RESIDENTS in a seaside town have complained their home is being “sterilised” after a popular beach attraction shut down for good.
Visitors and staff were left gutted after Rhyl SeaQuarium in Denbighshire, Wales, announced that it would be closing its doors.
The popular attraction was established in Rhyl for more than 30 years before it’s closure.
But it was embroiled in a row with Denbighshire Council over the impact of the coastal defence works on the animals at the centre.
Rhyl SeaQuarium said it was considering rehoming its seals after discovering that the nearby noise and vibrations were harming the animals.
The council said they had offered to pay for transporting and housing the seals in an alternative temporary home while work on the Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme is carried out.
At it’s peak, the booming site welcomed 80,000 visitors a year and was a key attraction for the picturesque town.
But yesterday, locals were saddened to see the seaside attraction shut up shop for the final time.
And one MP even accused the council of “sterilising the seafront of attractions” following the closure, reports NorthWalesLive.
Vale of Clwyd MP James Davies said: “The closure of Rhyl SeaQuarium is deeply disappointing. While coastal defence scheme works are important, it seems as though the County Council is progressively sterilising the seafront of attractions and private enterprise in the process.
“This is very frustrating when the Levelling Up Fund and other initiatives are working to regenerate the town.
“I have been involved in liaising between SeaQuarium and the council over the last year or so and I am concerned that the council have been slow to recognise the needs of the business and its animals.
“It seems likely to me that better forward planning could have prevented this outcome.
“The situation is awful for all those losing their jobs, especially at this time of year.
“I understand that the SeaQuarium building is council-owned and I hope to see ambitious and rapid tourism-related proposals for the site.”
A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “The Council is working with the SeaQuarium but cannot comment any further due to current ongoing legal matters.
“Following completion of these discussions, the Council together with the SeaQuarium will release further information to the public.”
Rhyl SeaQuarium has been contacted for comment.
