Festival 'will counter bad press'

Rhyl Week is organised by local people and businesses

A week-long festival in a seaside town will counter its 'bad press', organisers say.

Rhyl Week, which starts on Saturday, aims to bring a 'carnival atmosphere' to the north Wales town, and organisers say it will attract tourists there.

Denbighshire councillor Glyn Williams said the event demonstrates that criticism of Rhyl is unjustified.

Last year former Steps singer Lisa-Scott Lee fronted a campaign promoting the town where she grew up.

"We're fed up of Rhyl getting a bad press when the truth is it is a tremendous place," said Cllr Williams.

"Rhyl has gone through some depressed times. Properties on the promenade have been left derelict.

"We have gone from a seaside resort where people used to come for a week or two to a day resort where people enjoy the facilities and go home."

Rhyl Week 2006... will show the passion that people have for the town Rhyl mayor Joan Butterfield

But Cllr Williams said regeneration by property developers was improving the town and residents were looking forward to the opening of the Drift Park project, which includes a golf course and sunken gardens, later this year

"There is a willingness and belief in the community," he said.

The third annual Rhyl Week lasts until 4 June and events include a charity abseil down the SkyTower, a street festival in the town centre, an international flower festival and the crowning of the May Queen.

Partnerships

Rhyl mayor Joan Butterfield said partnerships between the local authority, the business community and local residents made the festivities possible.

Representatives from Rhyl's business community, Denbighshire County Council, Rhyl Town Council and the local community have been working on the programme of events since December, she said.

The White Rose shopping centre in the town centre helped to market the event.

It is hoped the festival will encourage more visitors to the town

The recently-formed Rhyl Business Group organised a series of banners for the town centre and students at Rhyl College helped design and print a series of posters distributed to schools, libraries, community centres, shops and churches.

Cllr Butterfield said the week proved that residents and business people were 'proud of their town'.

"We want Rhyl Week to put the town on the map, to show the enthusiasm people have in the town and to promote Rhyl as a place to visit, as well as a place for business," she said.