Council considers fresh options for Bay’s Porth Eirias

Members of Conwy’s Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee will review a report next week about the Porth Eirias building on Colwyn Bay's beach.

The report for Conwy County Borough Council includes financial information, future change options, and details about ongoing negotiations for commercial spaces for lease within the building.

Porth Eirias, which was awarded public money based on the vision of providing a watersports facility, has struggled to secure long-term tenants after Colwyn Bay Watersports exited the site in 2019. This followed acrimonious disagreements about the watersports operation with the council and the national governing body, the RYA.

There is now ever growing demand for suitable facilities from groups and individuals using the beach. In 2024 alone, nearly 3,000 young people participated in water safety activities run by Conwy County Borough Council.

In response to this increased demand, the Council submitted a bid to Welsh Government’s Brilliant Basics fund to develop the facilities available to beach users.

This bid was successful, and the report outlines the options for improvements, subject to agreement by the Welsh Government.