PORT TALBOT: Council celebrates as Aberavon Beach Seaside Award confirmed — with a message to visitors to enjoy it responsibly

Neath Port Talbot Council has formally welcomed the confirmation that Aberavon Beach has retained its Seaside Award from Keep Wales Tidy — the blue and yellow flag that signifies a clean, attractive and well-managed coastal stretch.

Aberavon is the only beach in Neath Port Talbot to receive a Wales Coast Award this year, and one of just 15 beaches across the whole of Wales to achieve the Seaside Award specifically.

Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Tourism, Councillor Cen Phillips, said the award was fantastic news for residents and visitors alike.

“This is fantastic news for anyone who lives near, or visits, Aberavon Beach,” he said. “The three-mile stretch has lots on offer, whether you’re a water-sports fanatic, a keen swimmer or just enjoy a relaxing stroll along the sand.”

He said the quality of the seafront continued to draw visitors and businesses to the area, and issued a direct message about responsible use.

“It’s no surprise that Aberavon seafront attracts so many visitors and businesses, who can now continue to be reassured by the quality of their surroundings,” Councillor Phillips said. “A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to achieve this award, including by Neath Port Talbot Council beach cleaners. I hope people enjoy the area responsibly so that it remains safe and fun for all.”

The message carries particular resonance following incidents during the Easter holidays. A lifebuoy on Aberavon Beach was deliberately set on fire during a period of disorder over the bank holiday weekend — prompting a warning from South Wales Police and Port Talbot Coastguard that the vandalism “could have had dire consequences” had anyone needed rescuing from the water at the time.

Owen Derbyshire, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said the awards recognised beaches meeting the highest and most consistent standards.

“Wales has some of the best beaches and marinas in the world and one of the most varied coastlines, and we are delighted to see this recognised with another successful year of Wales Coast Awards,” he said. “We would like to thank staff, volunteers and everyone else at sites across Wales who work so hard to protect and preserve our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances.”

The Seaside Award sits within a period of significant wider investment in the Aberavon seafront. In recent years the area has seen updated public toilets, two new children’s play areas, a skateboard park, a new splash pad attraction and a multi-million pound sea defence project designed to protect the promenade for future generations.

Further improvements are in the pipeline through a major active travel scheme covering a 4.7km stretch linking the seafront with Afan Way. The multi-million pound project would deliver new and widened footways, dedicated cycle lanes on Princess Margaret Way, new Toucan and Parallel crossings, and public realm improvements around Memo Beach Café, the skate park and Tywyn Primary School.

The council said the active travel scheme is particularly important in Sandfields, where data shows fewer than half of households own a car — making safe walking and cycling routes essential for everyday journeys including school runs and trips to the beach.

Construction of the active travel scheme is targeted for 2026–27, subject to funding approval through the Regional Transport Fund. Taken together with the Seaside Award recognition, the investment signals continued ambition for Aberavon as one of south Wales’s premier coastal destinations.

The Seaside Award’s blue and yellow flag will fly above Aberavon’s three-mile stretch for another season, giving visitors and businesses confidence in the quality and management of one of Port Talbot’s most popular destinations.

The 2026 Wales Coast Awards also saw 20 Welsh beaches achieve Blue Flag status — the world’s most recognised beach award — including Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Port Eynon in Gower, and Saundersfoot and Tenby Castle in Pembrokeshire.

However, the day also brought difficult news for Tenby, where North Beach lost its Blue Flag for the third time after water quality dropped from “excellent” to “good” — prompting a formal letter of complaint to Welsh Water from the area’s MP.

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TENBY: MP demands Welsh Water answers after boy hospitalised swimming in sea — as iconic North Beach loses Blue Flag for third time

Tenby North Beach has lost its Blue Flag status for the third time after its water quality dropped from “excellent” to “good” — triggering a furious response from the area’s MP and fresh calls for Welsh Water to be held to account.

Henry Tufnell, Conservative MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, has written to Welsh Water chief executive Roch Cheroux demanding an urgent plan to prevent further pollution incidents, after a young boy was hospitalised with sickness and diarrhoea following a swim in the sea at Tenby last week.

The same week, Natural Resources Wales issued a no-swim alert at Lydstep Haven — just a few miles from Tenby — due to concerns over water quality on 6 May, with warning signs still in place as late as 11 May.

Welsh Water subsequently clarified that the Lydstep incident was not linked to their infrastructure. NRW confirmed on 6 May that the no-swim alert at Lydstep was caused by a damaged privately owned sewerage system discharging onto the beach — not a Welsh Water overflow. Welsh Water said they had not spilled in the Tenby area for the preceding two months.

In his letter to Welsh Water, dated 12 May, Tufnell described the situation as “extremely concerning” and said Welsh Water’s poor environmental performance now posed “a serious risk to the health and wellbeing” of his constituents and visitors to the area.

“A situation like this has serious implications for our local economy, which relies heavily on tourism, particularly during the summer months when visitors rightly — and wisely — come to enjoy Pembrokeshire’s beaches,” he wrote. He asked Welsh Water to set out what immediate steps it would take to address the incidents at Lydstep and Tenby, and how it would ensure Pembrokeshire’s bathing waters were safe for everyone.

The loss of Tenby North’s Blue Flag was confirmed in today’s 2026 Wales Coast Awards, announced alongside the retention of Blue Flag status for a string of Swansea and Gower beaches. Pembrokeshire County Council did not apply for the Blue Flag for North Beach this year because the water quality had fallen below the required standard. Blue Flag beaches must meet the highest water quality thresholds — “good” is not sufficient to qualify.

The beach is one of Tenby’s most famous — used for Ironman Wales and the town’s Boxing Day Swim, and central to Tenby’s identity as one of Wales’s most celebrated coastal destinations. It previously held Blue Flag status for more than 25 consecutive years before first losing it in 2022.

This is the third time North Beach has lost the award. It failed to retain Blue Flag status in 2022 and 2023 when water quality dropped from “excellent” to “good”, recovered, and has now slipped again — raising serious questions about whether the underlying causes were ever fully resolved.

Water quality at Tenby North is tested by NRW each summer, with samples assessed for two types of bacteria. Welsh Water said the samples that triggered the downgrade were taken in July and August last year — and crucially, said there were no storm overflow spills in the area in the weeks leading up to those dates.

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “These bacteria can originate from a range of environmental sources. Improving water quality is a shared challenge and progress will only come through coordinated action across sectors. Factors such as rural land use, urban runoff, industry, soil erosion, illegal misconnections and private septic systems all play a part.”

The company added it is investing more than £2.3 million a day to improve its services, including £2.5 billion between 2025 and 2030 on environmental improvements across Wales. NRW said it is actively investigating the reason for the drop in water quality, but no cause has yet been determined.

Owen Derbyshire, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said the news was disappointing and described Tenby North as “an important local beauty spot and key tourist attraction.” He said the organisation was committed to working with authorities to help restore the beach’s water quality and regain its Blue Flag standing.

The area’s recent pollution history adds to the concern. In July 2024, Welsh Water reported a burst rising main near Tenby that sent sewage into the River Ritec, prompting NRW to declare an “abnormal situation” at Tenby South Beach, Castle Beach, North Beach and Penally Beach. Public warning signs were erected before being lifted after repairs and testing.

Tufnell said he would be speaking at the Broad Haven Paddle Out Protest on Saturday — part of a national day of action by Surfers Against Sewage across more than 50 locations — and said he would continue doing everything within his power to hold Welsh Water to account.

Tenby Castle Beach and South Beach have both retained their Blue Flag status in the 2026 awards — Castle Beach having held the award for an impressive 25 consecutive years — making the loss of North Beach’s flag all the more stark.

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PORT TALBOT: Aberavon beach wins prestigious Seaside Award
The only beach in Neath Port Talbot to be recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards.

PORT TALBOT: Aberavon beach wins prestigious Seaside Award — and it’s the only beach in Neath Port Talbot to make the cut

Aberavon beach has retained its place among the best beaches in Wales, winning a Seaside Award in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards — the only beach in Neath Port Talbot to do so.

The award, announced today by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy, recognises beaches that meet high standards for cleanliness, water quality, facilities, safety and environmental management. A total of 48 beaches across Wales were recognised across all categories in this year’s awards.

Aberavon is one of just 15 beaches across Wales to achieve the Seaside Award specifically — a UK-only accolade available in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, with the distinctive yellow and blue flag signifying a clean, attractive and well-managed coastal stretch.

The recognition comes as Aberavon continues to benefit from significant recent investment. The seafront has been transformed in recent years with updated public toilets, two new children’s play areas, a skateboard park, a new splash pad attraction and a multi-million pound sea defence project designed to protect the promenade for generations to come.

Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said the scale of the transformation at Aberavon made the award all the more meaningful.

“We are delighted to see Aberavon once again taking its place as a Seaside Award-winning beach in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards,” he said. “The area has undergone an incredible transformation in recent years, with more exciting developments to come, and it is great for visitors and local residents to know that as well as having excellent facilities Aberavon seafront is a safe, clean, and well-managed destination.”

Today’s awards also saw 20 Welsh beaches achieve Blue Flag status — the world’s most recognised beach award, signalling high water quality, amenities, environmental education, safety, access and site management. Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Port Eynon in Gower, and Saundersfoot and Tenby Castle in Pembrokeshire, were among those awarded Blue Flag status this morning.

A further 13 beaches achieved the Green Coast Award, given to hidden gems along the Welsh coastline for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty — including Mwnt and Penbryn in Ceredigion, and Freshwater East and Manorbier in Pembrokeshire.

Aberavon joins other Seaside Award winners including Aberystwyth North and South beaches, Whitmore Bay at Barry Island and Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Derbyshire paid tribute to the staff and volunteers who work to maintain standards at beaches across Wales.

“The Wales Coast Awards recognise high and consistent standards and we would like to thank staff, volunteers and everyone else at sites across Wales who work so hard to protect and preserve our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances,” he said.

The Seaside Award’s yellow and blue flag is a familiar sight to the millions of visitors who use Aberavon’s three miles of sandy beach each year — one of the most popular stretches of coastline in south Wales.

Aberavon’s retention of the award will be welcomed by Neath Port Talbot Council, which has invested heavily in the seafront area in recent years, including the promenade, aqua play pad, cinema and playground facilities.

The 2026 Wales Coast Awards are managed by Keep Wales Tidy, which oversees the Blue Flag, Seaside Award and Green Coast Award programmes across Wales on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.

The full list of 2026 Wales Coast Award winners is available at keepwalestidy.cymru.

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SWANSEA: Four of Swansea’s beaches once again fly the Blue Flag — as the city’s marina picks up the award too

Swansea has once again proved it is home to some of the finest coastal locations not just in Wales, but in the world — with four of its beaches and marina picking up prestigious awards from environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy.

Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Port Eynon — all on the Gower peninsula — have retained their Blue Flag status for another year.

Swansea Marina has also held onto its Blue Flag — one of just 20 sites across Wales to achieve the accolade in 2026.

The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised coastal awards. It’s not just about clean water — beaches and marinas must meet tough criteria covering amenities, sustainable tourism, environmental education, safety, accessibility and site management.

Bracelet Bay, on Mumbles Head, has also retained its Green Coast Award — one of 15 across Wales. The Green Coast Award celebrates hidden gems of the Welsh coastline, commending Bracelet Bay for its stunning scenery, rich coastal heritage and excellent water quality.

A total of 48 beaches across Wales were recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards — the most coveted annual recognition of coastal quality in the country.

The Blue Flag awards are presented by the Foundation for Environmental Education and are recognised globally as a symbol of quality — a guarantee to visitors that a beach or marina is clean, safe and well managed.

Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said Swansea had once again shown it was home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

“We’re delighted to see this recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards, which are a fantastic celebration of Wales’ beautiful and diverse coastline,” he said.

He added: “These awards recognise high and consistent standards and we would like to thank staff, volunteers and everyone else at sites across Wales who work so hard to protect and preserve our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances.”

He added that seeing the Blue Flag flying gave visitors confidence. “All of these places are beautiful but seeing that flag flying means visitors can be assured that they are clean, safe and well-managed with excellent facilities too.”

The awards have been managed by Keep Wales Tidy for more than 20 years and require beaches to meet and maintain the highest environmental standards, including tough water quality targets, year after year.

The awards are entirely voluntary — a testament to the huge effort of the staff and volunteers who maintain these sites to the highest standards.

Also picking up Seaside Awards in Wales this year was Aberavon in Neath Port Talbot — a UK-only award recognising clean, attractive and well-managed beaches with a good standard of facilities and water quality.

A full list of award recipients can be found at keepwalestidy.cymru.

More on Swansea’s beaches

Four Swansea beaches named among Wales’ best in the Wales Coast Awards
Last year’s awards — when the same beaches picked up their Blue Flag status.

Beaches in Swansea getting ready for summer with Blue Flag awards
How the Blue Flag beaches prepare to welcome visitors each year.

Three Gower beaches retain Blue Flag status
A look back at an earlier round of awards for Caswell, Langland and Port Eynon.

Port Eynon: Blue Flag beach joins smoke-free campaign
How Port Eynon has gone above and beyond to protect its award-winning status.

Neath TikTok star with 112k followers lands first major brand deal with Keep Wales Tidy

Nic Fearn, known as The Diva Supreme on TikTok, has partnered with the environmental charity as part of their Drive Your Litter Home campaign, which aims to shine a spotlight on the effect roadside litter is having on Wales’s beautiful roads.

The campaign video features Fearn in full diva mode on a rural Welsh roadside, delivering the message that “littering is not very diva” with his signature comedic style and glamorous persona.

In the video, Fearn tells his followers:

“The Diva Supreme is proud to support Keep Wales Tidy with another amazing campaign. This time, they are shining a spotlight on the effect roadside litter is having on our beautiful roads and encouraging us all to be more responsible and take our litter home.”

https://www.tiktok.com/@nicholasfearn/video/7607521746475879702

The Drive Your Litter Home campaign carries a simple reminder – if it comes with you on the journey, it goes home with you too.

“Litter does not belong on our roads, be more Diva and #driveyourlitterhome,” Fearn declares in the video, adding: “Because yes… it belongs to you! 💅🚗🌿”

Fearn’s content, which celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and combines comedy with everyday Welsh life, has resonated with audiences across the country. His videos often feature shopping trips to TK Maxx and charity shops, delivered with his distinctive diva flair.

“It’s the first big brand collab I’ve done,” said Fearn, whose rapid rise on the platform demonstrates the growing influence of Welsh content creators in the digital space.

The Keep Wales Tidy partnership marks a significant milestone for the Neath creator, who has built his following through entertaining and inclusive content that showcases Welsh locations and culture through a unique lens.

The collaboration comes as Keep Wales Tidy intensifies efforts to combat roadside litter across Wales, with the charity using social media influencers to reach younger audiences with environmental messages.

Fearn’s campaign video can be watched on his TikTok account @nicholasfearn, where he regularly posts content for his 112,400 followers.

The partnership demonstrates how brands are increasingly turning to local social media personalities to amplify their campaigns, particularly when those creators have authentic connections to their communities and can deliver messages in engaging, relatable ways.

The Drive Your Litter Home campaign emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for waste and recognizing that litter does not belong on Wales’s beautiful roads.

For Fearn, the collaboration represents not just a personal achievement but also an opportunity to use his platform to make a positive impact on his local community and beyond – proving that being a diva can also mean caring for the environment.

Trailblazers are looking for someone to help link up with Wildlife Trust and Keep Wales Tidy. No experience needed — just enthusiasm and a willingness to connect. Step up as our community ambassador and help shape future events. Message me if interested.

#PencoedTrailblazers #KeepWalesTidy #Wales #Cymru #WildlifeTrust #Volunteering #MakeADifference

Young volunteers launch new litter picking hub in Port Talbot

Volunteers lead the way

Five young volunteers turned out on Saturday 4 October to take part in the launch, joining forces to tidy up the town centre. The group spent the morning collecting litter around The New Plaza, filling seven bags in total.

The event marked the official opening of the site as a Litter Picking Hub, part of a Wales‑wide network run by Keep Wales Tidy and funded by the Welsh Government. The hubs provide free access to equipment such as pickers, hi‑vis vests, rubbish bags and hoops, making it easier for residents to organise their own clean‑ups.

Partnership with Keep Wales Tidy

The New Plaza hub is one of 14 now operating across Neath Port Talbot. Organisers say the aim is to support local communities, encourage pride in shared spaces and boost wellbeing through outdoor volunteering.

Sam Hunt, YMCA Port Talbot Hostel Manager, said the launch showed the difference young people can make: “It was brilliant to see so many young people turn out for the launch and take action to improve our shared spaces. Together, we can inspire long‑lasting change.”

Pride in the local environment

Kathryn Britton, Keep Wales Tidy Project Officer for Neath Port Talbot, added: “Port Talbot is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and it was fantastic to see The New Plaza celebrate their Litter Picking Hub launch with such a great effort from young people.”

She encouraged residents to continue using the hub, describing it as a simple and effective way to keep communities clean and cared for.

Open to all

The New Plaza hub is free to use and open seven days a week. Anyone can borrow equipment to carry out their own litter picks. More details are available at keepwalestidy.cymru/litter-picking-hubs.

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#communityVolunteering #KeepWalesTidy #litter #litterPickingHub #NeathPortTalbot #NewPlaza #PortTalbot #WelshGovernment

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

The Pencoed Trailblazers have officially launched.

Today, 17 volunteers braved the drizzle and cleared 410m of public paths, collecting a whopping 55kg of litter. Huge thanks to Chris Elmore MP for rolling up his sleeves with us, and to Pencoed Town Council for backing us with the gear.

We’re out again every third Saturday — come join the movement. #PencoedTrailblazers #CommunityPower #KeepWalesTidy