New Colwyn Bay community hub to make positive difference

Colwyn bay Community Hwb will open in early 2024 in Rhiw Road.

Tom Ward, who owns Wardy's Gaming on Abergele Road in Colwyn Bay, is opening the new venture alongside fellow directors Joe Blakesley and Ben Watts.

It is hoped that the 'hwb' can support young people and get them off the streets. The space has a clear message that once you walk through the door, 'you leave your problems outside'.

The building will also be available for community groups to hire out and residents will be able to rent the hall for events such as birthday parties. 

Tom, of Meliden, said: "Since I put the announcement on social media, I have been inundated with calls and messages

"We have been after this building for some months. We want to get youngsters off the streets and give them something to do.

"There will be table tennis, retro gaming, football, pool table as well as other activities - it will give teenagers and young people somewhere to go.

"We've also got music, performing arts, underground music going into the hwb and fitness classes booked in.

"The community can pay a fee to rent the hall as well and that will go towards the hall's upkeep - it is all not for profit. We are Community Interest Company (CIC). There is a stage which some groups might like to make use of.

Inside one of the rooms at Colwyn bay Community Hwb (Image: Permission granted for use)
"There is also a foodbank and we will have a school uniform exchange. We ran out of space at Wardy's Gaming.

"Wardy's Gaming will be moving into the hwb, it makes sense to do that. We will have a gaming club too - Pokémon, Warhammer and Yugioh."

The building on Rhiw Road has two kitchens. One will be used by a youth club. 

Tom said: "The building has been empty for quite a while. 

"Things are starting to move fast now. It hasn't really sunk in what it means to us because the phone and messages haven't stopped. 

"There has been a lot of positive support which I didn't really think there would be, you always get one negative keyboard warrior, but no - all positive.

"There is so much going on at the moment - I might be able to sleep when it opens!"

The hwb will host table top sales. In the summer, these will be held indoors and outdoors - the building benefits from a car park. 

"Reverend Christie, from St Paul's in Colwyn Bay, has been very supportive from the first mention of it," Tom added.

Another room inside the new Colwyn bay Community Hwb (Image: Permission granted for use)

"We hope the hwb can stop or hopefully show youngsters there is something else to do than anti-social behaviour.

"The rules of the hub are... when you walk through the door, you leave your problems outside. 

"We have a 'three' part warning system - first warning, you will be asked to leave for 24 hours, second - leave for a week and then from there, that week gets longer. If trouble is caused, there has to be consequences

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"There will also be people to talk to at the hwb if youngsters have got a problem, someone to confide in confidentially."

It is hoped the hwb can make a positive difference to the town after so many 'blows' in the last few months. 

Last week, the Pioneer revealed that Poundland, in the BayView Shopping Centre, is set to shut on January 5 2024.

Boots confirmed it will close stores in Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea next year; The company said their pharmacy in Rhos will shut in March, with the Station Road store in Colwyn Bay set to close in April, as part of 300 Boots store closures across the UK.

Wood's, a card and gift shop that had been trading in Colwyn Bay for more than 20 years, also closed in September. 

Then owner Neil Wood felt there was "little support" for independent shops like Wood's and that "crime, theft and  antisocial behaviour" was putting customers off the town.