New Rhyl promenade kiosks should ‘not be like for like’ of old 1960s structures

New kiosks will be considered on Rhyl promenade after the old 1960s structures were condemned – but councillors were advised against ‘like for like’ replacements. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The development of Rhyl’s multi-million-pound coastal defence works means the popular kiosks will be demolished so the promenade can be raised, helping to protect the town from rising sea levels and extreme weather events. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

But there was a public outcry following the decision. This led to Cllr Justine Evans putting a motion before the council, proposing Denbighshire carry out a full business case feasibility study to reinstate the kiosk buildings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A debate ensued and councillors were instead swayed to vote that the matter be considered by a scrutiny committee in 2025, as part of a wider discussion around a Rhyl masterplan and linking the seafront and town centre.
Lead member for the environment and transport Cllr Barry Mellor told the chamber at the council’s Ruthin HQ that it was ‘unfortunate’ the kiosks were condemned.
“It is unfortunate that the kiosks needed to be removed,” he said.
“But we know that it was entirely necessary because the promenade in that area will be raised quite a substantial amount to create new sea defences. The second point I want to make is that closing the kiosks was negotiated with the tenants and was done with full agreement. Although there are currently no proposals to rebuild new kiosks, neither has it been ruled out.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “There is always an option to consider new kiosks in the future. If we did, then the previous tenants, under certain circumstances, have the first refusal to run them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Brian Jones said rebuilding the kiosks was the wish of many Rhyl residents. He added: “This motion has come to this chamber because of a resident outcry, and there seems to be a bit of a theme at the minute in Rhyl where we are upsetting residents, whether it’s over wild meadows, whether it’s over the Alex Hospital, and the comment has already been made this morning that we should be listening to the residents.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “We should be getting into the communities and understanding what they want.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Justine Evans tabled the motion on behalf of the Conservative party and said: “I fully understand why the kiosks are being removed. All we are saying is it’ll be nice to see them returned. The outcry was on social media. I was responding to that. The whole of Rhyl and the surrounding area used those kiosks.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

But chief executive Graham Boase recommended that councillors proceeded with caution. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He warned councillors against replacing ‘like for like’ and said the old kiosks were built in the 1960s, advising members they needed to think about how to encourage visitors into Rhyl’s town centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​