Ffrith Festival Gardens - failed tourist attraction

Councillors have agreed to consider a private firms bid to develop a retail and leisure park on the site - which used to be a thriving seaside attraction.

The area was left partially-developed when European grants to the former Rhuddlan Council ran out.

The failed tourist attraction was built more than eight years ago by the defunct council.

The beach site, which attracted thousands of visitors to its fun fair and boating lake in its day, was the subject of ambitious plans to turn it into a festival garden.

School relocation

The plans were shelved half-way through when the money ran out and since then Denbighshire Council has struggled to find a developer for the site.

The authority is now in talks with prospective developers.

The plans put forward so far include a do-it-yourself store, leisure facilities, new road access from the A548.

The council is also considering whether a relocation of services, such as schools or leisure facilities, from elsewhere in the town is feasible.

Prestatyn resident Sandra Pitt, who organised a public meeting to discuss the site's future, said: "Rhuddlan spent millions on building it, the council tax was put up to pay the debt back and we think the festival gardens belong to the public now.

"I say the public should have a say on what the future of the festival gardens is."