Rhyl and Prestatyn leisure centre plans move forward

Rhyl's Sun Centre closed earlier in February, along with the Nova Centre in Prestatyn, and the North Wales Indoor Bowls Centre

A new aquatic centre could be built in Rhyl as part of Denbighshire council plans to regenerate leisure facilities.

Councillors agreed to push forward proposals after the closure of the Rhyl Sun Centre and Nova leisure centre, in Prestatyn.

Earlier this month, the trust set up by the council to manage the facilities blamed the closures on council cuts.

The council says Rhyl Pavilion Theatre which is next to the Sun Centre will also be "enhanced" under its plans.

The council's cabinet agreed on Tuesday to invite expressions of interest from developers to build a new aquatic facility in Rhyl and redevelop the Nova centre on the seafront at Prestatyn.

Council officials also want to meet the Welsh government to "explore support for a special partnership approach to the coastal regeneration".

Clwyd Leisure was set up by Denbighshire council in 2001 to run facilities on its behalf including the North Wales Indoor Bowls Centre in Prestatyn, which has also been closed.

The council's cabinet decided to withdraw financial support of £200,000 for 2014/15 due to concerns over the way the organisation was run.

Feasibility study

Trustees of the not-for-profit organisation had been holding talks with the authority for months over a possible takeover.

But discussions ended this month without resolution and leaving 120 workers facing an uncertain future.

A council statement said: "It's expected that the council will receive development proposals for Rhyl by April, with a preferred developer identified by September.

"A feasibility study will be completed on the Nova redevelopment by April and discussed by cabinet in the same month.

"The council is fully committed to keeping and improving the current theatre offer whilst it considers further facility proposals for the coast."