COMPROP

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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Towards the end of 2002, I formed a community property association to take control of some houses in the town centre and west end. We had in mind the large number of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) which had been guest houses or small hotels; they had been divided into small units and let mainly to tenants who were in receipt of state benefits.

The HMOs were a problem because they created a high density of population, and this worsened the underlying social problems caused by unemployment, alcohol and other drugs and various additional factors. Also, they were making the neighbourhood unsafe. “The more HMOs in
an area the more crime,” said the Police Inspector in charge of Rhyl.

The Association’s idea was to obtain public money to buy HMOs on the open market; they became available from time to time entirely vacant. (It was not our intention to get involved with the displacing of tenants.) The vacant HMOs would be demolished or downsized and replaced by houses suitable for small families – houses not flats.

These new homes would be for sale on a shared-ownership basis; there would be no element of renting. An occupier would arrange his/her own mortgage from a building society for 49 per cent of the value of the new property. The Association would retain 51 per cent control to prevent sub-letting. An occupier wishing to move on would sell his/her share on the open market.

Maintenance costs would be shared between the occupier and the Association in the same 49/51 ratio. The entire deal would suit people in Rhyl who were working but not earning a lot of money. (There are more of those than unemployed). The scheme would increase the number of owner-occupiers and thereby help to address the social imbalance.

The Association’s idea received a lot of public support and some encouragement from the authorities, but after a long series of meetings it became apparent that the scheme did not suit the funding streams made available by Welsh Assembly for housing purposes. The Association disbanded in the summer of 2006. The need for it – or something very like it – remains.

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FLASHBACK #2

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
l
The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
l

Pictured above is the roller skating rink which opened on the promenade in the late 1940s. The black-and-white photo is probably early 1950s and would have been taken from the balcony of the old Pavilion; the colour postcard underneath is a later study from a similar angle.

The rink was in Pavilion Gardens opposite Water Street. In background, top left, is the pier (1867-1966) which was built roughly in line with Church Street. If the pier were there now, it be would round the back of the Seaquarium.

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FLASHBACK #1

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
l
The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
l

Here is a picture of the top end of High Street taken – it seems to me – in the 1890s (and coloured at a later date). At least two publications give the date as circa 1905, so let's all be friends and say it dates from about 1900. On your left the building with dark green fascia is a garage. The hanging 'flag' reads UNIVERSAL BAZAAR ADMISSION FREE.
I'm indebted to Mike Espley of Seabank Road for this and some other pix of old Rhyl.

The building and maintenance of horse-drawn carriages were profitable businesses at that time, and motor carriages – yes, motor cars! – were beginning to creep into the picture as the following advertising card for Griffin Carriage Works attests.

These references are added here for indexing purposes: Williams & Co blacksmiths, Campling & Son.
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