Traders on Anglesey are counting the cost of the temporary closure of the Port of Holyhead due to damage caused during Storm Darragh. One hotel operator has told how she has lost about £14,700 in cancelled bookings alone.
One councillor branded the effect of the port closure as “devastating” but observers also welcomed an announcement by port owners Stena Line about a re-opening date.
Gusts of over 93mph battered North Wales around December 7 with the Terminal 3 berth damaged. This has led to the suspension of crossings from that berth used by Irish Ferries and also at its adjoining Terminal 5 berth. However, port owners Stena say they hope to resume crossings with ferries using T5 from January 16. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now – here’s how to sign up
Erdinc Baysan, who runs Mete’s Smash Burger on Market Street, said fewer ferry passengers have been calling in at his business since the ferries were cancelled. He said: “Irish and American passengers come off the ferry into Holyhead town centre.
“We get the passing trade and they have takeaways, chips, wraps and milkshakes. But our customers are down about 25 per cent.
“We hope they fix it (the storm damage) but it seems to be going very slowly.” Further along Market Street Adriana Antocci and Ahmet Kacar run the Holly Molly Cafe.
Adriana Antocci and Ahmet Kacar have seen a reduction in passing trade at Holly Molly Cafe in Holyhead’s Market Street since the port was closed.
(Image: David Powell)
Adriana said: “We get the passing trade but that is down. We hope the port will be repaired soon and definitely by the time the cruise ships come in in Spring.” Cruise ships use a separate berth to that damaged.
Meanwhile Claudia Howard, who runs The Boathouse Hotel, bar and restaurant near Holyhead Marina, is also facing financial difficulties due to the port closure. She told North Wales Live: “People go to see relatives in Ireland and stop here on the way.
“It has had a huge impact on the accommodation side – we have lost 147 bookings. It has been disappointing and worrying.” The hurricane force winds, which also damaged the roof at the hotel as well as the port, were the strongest in living memory.
Ms Howard said: “My dad is 79 and he has never seen waves that big over the breakwater.” Like many hoteliers and other businesses, Ms Howard is already facing up the challenges of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions and to the minimum wage.
She believes VAT is cheaper for hospitality outlets in Europe and should be similar in Wales, and her hotel bedrooms are being refurbished too.
But she added that her business is lucky to have a alternative revenue streams from its restaurant and bar in addition to accommodation. In addition extra events are being hastily arranged to boost income.
These will include more music nights and open mic sessions, a Mad Hatter’s tea party, a murder mystery night and an LGBTQ+ event.
Isle of Anglesey County Cllr Keith Roberts is concerned about a fall in trade in Holyhead businesses after Storm Darragh damaged the Port of Holyhead and ferry crossings were cancelled
(Image: David Powell)
An Isle of Anglesey County Cllr Keith Roberts, of Ynys Gybi, also said there has been a drop in trade in Holyhead. That has come partly from the absence of ferry passengers but also from the lack of haulage drivers who drop off their container and let it go unaccompanied across from Holyhead to Dublin while waiting to collect another container arriving at the port around the UK.
He said they take rest breaks in Holyhead but also eat locally causing a dip in local trade. He added: “It feels like the supermarkets have been quiet because of the reduced passing trade linked to the port – that has been noticeable.”
But he welcomed Stena’s announcement about the date of January 16 for the T5 berth to be repaired and reinstated so at least Stena Line ferry crossings can resume.
Cllr Roberts said: “We were fighting an act of God in the case of Storm Darragh (around December 7). It caused devastation.
“But there’s a lot more optimism now because they have announced a timetable that they are working to to bring T5 back into operation (subject to weather allowing repairs to be done) on the 16th. Obviously they still have work to do on the T3.”
Another Councillor Trefor Lloyd Hughes is concerned about the overall timescale before the Port of Holyhead returns to normal.
He said: “Stena have been doing their best but what about the maintenance period before this happened? No doubt they will be busy but hopefully they will get the other half (T3 berth for Irish Ferries) open soon well.
“We hope the port will be back up and running as soon as possible.” A business in Valley near Holyhead reported fewer Irish customers but otherwise the port closure has not affected trade there.”