I found this post on Oscar's blog interesting:
Tongue in Cheeky said...
Piers are becoming an endangered species. Llandudno has probably one of, if not the best, piers in the country. Llandudno pier isn't what it could be due to lack of investment. Revenue from it doesn't live up to it's potential; basically a chicken and egg situation. The result is that it is getting tawdry with too many "cheap" attractions and detractions. If CCBC are going to spend any money on piers it should be directed towards helping Llandudno pier rather than pouring our cash into the ever open money pit which is Colwyn Bay pier. If Colwyn Bay pier was fully restored it would still only be a third rate pier surmounted by a tin box. Llandudno is group one!
Revive the pier head orchestra, dump the plastic playground rides, revamp and strengthen the pierhead landing facilities, replace the missing "gingerbread" and keep it all in repair. Encourage the building of a quality attraction such as an ice rink,opera house, music venue or casino on the Pavillion site, encourage fishing, encourage steamer trips and work to encourage the older generation back to Llandudno.
Llandudno is not Rhyl, not Colwyn Bay. It is a huge mistake to copy either one's gaudy attractions or the others dereliction. Quality not crap is the way forward for Conwy County!
I think the main problem with Llandudno Pier is the owners, Six Piers Ltd. Their only interest is in sucking out as much money as possible out of Llandudno without investing to build up the business. The Pier needs to be brought back into local ownership - who's willing to invest a few quid?