Royal Alexandra Hospital redevelopment thrown into doubt
At the meeting, councillors were told that the health board is now planning a much smaller building on site than the one originally proposed before the pandemic, having presented a business case to Welsh Government.
The committee was informed about the scope of the work and the proposed timescales and the available funding – which is yet to be secured.
The new building is planned as 'a third-sector hub' supporting patients, as well as having support services such as catering facilities, reception, and staff rest areas – with a café also to be part of the plans.
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Back in February, the council was given a list of dates from the health board, with a planning application due to be submitted between March and August this year.
But as yet, no plans have materialised – despite the proposals being on hold for over a decade.
Betsi was due to update councillors at the committee in September, but that meeting has now been delayed until October when a joint partnerships scrutiny and communities meeting will take place instead.
Speaking at July's partnerships scrutiny committee at the council's Ruthin County Hall HQ, Rhyl councillor Brian Jones said he wanted Betsi to 'face the music' as planned, despite no update being available.
Cllr Jones said: 'I've got the (hospital redevelopment) timeline in front of me. January to April this year, they were going through the procurement. It was ongoing.
'By March to August the planning application (was due). To hear they want to delay is extremely disappointing when you look at the overview of this project on the number of years it has been going on.
'I'd like to propose we have them here in September as per the arrangement that was agreed for them to give us whatever the update is.
'On the timescale they should have hit all these gateways, so I don't think it'll do any harm for gentle persuasion if we get them here in September so they give us a high-level view of where this is.
'Will the new build start in the first quarter of 2026?
'Because that is the date they declared back in February, so I think we should have them back here for what might be an awkward conversation with them, but they need to come and face the music in my book, because there was obviously a lot of interest locally in this.
'It was heralded as a big step forward in February that the spades would be going in the ground in January 2026, and now in this short space of time since February more doubt has been cast over it.'
Cllr Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones said: 'They do have us jumping through hoops, don't they?
'Betsi Cadwaladr, they give us this; they give us that; they give us nothing.
'I think we should hold them to account and say, no, you will come. You said you would, and so let's be having you in September.
'It's time we stamp our foot on this because they do mess us about a lot.'
Corporate director Gary Williams responded: 'When we talk about making people come to face the music or stand their ground type-thing, the authority can invite people, but it has absolutely no power to summon people to come to the committee.'
Mr Williams then reminded councillors they were better waiting for Betsi representatives to be ready, rather than wasting time, adding: 'Are you better having people when they are in a position with something to be able to tell you that you can scrutinise, or do you just want them to be here so you can tell them off?'
Cllr Brian Jones said he would eat humble pie if the hospital was built next year, as timescales had indicated. 'I did put on the table back in February I would have baked a cake, a humble pie, and would have eaten it,' he said.
'I still didn't believe these timelines. I still believe there won't be any spades in the ground in 2026, and so I'll keep the humble pie for October or whenever, and I can't see it happening. I can't see this thing happening.'
The committee and health board are now scheduled to meet in October.
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