IT HAS been a fair amount of time since the consultation for the Esplanade was announced - but what does it actually mean?

Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Lis Burnett, wanted to clear a few things up on the consultation which was announced in June.

Describing the consultation as "a progression of consultations, in effect", Cllr Burnett said: "What we're looking at is what people feel is important in the area.

"Is it the historic feel of the Esplanade? Is it being able to sit outside? Is it the pier and the pavilion? 

"We're trying to distill that sort of thing first and get people's broader ideas before we go on to a next stage."

One major issue with the Esplanade is the matter of  businesses being able to keep seating on the highway - something that was introduced during the Covid pandemic.

While a number of people supported the seats remaining through a petition, others objected, citing lack of parking and unfairness to other businesses.

The Vale council had orginally stated that the seating would have to be removed when the license expired in June, but later changed its position to allow the businesses to extend the license on a month-by-month basis.

Cllr Burnett said: "That arrangement was specifically related to Covid regulations and those Covid regulations have finished so you could just say, 'well, the Covid regulations finished and that's it'.

"But I think we have to recognise that a lot of people have told us that they quite like the feel of what's happened with being able to sit outside.

"We need to have a proper conversation about this and by doing it in a calm and measured manner, hopefully we can avoid two sides shouting at each other and us being in the middle."

However, Cllr Burnett reinforced that everyone's views will be taken into consideration.

"We had letters from people that lived in the flats, but it was one person with an elderly disabled husband who were stuck in the house and disturbed by the noise until late. Are we saying that their views are any less valid?," said Cllr Burnett.

"It's not to say that I've got any answers, I've got personal preferences - I've lived in Penarth all my life - but that doesn't matter.

"It's about what is right for the town and what is right for the Esplanade."

The purpose of the consultation is to search for themes in responses in order to understand what is important to people in regards of the Esplanade.

Cllr Burnett said that the council has not put forward any plans for the Esplanade yet and is waiting for the response to the consultation before any decision is made or plans drawn up.

While many may be excited at the prospect of a focus on the Esplanade, they should not get carried away just yet.

Recent national crises such as the cost of living crisis means that much of the council's focus will be on helping people who are struggling, though work on the consultation will continue.

"I think the process will continue," said Cllr Burnett.

"But, I think we have to realise that, in terms of what is consuming our waking hours are bigger priorities such as cost of living.

"What should be our greatest priority? Whether people have got enough food to eat or whether they can eat their homes or whether our schools have got enough money to stay open to pay for the heating costs?

"All that against whether somebody can sit outdoors to have a cup of coffee, what would you say?"

It is also worth bearing in mind that gathering the responses to the consultation will take a long time, with any firm decisions potentially years in the making.

Residents and visitors have been getting involved with the consultation by writing on a 'ideas board' outside Penarth Pier Pavilion and by responding to online polls that began in August.

Another way to get involved is to email consultation@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk for more information on how to get involved or to register interest in any events.

More engagement events are planned this autumn as well as more formal surveys.