A bed and breakfast in a holiday resort is riddled with "anti-social behaviour" and the "smoking of illegal substances", angry hoteliers claim. The hoteliers are opposing a plan to convert the B&B into a house-of-multiple occupation (HMO).
North Wales Live reported that the council has received 26 letters objecting to the plan to convert the site to an HMO. Last month councillor Harry Saville accused the council of double standards for placing homeless people at a site "without the correct planning permission in place".
The application to convert The Mayfair at 11 Deganwy Avenue in Llandudno into a house-of-multiple occupation (HMO) will be considered by Conwy’s planning committee tomorrow. The application has been submitted by applicant Manhattan Rentals and is recommended for approval.
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Llandudno Town Council also objected to the proposals, insisting that granting permission would breach policies relating to the bed and breakfast being within the holiday accommodation zone. In her letter of objection, Tracey Bayliss, who runs the Cedar Lodge bed and breakfast on Deganwy Avenue wrote: "For the past 12 months, The Mayfair has been used as temporary accommodation under emergency legislation, passed during the COVID pandemic.
"Change to an HMO would make this permanent. There have been numerous negative effects on the immediate neighbours, of which I am one, in the way of disturbances and noise and anti-social behaviour, on which guests have commented.
“There has been loud music at all times of the night and vehicles coming and going. Numerous police visits at all times of day and night have been personally witnessed, and the sound of police sirens is very distressing.”
Paul Thompson, whose family family had owned their Deganwy B&B for 60 years, claimed his guests were subjected to the fumes of illegal substances from The Mayfair: “Occupants smoke illegal substances and try to hide the fact they are doing so by opening the windows.
“It is easily noticeable from a long way away and certainly not what visitors wish to inhale when sitting and relaxing in the fresh air.” Hotelier Georgina Legg's guest house is situated directly opposite The Mayfair.
She wrote that one of her guests had witnessed someone being arrested as she was extolling the virtues of Llandudno. Ms Legg explained: “When we stepped outside there were two police cars outside The Mayfair (a common occurrence), and then to my horror, a female occupant was led out by police in handcuffs!
"My guests were elderly and were mortified to witness this, and they actually stated that they thought Llandudno was a safe place.” She added: I’m appalled that the council is willing to sacrifice small businesses like mine after I have spent over £50,000 to make it into something I’m proud of, even if the council are not.”
Scott and Robert-Smith-Andrews also made their feelings clear in their letter to the council. “The visual impact has already had a negative effect on the area... "We don’t want a continued police presence potentially making guests question where they’ve come to and giving a negative view of our beautiful town.”
Neighbours Trevor and Carys Ray claimed: “We have had to endure noise disturbances, anti-social behaviour, had to witness countless police visits, and negative comments made by our valued guests. These are a direct result of the temporary change of use and dissuade tourists from returning to the town.”
A North Wales Police spokesman said they had received complaints from residents living on Deganwy Avenue, Llandudno, reporting people "smoking what was believed to be cannabis" outside business properties. He added: "Officers have been in contact with Conwy County Borough Council’s homeless prevention team to make them aware of the issue."
Conwy County Council was contacted for a comment.
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