Views wanted over Porthcawl’s Waterfront Regeneration Masterplan

Initial public reaction to the proposals has been nothing short of phenomenal. Now, we need local people to come and study the final masterplan, and help it take on its final shape before it is submitted as a planning application. I think the majority of people can really see how the council and Welsh Government have listened to feedback from previous consultations and have accommodated a number of significant changes to try and strike a realistic balance which reflects local needs while also offering Porthcawl a long-term, sustainable future. Our proposals include exciting plans for creating an all-new Lido swimming pool and an outdoor entertainment area at Salt Lake featuring new funfair rides, a huge expansion of Griffin Park complete with a multi-use games area and a green corridor packed with new features, a splash pad, mini golf, a pump track, pocket parks, fitness trails, community gardens and children’s play areas, all linked by a network of paths and routes that are suitable for pedestrians and cyclists. We are providing opportunities for new shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and kiosks as well as buildings and pavilions that can be used by community groups, a site for motorhomes and touring caravans, and plenty of open space suitable for hosting seasonal fairs, markets, festivals and events. The masterplan encourages the use of Coney Beach and Sandy Bay beach for new events, with stepped coastal defences offering enhanced protection as well as improved access to the sands and includes the creation of a new fully turfed ‘bowl’ area as well as restored dune habitats at Rhych Point which will be used for both educational and recreational purposes. We have reduced the housing element of the masterplan to approximately 980 homes, have lowered prevailing building heights by 20 per cent, and have committed towards making up to 50 per cent of the housing affordable along with a ‘local people first’ policy on tenures. I know people have questions around this and other issues, such as car parking or the potential impact of new housing on local infrastructure. These have all been carefully considered and are covered in our answers to frequently asked questions, and regeneration specialists will also be available to provide further clarification and reassurance at the public event planned for the Hi Tide Inn. Delivering on the objectives of the masterplan will be a long-term process requiring planning consent, appropriate funding and delivery partners, but we have designed it so that it remains as credible and realistic as it is ambitious. This is your opportunity to help shape the plans and bring them to fruition.