Porthcawl Regeneration
formation of Better Porthcawl Partnership
From mid 2022 a small group of Porthcawl residents who represent three community groups (the founding team) have been developing a project plan hoping to establish a partnership of local groups in Porthcawl.
the aims are to
1. ensure that the people of Porthcawl have a greater say in the future of our town, and that what happens to Porthcawl in the next phase of its development, is done by, and with, the people of Porthcawl. That Regeneration is ‘sustainable’ and is developed responding to the climate and ecological emergencies.
2. that groups are also offered support to develop climate-friendly and sustainable practices, clarifying and sharing ideas and support.
Better Porthcawl Founding team: Margaret Minhinnick, Richard Thomas, Elen Jones (Sustainable Wales and SUSSED), Jamie Strong and Gemma Lewis (A Voice for the Future of Porthcawl)
Better Porthcawl Partnership Updates Blog
what else has Better Porthcawl Partnership been up to?
● We have written to two Bridgend BCBC cabinet members re: the “Well Being of Future Generations and Communities portfolios”, asking them meet with us and discuss a co-production approach (a way of working to ensure a more democratic and informed way of involving and engaging with the residents and business of Porthcawl). Timetables and commitments have meant that synchronising a meeting has been difficult and this has slowed down the development of Better Porthcawl.
● Meanwhile Jamie Strong and Margaret Minhinnick each provided three minutes of ‘live’ evidence to BCBC’s scrutiny committee (on Teams) re: the appropriation of land and Sandy Bay. Don Tickner, Porthcawl Civic Trust also spoke. Recording of the whole meeting…
● Also we are considering joining Co-Pro Cymru which can include training opportunities on the co-production model of democratic involvement and participation, but does cost money.
● Creating a relationship with the Bridgend PSB secretary (Public Service Board)
● Applying for grants and successfully receiving funding from the Postcode Lottery to recruit a local development officer who will support our activities along with other issues on climate change and sustainability matters.
Funding support from People’s Postcode Lottery
background…
On 20th July 2021 the Council’s Cabinet made an “in principle” decision to appropriate approximately 19.84 hectares of land at Sandy Bay and Griffin Park to alternative uses, to deliver the regeneration of Porthcawl’s waterfront in accordance with the Local Development Plan and recently approved Placemaking Strategy. Before formally appropriating the land, the Council is required to publicise a notice of its intention to appropriate the land and consider any representations received before reaching a final decision.
BCBC
See full map below
56 acres of Sandy bay was compulsory purchased in 1948 - for the purposes of public walks, pleasure and recreation grounds.
It is currently held in trust for this purpose; the appropriation is required to change its purpose from that listed to make it available for development.
BCBC Cabinet agreed in July 2020 to jointly market and dispose of all this land including this 56 acres of Sandy Bay and coney Beach funfair site to developers.
The original response deadline was extended to 21 July 2022
Use this BCBC link to add your views in writing via email or letter.
Regeneration of Porthcawl, Seafront
our response
Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynaliadwy and SUSSED Community Cooperative’s overall position regarding the regeneration of Porthcawl is that any development responds to the climate and ecological emergency and is carbon neutral as indicated in our previous contributions to Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC).
We would also add that there should remain plenty of family open space in land developments. Space that as residents we do not have to pay entry for.
Sustainable Wales and SUSSED are not against the development of Porthcawl, indeed we welcome it, having been a long-time coming!
However, many local voices are telling us that they have significant concerns over the quantity of housing, the increase in infrastructure and services that will be then required, cars and parking, the lack of open space and indeed the urbanization of the town. Their fears are increased by the acquisition of the land proposal above.
Introduction to the response - read in full here
The original report by Sustainable Wales (opens in a new tab or window, PDF) on the early proposals for regeneration: “Will ‘Salt Lake’ be a Low-Carbon Community?”
Click to enlarge this explanation map
Click to enlarge
the overall regeneration
These images can be downloaded as a zipped file, see below.
Use this form to contact us…
download Documents
2022 Response by Sustainable Wales and SUSSED to the Appropriation of Land in Porthcawl
Download the response document as a PDF 3.3mb
Original Report by Sustainable Wales on the Regeneration Proposals
Download the report as a PDF 2.1mb
Download Images and plans seen on this page Zipped file 7.3mb
Notice of Appropriation proposed (BCBC) 6 June 2022
Previous Blog Posts on Porthcawl Regeneration
