In the summer months it feels as though things couldn’t be going much better here, but some claim the place has been ‘forgotten’
Owen Hughes Business correspondent and Lois McCarthy
21:45, 22 Mar 2026Updated 21:47, 22 Mar 2026
Some business owners in the seaside resort of Towyn have said they feel ignored(Image: Daily Post Wales)
A Welsh seaside resort that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each week during peak season is still being overlooked for investment, local operators say, despite a surge in private spending to improve its appeal.
Towyn, on the coast between Abergele and Rhyl, has around 60,000 bed spaces, with caravan parks dominating the area, and comes alive in the summer months as visitors arrive for funfairs, evening entertainment and a traditional seaside break.
But operators say Towyn rarely features in wider discussions and receives little public funding compared with nearby resorts such as Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno.
They believe it is their turn to receive a fair share of tourism funding to complement the money being invested by the private sector, reports North Wales Live.
Luke Knightly is spearheading the campaign. He operates Knightly’s Fun Park and serves as a councillor on Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council. He said: “We are the forgotten resort even though we have bed spaces for 60,000 people and I understand it is 10,000 in Llandudno.
Towyn has around 60,000 bed spaces with caravan parks dominating the area(Image: Luke Knightly)
“We have seen so much investment in places like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, all we are asking for is our fair share. Rhyl has had millions of pounds spent on it and I don’t know where it goes.
“Rhos-on-Sea has had this beautiful new beach and I’m pleased for them but now it is our turn. At the seafront we have an ugly sea wall. Yes it serves its purpose but it is ugly. We want investment in the seafront.
“There is no disabled access over the rail line between the beach and the town as the bridge is step only, that is not fair in this day and age. Once across the bridge there is no accessible route over the sea wall onto the beach, only steep steps. They took away the toilets and sold the building.
“There is so much private sector investment going on here, from ourselves and also other holiday parks and tourism operators. We just want some public sector support to improve the infrastructure. It is the basic things; toilets, better access to the beach, improved roads, extra bins and seating on the seafront.
“We feel forgotten about, we are being left behind and it is not fair now. Investment will be good for us and the wider area as people stay here and visit places all over north Wales.”
Some businesses in the resort have shared their despondency in a joint message(Image: Luke Knightly)
A petition has been launched urging Conwy council and Network Rail, who oversee the bridge crossing, to support the town with funding. It reads: “Towyn welcomes tens of thousands of overnight visitors every season. These visitors stay for days or weeks, spending money in restaurants, shops, attractions and businesses across the whole region.
“Overnight visitors support the wider economy throughout Conwy county and north Wales – creating jobs and sustaining local businesses. Yet despite the enormous number of visitors Towyn welcomes and accommodates each year, the town is lacking many of the fundamental amenities that residents and holidaymakers would reasonably expect.”
It continues: “Towyn contributes significantly to the tourism economy of north Wales. It is reasonable that the town receives infrastructure investment that reflects its importance. We are calling for a formal review of beach access, the railway crossing and seafront facilities in Towyn, with community consultation and a clear plan for improvements.”
A spokesperson for Conwy council responded: “All petitions we receive are taken seriously by council officers and members as a measure of local interest in any given matter. We recognise and acknowledge Towyn’s significance to the county’s visitor economy and have supported the town wherever possible through grant schemes where eligibility has allowed.
“We work closely with Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council on initiatives funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and we continue to support local businesses with advice, funding opportunities, and signposting to relevant assistance.”
Knightly’s funfair in Towyn(Image: Daily Post Wales)
A spokesperson for Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “We are continuing to invest in projects along the north Wales coast that improve safety, accessibility and connectivity for local communities. In Abergele plans are progressing for a new ramped, accessible footbridge between Ty Gwyn and Pen Uchaf level crossings.
“The bridge will facilitate the closure of the two high-risk level crossings and enable more trains to run on the north Wales coast line whilst providing a safer, step-free route across the railway, when completed in 2027.
“Improvements such as accessible bridges are classed as railway enhancements and require funding from external sources, supported by a clear business case.
“Network Rail remains committed to delivering accessibility improvements where funding is available, and we will continue working with partners to identify opportunities to make the railway more accessible for the communities we serve.”