WORK on the town centre improvements scheme in Rhyl will start next week after Denbighshire County Council was successful in its bid for Welsh Government funding.

The funding, part of Local Sustainable Transport COVID Response Fund 2020-21, will be used to introduce improvements that facilitate social distancing and make it easier for people to travel actively within town centres.

The works carried out by KM Construction in Rhyl will include: the introduction of a widened pedestrian area on the eastern side of Bodfor Street between Elwy Street and its junction with Wellington Road, as well as Queen Street, between its junction with Wellington Road and its junction with Sussex Street.

It will also include the south side of West Parade from its junction with Queen Street and its junction with Edward Henry Street.

This will be achieved through the introduction of bolt down kerbing and will provide enhanced facilities for people to social distance and travel actively.

To facilitate this, on-street loading and disabled parking facilities will be suspended and re-introduced on the west side of Bodfor and Queen Street for the duration of the trial period.

In addition, the Council will also be changing the layout of the junction of Wellington Road and Queen Street, to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Councillor Brian Jones said: “Active travel has become a more prominent issue in recent times, with covid-19 allowing people the opportunity to walk more or to get on bikes as a means of getting out and about.

“The funding made available was to be used to promote active travel and allow councils to introduce measures that would help protect people’s safety through social distancing, as well as encouraging more people to visit our town centre businesses.

“There was generally strong support for the Rhyl plans and we were happy to support these proposals going forward. We are now on the verge of starting work at various locations in the town and we will be keeping any disruption to a minimum. We would like to thank residents and businesses in the towns for their understanding”