Rhyl residents react to plans to develop Children's Village

Denbighshire County Council is proposing a scheme of improvements for the current Children’s Village area, which includes a “high-quality, flexible events space that can be enjoyed throughout the year”.

Other plans include enhanced accessibility for all users, waterside and terraced gardens, improved landscaping, and new public spaces to create a “more welcoming, attractive and enjoyable environment”.

A concept for a central events space with ambient lighting, covered viewing areas and a raised stage, shown in a night-time setting. The flexible events space is proposed for the centre of the Waterfront Park area. (Image: Denbighshire County Council)

The funfair at the Children’s Village may also be moved to the site on the promenade formerly occupied by SeaQuarium, which closed in late 2023 and was demolished in early 2025.

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Tim Towers, from the council, said an ice cream kiosk, the tourist information centre, and a building for parking enforcement officers at the Children’s Village would be demolished if the proposal in its current form progresses.

Mr Towers was speaking at a consultation event regarding the plans, held at Rhyl’s Queen’s Market on Wednesday afternoon (August 12).

Numerous residents at the consultation event spoke to the Journal to share their views on the plans, including their desire to see a free paddling pool open at the Children’s Village.

Christine Williams, 74, said she would also prefer to see more kiosks and cafes on the promenade.

Christine Williams (Image: Newsquest)

She added: “I don’t see the point of another events space. We already have one (Rhyl Events Arena) and it’s underused.

“The informal space for families is far too small. You could only get about 10 families in there.

“The existing gardens at the Children’s Village are overcrowded not well-maintained, so why create more? Vandals will destroy the plants.”

Grandparents Lynn and Terry O’Brien, who moved to Rhyl from Cambridge, said they dislike the proposal to relocate the Children’s Village funfair to where the town’s SeaQuarium attraction used to be.

Lynn and Terry O’Brien (Image: Newsquest)

They also voiced concerns about another event space, and said they would like more toilet facilities introduced on the promenade.

Mrs O’Brien said: “The plans are a bit of a disappointment. The pictures are probably out of sync with what we’re likely to get.

“For kids, there’s nothing out there along the promenade.”

Beverley Latham said she would prefer to see the council “clean the town up” first, describing the centre of Rhyl as “diabolically dirty”.

Beverley Latham (Image: Newsquest)

She said moving the Children’s Village funfair could be detrimental, because of its current closer proximity to other attractions such as the SC2 water park or the Strand Cinema.

Ms Latham added: “We’ve already got a flexible event space; the Events Arena. Why not spend money doing that up?

“Who is going to look after this? Is it going to have security staff? Are police going to be there all the time?”

Mr Towers said feedback from Wednesday’s event will be relayed to the project’s contractor.

An update on the project is likely to be shared with the public before the end of the year.

Modular furniture is proposed in the small landscaped area closest to the cinema. (Image: Denbighshire County Council)

He added: “I’m not sure how feasible a paddling pool would be, or what its running costs would be. It’s a nice thing to have, but it’s not a game changer. We need to put something here that’s going to snowball into bringing in more and more people.

“I think the general feedback is positive. I think most people want that area to be changed, and think it’s the right area to spend money on. We’ve got the opportunity to produce what will be a nice area, with the potential to develop it further.”

Mr Towers said only the waterside gardens would be on Rhyl’s seafront; not also the terraced gardens, which would be further back.

The events space would comprise “moveable seating” and “possible sheltered areas,” he said, while feedback regarding potential lack of provision for teenagers and young adults would be considered.

A concept for a 'promenade walk' - a landscaped pedestrian route linking the cinema car park to the centre of the Waterfront Park, with planting and informal seating. (Image: Denbighshire County Council)

A concept for a landscaped area with lawns, trees, shrubs and planted borders alongside walkways, located nearest the promenade. (Image: Denbighshire County Council)

On moving the funfair to the former site of SeaQuarium, Mr Towers said there are two reasons for this.

He said: “Firstly, we’ve got space to put it into, and secondly, it frees up the Children’s Village.

“At the moment, it doesn’t take up all of the Children’s Village, but it stops us using that space effectively, so it’s a double-win, really.

“What we want is a space that’s adaptable. Everyone says you can’t sit out and see the sea anymore because the wall’s in the way, and you’ve got big, dead areas that you can’t do anything with.

“It’s an opportunity for us to make use of money that we never thought we’d get, to continue the vision of linking the town with the beach, and to enhance an area that is just tired now.”

• What do you think of the proposals? Let us know in the comments.