The Forum broke this story, now the local press have caught up:
Hopes dashed that pleasure cruises will return to Llandudno before end of summerPublished date: 24 July 2013 | Published by: Iwan Berry Read more articles by Iwan Berry Email reporter
PLEASURE cruises will not be sailing from Llandudno Pier this summer after further delays to renovation work.
Marine licensing issues are threatening to halt renovation work to the fenders and landing stage on Llandudno pier and engineers have been ordered to stop work until the licenses are renewed. In April, sea tours company Waverley Excursions was forced to cancel its maiden voyage to the pier due to delays.
Responsibility for the improvements was taken over by Six Piers Ltd from Conwy Council in June, with work on the landing stage by engineers MP Marine beginning earlier this month.
But Simon Mason, general manager of the pier, warned awaiting new licenses for work could take up to a month – which could push back the planned opening date to October.
He said: “The work started about two weeks ago, and we received a visit from the Crown Estates telling us the licenses were out of date. It could take up to a month to get work re-started.”
He added: “We were told by Conwy that the licenses were in place. We were assured we when the work was taken over that a license was in place, then we discovered it’s not. This could be anywhere between a month to six weeks for a delay, and that’s only if the weather’s looking favourable, which it’s not.”
Cllr Garry Burchett, Mayor of Llandudno, said: “If this is true then I have to say I am horrified. It’s ridiculous. The last thing we want is to have to wait until next year.”
A spokesperson for Waverley Excursions said it would continue to aim for a tour date launching from the pier on September 3.
Mike Norris, for the Crown Estate, said the pier was owned entirely by Six Piers Ltd and therefore Crown Estate did not have any responsibility for licensing work on areas it did not own.
http://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/124912/hopes-dashed-that-pleasure-cruises-will-return-to-llandudno-before-end-of-summer.aspx