Save the whale campaign pays off

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Schoolchildren have saved a giant concrete whale that was set to disappear from a south Wales seafront.

The promonade at Aberavon is being redeveloped and the whale, and a number of stone penguins, were to have been removed for a car park.

But local school children started a campaign and persuaded Neath Port Talbot council to alter its plans.

Not only is the whale staying, the penguins, which had lost their heads in vandal attacks, are being repaired.

The stone animals have been a feature on the seafront for over 20 years.

Council leader Derek Vaughan said: "A huge amount of development has taken place there, and there is a lot more planned.

"All these extra facilities are bringing thousands more visitors and the area is particularly busy on the weekend."

The penguins are to get new heads after attacks by vandals

He said officers had recommended that the play area near Aberavon Aquadome, where the animals stand, be used for extra-parking.

But local children from various primary schools in the area had other plans.

They got together and started a petition and secured a meeting with Mr Vaughan.

"I met with them and they told me how popular it was and how they did not want it taken away. They were very persuasive," he said.

He said the whale had started to look a bit weather worn and most of the penguins had been vandalised and many had lost their heads.

"I said if we were going to keep them we must do something about it."

New heads are being made for the penguins which will be repaired by people ordered to do unpaid work by the courts and the youngsters themselves have helped repaint the whale.

"It's an excellent example of children getting involved in their community," Mr Vaughan said.