Denbighshire County Council has been granted planning permission to carry out works to replace the coastal defences in central Rhyl and Prestatyn.
The coastal defence schemes will provide both towns with adequate protection against rising sea levels and storms caused by climate change.
In July and August 2021, the Council invited residents to take part in a consultation to understand their priorities for, and potential concerns about, the schemes. This feedback has been collated and is being used throughout the development of the projects.
The Central Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme covers a distance of approximately 2km from Splash Point to the Drift Park area and is part of the Councils wider Rhyl Regeneration project. The Central Rhyl Scheme will include scour protection and concrete repairs to the existing sea walls, a concrete revetment to absorb energy from the waves and to provide access to the beach, a new flood defence wall, as well as raising and widening the promenade.
The Central Prestatyn coastal defence scheme focuses on the area of most immediate concern, adjacent to Rhyl Golf Club which will protect properties in Prestatyn. This will involve building an earth embankment that is set back from the front-line defences, following the boundary of Rhyl Golf Course. This would mean that during a storm, any flood water overtopping the current defences would be contained within the golf course until it can discharge back to sea.
Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport Said: “I am very pleased that we are one step closer to carrying out these very important works which are necessary to protect our towns. Without improvements to the sea defences, the future risk of coastal flooding faced by homes and businesses in Rhyl and Prestatyn is likely to increase.”
“We need to ensure that we adapt our towns appropriately for the future, so they are protected from the negative impacts that global warming will bring”.
“Protecting the public and businesses is the Councils number one priority; it is vital that we act now before it is too late.”
To find out more about the Central Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme visit https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/community-and-living/coastal-defence/central-rhyl/about.aspx . To find out more about the Central Prestatyn Coastal Defence Scheme visit - https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/community-and-living/coastal-defence/central-prestatyn/about.aspx