By ALESIA FIDDLER - TRAVEL REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
A 'cursed' seaside attraction in a struggling Welsh resort could be in line for a £5.5million makeover.
Located on Rhyl's seafront, Children's Village was built in the 1990s in a bid to regenerate the area and draw in visitors.
But as the town fell into decline – even being named the UK's worst seaside town by The Telegraph in 2023 – the attraction and its surroundings have struggled to thrive.
Some have even joked that the amusement spot is 'cursed', given the string of setbacks to hit Rhyl since it opened, North Wales Live reports.
The town's former attractions have suffered a similarly chequered fate. The Sun Centre, once Europe's first indoor surfing pool, closed in 2014, while the Sky Tower shut in 2010 before being repurposed as an illuminated landmark.
SeaQuarium also closed in 2023, adding to the list of attractions to disappear from Rhyl's seafront.
Rhyl's Children's Village could be given a major upgrade with £5.5million of funding
The area located along the north-east coast of Wales has reportedly been dubbed as 'cursed'
But now, the Children's Village could receive a major upgrade as Denbighshire County Council estimates there has been a £5.5million underspend on the town's flood defence improvement project.
The local authority is now seeking permission to use the cash to give the Children's Village area a facelift.
A council report outlined the plans for the money to 'be utilised to boost regeneration and tourism in Rhyl', according to Rhyl Journal.
It stated the Welsh Government had approved the proposal and added: 'The only proviso is that the funding must be used on works adjacent to the coastal defence project.
'There is broad agreement that something needs to be done to improve the Children's Village.
'The proposed works will provide improved access into the area, paving and grassed areas for leisure amenity, a large open space for future flexible use and raised areas for visitors to be able to see the beach.'
But spare cash could lead to a huge transformation carried out by the local council
At the moment, there is a funfair in the area and this is reportedly set to be moved to where SeaQuarium used to stand.
The council has previously described how it hopes to transform the area into a 'Waterfront Park', providing a 'high-quality, flexible events space that can be enjoyed throughout the year'.
'Proposed improvements include enhanced accessibility for all users, waterside and terraced gardens, improved landscaping, and new public spaces that create a more welcoming, attractive and enjoyable environment for residents and visitors alike,' it said.
Some buildings could be demolished to make space for parking and other services.
The council is set to meet on October 20 to discuss the plans.
The Daily Mail approached Denbighshire County Council for comment.