PORTHCAWL: New seafront funfair announced as town prepares for life after Coney Beach

The new funfair, which will feature family rides, a big wheel and food stalls, will be set up in time for Easter and remain in place throughout the summer season, Bridgend County Borough Council have said.

The announcement comes after the town’s historic Coney Beach amusement park closed permanently on 4 October 2025 after 107 years of operation as part of a major seafront regeneration project.

The Welsh Government, which bought the amusement park site in 2023, is working with Bridgend Council on a major redevelopment of the area, which has proved controversial with some residents.

Hundreds of people signed petitions to save the funfair, and the council was forced to scale back its initial regeneration proposals after a public backlash.

The council has also had to warn the public about fake images of the regeneration plans being circulated online.

The new seasonal funfair at Salt Lake will be operated by Studt’s Events, a family-run business with a long history in the events industry.

It will briefly share the site with the NoFit State contemporary circus, which will be present between 11-19 April.

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, said the new funfair reinforced the council’s commitment to delivering high-quality attractions for the town.

“We want to provide family-friendly activities that add to what Porthcawl already offers while also supporting local businesses by bringing more people into the town and county borough,” she said.

“I am pleased that the funfair will be inclusive and accessible for all visitors, and it is great to see how our plans for Porthcawl are starting to come together as part of the wider regeneration programme.”

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, said the waterfront regeneration represented an “exciting opportunity” for the area.

“Through our continued investment in regeneration across Wales, we want to help towns like Porthcawl build on their unique strengths, grow their local economies, deliver new homes, and provide high-quality leisure and cultural experiences for residents and visitors alike,” she said.

Henry Studt of Studt’s Events Ltd added: “We are genuinely delighted to be bringing a family funfair to Porthcawl and are looking forward to playing a positive part in the town’s seasonal offer for residents and visitors.”

More details about the seasonal funfair, including confirmed dates and opening times, will be announced closer to Easter 2026.

Council reveals final regeneration proposals for Porthcawl seafront

Produced by Bridgend County Borough Council in partnership with Welsh Government, the masterplan seeks to provide the right balance between leisure, tourism, housing, and business requirements within Porthcawl while prioritising the needs of local people and other stakeholders. 

Developed following years of research, market engagement, technical studies and extensive public consultation, it features a wide range of ideas for facilities and attractions across the 38 hectare site, the majority of which have been directly suggested by local residents.

Among the ideas under development are plans that could include a splash pad, mini golf, a pump track, a multi-use games area, pocket parks, fitness trails, community gardens and children’s play areas, all linked by a network of paths and routes that are suitable for pedestrians and cyclists.

With opportunities for new shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and kiosks spread throughout the regeneration area, the masterplan also features a new coastal park, buildings and pavilions that can be used by community groups, a site for motorhomes and touring caravans, and plenty of open space suitable for hosting seasonal fairs, markets, festivals and events.

With Sandy Bay now under public ownership, the masterplan encourages using the beach and adjoining land for new events, and there has already been substantial interest in setting up activities ranging from surf schools and saunas to beach-based fitness training, outdoor yoga classes and more. The plan also ensures that the nearby dune habitats at Rhych Point are carefully managed and restored so that the land can be used for educational and recreational purposes.

The Lido swimming pool would be located at Salt Lake opposite the marina where it would incorporate a gym, a restaurant, a café and other related facilities. The funfair rides would form part of a new site located at the opposite end of Salt Lake, close to the Aldi food store, which would offer new public events space.

With new equipment and facilities to help make it a hub for community events and sports activities, Griffin Park will treble in size under the plan and gain a new ‘green corridor’ equipped with new features. This will loop back to the seafront where stepped coastal defences will be installed as part of a new promenade to provide enhanced protection as well as improved access to Coney Beach and Sandy Bay.

In direct response to feedback from residents, the housing element of the masterplan has been reduced to approximately 980 homes, and prevailing building heights have been lowered by 20 per cent across so that structures which were originally 5-6 storeys high will now be no taller than 3-4. 

With ambitions for up to 50 per cent of the housing to be affordable and feature a mix of tenures including shared and low-cost ownership, the council intends to prioritise local people for the housing and to impose limits on the future use of residential units with restrictions that will prevent most from being used as holiday lets or second homes.

Car parking has also been accounted for following extensive research carried out over a period of four years. Parking sites including a refurbished open air car park at Hillsboro and a new public car park at Coney Beach will be established to cope with regular demand, and the council is in the process of identifying a site for an overflow car park to cater for occasions when visitor levels are at their peak.

Council Leader John Spanswick said:

“The final Porthcawl Waterfront Regeneration masterplan represents a hugely significant piece of work which has been many years in the making. 

“While complementing other local developments such as the ongoing multi-million refurbishment of the Grand Pavilion, it reflects our determination to strike the right balance between housing and community facilities, tourism and leisure, opportunities for enabling new businesses to thrive and more. 

“Delivering on its objectives will be a long-term process which will require planning consent, appropriate funding and delivery partners, but huge emphasis has been placed on making sure it remains both credible and realistic. The masterplan demonstrates the scope of our ambitions for Porthcawl, and our desire to work with residents to regenerate the town, prioritise local homes for local people, and deliver a future that they can believe in.”

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, said:

“In designing the final masterplan, we have delivered on our promise to listen to local people and reflect what they want to see while also ensuring that the proposals remain realistic, achievable and deliverable. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this process as well as our regeneration partners at Welsh Government. 

“I hope that people will take some time to study the masterplan and the responses to frequently asked questions that we have prepared before coming along to the public event and giving us their views. With 10 consultations held in the last five years alone, public engagement has proven to be a cornerstone of how this plan has developed, and I believe that together, we will deliver a future in which Porthcawl can develop and evolve to become the premier tourist destination in South Wales while also remaining a place to live and work.”

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, said: 

“This masterplan marks a bold and exciting step forward for Porthcawl, reimagining the seafront to deliver over 900 homes and new attractions that celebrate the town’s heritage. 

“By placing local people at the heart of regeneration, we are not only protecting the town’s unique character but also unlocking its full potential as a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work and visit.  

“The Welsh Government is proud to support Bridgend County Borough Council in delivering a future that balances homes, heritage, and opportunity.” 

#BridgendCountyBoroughCouncil #ConeyBeach #Porthcawl #regeneration

Council warns public over ‘fake’ Porthcawl regeneration images

The authority says the mocked‑up visuals are not genuine, and risk “causing confusion, misleading the public and spreading misinformation.”

‘They do not represent our plans’

Cllr Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, said:

“They may have been put together with the best of intentions, but the mocked‑up, fake images do not represent what we are trying to achieve in Porthcawl, nor are they based upon the latest proposals that we are in the process of updating.

Unfortunately, based on emails I have received and some of the comments made directly on the fake image posts, many people appear to believe that they are genuine, so I have to again stress that they are nothing of the sort.”

⚠️Disclaimer: These images are AI‑generated mock‑ups circulating online. Bridgend County Borough Council has confirmed they are not official and do not represent the authority’s regeneration proposals.

The council says official images illustrating the final proposals will be released later this autumn.

Nearly 1,000 new homes planned

The regeneration scheme is expected to deliver just under 1,000 new homes across the site, with up to half classed as affordable housing.

Cllr Farr said the homes would be “community‑focused properties suitable for a mix of families, people who live alone, couples just starting out, older residents and more,” and would be supported by new infrastructure and evenly distributed parking.

Shops, leisure and green space

Alongside housing, the plans include:

• New shops, cafés, restaurants and kiosks
• Pump tracks, skate parks and multi‑use games areas
• Pocket parks, play areas and flexible open space for seasonal events
• A landscaped green corridor linking the town back to the waterfront
• An expanded Griffin Park with new facilities such as a climbing wall and fitness trail
• Coastal defences at Sandy Bay with stepped revetments and new promenade retail units

The proposals are intended to complement projects already completed, such as the Metro Link and Cosy Corner.

Public engagement

The council says it has held more than ten consultation events over the past five years, and that many of the ideas suggested by residents have been incorporated into the final plans.

Cllr Farr added:

“I would ask anyone who views the fake images in the meantime to remember that they do not reflect the reality of our regeneration proposals, and to reserve judgement until later this autumn when you will have ample opportunity to view accurate, official images of what we have planned.”

Related stories on Porthcawl regeneration

Welsh Government writes off £1.6m after failed Porthcawl Maritime Centre project
Audit Wales found “basic failings” in the way the project was managed, with £1.6m in public funding lost after the scheme collapsed without being built.

Coney Beach Amusement Park to close after more than 100 years in Porthcawl
The Evans family have confirmed the park will close at the end of the 2025 season, marking the end of an era for generations of visitors.

Welsh Government buys Coney Beach Amusement Park as part of plans for ambitious future for Porthcawl
The purchase unlocks land at Sandy Bay for a major regeneration scheme including new homes, retail, leisure, and an expanded Griffin Park.

#AI #artistSImpression #BridgendCountyBoroughCouncil #CllrNeeloFarr #ConeyBeach #fakeImages #Porthcawl #redevelopment

Public urged to avoid Porthcawl funfair after ride ‘accident’

Emergency services are in attendance at a funfair in Porthcawl, south Wales, following reports of injuries and a ride derailing. It is believed that the incident involved over a dozen children.

Police have urged people to avoid the area after one adult and 13 children suffered minor injuries, with some requiring hospital treatment.

Coney Beach Amusement Park said the incident involved a “third-party ride not owned by Coney Beach”.

On Wednesday evening, South Wales Police said:

“Officers and other emergency services were in attendance at Coney Beach Amusement Park, Porthcawl, Bridgend following an accident involving one of the rides at 5.50pm.

“At this time, we have confirmed that 13 children and one adult have sustained minor injuries. Some of these have required hospital treatment.

“The amusement park will remain closed tomorrow while officers and health and safety personnel carry out their investigation.

“Please avoid the area to allow emergency services access.”

In a statement on social media, Coney Beach Amusement Park said:

“Due to an incident on a third-party ride not owned by Coney Beach, we were instructed by the police to clear the site for further investigation.

“We apologise for the disruption and will be providing refunds to affected guests as soon as possible. We will be releasing instructions on refunds shortly.”

[Lead image: Gemma Stanish]

#accident #ConeyBeach #featured #funfair #Porthcawl #SouthWalesPolice

Campaigners in Wales join national protest against plastic pollution ahead of global treaty talks

Communities across Wales will take to the coast this weekend as part of a nationwide protest against plastic pollution, organised by environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). The People vs Plastic campaign will see demonstrators gather at Coney Beach in Porthcawl and Tywyn Beach on Saturday 19 July, demanding stronger action from the UK Government ahead of next month’s Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Geneva.

The protests are part of a wider National Day of Action, with events planned across the UK — from beach cleans and school-led “Trash Mobs” to marches in city centres. Organisers say the goal is to pressure the government into committing to legally binding targets to reduce plastic production and pollution, and to position the UK as a global leader in tackling single-use plastics.

The Geneva talks, running from 5–14 August, follow a breakdown in negotiations last year in South Korea, where countries failed to agree on reducing plastic output. Campaigners argue that a robust treaty is essential to protect marine ecosystems and curb the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste.

Lucy Jones, who is organising the Porthcawl protest, said:

“I’m tired of seeing our beautiful coastlines polluted with plastic waste. This isn’t just about litter — it’s about protecting marine life, preserving nature for future generations, and demanding real change from industries and governments.”

Surfers Against Sewage is calling for:

• Legally binding plastic reduction targets
• A comprehensive Deposit Return Scheme and reuse-focused circular economy
• Extended Producer Responsibility laws to make polluters pay

The charity says over 88,000 people have taken part in 3,600 local cleans so far in 2025, collecting more than 40,000kg of rubbish through its Million Mile Clean initiative. It also supports over 400 Plastic Free Communities and 3,000 Plastic Free Schools across the UK.

Giles Bristow, Chief Executive of SAS, said:

“We are drowning in the toxic tide of plastic. The UK remains one of the worst offenders for generating single-use waste, and our government is still dawdling on action. With the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations just around the corner, we must turn up the heat.”

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Crown Estate funds new offshore wind supply chain programme in South Wales
£100k investment supports floating wind industry and local SMEs in the Swansea Bay City Region.

Safety works to begin at Cwmgwrach coal tip to reduce landslip risk
Natural Resources Wales begins drainage reinforcement to improve safety at disused colliery site.

New dunes planned to help keep wind-blown sand at bay
Swansea Council introduces natural windbreaks and fencing to protect beach habitats and reduce sand drift.

#campaign #ConeyBeach #plastic #Porthcawl #protest #Recycling #singleUsePlastic #SurfersAgainstSewage

Coney Beach amusement park to close after more than 100 years in Porthcawl

Coney Beach Amusement Park, a fixture of Porthcawl’s seafront since 1918, will close permanently at the end of the 2025 season. The announcement was made by The Evans family, who have operated the park for generations.

“This season at Coney Beach will be our last,” they said. “We will be closing our gates for the final time this October. It’s the end of an era. For over 100 years we and other showmen and their families have lived and worked in Porthcawl helping to make it a busy seaside destination bringing fun, laughter, and fond memories to so many.”

The closure comes as part of a wider regeneration scheme led by Bridgend County Borough Council and the Welsh Government, which will see the 20-hectare waterfront site transformed into a mixed-use development. Plans include up to 1,100 new homes, retail and leisure facilities, a primary school, and extended public boardwalks and green spaces.

Coney Beach was originally built to entertain American troops returning from the First World War and took its name from the famous New York amusement park on Coney Island. Over the decades, it became a beloved destination for generations of families across South Wales and beyond.

“We will miss it greatly and while we are sad to see our time here come to an end, we are forever grateful to have had the opportunity to have been part of so many generations of families’ lives, young and old,” the Evans family added. “Thank you for sharing our love of ‘all the fun of the fair’ and the legacy that Coney Beach leaves.”

The announcement has sparked an emotional response from the community, with hundreds of comments flooding social media.

“This is heartbreaking,” wrote one commenter. “I have so many memories of going there with my grandparents. It was the highlight of every summer.”

Another added: “Genuinely gutted. Coney Beach was part of my childhood and now my kids won’t get to experience it the same way.”

“Thank you for the memories,” said a third. “From the ghost train to the dodgems, it was always the best day out. You’ll be missed more than you know.”

Some called for a commemorative event or permanent tribute to mark the park’s legacy, with suggestions ranging from a heritage mural to a dedicated exhibit in the town’s museum.

As Porthcawl looks ahead to a new chapter, the closure of Coney Beach marks a poignant moment in the town’s history — a farewell to a century of seaside tradition, and a reminder of the enduring power of shared memories.

#amusementPark #ConeyBeach #featured #Porthcawl #tourism