Swansea’s women-led brewery toasts success on International Women’s Day

Drop Bear Beer Co., which specialises in alcohol-free craft beers, has confirmed it is leading a new generation of women in the industry as it reflects on its recent acquisition of the iconic Welsh brand, Tomos Watkin.

The company has said that while women once dominated the brewing trade as medieval ‘alewives’, they now make up only around 30 per cent of the UK’s brewery workforce, with even fewer in technical roles.

Founded by Joelle and Sarah Drummond, the business began with small-scale recipe development in their kitchen before expanding into a multi-award-winning international brand.

According to the brewery, the acquisition of Tomos Watkin in 2023 marked a significant milestone, allowing the female-led team to take ownership of one of Wales’ most historic beer names.

The Swansea firm is now recognised as the UK’s largest alcohol-free brewery and continues to operate from its production base in Llansamlet.

Leading the production line is Head Brewer Bex, who oversees quality and operations at scale, providing what the company describes as a visible example of women in technical brewing roles.

“We’re proud to be part of a new generation of women building and brewing in this industry,” Joelle Drummond, Co-Founder of Drop Bear Beer Co., has said.

She added: “Women were central to brewing historically, and while representation today isn’t equal, it is changing.”

The brewery, which is a certified B Corp and carbon neutral, has previously secured major supermarket deals with Morrisons and Tesco.

Its range of 0.5% ABV beers includes Tropical IPA and Yuzu Pale Ale, all of which are produced at the Swansea brewery and exported internationally.

As International Women’s Day approaches, the team has said they are celebrating women across Wales who are shaping business and industry, proving that “leadership in beer is evolving.”

Long-serving Llansamlet councillor set to become Swansea’s next Lord Mayor

The Llansamlet ward member, who has served on Swansea Council since 2007, will take over the prestigious role from the current Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Cheryl Philpott, in May.

Her appointment was confirmed at a full council meeting in January.

Cllr Matthews will be joined by fellow long-serving councillor Susan Jones, who is set to become the new Deputy Lord Mayor.

Born and brought up in the city, Cllr Matthews attended Manselton Primary School and later the Swansea Secondary Technical School for Girls after passing her 11-plus exam.

Her first step into the world of work was a Saturday job on the makeup counter at the old Woolworths in Oxford Street.

She later worked for the Steel Co of Wales at Velindre before going on to manage the office at D.C. Francis Coal Merchants for four years.

Her career continued at the Goods Vehicle Centre on the Strand in Swansea, where she served as a booking clerk and a union rep.

She then moved to the Jobcentre in Morriston, where she was also a Union Representative and covered front-line interventions for people signing on for benefits.

In addition to her council work, Cllr Matthews has been a governor at Trallwn Primary School since 1995, supporting the school by sitting on committees and attending events.

Cllr Matthews said:

“I’ve had a great year so far as Deputy Lord Mayor and I’m really looking forward to my year in office in May.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out and about and meeting the people of our fantastic city, as well as representing Swansea to visitors and as an ambassador for the city as a whole, at a very exciting time for our communities.”

The new Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Susan Jones, is an Independent councillor who has represented the Gowerton ward on Swansea Council since 2008.

She has also been a councillor on Gowerton Community Council since 1986.

Like Cllr Matthews, she has a long history of involvement in local education, serving as a governor of both Gowerton Comprehensive School and Gowerton Primary School.

Between 2001 and 2008, Cllr Jones also served as a Director for the Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS).

Swansea’s road repair blitz ramps up as new resurfacing crews hit the streets

The council says an additional £300,000 has been pumped into the programme, allowing teams to tackle more potholes, worn‑out stretches and weather‑damaged routes after weeks of cold, wet conditions.

Fresh resurfacing lined up across the city

A series of busy roads are now earmarked for work in the coming weeks, including key routes in Clydach, Morriston, Fforestfach, Llansamlet, Clase, Bishopston and Uplands.

Locations scheduled for repairs include:

• Ynyspenllwch Road, Clydach (Ffordd Cwmtawe to Clydach)
• Lone Road, Clydach
• Llanllienwen Road, Morriston
• A48, Morriston (J46 to Bryntywod entrance)
• Carmarthen Road, Fforestfach (Ffordd Cynore to Swansea Road)
• Nantong Way, Llansamlet (outside Royal Mail)
• Rheidol Avenue, Clase
• Bishopston Road, Bishopston
• Maes y Gwernen Road and Drive, Cwmrhydyceirw
• Uplands Crescent

The council says full resurfacing has already been completed at a number of high‑traffic spots, including the Peniel Green Road motorway junction.

‘We’re using every resource we’ve got’

Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said crews were working flat out to keep up with demand.

“We are using all of our resources to tackle as many of the highway repair requests as possible,” he said.

“Full resurfacing work is being completed at key traffic spots including the motorway junction at Peniel Green Road. Our small resurfacing teams are also out tackling large areas of road that have been impacted by the recent cold and wet weather.”

Part of a wider £300k pothole and resurfacing blitz

The council says the latest work forms part of the £300,000 pothole and resurfacing blitz announced earlier this winter. According to the authority’s early‑February update, teams filled around 960 potholes in January, with repairs running at “around 100 a day” during the coldest weeks. The same update confirmed that full resurfacing had recently been completed on Peniel Green Road at the M4 junction, along with sections of Frampton Road, Carmarthen Road and Ffynone Road in Uplands.

The council said an extra team had been brought in to “speed up and increase the number of repairs”, with more resurfacing schemes scheduled across the city in the coming weeks as the winter programme continues.

£37m proposed for highways and transport

The council’s proposed budget for 20206/27 is due to be discussed by the council’s cabinet on 19 February. This includes a new Economic Growth Fund which according to the council would include an extra £3m for resurfacing and potholes, taking next year’s roads budget to more than £12m within a wider £37m allocation for highways and transport.

Travis Perkins relocates Swansea branch to larger Llansamlet site with new jobs created

The company has moved from the Cwmdu Industrial Estate on Carmarthen Road to a new three‑acre site on Upper Fforest Way in Llansamlet, opening to customers earlier this week.

Easier access for trades near the M4

The new location sits close to the M4, which the firm says will make it easier for tradespeople to reach jobs across Swansea and the wider region. The move brings all of the company’s services — including its Benchmarx Kitchens showroom and tool and equipment hire — onto one site.

Eight new jobs as part of expansion

Travis Perkins confirmed that its existing Swansea team has transferred to the new branch, with eight additional roles created as part of the relocation.

Regional Director Mackenzie Hallett said the move strengthens the company’s presence in the city.

“We have a proud history of serving our customers in and around Swansea and this latest development takes our offering to the next level.”

Larger stock range and extended facilities

The new branch carries more than 25,000 products, including timber, plasterboard, insulation, bricks, blocks, landscaping materials and decorating supplies. It offers Click & Collect, free delivery and opens from 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to noon on Saturdays.

£2,000 donation to Alzheimer’s Society

As part of the relocation, the company has donated £2,000 to Alzheimer’s Society, its chosen charity.

Hallett said the charity is “close to the hearts” of staff across the business.

Travis Perkins operates more than 550 branches nationwide and is the UK’s largest supplier of building materials to the construction industry.

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Concerns grow over ‘shoddy’ work as CES collapse leaves households in limbo

Nearly 300 jobs were lost when CES, which operated a major base in Llansamlet, ceased trading on 9 January following the UK Government’s decision to scrap the ECO4 funding scheme. The scheme had provided grants for home energy‑efficiency improvements, particularly for low‑income and vulnerable households.

Since the announcement, residents across Swansea and the wider region have contacted Sioned Williams MS, raising concerns about incomplete installations, unresolved faults and poor workmanship carried out by contractors working on behalf of CES.

Households left with no recourse

A BBC report cited a CES spokesperson confirming that the company would not be able to complete repairs or address existing complaints. Many of those affected are believed to be elderly or already living in fuel poverty.

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said:

“The recent news that Consumer Energy Services has ceased trading has sent shockwaves around the region I represent: initially in terms of the job losses at Llansamlet and the impact on the vital work to reduce fuel poverty in Wales, but now it’s becoming apparent that many have been left suffering from shoddy work at the hands of contractors operating on behalf of CES, with little clue as to how this will be resolved.”

She said constituents had reported homes left in a worse condition than before applying for ECO4 grants, with no clear route for repairs or compensation.

Questions over oversight and funding

Ms Williams said the collapse raised wider concerns about how the ECO4 scheme was overseen and the impact of its removal on efforts to tackle fuel poverty in Wales.

She highlighted reports that CES recorded significant profits in 2024, despite growing complaints from customers about workmanship and unresolved faults.

Sioned Williams MS said:

“Wales has some of the oldest, coldest and leakiest housing stock in Europe, and it’s concerning that this funding stream, which was greater than the Welsh Government’s own Warm Homes Scheme, has been scrapped with no replacement to date.”

She added that the loss of ECO4 funding would have a direct impact on the Welsh Government’s ability to support vulnerable households, particularly during winter.

Impact on Warm Homes programme

Ms Williams has previously questioned Welsh Government ministers about the reliance on ECO‑funded work to supplement the Warm Homes programme. She said the Chancellor’s decision to end ECO4 at the end of March would remove around £150 million a year from energy‑efficiency work in Wales.

Sioned Williams MS said:

“It is imperative that Welsh Government now review the effectiveness of their own Warm Homes programme, because the real fear is that this matter is a serious blow to ensuring warmer and more efficient homes in Wales, right in the middle of a very cold winter.”

Hundreds of workers still seeking answers

CES employed around 295 people across Swansea and Treorchy. Administrators have confirmed the company has ceased trading with immediate effect and will not complete any further work for customers.

The collapse has left both workers and households facing uncertainty, with local representatives calling for urgent clarity on how outstanding issues will be resolved.

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Concern after swan deaths at Fendrod Lake amid avian flu fears

The authority said it has already collected a number of dead birds from the site and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Residents are being urged not to approach or touch any dead swans they may see. Instead, they should report them directly to Defra via the government’s online service: Report dead wild birds.

🐦 How to report bird flu concerns

Do not touch dead birds
Avian flu can spread through contact — always avoid handling carcasses.

Report sightings
Use the official Defra service to report dead swans, geese, or other wild birds: gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds.

Stay vigilant
Watch for unusual bird deaths in your area and alert authorities promptly.

Follow council updates
Local councils and Natural Resources Wales provide guidance and issue alerts when risks increase.

Protect domestic flocks
Keep poultry and pet birds away from wild waterfowl and follow biosecurity advice.

A council spokesperson said:

“We have had reports in recent days of a number of deaths of swans at Fendrod Lake, potentially due to avian flu. If you see a dead swan, please don’t approach or touch it. Instead report it to Defra. We have collected a number of dead swans and will continue to monitor the issue.”

The warning comes after recent confirmed cases of bird flu elsewhere in South West Wales. Earlier this month, Carmarthenshire Council confirmed an outbreak in the Pontyberem area, while Pembrokeshire Council officers visited homes near Milford Haven following a separate case.

Natural Resources Wales and local councils continue to advise the public to remain vigilant, avoid contact with sick or dead birds, and follow official guidance to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.

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#avianFlu #avianInfluenza #birdFlu #birds #deadSwans #defra #enterprisePark #fendrodLake #llansamlet #reportDeadWildBirds #swans #swansea #swanseaCouncil

Tesco launches Swansea toy drive for Mr X Christmas Appeal

Local stores join long‑running appeal

Two Tesco Extra stores in Llansamlet and Pontardulais Road, Fforestfach have set up collection points for the Mr X Christmas Appeal, which has been running in Swansea for more than six decades.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be made in store until 15 December, with gifts distributed to children across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot through nearly 150 childcare agencies.

66 years of festive giving

The Mr X Appeal was founded in the late 1950s by Swansea businessman Tom Bravin, who kept his identity secret for decades while anonymously delivering thousands of presents to children. His identity was revealed after his death in 2016, but the appeal continues in his name, now in its 66th year.

Organisers say the tradition has become a cornerstone of the city’s festive season, ensuring that children who might otherwise go without receive a gift at Christmas.

Community voices

Trevor Evans, Community Champion at Tesco Pontardulais Road Extra in Fforestfach, said the response from local shoppers is always strong:

“This year’s toy donation campaign is a fantastic way for customers to help local families in need and ensure children in our community have something to open on Christmas Day.”

Catherine Hill, Store Manager at Tesco Llansamlet Extra, added:

“We have been supporting the Mr X Appeal for several years. We have an amazing response at this store and provide lots of children with gifts thanks to the generosity of our customers.”

Wider support

More than 800 Tesco Extra stores across the UK are taking part in the toy drive. Last year, customers donated 125,000 toys, with organisers hoping to beat that figure in 2025.

#charity #christmas #christmasGift #communityChampion #fforestfach #llansamlet #mrXAppeal #tesco #tescoExtra #tomBravin #toyDonation #toys

Tata Steel fined £1.5 million over fatal Port Talbot incident

Tata Steel has been fined £1.5 million following the death of contractor Justin Day, who was fatally crushed while working at the company’s Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales.

The incident occurred on 25 September 2019, when Mr Day, a 44-year-old father-of-three and grandfather from Llansamlet, Swansea, was called to assist with a hydraulic leak on a large conveyor system. Although power had been isolated to part of the machinery, other sections remained live. As Mr Day climbed into the system, sensors triggered movement in a live section, causing a beam to crush him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Tata Steel had failed to properly isolate and guard the conveyor system, and had not taken sufficient steps to manage the safety of the ongoing work. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

At Swansea Crown Court on 31 July, Tata Steel was fined £1.5 million and ordered to pay £26,318.67 in costs.

HSE inspector Gethyn Jones said: “Justin Day’s death could so easily have been prevented. A much-loved family man is not here because of failures in health and safety basics.”

Mr Day’s wife, Zoe, delivered a powerful victim impact statement that underscored the devastating personal toll. “Since losing Justin I am not the same person I was,” she said. “I have struggled since that day – mentally, I am lost and don’t know where I’m going with life. It’s shattered my whole world.”

She described their 23-year relationship as inseparable: “We did everything together. I can’t put into words how much this has affected me. I am a shadow of my former self and from the day of the incident, my world fell apart.”

The tragedy unfolded while the family was waiting for Mr Day to arrive at his youngest son’s school rugby match — a sport he passionately supported. “Justin’s passion was rugby – he loved coaching and watching our boys play. He was their biggest fan,” Zoe said. “I never imagined I’d be receiving the news that he had been crushed to death at work.”

Judge Geraint Walters offered condolences to the family, acknowledging the profound loss: “It’s perfectly plain that Mr Day was a family man, who has left many people bereft to have lost someone so precious. No fine I impose today can alleviate the suffering of those who have lost a loved one, no fine I impose today can restore life.”

Mr Day would have turned 50 this year.

Construction of a new electric arc furnace at the Port Talbot site began earlier this month — a stark reminder of the evolving landscape at the UK’s largest steelworks, and the lives that have shaped its history.

#HealthAndSafetyExecutive #HSE #industry #Llansamlet #PortTalbot #TataSteel

Swansea pair jailed after vehicle theft and Rhymney arrest

A man and woman from Swansea have been sentenced after stealing a vehicle and driving it to Rhymney, Caerphilly, where they were intercepted by police.

Bobbie Kittle, 35, of Townhill, and Anthony Williams, 42, of Llansamlet, broke into a property on Argyle Street, Swansea, at around 2:30am on 9 June, stealing a set of car keys. CCTV footage captured the pair entering the victim’s vehicle and driving away.

The vehicle was later stopped on Upper High Street, Rhymney, following coordinated efforts between South Wales Police, Gwent Police, and aerial support from the National Police Air Service (NPAS).

Detective Inspector Stuart Prendiville, South Wales Police, said:

“This was an example of excellent partnership working between South Wales Police, Gwent and NPAS. After receiving the report of the burglary, NPAS located the vehicle in Rhymney and guided officers in to stop the vehicle and arrest the two occupants. A thorough investigation by Swansea CID has resulted in both Anthony Williams and Bobbie Kittle being rightly jailed.”

At Swansea Crown Court, Kittle was sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to burglary and aggravated taking without consent (TWOC). Williams, who was driving the stolen vehicle, received a 42-month sentence after admitting to burglary, TWOC, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.

Observers in court noted a surreal moment as the pair exchanged heart-shaped hand gestures toward each other before being led away by security.

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Waunarlwydd man jailed after knifepoint burglary

38-year-old Larry Black was one of two masked men who entered a property on Heol Pentyla in Llansamlet, brandishing a hammer and knives.

The men bound their victims with cable ties and demanded gold and money in the terrifying ordeal, but only got away with a set of keys and £500 after Black was bitten on the leg by one of the family’s dogs.

During interview following Black’s arrest later in March, he admitted his involvement in the incident, and he pleaded guilty to robbery in April.

Black has previous convictions for battery, shoplifting, drugs, and twelve separate house burglaries. He had been out of prison for a matter of weeks when he committed the Llansamlet robbery.

Black was handed an extended 13-year prison sentence at Swansea Crown Court. He has yet to reveal the identity of his accomplice.

Detective Sergeant Jonathan Holding from South Wales Police said: “Larry Black is a dangerous criminal who is all too happy to brandish knives and other weapons as a means of intimidating his victims.

“The thuggish behaviour of Black and his accomplice left a family terrified for their safety inside their own home. By not providing the name of his associate, Larry has proven that he is incapable of doing the right thing.

“There has been no remorse shown for his actions. Therefore, Larry Black will lose years of his life in prison.”

#burglary #knifeCrime #Llansamlet #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #Waunarlwydd