The Daily Post

August 29th 2003

THE owner of a Victorian castle which has fallen into ruin has spoken of his plans to convert it into a casino, hotel and leisure complex.

But the teenager who has led the campaign for the restoration of Gwrych Castle at Abergele is sceptical.

"We have heard it all before, and nothing has ever happened," said Mark Baker.

He was speaking after appearing on the HTV programme If Only The Walls Had Ears in which he outlined his campaign to try to persuade the authorities that the castle should be saved.

Also appearing on the programme was Nick Tavaglione, the Californian-based businessman who bought the property for £750,000 in 1989. His original plan to establish an opera centre soon fell through.

His latest proposal, he said, was to build holiday chalets in nearby woods and convert the building into a casino and hotel. "It would create a lot of employment," he said.

©Mark Baker