▁Aber av on ▁Beach ▁( ), ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁Aber av on ▁S ands , ▁is ▁a ▁three - mile ▁( 5   km ) ▁stretch ▁of ▁sand y ▁beach ▁on ▁the ▁north - e astern ▁edge ▁of ▁Sw anse a ▁Bay ▁in ▁Port ▁Tal bot , ▁Wales . ▁ ▁With ▁its ▁high ▁break er ▁waves , ▁it ▁is ▁popular ▁with ▁sur fers . ▁Aber av on ▁Beach ▁was ▁awarded ▁Blue ▁Flag ▁status ▁in ▁December ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁and ▁features ▁in ▁the ▁Good ▁Beach ▁Guide ▁published ▁by ▁the ▁Marine ▁Conserv ation ▁Society . ▁ ▁A ▁traditional ▁" bucket ▁and ▁sp ade " ▁resort ▁for ▁the ▁South ▁Wales ▁Valle ys ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 0 s , ▁' 5 0 s ▁and ▁' 6 0 s , ▁Aber av on ▁Beach ▁was ▁once ▁an ▁area ▁of ▁sand ▁d unes ▁known ▁as ▁Aber av on ▁Bur rows . ▁Ch anging ▁economic ▁and ▁social ▁conditions ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁decl ine ▁of ▁the ▁resort , ▁but ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁the ▁local ▁authority ▁published ▁a ▁strategy ▁to ▁improve ▁the ▁physical ▁environment ▁of ▁the ▁area ▁and ▁increase ▁tour ism . ▁New ▁facilities ▁completed ▁since ▁then ▁have ▁included ▁an ▁am ph it he atre , ▁pia zza ▁and ▁sk ate board ▁park , ▁while ▁a ▁six - screen ▁Re el ▁Cinema ▁opened ▁next ▁to ▁the ▁Af an ▁L ido ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁a ▁development ▁called ▁" Hol lywood ▁Park ". ▁However , ▁associated ▁plans ▁for ▁a ▁bow ling ▁al ley ▁have ▁failed ▁to