Council votes on waterfront Madoc plan

AN ambitious plan to reinvent a waterfront to capitalise on its link with the legend of Prince Madoc has been unveiled.

The Madoc Plan aims to raise the profile of Rhos on Sea by focusing on the possibility modern America was founded from the seaside village.

According to folklore, Prince Madoc (or Madog ab Owain Gwynedd) was a Welsh prince who sailed to America in 1170 from Rhos on Sea, centuries before Christopher Columbus.

Together with his brother Rhiryd in his own ship the Pedr Sant, he left from a little creek then called the Afon Ganol.

On the shore at Point Morgan, Mobile, Alabama, a plaque was erected in 1953 by The Daughters of the American Revolution.

It reads: “In memory of Prince Madoc, a Welsh explorer, who landed on the shores of Mobile Bay in 1170 and left behind, with the Indians, the Welsh language.”

Town councillor Dave Griffiths, one of those behind the proposals, said: “We’ve got great plans for Rhos on Sea. We want to enthuse the community with this, it needs the support of the town to realise the potential.

“Everyone we have spoken to has been really positive about the possibilities. It would have massive benefits culturally and economically.”

The first stage of the plan is to improve access to the beach and widen the pavement between Rhos Point and the Cayley slipway.

Backed by the Rhos Environmental Action Group, the early stages would also see a large scale ship built, similar to the one alleged to have been used by Madoc, for children to climb on.

The scheme was granted a reprieve by Conwy Council Cabinet last year after officers recommended rejection.

Today (Thursday) Conwy Communities and Scrutiny committee will vote on supporting the application.

A report to councillors states: “Although the merits of the proposal have been recognised... financial support for this project has not been recommended for approval at this time.

“The strategy (for renovating the whole Bay of Colwyn waterfront) has a clearly laid out programme and any work needs to be done as part of that programme.”

Bay of Colwyn Town Council has already offered support for the Madoc Plan, as has local MP David Jones.