Rhyl's blue benches might go as part of makeover

Aug 13 2008 by David Rutland, Rhyl Visitor

DISTINCTIVE blue benches with parasols could be replaced with tropical palm trees as part of an extensive makeover of Rhyl town centre.

Inspectors and officers from Denbighshire County Council were in the High Street last Tuesday, examining street furniture as part of a plan to redesign the area.

Details of their conclusions have not been released but it is understood that a key part of the scheme will be the removal of seating.

The metal circular benches are popular with holidaymakers and shoppers and are topped with floral hanging baskets.

Mayor of Rhyl Jeanette Chamberlain Jones is also a member of the ‘Pride in our Town’ group and keen to see more greenery on the High Street.

“We want to see big garden planters with trees in them like they have in Liverpool and have them all up and down the town centre,” she said. “We’re going to get rid of all those awful railings and all of the blue stuff.

“We are working closely with the council’s environment officer, Iwan Prys-Jones, and we’ve been around the town asking businesses to smarten up their premises.

“Really, I’d like to see the old style of palm trees that we used to have along the promenade.”

It is thought that the remodelling of the High Street will be based on college lecturer Mark Haslock’s visions of a better Rhyl, unveiled last October.

The computer-generated designs envisioned a back to basics approach as he felt there are too many metal and concrete structures in the town.

He believed it could be dramatically transformed with the planting of trees, a trend currently being adopted by many major towns and cities in the country, such as Liverpool and Manchester.

A spokesman for Denbighshire said: “The county council is looking at all possible options for the improvement of the High Street in Rhyl and the removal of some street furniture could be one option.”