Old Colwyn East Residents Association

Notes taken by Christine Curtis at a meeting about the

Strategic Regeneration Area Funding and the Regeneration of Old Colwyn                                                                                                                      

Venue Marine Hotel, Old Colwyn at 7pm on Monday 9th November 2009.

Councillor Cossey welcomed everyone to the meeting; there were over 70 persons present. He introduced Councillor Carlisle, Councillor Glyn Jones and Richard Evans from the Weekly News.

Apologies from David Jones MP, Darren Millar AM, Cllr Bob Squire and Mrs Dilys Thomas

Cllr Cossey related the fact that about six months ago Mochdre to Prestatyn was designated as a Strategic Regeneration Area by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Local Councillors were concerned that Old Colwyn was likely to be missed out. He related that it was up to the three of them to come up with ideas. They feel determined that Old Colwyn is not going to miss out.

The Chief executives of Denbighshire and Conwy have recently been given directives by the Minister for regeneration to spend the money allocated to the SRA this year before 31 March 2010.

He explained that if they could come up with a couple of “quick hits” they can be submitted for funding.

Other ideas can take longer and go through a planning process.

The Councillors had debated regeneration with Bryn Elian School Council who had given their priorities as

1.      Uniform street furniture

2.      100% grants for shops to upgrade frontages

3.      Community Hub on Church House site.

Cllr Cossey then read out a letter from Dilys Thomas, a local historian suggesting that we move on from Victorian frontages as it is not now valid, they are in the past.

He read from an email from David Curtis secretary of Residents’ association.

Many of the ideas are supportable such as Victorian shop fronts, there is however an issue of protective

security blinds / shutters.

The idea of Golden Hellos for new business from public funding when some of our existing shops are struggling is possibly questionable.

There is a lot of signage spoken about in the document. All the railings and ironwork will have to be upkept .

The "Community Hub" being a flagship of this bid together with the Victorian shop fronts. It is a Grade two listed building. If there is community approval to this aspect this may sway the argument for de-listing it. Such de-listing would be opposed however by various groups (CADW) as previously. It would also be very expensive to demolish because of asbestos in the roof. 

Cllr Cossey pointed out that the 14 points listed were just ideas and could be added to or changed.

Church House _ Community Hub

Which Church House? was asked. It was established that it was the old St John’s Church House on Cliff Road.

Cllr Cossey outlined that a man was previously going to build houses on the site but because it was a grade 2 he could not build so he moved away.

Joyce Hughes asked who owns the site now? Answer- In the hands of Bay Estates.

Roy Jones said - Have a new building in Old Colwyn we have 13 churches, young people want to come out of church circumstances. – Victorian theme is making us older than we are.

Janet Griffiths – there has been a survey of the site of St John’s Church House, can we have sight of it? Answer Yes.

Cllr Cossey – the hub does not have to be at the Church House, it could be somewhere else.

Resident – Community Centre is perhaps too small but is useful for some groups.

Resident – Jumpin Jungle play centre was very popular perhaps one could be sited in an area of the village.

Cllr Viv Perry – I support a community Hub, the bowling club being replaced, the MUGA play area, could build purpose built area including public toilets, play areas, internal play area. There are no parking problems for Min y don – Hub at the Church House - No

Resident – the Red Cross Centre and the Community Centre are both used

Cllr Chris Perry – regarding selling the community Centre and Red Cross centre they have been refurbished, they have a big television. Used by social services, why sell? - Have you an estimate of the cost of refurbishment,

Cllr Cossey Don’t know

Cllr Chris Perry – It is a six figure sum.

Mrs. E Chatham – Do you have to sell the Red Cross and the community centre?

Cllr Cossey – No we can take from the regeneration pot

Mrs Joyce Hughes – will everybody be happy to share one place?

Cllr Viv Perry – Not all people want to be in the same place, people want choice, young people want choice, I would not want to see the community centre go,

Cllr Cossey – Community hub – is everybody in favour?

Mark Chatham read letter from Secretary of Residents Association.

                                                                                                                 November 20, 2009                                       

To ~ The Business Forum Meeting at the Marine Hotel

Dear Chair

I am the secretary of the Old Colwyn East Residents’ Association and I will not be able to attend either of your public meetings because I am in hospital. As you will be aware, the regeneration issue has only recently come to the attention of our Association and therefore we have not had an opportunity to debate it generally with our members.

You may recall that having been invited to the first public meeting; I could not attend as secretary and sent my apology with a letter from the association about ideas which were pressing for a cleanup of the village. Thereafter, there was no feedback until your list of your 14 ideas for regeneration, was published on 14th October. We were told by Councillor Cossey that they are not set in stone and could be amended or added to at this meeting.

With that in mind, I would be grateful if you could add these following matters to your list for discussion both at the Monday meeting and at the residents’ meeting on Wednesday. These matters were discussed at a committee meeting last week and we were told by Councillor Cossey that matters should be brought forward at the public meetings.

1.      I wish to champion the cause of a new toilet in the village. The previous one was in disrepair and had to close. Obviously there are issues of security to be taken into consideration but the matter is pressing. Councillor Cossey spoke at our committee of needing a “clever plan” in this respect have it form part of another building. This however is not an issue that should be shelved for another year or two. If you want regeneration and to attract people into the village then we should as a matter of urgency think of their creature comforts.

2.      Provide low level lighting through Min y Don Park, Wynn Gardens and Tan y Coed gardens in the evening to improve access for residents to walk around in the evening. This would ideally be in the form of short posts with lighting incorporated. The parks spoken about are presently dark and unwelcoming at night.

3.      Upgrade the childrens’ play area in Min y Don as an activity centre possibly including public fitness machines such as those placed in Rhos on Sea. The present multi use facility is in use most of the time by people of all ages for ball games. The present childrens swings area is often muddy. Such an upgrade would be an investment in public wellbeing and fitness which are both necessary and desirable.

4.      Consider replacing the Bowling Club Pavilion in Min y Don Park, this is a well used facility and outdoor facilities are important for the well being of residents and visitors.

5.      Finally I believe strongly that it is unwise to concentrate on only one building for community use as outlined in your document. At present in Old Colwyn, we have a number of community facilities and many of them rely on income from people using them. I think that we should think long and hard before tinkering too much with how Old Colwyn works. That is not to say that I do not support something happening with the Old Church House. The childrens’ pay and play centre was a popular venue whilst it was operating. It would also lend itself to housing development. If a use was planned, then possibly we could plan to keep the front wall and entrance (the façade). This may go some way to appeasing those people who like the building and oppose it being knocked down.

David Curtis, Secretary, Old Colwyn East Residents’ Association

Cllr Cossey - asked if anyone was for or against the comments, nobody was against.

Mr. Howell Roberts – New club House – children presently use it as a toilet got to replace doors/ spend money quickly/ want to demolish/planning has been allowed / why not refurbish / can we have the money, it can be done by Christmas. ~ Applause.

Mrs. Janet Gardner – When there is an event in Min y Don for instance Churches Together we have to ask to open bowling club to open which they do willingly and it is a good amenity

A Resident – The impression from Pioneer story was that it was to make an improvement in area and that it would be good to sell our houses / Lighting is not a priority

A Resident – It is not about selling property it is about improving the area. /

Gateways - no vote

Resident - We have seven canopies in the village. Would not want Victorian windows need to move forwards not backwards.

Resident said that the rounded windows were put in 1911, not Victorian

Shop owner – When we first moved into our shop we asked about cost of replacing canopy with a 50% grant we would have to pay £22,000

Resident – would the shutters be Victorian?

Cossey – designs are in place

The was a discussion about the successful Victorian frontages scheme at Penmaenmawr. It has enhanced the village and all the shops are occupied. It is a success.

Resident spoke about the Penmaenmawr scheme saying that she liked it very much and would like a Victorian theme in Old Colwyn.

Cllr Viv Perry– too many people want Victorian? Establish a modern theme. Modern and bright, / why do we have to do it (follow others). There is no consistency in the Conservation area.

Cllr Cossey - Would anybody be in favour of refurbishing what is there?

Mrs. Pat Churm - Nobody has mentioned the Promenade

Cllr Cossey - that is being included with the waterfront regeneration scheme

Uniform street furniture – yes vote

Resident can we have more dog bins included.

Berthes Road car park upgrade - the big plastic recycling container is going next year with the advent of kerbside recycling – yes vote

Making Cefn Road a feature, an area where village events could be staged, seats, planters etc – Yes vote

Cllr Cossey - Linking path from the Prom to Tan y coed, Llawr Pentre etc the three of us are doing it as part of the Cliff Prout River walk – yes vote

Old M&K paint shop being made into a car park – people unsure because of crossings etc

Cllr Cossey – There is a £5million grant for development of Eirias park arena including a walkway from Colwyn bay and Old Colwyn, paved and lit.

Mark Earp is looking at the extension of the Cliff Prout River walk.

Colwyn Bay Football club - ?

Better signage – signpost off A55 to say what is in village as they do in other places.

Cllr Cossey - the Marine roundabout – cobble the hump in the middle to make it more attractive and the railings around the outside. There was a discussion about 5 way roundabout.

Discussion about Toilets – Licensee of the Marine said people use our toilets all the time –

Cllr Cossey / people can get a grant shops / pubs etc for people to use toilets – she said she knew nothing of the £500 grant. Councillor Cossey said he would get her an application.

Golden Hellos ~ no

Resident – Business rates just gone up 30%

Cllr Cossey – WAG assess rates and Conwy pays it to the Assembly.

Cllr Viv Perry  _ There is a scheme for shops to have help. It is a “business suffering hardships” grant. Don’t know of any business benefiting.

Cllr Cossey – email off Rita reference advertising for shops “ Greetings of distinction” - Need a top class website.

Need to get ideas together. Ingrid Lewis is looking into internet.

Cllr Cossey – need a person to manage a website – nothing worse than a website not up to date.

Roy Jones – Can we have a shop in town for tourism

Cllr Glyn Jones – Maybe a Tea shop for advertising and tourism

Maria – what about parking problem in the main street –

Resident – what about a notice board for advertisement

Cllr Cossey we already have one by the Chemist

Resident – its always full of old stuff.

Cllr Chris Perry – We are having problems with bins by the taxi offices – 4 bins between them weekends and other times a mess.

Cllr Glyn Jones – we will go away now and re-consult and come back with an artist’s impression for the village.

Resident – can other types of architecture be taken into consideration.

Cllr Cossey – North Wales Housing Association did a clever thing a few years ago and built flats by the post office on the site of old shops – could other shops be bought for housing?

Resident – Can we have a tourist attraction?

Cllr Cossey – good idea if anyone can think of something