Tourist news: developments, initiatives and strategies

[Trojan]

I saw this young Seagull in Bangor the other day making off with a flattened Coke Can - why, I don't know!

The gulls in Bangor are very much into recycling, as opposed to their three towns counterparts.

[Nemesis]

Well ! I have just seen everything !
As I parked my car in Asda car park ( furthest away from the store--and I won't go into why !!) I noticed two young seagulls standing looking forlorn by the nearest tree.
Back I came-- trolly full of bags, to put them in the car. Up the two birds toddled and began pecking at my hessian shopping bags through the trolly bars. Buzz off I said (or words to that effect), not a chance-- the blessed things kept on pulling and pecking at the bags at the bottom of the pile. No chance and they weren't a bit afraid of me. I eventually got everything loaded in and drove off leaving them waiting for their next victim.
Glad the bags weren't plastic or they might just have gained something out of them !

[snowcap]

do you think they might have been on the coke

[Nemesis]

 
Didn't have any-- only fizzy water and a bottle of sarsaparilla

[Bri Roberts]

Llandudno missed out on the Regeneration money currently being enjoyed by Colwyn Bay and now Llandudno looks set to miss out again.

Could we not have had Financial Services?

Why Cardiff again?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14980374

Five enterprise zones for different industries across Wales are being created by the Welsh Government.
It comes after Jaguar Land Rover confirmed on Monday that it is to build a factory in the West Midlands instead of Wales.
Welsh ministers had been urged to act after 21 enterprise zones were announced across England.
The five new zones will be at Anglesey, Ebbw Vale, Deeside, St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, and Cardiff.
Companies investing in the sites will receive rate relief and may benefit from tax breaks to expand.
The Welsh Government said its plans were in the early stages and no final decision had been made on whether to relax planning rules.
Continue reading the main story
Enterprise zones in Wales
•   Anglesey: Energy
•   Cardiff Central: Financial services
•   Deeside: Advanced manufacturing
•   Ebbw Vale: Automotive
•   St Athan: Aerospace.
It is initially making £10m available over the next five years.
Welsh Business Minister Edwina Hart told BBC Wales: "This is a first stage announcement, we are having discussions with other local authorities and partners about possible other enterprise zones.
"I think what's been made clear to me over the summer from industry and all the people I've spoken to is they regard enterprise zones as a real focal point for them."
She said discussions were ongoing with the UK Government over budgets for capital allowances - where companies receive tax breaks when they invest in new machinery to expand.
'Positive discussions'
There had been hopes Jaguar Land Rover would site its new engine plant, which it expected to create 750 jobs, in south Wales.
But the company, which also considered India, said a £355m factory in Wolverhampton would be closer to its other plants.
Ms Hart said enterprise zones had not been a factor in the car manufacturer's decision.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
Many will fear this announcement, which contains no detail or substance to support Welsh businesses, is simply a knee-jerk reaction to the loss of the £355million Jaguar Land Rover plant”
End Quote Nick Ramsay AM Conservative business spokesman
She added: "We had positive discussions with the company.
"If you look at Jaguar Land Rover they are already within the West Midlands with a substantial base.
"I'm obviously very disappointed we were not there at the end game but I'm delighted that the jobs have come to the UK."
She said suppliers in the Welsh car components sector may benefit from orders from the new plant.
Cardiff council leader Rodney Berman said it would help the city compete with English cities and regions.
"I have lobbying for this to happen for some time and have written to the First Minister to urge that enterprise zones are introduced as this is the only way we can be placed on a level playing field with cities such as Bristol," he added.
Conservative business spokesman Nick Ramsay AM said the announcement was "long overdue".
"Many will fear this announcement, which contains no detail or substance to support Welsh businesses, is simply a knee-jerk reaction to the loss of the £355million Jaguar Land Rover plant," he added.
But Alyn & Deeside AM Carl Sargeant said it was "fantastic news" there was to be a zone there.
"The Northern Gateway site has the potential to create up to 5,000 jobs," he added.
"This announcement will enable more people to work locally and bring new opportunities for businesses, both local and national."

[DaveR]

These Enterprise Zones are big things, wouldn't Llandudno be far too small to become one?

[Bri Roberts]

I was thinking more of a Mochdre-Llandudno-Llanfairfechan triangle at the top end of the A470 for a change but close to the A55.

Just think what the building of all those new office blocks offering employment to thousands of locals could have done for our local economy.

[DaveR]

Perhaps WG should take control of corporate taxation and make the whole of Wales a a low tax magnet for business?

[Bri Roberts]

Maybe but when you think how much money has been invested to make Holyhead and Liverpool successful Cruise Ports, thus helping the economy of both Anglesey and North East Wales, it does make one wonder if the Queen of the Welsh Resorts is just simply stranded in the middle and nobody down in Cardiff really cares.

[DaveR]

I think the problem is that Llandudno really isn't deprived in comparison to towns like Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Holyhead etc. Take a walk around Llandudno and then take a walk around Rhyl to see what I mean!

Things aren't perfect here, certainly, but we are in a far better position than most towns in Wales. The current wave of inward investment from the private sector (Travelodge, Sainsburys, Caffe Nero, DFS etc) will result in 150+ jobs coming to the town. A more proactive attitude from CCBC would soon see problems like the Pier Pavilion site and Tudno Castle Hotel dealt with.

[Bri Roberts]

You seem to keep on missing my point.

I am referring to grants, public money and incentives from our Welsh Government.

Perhaps, you believe we shouldn’t really complain now that Llandudno Railway Station is finally being given a facelift with the help of public funding; something that Rhyl had done with theirs a few years ago?

[DaveR]

I'm not intentionally missing your point - I just don't grasp it. You seem to be saying that Llandudno should have more public money spent on it, even though it is in a far better position that most towns of a similar size in Wales? To me, that doesn't appear to be a morally viable argument?

Don't forget, in just the last couple of years, Llandudno has received a £1.5m grant towards the swimming pool and a £2.7m grant towards Oriel Mostyn.

[Bri Roberts]

You obviously had not noticed I was discussing one point and you kept introducing something else which had nothing to do with my point.

FYI, £9m was spent on the cruise terminal in Holyhead and more finance has recently been announced which immediately puts the expenditure on our swimming pool and gallery into perspective.

It is not rocket science which development will bring the most financial reward to its local community if you are looking to draw a comparison.

[DaveR]

I don't know how many times I can make the point that a town like Holyhead is in a severely depressed area...and Llandudno is not. The WG will not spend major amounts on Llandudno when there are far more deserving cases in Wales. That's the simple answer to your question.  Perhaps you could email the Finch and ask her for her opinion as AM?

http://www.janetfinchsaunders.org.uk/content/contact-us

[Bri Roberts]

Gee whizz......

Llandudno missed out on the Regeneration money currently being enjoyed by Colwyn Bay and now Llandudno looks set to miss out again.

Could we not have had Financial Services?

Why Cardiff again?

Is Cardiff a deprived area?