Council unveils Central Rhyl flood defence plans

Denbighshire County Council has announced the latest plans for the defences at Central Rhyl, between Splash Point and Drift Park.

The proposed scheme aims to improve coastal flood defences to protect almost 600 homes and businesses and protect the tourist economy from flooding events and coastal erosion well into the future.

If no work is carried out, the current defences could fail within the next 10-15 years, the Council said.

They are working with Balfour Beatty and Mott MacDonald on progression of the scheme which is subject to the availability of funding and obtaining the relevant planning and environmental permissions.

If the scheme goes ahead, it would be partially funded by the Welsh Government, as part of its Coastal Risk Management Programme.

The scheme proposals are:

• The eastern section from Splash Point to the SeaQuarium and Rhyl Events Arena to predominantly consist of rock scour protection, consisting of boulders, to the foundations of the existing defences plus concrete repairs to the existing defences;
• The western section from SeaQuarium to opposite Drift Park would consist of a new stepped revetment, raised and widened promenade, and a new seawall with improved access via steps and a ramp to the beach.

“The Council aims to submit applications for planning consent next year and if approved, construction would start in late summer/autumn 2022 and is expected to take two and a half years,” according to their official release.