Bank Holiday recycling and waste collections: There will be no collections on Monday 05 May 2025. Collections will take place one day later than normal for the week until Saturday 10 May 2025.
Residents encouraged to ‘Spend summer in your town centre’ and enjoy a series of free public events
Thursday 01 May 2025
The council’s annual campaign to encourage people to ‘Spend summer in your town centre’ has launched this week.
Highlighting a programme of free events taking place throughout the summer months, the campaign aims to boost community engagement and support local businesses in Bridgend, Maesteg and Porthcawl town centres, which are managed by the council.
Residents can look forward to an action-packed series of free events including:
- Armed Forces Day Parade hosted by Bridgend Town Council
- Green Top Markets ‘Summer Street Markets’ at Bridgend, Maesteg and Porthcawl town centres
- Awen Seascape Festival in Porthcawl
- VE Day Celebrations, hosted by Porthcawl Town Council
- Family Fun Day in Welfare Park, hosted by Maesteg Town Council
- Keeper of the Colliery 5k and 10k Run, hosted by Maesteg Town Council
- Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10k
To attract visitors to the town centres, which also offer a wide variety of ‘destination restaurants’ and independent traders and businesses, the council has extended its free parking offer in two council-maintained town centre car parks in Bridgend and Porthcawl, where visitors can continue to park for free for the first three hours at the Rhiw multi-storey car park in Bridgend and between noon and 3pm at John Street in Porthcawl.
People visiting Bridgend town centre after 6pm can park for free at the large open air car park at Brackla Street (behind Wilkinson’s) and car parks at Tremains Road, Tondu Road and at Bridgend Life Centre.
Council-run car parks at John Street and Hillsboro Place in Porthcawl are free to use after 6pm, and free parking is also available along the seafront.
Free full-time car parking is also available in Maesteg town centre at the Llynfi Road multistorey car park.
Free Wi-Fi is also available in town centres across Bridgend County Borough with the aim of increasing connectivity among residents, businesses and visitors.
The free service is available in the four town centres of Bridgend, Porthcawl, Maesteg and Pencoed. In order to connect, individuals will need to search their Wi-Fi network settings for “BCBC free Wi-Fi” and will then need to enter their email address to begin.
“Working with our partners to deliver and support these fantastic events is invaluable in bringing residents together to celebrate and reinforce our strong community spirit. As always, I would urge residents to continue to support our local, independent traders and ‘shop local’ to support our town centres to continue to thrive.”