The Pier saga rolls on yet there is no real end in sight, nobody seems to have a long term plan and the personalities involved seem more intent on back-biting, mud-slinging and personal insults than in finding a solution, here is how I would like to see it resolved…
We allow an energy company to build an underwater barrier from Rhos Point to Llanddulas Point, this barrier will contain turbines that work on the rise and fall of the tide and not the in and out flow of it, the depth of the sea just off shore will allow for this and, unlike wind turbines, power is guaranteed to be produced at least twice a day.
As a concession the Power Company along with private investors fund the lengthening of the Pier by 250 to 300m and a crescent shape is formed at the end to allow for shops and accommodation to be built. At the end of the pier will be a pontoon marina, making it the only non-tidal marina in North Wales, down the sides will be docking and storage for jet-skis.
Down the centre of the pier will be more shops with accommodation above and where the old theatre stands a new casino could be built. You may wonder why a casino; if you think about it the only private investors capable of funding a project like this would be somebody like a gaming company and there has to be a little give and take if a venture like this is to succeed.
The benefits of a project like this are plain for all to see, cheaper electricity locally, an increase in local revenue, more and future employment and an increase in footfall to Colwyn Bay of affluent people mooring their boats.
If we are to be successful as a town we have to be more far-sighted than the next couple of years, we have to look at a time when the regeneration money runs out and we have to be self-funding, it’s all very good doing a quick paint-job and sprucing-up a couple of streets but if nobody comes to Colwyn Bay to see them then what’s the point ?
We, as a county, cannot afford the so-called millions of pounds being talked about to demolish or restore the pier and why should the people have to pay for it’s upkeep for years to come or finance someone’s personal folly, the Council’s lack of understanding and business acumen over the pier has brought us to this point and it is their utter stupidity that will lead us further into the dark smelly stuff, you really do have to ask yourself; who got us into this mess and why were they allowed to do it?