Swansea Valley volunteers praised for keeping green spaces clean and beautiful

Keep Wales Tidy is celebrating the work of My Green Valley, a volunteer‑led organisation that has organised 78 community litter picks this summer alone, clocking up more than 300 hours and removing nearly 300 bags of rubbish.

Founded in 2019, the group has quickly become one of the most active clean‑up teams in south west Wales, covering parts of Neath Port Talbot and Clydach in Swansea. Their efforts have helped transform neglected areas, improve wildlife habitats and foster a renewed sense of pride in the community.

“They love where they live”

Steve Thomas, Secretary at My Green Valley, said:

“My Green Valley is a community organisation set up in 2019 to help keep our valley clean and free of litter. My Green Valley volunteers enjoy making a difference. They love where they live, being an active part of their community, and improving the environment.”

Phil Budd, Swansea Project Officer at Keep Wales Tidy, added:

“The work My Green Valley has done this summer is a brilliant example of community action at its best. Their commitment, consistency, and care for the environment have made a visible impact across the valley. It’s groups like this that show how local people can lead the way in protecting our shared spaces.”

Regular litter picks across the valley

The group runs regular litter picks in communities across the Swansea Valley, including:

• Pontardawe – every Sunday (Castle Hotel car park, 9am) and every Thursday (old Tawe Bridge near the Pontardawe Inn, 10am)
• Alltwen – every other Friday (black bin day, Triangle, 11.30am)
• Clydach – first Friday of the month (Forge Fach, 10am)
• Trebanos – first Sunday of the month (rugby field, 9am)
• Gwaun Cae Gurwen – last Sunday of the month (CK’s car park, 9am)
• Ystalyfera – regular sessions announced on social media

How to get involved

Keep Wales Tidy says there are lots of ways for people across Swansea to play their part. Residents can join a local community group like My Green Valley, or borrow free litter‑picking equipment from their nearest Litter Picking Hub to do a tidy‑up in their own time.

The hubs and community clean‑up activities are part of a nationwide initiative funded by the Welsh Government. More details are available at keepwalestidy.cymru/get-involved/volunteering.

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• Green Flag flying at Kilvey Community Woodland thanks to decades of volunteer care

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• Four Swansea beaches named among Wales’ best in prestigious Wales Coast Awards

  Caswell, Langland, Port Eynon and Rhossili recognised for cleanliness, safety and environmental excellence.

#Alltwen #Clydach #GwaunCaeGurwen #KeepWalesTidy #litter #litterPicking #MyGreenValley #Pontardawe #SwanseaValley #Trebanos #volunteering #Ystalyfera

Plaid MS challenges LINK over Pontardawe banking hub snub

Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for South Wales West, Sioned Williams, has written to LINK — the UK’s cash access coordinator — to dispute its assessment that Pontardawe does not require additional cash services after Lloyds Bank closes its branch this November. LINK is funded by the UK’s banks and building societies to assess community needs and ensure access to cash across the country.

The closure of Lloyds will leave the entire Swansea Valley without a physical bank, prompting widespread concern. LINK’s original review concluded that existing cash access in Pontardawe was sufficient, despite calls from residents and businesses for a dedicated banking hub.

In response, Ms Williams has compiled a detailed evidence pack including letters from local businesses, charities, councillors, residents and Pontardawe Town FC, challenging the practicality of LINK’s verdict. She argues that the assessment fails to reflect the “facts on the ground”, citing the town’s reliance on cash-based trade, limited public transport links to Neath, and the broader impact on surrounding communities such as Rhos, Clydach, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Cwmllynfell and Ystalyfera.

While Lloyds has pledged to provide a Community Banker in Pontardawe, this service will be limited to fortnightly visits and will not handle transactions — a move Ms Williams says falls short of meeting local needs.

Sioned Williams said:

“When LINK assessed Pontardawe in the wake of the news that Lloyds Bank will close – the last bank in the Swansea Valley – they concluded that there were sufficient banking services nearby. This is a decision that I am still disputing after hearing the feelings aired in the public meeting I held, in ongoing conversations with residents and local businesses, and because this is my town and my bank.”

She added that many businesses operate on a cash-only basis and would be forced to close temporarily to travel to Neath for banking — a journey complicated by the infrequent 256 bus service, which runs fewer than ten times daily.

Sioned Williams said:

“While the people of Pontardawe and the wider area are under no illusions that financial services are changing, all they – and I – ask is that their request for a banking hub be given proper and full consideration with appropriate attention paid to the facts on the ground.”

The campaign to retain banking services in Pontardawe has gained momentum in recent months. In July, local MP Christina Rees wrote to the CEO of Lloyds Banking Group urging the bank to reconsider its decision to close the branch, citing the impact on vulnerable residents and small businesses. Ms Williams also previously criticised Lloyds’ response to community concerns as “deeply disappointing” and lacking in meaningful engagement.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

MP calls on Lloyds CEO to halt closure of Pontardawe branch
Christina Rees MP urges Lloyds to reconsider closure plans amid community backlash.

Senedd member speaks out on “deeply disappointing” Lloyds response on Pontardawe bank closure
Sioned Williams MS criticises lack of engagement and calls for better consultation.

#ATM #bankClosure #banking #cashpoint #Clydach #Cwmllynfell #GwaunCaeGurwen #Link #LloydsBank #Pontardawe #Rhos #SionedWilliamsMS #SwanseaValley #Ystalyfera

Carmarthenshire’s Black Mountain Pass named ‘most scenic driving route in Wales’

Wales is home to some of the most thrilling and picturesque drives in the UK — from mountain passes with hairpin bends to peaceful lakeside cruises. Whether you’re chasing panoramic views or empty country roads, these routes deliver both beauty and brilliant driving.

Motoring experts have handpicked five of the most scenic routes for motorists looking to explore Wales from behind the wheel.

1. Black Mountain Pass (A4069 – Llandovery to Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen)

A true favourite among motoring purists, the Black Mountain Pass winds its way through the Brecon Beacons with a dramatic mix of tight corners, open straights, and cliffside climbs.

Made famous by Top Gear, it offers adrenaline and epic views in equal measure. Expect roaming sheep, sweeping valleys, and no shortage of Instagram-worthy moments.

Best for: sporty handling, sharp curves, and dramatic hilltop views.

2. Abergwesyn Pass (Abergwesyn to Tregaron)

Often called “the Welsh Highlands”, this remote and wild mountain road is as dramatic as it gets. The route cuts through moorland, dense forests, and past waterfalls — and includes the steep and infamous Devil’s Staircase.

There’s no phone signal, barely any signage, and rarely another car. It’s as raw and untouched as road trips come.

Best for: isolation, adventure, and raw natural beauty.

3. Llanberis Pass (A4086 – Capel Curig to Llanberis)

Threading between the rugged peaks of Snowdonia, the Llanberis Pass delivers one of the most scenic alpine-style drives in the UK. Sheer rock faces, glacier-carved valleys and towering slate mountains dominate the landscape.

Perfect for a sunrise drive or post-hike cruise, this route feels like something out of the Alps — without leaving Britain.

Best for: dramatic mountain scenery, photography stops, and highland driving.

4. Elan Valley Drive (Rhayader to Devil’s Bridge)

This peaceful and underrated route through mid-Wales follows the Elan Valley’s iconic dams and reservoirs. Expect quiet bends, lush forest backdrops, and mirror-like lakes flanking the roadside.

Great for a slower, reflective drive — with plenty of places to pull over, enjoy a picnic, or take in the views.

Best for: relaxing drives, nature lovers, and peaceful pit stops.

5. North Wales Coastal Route (A55 – Chester to Holyhead)

This route hugs the north coast of Wales, offering rolling sea views, access to beaches, castles, and the striking Menai Suspension Bridge en route to Anglesey.

While it’s a more modern A-road, the scenery and sea breeze more than make up for it — especially at golden hour.

Best for: coastal cruising, long-distance road trips, and scenic sunset drives.

Final word from the experts

A spokesperson from Show Plates World, who were behind the research, said:

“Wales has some of the most rewarding drives in the UK — routes where the landscape constantly changes, and the road itself becomes part of the experience. Whether you’re here for the thrill or the view, these roads have both.”

#A4069 #BlackMountain #BlackMountainPass #Carmarthenshire #driving #GwaunCaeGurwen #Llandovery #motoring

The valleys village without a welcome… (sign)

Sioned Williams, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, has started campaigning for the village with no dedicated welcome sign. 

Gwaun-cae-gurwen is a village in Neath Port Talbot, and birthplace of rugby legend Sir Gareth Edwards, and noted actress Dame Siân Phillips. 

Whereas other towns and villages often display their famous sons and daughters on the signs marking the boundary, Gwaun-cae-gurwen doesn’t even have dedicated signage for the village. 

This fact was raised by residents with regional Member of Senedd Sioned Williams, when she was holding a community advice surgery in nearby Tairgwaith: “Gwaun-cae-gurwen is home to Welsh legends Sir Gareth Edwards and Dame Siân Phillips but you wouldn’t even know you’d arrived there.”

Ms Williams said that on arrival, one constituent remarked, “you could drive out of the village without ever realising you’d entered it” while another simply said, “welcome to the forgotten part of Neath Port Talbot.”

Ms Williams went on to say: “I recently attended the launch event commemorating the centenary of Richard Burton’s birth. Part of the celebrations included a wonderful sign welcoming visitors to Pontrhydyfen, showcasing that this was the birthplace of Richard Burton, Ivor Emmanuel and Rebecca Evans.

“To think that Gwaun-cae-gurwen gave us Siân Phillips and Gareth Edwards – this should be something to celebrate, and that’s why I’ve written to the council to see what can be done about it.

“Simple additions and signage can showcase the unique identity of our communities and the notable people born within and bring visitors in. A sign for Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, similar to the one in Pontrhydyfen, would perhaps make this important part of the county borough feel more valued.”

Neath Port Talbot council has written back to Ms Williams with reassurance that this is “high on the agenda” of the newly appointed Visitor Economy Manager, who will be raising with ward councillors when they next meet.

(Lead image: Geraint Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0,)

#GwaunCaeGurwen #NeathPortTalbot #SionedWilliamsMS

Took a spin up to the Black Mountain yesterday. The A4069 from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen to Llangadog is our very well-used shortcut from home to Mid Wales, but as a result, we haven't actually stopped to look at the view in a while, or gone there specially to see it.

I'm sure there's competition, but it must be one of the few places where you can see this much of Wales all in one go.

#GwaunCaeGurwen #Brynamman #Ammanford #Llangadog #BlackMountain #Mountain #Landscape #Wales #VisitWales #Cymru #Family