UK GOVERNMENT ministers were in Rhyl (January 11) to see how £20million of Levelling Up money is regenerating the town.

Jacob Young, the Levelling Up minister, and Fay Jones, Wales office minister, saw how regeneration projects in Rhyl will benefit communities. 

Denbighshire County Council was awarded £20m in the previous round of the Levelling Up Fund, with £11m committed to regenerating Rhyl.

People will benefit from a regeneration of the town centre, creation of more community centres, and improvements to cycle and footpaths and routes between the town and coast. 

Alongside the transformation of Rhyl’s High Street, the ministers also saw where money is being used to revive the Queen’s Market and Central Promenade.

Queen’s Market will be turned into a mixed used retail development to boost business, while improved travel routes will reconnect the town centre with the promenade and beach.

Ministers also visited the Salusbury Arms pub in Tremeirchion, which has re-opened its doors thanks to £175,000 from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund.

The 200-year-old pub, the only remaining pub in the village, is now renovated and community-owned.

Mr Young said: “I loved being in North Wales to see first-hand how levelling up will be made a reality here thanks to millions of pounds of UK Government support.

“I was also delighted to visit the Salusbury Arms, a much loved pub in Tremeirchion with a great deal of history, that has been saved through a mix of the local community’s brilliant campaigning work and our Community Ownership Fund support.

“These projects show how committed we are to levelling up in Wales and it is heartening to see how the money will positively impact communities for generations to come.”

Ms Jones added: “A great visit to Denbighshire yesterday to see these wonderful projects that will make a huge difference to local people’s lives.

“The ambitious plans for the regeneration of Rhyl will be a huge boost for the town, helping to attract businesses, create jobs and grow the local economy. 

“And I much enjoyed meeting the people behind saving the Salusbury Arms who have worked so hard to safeguard the pub for future generations – congratulations to them!”

Vice chair of the Salusbury Arms, Jane Marsh, said: “Securing the Community Ownership Fund to support our bid to own The Salusbury has meant that we were able to purchase the building outright.

“Not only without taking on debt, but also to convey to almost 200 shareholders that the Government had confidence in our vision for the future of this treasured Community asset.

“The process was straightforward and I would urge other communities like ours to apply.”

The Community Ownership Fund is currently open for applications for Round 3 Window 3.

Voluntary and community groups can bid for funding to acquire important assets and run them for the benefit of the community.

The window opened on December 6, 2023 and will close at 11.59am on January 31.

More details on applying for the next Community Ownership Fund can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-ownership-fund-prospectus/community-ownership-fund-prospectus–3