Following on from my previous post on the proposed demolition on Merton Place in Colwyn Bay,this is all that is now left of the once grand hotel known as The Gogarth Abbey,on Llandudno's West Shore.Planners have insisted that the original part of the hotel remains for conservation reasons.
I am sure that out of all the hotels in this country of our's and I mean The United Kingdom,not just Wales,this hotel was in the top 5% for views of outstanding beauty.
Looking out towards the Isle of Anglesey in the background and the sea and the shore directly in front of the hotel.
The only blot on the view was the water treatment building that the then Welsh water built in front of the hotel. (only they would have got away with that).
But that is another story!
It is now to be redeveloped as luxury apartments.
If I am correct the planning was won on appeal.
The previous owner had already sold land that was once part of the hotel,and again apartments have already been built on this piece of land.
There is no consistency in the planning in what is given permission for change of use and what is not.
The developers know this full well,and exploit the situation to their advantage,if the application fails locally ,they then have a punt on the appeal process and invariably win on that.
They are business men at the end of the day,it is the powers that be that are to blame.
Councillors?
They have no teeth or indeed balls at the end of the day, to be of any use.
1 comments:
Every piece of the Llandudno heritage needs to be protected not destroyed. The things that are going on in the world at the moment means that Llandudno and the surounding areas needs protection from the developers who stand to make a quick buck, leaving the area devoid of landscapes and many of its wonderful buildings.
I find it really hard to understand how one of the landmarks with such history could be treated like this. Even more confusing is the Windfarm off the most beautiful coast for miles around if not in Britain. It appears that the developers and the large companies will get their way whatever the locals think. They dont give a fig what happens to trade as a result, and it appears from all that is going on that some Councillors stand by with total disregard for the events taking place in front of them. They certainly dont represent the community or the long term business trade from where I sit. Llandudno is struggling as is every holiday destination in Britain, attracting new customers is getting harder and events like these will have a detrimental effect on us in the long term. If owners think that they would be better off turning their unprofitable hotels into brand new flats, the developers should be forced by the Planning Dept to maintain the building in its original form or at least preserve the frontage to protect the heritage of the area. I,ve no problem with hotels being converted into flats rather than falling into disrepair because people numbers are dwindling year on year, people expect more from Hotels now and if its proven they are failing its better to have it done up and preserved rather than looking like some places in Llandudno at the moment. Anyone know whats going to happen to the once grand Castle Hotel, is that next for the demolishers. Who cares if it cost more to do up than build a new one, preserve it!
And for Gods sake do something with the bomb site next to the pier! Why has it been left so long, its just a blot on the very soul of Llandudno.
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