COUNCILLORS have demanded answers on why they weren’t made aware of a holiday park company’s desire to take over the running of the town’s SeaQuarium building.
The SeaQuarium closed in November 2023 after a dispute with the council over ongoing sea defence works on the promenade and claims noise and vibrations caused by the work were disrupting business and stressing animals.
The council is now demolishing the 30-year-old building, which drew criticism from councillors when they learned leisure giant Lyons Holiday Parks, which run the Robin Hood Holiday Park, had offered to buy the site for an undisclosed fee.
At a council meeting this week, Conservative Rhyl councillor Justine Evans demanded to know why backbench councillors hadn’t been notified about the negotiations with the holiday company.
Earlier this month, independent councillor Chris Evans claimed any money raised from selling the site could have been used to invest into libraries or public toilets.
Speaking at the council’s Ruthin County Hall HQ, Cllr Justine Evans asked Labour leader Cllr Jason McLellan for answers.
“Can lead officers or councillors explain why Rhyl Conservative councillors were not officially consulted about the approach from Lyons Holiday Parks to Denbighshire County Council about a potential lease deal of this Rhyl SeaQuarium site?” she said.
Leader Cllr Jason McLellan played down the offer.
“There were no real substantial proposals that led to any conclusions,” he said.
“The timeline is an offer was made to purchase. It was indicated we were only interested in a leasehold, and on that understanding, we asked for expressions of interest and further information about the business plan, proposed use of the building, and draft heads of term.
“A deadline was given for that.
“That deadline expired, so a further extension of time was given and none of the information was forthcoming, so it was believed that the negotiations weren’t going anywhere, and matters concluded there.”
He added: “What I can say, Justine, is that if anything more substantial than that does happen, I’ll make sure any substantial offers that are going forward, or are potentially going forward, that members will be involved.”