A484: Average speed cameras to be installed between Cadle and Loughor Bridge after years of fatal accidents

A new average speed camera system is set to be installed on the A484 between the Cadle roundabout and Loughor Bridge, as Swansea Council moves to tackle a road that has seen a number of fatal accidents in recent years.

Swansea Council’s cabinet has confirmed the cameras will be accompanied by improved road markings and signs along the route. The scheme forms part of the council’s 2026/27 transport investment programme, backed by Welsh Government regional transport fund money.

The A484 between Cadle and Loughor Bridge was built as a bypass in phases during the 1980s and 1990s, relieving the original route through Penllergaer, Gorseinon and Loughor of through traffic. The bypass nature of the road means it carries significant volumes of fast-moving traffic, and the junction at Victoria Road in Gowerton is a known congestion hotspot, particularly during peak hours.

Unlike fixed speed cameras — which only capture vehicles at a single point — average speed cameras measure a driver’s speed across the entire length of the monitored zone, making it much harder to slow down at a known camera location and accelerate again in between.

The decision to use average speed cameras rather than fixed cameras reflects the nature of the route, which has seen persistent speeding problems across its full length rather than at isolated spots. The road has been the scene of a number of fatal accidents in recent years, and the case for stronger enforcement has been building for some time.

A businessman based along the affected stretch welcomed the move, saying the road was badly in need of action. “It could do with it — it’s a very fast road. And it’s a lot faster at night-time. They race up and down there,” he told reporters covering last week’s cabinet meeting.

The route links Swansea’s western suburbs with Gowerton and Gorseinon, continuing to Loughor and on towards the Carmarthenshire boundary and Llanelli — making it a key commuter corridor for communities along Swansea’s western fringe.

Average speed camera systems have been widely deployed across Wales on roads where persistent speeding has been linked to serious collisions. They are generally credited with producing more sustained reductions in average speeds than fixed cameras, because drivers cannot predict exactly where enforcement is occurring along the monitored stretch.

The scheme forms part of a broader £6.7 million transport investment package for Swansea in 2026/27, which also includes a new mile-long riverside walking and cycling path along the River Tawe, flood alleviation work at Killay Square and on the Gower road at Llandewi, new EV charging infrastructure and a £750,000 e-bike hire scheme.

Swansea Council’s Head of Service for Transport and Highways, Stuart Davies, said the funding would enable the council to deliver “a wide range of transport related projects that will benefit motorists, public transport users as well as pedestrians and cyclists.”

Road safety education programmes will also continue to be funded as part of the same settlement, the council’s cabinet heard — including the Kerbcraft scheme for children learning to cross roads safely, cycle safety training and Bike Safe courses for motorcyclists.

The A484 camera scheme is expected to be delivered during the current financial year, though the council has not yet confirmed when the cameras will become operational.

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SWANSEA: Barges needed to build new £8m riverside cycle and walking path linking city centre to Swansea.com Stadium

A new walking and cycling route along the River Tawe has been given the green light by Swansea Council — with the project set to become one of the most ambitious pieces of active travel infrastructure the city has seen.

The path will run for a mile along the west bank of the Tawe, from a point north of the Tawe bridges through to the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks area — linking the city centre with the copperworks, Swansea.com Stadium and Morfa Retail Park for cyclists and pedestrians. It will be built in three phases and is expected to take three years to complete.

The total cost of the scheme, including design and project management, is £8.25 million. That will be funded through a combination of £6.6 million from the Welsh Government’s regional transport fund, £1.4 million from the UK Government, and a £250,000 developer contribution linked to a separate planning permission.

The council has confirmed the project will be a complex engineering undertaking. A new revetment — a reinforced structure to support the walkway along the riverbank — will need to be constructed, and sections of the work will have to be carried out from barges because of access restrictions along parts of the river corridor.

Once complete, the new path will connect with an existing stretch of shared-use path near the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks — an area undergoing a major heritage restoration that has attracted significant investment in recent years, including the arrival of Penderyn Distillery at the site. The new route will add to the 85 miles of shared-use paths already available across Swansea.

For cyclists and pedestrians, the route will offer a traffic-free connection between the city centre and a cluster of major destinations to the north — including Swansea.com Stadium, home of Swansea City AFC, and the growing Morfa Retail Park. The Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, one of Wales’ most significant industrial heritage sites, sits at the northern end of the route.

The three-phase approach to construction reflects both the engineering complexity of the project and the need to keep disruption manageable along a stretch of riverside that already attracts walkers and recreational users.

The Tawe path forms the headline project in a wider programme of cycling and walking investment confirmed for Swansea in 2026/27. Also included in the settlement is a £700,000 shared-use path linking Ffordd Beck in Gowerton to Pont Y Cob Road — a route that would finally deliver a safe connection between the two communities that has been in planning since 2022. At the moment there is no footpath between the two locations and the only provision for cyclists is a painted advisory route on a narrow main road.

A £500,000 upgrade of the existing shared-use path between Dunvant and Gowerton is also confirmed, widening the route to improve safety and capacity. Gowerton has been the focus of active travel investment in recent years — a new cycling and walking link to Gowerton station opened after significant delays, and the latest round of funding continues to build on that network.

Taken together, the three cycling and walking schemes represent a significant step forward for active travel connectivity across the western side of Swansea — connecting the city centre to the river corridor, and linking Gowerton more effectively to both Dunvant and Loughor.

Stuart Davies, Head of Service for Transport and Highways at Swansea Council, said the funding would enable the council to deliver “a wide range of transport related projects that will benefit motorists, public transport users as well as pedestrians and cyclists.”

The broader transport package for 2026/27 also includes a £750,000 e-bike hire scheme with up to 500 bikes to be made available for short trips across Swansea, further strengthening the active travel offer alongside the new infrastructure. Locations for the e-bike hire points have yet to be confirmed.

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New walking and cycling route proposed between Gowerton and Loughor
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Penderyn Distillery handed keys to new Morfa Copperworks site in Swansea
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New images show how heritage sites at Swansea’s Strand, Hafod Copperworks and museum could be transformed
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Swansea couple jailed after police smash large‑scale Class A drug operation

David Davies, 36, of Glebe Road, Loughor, was arrested in July after South Wales Police executed a warrant at his home. Officers uncovered drugs, cash and paraphernalia, before intelligence led them to a self‑storage unit in Gorseinon. Inside, police found four kilos of cocaine — two hidden in a safe — along with ketamine and ecstasy.

Davies’ phone revealed the scale of his operation, including messages about buying cocaine worth £98,000, laundering cash through his plastering business, and even offering a reward after £20,000 and drugs were stolen from his home while he attended an Oasis concert in Cardiff. Investigators also discovered a crypto wallet containing almost £20,000.

Partner jailed for assisting

Davies’ partner, Linzi Jones, 35, of Heol Eifion, Gorseinon, was found to have prepared cocaine deals, collected debts and continued chasing payments even after Davies was remanded. Police searching her home seized £2,294 in cash, weighing scales and luxury watches including a Rolex.

Jones pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of criminal property. She was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

Judge condemns “avarice”

At Swansea Crown Court, Judge Huw Rees said drugs were a “blight on society” and condemned both defendants for perpetuating their use out of “avarice” and without regard for the impact on others.

There were tears in the public gallery as Jones was led to the cells. A proceeds of crime hearing has been scheduled for March 18 next year to investigate Davies’ finances.

Police: “The streets are better off”

Sergeant Luke Tucker of South Wales Police said:

“David Davies and Linzi Jones were involved in a large‑scale operation of peddling Class A drugs onto the streets of Swansea and the surrounding areas.

This will have done untold damage to those who purchased the drugs and also to their families and wider communities.

The scale of David Davies’ offending has got him a long stretch in prison. The streets are better off with both Davies and Jones in jail.”

Police urged anyone with concerns about drug dealing or vulnerable people being targeted by organised crime groups to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

#classASupply #cocaine #davidDavies #drugs #ecstasy #gorseinon #ketamine #linziJones #loughor #southWalesPolice #swanseaCrownCourt #swanseaDrugs

New health monitors installed in local GP surgeries

Patients across parts of Swansea can now monitor their blood pressure, weight and body mass index (BMI) in their GP practice waiting rooms, thanks to new health pod machines designed to encourage healthier lifestyles.

Available in local surgeries

The monitors have been installed at Gowerton Medical Centre, Penclawdd Health Centre, Penybryn Surgery, Princess Street Surgery in Gorseinon, Talybont Surgery and Ty’r Felin Surgery in Loughor. Patients can use them without booking an appointment, simply by dropping in during practice opening hours.

How the machines work

The pods guide patients through a short process: entering their date of birth and gender, answering lifestyle questions, and then measuring height, weight and blood pressure. Results are stored directly on the patient’s clinical record, and a printout can also be taken home.

‘Convenient and accessible’

Dr Sowndarya Shivaraj, who leads the project locally, said:

“The introduction of the health pod monitors in our GP surgeries offers patients a convenient and accessible way to check their blood pressure and BMI without needing to wait for a nurse appointment. By flagging risks early, we are better able to offer timely health advice and support.”

Supporting healthier lifestyles

Lorraine Thomas, practice manager at Princess Street Surgery in Gorseinon, said the machines were already proving popular.

“Everything appears on a screen and there’s a questionnaire where patients are asked if they smoke and want help to quit, and it will ask about alcohol intake too. The information then gets stored on their clinical records so GP practices can monitor them.”

She added:

“Most people aren’t aware of their blood pressure and other readings, such as their BMI, so it is helpful for them to be able to come in and check and then they can monitor it.”

Early detection of health risks

Staff will review the results and contact patients if readings are higher than recommended.

Dr Shivaraj said:

“High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke, so regular monitoring is vital for early detection and management. If the health pod detects high blood pressure, our teams will be alerted and the patient will be offered a follow‑up appointment for further assessment.”

The initiative is part of wider work to encourage people to take an active role in monitoring and maintaining their health, with additional support available for smoking cessation and reducing alcohol use.

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#bloodPressureMonitor #BMICheck #GorseinonGP #Gowerton #GowertonMedicalCentre #Loughor #Penclawdd #PenclawddHealthCentre #PenybrynSurgery #PrincessStreetSurgery #selfServiceHealthPod #Swansea #SwanseaBayNHS #TalybontSurgery #TyRFelinSurgery

Rugby pays tribute to Roy ‘Shunto’ Thomas, Llanelli and Swansea stalwart, who has died aged 82

Scarlets confirm passing

In a statement, the Scarlets said they were “deeply saddened” to hear of Thomas’ passing. Between 1970 and 1977 he played 184 games for Llanelli, including that unforgettable 9–3 victory over New Zealand at Stradey Park.

“The thoughts of us all at the Scarlets are with Roy’s family and friends at this time,” the club said.

Swansea RFC: “A great club man”

Swansea RFC paid tribute to Thomas’ toughness on the field and humour off it. He made 169 appearances for the All Whites between 1966 and 1970, featuring in the 1966 win over Australia at St Helen’s and the 1969 clash with the touring Springboks.

The club noted his unenviable record of being named as Wales’ reserve hooker 25 times without winning a full cap, sitting behind internationals Jeff Young and Bobby Windsor.

“He will be remembered in Swansea not for that unwanted statistic, but for his tough uncompromising play and his great sense of humour off the field,” the club said.

Loughor RFC: “A true legend of the game”

Thomas’ home club, Loughor RFC, described him as a “true legend” and highlighted his family ties, with his daughter Karen now coaching at the club.

“Our minis paid their respects to not only a great figure in Welsh rugby, but also to a much‑loved father of their coach, Karen,” the club said.

The ‘nearly man’ of Wales

Despite never winning a full cap, Thomas was a near‑permanent fixture in the Wales squad throughout the 1970s. In an era when substitutions were only permitted for injuries, he was repeatedly named on the bench but never took the field.

He was later awarded a Welsh Rugby Union President’s cap for appearing in an uncapped match against Tonga in 1974 — a prized possession he kept on display at his Loughor home.

Memories of 1972

Thomas’ career highlight came on 31 October 1972, when Llanelli stunned the All Blacks 9–3 at Stradey Park. He recalled the pitch invasion and wild celebrations that followed:

“The All Blacks players couldn’t believe it. After the game, when we were sitting together and drinking, they were telling us you were much better than us on the day.”

It was, famously, the day the pubs ran dry in Llanelli.

“I had a load. I had a lift home to Penclawdd. They took me back to the club at about 8pm. I was well‑oiled!” he laughed in a later interview.

Life beyond rugby

After finishing with Llanelli in the late 1970s, Thomas returned to Penclawdd RFC for a spell as coach and remained a regular supporter of “The Donkeys”. Away from rugby, he worked delivering coal around Gower, transporting cockles across the UK, and later for British Steel.

Reflecting on his career, Thomas once said he would never have swapped the All Blacks victory for a full Welsh cap:

“No, I wouldn’t give that up. No‑one can ever take that day away from me.”

Legacy

Known for his fierce scrummaging, quick left foot, and lineout accuracy, Thomas was admired by teammates and opponents alike. He will be remembered as a determined player, a loyal club man, and a gentleman of the game.

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New data reveals rising coal tip risk in Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot

Coal tip danger escalates in South West Wales

The risk rating has increased to the highest levels for five more coal tips in Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, bringing the total number of high‑risk tips in these former mining communities to more than 80.

The newly classified tips include two in the Llynfi Valley above Caerau and Maesteg, and three in the Godre’r‑graig area of the Swansea Valley — the same community where a primary school was closed and later demolished because of fears a spoil tip could collapse.

Neath Port Talbot: Godre’r‑graig in the spotlight

Neath Port Talbot has 41 high‑risk coal tips in total. The latest update confirms that three tips at Godre’r‑graig have been reclassified to Category D, the highest risk level.

The reclassification comes just six years after Godre’r‑graig Primary School was evacuated and later demolished because of the threat from a spoil tip above the playground. Families in the village are still waiting for a permanent replacement school.

Other high‑risk tips in Neath Port Talbot are concentrated in the Afan Valley (Cymmer, Croeserw, Glyncorrwg), the Dulais Valley (Crynant, Seven Sisters, Onllwyn), and around Resolven and Blaengwrach.

📊 Table: Neath Port Talbot high‑risk tips

Bridgend: Valleys carry the heaviest burden

Bridgend has 42 high‑risk tips — the highest number in South West Wales. The Garw and Llynfi valleys carry the greatest concentration, with clusters above Pontycymmer, Blaengarw and Caerau.

Two tips in the Llynfi Valley were reclassified to Category D in the October 2025 update, adding to long‑standing concerns in communities where spoil heaps sit above homes and schools.

📊 Table: Bridgend high‑risk tips

Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire: lighter but not risk‑free

Further west, the numbers are smaller but the risks remain. Swansea has five Category C tips, spread across Cadle/Portmead (2), Pontardawe, Felindre and Loughor. None are currently rated at Category D, but all require annual inspections.

Neighbouring Carmarthenshire has just one Category C tip, located at Ammanford in the Amman Valley — the only high‑risk site in the county.

In Pembrokeshire, no Category C or D tips are recorded, reflecting the county’s different mining history.

The city and county have also faced other mining‑related legacies. In January 2021, homes in Clydach were flooded after water surged from old mine workings, underlining how the impact of coal is not confined to spoil tips alone.

📊 Table: Swansea & Carmarthenshire high‑risk tips

➡️ Pembrokeshire: No Category C or D tips recorded.

A legacy of tragedy and neglect

It is almost sixty years since the Aberfan disaster, when 116 children and 28 adults were killed as a coal tip collapsed onto a school and nearby homes.

Coalfield historian Ben Curtis said that while some tips were removed or made safe after Aberfan, the danger has never gone away.

“It is a potential problem that continues to remain for some of these tips to become unsafe over time, perhaps because of factors like the effects of climate change and increased rainfall,” he said.

For decades afterwards, little was known about the precise locations or conditions of Wales’ thousands of disused coal tips. That changed only after a landslip above Tylorstown in Rhondda Cynon Taf five years ago, which prompted the creation of a national register and new legislation to ensure tips were monitored and made safe.

Today, more than 2,500 disused coal tips have been identified across Wales, the majority of them in the south Wales coalfield. Of these, 360 are classed as Category C or D — the higher‑risk sites that must be inspected once or twice a year. Lower‑risk tips are categorised as A or B.

Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Caerphilly remain the counties with the highest concentrations of Category C and D tips, each with more than 50. But the latest figures show that communities in Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthenshire are also living with dozens of high‑risk sites on their hillsides.

New dataset and map

The figures come from the latest update to the Welsh Government’s national coal tip database, published on 3 October. The database, first launched in 2023, is updated twice a year and is available through an interactive online map that allows residents to check the location and risk category of tips near their communities.

Coal Authority chief executive Lisa Pinney said managing tips on hillsides was key to reducing risk.

“Just under 300 are higher‑risk sites but that really just means that they need much more regular attention and inspection to make sure they stay safe. Any tip which is old mining material sitting on a hillside can pose a risk, obviously, but the key thing to their safety is to manage water and keep it away. And that’s why these inspections and maintenance are so important.”

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca‑Davies added:

“The regular updating of this national, publicly available data demonstrates our unwavering commitment to coal tip safety across Wales, and our absolute dedication to protecting people. I want to reassure people living near to where tips have moved categories that this means they will receive increased monitoring and management.”

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Investment and legislation

The Welsh and UK governments say they have now committed more than £220m to coal tip safety, with £118m pledged by Westminster over three years and the remainder from Cardiff Bay. Officials say the funding is being used for inspections, maintenance and remediation works.

But ministers have also warned that the true cost of remediation could reach £500–600m over the next 10–15 years, far above the sums invested so far. In Neath Port Talbot alone, more than £6.3m has been earmarked for safety works, including drainage improvements at Cwmgwrach where one tip was recently upgraded to Category D.

A new law — the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Act — received Royal Assent last month. It will establish a dedicated Disused Tips Authority in 2027 to oversee monitoring and management. The legislation builds on proposals first set out in 2022, when ministers argued that the old law was “no longer fit‑for‑purpose” and called for a supervisory body with enforcement powers and rights of access.

⚠️ What do coal tip categories mean?

Category D
Highest risk. Potential to endanger life or property. Inspected at least twice a year.

Category C
Significant risk. Potential to impact public safety. Inspected at least once a year.

Category A & B
Lower risk. A = very low, B = low. Inspected less frequently.

Why it matters: Category C and D tips are the focus of safety works and new legislation, as they pose the greatest potential danger to communities.

Communities still living with coal’s legacy

Across South West Wales, more than 90 high‑risk tips remain on hillsides above towns and villages. For residents in places like Godre’r‑graig and Caerau, the latest reclassifications are a reminder that the scars of coal mining are not just historical — they continue to shape daily life.

Campaigners say the figures underline the need for long‑term solutions, not just inspections. As one local activist put it: “We’ve lived with these tips for generations. Every reclassification is a reminder that the risk is still with us.”

The risks are not confined to spoil tips alone. In 2021, a burst mine shaft in Skewen caused catastrophic flooding, leading to a national mines safety summit. First Minister Mark Drakeford warned then that climate change and heavier rainfall would increase the likelihood of such incidents.

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Loughor man jailed for running multi‑drug supply operation

Oliver Nancarrow, of Beili Glas, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court to three years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to possession and being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ecstasy, psilocin, ketamine, cannabis, LSD and MDMA, as well as possessing criminal property.

The court heard Nancarrow came to police attention during an unrelated investigation when officers identified his number in seized phones. Subsequent enquiries linked him to a drugs line offering a range of substances, with bulk text messages advertising prices and even “tester” samples of cocaine to potential customers.

When South Wales Police’s organised crime team searched his home on 7 July, they found quantities of Class A and B drugs, £3,410 in cash, and six mobile phones — two of which contained messages tying him to the supply of a large list of drugs. Officers also recovered packaging branded “Head Chef”, hidden storage containers, and lists of debts.

In total, police seized cocaine, ecstasy tablets and powder, LSD tabs, magic mushrooms, cannabis and ketamine, with an estimated street value of more than £13,000.

Judge Geraint Walters described the operation as “sophisticated”, noting concealment methods including magnetic storage boxes designed to attach to vehicles.

Sergeant Luke Tucker, of South Wales Police, said:

“Oliver Nancarrow is another young man who has now thrown away years of his life due to involving himself in the illegal drugs trade. Like so many others before him, he was motivated only by financial greed, and did not care for how many lives would be damaged as a result of the drugs being used. He is rightfully starting a sizeable sentence in prison.”

Nancarrow will serve up to half his sentence in custody before being released on licence.

#Cannabis #cocaine #Crime #drugs #Ecstasy #ketamine #Loughor #LSD #MDMA #psilocin #SouthWalesPolice

Gower volunteers’ success in winter-water testing to fight sewage in the sea

Volunteers have taken more than 275 samples across 16 sites on 13 beaches from Loughor, Rhossili, Horton, Pobbles, Pwll Du, as well as a few around Swansea Bay.  The samples are tested for bacteria found in sewage, particularly intestinal enterococci, E. coli and coliforms, which can be harmful to health.

The majority – 94.6% – of the samples provided excellent results. However 5.4% of the tests showed high levels of bacteria – most were associated with wet weather.

Nature Days scientist Dawn Thomas, who has been overseeing the project, says: ‘We are very lucky and proud to say that the majority of beaches around Gower have excellent water quality.’

All of the samples were sent to a pathology lab in Manchester used by Surfers Against Sewage. The Gower Society says the data is needed to help agencies including Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Water, Swansea Council and Welsh Government to target their resources at the worst affected beaches.

The project was started last year by Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi to address a critical gap in testing, as regular water quality measurements are not typically done during winter. Natural Resources Wales only has the budget to measure between May to October. It has now taken over the testing.

Tonia Antoniazzi MP praised the volunteer team who’ve made it all possible: “I think the community involvement has been magic. Seeing the enthusiasm of our volunteers – especially the school children from Penyrheol and Knelston, the generosity of local businesses and the hard work done by the Gower Society. It’s fantastic. I think this project is a blueprint for the future. I shall be sharing the idea with other coastal MPs.”

The organisers are keen to restart again this winter.

Sarah Samuel from the Gower Society said: “There’s a need to carry this on. We need to keep collecting this data so we can keep our seawater clean.  We have the support of the volunteers we just need more businesses to come forward to help us fund the testing kits.”

The 275 testing kits used so far have been bought for £22 each. They were funded by local organisations including the Gower Society, Nature Days, Surfside Cafe, Penguin Recruitment, Bay Studios, St Mary’s Square Developments, The Morgans Collection and Burrows Caravan Park.

#GowerSociety #Horton #Loughor #PobblesBay #PwllDu #Rhossili #sewage #ToniaAntoniazziMP #waterQuality

Police to crush e-scooters and off-road bikes used anti-socially within 48 hours

Perpetrators of anti-social driving face having their cars, e-scooters or off-road bikes seized and destroyed after 48 hours under stronger powers proposed by the UK Government. Currently, police must wait 14 days before being able to dispose of a vehicle, making it easier for offenders to reclaim their vehicles and with a limited deterrent to repeat offending.

The measures to fast-track the disposal of vehicles comes alongside additional proposals to give police stronger powers to seize any vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.

Communities across Swansea have been plagued by people riding offroad bikes in an antisocial way.

Police say they have received an “increase in calls regarding off-road bikes in and around the Loughor and Pontarddulais areas in recent weeks”.

Just last week, Swansea Bay News reported photos taken by a local resident that showed five offroad motorbikes being driven through Loughor, with riders – some of which are wearing balaclavas rather than helmets – pulling wheelies and driving in a dangerous manner.

Residents say this is a “massive problem” and that offroad bikes “ride on pavements, footpaths, play areas and roads and have no regards for their own or others safety.”

Gower MP, Tonia Antoniazzi says she supports the UK Government’s crackdown.

Ms Antioniazzi said: “It’s sad that it’s come to this, but people have the right to feel safe in their streets. If off-road bikes and scooters are being deliberately driven in residential roads to cause a nuisance and intimidate people tough action is needed. I welcome what the government is doing to support the police to tackle antisocial behaviour and prevent reoffending”

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools said: “These new powers send a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities in Wales: swift justice will be delivered and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Sales of e-scooters and off-road bikes have rapidly increased, so today is an important step in tackling more serious crime in Wales, with the vehicles often used to facilitate drug dealing, organised acquisitive crime and serious violence.”

#antisocialBehaviour #Loughor #offRoadBikes #PoliceAndCrimeCommissioner #SouthWalesPolice #ToniaAntoniazziMP #UKGovernment

Residents terrified of ‘intimidating’ off-road bikes in Loughor are demanding action

Photos taken by local resident, Robert Neil on Tuesday (20 May) show five offroad motorbikes being driven down Castle Street in Loughor, with riders – some of which are wearing balaclavas rather than helmets – pulling wheelies and driving in a dangerous manner.

A 67-year-old local resident, who didn’t want her name published for fear of reprisals, said: “I was intimidated by these idiots. I had to stop to let a car through and they drove right up to by bumper revving their bikes constantly. I had to pull to the side to get rid of them. They went speeding off four in a line and easily could  have killed or injure someone.”

Local resident Sara Nabialek said: “It is a massive problem. I live in Gorseinon near the cycle paths and we regularly get off road bikes driving around Parc Melyn Mynach where there is a children’s play area, kids in their bikes and lots of dog walkers.

“Yesterday a lady with sight difficulties and a white stick was walking towards the path with her child when an off road bike went shooting from the main road up the path towards the play area.

“I saw three of these lunatics driving from the housing estate by Asda on the roads, Out onto Valeo roads. These are off road bikes so have no tax MOT or insurance.

“Over the years I’ve reported bikes to the police, I’ve raised the issue with our MP twice and still the problem continues and worsens.

“They ride on pavements, footpaths, play areas and roads and have no regards for their own or others safety. They know the police won’t and can’t do anything to stop them so they continue. I fear nothing will change until someone is injured or worse killed by one of these clowns.”

Writing on social media, Megan Johnson said: “The ones with no helmets and balaclavas I’ve seen around Gorseinon before. These and the E scooters on pavements and roads need to be stopped. Speed bumps don’t work with these kids.”

An anonymous poster added: “They were at the estuary foreshore earlier. Riding along the path while people were walking dogs there. A matter of time before someone gets injured.” 

The police have said they have had an increasing number of calls about off-road bikes in the area, and are calling on the public to report sightings so they can respond more effectively.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “We received a report of off-road bikes and/or e-bikes being ridden anti-socially in the area of Castle Street, Loughor, Swansea at around 6.45pm on Tuesday May 20.

“We have had an increase in calls regarding off-road bikes in and around the Loughor and Pontarddulais areas in recent weeks.

“The local Neighbourhood Policing Team are aware of this matter and looking at possible solutions to address the issue. PCSOs have attended the area to reassure the community.

“We encourage reports from members of public so that we can identify patterns and trends to respond more efficiently. If you know the identity of any of the riders involved in this anti-social behaviour, please report it to us via 101, quoting 2500159794.”

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