'Drug ghetto' fear voiced for resorts; Campaigner's plea to use huge pounds 20m facelift fund quickly.

Byline: DAVID POWELL

SEASIDE resorts are in danger of being turned into drug ghettos by organised criminals claims a councillor.

Demolishing run-down properties, often let to those with addiction problems, under a pounds 20m regeneration scheme for Colwyn Bay and Rhyl will stop the rot, believes Conwy County Councillor Bob Squire.

The former guest houses, many now split up into bedsits, were built during the resorts' glory days for tourists to enjoy the seaside.

The scheme will bulldoze the now-eyesore properties in rundown areas along the coastal strip, modernise health facilities and create jobs.

Mr Squire said yesterday: "I am pleased the regeneration scheme is going to involve the demolition of some bedsits and flatlets.

"Hopefully, the regeneration project will progress at a pace now or parts of these areas will become mini-ghettos," he said.

"The many decent people in the town are heartily fed-up with properties being done up, then let to the wrong type of person.

"Some landlords are attracting people - many are straight out of prison, from out of the region or who have just declared themselves homeless - without checking on their background."

He also fears organised criminals are strangling the lifeblood out of communities by forcing addicts to steal from law-abiding citizens and burgle properties to fund their habits.

Many addicts live in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Cllr Squire said: "The number of drug offenders and dealers is creeping up insidiously."

Another councillor, who did not wish to be named on this particular issue for personal reasons, echoed Cllr Squire's concerns.

He said: "There is a serious problem with drug-related organised crime in the Colwyn Bay, Conwy Town and Llandudno triangle.

"Up to 80% of new inmates to prison test positive for use of illegal drugs.

"And I reckon 80% of our crime related social problems are drug related."

The Welsh Assembly Government said the problems of Colwyn Bay and Rhyl are historical and deep-seated, and will need drastic solutions.

Leighton Andrews, deputy minister for regeneration, said: "Both Rhyl and Colwyn Bay - the two main towns in the Strategic Regeneration Area - have been left with a legacy of large, four to five storey former guesthouses that were built when mass seaside tourism was in its heyday."

The plan would be to demolish many of them, starting in Aquarium Street and Abbey Street, Rhyl, and turn them into car parks while a long term solution is found.

Mr Andrews said: "A key focus of the regeneration of the North Wales Coastal SRA will be a radical programme targeting houses in multiple occupation and the overall improvement of housing standards."

Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones has also welcomed the pounds 20m windfall to change the image of resorts like Rhyl.

She said this week: "This pounds 20m must be used effectively to once and for all eradicate the deprivation that has blighted Rhyl for so many years."

In Rhyl's case, the future of the face of parts of the town will be resolved in the West Rhyl Masterplan consultation programme to be drawn up by architects, urban designers and regeneration experts.