Preparations underway for Porthcawl’s Elvis Festival

Bridgend County Borough Council has confirmed which local roads will be temporarily closed to traffic in order help keep music fans safe during this year’s Porthcawl Elvis Festival.

An all-day road closure will be in place along the esplanade between Porthcawl Marina and the Seabank Hotel on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September.

While timings may vary slightly in order to ensure the smooth running of the event, the road closure is planned to last between 6am on Saturday through to midnight on Sunday.

Temporary diversions will be in place and drivers are asked to pay close attention to signage when driving in and around the town over the festival weekend.

One-way systems will also be in place at Victoria Avenue, Doddridge Way, Park Avenue and Dock Street, in order to minimise congestion on the diversion routes.

Meanwhile, while the majority of the Eastern Promenade will be closed to all vehicles other than taxis, coaches and mini-buses that are dropping Elvis fans off at the event, the Salt Lake car park will still be open and accessible. Additional signage will be provided to guide drivers to the car parks and dedicated drop-off zones.

An Elvis-themed park run will take place on Saturday morning and licensed charity bucket collections have also been agreed in the town centre, Eastern Promenade areas, as well as at the entrances to Coney Beach and Sandy Bay.

Extra waste containers will be placed across the seafront and in the busiest public areas, while the council’s cleaner streets team will be working throughout the weekend to empty public waste bins.

St John’s Ambulance will operate a triage centre in Griffin Park and the Wales Ambulance Service will have a cycle response unit operating in the area throughout the event.

The Elvis Festival is recognised as Europe’s largest gathering of Elvis fans, attracting thousands of people every year to the seaside town of Porthcawl.

We work closely with St John’s Ambulance and South Wales Police who will have a visible presence throughout the weekend. Neighbourhood officers, officers from the dog and mounted section, and the CCTV and drone team, will all be in the town at various times, ensuring that it’s safe and enjoyable for visitors.

Council Leader Huw David