Porthcawl's beloved Coney Beach amusement park to close within months

@Mindfulness I'm pleased to hear Porthcawl still has Firework Displays a few times a year, no more Wall of Death bike rides, it was very popular years ago especially with my Late Dad, I think they're banned nowadays.

The Elvis weekend they still have an Elvis weekend in Blackwood as well I believe the performers then move on to Porthcawl after Blackwood.

I had heard the Tourer Caravans had gone from Sandy Bay glad their back, do they allow Motorhomes a friend of mine has a Motorhome I expect he'll have a few days at Sandy Bay if allowed.

Your right Porthcawl will always be a great resort it still has a lot going for it.

@senghenydd They do allow motorhomes, always plenty there.
I still go down a few times a year, usually drive to Rest Bay then walk the dog over to Trecco.
The Promenade has been done up nice, there's some nice shops in the town centre, and of course there's plenty of drinking establishments.
And here I am at the Elvis festival couple of years ago.

@Mindfulness I'm pleased to hear that they allow Motorhomes on the Tourer Park at Sandy Bay, how long that tourer site will stay open I wonder, things as they are down there, I believe they stopped it once, I have an interest in this as I'm thinking of buying a Motorhome, they are really out of this world especially with the new solar panels people can and do live in them all the year round.

I've always liked the Promenade it had a beach there a hundred years ago apparently all the sand washed out to sea, nowadays it's just rocks and pebbles, the shopping centre in the town is great as well, not forgetting Rest Bay and Newton.

Not much to say about Elvis we've all done Elvis impressions still if it helps keep Porthcawl going it can't be bad.

@Midlifemale I feel your right it's all about the money as far as these Land Developers are concerned the children can play in the streets.

@senghenydd The local authority has Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 at their disposal. If the proposed development has impacted negatively on the public realm, they can make planning consent conditional.on the developer making a financial.contribution to mitigate any loss. So if the development involves the closure of an important play space, the developers will be expected to fund a replacement.

Our local beach has concessions on the actual sand (swing boats, donkey rides, Punch & Judy) which operate seasonally.

@SunshineGirl I've just been chatting to a gentleman who mentions the Amusement Park at Portrush was destined for a similar fate and miraculously re-opened again as an Amusement Park under new owners, maybe that Property Developer had a change of heart as CIL and Section 106 would cut into his profit.

Porthcawl won't be so lucky the Welsh Government is backing this project Porthcawl is doomed.
Human nature being what it is the housing estate which will be built where the existing Amusement Park now stands will object to the Donkey rides on the beach and Punch & Judy will offend them.

There's no stopping progress it'll be interesting to see how this all ends some people will be pleased about this and others will be very angry at the loss of Coney Beach, what I am sure about is this will be discussed again and again.

@Hopelandia I'm sure there's behind the scenes goings on and the land will be re-developed similar to the caravan site which was Sandy Bay, as a young lad growing up in South Wales Porthcawl had everything this is so sad, Porthcawl rivalled Porthmadog Southend and Blackpool etc.

@SpudMuffin The Welsh Government has purchased parcels of land in the seafront area for a mixed-use redevelopment in the area that is expected to feature a new housing estate, retail business facilities, a new primary school, and a number of recreational and leisure opportunities.

@senghenydd 'recreational and leisure opportunities' doesn't sound as much fun as an amusement park!

@SpudMuffin The problem with a holiday resort like Porthcawl is the holidaymakers don't have a big say in the running of things their not Residents, they don't vote for the local Councillors same with most of the Traders who mostly live outside Porthcawl, the local residents have wished to see Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay Caravan sites gone for years they have been granted one of their wishes with Sandy Bay, I've sure they'll be pleased about Coney Beach too.

@Lugwho Council and Governments nowadays are making the wrong decisions, Portrush were lucky, Amusement Parks are taken for granted Coney Beach was always full of holidaymakers and making a nice profit everyone were happy at least that's what I thought.

@Matt85 There were great rides such a variety of things there it had everything.

@senghenydd It happens everywhere, whenever people with money move in. Sometimes it benefits the local economy, but more often things like this happen :(

@Convivial I knew there were some of the local people annoyed about the holidaymakers but never thought this would happen.

@Hopelandia Well the main shopping centre will miss the holidaymakers.

@Shybutwilling2bfriends Ah well there you are Wales has also lost Oakwood Theme Park as well.

I remember as a young boy going to Blackpool and enjoying the Fairground there, we went twice on "The Big Dipper" at least that's still going to around and for many more years yet.