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Denbighshire County Council has expressed its disappointment that three areas of Rhyl have appeared in the top ten list of deprived areas in Wales, despite extensive regeneration and a range of community initiatives to improve the quality of life for residents.

Councillor David Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Regeneration, said: "The methodology for creating the deprivation index has changed since the last index in 2005, so it is difficult to compare the results. However, it remains a concern to us that three areas of Rhyl appear in the top ten.

"The Council feels strongly that much has been done to improve the physical environment around these areas of Rhyl through major regeneration and renovation schemes that form part of the Rhyl Going Forward programme.

 “The Council is improving the image of the area by working with its partners to demolish and rebuild or completely renovate properties. By the end of March, 147 properties in Rhyl had been refurbished as part of the housing renewal area programme and work is beginning on a further £5million scheme which will see other landmarks restored to their former glory.

"The Council's housing department has had great success with the refurbishment of the Council housing stock - most of which is in Rhyl. The Empty Homes strategy,  as well as funding to remove houses in multiple occupation and convert them back into family homes at affordable rents,  has also had a great impact on the quality of life for residents.

"The Council is one of the key partners of the Rhyl City Strategy, an initiative set up to tackle unemployment in the town and to provide opportunities for people to receive training and opportunities to get back into the world of work. This is a tremendous asset in the efforts to boost the local workforce.

"Rhyl is currently seeing significant public sector investment and major private sector funded projects are under development.  The town needs to take advantage of these projects, and re-invent itself for the 21st Century. 

Developments such as the harbour regeneration and Ocean Plaza will be significant catalysts for future growth, and we need to seize these opportunities and make sure that Rhyl residents benefit from them".

“Of course we will analyse the findings of this index in great details, but we really feel that Rhyl is on the up and these figures do not reflect the tremendous amount of work going on in the town.”