Yahoo News Tourist hotspot branded 'disgusting' and 'swimming in litter'
A coastal town has been described as 'dirty bordering on filthy' and 'swimming in litter' by one woman who spent years living there, and decided to pay it a nostalgic visit recently.
Penny Colegate, 68, made the return to her hometown after moving to Hampshire 13 years ago. And when she arrived, she was appalled to find the streets littered with broken glass, rubbish and cigarette butts, giving the town a scruffy and run-down appearance.
Not only was this a health hazard, Penny explained, but it also tarnishes the Welsh town of Llandudno's reputation as being a pleasant place to visit.
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She reached out to North Wales Live to express her concerns about the town she once lived in before moving away following her ex-husband's death. She said: "Seeing the town like this really upset me. Llandudno is the premier tourist destination in North Wales and to say it was dirty is an understatement.
"As soon as I stepped out of the Travelodge, I saw a side road full of litter that was tumbling towards me in the wind."
"The whole place was filthy. Everywhere there were Coke cans, plastic bottles, serviettes and fast food wrappers. Cigarette butts too.
“Litter had accumulated in shop doorways and under public benches and it looked to have been there for a goodly period. I moved a glass left in the road so that it didn’t hurt anyone, and picked a glass jar from a drain and put it in a bin. Most of those responsible were visitors, I imagine, and it’s left the town looking dirty bordering on filthy.”
Llandudno is no different from most places in Britain in having litter issues. The summer tourism surge, allied to a large hospitality sector, adds to the town’s challenges. Street cleaners, as well as an army of volunteers, help to tackle the problem every day.
And regular visitors often have similar feelings about Llandudno. A Yorkshireman who visits annually has repeatedly posted about Llandudno’s litter. He said: “I just don’t understand why people travel a couple of hours each way to a lovely seaside town and then spoil it.
“The cost of cleaning this mess up is funded by a council that visitors don’t pay a penny towards. And whilst tourists are good for the local economy, it’s just a shame so many don’t respect your beautiful town like we do.”
During her stay, Penny complained to the council - with Conwy Council saying there was “no excuse” for littering. A spokesperson added: “We regularly remind visitors and residents to be responsible with their litter, via our social media accounts and on-site posters. Most people dispose of their litter responsibly, and it’s disappointing that there’s a minority of people who don’t.
“Littering can have a negative impact on everyone’s enjoyment of nature, can be a danger to animals and can pollute our environment. Take all your rubbish home with you, or put it in a bin, and leave no trace of your visit.”
