Bridgend Council has extended the ban on dogs using Coney Beach to all animals, officially bringing to an end more than 100 years of donkey rides in Porthcawl. Speaking to the BBC, donkey owner Jay Bateman described the move as “heartbreaking.”
Bridgend Council has officially ended donkey rides in Porthcawl after extending a ban on dogs using Coney Beach to all animals, meaning councillors are now “unable to grant a licence for seasonal donkey or pony riding.”
The news was met with disappointment from regular tourists and local traders, while Jay Bateman, whose family has run donkey rides on the sands for more than 100 years, described the decision as “heartbreaking.”
“It’s been in our family since 1918,” Bateman told the BBC. “We’ve maintained the beach, done the bins on the beach.”
“We have to keep the donkeys because they’re our lives. We can’t get rid of them.”
The decision comes as Bridgend Council advances its regeneration of the seafront, which recently saw Coney Beach Amusement Park close its doors after a century of entertainment.
Though the authority has said it is focused on “recognising the importance of traditional seaside attractions,” local resident David Morgan said the project risked “ripping the heart” out of the town.
“We want to be a seaside town so we need to attract tourists. Porthcawl is famous for seaside facilities and yet the council seem to be determined to ruin it.”
Speaking after the extension of the ban, which runs from 1 May to 30 September, a spokesperson for the council said it is currently reviewing expressions of interest from operators to run “all-new seasonal activities at Coney Beach.”
“Residents and visitors should look out for some exciting announcements about a wide range of new activities and stalls in the near future.”
Donkey departure
Jay Bateman said……. “It’s been in our family since 1918. We’ve maintained the beach, done the bins on the beach. We have to keep the donkeys because they’re our lives. We can’t get rid of them……
