£5.5 Million Revamp Planned for Rhyl's Struggling Children's Village
Denbighshire County Council seeks to reallocate flood defense project funds to revitalize a seafront attraction in a town previously named 'UK's worst seaside town'.
A 'cursed' seaside attraction in Rhyl, a Welsh resort town, is slated for a potential £5.5 million transformation. Denbighshire County Council is proposing to use an estimated £5.5 million underspend from a flood defense improvement project to revitalize the Children's Village on the town's seafront.
The Children's Village was originally built in the 1990s as part of an effort to regenerate the area and attract visitors. However, as Rhyl experienced a decline, eventually being named the UK's worst seaside town by The Telegraph in 2023, the attraction and its surroundings have struggled to thrive. This string of setbacks has led some to jokingly refer to the amusement spot as 'cursed'.
Rhyl's seafront has seen several former attractions close in recent years. The Sun Centre, which once housed Europe's first indoor surfing pool, shut down in 2014. The Sky Tower closed in 2010, later being repurposed as an illuminated landmark. More recently, SeaQuarium closed its doors in 2023.
The council's proposal aims to utilize the spare funds to boost regeneration and tourism in Rhyl, with the Welsh Government having reportedly approved the plan. The condition is that the funding must be used on works adjacent to the coastal defense project.
A council report indicates that the proposed works will improve access to the Children's Village area, introduce paving and grassed areas for leisure, create a large open space for flexible future use, and build raised areas for visitors to view the beach. The current funfair in the area is expected to be relocated to the former SeaQuarium site.
The council has previously articulated its vision to transform the area into a 'Waterfront Park,' intended to serve as a high-quality, flexible events space accessible throughout the year. Planned improvements include enhanced accessibility, waterside and terraced gardens, upgraded landscaping, and new public spaces designed to create a more inviting environment for both residents and tourists.
Some existing buildings may be demolished to accommodate parking and other services. The Denbighshire County Council is scheduled to meet on October 20 to discuss these plans further.