Scheme could bring a £2.5m boost for town
A NEW plan to improve facilities in Porthcawl could see £2.5m pumped into the town.
A report presented to Bridgend council cabinet members on Tuesday stated the European Unionfunded Porthcawl Resort Investment Focus (PRIF) programme is being developed in association with Porthcawl Harbourside Community Interest Company – which is developing a £5.5m Harbourside building – and tourism body Visit Wales.
In his report Mark Shephard, corporate director communities, said Visit Wales has prioritised Porthcawl for support which “highlights the importance of the resort in tourism terms, both locally, and for the wider Welsh economy”.
Last March it was announced that the Tourism Attractor Destinations (TAD) Programme, of which Porthcawl is a part along with other destinations in Wales, has received approval to develop an £85m investment, backed with £27.7m from the European Regional Development Fund.
Mr Shephard said: “The overall PRIF Programme – Porthcawl Resort Investment Focus Programme – is divided into two parts with certain aspects being delivered by the PHCIC and certain aspects being delivered by Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC). The organisations will each be responsible for its respective activities, funding arrangement and reporting requirements and each will enter into separate agreements with the funder.
“The two organisations have however worked closely together in the development stage to date and will continue to do so during the proposed delivery stage under the PRIF Programme banner, despite technically being two separate schemes.”
He said the idea of the PRIF programme “is to create a high quality, 21st century signature destination within Wales, offering selling points to a range of global markets, potentially involving:
A bustling waterside: A place that delivers high quality leisure and sporting facilities and attractions;
World class golf offer: A place that delivers an accessible, year-round waterside golf experience, unrivalled in Wales;
High quality accommodation development: A place that delivers unique waterside accommodation from which to explore inland.
The parts of PRIF proposed to be delivered by BCBC are:
An iconic watersports centre at Rest Bay, with a new seaside cafe and bistro and a centre for clubs;
Enhanced facilities at Porthcawl Harbour;
Improvements to transport routes to increase the town’s capacity to host major events.
The report states that the next stage will be to develop a detailed business plan.