Concerned Llandudno councillors questioned whether Conwy would listen to results of a public consultation over “contentious” plans to move the town’s library and tourist information centre to Venue Cymru.
Conwy ’s cabinet this week supported broad proposals for the Venue Cymru Futures Project and plans to submit a business case to access a £10m pot from the UK Government levelling-up fund.
Under the plans, Llandudno Library would move from Mostyn Street to the theatre building on the town’s seafront – as would the tourist information centre (TIC), which is currently located in the Victoria Centre.
The money would also be invested in improving Venue Cymru’s auditorium as well as the building’s “technical modernisation”.
But Llandudno councillors fear the removal of the library and tourist information centre would damage footfall on the high street.
A public consultation must first be held.
Llandudno councillors attending the Bodlondeb meeting questioned whether the council would listen if there was a public outcry to keep the library in the town centre.
“Is there any point to the consultation?” said Cllr Louise Emery.
“You know, everybody hates a consultation when the decision has been made.
“If it’s overwhelmingly in favour of keeping it in the town centre, will you think about that? Is there any point in a consultation?”
Leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey warned not applying for the funds could see the library and TIC put at risk as they are not statutory services.
“I think there’s always a point in a consultation,” he said.
“We need to see what people think.
“We need to try and win the argument because people will dislike aspects of this, so it’s about just trying to point out that some things are not statutory.
“The tourist information centre isn’t statutory, so if the alternative is it going, well, what would you prefer to do?”
He added: “These are the difficult decisions we have to balance.
“There’s no guarantee we will get the funding from UK Government.”
Cllr Harry Saville said: “Let’s say the consultation comes back with an overwhelming objection from the public to relocating both the library and the tourist information centre.
“What scope do you think there is politically to talk to the new UK Government to say, ‘Look, we thought about relocating the library and TIC in Venue Cymru, but it is not going to be a viable option in terms of our residents, so is there any possibility to redefine the scope of the grant offer?’
“Is there any scope politically if the consultation doesn’t come back with a positive response?”
Cllr McCoubrey said the council would have to cross that bridge if it came to it, insisting the move to Venue Cymru would be more convenient for many residents if not all.
He added: “It is an emotive subject.”
Cllr Mandy Hawkins added: “I do have major concerns for our high street, and that’s about the library and the toilets being moved away from there.
“There are obviously lots of pros, other side of the town, closer to schools, but it also does have that negative impact as well.
“I feel we also need to be supporting those businesses on the high street because running a business is not easy, and we only need to see the vacant building that we’ve got in the (former) Marks & Spencer (on Mostyn Street).”
She added: “We do need to be doing all we can to encourage people to our high streets. Look at Bangor.
“I want to make sure our high streets stay vibrant. We are one of the biggest towns, and we are getting tourists in, and those tourists tend to expect a tourist information on the main high street.”
Cllr Hawkins then prompted residents to take part in the future public consultation to make their feelings known.
The cabinet voted to take the proposals forward.
A business case will now be submitted to the UK Government whilst a public consultation was also agreed.
From...https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/24475501.llandudno-high-street-fears-plans-move-library/
They need to fight back like Colwyn Bay did
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