Press release dated 25 January, 2010:
Following last Friday’s meeting at Colwyn Bay Town Hall to discuss the future of the Victoria Pier, Clwyd West MP, David Jones, has arranged a meeting with Conwy Chief Executive, Byron Davies, on February 16, to discuss options for the way forward.
David Jones said:
“The large attendance at last Friday’s meeting showed the strong desire in Colwyn Bay to see the Victoria Pier restored. On a show of hands at the meeting, over 90% indicated that, not only did they support the pier’s restoration, but that they were willing to contribute to it financially.
“The principal stumbling block is the question of the pier’s ownership. It seems that the council remains in litigation with Mr Steve Hunt and that the freehold of the pier is still technically in the ownership of administrators.
“The council and Mr Hunt hold the key to progress. I feel very strongly that they should now negotiate actively with a view to finding an end to the dispute. Similarly, the administrators should be prepared to negotiate a settlement of their own claim. When that has been concluded, it should be possible to find a way of dealing with the legal title to the pier.
“Many people who spoke at the meeting, and most of those to whom I have spoken since, consider that the best way of proceeding is to set up a charitable trust, with a view to acquiring the pier and exploring the cost and best means of restoring it.
“This will probably require another meeting to form a steering committee. I am happy to facilitate such a meeting and anyone interested in this suggestion should please email my office at owenj at parliament.uk.
“The further meeting will take place after I have had my discussions with the council.”
ENDS
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Pity Byron Davies (chief exec of CCBC) is too scared to allow me to attend this meeting, isn’t it?
No doubt he is worried at what I might ask him in front of an MP. Just what are they so terrified of, when they still allege I am the one in the wrong I wonder?
We’re all waiting in anticipation of news…
Byron Davies has proved he has absolutely no interest in the 500 or so tax-paying voters that turned out to the Pier meeting, including quite a few Colwyn Town Councillors, our AM and our MP, that at the meeting he had last week with David Jones, he couldn’t even be bothered to write one single note about it… his admission to this is here for all to see:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/meeting_bewteen_byron_davies_and
… I was reserving judgment on the man, hoping he may have more about him than his predecessors, but clearly my optimism was unfounded.