I recently went around the new tourist attraction Porth Erias (The Skip), to see were all the money had gone for the Jet Skiers and the people responsible for follies.
Well the building is supposed to look like a Ship what type of ship, to me it looks like a cross channel ferry, role on role off. The majority of people who visit Porth Erias say it looks more like a Skip, judge for yourself.
It has taken more than 2 years to build and many alterations along the way.
Allegedly. The slope up and down and the roof had to have extra reinforcing as the council wanted their Big Road Sweep to be able to clean the slope and roof. Well after this work was done the local Mobility group went round and informed the council that the slope was too steep for anyone to push a wheelchair up, so alterations yet again had to be made, by making
a zig zag path and steps up one slope. But after this was done the bend at either side of the zig zag path is to sharp to be able to turn a Mobility Scooter round. So that is That One. Oh apart from the Doors not being wide enough and something to do about steps. Ah Well!!
The areas between the path is filled with sand and planted with salt resilient plants I hope. Ha Ha.
There is a very nice rail in white around the car park, but during the building work after the railings were installed some one has bent 2 of these rails and not by hand. As their was a grand opening of Porth Erias and some one had to sign off on completion of the build, this was not fixed. Nice.
A few more things just to keep you interested.
Some of the outside walls are clad with wood planking. Except some have been put on the wrong way round. You see wood Cups to the centre of the grain after it has been cut and starts to weather. So when you fit it to a wall you make sure that it cups to the wall NOT away, because it will stick out and you may catch your clothes or your hands, great way to get splinters.
Or you may get splinters from were it has split by nails being put too close to the edge of the planking and a knot.
This is about 2ft from the ground. Just the right height for a child to get cut.
There are some very nice shower units for people to shower away the salty water after swimming or Jet Skiing. But the grids are on a slope and water hits them and then runs down hill to the seats. Not even the Council or the builders can yet make water run UP hill.
But still do NOT USE as the two grids are not safe. The cement that should be around them is missing and all you are left with is slabs with SHARP cut edges and cracks, waiting to cut your feet or small children's fingers. Who signed off on the work at hand over. Or is it just crap workmanship ?
Even the Grid covers are soft plastic. How long will they last if some vandal hits it with a stone ?
Great British Workmanship
Next to the children's play area is not much better as you can see the metal rebar protruding out the sides of the concrete. (Yes those dots around the top step are metal bars) Great for cutting you foot on. Not to mention the rough concrete finish to the side of the step below the rebar.
Nice finish.
The new curved wall to protect the extension onto the beach is filled at the joints with some sort of mastic that is supposed to expand and shrink as the wall sections get warm and cool, thus keeping a seal. Lets hope they put a bit more mastic in all the other joints as this one you can put your hand in.
Lookout for your child's Hands and your car keys.
The sloping gardens. These are planted areas on the East side slope. There is no wall bordering these sandy slopes so when it rains which it does do a bit in North Wales, all the sand and plants get washed down the slop, or people just walk straight through kicking up the sand and the plants. How long will it be before someone trips or slips on this short sited idea and we the Tax payer have to pay via the Council COMPENSATION for injury.
Finally this time. How do Mobility challenged and people with push chairs get to go on the new sandy beach. The entrance from Porth Erias is a lot of steps or a long trek to the slope by the Derelict Pier. The one level way to get on the sand is blocked.
Its OK if you can get over the wall after you have parked your car. But then you have to carry all the beach stuff over that same wall and back when you go.
Nice to see a Council wanting to encourage people to go to the new sandy beach that cost 6 Million, just for sand.
Oh and as to why the Skip, Poth Erias is not selling food or drinks is partly due to the Council not getting permission from the Crown, before their planned official opening in May 2013. (Everything from High Tide to Low Tide is governed by the Crown Estates and permission must be given for any new Erection/Building and Business I believe). So we are still waiting for this permission and someone to take on the Bistro/Café at what I am sure will be an exorbitant Rent.
Lets see 2014,15,16,17 who knows.
Shame they don't seem to clean up such a new attraction
Were are the Bins ? up on the Top of the Skip. It might help
