COMMUNITY leaders and business people in Rhyl have been encouraged to apply to become chair of a new town board.

In his Spring Budget in March, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt MP confirmed that Rhyl is to receive an additional £20million as part of the “levelling up” agenda.

The UK Government is expanding its “Long Term Plan for Towns” to 20 more places, of which Rhyl is one.

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This provides each place with £20m of endowment-style funding to invest across 10 years, empowering them to develop a plan for the long-term.

Each town will have a new board made up of its community leaders and employers, who will draw up a long-term plan for the next 10 years.

James Davies, MP for Vale of Clwyd, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate, who will be someone passionate about Rhyl and with the relevant experience to ensure that the funding is used to its full potential to help regenerate the town.

“The guidance from the UK Government states that the chair of the town board should be regarded as independent, well-placed to convene partners and a respected figure in the community, with an obvious passion for the place.

 “The chair should act as a champion for the town and provide leadership for the town board, ensuring it is community-led and embedded within the local area.

 “Elected representatives, such as MPs, MSs or local councillors, must not chair the town board.

 “Ideally, I believe the town board should be compact and made up of people with lived business experience.

“Past regeneration efforts in Rhyl have not had the benefit of this and that is arguably why they have not always been as successful as hoped.

“With such substantial sums of money having been allocated to the town through the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda, the town is on the cusp of a much-needed major transformation.

“But it is essential that we get it right and the money is invested in the right areas.

“It is, therefore, crucial that we have knowledgeable and high calibre people on the board, and particularly in the position of chair. 

 “This is an opportunity to be involved in helping to shape the future of Rhyl and to leave a lasting legacy.

 “There is no time to waste: timescales for setting up the new town board are tight, so I urge anyone interested to put your name forward as soon as possible.”