A CRAMMED public meeting confirmed Colwyn Bay's desire to save its decaying pier.
Hundreds packed into the Town Hall for a meeting on Friday chaired by David Jones MP, with more people lining Rhiw Road for a chance to have their say.
There was overwhelming support to restore the pier, but serious questions remain over ownership and funding.
The pier is in the hands of administrators Royce Peeling Green after owner Steve Hunt was declared bankrupt after a row with Conwy County Borough Council.
Mr Hunt has since had his bankruptcy receded, but during the meeting he blasted officers and councillors over the dispute.
Mr Jones, who will now meet with Conwy’s chief executive, summed up the meeting by saying: “The overwhelming sentiment is that the people of Colwyn Bay want the pier – not in its current condition. They are looking to Conwy County Council for leadership.
“There should be an active dialogue between the council, Mr Hunt and administrators.”
The pier was described by one speaker as ‘a sad symbol of Colwyn Bay's decline’ and calls were made for the Local Government Ombudsman to look into CCBC's handling of the dispute.
Warnings about future running costs were raised by town councillor Gwyn Hughes who proposed a referendum asking if town council precept payers were prepared to see an increase to pay for its upkeep.
Suggestions from the meeting included setting up a charitable trust, but Mr Hunt said it would be difficult to secure funding for the pier even if a trust was set up.
Speaking after the meeting he said: “If someone comes to me with a charitable trust, with the £6-£10 million in the bank that restoration costs are estimated to be, I will gladly talk about the transfer of ownership to such trust, until then, there is no point, it is all speculation.”
Mr Jones said: “The principal stumbling block is the question of the pier’s ownership. It seems that the council remains in litigation with 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.”
A meeting between MP David Jones and Mr Byron Davies, Conwy Council’s Chief Executive, will take place on February 16.