Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is thrilled that CPD Y Rhyl 1879 (Rhyl FC 1879) can secure the future of its legendary ground 'Belle Vue', with it being announced today that the club is to receive £378,600 in Round 3 Window 3 of the UK Government's Community Ownership Fund (COF).
The Community Ownership Fund is a £150 million fund over four years to support community groups across the United Kingdom to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community.
It has been announced today that CPD Y Rhyl 1879 is one of two community facilities in Denbighshire, and 83 across the UK, to benefit in the latest round of the funding (£33.5m).
The news will be very much celebrated by the club and its supporters, particularly given the challenges it has faced in recent years.
In April 2020, the club announced they would be closing after 141 years of existence, citing the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
At that time James vowed to do all he could to help them and subsequently, after plans were put in place for a new Rhyl ‘phoenix’ football club, he raised the plight of the club at Wales Oral Parliamentary Questions in the House of Commons – having previously written to the Welsh Government and spoken to the UK Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage, Nigel Huddleston MP.
He has also guided and supported the club with their Community Ownership Fund bid.
He is therefore delighted that they will now have the funding to save them from the risk of eviction and enable them to expand the services they provide, including education and footballing activities, a community social enterprise, out of school term camps, disabled access, and a function room.
He said:
"Having worked closely with CPD Y Rhyl 1879 (Rhyl FC 1879) through what has been a challenging few years for the club, I am thrilled that their funding bid has been successful.
“The funding will be used to purchase and secure the future of Belle Vue, enabling the club to move to a seven days a week community use operation.
“It is fantastic news not only for the club and its supporters, but also the town as a whole.
"As I stated in my letter in support of their application, Rhyl football club is and always has been central to the community of Rhyl and the ‘Lilywhites’ have helped put Rhyl on the map and attract crowds to the town over the years, boosting the local economy.
“Their ‘Belle Vue’ grounds are also an important hub for local children and young people, and this funding will enable them to expand on this work.
"I would like to thank the club's Board of Directors who have worked tirelessly to safeguard firstly this historical football club, and now its ground. They have been relentless in their pursuit and their efforts have thankfully paid off.”
Today’s news follows the recent announcement at the Budget that Rhyl is to receive tens of millions of pounds as part of the levelling up agenda.
Before Christmas, Denbighshire County Council was awarded £20 million in the most recent round of the Levelling Up Fund, with nearly £13 million of that sum committed to regenerating Rhyl. Earlier last year, the county council also received £26 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Since that time, the Levelling Up Minister, Jacob Young MP, and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, have visited Rhyl and James was able to reiterate his calls in Parliament that further ongoing financial commitment to the town was required.
In his Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government is expanding its ‘Long Term Plan for Towns’ to 20 more places, of which Rhyl is one.
This provides each place with £20m of endowment style funding to invest over 10 years, empowering them to develop a plan for the long term, not just a plan for the end of the financial year.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-saves-over-80-community-s…
