A boardwalk linking Rest Bay to Fynnon-Wen Rocks has been officially opened at Porthcawl in Bridgend County Borough by Jane Davidson, the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing.
Made out of environmentally sustainable robust recycled plastic, the 320m-long boardwalk has been specially designed to complement the rugged coastal terrain and is the first of a number of major projects that will improve access to the coast of Bridgend County Borough.
The largest construction project ever commissioned by the council’s Rights of Way team, the boardwalk will also incorporate new signage, a viewing platform and gates that can be operated by wheelchair users and people with limited mobility.
The project is the result of consultation with local people who helped to identify areas where access to the coast is limited. It also forms part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Coastal Access Improvement Programme, which aims to create a footpath around the entire coastline of Wales by 2012.
Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, said: “I am delighted to be opening another section of the Wales Coast Path.
“This section of the path is special, not only because of the beautiful scenery it looks out on, but also because it offers such excellent access for wheel users and people with pushchairs.
“I am sure that the path will provide a real draw for visitors and tourists and will provide a welcome boost to the local economy.
“In Wales we are blessed with a beautiful coast. We all know the health and well being benefits of being active, as laid out in the Assembly Government’s Change4Life campaign, and I would urge everyone to find the time to get out and enjoy a walk along a section of the Wales coast path. “
Deputy Leader David Sage added: “The construction of the boardwalk will play an important role in improving and extending access for those with limited mobility. Rest Bay is a beautiful, popular area that holds a Blue Flag, and the boardwalk will allow more visitors to enjoy this stretch of the coastline.
“We are now looking at other areas where coastal access can be improved and are in discussions with local landowners about how the Wales Coast Path can be extended throughout the whole of the county borough.”
The project is the result of a partnership between Bridgend County Borough Council, the Welsh Assembly Government, Countryside Council for Wales, the Welsh European Funding Office and contractors Raymond Brown Construction Ltd.
