There were no doubt a few people celebrating in Rhuthun/Ruthin yesterday at news of the demise of the velodrome project. Notably those on Parc Brynhyfryd, who would’ve had to live with the consequences. It was they who had no say before the major project reached the planning process.
Whatever your views on the project, what was interesting was the fact that the announcement drew comments of regret from Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, from Sports Wales and from Denbighshire county council... but nothing from two key bodies.
- The proposal was for the development of land at Ysgol Brynhyfryd.
- The town council was the initial instigator of the scheme and it was they who had the most emotional energy invested in the project.
Why no comments from either of them? We were never convinced the school was actually in favour. As for the town council, they had actually set aside significant money to plug the funding gap. Informed sources suggest that no town councillor voted against the use of funds for the velodrome but there were a high number of abstentions.
In the event, it appears that further cost increases were more than the town council or indeed anyone could bear.
This is a major investment that Rhuthun will now lose. The funding at Sports Wales will inevitably go somewhere else. That somewhere won’t be in Rhuthun and it won’t be in Denbighshire. But someone will benefit. Sadly, not us.