28m, it is £9m more expensive than the cheapest option), but also the most attractive and would help the revival of the Prom area immensely.

Basically, they are trying now to push the option of linear rock revetment - that is, dumping a 20m deep pile of large boulders right along the beach from Rhos to Old Colwyn - the height of these boulders would be 1.2m above the Prom level and the retaining wall 2.1m (6.8feet) above prom level. So, for the entire length of the Prom, there would be no views of the sea or beach from the prom, just a 6.8 feet high concrete wall where the current metal railings now run along the Prom.

This is absolutely shocking and must not go ahead...

"The development of these works however is set against a context of ongoing pressure to
adopt a form of coastal defence which would reflect the cheapest construction cost (linear
rock revetment) across the entire frontage
which, based on the results of the strategy
development and the public consultation, would compromise ongoing efforts to regenerate
the town’s economy and deliver an attractive and usable public realm along the promenade
with effective links to the amenity beach areas."


"The physical modelling exercise identified that the crest of the linear rock revetment would
need to be approximately 1.2m above the level of the existing promenade with a further 1m
recurved concrete wall behind the crest of the revetment.
The front slope of the revetment
would be at 1 in 3 resulting in a width of revetment of circa 20m."
« Last Edit: March 19, 2011, 07:32:05 pm by DaveR »

Offline Merddin Emrys

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2010, 06:31:02 pm »
Absolutely shocking if that happens :o  :'(  how do we stop it?
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Yorkie

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2010, 06:41:59 pm »
Plead poverty!   _))*

Offline Fester

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2010, 11:35:48 pm »
Set against the vast amount of money that is being proposed to be spent here, that is one of the most amateurish proposal documents I have ever seen.

It suggests what Dave has stated is exactly true,  but why is there no artists impression or visual mock up of what the resulting effect will be?

Even Npower had the decency to show visual models of how the monstrous turbines will look from each aspect of Llandudno Prom.

Local residents and businesses really can't be aware of this proposal for Colwyn Bay ... if they were, surely the Weekly News would be inundated.

« Last Edit: October 09, 2010, 01:31:52 am by Fester »
Fester...
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Offline mull

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2010, 01:04:56 am »
Are these the same experts that "improved" the West Shore ? :laugh:

Offline Blongb

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2010, 05:08:20 pm »
After the way CCBC destroyed Llandudno's north shore, you might as well give up now. :rage:
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Offline DaveR

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2010, 02:18:37 pm »
The Daily Post have picked up on the story now:

A ROW of rocks to keep out the sea would risk cutting off residents and tourists from a resort’s beach and hamper tourism, according to a new report.

 Parts of the seafront at Colwyn Bay and Old Colwyn were built in Victorian times and sand has been washed away leaving large waves free to pound and damage the Promenade itself.

 Conwy County Council officers say “rock armour” along the shore would be the cheapest solution but would also deter tourists from enjoying the beach. A Conwy County Council planning officers’ report states: “The works would affect accessibility and would add to the severance of the town from the foreshore.”

It adds: “A number of businesses depend upon a synergy with the promenade and foreshore and could be damaged.”

 In their report, council officers recommend that Conwy’s planning committee confirms “that it is the view of the Local Planning Authority that a rock armour revetment built against and over the existing sea wall would be unacceptable in sensitive areas of Colwyn Bay’s seafront, particularly where it is technically feasible to provide a recharged beach option.” Conwy’s planning committee meets at Bodlondeb on October 13 at 2pm.

 In March, storms ripped up sheets of Tarmac from the coast road near Colwyn Bay’s Victoria Pier which again highlighted the need for better sea defences. Over the years sand has been washed away.

Conwy County Cllr Brian Cossey said: “When I was a kid you could step off the Prom onto the beach and it was about a foot down. Now it’s 12ft down. It’s very much a balancing act between getting the sea defences that are needed and the town’s amenity value. The engineers are working to improve beach access at the same time as ensuring that sea defences are adequate.”

Building more groynes – rows of rock jutting into the sea – to protect the coast is another option.

Cllr Cossey, who is the Welsh Liberal Democrat prospective candidate for Clwyd West at next May’s Assembly elections, believes Colwyn Bay has huge potential with a Colwyn Bay Waterfront project masterplan by consultants DPP Shape underway.

He said: “The beach is vital to the regeneration of Colwyn Bay. We have one of the best beaches on the north Wales coast. One of the guys working on the masterplan said it’s a better beach than Copacabana in Brazil. Attracting people in will make Colwyn Bay thriving again.”



http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2010/10/09/rock-wall-defence-would-cut-off-colwyn-bay-from-the-beach-55578-27434694/

Offline Ian

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2010, 03:03:36 pm »
What nobody seems to be exploring is the option that's worked so well at Rhos:  creating an artificial island, in effect, about 500 yards off CB's prom.  That would restore the lost sand create a natural-looking harbour, attract visitors and not be that expensive to construct.
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Offline Fester

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2010, 11:07:12 pm »
Errr, I have to take issue with the comment that Colwyn Bay Beach is better than Copacabana beach in Brazil.

It really isn't .... have you seen THE BIRDS on Copacabana beach!


Fester...
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Offline Michael

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2010, 08:55:07 pm »
What sort of birds? Knowing Fester as I do, I know the answer to that. See you at the RSPB in Glan Conwy at the weekend. Mike

Offline Trojan

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2010, 09:26:29 pm »
Once you've seen one seagull, you've seen them all.

Offline DaveR

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2010, 10:30:40 am »
I was pleased to see that the Planning Committee has said that the rock revetment option is unaccetable.  ;)

ENQ/18535 - Proposed Coastal Defences, Colwyn Bay  PDF 270 KB

View the background to item 505.
That the Committee confirms that it is the view of the Local Planning Authority that a rock armour revetment built against and over the existing sea wall would be unacceptable in sensitive areas of Colwyn Bay’s seafront, particularly where it is technically feasible to provide a recharged beach option.

Minutes:

It was reported that rock armour along the whole frontage was considered inappropriate for the following reasons:

  • The visual impact of the works would be significant (as seen from both the promenade and the foreshore) and would alter the whole character of the bay.
  • The scale and aesthetic of the extensive works would affect accessibility in physical and perception terms and would add to the severance of the town from the foreshore.
  • A number of businesses depended upon a synergy with the promenade and foreshore and could be damaged.
  • The works would be counter productive to the efforts currently underway to regenerate Colwyn Bay and as part of that exercise to enhance the beach as a recreational and economic asset. (Part of the DPP Shape recommendations for a Masterplan for Colwyn Bay relate to the re-establishment of a family beach and recreation economy. The selection of an option that does not provide for beach re-nourishment solution between Rhos and Eirias Park would affect that potential.)
  • The works would adversely affect the setting of the Victoria Pier as a listed building.


RESOLVED-

That the Planning Committee confirms the view of the Local Planning Authority;  that a rock armour revetment built against and over the existing sea wall would be unacceptable in sensitive areas of Colwyn Bay’s seafront, particularly where it is technically feasible to provide a recharged beach option.

Offline MCR

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #12 on: November 02, 2010, 11:08:53 pm »
I was pleased to see that the Planning Committee has said that the rock revetment option is unaccetable.  ;)

ENQ/18535 - Proposed Coastal Defences, Colwyn Bay  PDF 270 KB

View the background to item 505.
That the Committee confirms that it is the view of the Local Planning Authority that a rock armour revetment built against and over the existing sea wall would be unacceptable in sensitive areas of Colwyn Bay’s seafront, particularly where it is technically feasible to provide a recharged beach option.

Minutes:

It was reported that rock armour along the whole frontage was considered inappropriate for the following reasons:

  • The visual impact of the works would be significant (as seen from both the promenade and the foreshore) and would alter the whole character of the bay.
  • The scale and aesthetic of the extensive works would affect accessibility in physical and perception terms and would add to the severance of the town from the foreshore.
  • A number of businesses depended upon a synergy with the promenade and foreshore and could be damaged.
  • The works would be counter productive to the efforts currently underway to regenerate Colwyn Bay and as part of that exercise to enhance the beach as a recreational and economic asset. (Part of the DPP Shape recommendations for a Masterplan for Colwyn Bay relate to the re-establishment of a family beach and recreation economy. The selection of an option that does not provide for beach re-nourishment solution between Rhos and Eirias Park would affect that potential.)
  • The works would adversely affect the setting of the Victoria Pier as a listed building.


RESOLVED-

That the Planning Committee confirms the view of the Local Planning Authority;  that a rock armour revetment built against and over the existing sea wall would be unacceptable in sensitive areas of Colwyn Bay’s seafront, particularly where it is technically feasible to provide a recharged beach option.


I hope you don't mind me joining in here for my first post on this site.
But thank goodness they have rejected this awful idea.
It's bad enough the prom is now cut off from the town centre and not so easy to see a way down like it used to be and the pier is falling over day by day, but to ruin it with bolders? Yuck!

Offline Fester

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #13 on: November 03, 2010, 12:12:56 am »
Welcome to the Forum MCR ....  pull up a chair, make yourself comfortable ....the Nurse will call you soon!
Fester...
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Offline MCR

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Re: How to destroy Colwyn Bay's Promenade...
« Reply #14 on: November 03, 2010, 03:49:34 am »
Welcome to the Forum MCR ....  pull up a chair, make yourself comfortable ....the Nurse will call you soon!


I am the nurse  :laugh: