Welsh 'Riviera' revered

BEACH THAT'S LIKE 'LIKE BEING ABROAD' WINS NATIONAL PRAISE FOR STUNNING TRANSFORMATION

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

A COASTAL stretch that's part of the “Welsh Riviera” has collected a national award after a major transformation.

Upgrades to Rhos on Sea waterfront wasn't without controversy but the outcome is now the envy of resorts around Britain.

This summer the Conwy resort was rammed with visitors. Its new beach, now rated amongst the country’s best, was hugely popular, its fine sand covered in towels, striped deckchairs and colourful shelters.

For locals, some irritations remain, from parking costs to ice cream inflation and the continued absence of replacement kiosks. But the change has been dramatic - a far cry from the street protests that greeted Conwy Council's £20m transformation plans in 2021. They were part of a major sea defence upgrade.

Much of the anger centred on new road layouts and one-way traffic. For many, the hassle was worth it - and the resort has been bustling ever since. For one local, it showed that if you “invest in the seafront, the people will come”

The scheme was the second phase of a wider project to revitalise the Bay of Colwyn waterfront. Running from the southern end of the Cayley Embankment to Rhos-on-Sea Harbour, it saw the beach replenished with 1m tonnes of sand dredged from Liverpool Bay.