Penrhyn Bay coastal defence plans formally submitted

Conwy has submitted a planning application for a multi-million-pound coastal defence scheme in Penrhyn Bay. 

Conwy County Council wants to improve defences by building a T-shaped rock groyne as well as repairing the existing seawall. 

The application is part of a wider set of coastal defences along Conwy’s coastline to negate the effects of global warming. Similar Welsh Government-funded works are also ongoing in Old Colwyn and Colwyn Bay.  

Other coastal defence schemes are also at various stages at Towyn, Llandudno and Llanfairfechan.  

But the application for Penrhyn Bay also includes plans to raise the current eastern groyne and ‘renourish’ the beach, which has suffered from erosion, with pebbles or sand.  

The application includes a new pedestrian and cycle crossing, a beach access ramp and relocated and extended car parking in the area opposite Maes y Gwyn Road and Pendorlan Road, near Glan y Mor Road. The promenade adjacent to Glan y Mor Road will also be resurfaced where ‘soft landscaping’ will be carried out.  

Cllr Greg Robbins is the cabinet member for environment and transportation and explained. 

“Obviously the coastal defences are of vital importance to residents and businesses in the area,” he said. 
“This is one of a number of schemes coming forward, and apart from the vital protection to the actual properties that this will help provide, this will have traditional benefits, particularly the pedestrian crossing, which has been requested by residents for a number of years. The exact location is depending on outcomes and consultations, but there will be a crossing as part of the scheme. 
“The scheme will also improve the active travel route, the cycle route through the area, which is quite heavily used in that section.” 

He added: “It will protect the residents, the businesses and the infrastructure, due to climate change and the more violent weather storms we are seeing.
It is something we have to do right across the coastline. This is just one of five schemes we’ve got on the go at the moment.” 

The planning application will now go before Conwy’s planning committee.

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter