Coastal Defences and Beach Access
The coastal defences include protecting the Victorian sea wall with a rock barricade. The rock barricade will extend from Splash Point (by Old Colwyn arches) in the east to Porth Eirias in the west. Part of this rock barricade is already under construction from Splash Point to Rotary Way. After this consultation, we will submit a planning application to complete the whole rock barricade required.
The proposals show the promenade raised 2m above its existing level and the rock barricade extended to the same height. This will protect the promenade and the critical infrastructure next to it.
New access steps will be created through the rock barricade to provide access to the beach. There will also be a new accessible beach entrance with a 2m wide access ramp and 4m wide steps with landings, landscaped areas and seating.
Promenade Improvements
As well as improving the coastal defences, we want to make improvements to the promenade to maximise the benefits of the scheme.
Because we are planning to raise the promenade level by 2m, this will allow us to widen the promenade to give all users more room. This will give space for Active Travel, family fun and recreational activities.
The upgraded promenade will feature:
- Shared space for cyclists and pedestrians to improve safety
- Activity zone with benches, planters, trees and bins
- Picnic area, seating and outdoor classroom/educational area
- Public art features
- Health markers – showing distance travelled from Porth Eirias
Lighting
The proposals include a new efficient lighting scheme for the area, in keeping with previous phases of the Colwyn Bay Waterfront scheme.
Planting
New waterfront planting will include:
- Low and raised planters with groundcover planting
- Trees and shrubs for the picnic area and outdoor classroom
- Ecological plant mixes in the picnic area and grass verges
Street Furniture
New street furniture will suit different users, activities and group sizes, with:
- Picnic furniture
- Benches
- Cycle stands
Concession Kiosk
To allow for raising the promenade height, the existing outdated kiosk on Old Colwyn Promenade will be removed. We are looking for funding to replace the kiosk close to the new accessible beach entrance. This construction will be under a separate planning application, but we have included the necessary space and utilities as part of this proposal.
Roads and Access
The proposals include changes to give space to widen the promenade to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
The plans include:
- widening the promenade to increase the shared pedestrian and cycle path
- widening the road at the eastern end to give improved space for two way traffic
- removing the footpath at the base of the railway embankment between Rotary Way and Old Colwyn railway arches. This will allow us to move the existing road further inland to give room to widen the promenade.
- improving pedestrian crossing points
These changes will improve access for everyone along the Old Colwyn Promenade, creating a safe and accessible public space and Active Travel route.
Ecology
The plans include improvements for coastal and promenade ecology.
Coastal ecological improvements include:
- artificial tidal pools
- complex surfacing to encourage colonisation
- installing “sea bug hotels” (ecological habitats units) in the rock barricade
Promenade ecological improvements include:
- introducing trees, shrubs and plant mixes around the picnic area next to the existing public toilets
- planting bulbs, ornamental plants, holm oak and Scots pine trees
- planting mixes of native hedge, wildflower, understory trees and shrubs, canopy tree mix, edge shrub and native trees
- Loose angular cobbles and a bug hotel in the picnic and outdoor education area
- Wildflower mixes along the railway embankment.
Educational:
- New outdoor classroom area
- Improved Active Travel access along the promenade for local school field trips on foot without needing transport
- interpretation panels with information on maritime history and coastal defence
- Potential for school field trips and public access to observe marine ecological enhancements
- Viewpoints for school visits and public observation
The plans can be viewed in hard copy at Porth Eirias.
A full copy of the documents and other supporting documents such as the Design and Access Statement and the Environmental Statement are available for inspection at Colwyn Bay Library.
Feedback
If you would like to make a comment about these proposals before we submit a planning application, you can do this by:
Online: Old Colwyn Waterfront Feedback
Email: floods@conwy.gov.uk
Post:
Colwyn Bay Waterfront Project
Environment, Roads & Facilities,
Conwy County Borough Council,
PO Box 1,
Conwy,
LL30 9GN
This consultation closed on 30 November 2021