Realistic hope of Porthcawl’s regeneration
IN December a report to cabinet, subsequently approved by full council, signalled unblocking the long-running saga which is ‘Porthcawl Regeneration’.
Long running because a child born when ‘Porthcawl Regeneration’ was first mooted is now potentially a grandparent, a child born when the hugelyexpensive decision was taken to close Sandy Bay caravan park 18 years ago to make way for regeneration is now probably in the workplace, whilst a child born when the development contract was signed will now be preparing to attend Senior School.
However, my new grandson born on January 2 has a realistic possibility of seeing Porthcawl regenerated.
The original agreement signed by two local landowners and Bridgend County Borough Council was, in many residents’ eyes, unacceptable from three perspectives: firstly, a poor return for the local authority who would take the risk secondly, a carpet of housing that would provide no future economic value for either Porthcawl or the wider borough and thirdly, would do nothing for Bridgend’s vital tourism industry.
All Porthcawl borough councillors very much welcome this initiative.
Buying out the remaining Salt Lake car park lease at an agreed independent valuation is publicly transparent and is the most sensible way forward.
We also welcome the commitment provided to us by the cabinet member and senior officers that, in a break from the past approach, Porthcawl elected members will be fully involved up-front in bringing forward a new masterplan instead of being presented with a fait accompli.
Furthermore, we have been given a commitment that development of the land will be of mixed use providing leisure, retail and accommodation and that residents will also have a voice in the future of Porthcawl.