Towyn
| |
|---|---|
 St. Mary's church, Towyn | |
  Towyn Location withinConwy | |
| Population | 7,864 (includingKinmel Bay) (2001 Census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SH974794 |
| Principal area | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ABERGELE |
| Postcode district | LL22 |
| Dialling code | 01745 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
| 53°18′07″N3°32′24″W / 53.302°N 3.540°W /53.302; -3.540 | |
Towyn (Welsh:Tywyn) is aseaside resort in theConwy County Borough,Wales. It is also anelectoral ward to the town andcounty councils.
It is located betweenRhyl, inDenbighshire, andAbergele in Conwy.
According to the2001 Census, together with neighbouringKinmel Bay (to the east), it had apopulation 7,864, of which 10.7% could speakWelsh. Only a third of the population were born in Wales.[1] Towyn itself had a population of 2,380 in the 2011 census.
The town made national headlines in 1990 when a combination of gale-force winds, a high tide and rough seas caused Towyn's flood defences to be breached at about 11.00am on 26 February. 4 square miles (10 km2) of land was flooded, affecting 2,800 properties and causing areas of the resort to be evacuated. Further flooding occurred later the same week, on 1 March, shortly after the site of the disaster was visited byPrince Charles andPrincess Diana.[2] Scientific experts also believe that the silt left behind from the flooding had left the town with a higher concentration of radioactivity, over ten times the governmental safety limits, most likely originating from the nuclear processing plant atSellafield which had been dispersed into the Irish Sea over many years since its construction. TheNational Radiological Protection Board stated that there was a "small risk" to the people there, while theWelsh Office claimed there was no danger to the public.[3] The coastal defences have since been reconstructed and significantly enhanced.[4]
St. Mary's Church was designed by the renowned architectGeorge Edmund Street, and was consecrated on 17 June 1873. It is known for the distinctive tiling on the roof. The same architect also designed the building which now houses the youth club in nearbyAbergele.
The principal economic activity in Towyn is tourism, concentrated in the summer season. A mix of static caravans and touring caravan pitches provides accommodation.
Towyn is also the name of anelectoral ward which comprises the western half of the community of Kinmel Bay and Towyn.[5] It elects a county councillor toConwy County Borough Council. It was represented by theLabour Party until June 2004, when theConservative Party won the seat.[6] At the May 2017 election the ward was won by anIndependent councillor.
Towyn is also a community ward, electing town councillors to represent it on Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council.[7]
