Welsh Government accused of ‘abandoning’ Rhyl after town labelled ‘one of most violent and deprived areas’

The Welsh Government has been accused of “abandoning” Rhyl after a BBC report was published describing the town as “one of the most violent and deprived areas in England and Wales”.

The article quotes research showing the number of serious offences in the town went up every year for four years until the first coronavirus lockdown.

Vale of Clwyd MS Gareth Davies claimed the report, which is the first in a series aimed at tracking the progress of the UK Government’s “levelling up” agenda, shows how Rhyl has been left behind by the Welsh Government.

The accusation has been denied by the government in Cardiff Bay, which has pointed to the millions of pounds it has invested in the town in recent years.

In a post on Facebook, Mr Davies said: “We already knew that Rhyl was home to the most deprived wards in Wales, but this new research from the BBC shows not only is the town one of the most deprived in England & Wales, but that its also one of the most violent.

“I find this news shocking but it also makes me more determined.

“Rhyl has been abandoned by the Welsh Labour Government, who care more about constitutional reform or improving the South Wales Valleys than they do for our coastal communities here in the north.

“One of my key aims as the local MS is to improve the town, not only the image of the town but also the lives of its residents.

“I have been meeting with the local authority to help improve housing and local amenities. I am in the process of organising a residents fair, bringing together all relevant agencies to ensure town residents get they help and support they need.

“I am also setting up a cross party group on coastal communities to gather the best evidenced based approaches to recovery.

“It’s imperative that Welsh Government ministers stop fighting the UK Government’s levelling-up agenda and work with them to help Rhyl and the people who live in the town.

“Rhyl’s plight has been ignored for far too long and I will do everything possible to ensure it gets the help it needs from Cardiff and London.”

The remarks by Mr Davies have received a mixed response on Facebook with some people agreeing with his sentiments.

However, others questioned what the UK Government was planning to do for Rhyl, with little detail in the BBC article over how levelling up money will specifically be used in the town.

In a statement issued to North.Wales, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Our Transforming Towns programme is providing £136 million to help support the economic and social recovery of our town and city centres in every corner of Wales.

“In Rhyl the programme is delivering significant town centre projects such as the Queens Market Building, Costigan’s, which has been completely refurbished to include working space for local people, and the old Post Office – bringing new life to underutilised buildings through retail, leisure and office developments, investments worth almost £14m and increasing the area’s vibrancy and links to the sea front tourism offer.

“We have also recently announced a £3m pilot Town Centre Loan fund for four North Wales towns, including Rhyl, to encourage entrepreneurs to set up business there building upon a £2.8m Town Centre Loan Scheme already operating in Rhyl.

“The Transforming Towns programme builds on £800m projected investment in our town centres across Wales since 2014.”