Visitors are flocking to Rhos on Sea’s new sandy beach and revamped promenade (Image: Simon J Devlin)
After a wonderful weekend full of sunshine and blue skies lured crowds to the coast, parking on two revamped promenades has infuriated locals. Visitors desperate for a spot crammed into Rhos on Sea and Colwyn Bay’s seafronts caused chaos last weekend.
The influx led to vehicles clogging up residential areas, with irate locals reporting pavements blocked and streets jammed with traffic. The new “one-way” system in Rhos on Sea introduced this February immediately felt the ire of residents who foresaw the pandemonium.
Images circulating online captured cars parked illegally along the Cayley embankment, where new double yellow lines have been painted to make way for traffic changes. Similarly, nearby streets were also besieged by inconsiderately parked cars, reaching as far as Kenelm Road.
One resident said, “It was horrendous!” Meanwhile, another chimed in saying they’d “Never been like this before.”
A further comment highlighted danger, saying “Side roads off the prom were dangerous in many streets as cars parked on pavements. The gaps on the roads wouldn’t allow an emergency services vehicle to get through,” reports North Wales Live.
Residents took to the streets to oppose new traffic arrangements in Rhos on Sea before they were implemented (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)
Conwy Council, when planning Rhos on Sea’s contentious traffic redirection – aimed at easing coastal flows – anticipated a staggering 778% surge in vehicular movement on Cayley Promenade. This thoroughfare now carries the burden of diverting traffic from the West Promenade, which has shifted to a one-way system.
Yet, it was the community who foresaw the spillover effect, leading to parking woes on their doorsteps. Their predictions fell on deaf ears, and despite rallying against the council with a petition and dual street demonstrations the council proceeded regardless.
The visual enhancements brought about by Conwy Council’s beach and promenade upgrades at two key resorts, part of hefty coastal defence investments, are widely acknowledged.
Although Colwyn Bay struggles with the division between the town centre and its seaside counterpart a challenge the council recognises and aims to tackle in Rhos on Sea there are niggling concerns over potential fallouts should the resort continue to rise in acclaim.
However, locals express contrasting views on who to blame for rising complications; some point fingers at “selfish” drivers, while others criticize council planners.
The allure of Rhos Promenade has been somewhat dimmed due to parking woes. One resident remarked disapprovingly: “No surprise since they took all the parking spaces out and (put) yellow lines everywhere!”
Amidst revelations that as many as 80 spaces have been axed, sceptics suggest a hidden agenda to inconvenience car owners to discourage driving.
Colwyn Bay’s sandy beach has been drawing in the crowds (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)
Voicing frustrations on social media, one Colwyn Bay inhabitant said: “The agenda for North Wales is no free on-street parking at all, even around our homes,” and highlighted an ongoing squeeze on free parking areas.
Another said: “Work here should have finished months ago and yet it’s dragging on and on. The council has a £20m deficit and complains it is short of money. But think of all the revenue it could have raised if the parking meters were working. They’re spending all this money to attract visitors and they’re not reaping the rewards.
“These visitors will spend money locally but they have to be given the right facilities or they’ll stop coming. It’s madness! Last weekend was absolutely chaotic in both Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea. All the car parks were full. Motorists were parking on grass verges and in back streets of both towns.”
Rhos Prom is expected to introduce parking fees soon, with rates set to reach £5.50 for up to four hours and £7.50 beyond that, following March’s price hike that also affected annual permits. While many may begrudgingly pay, others might opt for congesting side streets.
Regular locals are dreading the new costs associated with their routine walks and dog outings.
Rhos promenade, despite its picturesque setting, remains unfinished with the absence of pay machines, lighting, and shelters. “It won’t be long before the nights start drawing in,” lamented a second homeowner from Saddleworth who spends 20 weeks a year in Colwyn Bay. “If there’s no lights or shelters, people won’t go there, especially the elderly.”
The area has seen a surge in visitors, bringing both congestion and a boost to local businesses. After a lacklustre summer, the peak season has been intense but short-lived, with Rhos reportedly thriving.
Visitor pressure was not unique to Colwyn Bay last weekend; similar scenes unfolded across North Wales, including Trearddur Bay, Newborough, Bala, and Dinas Dinlle.
Colwyn Bay councillor Jo Nuttall commented on the situation: “It was very busy last Sunday when the sun came out and visitors all came at once. If there are issues with traffic and parking, that’s something the wardens will need to address.”
She also noted the earlier enforcement actions against campervans: “Earlier in the season there were 19 campervans at the bottom of the embankment on a Sunday morning and they were ticketed by wardens. Since then we’ve not seen those kind of numbers again.”
Artists impression of what new kiosks on Rhos on Sea Promenade will look like (Image: Conwy Council)
Reports indicate that while campervans continue to visit over weekends, their numbers have decreased, yet parking enforcement remains vigilant.Â
Conwy Council has issued a stern warning to motorists: plan your journey, park legally and responsibly or face a fine. Officials from the council emphasised that yellow lines are not limited to roads; they extend to pavements and verges too.
“This is dangerous for pedestrians and other road users, including emergency vehicles, wheelchair and mobility scooter users and those with pushchairs,” stated a council spokesperson. Enforcement teams are actively patrolling, and penalties await those who flout the rules.
The reshaping of Rhos Promenade moves forward, though with further steps ahead. Conwy Council confirmed, “Planning permission has been granted for the shelters and kiosks,” adding that the construction of these is happening off-site.
“Work to commission the permanent electricity supply to the shelter/promenade lighting is continuing. The process to introduce parking charges on the promenade is underway and the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) will be published in due course.”