Porthcawl Library receives a fresh new look

Porthcawl Library has been officially reopened by the Mayor of Bridgend County Borough, Councillor Ken Watts, following a recent refurbishment.

A grant from the Local Government Cultural Service Fund (Welsh Government Culture and Sport Division) has been used to reconfigure and redecorate the front-half of the library, increase the size of the children’s library, and to improve the area featuring public computers so that it offers greater privacy and easier access to other resources such as printers.

The front desk has been moved to avoid causing delays at the library entrance, and a new seating area has been installed along with space where local groups can meet again once current Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.

Richard Hughes, Chief Executive of Awen Cultural Trust, said: “Porthcawl Library is one of our busiest libraries for traditional book borrowing, but its former layout meant that access was severely limited, especially when observing necessary social distancing measures to keep staff and customers safe. 

“We are grateful to the Welsh Government for their funding, and to the Mayor of Bridgend County Borough for officially reopening the library today. We look forward to welcoming our customers back and hope everyone enjoys using this community space once again.”

Porthcawl Library remains at the heart of the local community. With coronavirus rates continuing to fall and lockdown restrictions easing, I am sure that people will welcome its availability as it once more opens its doors.

For a long time now, local libraries have been about far more than simply lending books, and it is great to see how the new layout and refurbished facilities are going to enhance the many services that Porthcawl Library offers to the people of Porthcawl.

Mayor Watts

Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations, said: “Porthcawl Library is one of the most popular and well-used libraries in Bridgend County Borough, and I would like to thank Awen and the Welsh Government for enabling these improvements to go ahead.”

Awen Cultural Trust is a registered charity which manages library services on behalf of Bridgend County Borough Council.