LETTERS

Conger Eel Rescue

Dear Editor,

My niece was running at Rest Bay this week and came across a conger eel on the sea edge tangled up in discarded fishing line. With the help of a dog walker and a surfer she freed it and got it into the sea and it swam away. My niece Sarah was able to slip the tangled fishing line off the eel’s head and body, but then realised it was also caught on the hook. She sent a photo to her husband (who has done a lot of fishing). He identified the species and Sarah enlisted the help of a dog walker so that her husband could talk him through the process of extracting the hook from the fish. They then returned it to the sea but it kept getting washed back ashore. A passing surfer wearing neoprene gloves then entered the scene and took the eel out to deeper water, where it was released and swam (quite happily as far as we know) away. So a real team effort with a happy ending.

Margaret Williams, Porthcawl

Become A Civic Trust Member

Dear Editor,

As Membership Secretary of the Porthcawl Civic Trust Society, I am asking Porthcawl residents to consider becoming a Society member.

The Society was formed in 1970, and over the past 53 years has raised a large number of issues with the local authorities, many of which have been resolved to the Society’s satisfaction although others have met with disappointing results. The Society doesn’t want another ‘disappointing result’ when it comes to the proposed plans by BCBC to ‘Regenerate’ our town. We are urging BCBC to consult with all Porthcawl residents on the plans for Salt Lake and Sandy Bay before any final decisions are made. If you share this view, please consider joining with the other 300 plus members of the Society and visit our website (porthcawlcivictrustsociety.co.uk) to download a membership application form. Alternatively, email us at porthcawlcivictrust@ hotmail.co.uk and we’ll send one to you. Membership is only £6 per year (£8 for a family). The bigger our membership, the louder our voice. This is the one chance we have to tell BCBC what we want for our beautiful town. Thank you.

Marilyn Smith, Porthcawl

AN EVENING OF SONG Dear Editor,

On Friday the 10th of February I held a concert in St Theodore’s Church and Well-Being Centre, Kenfig Hill, which aimed to promote music and singing within the younger community in Wales. Appropriately named ‘An Evening of Song’, the concert had a wide selection of songs from across multiple genres of music. Joining me for the evening was Loud Applause Rising Stars members, Lauren Elizabeth-Williams and Heather Jones as well as young talented soloists, Esther Thomas-Bizjak and Alexander Durston. All four guest soloists were a hit with the sell-out audience and showed everyone what a bright future the have. Accompanying the evening was the ever-talented and gifted pianist Andrew Chinnock.

It was a fantastic evening, which showed to the whole of our community that the Welsh tradition of song is not dying but is truly alive and flourishing.

A massive thank you to everyone who helped organise the event with special mention to Jayne and Paul Hughes of Kind Regards Greeting Cards, Cerith Owens (Loud Applause Rising Stars), Patricia O’Neill Wheatley and last but not least my eversupportive and devoted family and friends.

Thank you to all who came and supported not only the four guest soloists and I but also music within the younger generation in Wales.

Josef J. Gray Fmr. Head Boy at Cynffig Comprehensive School

In the last issue for February 2023 (print version), an old advert from 2022 was printed in error for Swansea Building Society on page 37. The correct advert was placed in the online version for February 2023, and subsequently the correct advert is in this issue for March 2023 - in the Finance section, page 37. The Seaside News would like to apologise for any inconvenience or issues this may have caused.

info@kagglass.co.uk Bridgend (01656) 657744

STAG’S WORLD OF ROCK

11th March at All Saints. Tickets will be priced at £5, and will be available at the door. The concert will start at 7pm.

We are pleased to have had a number of new members this year, but are always on the lookout for more enthusiastic singers. If you’re interested, please contact the choir, or just turn up at Arlington Road Church on either a Friday or Tuesday at 7pm. You will have a great welcome. contact@pothcawlmalechoir.co.uk

Or Noel Williams on 07902 333559

PYLE & PORTHCAWL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

We recently held our annual Club Competition 2, expertly judged by Rob Mitchell from Neath. Richard Craze was the winner of the Print section and Howard Evans won the Digital section. Congratulations both.

I should have been reviewing Those Damn Crows’ new album and Last Flight to Pluto’s great Planet Rock gig. However, I learned of the recent passing of South Wales bassist Mal Preest. Mal was performing in Shakin’ Stevens’ band and we were both based in Cornelly in the late 70s. I had just finished a British tour with Warchild and was working on a solo project named The Stag Marks Gang. Mal offered his services to help. I had written a song, “Ain’t No Fun On The Dole”, but something was lacking until Mal came up with this terrific bass riff and the song was born and got released. The record got mega radio plays and publicity and opened many doors for me. Mal’s contribution put the song where it is today – a collector’s record – and I will be forever grateful to him. Our paths later went in a different direction and he moved out of the area, but we kept in contact. Before Mal’s battle with his illness, he performed with the Luke Doherty Band as his bassist and was a regular extra on Welsh soap “Pobol y Cwm”. Mal was always happy-go-lucky and fab to be around. I’m going to miss him but his contribution to music will live on.

Stag Marks

07549 728356

Picture: Mal Preest and Stag

Porthcawl Male Choir

We’re a friendly camera club with a mix of male and female members and welcome new members of all ages and skill levels. It’s all very informal, so if you have an interest in photography why not come along and join us.

We meet at St Clare’s School, Newton, CF36 5NR on Thursday evenings at 7pm.

www.pyle-and-porthcawl-photographic-society.co.uk

The choir was honoured to sing at the show dome in Trecco Bay this month. Parkdean holidays held their annual staff conference at the resort, with over 300 delegates from all over Great Britain attending. Parkdean are the largest holiday camp company in Europe and Trecco Bay is their largest resort. Beki Gaskin, the event organiser said, ‘I wanted this event to be the biggest and best held to date and thought Porthcawl Male Choir would be a great way to open the event’. The delegates enthusiastically received the choir and the combination of traditional Welsh male choir music and some more modern pieces went down well. Our next public event will be a combined concert with visiting Hertfordshire based choir, Amici Cantate, scheduled for Saturday

Ninety And Still Climbing

Not yet, not yet to reach God’s mountain peak

Still heights to challenge on His chosen way

Not ours to choose our time for reaching home

So let’s cheer each other in God’s Pilgrim Way

He’s giving us fresh garments to put on And songs of praise to sound our joy abroad

New strength when ours seems almost gone

Join with God’s church to welcome children home

Thank God for every birthday we have passed

And those who walk with us this Pilgrim way

Reaching old age with all his promises

We’ll joyful know his blessings day by day

Pauline Lewis

Me And Banksy Watch The Blue Aeroplanes In Bristol

Over by that dead tree in Castle Park a homeless lady chases pigeons, Her arms move languidly from her meds as she stabs at the air, she stumbles and falls.

She calls herself a “fat, lazy bitch!” Kicks away a life through carrier bags. We work out she was a girl when we first watched them here.

Pony Boy’s left a message - shoots fireworks over the Avon.

Bristol breathes, Banksy listens

“everything we do is art”. One night only, thirty years And Stones on....

Me and Banksy lift the pigeon pugilist from her bags, Momentarily weightless our muscle memory moshpit mesmorises.

Gerard, Wojtek and the crew are incandescent guiding muses. Something flashed for a minute, then it vanished and was gone.

Wilfy Edwards, Porthcawl

Same Old

Behind us now, the constant ringing of the Supermarket til, Crazed people in ‘Buying for the sake of Buying’ mode’.

Fridge-freezers crammed to ‘overfill’, Generators shock from overload. Branded! Latest Upgrade! Niche and Artisan!

A never ending supply to sate our constant need

Perpetuating stress on wealth, health and mind.

We pay the toll, a heavy price for all this greed.

Once the strains of Auld Lang Syne have faded from our brains And festive clutter looks somewhat out of place.

We look ahead with hooded eyelids to the coming year, Forgotten resolutions and overspending must be faced.

Temptation looms to tantalise and lure us from our sleep, The ‘too expensive’ items that we just could not afford, REDUCED!! So to the SALES, seduced we follow on like sheep, Before the ever-turning treadmills stop, we are back on board.

Catherine Millard Payne, Bridgend

March

The first of March, St David’s Day, A national day of pride. We wear our leeks and daffodils, Maybe a dragon, side by side. We sing our National anthem, And seek out some tasty treats. Bara brith or Welsh Cakes May be your special eats. March moves along thereafter, Who knows what it will bring. The thing that we all want to see? Those early signs of Spring.

Judy Dee, Porthcawl Marilyn Cook, Bridgend

An Open Library

Print spills across pages, Frog-leaping from books, Flicking like tadpoles in a pond. The cat curled on a chair

Nicely ignores encyclopaedias, Purring sonorously.

Insomniac sentences flare from shelves, Lights glare from computers. The friendly librarian, Who has no time for endless chatter, Scurries around books, Smiling, stamping, scribbling, sorting, squinting at screens, Assisting sympathetically With endless patience, Until finally the lights go out, The cat is fed And the last customer Leaves the universal warmth Of open, lit rooms, Shut for the night.

Sally Richards, Porthcawl

A MOTHER’S DAY POEM

Hi Mum, it’s Mother’s day, It’s a chance for me to show, How very special you are to me Just in case you didn’t know,

A chance for me to say the words, That are always on my mind, But we live in such a busy world, No time to stop and unwind.

No time to show my gratitude, To say a simple thank you, To give you an extra cuddle, That’s very much overdue.

But you know how I feel about you, You know me better than me, You know I love you very much, For without you where would I be.

Marilyn Cook, Bridgend

Cost Of Cancer

I just thought I would take this opportunity to mention why we do what we do here at Cost of Cancer. For those of you who don’t know, we help families of those who are going through treatment for cancer. We help with the bills that arrive on the door mat every month regardless of what the occupants are going through. Bills like gas, electric, water etc. So, if your family is affected or you know someone is affected you know what to do, get in touch with us. We offer families total discretion and privacy.

It’s really important for those who need the help to come forward, your case will be treated with the upmost discretion. We understand how upsetting it can be to even admit you need help but please this is why we’re here. This is why we do all the fundraising to help those who need it the most. So please do get in touch.

Nicky, Emma & Cath Trustees

RED WINE, GOOD OR BAD FOR YOU?

Red wine is made by fermenting dark-colored, whole grapes and is high in antioxidants, drinking moderate amounts has been shown to be good for health. Some people believe that red wine is responsible for the good health of the French population but In fact, a healthier diet and lifestyle may be a larger factor in these results. The powerful plant compounds in red wine have been linked with many health benefits, including reduced inflammation, lower risk of heart disease and cancer, and extended lifespan. Drinking 1–2 glasses of red wine each day may lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. However, high amounts may increase the risk. Moderate red wine consumption may reduce dementia and depression. It may also increase insulin sensitivity and resistance to the COVID-19 virus. An excessive intake of alcoholic beverages may cause alcohol dependence, liver cirrhosis and weight gain. It may also increase the risk of depression, disease and premature death. Moderate intake of red wine is defined as 1-2 glasses per day but it is also recommended that you have at least 1–2 days a week without alcohol.

Read more at: www.healthline.com

Supplied by Glyn

Hardwicke

Knowledge And Wisdom

What do these words mean? A Zen Proverb may have the answer: Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day.

What do you want to learn?

Take steps to try extra features on your phone, cook simple food, return to activities you once enjoyed? Take a new route to work, change job, socialising, gardening, dancing or decorating, you get to choose what to learn.

You also get to choose what to let go of.

Maybe release a past event or hurt, large or small, intended or mistaken, which you cannot change. Ruminating over a selfimage of being too fat, thin, tall, or short.

One of my early memories is a friend’s mother criticizing her son as to why he was not tall like the neighbour’s son!

What is your earworm?

Would you repeat your own negative unkind phrases to a loved one over and over? How does being unkind to someone you care about make you feel inside?

Now recall any negative or unkind words or phrases you may have repeated to yourself over and over.

Perhaps, as the Zen proverb advises, it may be time to gain wisdom and let go of being unkind to yourself.

Margaret Brown

www.valelaser.co.uk

Emsella Chair treatment treats stress incontinence, urge incontinence and mixed incontinence, vaginal laxity and erectile dysfunction

The Emsella Chair is a medical device which uses HIFEM (high intensity focussed electromagnetic) technology to strengthen muscles non-invasively.

Safeguarding The Future Of The Grand Pavilion

I was delighted to hear that the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund has agreed to provide Porthcawl’s iconic Grand Pavilion with £18m funding following a successful bid that was submitted by Bridgend County Borough Council and Awen Cultural Trust.

This will enable a major re-development of the Grade II Listed building which will add new features while tackling issues with its concrete structure, ensuring that it will remain at the centre of the community for many years to come.

Among the planned new facilities are a rooftop café and function space offering stunning views across the Bristol Channel, community use rooms, a new studio theatre, a new changing places facility, additional space for new businesses and much more.

The new funding has really helped to secure the building’s future, and represents a great deal of planning and partnership working alongside our colleagues at Awen. It will enable us to carry out much-needed structural improvements to the building, and to progress our exciting plans to create an even better arts and cultural venue for future generations.

To view a ‘fly through’ virtual tour, which shows what the completed project, will be able to offer, head over to the council’s Facebook page.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration Bridgend County

Borough Council

Tel: 01656 643643

Keep Locks Common Safe From Fire

Recent activity at Locks Common saw South Wales Fire and Rescue and Bridgend County Borough Council working together to redefine and widen the existing fire breaks. The work has been carried out carefully to minimise disruption to wildlife and avoid the bird-nesting season. Specialist cutting equipment, including a remote control flail, helped to limit the effect on natural habitats.

The fire breaks were cut into the scrub several years ago to limit the effects and spread of potential future blazes. They were installed after a series of exceptionally hot summers coincided with fires breaking out, and the recent work should be complete by the time you read this.

In other news, I’d like to congratulate pupils at Mynydd Cynffig Primary who have raised funds to purchase essential medical resources and equipment for Ukraine.

The children raised more than £1,000 by working with local company NatureQuest to create shelters, cook outdoors and find out more about what it is like to be a refugee.

A Ukrainian teenager shared her experiences of fleeing the war, and Porthcawl resident Mike Hynda spoke to them about the 4,000 mile humanitarian trips he continues to make to deliver much-needed supplies – a fantastic effort by all concerned.

Grand Pavilion Scheme Will Boost Tourism

News that Porthcawl’s Grand Pavilion is to receive £18m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund is very welcome. I backed the bid from Bridgend County Borough Council and met ministers and officials from the Department for Levelling Up to help make the case. These bids crucially required local authorities to work in conjunction with their members of Parliament.

This money will be used to refurbish an iconic building which has anchored the seafront in Porthcawl since the 1930’s. This is an exciting project, which will create a range of additional facilities to the building as well as promote new jobs and boost the local economy.

The Levelling Up Fund, which was announced in 2020, is aimed at upgrading and improving infrastructure throughout the country especially in those communities that may have been overlooked historically.

I am delighted that the case we put to the UK Conservative Government has been heard and that we are delivering on our manifesto promise to level up Bridgend and Porthcawl and ensure that local businesses thrive in our communities.

At the end of the day, Porthcawl will have a multi-purpose arts facility that will enhance its status as the leading seaside resort in south Wales.

JAMIE WALLIS MP for Bridgend

Gp Access Improvements Underway

I know that many people locally have had issues with accessing their GP surgeries for appointments and treatment. But new access standards coming into effect have been designed to eliminate the 8am rush where some practices were allocating all their appointments for the day at that time, leading to people waiting in long telephone queues and then being told that all appointments had gone.

Surgeries have been told in a joint letter from Welsh Government and the British Medical Association that contact should be provided throughout the day to avoid the 8am bottleneck and the practice of releasing all appointments at 8am, or in another narrow time frame, is no longer acceptable. The new standards also require all practices to provide telephone services rather than just internet and to ensure that they have enough phone lines to cope with the demand. The digital access offered to patients should only be for non–urgent access but should be in addition to in-person and telephone contact. As a retired hospital consultant, I am well aware of the pressures that the entire NHS is under but primary care plays a crucial role as the gateway to all hospital care including cancer referrals.

DR ALTAF HUSSAIN Regional Senedd Member

Deputy Leader Bridgend County Borough Council

01656 643643

Visit To Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd

I was delighted to join Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Cllr Huw David, Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council and Cllr Jon Paul Blundell, Cabinet Member for Education, on a visit to Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd

I was impressed with the way in the school is using the new curriculum to teach art and creative studies and was blown away by the quality of the work being produced by pupils. A big thankyou to all the staff and pupils for such a warm welcome and I hope to see you all again soon.

Roeddwn i’n falch iawn o gael ymuno â Jeremy Miles AS, Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, Huw Irranca-Davies AS, y Cynghorydd Huw David, Arweinydd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a’r Cynghorydd Jon Paul Blundell, Aelod Cabinet Addysg, ar gyfer ymweliad ag Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd.

Fe wnaeth y ffordd y mae’r ysgol yn defnyddio’r cwricwlwm newydd i addysgu celf ac astudiaethau creadigol argraff fawr arnaf a chefais fy syfrdanu gydag ansawdd gwaith y disgyblion. Diolch yn fawr i’r holl staff a’r disgyblion am groeso mor gynnes ac rwy’n gobeithio y caf eich gweld chi i gyd eto yn fuan.

Deadline date for the April issue is: WEDNESDAY 15TH MARCH

BETTER PORTHCAWL: REGENERATION UPDATE

We would like to formally introduce our new community group, Better Porthcawl - a collaboration between A Voice For the Future of Porthcawl and Sustainable Wales. Our group’s aim is to positively and constructively engage with the community of Porthcawl and Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) on the regeneration plans for Porthcawl seafront. We want the local community of Porthcawl to have a greater say in the future of the town and to ensure the development is sustainable and responds to the climate change emergency. Separately the groups have made inroads, but we believe we’ll be all the more effective together! We are engaging with BCBC in a positive and constructive way in order to achieve the best possible regeneration of our beloved town; for residents now but also the residents of the future. Better Porthcawl, along with other community groups, were invited to a workshop to discuss the community’s desires for the open spaces set out in the plans. The event was really exciting and encouraging; we went on a walk through of the regeneration site and were shown where public open space would be situated. Our main objectives are to maximise green space, prioritise community wellness (both physical and mental) and ensure sustainability/eco-living.

We invite you to our community meet up on Sandy Bay on 1st of March, 4pm, Newton Primary entrance, where you can have your say on what you want for the open spaces in Porthcawl. We can walk the site, show you the map and relay what we have learnt from the council. Groups, schools, individuals all encouraged to attend!

Look out on our socials for more info. This is prior to a BCBC public consultation event (penciled in for 8th March Pavillion), which we will clarify when we know more.

Better Porthcawl will be reaching out to other groups within the town to grow this community and very much welcomes any enquiries: ella.williamson@sustainablewales.org.uk

New Metrolink Is On The Way

Porthcawl is set to benefit from an all-new Metrolink facility after Bridgend County Borough Council agreed to increase funding that will ensure the project can be delivered as planned.

Using money from the Metro Link fund which has been provided as part of the Cardiff Capital Region city deal and the council’s own Porthcawl Regeneration budget, a total of £3.8m will now be invested to deliver the best facility possible while also meeting increased market costs associated with the scheme.

Based at the heart of the regeneration area alongside the Portway and Salt Lake, the Metrolink will form part of the wider Metro Plus programme, which seeks to improve public transport links across south-east Wales. Able to accommodate up to four buses at a time, it will feature a covered shelter and station building, space for a kiosk and potential cycle hire facility, outdoor seating areas, an environmentally friendly ‘green’ roof, a rain garden and more.

As one of our largest towns, Porthcawl needs a modern transport interchange, and with fast, efficient access both into and out of the town, this is going to benefit residents and visitors alike while ensuring that we can provide the best Metrolink facility possible.

COUNCILLOR HUW DAVID Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council Tel: 01656 643643