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Amenities at one of Wales’ best beaches to be redeveloped as ‘more and more people’ head there

28 Aug 2021 3 minute read
The end of Oxwich beach, Gower, where the kiosk-type buildings could be extended and upgraded (Creative Commons/Philip Pankhurst).

Richard Youle, local democracy reporter

It is one of Wales’s best beaches, but the kiosk-type shops and toilets at Oxwich in South Gower are showing their age.

But that could change due with a renovation proposed by the landowner.

The scheme would involve extending the largest of the four beach buildings, which currently serves fish and chips, drinks, ice cream and buckets and spades, to accommodate a pizza oven and larger stock room.

It would be clad in timber boarding, like the nearby Beach House Restaurant, and have an enclosed canopy at the front.

Another of the buildings – a smaller kiosk shop – would be also be clad in timber, while a former toilet block would be knocked down and rebuilt as another timber-clad small shop.

That leaves the existing toilet block, which would be refurbished or even rebuilt but remain as toilets while matching the look of the other buildings.

Sheltered from the worst of the westerly gales, the one-and-a-half mile beach stretches to Tor Bay. At the rear are dunes, woods, cliffs, and salt and freshwater marshes.

A design statement submitted as part of a pre-application enquiry by Thomas Methuen-Campbell, of the Penrice Estate, said the Oxwich buildings are believed to date from the 1960s.

“Whilst they have served their purpose over the years it is now recognised that they do not reach the visual standards expected for buildings located on one of the best beaches in the UK in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB),” it said.

‘Ugly’

More and more people were heading to Oxwich beach, it added, and the canopy area proposed for the larger shop would benefit winter visitors particularly.

The report also said the project would enable the Penrice Estate to offer staff extended employment during the year.

Swansea Council’s planning department said the scheme broadly complied with the relevant Gower design guide but that more detail would be required at the full planning stage.

An Oxwich resident has expressed concerns though, arguing that catering for visitors could be dealt with by the Beach House Restaurant.

His comments to the planning department said: “The present large shop and small shop are ugly structures unlikely to be improved with timber cladding – simply replacing one ugly structure with a series timber shacks/sheds won’t help the ambience of Oxwich or the coastline.”


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Geraint
Geraint
2 years ago

A good way to spent a tourist tax if it is introduced.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  Geraint

Penrice estate is a private business, why would you subsidise them? They will still charge you to park there.

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

Why bother? They’ll be back to Calais for cheap booze as soon as they are allowed.

Tracie
2 years ago

I hope they sort the toilets in oxwich very soon every time we go there they are locked and people are even doing their number 2s in the doorways it’s disgusting

Smithy
Smithy
2 years ago
Reply to  Tracie

That’s were your tooth brush comes in handy

Keith
Keith
2 years ago

All our beaches should have shops restaurants and toilets at regular intervals across our beaches , we should encourage businesses to set up these facilities it will help our local economy and create more jobs for the local people who live near by, wales has some of the best beaches in the uk so why not make the most of our asset , we all expect these things when we holiday abroad so why not here . I say more camp sites more hotels near beach areas and definitely more shops and restaurants near the beaches.

Llewelyn
Llewelyn
2 years ago
Reply to  Keith

They should also provide toilets on every North Walian summit over 3000ft!!!

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

The owner from Penrice Estate has neglected this area for a long time just over charging people entrance fees. He’s a nightmare to deal with and is very blinkered, people who have been going there for years especially in and out of the water are being penalised by their new rules, it’s very poorly run by someone who had no idea, best thing they can do is employ someone who’s 1. Approachable, 2. Can Liase with people 3. Has experience… stop charging the ridiculous prices for entry £15 for a small camper van / van it’s a carpark not an… Read more »

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