CELEBRATING QUEEN VICTORIA’S HARPIST

Steven Bletsoe said: “Bridgend Town Council are pleased to have instigated this scheme and are delighted with the positive response to date. I thank everyone who has assisted; Chaplain Mavis, The Civic Trust and History Society for their invaluable guidance, Clwb Alawon and the BCBC Planning and Conservation Officers.”

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed light refreshments at Carnegie House and music from Clwb Alawon who played a selection of John Thomas’s compositions and arrangements.

Photo: His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant, The Mayor of Bridgend Town, Chair of the Regeneration Committee, Mayor’s Chaplain and Bridgend Town Council Councillors.

Deadline date for the July issue is:

THURSDAY 15TH JUNE

Porthcawl Rnli Volunteer Completes Ascent To Everest Base Camp

On Wednesday 19th April, The Mayor of Bridgend Town Council, Councillor Tim Wood welcomed His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant and distinguished guests to an unveiling of a plaque to celebrate the life of John Thomas, Harpist to Queen Victoria.

Born on St David’s Day 1826 in Elder Street, Bridgend, John Thomas won several eisteddfodau and was invited to London to play by the president of the Eisteddfod when aged only 12. In 1861 he was given the title Pencerdd Gwalia, Chief Musician of Wales and published a collection of traditional Welsh tunes which are still performed regularly today. He was appointed harpist to Queen Victoria and Edward VII in 1871. The Chair of the Regeneration Committee, Councillor

Porthcawl RNLI volunteer Amy and her husband, Bleddyn recently returned to Porthcawl after an epic adventure to Everest Base Camp.

Amy said, ‘this was the toughest but best adventure. We totally fell in love with the Himalayas along the way.

‘As well as Everest Base Camp (5,364m), we also successfully ascended Gokyo Ri (5,360m), Cho La Pass (5,420m), and Kala Pattar (5,545m). We had a lot of snow along the way and -17°C temperatures!’

With last-minute nerves kicking in before the couple left, they decided a fundraiser for Porthcawl RNLI would help give them some extra motivation.

Amy joined Porthcawl RNLI in September 2022 and is currently nearing completion of her shore crew training. Since returning from Everest, Bleddyn has now followed suit in joining to become a volunteer tractor driver.

To donate to their fundraiser: https://www.justgiving.com/ page/porthcawl-rnli-amy-and-bleddyn

Tourism Tax Risks Local Jobs

This week is Wales Tourism Week, where we champion all that our amazing local businesses have to offer. Tourism is also economically vital, providing 1 in 7 jobs across Wales, contributing 17% of our GDP.

However, Labour and Plaid Cymru’s Tourism Tax could have a devastating impact on the industry. We have estimated that this tax could cost a family staying overnight in Wales an extra £70. If people are given the choice between visiting Porthcawl, or visiting Weston-Super-Mare instead, then that extra £70 could make the difference for them.

What message does that send not only to people within the UK, but people elsewhere, that we see tourism in Wales as something to be taxed, not to be enhanced?

Figures show people who stay overnight spend up to 14 times more in the local economy than people who just come for a day. Unfortunately, the Welsh Government’s proposals are to tax those people specifically — exactly the people we want to spend money in local businesses and contribute to the local economy.

Our tourism businesses do so much for our local area, but they deserve better leadership from the Welsh Government, which should be backing – not taxing – our tourism sector.

Porthcawl Prepares For Return Of Popular 10k Race

It is great to see that the Ogi Porthcawl 10k Race is set to return to Bridgend County Borough next month.

Taking place on Sunday 2 July, this will be the third time that Porthcawl has hosted the event, which has proven to be a resounding success.

The race has been especially successful in attracting people into Porthcawl, and now plays a major role in supporting local businesses and trade as well as promoting the area to visitors and tourists.

Sponsored by Ogi and organised by Run 4 Wales in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council, the race route has been designed to take advantage of some of the town’s most scenic views, including Rest Bay, Trecco Bay and Coney Beach as well as iconic landmarks such as the Grand Pavilion and the Porthcawl lighthouse.

You don’t have to be an experienced runner to take part as the Porthcawl 10K includes opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved, including junior races and plenty of additional sporting activities that families can take part in. Road closures and diversions will be in place while the race is underway - to find out more and learn how you can get involved, visit www.porthcawl10k.co.uk

New Tennis Facilities Are On Their Way

I was delighted to see that in addition to two new all-weather tennis courts which are being developed to replace older, outdated facilities at Griffin Park in Porthcawl, Bridgend County Borough Council is also working alongside the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to establish new courts for Maesteg, Heol-yCyw and Ogmore Vale.

With the LTA investing more than £500,000 into creating the new facilities as part of a national refurbishment programme, the council has already committed towards providing new replacement courts for Griffin Park as the site of the existing facilities is needed for a vehicular route into the waterfront regeneration area.

Plans for this are still under development, and the council will be undertaking extensive community engagement before any work is carried out.

The fresh investment also follows last November’s announcement on plans for establishing a new national tennis academy at land located near Island Farm, just off the A48 – a significant development featuring nine indoor and six outdoor tennis courts, a swimming pool, a gym, offices for Tennis Wales and more.

I sincerely hope that these plans will come together to help inspire a whole new generation of talented players, and that Bridgend County Borough will become synonymous with the sport in future.

Tel: 01656 643643

Car Parking Is Key To Tourism Success

THE future of Porthcawl as a seaside resort hangs in the balance.

The Local Development Plan, Regeneration Strategy and the Placemaking Plan produced by BCBC all have the wrong emphasis - according to the town’s Civic Society and I agree with them.

These plans, whilst ostensibly aiming to turn Porthcawl into a premier seaside resort, will in fact do the opposite.

Salt Lake is set to accommodate 250 homes by destroying hundreds of parking spaces. In all, up to 2,000 parking spaces could be lost in the town which will not only make it difficult for local residents to support the shops but will also deter visitors. Yes, the council is creating a new bus station but what’s needed are new bus services to replace those axed in recent years. And if the council believes that day trippers will leave their cars at home to catch infrequent and unreliable buses to Porthcawl, they are living in a parallel universe – the one where Wales needs no new roads and where all traffic in our towns moves at 20 mph thanks to the Welsh Labour Government’s most recent decisions.

Porthcawl needs to cater for motorists to survive as a seaside resort. End of.

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