Bay is the events capital of N.Wales

COLWYN Bay used to be best known for being a popular seaside resort on the coast of North Wales. It was one of a string of coastal towns that attracted tens of thousands to the region annually and competed with nearby Rhyl and Llandudno.

However, thanks to the success of Parc Eirias and Porth Eirias in attracting sports and top end acts in recent years, the town has successfully managed to reinvent itself as the events capital of North Wales.

Just two weeks ago some 14,000 people packed the Eirias Stadium to watch iconic musician Elton John’s first ever North Wales performance. Playing his classics before the excited crowd, Elton was appearing at the Eirias Stadium as part of his European tour. The atmosphere was electric, and not just in the stadium – there was a real buzz throughout the whole of Colwyn Bay.

The same was true the following night, when the stadium was packed again for ‘Access all Eirias’, with teenage sensations The Vamps headlining.

The now annual event returned to Eirias Park Stadium for the fourth consecutive year after hugely successful previous concerts saw the likes of Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J, Little Mix and Olly Murs perform in front of thousands of expectant fans.

Parc Eirias is also attracting the crowds for major sporting events and allowing more young people to be able to experi- ence rugby, track and field events. Earlier this year it was announced that the Stadium will continue to host Wales Under 20 Six Nations and RGC home games for the next five years.

But Colwyn Bay’s success does not end at Park Eirias, as the town is also

WA home to Porth Eirias, a beautiful new beach, and a soon to be opened celebrity chef bistro. The facilities offer an array of watersports including sailing, windsurfing, powerboating, kayaking and canoeing. The place is rapidly growing in popularity and, with Parc Eirias, is helping to cement Colwyn Bay as the sports capital for the North Wales region.

Both Parc Eirias and Porth Eirias are assets that all of us living in North Wales can be proud of. There was a time when the future of Colwyn Bay looked bleak, but thanks to Park Eirias and Porth Eirias it is now a flourishing town with plenty to look forward to. I’m absolutely delighted to celebrate that success.