On a glorious summer's day back in the 1950s and 60s, you'd have struggled to find a spare patch ofsand at the seafront.It was the destination when the sun shone, packed with entertaining diversions for all.
Since those halcyon days, the resort has experienced something of a rollercoaster ride, with attractions appearing and disappearing as public preferences shifted. Nowadays, securing a return flight to a Mediterranean hotspot can often prove more economical than catching a train to a British coastal town.
Yet a traditional seaside excursion remains dear to many Britons' hearts, and that's precisely what Neath Port Talbot Council is banking on with its fresh vision for Aberavon.
The council has launched a public consultation regarding proposals to enhance walking and cycling routes along the Neath Port Talbot coastline over the coming years.
This forms part of a broader regeneration initiative for the Aberavon area, where the beach's stunning natural landscape sits against the backdrop of Port Talbot's once-renowned steelworks.
The latest scheme could deliver improvements to a 4.7km seafront stretch, with work planned to establish a continuous circular route connecting the promenade with National Cycle Network Route 4 on the Afan Way dual carriageway. The proposed route would centre on a number of "important " local streets, including Solar Way, Princess Margaret Way, Scarlet Avenue, Handel Avenue and Purcell Avenue.
The plans would encompass the resurfacing of deteriorating roads and pavements, the widening of shared-use paths, and the introduction of dedicated cycle lanes along Princess Margaret Way.
Furthermore, the proposals could incorporate several new crossing points, replacement bus shelters, and the creation of a new bus stop opposite Remo's Café.
Additional parking spaces along the seafront could also be on the cards, alongside public realm improvements at three locations, including the area surrounding the Memo Beach Café, the space next to the skate park, and the approaches to Tywyn Primary School.
Katy Rees, who works near the seafront in Port Talbot, expressed her enthusiasm for the proposals, commenting: "I think it could be a good thing if it brings more people to the area and makes it more accessible.
"It's a lovely beach so it's a pity more people don't know about it, and improvements to the roads and pavements would definitely be welcomed along with safer routes for cyclists."
The seafront was once home to the iconic Afan Lido, which was opened by the Queen in 1966. The venue boasted a function room that regularly hosted grand celebrations for local workers such as steelworkers and their families, and legendary performers including Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey graced its stage.
It was razed to the ground in a catastrophic blaze in 2009, before being reconstructed as the Aberafan Sports and Leisure complex.
The area once boasted Day's Fair and Miami Beach Fair, featuring a big dipper and bumper cars amongst countless attractions, alongside the Jersey Hotel, which also fell victim to fire – this one in 2001.
Another favourite was the boating lake where youngsters would paddle boats in the shallows. Sunny Singh, who has operated a fish and chip shop locally for the past four years, hopes any future developments will take existing businesses into account.
He said: "Any improvements that can attract people to the town and increase footfall could really help the businesses here.
"If you go down to Mumbles in Swansea they have an accessible seafront and there's lots of activity there, so I think we have to look at options for Aberavon as well."
Local resident Al Rush supports enhanced walking and cycling infrastructure, but believes it's crucial to strike a balance with provision for motorists.
He said: "I'm all for developments that encourage more cycling and walking but we also have to find the right balance with access and parking for people in cars as that's the main way they are going to get here.
"For me I'd also love to see plans that get really ambitious and consider a cycle path with a new bridge across the river that eventually connects us with Swansea."
A council spokesperson confirmed the scheme represented "a key part of ongoing regeneration work at the seafront" and complemented the previously approved Aberavon Seafront Masterplan.
The local authority gave this the green light in February 2025, when members heard details of the long-term vision designed to "enhance the quality and range of facilities" along the coastline.
Proposals encompass a new wellness garden, restaurant, skate park and play areas, alongside transforming the Naval Club into a destination restaurant and bar, plus creating a new Dunes Park near Scarlet Avenue featuring board-walks through the sands.
Ahead of the consultation, cabinet member for strategic planning, transport and connectivity, Cllr Wyndham Griffiths said: "Official data shows that in parts of Sandfields, fewer than half of households own a car, which makes our active travel scheme even more important."
He added: "Nonetheless, these plans for Sandfields and Aberavon seafront offer a good balance of improvements for everyone, whether you drive, cycle or walk.
"I strongly encourage anyone who lives in or visits these areas to have their say on the proposals which would offer improved safety and better-connected routes, whilst also lifting the overall appearance."
The authority is now seeking public feedback on what it's calling the Sandfields Active Travel Public Space Improvements Project via an online survey, which remains open until March 11. This will run in tandem with in-person sessions taking place at Aberavon Leisure Centre on March 2 and March 7, 2026.
Councillor Matthew Crowley, the local ward representative for Sandfileds East, said: "I urge people in the Sandfields area to take part in the consultation as the more engagement we have on the proposals, the better the outcome will be."
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