Unsafe buildings on Rhyl High Street are being prepared for demolition whilst the council negotiates the purchase of several adjacent properties.

Denbighshire County Council contractors are now preparing scaffolding at 123-125 on the High Street before the unsafe buildings can be demolished.

Rhyl High Street is currently closed to traffic between the pedestrianised section and the Vale Road Bridge.

A council spokesman confirmed the scaffolding work will take around two weeks and the demolition up to three months to complete.

The council remains tight-lipped over its exact plans on the stretch but confirmed it is currently negotiating the purchase of several adjacent properties.

A spokesman also said special provisions have been put in place to allow taxi firms to continue to operate.

The spokesman for Denbighshire County Council commented, “We are working on this section of Rhyl High Street as part of our long-term vision for the town under the Rhyl Town Centre Vision.

“The vision focuses on key areas of regeneration in Rhyl, including improving the appearance of the town centre and linking it with the promenade.

“This work will complement the Queen’s Market development and the work which has already been completed on the waterfront.

“We will work with the community and carry out a full consultation on plans as they develop.”

He added: “We are pleased to confirm that taxis displaced from the rank on Lower High Street have now been permitted to continue using a section of the pedestrian High Street whilst the road closure is in place (area adjacent to Gregg’s).

“In relation to the demolition of 123-125, the scaffolding contractors will be on-site with a view to begin the installation of the scaffolding, which is expected to take about two weeks.

“We have now completed the purchase of 131 (former Games Exchange), and the property will be secured before we embark on the second phase of the development.

“We are currently making headway on the purchase of 123-129 properties, and our legal team are in discussions with the owners’ solicitors on this matter.

“I can confirm that we have now updated businesses in relation to the temporary taxi rank and scaffolding and will continue to update stakeholders as work progresses.”

Denbighshire’s spokesman refused to be drawn into what the plans were for the buildings not yet owned by the council.