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A major strategy to help regenerate Rhyl and its community has been submitted to Welsh Assembly Government Minister Andrew Davies. The strategy outlines ten turnkey projects, each of strategic significance, which together will help transform the future of Rhyl and provide the town, its businesses and its community with a stable and prosperous future.
This strategy was developed at the invitation of Andrew Davies AM, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Economic Development. He visited Rhyl at the invitation of Chris Ruane MP and Ann Jones AM and held a general discussion with public agencies about the regeneration needs of Rhyl. A wide group of public agencies was then formed to act as a partnership to identify the requirements of Rhyl and produce solutions.
Iwan Prys Jones, Corporate Director for Environment for Denbighshire County Council, who headed the partnership said “I am very grateful to the wide group of agencies who have helped produce this report, especially the Welsh Development Agency. Andrew Davies’s invitation has produced a clear and focused partnership to help regenerate Rhyl. With Wales’s most deprived ward, it is essential that action be taken to help Rhyl and the report spells out in detail what needs to be done to provide conditions for businesses to thrive in Rhyl and for the community to flourish”.
The report “Rhyl Going Forward – Strategy and Key Investment Programme”, proposes ten turnkey projects covering a wide range of activities and providing a medium to long term programme for investment in Rhyl.
Totalling £57 million, some of which, it is envisaged, could be secured from existing funding streams, the projects provide for the removal of dereliction, the creation of amenity space within West Rhyl, improving the environment in South West Rhyl, securing the future of Rhyl College in the town, significant employment initiatives as well as helping to improve the health of the community and removing some of the access impediments that currently exist in Rhyl.
Councillor Eryl Williams, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Development welcomed the report.
“I have presented the report to Denbighshire’s Cabinet and there is widespread support for the document and a willingness by the Cabinet to look at ways of helping to make the programme to become a reality. The strategy provides a very real opportunity for the community in Rhyl to gather in support of a strategy that can make a real difference to Rhyl’s future. I am pleased that the initial consultation, particularly amongst the elected representatives in Rhyl have shown enthusiasm for the proposals and the County Council looks forward to future discussion with the Welsh Assembly Government on this exciting programme to regenerate Rhyl.
Ann Jones AM said 'This strategic document provides a good beginning to the work that is needed to regenerate Rhyl. Our town has clear and identified needs which require a significant investment of resources. The report sets out clearly the cogent reasons for fresh investment and identifies equally clearly ten strategic projects which together will make a significant difference to Rhyl. I am happy to present this to Andrew Davies, the Welsh Assembly Government's Minister for Economic Development and am grateful to him for inviting the report. I shall be looking for a positive response from the Minister and will be inviting him to Rhyl to discuss it further and to ensure that action takes place'.
Chris Ruane MP said 'I fully support the Rhyl Going Forward Strategy that has been produced. It forms a comprehensive programme of work that will make a real difference to the community in Rhyl. I am aware that it has been supported by elected representatives on both Councils and I am delighted that it should receive the endorsement of Ann Jones the Assembly Member and myself.
It is important that the community now get involved and be behind this. This is not the end of the story, rather it is the beginning and we have a lot of work to do to make sure that this programme is resourced and becomes a reality'.
The programme marks the end of the very first stage in the development of a regeneration strategy for Rhyl. A group of priorities have been identified and brought together in a common programme which has been costed and submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government for further discussion. The programme is not cast in stone, it is very much a first step and the views of the community in Rhyl are now eagerly sought. Representatives of the partnership are available to discuss the contents of the report with interested groups. Arrangements have been made to place the report on the Rhyl / Athy Interreg website whose address is www.rhylrar.com and a copy will also be made available in Rhyl Library and at the Rhyl Community Agency. The Rhyl / Athy Interreg website will be an interactive website so that comments can be made and questions asked. The website will be active from the week beginning 18 April 2004.
The ten turnkey projects identified are: -
Drift Park – a scheme to upgrade the environment on West Parade and reclaim the promenade for visitors, estimated cost £3.6m.
Space for Living – a regeneration area strategy for West Rhyl to involve the recreation of amenity space and a reduction in the density of houses in multiple occupancy, estimated cost £14m.
Pride in our Town – to provide match funding for the Townscape Heritage Initiative which is starting in the centre of Rhyl so as to conserve important buildings from Rhyl’s past and also upgrade the physical environment, estimated cost £5.75m
Jobs for All – to provide employment sites within Rhyl especially at Cefndy Employment Park and incubation units for starter businesses in West Rhyl, estimated cost, £8m.
Lifelong Learning – to ensure the permanency of the Rhyl College site, estimated cost £1.65m.
Improving Communities – to significantly improve the environment in the public housing estates in South West Rhyl, estimated costs £900k.
Harbour and Marine Development – to significantly improve harbour facilities at Foryd Harbour and to expand the yachting use of the area, estimated cost £16.7m.
Healthy Living Centre – to provide a primary health centre in Rhyl, estimated cost £2m.
Connecting Community to Opportunity – to provide improved access to education facilities so as to connect the Rhyl community to centres of educational excellence, estimated cost £4.5m.
Access to Opportunity – to provide detailed feasibility studies to examine new routes to link Rhyl to the main highway network, estimated costs £300k.
Contact details: Rhyl Going Forward Officer - 01824 708017