Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths has announced more than two million pounds in new funding to help reduce the risk of flooding and coastal erosion to homes and businesses at Porthcawl Town Beach.

The existing sea defences were constructed in 1984 and a recent inspection found the structure to be in a deteriorating condition and coming to the end of its viable life. 

The current defences protect several million pounds worth of homes and commercial properties along the Esplanade, including the Grand Pavilion. When complete, the strengthened defences will reduce the risk of flooding and erosion from the sea to 260 properties.

The £2,3 milllion announced will enable works to be carried out to improve the defences, including:

• the partial demolition of the existing structure;
• replacement of the existing asphalt with a new terraced structure

The Cabinet Secretary added:

“I am pleased to be able to provide this vital funding to strengthen sea defences in Porthcawl, which will provide reassurance to those who live and work in, or visit this popular tourist destination.

“We have invested unprecedented levels of funding in recent years and over the lifetime of this Government we will be investing over £144million capital funding in flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes around Wales.”

The contract for the work is currently being finalised -  more details about the project will be made shortly.