THE building which previously housed the SeaQuarium attraction on Rhyl’s promenade has been fenced off before it is demolished.
SeaQuarium closed for good last November, and attributed its decision to Denbighshire County Council’s Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme, the development of which is taking place by the site.
Its owners had previously said they believed the coastal works would have a harmful impact on hearing, and induce a chronic stress response from seals with behavioural and physical welfare issues.
Denbighshire County Council said earlier this month that demolition is due to start in the autumn, after it had offered the building to other operators, but none expressed an interest in taking it on.
Rhyl resident Duncan Nield-Siddall shared the attached photos of preparatory work being undertaken at the site before its demolition gets underway.
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A council spokesperson said: “One of the main aims of the Rhyl Town Centre Vision is to improve the visibility of the seafront and to better link the town centre with the beach.
“The 30-year-old building has stood empty since the closure of SeaQuarium at the end of November 2023, and is no longer fit for purpose as a modern tourist attraction.
“The building is in a prime location on Rhyl’s seafront, with links to the town centre and the beach, but needs significant investment to make it fit for purpose.
“Having fully considered all options, the decision has been made that the site can be put to better use.
“The council is in discussions about how this prime location will be used in future once the building is demolished.”
It is envisaged that the process of demolishing the building will take between two and three months.
Balfour Beatty, the contractor currently working on Rhyl’s coastal sea defence scheme, will oversee the demolition as part of the current programme of work it is completing.
A Freedom of Information request made by the Journal in February revealed that the council contributed £90,000 towards finding new homes for SeaQuarium’s six seals.
The SeaQuarium had been established in Rhyl for beyond 30 years, welcomed in excess of 80,000 visitors each year, and employed more than 20 people.
A Denbighshire County Council spokesperson said: “The current plan is to demolish the building this autumn.
"The contractor is currently reviewing the programme and confirmation of a more specific timescale will be made once the review is completed.
"In the meantime, the fencing surrounding the site has been replaced to improve security."
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