Abergele Town Council, Pennant 646

We are drawn to Pensarn beach by the sights and sounds of the sea – our SSSI shingle beach where wildlife triumphs, with the wonderful sea birds that sing and the vegetation and flora that flower in the spring.

Sometimes silent and still, with rippling pools, and sometimes loud and swelling, with crashing waves.

Sometimes bathed in sunshine and warmth, and other times pummelled by wind and rain. Sometimes peaceful and empty, and other times buzzing with activity – anglers, dog walkers, wild swimmers, picnickers, people of all sorts coming together to enjoy the freedom of spirit, and opportunities for play, exercise, and contemplation that can be had along our coastline. We are connected to Pensarn beach by shared moments, shared experiences, and shared memories of days out with friends, siblings, cousins, parents, and grandparents, enjoying sunny days, both warm and windswept.

We remember the innocence of childhood - ice creams on the promenade, sandcastles, swimming, and the feel of the sand on our skin, the smell of the air, and the taste of the salty seawater.

And we remember the unbridled joy of our youth, when our sense of invincibility let us believe that our power matched that of the sea – gathering in the wee hours, for music and dancing, and even skinny dipping in the phosphorous glow of the moonlight!

But now, with the threat of climate change, and the coastal erosion of our SSSI shingle beach, we must harness our power for good and work to protect our coastline for the wellbeing of the future generations.

We already have a strong community, with volunteers that do regular beach cleans, but more investment must be made, in order to preserve our stretch of coast, for now, and for always.

Abergele Town Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2020, and continues to review its own activities, while raising awareness about climate change by promoting / actively supporting, both local and national initiatives.

Moving forward, the town Council will be working with Egin and community groups, to develop an action plan for our next steps.

Previous and current activities include: • The Town Council is supporting Dwr Cymru’s 2050 Mission Statement, to become a “world class, resilient, and sustainable water service for the benefit of future generations”, by supporting the SMARTER metering project. Dwr Cyrmu has also donated a mix of SMART sensors to the town, including a weather sensor, soil moisture sensors, and water level sensors. These will be installed strategically around town, with the aim of allowing the public to make informed choices about water usage, as well as complementing national studies about our environment, by making the data available. Dwr Cymru also installed a water butt at the Town Council. • The Town Council adopted the use of ipads for all Members, eliminating paper packs, conducted an energy audit, and is exploring the potential for efficient structural improvements at the town hall. • The Town Council represents our town at regional meetings and continues to push for further investment in our coastline, with the local authority now planning a feasibility study to determine what can be done to mitigate coastal erosion at our SSSI beach. • As a Beach of Dreams Member, the Town Council is raising awareness about our coastlines, via promotional and engagement activities, in preparation for the upcoming May 2025 UK-wide coastal walk. So far, this included an Open Event for members of the public, as well as three half-day sessions in local schools, alongside digitally promoted calls to action via out town’s platform and social media.