A PARK along Rhyl’s promenade has been demolished while work is undertaken to improve the town’s coastal defences.
The Drift Park play area, on West Parade, closed on Tuesday (March 6), and its equipment has now been removed from the site.
It will re-open with new equipment following completion of the work, which is scheduled to be at the end of 2025.
A Denbighshire County Council spokesperson said: “The Drift Park Play Area will be closed from March 6 for an extended period of time.
“This is necessary due to the ongoing work on the Central Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme, which is scheduled for completion at the end of 2025.
“The current play equipment will be removed and replaced with new equipment upon completion of the scheme.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Earlier this week, a resident, who asked not to be named, criticised the council’s decision to close the play area, saying it is often well-populated with children enjoying its facilities.
They told the Journal: “I know that loads of kids go and play there, but they’re ripping the park out for this access road.
“They say they’ve done all sorts of surveying, and that no kids play there, but I know that’s not true because I live two minutes from that play area. They haven’t consulted anyone in the area.
“There are plenty of other places where they could put the access road, like right behind the SeaQuarium, or they could alter the one further down the road.”
Denbighshire County Council has worked with its partner, Balfour Beatty, to design both the schemes in both Rhyl and Prestatyn, and their combined cost is £92million.
Supported by Welsh Government funding, the new coastal structures will further reduce the risk of flooding, and aim to provide reassurance to communities in the face of rising sea levels caused by climate change.
Rhyl Golf Club has also closed while the works are carried out, but is due to re-open in April 2024.
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