Colwyn Bay

Coordinates: 53°17′N 3°42′W / 53.29°N 3.70°W / 53.29; -3.70

Colwyn Bay
Welsh: Bae Colwyn
The Little Orme at sunset seen from Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay  Colwyn Bay shown within Wales
Population	28,992 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SH865785
Principal area	Conwy
Ceremonial county	Clwyd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	COLWYN BAY
Postcode district	LL29, LL28
Dialling code	01492
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Clwyd West
Welsh Assembly	Clwyd West
List of places: UK • Wales • Conwy

Colwyn Bay (Welsh: Bae Colwyn) is a town and seaside resort in Conwy county borough on the North Wales coast. The A55 road passes through the town, running parallel to the North Wales Coast Line.

The town is served by Colwyn Bay railway station.

Prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a municipal borough with a population of c. 25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales. In the 2001 Census the community of Colwyn Bay contained just 9,742 people, with the others as follows: Mochdre (1,862), Rhos-on-Sea (7,110), Old Colwyn (7,626) and Llysfaen (2,652). This gives a total figure for the five communities of 28,992, generally referred to as the population of Colwyn Bay, making it the 16th largest urban area in Wales and the second largest settlement in North Wales. The Colwyn Bay Town Council is a statutory body. The mayor for 2009-2010 is Councillor Abdul Mukith Khan, Plaid Cymru. The deputy mayor is Councillor Hazel Meredith, Conservative. The Bay of Colwyn is a Fairtrade Town as certified by the Fairtrade Foundation as part of the Fairtrade Towns scheme.

Attractions

Attractions in Colwyn Bay include its Victoria Pier, Eirias Park and Welsh Mountain Zoo. The town is situated between the sea and the Pwllycrochan Woods on the towering hillside. A business and commercial centre with rail links and close access to the activities that are available in the surrounding countryside. Colwyn Bay hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1910, 1947 and 1995.

The western side of Colwyn Bay, Rhos-on-Sea, includes a number of historic sites associated with St Trillo and Ednyfed Fychan, the 13th century general and councillor to Llywelyn the Great.

The Welsh language

According to the census of 2001, 20% of the population can speak Welsh fluently. The highest percentage of speakers is in the 10-14 years age group, where 38% can speak the language. There is a Welsh medium primary school in the town, called Ysgol Bod Alaw Ysgol Bod-Alaw.

Education

Colwyn Bay has three secondary schools - one private and two state. Eirias High School is in Eirias Park and Ysgol Bryn Elian is in Old Colwyn. Ysgol Bryn Elian mainly serves Old Colwyn and Eirias High School mainly serves Colwyn Bay, Rhos on Sea and Penrhyn Bay. Rydal Penrhos is a private school, which is on multiple sites in the town.

Notable people

Notable people from the town include:

• Carl Dale, footballer for Chester City and Cardiff City, as well as several non-league clubs.
• Two-time James Bond actor Timothy Dalton.
• Richard Ellis, the California-based astronomer, was born and went to school in Old Colwyn
• Monty Python star Terry Jones (from Old Colwyn).
• Cricketer Tony Lewis who captained Glamorgan.
• MP Alun Michael.
• Soap star William Roache, (Ken Barlow in Coronation Street), who attended Rydal Penrhos, a private school in the town.
• Rachel Taylor - Welsh womens rugby international player who at one time captained Colwyn Bay under 11's rugby team.
• Mickey Thomas who played for Manchester United, Wrexham and Chelsea lives in Mochdre.
• Helen Willetts, a BBC weather reporter.
• Big Breakfast presenter Paula Yates, who had relationships with Bob Geldof and Michael Hutchence of INXS.

See also

• Colwyn Bay F.C.
• Colwyn Bay RFC
• St Paul's Church, Colwyn Bay
• St David's Welsh Church, Colwyn Bay
• Christ Church, Bryn-y-Maen

External links

• Bay of Colwyn Town Council
• Welsh Mountain Zoo
• Colwyn Bay Football Club
• Colwyn Bay Rugby Club
• Colwyn Bay Business and Community Guide
• North Wales Pioneer newspaper

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