‘Tourists will not come if parking curbs go ahead’

TOURISTS are likely to be driven away from a seaside town if planned parking curbs go ahead, residents have complained.

Conwy council wants to introduce parking restrictions on 54 streets in Llandudno, Craig y Don and Penrhyn Bay but locals have warned it will affect the area’s holiday trade.

The council’s aim is to maintain traffic flows and improve road safety in a town that prides itself on being the “Queen of Welsh Resorts”.

But some visitors have already said they will stay away if they can’t access convenient street parking.

The parking plans are the latest to cause consternation in Llandudno. One car park is under threat from development and locals were left devastated by the Welsh Government’s refusal to underwrite the return of sand to the town’s main North Beach.

Having seen the impact of the new ‘Riviera’ beach at Rhos-on-Sea just along the coast, the removal of stones and cobbles from Llandudno’s North Beach is seen as key to the town’s long-term tourism fortunes.

Envious glances have been directed at similar beachfront upgrades in Colwyn Bay and Kinmel Bay.

One resident took to Facebook to express his concerns about the way the resort appeared to be heading. “Tourists are the life-blood of Llandudno,” he said. “It’s hard enough to park now but can Llandudno afford to alienate tourists?”

Social housing remains a concern for many as guesthouses and hotels wilt in the cost-of-living crisis. Further dismay greeted the planned £4.5m sale of a town-centre hotel currently occupied by Travelodge.

“Looks like our future as a holiday resort is on its last legs,” said one person. “If we are to survive as a seaside resort, our core business needs to be protected.”

The 82-bedroom Travelodge was redeveloped in 2015 and has a lease on the hotel site until 2040. It lies off Maelgwyn Road, where a councilrun car park and campervan site is under threat of closure. Developer McCarthy Stone is proposing to erect 55 apartments for the over-60s on the land.

Despite nearby bus stops, and the promise of new shops, restaurants and healthcare facilities, some locals fear the impact on the area will be “colossal”, with provision compromised for the growing motorhome market.

The developer pointed to the burgeoning demand for retirement living accommodation and noted that Aberconwy already has an olderthan-average population.

One resident accused Conwy council of ignoring local sentiment and the need to underpin tourism. “Are they trying to turn our touristrich resort into an old persons’ town?” she questioned.

Already there have been murmurings of discontent over Llandudno’s parking plans. These will see parking banned on 48 streets at all times. Parking will be prohibited between 9am and 6pm on a further three roads in the peak summer season (April 1 until September 30).

Three more will have 120-minute parking between 8am and 6pm on Mondays to Saturdays.

A regular visitor from Staffordshire said: “We visit Llandudno many times a year but won’t bother if parking is only 90 minutes. We use the cafés and spend in the shops. You obviously don’t need tourists?”

The Welsh Government has its eye on Llandudno as it seeks to transition Wales away from car travel as part of its low-carbon agenda. In its recent Roads Review, Conwy council’s planned active travel corridor in the town was one of the few allowed to progress – but with caveats.

The review panel wants the local authority to explore ways of cutting car travel over a larger area of the town – possibly via “parking management and charges”.

Llandudno railway station is also seen as a big opportunity to boost walking and cycling. Five active travel schemes are already in the pipeline, all connecting to the station.

Objections to the proposed parking curbs must be made in writing to Conwy council by March 1, 2023.