Rhyl Town Improvements Already Having an Impact

Rachel Jones , 16th May 2019

A plan to spruce up town centre buildings in Rhyl is already having an impact.

Last year Denbighshire County Council surveyed businesses, residents and visitors to Rhyl to find out what they thought about the town and what changes they would like to see.

The majority of people felt improvements to the appearance of the town were needed and acting on this feedback, the Council initiated a project to address concerns and has been working closely with local businesses and landlords.

The Council launched a plan to ensure buildings which have fallen into a poor state and are in need of renovating are improved by their owners, contributing towards making the town more welcoming and attracting investment, tourists and shoppers.

So far 22 buildings have been improved since the project was launched in October last year while refurbishment work is either on-going or planned on another 15 properties.

Work has included repainting windows and render, renewal of broken glazing, refurbishment of business signage and security shutters and the removal of weeds growing out of buildings.

Emlyn Jones, the Council’s Head of Planning and Public Protection Services, said:

“The feedback we have been getting from local businesses and residents has been extremely positive, they can see the difference this is making to their town.

“The owners and occupiers of buildings that have been renovated are to be congratulated on the good example they are setting and we encourage others to follow suit.

“There are clear long term benefits for property owners and businesses by improving their properties, bringing them up to higher standards.

“By working together, we can really make a difference to the visual impact of the town centre and encourage more people in for shopping, entertainment and to do business.

“We believe this is a unique project and there are no similarly focused projects with dedicated staff on-going within North Wales. It is hoped that our partnership approach will be met with understanding and an acceptance by property owners that making their contribution towards improving the town centre for the good of all is good business sense.”

Luke Coltman-Jones, 29, has owned the Rumblin’ Tum café for two years said he is delighted after the building’s owner carried out work including cleaning gutters, repairing and painting the front of the building.

He said:

“We have had lots of comments from customers about how much better the building looks. I’m really pleased with the work and hopefully this scheme will attract more custom and bring some more business to the area.

“I’m glad the owner of the building could see the benefits and was happy to get on board with this project and volunteered to carry out the work to set a good example.

“I think Rhyl is on the up and hopefully we can get our name back on the map and get it how it used to be.”

Nadeem Ahmad, who owns the Jean Emporium and Chrome clothing stores in the town centre, said:

“I have been impressed with the work that has taken place already in Rhyl. It has been highly encouraging to see the effort being made by businesses and property owners alike carrying out works to improve their properties. It reflects the confidence and aspirations that we all have for Rhyl going forward.”

Officers from the Council’s Planning and Public Protection Service will continue to assess town centre properties and work with property owners to deliver guidance and when necessary, formal planning enforcement powers can be used.

The Council itself is investing in key buildings in the town centre which it has recently purchased for redevelopment to provide new high quality apartments and space for smaller businesses to get off the ground. These include the former Granite Outdoors shop and the former Next shop, where refurbishment works have just commenced, as well as the Queens Buildings.

Mae cynllun i dwtio adeiladau yng nghanol tref y Rhyl eisoes yn cael effaith.

Y llynedd, arolygodd Cyngor Sir Ddinbych fusnesau, trigolion ac ymwelwyr â'r Rhyl i ganfod beth oedd eu barn am y dref a pha newidiadau yr hoffent eu gweld.

Teimlai’r rhan fwyaf o bobl bod angen gwelliannau i ymddangosiad y dref a, gan weithredu ar yr adborth hwn, lansiodd y Cyngor brosiect i fynd i'r afael â phryderon, gan weithio'n agos gyda busnesau a landlordiaid lleol.

Lansiodd y Cyngor gynllun i sicrhau bod perchnogion yn gwella adeiladau sydd mewn cyflwr gwael ac sydd angen eu hadnewyddu, er mwyn cyfrannu at wneud y dref yn fwy croesawgar, gan ddenu buddsoddiad, twristiaid a siopwyr.

Hyd yma, mae 22 o adeiladau wedi’u gwella ers lansio'r prosiect ym mis Hydref y llynedd, ac mae gwaith adnewyddu naill ai wrthi'n cael ei wneud neu wedi ei gynllunio ar 15 eiddo arall.

Mae’r gwaith yn cynnwys ail-beintio ffenestri a rendr, adnewyddu ffenestri sydd wedi torri, ailwampio arwyddion busnesau a chaeadau diogelwch, a thynnu chwyn sy’n tyfu allan o adeiladau.

Meddai Emlyn Jones, Gwasanaethau Pennaeth Cynllunio a Gwarchod y Cyhoedd y Cyngor:

“Mae’r adborth rydym wedi ei gael gan fusnesau a thrigolion lleol wedi bod yn gadarnhaol iawn, gallan nhw weld y gwahaniaeth y mae'n ei wneud i'w tref.

“Rhaid llongyfarch perchnogion a thenantiaid adeiladau sydd wedi cael eu hadnewyddu am yr esiampl dda y maen nhw’n ei gosod, ac rydym yn annog eraill i wneud yr un fath.

“Mae buddion hirdymor amlwg ar gyfer perchnogion eiddo a busnesau, wrth wella a chodi safonau eu heiddo.

“Drwy gydweithio, gallwn wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i effaith weledol canol y dref ac annog mwy o bobl i ddod i siopa, dod am adloniant a dod i wneud busnes.

“Rydym yn credu bod hwn yn brosiect unigryw ac nid oes yna brosiectau penodol tebyg eraill gyda staff ymroddedig ar y gweill yng ngogledd Cymru. Y gobaith yw y bydd perchnogion eiddo yn deall ac yn derbyn ein hymagwedd partneriaeth i wneud cyfraniad pan fo angen, tuag at wella canol y dref er lles pawb”.

Mae Luke Coltman-Jones, 29, wedi bod yn berchen ar gaffi Rumblin’ Tum ers dwy flynedd ac mae wrth ei fodd bod perchennog yr adeilad wedi gwneud gwaith gwella i’r adeilad, gan gynnwys glanhau’r cwteri, atgyweirio a pheintio blaen yr adeilad.

Dywedodd:

“Rydym wedi cael llawer o sylwadau gan gwsmeriaid am gymaint yn well y mae’r adeilad yn edrych. Rwy'n bles iawn gyda'r gwaith a gobeithio y bydd y cynllun hwn yn denu mwy o gwsmeriaeth ac yn dod â mwy o fusnes i'r ardal.

“Rwy’n falch y gallai perchennog yr adeilad weld y buddion ac yn hapus i gymryd rhan yn y prosiect hwn drwy wirfoddoli i gynnal y gwaith a dangos esiampl dda.

“Rwy’n meddwl bod y Rhyl ar wella a gobeithio y cawn ein henw yn ôl ar y map a chael pethau'n ôl fel oedden nhw.”

Dywedodd Nadeem Ahmad, sy'n berchen ar siopau dillad Jean Emporium a Chrome yng nghanol y dref:

“Rydw i'n hapus iawn gyda'r gwaith sydd eisoes wedi ei gynnal yn y Rhyl. Mae wedi bod yn galonogol iawn i weld yr ymdrech gan fusnesau a pherchnogion eiddo fel ei gilydd, yn gwneud gwaith i wella eu heiddo. Mae'n adlewyrchu'r hyder a’r uchelgeisiau sydd gennym ar gyfer y Rhyl yn symud ymlaen.”

Bydd Swyddogion o Wasanaeth Cynllunio a Gwarchod y Cyhoedd y Cyngor yn parhau i asesu eiddo canol y dref ac yn gweithio gyda pherchnogion eiddo i roi canllawiau a, lle y bo angen, gellir defnyddio pwerau gorfodi cynllunio ffurfiol.

Mae’r Cyngor ei hun yn buddsoddi mewn adeiladau allweddol yng nghanol y dref y mae wedi'u prynu'n ddiweddar ar gyfer eu hailddatblygu er mwyn creu rhandai newydd o ansawdd uchel a lle i fusnesau llai lwyddo. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys hen siopau Granite Outdoors a Next, lle mae gwaith adnewyddu newydd ddechrau, yn ogystal ag Adeiladau'r Frenhines.