Clarification over latest phase of waterfront regeneration

Bridgend County Borough Council has issued new clarification over its ongoing regeneration plans for Porthcawl after receiving a number of questions about how land will be used in the Sandy Bay and Griffin Park area.

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “Since announcing that the council wants to amend the designation for how almost 20 hectares in the Sandy Bay and Griffin Park area will be used to facilitate future stages of regeneration, we have received a lot of feedback.

“While this is excellent and I encourage more people to study and have their say on the proposals set out within both the Porthcawl Placemaking Strategy and the appropriation plans, it has also resulted in a lot of inaccurate assumptions and information being passed around, especially on social media.

“For example, we have been contacted by people who are concerned that Griffin Park may become smaller or have houses built upon it, or that Porthcawl will lose its tennis courts entirely, but in fact the opposite is true - under the proposals, Griffin Park will gain ground to double in size from four to eight acres, and no houses will be built upon it.

“Similarly, rather than remove tennis courts from Porthcawl, we want to provide the community with improved, all-new tennis facilities by moving them from their current location to an alternative spot where they can be constructed to the highest modern standards.

“We have also seen inaccurate housing statistics being quoted which miss the fact that we have already reduced the number of dwellings intended as part of the plans, especially at the nearby Salt Lake site where housing land has been reduced by a third to make way for an all-new seafront park.

“This was introduced in direct response to feedback gathered through previous public consultation, so I think it is important for people to realise how their views are actively influencing what is taking place."

Under the council’s plans for the Sandy Bay and Griffin Park area, much of the site will be designated for mixed-use development featuring all-new retail, commercial, recreational, housing and leisure opportunities.

To support this, a new vehicular route would be constructed along with new infrastructure and a new school or expanded educational facilities. Griffin Park would be expanded, open space improved and approximately 900 homes introduced between the fairground and Sandy Bay alongside facilities for new businesses and visitors.

Notices advising people about the proposal were placed on site on Monday 6 June along with other publicity, and all comments received will be reported to Cabinet before any final decision is made.

The Porthcawl Placemaking Strategy is available to view online, and you can find out more about the council’s appropriation plans by visiting the consultations page at www.bridgend.gov.uk.

Alternatively, you can visit Porthcawl Library in Church Place (CF36 3AG) between 9.15am-6pm on Mondays, 9.15am-5pm on Tuesdays, 9.15am-1pm on Wednesdays and 9.15am-5pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Please note that the library is closed for lunch between 1pm-2pm, and does not open on Sundays.

Trying to introduce change and regeneration on such a large scale is always going to divide opinion, but we all ultimately want what is best for Porthcawl. That is why it is so important to study the proposals directly, and to consider what the potential benefits could be before having your say.

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration