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 the year 2002, I began forming a community group to take control of some houses in the town centre and west end. We had a large number of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), most of which had been guest houses or small hotels. These were 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 other 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 remove existing tenants except possibly with their prior consent.) The HMOs would be demolished or downsized and replaced with houses suitable for small families - houses not flats.

These new homes would be for sale on 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 than 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
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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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Pictured above is the roller skating rink which opened on the prom in the late 1940s; the black-and-white photo is probably early ‘50s 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 the background, top left, is the pier (1867-1966) which was built roughly in line with the Westminster Hotel, East Parade. If it were there now, the pier 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.
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Here is a picture of the top end of High Street taken – it seems to me – in mid or late 1890s. At least two publications give the date as c.1905 so let's say it dates from about 1900. I’m indebted to Mike Espley of Seabank Road, Foryd ward, for this and some other pix old Rhyl.

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