New sea defences planned for Porthcawl’s Coney Beach

Public notices have been placed throughout Coney Beach in Porthcawl advising residents that Bridgend County Borough Council intends to use some of the land in the waterfront area for new sea defences.

As this includes small parts of the beach which could be classed as open space, the council have put up the notices as part of a ‘compulsory purchase’ process.

The council say that the new sea defences are designed to protect businesses and homes against flooding while also offering “enhanced access to the beach” and making the seafront area more attractive for residents and visitors.

The proposal will create a series of stepped revetments as well as ramped access and flood prevention measures.

Councillor Rhys Goode, Bridgend Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Regeneration said: “Under current proposals, the land will remain an open space once the new sea defence works have been installed, leaving Coney Beach and Sandy Bay more attractive to the eye, and even more accessible.

“Further details on the new sea defences will be released very soon. The public notices represent the first step in this process, which forms part of our wider plans for the next phase of the Porthcawl Regeneration.

“As part of the plan, we want to double the size of Griffin Park and create an all-new green corridor which will link it to the seafront, deliver a mix of new residential, recreational and business opportunities, and establish a new school along with enhanced coastal protection and ecological measures for the local dune system.”

Almost 900 people have now signed two petitions calling for Porthcawl’s Coney Beach Amusement Park to be protected after Welsh Government bought the land for regeneration.

The sale includes the freehold interest in the Coney Beach Amusement Park site and the leasehold interest in an adjoining section of land known locally as the ‘monster park’ as it was previously used to exhibit sculptures of dinosaurs.

(Lead image: Bridgend County Borough Council)