New beach centre proposed for Port Eynon

A NEW beach centre to cater for holiday-makers and residents is to be designed for a tourist hotspot in Gower.

The building is proposed on Swansea Council-owned land by the existing public toilets at Port Eynon, along with other smaller-scale upgrades of the coastal village.

It’s early days for the centre though. Designs and costs have not been drawn up yet.

Speaking at a Gower AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) Partnership Steering Group meeting, Swansea Council officer Chris Lindley said there was the potential for the centre to incorporate a cafe, or retail, and boat storage.

He said a consultant would be commissioned to come up with detailed designs and costs, hopefully by the end of March 2021.

Funding would then have to be secured before any work got underway on the centre, which could also have meeting rooms.

Asked when this might be, Mr Lindley said: “At least two years, if not three by the time it’s ready for construction.”

Mr Lindley, who is Gower AONB team leader, said an early feasibility study had looked at the Coppet Hall beach building – a curving, timber-clad structure with outdoor decking in Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire – for possible inspiration.

The report before the steering group said the feasibility study had identified Port Eynon as being under a lot of pressure during the height of the holiday season.

There were issues around traffic congestion, the quality of the public toilets, car park management, boat launching and the prolific number of seafront signs.

The report said: “In summary, Port Eynon appears neglected and under-resourced.”

The proposed beach centre would accommodate new public toilets.

The report said: “The proposed new centre could solve many of the main issues identified at Port Eynon, notably those relating to the management of the car park, the condition of the toilets and boat launching procedures on the slipway.”

Short-term measures, like better signs and bins, are being looked into.

Port Eynon and neighbouring Horton share a Blue Flag beach.

There are a number of holiday lets and caravan and camping sites in the area.

Swansea Council owns car parks there, the toilets, the slipway and the foreshore beach.

The report said:

“Port Eynon retains its character as a traditional coastal village with a strong maritime heritage and contains cafes, a restaurant, beach shop and a public house.”