Authority waives Queen's Market rent for two years

Council wants food hall to establish but opposition is concerned

- By RICHARD EVANS Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

The reopened Queen's Market in Rhyl

THE rent paid by the management company for Rhyl’s Queen’s Market is being waived by Denbighshire, says the council who agreed to the deal last December.

In a statement, Denbighshire County Council confirmed it is financing the cost of rent at the attraction, news the leader of the opposition has called “concerning”.

Opened in the summer, the food hall and market cost more than £12 million to develop and received funding from the Welsh government, with funds from its transforming towns programme. The Queen’s Market also received funding from the UK government and the county council.

With 16 vendors selling Greek food, pizza, artisan wraps and Thai cuisine, the food hall was backed in the hope it would increase footfall in the town.

But Denbighshire says the Labour and Plaid Cymru coalition had agreed last December to “underwrite” the rent.

Independent leader of the opposition Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts said he was unaware of the agreement and called the news “concerning”.

“I was aware that the council was prepared to underwrite minor losses, but I was not aware two years of free rental was part of the agreement,” he said.