Huw’ss View

IF you’ve visited Porthcawl recently, you won’t have been able to miss the major work that is underway at the seafront.

Workers with heavy machinery are on site repairing the existing sea wall and making preparations for the installation of new, sand-coloured sea defences featuring a terraced design.

It’s part of a project to replace the ageing tarmac beach, which has come to the end of its natural life and must be replaced.

The new defences will ensure that we can continue to protect more than 260 seafront properties from flooding and erosion.

I was also delighted to see that the transformation of the Jennings Building has been shortlisted for a major national award by the Royal Town Planning Institute.

This well-respected scheme recognises projects that transform economies, environments and communities, so just making the shortlist is a huge achievement.

The Jennings has been nominated under the Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture category, and will be up against some stiff competition from the likes of the Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre, the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Darlington Hippodrome and the Tower Hamlets Conservation Strategy.

Meanwhile, over at Rest Bay, we are preparing to recruit a developer to provide the all-new Watersports Centre which will feature an integrated café and kiosk with modern toilet and changing facilities – something we are also seeking to introduce at Porthcawl Marina with a refurbishment of the harbour kiosk building that will include showers and more.

With the recent removal of the deadlock on regeneration at Salt Lake and plans moving ahead for the community-driven maritime centre, these developments are going to be of major benefit to Porthcawl and the wider county borough.