An empty funfair ride awaits riders in the seaside resort of Rhyl, Denbighshire (Image: Getty Images)
A struggling Welsh seaside resort could see one of its most troubled attractions transformed as plans emerge for a £5.5million makeover. Children’s Village, on the seafront in Rhyl, could receive a major revamp funded by money left over from a coastal defence project.
The attraction opened in the 1990s in a bid to regenerate the resort and draw in more visitors. But Rhyl has since suffered the loss of several major tourist attractions, prompting some locals to joke that Children’s Village is cursed. The town has even been dubbed the “Costa del Dole” and was named Britain’s worst seaside town by The Telegraph in 2023.
An empty merry go round funfair ride awaits riders in the seaside resort of Rhyl (Image: Getty Images)
Denbighshire County Council is considering using up to £5.5million in savings from the Central Rhyl Coastal Defence project to breathe new life into the site, reported The Sun.
Cabinet members were due to discuss the proposals on October 20, with the money potentially paying for improved access, landscaping and more accessible public spaces.
The plans also include creating a flexible space for community activities, with the wider aim of reconnecting Rhyl’s town centre with its seafront and beaches.
A council spokesman said: “The Council is considering using the underspend from the Central Rhyl Coastal Defence project to support regeneration and tourism improvements at the Children’s Village.”
A general view of the deserted seaside promenade during the lockdown (Image: Getty Images)
The spokesman added that the proposals were intended to create a more welcoming destination and help reconnect the town centre with the coastline.
The proposed revamp comes after a succession of closures that have changed Rhyl’s seafront.
The Sky Tower shut in 2010 before being repurposed as an illuminated landmark. The Sun Centre, once billed as Europe’s first indoor surfing pool, closed in 2014, while Seaquarium shut its doors in 2023.
The council hopes the latest investment will help reverse that decline and encourage visitors to spend more time in the resort.
The authority says more than £200million has been invested in Rhyl over the past decade, including improvements to coastal defences, the promenade, housing and public spaces.
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Other developments include the SC2 waterpark, the Queen’s Market food hall and the town’s events venue, now known as Arena Mike Peters.
Further investment is also expected. Around £12million from the Pride of Place and Natural Environment Fund is earmarked for improvements to the town centre and promenade, while a further £20million from the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme is intended to support a 10-year regeneration plan.
However, the proposed £5.5million project is not simply about restoring an old amusement attraction. The plans focus on making the area more accessible, improving its appearance and creating a space that can be used for different community activities and events throughout the year.
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