As thousands of people visit the seafront to enjoy the holiday season, construction teams installing a new sea defence system have ensured access to panoramic sea views.
Final work, including widening the prom to a consistent 6m, laying a hard-wearing top surface, creating landscaped beds and play areas and installing smart new energy-efficient lights, is due to be carried out by around Easter time.
Project work is around 70% complete.
The prom areas open this Christmas, with new wave-return wall and elegant stainless steel safety rails, will include the spans from the George pub-restaurant to Southend Slip and from Oyster Wharf to the Mumtaz restaurant.
These areas offer an early indication of how the multi-million pound coastal protection scheme is advancing.
The work – to make the community safer against the threat of storms and rising tides – is being carried out by specialist contractors Knights Brown on behalf of Swansea Council. The majority of the funding is from the Welsh Government.
Andrew Stevens, council cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “It’s great that people will be able to enjoy walking and cycling along significant parts of Mumbles prom this Christmas.
“Visiting this fantastic area is key to the holiday season for many Swansea residents. I’m sure they’ll enjoy the panoramic sea views this season and will be interested to see how the coastal protection scheme is progressing.
“It’ll also be another chance for them to support local business which have been understanding as work has been taking place.
“The improved coastal defences will protect homes, businesses, organisations and events for decades to come; the wider prom, increased amount of greenery, improved lighting, new play opportunities and improved links with Mumbles Road will make visiting the area even more of a pleasure than it has been in the past.”
Knights Brown project manager Neil Chambers said: “It’s a pleasure to make large area of the prom accessible for the holiday period.
“We hope that people come and enjoy the views, get a further understanding of how work is progressing – and support the businesses of Mumbles.”
Mumbles is accessible from Swansea and Gower directions on foot and by bike, bus and car. There are hundreds of car parking spaces in the sea front area.
