Donkeys have been banned from the beaches of a seaside resort in Wales after a council brought a seasonal end to the more than 100-year-old tradition.
Visitors have enjoyed donkey rides on Coney Beach in Porthcawl, Bridgend, since 1918 – but now the animals will no longer be able to plod along the shore after restrictions on dogs were extended to all animals.
Under the new rules introduced by Labour-led Bridgend Council in south Wales, all animals are banned from the beach during the peak summer months from May 1 to September 30.
Jay Bateman, whose family has run a donkey-riding business from their home near Coney Beach, said their livelihood has been left in the lurch by the move.
He said: ‘It’s been in our family since 1918. We have maintained the beach, done the bins on the beach.’
Mr Bateman added his family is now in a difficult position as they must keep the donkeys ‘all year round’.
‘We have to keep the donkeys because they are our lives. We can’t get rid of them,’ he said.
This move adds further strain on the resort’s tourism industry after the closure of 100-year-old Coney Beach Amusement Park last year.
Two young girls enjoy a ride on two donkeys on Porthcrawl Beach in September 2011
Bridgend Council recently took over the running of the beach and said ‘all previous seasonal activities for this beach were determined by the former management of the site.’
It added ‘the seasonal beach restrictions’ between May 1 and September 30 have now been extended to over all animals, and therefore it is ‘unable to grant a licence for seasonal donkey or pony riding at Coney Beach’.
As part of the Porthcawl Waterfront Regeneration Scheme, the local authority and Welsh Government plan to build a Lido swimming pool opposite the marina and a seasonal funfair.
Meanwhile Coney Beach Amusement Park, which opened during the final days of WWI, was closed to make way for 980 houses.
Plans for the redevelopment also include green spaces, shops, a site for motor-homes and caravans, and a number of leisure attractions.
The council said the regeneration plans would soon bring ‘new activities and stalls’ to the beach.
A spokesperson for the Bridgend County Borough Council said: ‘The seasonal beach restrictions for dogs between May 1 and September 30 have now been extended to cover all animals (except guide and assistance dogs).
‘With this in mind, we are unable to grant a licence for seasonal donkey or pony riding at Coney Beach going forward.
‘As part of the Porthcawl Waterfront Regeneration Scheme, we have recently taken over the management of Coney Beach and remain focused on recognising the importance of traditional seaside attractions while also reflecting our final masterplan proposals and long-term ambitions for the area.’
A group of four women ride four donkeys on May 27 1939 on the beach in south Wales
They added: ‘All previous seasonal activities for this beach were determined by the former management of the site.
‘We are currently reviewing the expressions of interests we received for seasonal activities at Coney Beach and residents and visitors should stay tuned for some exciting announcements about a wide range of activities and stalls in the near future.’
