Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost as MP urges residents to shape decade of investment

The funding, confirmed today, will focus on the communities north of Swansea railway station — stretching through High Street, Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill and Hafod. The area, used daily by thousands travelling in and out of the city, has long been identified as one of Swansea’s most overlooked corridors.

MP: ‘This area is too often forgotten’

Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, welcomed the announcement and said the decade‑long investment must be shaped by the people who live there. He has launched a public survey asking residents to set the priorities for the scheme.

“Swansea is making real progress,” he said. “Our city centre is seeing landmarks renewed and new buildings open, from the Albert Hall to the new Y Storfa. And today’s confirmation of £20m investment in the neighbourhoods north of the train station will make sure an area, that thousands travel through every day but is too often forgotten, is part of this progress.”

He said the funding would “make a real difference” and urged residents to take part in the consultation.

What the money will target

The £20m comes from the Pride in Place programme — a £180m, 10‑year regeneration fund for communities across Wales. The scheme is designed to give local people a direct say in tackling issues that have blighted their neighbourhoods, from run‑down high streets to graffiti, vandalism and the loss of community facilities.

Alongside the main investment, Swansea will also receive a share of £34.5m in capital funding to improve public spaces across the city. That includes repairing broken bus shelters, reopening park toilets and upgrading other neglected infrastructure.

Residents asked to set priorities

The MP’s survey — available on his website — asks people to identify the problems they want fixed first. Early suggestions include improving lighting and safety on key walking routes, restoring community buildings, and tackling long‑standing fly‑tipping hotspots.

The funding will be rolled out over the next decade, with decisions expected to be made in phases.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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Swansea’s blue bag plastics trial extended – 70 tonnes collected so far

Around 20,000 households across the city have been stuffing crisp packets, bread bags and biscuit wrappers into special blue bags for kerbside pick‑up. The trial, launched in spring, was designed to see if residents would embrace recycling the trickiest plastics that usually end up in black bags.

They did. Within weeks, Swansea Bay News reported more than five tonnes had already been collected. Now the total has soared past 70 tonnes, with the material recycled into new products like bags for life and bin liners.

“A great success story”

Cabinet Member Cyril Anderson said:

“The trial so far has been a really great success story. Residents have got on board with it and have quickly seen the value in using the recycling service and reducing the amount of household waste they put in the black bag. Our plan is to continue the trial into the new year and give residents in the trial areas the opportunity to use the blue bags until June.”

Where it runs

The scheme covers a mix of areas across Swansea – from Blaenymaes, Fforestfach and Penlan to Clydach, Hafod and Townhill – chosen to test how different housing types use the service. Residents outside the trial can still recycle soft plastics at supermarket collection points.

What goes in the bag

Accepted items include crisp packets, bread bags, cereal liners, pet food bags, magazine wrapping and multipack rings. Residents are asked to rinse items and tie bags securely with a double knot.

Items such as cling film, polystyrene, cleaning product pouches and blister packs are not accepted and should go in black bags.

What’s next

The Welsh Government is collating data from Swansea’s trial to help decide how similar schemes could be rolled out across other towns and cities. For now, Swansea households in the pilot areas can keep filling their blue bags until 30 June 2026.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Council to trial soft plastic kerbside recycling scheme in Swansea
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Swansea residents embrace new soft plastics recycling trial with over five tonnes already collected
Early figures showed strong uptake, with residents quickly filling blue bags and more than five tonnes collected within weeks.

Plans revealed to change kerbside recycling in Swansea
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Swansea man jailed for 30 years for child sex offences

Adam Davies, 36, of Odo Street, Hafod, was described by a judge as a “manipulative and predatory” paedophile who posed a significant risk to children.

Offending spanned years

Swansea Crown Court heard Davies sexually abused two young girls on multiple occasions and repeatedly raped a young boy over a period of years. The offending first came to light in 2023 when one of the girls confided in someone she trusted about what had happened when she was younger. Police launched an investigation and further victims were identified.

When officers seized Davies’s laptop, they discovered indecent images of children, adding to the weight of evidence against him. Despite this, Davies denied all allegations and the case went to trial in October this year.

Convictions and sentence

Jurors found Davies guilty of a long list of offences, including rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and causing children to engage in sexual acts. He was also convicted of possessing indecent images of children.

Judge Catherine Richards said she had “no doubt” Davies was a dangerous offender who posed a significant risk of causing serious harm to children. She described him as “manipulative and determined” and told the court that his behaviour had left lasting scars on his victims.

Davies was handed a 30‑year extended sentence, comprising 26 years in custody followed by four years on licence. He must serve at least two‑thirds of the custodial term before the Parole Board considers release. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Police statement

Detective Constable Stacey Jones, South Wales Police, said:

“Adam Davies’s offending is some of the worst of its kind we have seen in Swansea. He disgustingly took advantage of multiple children to act out vile acts for his own depraved sexual pleasure.

“He is of an immeasurable danger to children, and the streets are far safer for young people now that he has been sent to prison for a hugely significant sentence. He showed no remorse and took no responsibility for what he has done.

“We pay tribute to the immense bravery of the victims who have come forward, and hope that they are now able to move on with their lives safe in the knowledge that Adam Davies cannot access them anymore.”

Support for survivors

South Wales Police said anyone affected by this case can contact them via 101, quoting reference 62WN0407323. Survivors of sexual abuse will be listened to, treated with dignity and respect, and supported throughout the judicial process.

Further information and details of support services are available on the South Wales Police website.

#adamDavies #childSexOffences #hafod #sentencing #southWalesPolice #swansea #swanseaCrownCourt

Swansea’s air among UK’s worst, new study finds

Swansea has been ranked among the UK’s most polluted cities — with air quality so poor that residents are effectively inhaling the equivalent of 131 cigarettes a year, according to a new study.

The research, published by HouseFresh, uses the latest PM2.5 pollution data to calculate how many cigarettes people are indirectly “smoking” due to fine particle exposure. Swansea ties with Cardiff for the worst air in Wales, and ranks 8th in the UK overall — alongside cities like Manchester, London and Bristol.

The study uses a method developed by Berkeley Earth, which equates long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution with cigarette intake. Swansea’s average PM2.5 level in 2024 was 10.3 µg/m³, well above the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 5 µg/m³.

A simplified measure vs. statutory monitoring

While the HouseFresh study offers a striking visual comparison, it’s based on a single annual average for PM2.5, designed to raise awareness rather than meet regulatory standards. Swansea Council’s approach is more technical and comprehensive — tracking seven key pollutants under the Air Quality (Wales) Regulations 2000, including nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM10, carbon monoxide, benzene, lead and 1,3-butadiene.

The council operates five automatic monitoring stations across the city, with real-time data available via its air quality dashboard. As of today, all stations are showing green status, indicating low pollution levels — a reminder that daily exposure can vary significantly, and that local improvements may not yet be reflected in long-term averages.

Council data shows mixed picture

Swansea Council’s 2024 Air Quality Progress Report confirms that PM2.5 levels remain a concern, particularly near busy roads and junctions. While most monitoring sites meet national standards, the report notes that 89 locations saw increases in pollution compared to 2022, with one site in Graig Trewyddfa recording the highest nitrogen dioxide levels in the city.

The council has declared several Air Quality Management Areas, including Hafod, Sketty and Fforestfach, due to long-term breaches of nitrogen dioxide limits. These areas are all close to major traffic routes, highlighting the impact of vehicle emissions on local air quality.

Public awareness campaign launched

In response to growing concerns, Swansea Council has launched a new city-wide awareness campaign in partnership with Swansea University, aimed at helping residents protect themselves and reduce their contribution to poor air quality.

Information posters have appeared at bus stops across the city, offering practical tips such as standing further back from the roadside when walking and switching off car engines when stationary. The campaign also highlights indoor air risks, including poor ventilation in homes.

David Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Corporate Service and Performance, said:

“Part of the Council’s responsibility is to monitor air quality in the city and look at ways to combat air pollution as well as promote healthier communities. The latest study we are working on in partnership with Swansea University aims at providing the public with a series of helpful tips that assist in lessening the impact of poor air quality in your community.”

Researchers are working with the council to better understand public attitudes and behaviours around air pollution, with the goal of encouraging small, everyday changes that can lead to cleaner air and healthier communities.

Centre for Cities: emissions and air quality not always linked

A separate analysis by Centre for Cities, published in February, shows that Swansea is an outlier when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. While most UK cities have relatively low per capita emissions, Swansea’s figures are skewed by the presence of Port Talbot Steelworks, which contributes heavily to industrial output.

The report argues that air quality and emissions are separate issues — and that cities like Swansea can have high pollution levels even if their carbon footprint is relatively low. It calls for targeted policies to tackle local pollutants, such as vehicle emissions and wood-burning stoves, alongside broader climate measures.

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#airPollution #airQualityManagementSwansea #CardiffAirQuality #CentreForCitiesSwanseaEmissions #cigaretteEquivalentAirPollution #Fforestfach #Hafod #HouseFreshAirQualityStudy #Morriston #nitrogenDioxideSwansea #PM25SwanseaData #pollution #pollutionLevelsWales #Sketty #Swansea #SwanseaAirHealthImpact #SwanseaAirPollution #SwanseaCigaretteEquivalentPollution #SwanseaCouncilAirQualityReport #SwanseaEnvironmentNews #SwanseaPublicHealthEnvironment #SwanseaUrbanPollution #trafficPollutionSwansea #UKAirPollutionRankings #UKCitiesWorstAirQuality #WalesPM25Exposure #WelshGovernmentAirQuality

Undercover police arrest drug dealers operating near Swansea primary school

Jayley Rickman, 21, and Harry Thompson, 18, were arrested on the steps outside Hafod Primary School on the afternoon of Thursday 19 June, following reports of suspicious activity in the area. Officers from the organised crime team, working in plain clothes, detained Rickman at the scene while Thompson attempted to flee but was chased and caught.

Rickman was found with three wraps of cocaine in his hand and a bag containing 37 individual deals of heroin and cocaine beside him. He also had a lock-knife, £70 in cash, and an iPhone for which he refused to provide the PIN.

Thompson was carrying a coffee jar concealed in his shorts containing 60 wraps of heroin and cocaine, along with additional bags of drugs. He also had a Nokia burner phone that had been used to send bulk text messages to around 40 contacts, including one advertising “Three for 25 all day.” Officers discovered a dealer’s ledger in the phone’s notes app, listing names and debts — one person reportedly owed £1,650.

In police interviews, Rickman remained silent. Thompson gave a prepared statement denying the offences but later admitted to selling £10 drug deals.

Both men pleaded guilty to multiple drug offences. Rickman admitted possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of a bladed article. Thompson pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply, and being concerned in the supply of both drugs.

The court heard that Thompson, of Heol Fedw, Cwmrhydyceirw, had no previous convictions but was already on bail to Gwent Police at the time of his arrest, having been detained on suspicion of supplying ketamine and heroin.

Andrew Evans, defending Rickman, said his client had hoped to leave his offending behind after being released on licence in August 2024, but was “dogged by the events of his past.” He told the court that individuals who had previously supplied Rickman with drugs on credit “came after him” to recover the debt, and that Rickman’s own cocaine use made his return to dealing “almost inevitable.”

Evans added that Rickman understood the consequences of reoffending, including the mandatory minimum seven-year sentence for a third Class A conviction — something he described as a “daunting prospect” for a 21-year-old.

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Alexandra Wilson, representing Thompson, said her client was originally from Weston-super-Mare and had worked in his aunt’s café and as a roofer before moving to Swansea to live with his mother. At the time of his arrest, Thompson was homeless following a breakdown in that relationship.

Judge Paul Thomas KC told the pair they had been caught “red-handed” in an operation worth thousands of pounds and warned that further involvement in Class A drug dealing would result in long prison sentences.

“You would have known what kind of sentence awaited you,” he said. “If you return to Class A dealing upon your release, you will end up spending what many people consider the best years of their lives locked in a prison.”

With discounts for their guilty pleas, Rickman was sentenced to four years and four months in prison, to be served concurrently with his recall period until April 2027. Thompson was sentenced to two years and four months in a young offenders institution. Both will serve half their sentences in custody before being released on licence.

#Cwmrhydyceirw #drugs #featured #Hafod #HafodPrimarySchool #heroin #ketamine #Morriston #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea

Swansea uncle and nephew convicted over fatal street killing of Joshua Norman

Paul Rosser, 49, from Gendros, was found guilty of murder, while his nephew Joshua Cullen, 32, from Waun Wen, was convicted of manslaughter following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

The convictions follow a South Wales Police investigation into the fatal attack, which took place on Cwm Road inm Hafod at around 12.08pm on 11 September 2024. Emergency services arrived to find Joshua Norman with a catastrophic neck injury. Despite the efforts of paramedics and passers-by, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Violent End to a Drug-Fuelled Morning

According to evidence presented during the trial, Rosser stabbed Norman in the throat using a broken Thatcher’s Katy cider bottle, severing his carotid artery. The three men — Rosser, Cullen, and Norman — had spent the previous night drinking and smoking crack cocaine at Norman’s flat on Matthew Street.

On the morning of the killing, they were seen travelling in a black Audi A3, withdrawing cash and allegedly purchasing drugs in Port Tennant. Witnesses later saw the men walking through Hafod, where an argument broke out. Rosser smashed the bottle and used it to stab Norman, while Cullen was accused of encouraging or assisting the attack2.

Both men walked away, leaving Norman to bleed to death on the pavement. Rosser was arrested less than an hour later on the same street, covered in blood and with facial injuries

“A Beautiful Person Whose Smile Lit Up Any Room”

In a tribute released by South Wales Police, Joshua’s family described him as a “loving son, father, brother, and uncle” whose “smile and sense of humour would light up any room and any heart”.

They added:

“We will miss him terribly and ask for privacy at this time to grieve the loss of our dear son.”

Investigation Praised for Swift Action

Detective Chief Inspector Lianne Rees, who led the investigation, said:

“What happened to Joshua Norman was a tragic incident, taking place during broad daylight. I’d like to thank the investigation team, CPS and prosecuting counsel who worked hard to ensure justice was brought.”

She also paid tribute to the passers-by who tried to save Joshua’s life, acknowledging the trauma they experienced.

Sentencing Ahead

Both Rosser and Cullen will be sentenced in due course.

The case has prompted renewed calls for better intervention strategies for individuals at risk of violent behaviour due to addiction and social isolation.

#Gendros #Hafod #manslaughter #murder #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #WaunWen

Mount Pleasant drug dealer jailed after heroin and cocaine mixed with animal sedatives seized

30-year-old Jake Tipping, from Mount Pleasant, was identified following a police stop-search in Hafod where the vulnerable woman informed officers that Tipping and another man had moved into her home.

After police let themselves into the property, two wraps of substances later found to be cocaine were found in a toilet Tipping had just exited. On his arrest, a mobile phone and £525 in cash were found on his person.

Officers also found a number of wraps of powder which was later discovered to be heroin mixed with medetomidine – a powerful tranquiliser used by animal vets during anaesthetic procedures.

At court, Tipping pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin, possession of a Class A drug and possession of criminal property.

He has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Tipping has previous convictions for robbery and for possession of a firearm, where he was sentenced to 5 years in prison in 2021. He was out of prison on licence for the firearms offence when he was caught for the drugs offences and was recalled back to prison when arrested.

PC Corey Morris from South Wales Police said: “Jake Tipping had hopes of getting rich through selling Class A drugs to others, without a care for the damage that those drugs would do to the buyers and those around them.

“The illegal drugs industry is an inherently selfish and dangerous trade, where suppliers are only concerned about their own finances.

“The punishment for Jake Tipping is that he has been duly sent to prison.”

#cocaine #cuckooing #drugs #Hafod #heroin #MountPleasant #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea

Council leaders briefed on plan for copperworks heritage buildings

They were given a tour of the Vivian and Musgrave Engine Houses at the site of the former Hafod Morfa Copperworks.

Both have listed status – and there’s planning permission for both to be transformed for a range of uses, including restaurants, cafes, exhibition-style space and shops.

Swansea Council says it wants to save and transform the disused structures as part of its work to bring new life to the Lower Swansea Valley.

It’s part of the council-driven £1bn regeneration of Swansea which has already seen the saving and transformation of other heritage structures including the Palace Theatre building, Albert Hall and Hafod Morfa Copperworks powerhouse.

After the tour, led by council regeneration officers, council leader Rob Stewart said: “The engine houses are key to Swansea’s industrial heritage. We now want them to bring pleasure to thousands – and new opportunities.

“This is an exciting time for the Lower Swansea Valley as we and others plan to invest tens of millions of pounds in that area.”

The council saved the two engine houses from ongoing decay several years ago. A river pontoon was added nearby.

The Musgrave structure, built around 1910 and a scheduled ancient monument, contains the rare Musgrave Engine, the UK’s only one of its kind remaining in its original location.

The Vivian Engine House was built in 1860.

A new building would link the engine houses. There’d be an outdoor terrace area.

The council say that two neighbouring tall chimneys would be preserved and there’d be expert surveys of trees and other biodiversity.

Cabinet members also visited the neighbouring V&S No.1 Locomotive Shed, another listed building that served the copperworks. Planning permission is in place to make this dilapidated historic structure safe and watertight.

The council is working on a series of schemes in the River Tawe corridor. Funding sources include part of a £20m investment from the UK Government’s Levelling Up scheme.

Businesses already planning big futures at the copperworks site include Penderyn Whisky, which opened there two years ago, and Skyline which has planning permission for a major outdoor leisure attraction linking Kilvey Hill and Landore.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#CllrRobStewart #Hafod #HafodMorfaCopperworks #heritage #MusgraveEngine #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #VivianEngineHouse

Dyn ni'n mynd a'r #LlanfairYmMuallt (blast I can't remember what tomorrow is)
(Look I've only been learning Welsh a while) Dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg

We're off to #BuilthWells tomorrow. Looking for recommendations for a place to stay. Preferably with sheep nearby.
#hafod
#SheepOfMastodon
#Defaidodon