Concrete beach set for a facelift
THE famous concrete beach at Porthcawl is set to be transformed as part of a project to improve sea defences.
A LANDMARK South Wales beach is set to lose the unusual feature which has made it loved by some and loathed by others.
Porthcawl’s Town Beach, also known as the concrete or Tarmac beach, is set to be completely transformed thanks to a £1.6m project to boost the sea defences.
If the plans get the goahead, the rapidly deteriorating grey shoreline will be covered over by pre-cast concrete terraces designed to minimise the force of the waves and protect the Esplanade, businesses and properties for years to come.
It is hoped the new stepped design will minimise the threat of coastal erosion and also look more attractive.
Natural Resources Wales has applied to Bridgend council for approval to carry out the work, which is expected to start in April and end in October.
The application states that the asphalt was put in place in 1984/85 to help reduce the force of the waves in order to protect the reinforced concrete sea wall constructed circa 1934 from being undermined.
Over the years it has become popular with many residents and tourists, who use it for sunbathing and picnics. But in recent years the surface has begun to break up and disintegrate.
NRW said it “has now reached the end of its serviceable life”. And, as a result, “the sea wall is now considered to be under threat of ongoing damage, and ultimately failure”.
The new sea defences will cover the same area as the existing bit, but could extend a few metres further.
The first phase of the work in April to June will see what is known as a ‘rock armour toe’ constructed at the end of the existing section, where it meets the beach.
This will see excavation and then in-fill with large rock armour stones.
Then the plan states that a ‘geotextile’ and ‘bedding material’ will be placed over the existing area before the pre-cast concrete terraces are lifted into place by crane between July and September.
Following the installation of the terraced units, the remaining exposed existing section will be capped and surfaced to the appropriate level.
Between July and October, repairs will also be carried out to the sea wall.