The piece in the NWWN about regeneration of Rhos On Sea is a classic example of blinkered CCBC and Councillor thinking.
Now councillors Merfyn Thomas, Phil Edwards, Dave Roberts and Roger Parry are organising a public meeting to gauge public views on how Rhos-on-Sea can be developed.. Cllr Thomas met with council officers last week and wants to see how European funding could be targeted to regenerate sites like the council-owned former Rhos Bistro Cafe at Rhos Point.
Cllr Thomas explained: “It is all about money, we are looking at developing Rhos-on-Sea in various phases.
“But we need to get the consensus from the general public about what they want to see.
“Hopefully we are going to try and get some European money and we need to put a plan in place this year. If we get the application in for the European Convergence Fund in 2012, then if the bid goes in we could get the money in 2013.
“But we need to get the views of the public as there is no point applying for things if they don’t like it.”
Cllr Thomas is keen to see Rhos-on-Sea developed, particularly the now derelict Rhos Point Cafe, which the council is still considering options for the future.
“Rhos-on-Sea is very much the poor relation; last year I had to give up part of my allowance to get the toilets open at the paddling pool.
“I couldn’t think of anything beyond the railings being painted that has been done in Rhos-on-Sea.
“The village is looking tired, it needs a facelift. Rhos Point Cafe is derelict, it looks like a bomb-site.
“If you think of anywhere between Rhyl and Bangor that has got shops on the sea front, there is nowhere which has got the facility within 40 miles and Rhos-on-Sea has that facility.
“This is our opportunity. I can think of nothing nicer than sitting at a restaurant at Rhos Point with a glass of wine and looking out to sea.”
According to the Planning Report for Aberhod that appeared a couple of months back, CCBC has received nearly 20 expressions of interest from private businesses in redeveloping the Rhos Point Cafe site. So why, when there is ample private money ready and waiting to do the job, is there any talk about applying for grants that may not be received and will take years to come through?
You could also ask why CCBC needs to own a Cafe at all? In these supposedly tough economic times, why is is not just sold off?