Station Road, Colwyn Bay Open Day

July 15, 2015

Station Road, Colwyn Bay is opening its doors to the local community on Tuesday 7th July. A host of activities from a number of organisations and businesses will be taking place and everyone is invited!

From business workshops, coffee mornings and film premiers and live music, Station Road will be showcasing the new initiatives that are happening in the town as well as providing people with information on how they can get involved.

The Welsh Government is supporting the regeneration of Colwyn Bay through the Vibrant and Viable places programme and is providing over £1 million grant support to the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) project. THI is helping to boost Colwyn Bay through a range of exciting projects, including the refurbishment of The Station, a Grade II Listed Victorian public house, and a Pop Up Shop scheme to help local people who are just starting out in business.

Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths said:

“We want communities across Wales to be vibrant places to live, work and socialise, with good infrastructure and strong local economies. I’m pleased we have been able to support the refurbishment of the Station and the Pop up Shops project, which are breathing new life into Colwyn Bay and regenerating the very heart of the community.

“I encourage local people to get involved and celebrate the wonderful organisations and businesses available on their doorstep!”

Judi Greenwood, Project manager for Colwyn Bay THI, said: “Partnership working to combine projects is helping us to achieve more in Colwyn Bay. Events such as this bring the community together and enable local people to take pride in our town centre.”

Between 1pm – 6pm the newly restored and refurbished The Station is inviting people to the premier viewing of the time-lapse video showing its close as The Central to its new beginning as The Station. The video will be shown upstairs in the function room which has been stripped back to show the original features. There will also be a photograph exhibition with photos showing the history of the building and its place in the town. The landmark public house is one of the first community buildings to be built in Colwyn Bay and dates from around 1870.

Conwy Communities First will also be opening their doors from 1pm onwards at their new premises at 22 Station Road. As well as holding a coffee and cake afternoon with all proceeds going to St David’s Hospice, they’ll be on hand to share all the latest events and programmes that are available. These include news and updates on community grants and start-up business support.

Following the success of Colwyn Bay’s first pop-up shop at 24 Station Road, Conwy Communities First are also delighted to be launching their latest Pop-Up- Shop at 22 Station Road. Previous test traders who have since gone on to become successful retailers from test trading at 24 Station Road will be on hand to tell their stories. There will also be support on hand from Just the Business, a partnership project between Conwy Communities First and Affinity Business Services, who work with pre-start and early start businesses in Conwy.

Ghostbuskers, Colwyn Bay’s community music group will also be playing live music throughout the day.

Finally from 5.30pm – 9pm at Station Buildings, Station Road, business owners have the chance to come and listen to one of the UK’s leading business experts, Kate Hardcastle, deliver her business changing talk ‘Give Your Business Some Oomph’ which explores the practice of Retail Theatre. Delivered around the globe it provides advice to retailers and businesses on using the five senses to entice consumers and increase footfall and profitability. This workshop is hosted by Business Wales and is free for businesses to attend although pre booking is essential. You can book your place by going onto the Business Wales website www.business.wales.gov.uk and search for events in Colwyn Bay.

The event is being supported by Colwyn Chamber of Trade and Colwyn Bay Town Team.

Teresa Carnall, Chair of Colwyn Chamber of Trade is thrilled that organisations are working together highlight the support that’s out there. She said:

“When we work collaboratively that’s when things really start to happen. I genuinely feel that Colwyn Bay is starting a new era in bringing both businesses and community initiatives together to create an exciting place to both live and work. While we appreciate there is still a way to go, events like these can only push us forward. “