A survey and consultation has been launched as part of a plan to build a new community-run sea safety centre in Aberystwyth after membership of the town’s surf life-saving club rocketed.

Earlier this year, the Cambrian News revealed that Ceredigion County Council is recruiting a team to bring forward initial designs and a feasibility study for a new venue for the Aberystwyth Surf Life Saving Club, overlooking Cardigan Bay.

The project will provide a new headquarters for the club, which is currently based inside a former beachfront public toilet on Marine Terrace, overlooking North Beach.

New facilities for other coastal commercial activities such as a café or shop may also be included, a brief sent to potential design teams outlined.

While study and design will cost around £70,000, the council told the Cambrian News in April that the project is very much in its in infancy and that no funding has been secured for any development.

Now a survey has been launched as part of the plan to “seek invaluable support and feedback in shaping the future of the club, the facilities and services available on the seafront”.

The Aberystwyth club, whose members are trained in life-saving skills, recovery techniques, fitness, teamwork, safety in the beach environment and how to be aware of the effects of the weather and tides, said that membership had grown ten-fold in the past few years.

“The club has proved so popular, growing from eight to 80 members, that the current club premises, based in the old public toilets on the first floor above an old public shelter, have become inadequate and unsustainable,” the club said.

The survey can be found at abersurf.typeform.com/to/ngAPrB

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