Yahoo News Llandudno hotel 'enters housing crisis' deal with council but fears over loss of holiday rooms
A major hotel in the centre of Llandudno says it has reached a deal with Conwy council to "help with the housing crisis". Evans Hotel wrote a letter to the chair of the Goldwing Light Parade, an annual event featuring Honda Goldwing motorcycles.
They told them they wouldn't be able to host bikers as normal this year as they were no longer offering evening meal packages - although they do remain open to guests. The letter from the hotel blamed the spiralling food and energy inflation of recent years and failure of Government to control those price rises.
UK Government also came under fire for "unsustainable increases" in the minimum wage, which went up by over a pound in April to £11.44.
Hotels have also faced rates rises after Welsh Government cut its rates discount from 75% to 40%, putting hospitality sites in Wales at a disadvantage to those in England, where the 75% cut remained in place for another year.
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Evans Hotel is a prominent 60-bed site in the resort. The attractive Victorian building on the corner of Vaughan Street and Charlton Street, has welcomed holidaymakers since 1865. Last year it was placed on the market for £2.4m and owner Peter Hibbert spoke about having to scrutinise every penny spent after prices spiralled.
It does continue to trade as a hotel but they say they have entered into a deal with Conwy council. The council said it was in talks with the hotel over using rooms.
There are concerns over the cost of more people being housed in hotel accommodation and also the loss of visitor beds in the key North Wales resort.
In the letter to the motorcyclists, the hotel said: "It is with great regret that we have to inform you that the Evans hotel will no longer be offering packages that include an evening meal.
"This decision has been taken due to the current Government's inability to control the cost of food, utilities, and of course the unsustainable increases in the minimum wage. All these increased costs make the provision of evening meals, entertainment and evening bar facilities financially unviable.
"We have also entered into an agreement with the local council to help with the housing crisis. We believe this is the only way to consolidate our business and protect employment in this present climate."
The hotel also spelt out how it was helping the group find alternative accommodation in the town and remained supportive of the parade.
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders said: "Over the past three years we have seen several hotels locally change their business model to allow their properties used for temporary or emergency accommodation.
"This of course is because of the massive housing crisis facing us in Aberconwy and the immediate need for vacant rented social housing.
"The Welsh Government have failed their own targets for house building for several years and this has now led to a major crisis. Often families can find themselves stuck in a hotel room for several months, without any prospects of moving into their own home.
"This is an unacceptable solution, as these hotels are designed for short stay tourist accommodation and are not suitable for indefinite long-term stays.
"The use of hotels by Conwy County Borough Council has seen the budget for this type of accommodation spiralling out of control, as it is based on a per person funding formula, often costing thousands of taxpayers money. At a time when we are seeing other council services reduced and our Social Care budgets facing tremendous financial pressures, it is now time that the Welsh Government fulfil their housing target figures and start building the correct number of houses required, especially those in the rented social sector."
A Conwy council spokesman said: "Homelessness is becoming increasingly common throughout the UK. Conwy County Borough Council has a statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation to those who find themselves homeless.
"Due to the housing crisis and the volume of people who are currently at risk of becoming homeless, this means we are having to use some Bed and Breakfasts/hotels throughout the County whilst we work with those experiencing homelessness to secure a more permanent solution. We are exploring whether the Evans Hotel is one of the hotels where we could book rooms.
"We understand the hotel is still open to the public and running as a hotel."
North Wales Live has asked the hotel owner for comment.
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