THE FIRST completed project to be funded by RWE npower renewables’ Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Tourism Fund was officially opened in Rhyl yesterday.
The £250,000 Rhyl Beach Access Project includes a new ramp to make it easier for disabled visitors to get down to the beach, and will also help people wanting to launch small water craft.
The project has been funded by the Gwynt y Môr Tourism Fund (£125,715), the Green Seas Beach Improvement programme (£107,785) and Denbighshire County Council (£20,144).
Speaking ahead of the official opening of the new scheme, RWE npower renewables’ Gwynt y Môr Project Director, Toby Edmonds said: “We are delighted that the Gwynt y Môr Tourism Fund, which totals £690,000, is being put to good use so quickly.
“This project will significantly improve access to the beach at Rhyl and offer disabled residents and visitors more opportunity to enjoy the extensive sandy beach.
“Gwynt y Môr is working with both Denbighshire and Conwy local authorities to identify suitable projects to benefit from our funding and we hope to announce further tourism schemes in the near future.”
The opening event will also see the launch of the Rhyl Kite Surfing Club, members of which will use the ramp on a regular basis. Sand friendly wheelchairs will be available for visitors with disabilities and the ramped access will be used by small craft such as wind surfers, beach buggies and sand yachts.
In addition to funding from Gwynt y Môr’s Tourism Fund, Denbighshire County Council secured money for the Rhyl Beach Access Project from the Green Seas Beach Improvement Programme. This is part of Visit Wales’ Coastal Tourism project, and is backed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
Councillor Hugh Evans, Leader of Denbighshire County Council said: “I’m delighted to see this new facility come to fruition and it shows how organisations can work together for the benefit of local residents and visitors who wish to use the beach.
“This latest project comes at an exciting time for Rhyl, with developments at the Foryd Harbour progressing and ambitious plans for a new aquatic centre in the pipeline.
“We want to encourage more people to use the town’s beach and providing better access for all users will certainly help us realise that vision.”
At 576MW, Gwynt y Môr is one of the largest offshore wind farms currently in construction in Europe. It is a shared investment between partners RWE Innogy, Stadtwerke München GmbH and Siemens.
Once fully operational, energy generation from Gwynt y Môr is expected to be equivalent to the average annual needs of around 400,000 homes.
Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Limited has awarded contracts worth more than £80million to companies in Wales.
RWE npower renewables is busy developing proposals for an onshore wind farm at Clocaenog Forest, near Ruthin. Up to 32 turbines are being proposed, which could generate significant long term local jobs and investments if consented. It will carry with it a community benefit fund of up to £480,000 per year, along with an economic development fund of up to £288,000 per year, both subject to final installed capacity. Proposals will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate, which is the decision making body for all large Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in England and Wales.
RWE npower renewables has set up a project information line which people can call if they have a query about the construction of Gwynt y Môr.
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Press release, April 24, 2013; Image: rwe