Gower is busy at the best of times, but on a sunny weekend in the school holidays... well, you can imagine what it's like, if you haven't experienced it yourself, of course.
Throw into the mix a major Ironman event, and resulting road closures, you can also imagine that it has sparked quite a debate. There are a number of arguments being put forward on both sides of the fence. But the overall impression is of a clash between the desire to welcome big events to Swansea, with all the potential they have for the local economy, and not shooting yourself in the foot by putting off the very people you most want to attract - holidaymakers hoping to visit our glorious beaches and other local attractions.
It's being billed as a weekend of outstanding endurance sport, and it is. The Ironman 70.3 takes place on Sunday, August 7, with the World Triathlon Para Series the day before.
Organisers of the Ironman have pointed out the efforts they have made to inform the local community and those most affected by the road closures, about what is happening, through more than 70,000 leaflets, along with emails and a dedicated phone line.
Businesses and residents in the area have acknowledged the significance of the events, but some have said they felt "defeated" to be informed of the road closures without, they claimed, consultation, claiming the "communication has been dire" as the first locals knew of the closures was via a letter through the post. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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The landmark Ironman event has been scheduled for the next three years. Athletes will be challenged with a middle-distance swim, bike and run event. The 56-mile bike ride will take place along the waterfront of Swansea Bay, through Mumbles leading into the Gower. Certain roads in and out of the peninsula have been closed on safety grounds for athletes, during a period from 7am - 1pm with differing times on certain roads. You can read which roads are affected by clicking here.
But questions have been raised whether August, peak season for tourism in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is "the right time of year" for the event to be held. Others, have warmed to the concept despite initial concern.
Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park owner Tom Beynon acknowledged he was at first "sceptical" about the road closures which would see the site inaccessible between 7am and 11am, but that he had since "learned" of the benefits the event would mean in the long term. "Initially we questioned what it meant during this period of the year to have no access in and out of the Gower but after having an open dialogue with IRONMAN and a few of the participants, we really took to it" he said.
The campsite posted on social media welcoming participants to the area and said it would operate a support station outside the route to help those on the day. You can read more stories about Swansea here.
"We have really dove into it now, my head was turned and you really got to appreciate the coverage and footfall it brings to the Gower, it puts it on the map. In the long-term we hope the benefits heavily outweigh closing off the area. I think there was a lack of communication for businesses down the Gower and we just expected the worst, but since that post - we have had countless people visit ahead of the day and book in for the future.
"The beauty of this event is that it really speaks to the value of the Gower, nobody wants to leave. Businesses and locals are rightfully concerned but the Gower has learned to adjust, Covid had forced us into that way of life and I am looking forward to the day."
Gower is no stranger to spectacular beaches that attract visitors from all over the world with one also being crowned "Best Beach In Wales" according to The Times.
The Muddy Mail Room is a charming little dog friendly café that benefits from a booming tourism trade looking for a place to put their feet up after a walk. But they weren't entirely happy with how the event and its impact was communicated.
"I don't think there was much if any communication about what it would mean for businesses, we run a small café here and the road closures have meant I won't be able to have staff for that day. Thankfully I do live nearby so I expect us to manage but a bit of a heads-up would have been nice to receive. I look forward to the event all the same and it is great for the Gower, I hope the communication in future will be better" said Jodie O’Brien, owner.
With a scorching week ahead expected, following on from a recent heatwave which saw gridlocked traffic affecting the popular Oxwich Bay, accessibility to the area with routes being closed is a big concern.
Alan Glass, of Penrice Community Council, complained that community councils were not notified of the expected road closures and aired concerns over whether any medical emergencies would be necessary for the area. "We're going to be on lockdown during the whole morning and there is a lot of disruption to the roads around here. We won't know the full extent of it until the day comes and goes but we are fully expecting to be left stranded for the morning," he said.
Ian Williams, of Oxwich Bay Hotel, argued it was "nothing new" for the residents of Gower as he welcomed the arrival of the IRONMAN 70.3, but questioned if communication could have been improved.
"Road closures aren't really something we have ever been consulted with. I think it is great for Gower but we have had to make alterations to ensure our residents are left unaffected. We have had to set aside some rooms within the hotel for our staff to stay overnight so the option is there for them if they need it. The one thing I was surprised about was how forced it looked that other events were just pushed aside in its place," said Ian.
The Gower Show was first held in 1906, on the grounds of Penrice Castle and is an annual event that was initially scheduled for the same weekend as the IRONMAN 70.3 - August 7. As a result, the Gower Agricultural Society re-arranged the 2022 show date to a week in advance, Sunday July 31. Questions were posed surrounding the event clashing with the show with some arguing "it would have been a disaster" to run the two together.
Elsewhere in Gower, businesses have argued that the day could arguably be a "write off" for them as staff wouldn't be able to get into work. But, after sharing concerns on social media, a number of businesses said they had faced "hostility" after posing questions surrounding whether it was the appropriate time of year - the Tenby Ironman takes place in September.
A number of these businesses and employees have wished to remain anonymous for this reason. One person, who works for a popular site on the Gower, said: "I've had people criticise where I work and me personally, all because I said was concerned I wouldn't be able to work on that day. It is the same with a lot of other places too, people are worried about criticising and speaking up but it is really the questions that need to be asked. I know, for example, a number of the pubs are having to change their Sunday lunch hours and bookings, so it isn't a unanimous welcome by any means.
"What happens if we need emergency vehicle access on the day or a resident is left poorly, I just think communication and an open conversation should have been held but now we have to wait and see," they said.
Perriswood Archery and Falconry Centre argued it was targeted with abuse after raising concerns surrounding the road closures on social media. The popular tourist attraction highlighted it was "peak season" for much of the Gower and it had expected a busy sunny weekend as families visited the site for the day.
The site has hosted a general meeting with other businesses and residents who were concerned by the increasing number of road closures taking place annually in the Gower. But it said it was targeted with abusive messages online from people who, it claimed, had misinterpreted the meeting, with some advocating others to "avoid" the family-run business.
"It was really upsetting for all of our staff, we never wanted to stop the Ironman and people completely misinterpreted the reasons for the meeting. We wanted to see how businesses would be affected by road closures. We had people threaten the future of our business and have received a huge amount of backlash for airing our concerns, there is a lack of communication surrounding the event and people should have been consulted before the event was hosted," said Brian Williams, owner of Perriswood.
"I am an endurance world record holder myself and it is the last thing I wanted to do, it is the route and the length of time we have questions about. After the pandemic we can not afford to lose another day and it is arguably one of the busiest of the year with the holidays, it just feels like a kick in the teeth, the route is also not accessible for spectators."
The IRONMAN 70.3 is a privately run event operated by Ironman, meaning Swansea Council has declined to comment.
A spokesperson for IRONMAN 70.3 said: "With an event of this scale, temporary road closures are necessary to ensure the safety of athletes and the public. Ironman have worked with Swansea City and County Council to minimise the impact of road closures on the local community, keep businesses and residents informed of any disruption planned in their area on 7 August, and create open lines of communication for anyone with concerns or queries.
- We posted 70,055 leaflets to residents and businesses via Royal Mail six weeks out from the event on 27 June 2022. This information also sits on the Ironman 70.3 Swansea Website, Swansea City and County Council Websites, and the British Triathlon Federation Website.
- Direct contact was made by Ironman and / or Swansea Council to inform impacted businesses, carers, churches, and farmers (NFU) of the closures via email. Essential access for carers will be facilitated, and there will be no restrictions at any time for any of the emergency services.
- A dedicated email address and phone line has been established for anyone with questions or concerns regarding the road closures. Residents and businesses can speak with a member of the Ironman team by phone at 03330 11 66 00 or email at swansea70.3@ironmanroadaccess.com.
"Ironman 70.3 Swansea is a sold-out event with a professional athlete field, expecting over 2,000 athletes and 10,000 supporters to travel to Swansea and Gower for the race weekend. This is in addition to the approximate 400 volunteers and 300 staff and suppliers that will be supporting the event delivery.
"In its first year, Ironman 70.3 Swansea is predicted to bring an economic boost of £2.5m to the region through accommodation, dining, and entertainment. This is excluding the additional amount spent by athletes on course reconnaissance and training camps throughout the year, as well as the longer-term impact on regional tourism led by the positive amplification of Swansea and Gower on a global stage.
"We’re looking forward to our first event in Swansea and hope to see the community supporting the athletes as they undertake the challenging 70.3-mile swim, bike, run event."
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