A TOTAL of seven properties of Rhyl due to go to auction today (July 30) have been withdrawn from the auction.

Some of these properties were used by Big Help Project, a charity providing temporary accommodation, but which is currently subject to a Charity Commission inquiry.

The properties in question are 35, 40, 42, 44 and 48 River Street; 31 Vale Road; and 56 East Parade.

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Big Help Project opened a community hub at 31 Vale Road – formerly The Prince of Wales pub – last September, while it also used some of the aforementioned River Street properties.

Big Help Holiday Homes Ltd, a company whose registered address is 48 River Street, Rhyl (where one of its properties was located), applied to be struck off and dissolved in April.

Voluntary strike-off action was then suspended a week later after an objection was submitted.

Aside from 31 Vale Road, the other six properties have previously been run as guest houses.

Estate agents Allsop state that auctions of all seven properties had been planned “by order of a charity”.

All of them bar 35 River Street are also listed as “vacant possession” properties.

In the case of 35 River Street, Allsop states that it was "sold subject to a lease dated July 29".

Allsop has been approached for further comment.

Big Help Project, whose activities include providing accommodation to vulnerable adults, opened the Vale Road hub last year to offer such services as food clubs, drop-in advice services, and wellbeing activities.

The Charity Commission, which regulates registered charities in England and Wales, first engaged with Big Help Project after identifying a significant increase in its reported income.

It then identified concerns regarding trustee decision making, potential unauthorised trustee benefit and unmanaged conflicts of interest.

A report will be published by the department following the conclusion of the inquiry.

A Big Help Project spokesperson told the Journal yesterday: “The properties are not in the ownership of Big Help Project, and therefore BHP are not in a position to make any comment on the sale.”