SWANSEA: 1930s Art Deco hotel wins approval to double its bedrooms and target 4-star rating — despite row over unauthorised excavation near historic Quaker burial ground

Plans to transform one of Swansea city centre’s most prominent historic hotels have been approved, with the Grand Hotel on Ivy Place set to more than double its bedrooms from 53 to 106 as part of a major expansion aimed at achieving a 4-star rating.

Swansea Council’s planning committee approved the scheme on Tuesday afternoon — but not without noting a significant controversy over excavation work carried out without planning permission at a site adjoining a historic Quaker burial ground.

The Grand Hotel, a four-storey Art Deco building constructed in the 1930s, sits directly opposite Swansea railway station and is described in planning documents as one of the first landmarks visible to visitors arriving in the city by train. The applicant is Mr Con Maloney.

The High Street elevation of the approved scheme, showing the distinctive living green wall covering the new rear extension alongside the original hotel building Credit: Lawray Architects / Grand Hotel Swansea

Swansea Bay News first reported on the Grand Hotel plans last October, when an earlier version of the scheme received planning permission for 42 additional bedrooms. The applicant returned with an amended scheme adding a further floor — taking the additional rooms from 42 to 57 — after steel design costs came in significantly higher than originally budgeted.

The revised scheme, designed by Lawray Architects (application reference 2025/2514/FUL), will add rooms across six floors: 8 bedrooms on each of the first and second floors, 13 on each of the third, fourth and fifth floors, and two further rooms alongside a bar and lounge on the rooftop level. A new basement cellar, a gym for hotel guests, additional lifts and a reconfigured and enlarged ground-floor function room are also included.

However, the committee report noted that the applicant had already excavated a basement without planning permission, and without the archaeological watching brief required under conditions attached to the original consent. The hotel site adjoins the former Quaker Meeting House — built in 1807 — and its associated burial ground, and during excavation a human inhumation from the Quaker burial ground was discovered.

The council’s archaeological consultants Heneb (Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust) said it was “reasonable to conclude” that further archaeological deposits including human remains may have been damaged or destroyed during the unmonitored work. The committee report stated the failure to undertake proper archaeological mitigation “is regrettable and not condoned” and weighed against the application. However, the committee approved the scheme on the basis that the regeneration benefits for High Street outweighed the identified archaeological harm.

A new condition has been attached requiring a full written scheme of historic environment mitigation to be submitted before any further development takes place.

The historic 1930s Art Deco façade facing the railway station will be preserved and enhanced, with new upper floors set back behind the main building line. One of the most distinctive design features is a living green wall on the west elevation facing High Street — a modular vertical garden system that will support biodiversity, reduce noise pollution and improve air quality. Dark aluminium cladding originally proposed for the rooftop extension was changed to a lighter grey zinc cladding following visual testing.

The new upper floors use a mansard roof design, with dormer windows and Juliet balconies throughout the upper levels and large openings at roof level for city views from the bar and lounge. Bird boxes and bat boxes will be installed within a month of the development’s completion as part of the scheme’s ecological enhancement commitments.

All consultees — including Natural Resources Wales, Highways, Drainage and Welsh Water — raised no objection to the scheme. No objections were received from neighbouring properties during the pre-application consultation process.

The committee report describes the High Street area as being in “major need of regeneration” and notes the hotel expansion could act as a catalyst for wider investment. The scheme falls within a Strategic Development Area under Swansea’s Local Development Plan, which specifically identifies High Street as a priority area for regeneration linking the railway station to the retail centre.

Construction will be restricted to 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea’s Grand Hotel set for £3.5m transformation with rooftop bar and 55 new bedrooms
Our original report on the Grand Hotel transformation plans from October 2025.

Grand Hotel — all our coverage
Our full archive of reporting on the Grand Hotel development.

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SWANSEA: British Art Show 10 confirmed for Glynn Vivian next year — the only Welsh stop on a national tour featuring artists from Tracey Emin to Grayson Perry

Swansea has been confirmed as the only Welsh stop on the British Art Show 10 national tour, with the exhibition — described as the largest and most significant recurring contemporary art show in the UK — coming to the city from February 12 to May 16, 2027.

British Art Show 10: A Chorus of Strangers, developed and produced by Hayward Gallery Touring as part of Southbank Centre, will launch in Coventry in October 2026 before visiting Swansea, Bristol, Sheffield and Newcastle-Gateshead.

Swansea Bay News first reported on Swansea’s selection as a host city last August. The full details of the exhibition — including its title, themes and venues — have now been confirmed.

The exhibition will be based at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and will also take in the new home for Elysium Gallery on Belle Vue Way, with plans for a presence at Y Storfa in the city centre subject to confirmation.

It will span a wide range of media — including painting, sculpture, ceramics, film, sound and installation — and will explore three themes: Moments of Being, Ways of Living, and States of Nature.

Over the last four decades the British Art Show has brought some of Britain’s best-known contemporary artists to cities across the UK, including Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry, David Hockney and Lucian Freud. The tenth edition will be curated by Ekow Eshun.

Alex Margo Arden, Accounts, 2025 Credit: © the artist. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre London

Hannah Quinlan & Rosie Hastings, A Day’s Work, 2025 Credit: Courtesy the Artist and Arcadia Missa, London. Photography: Tom CarterNengi Omuku, One Particular Man, 2026 Credit: Courtesy of the artist and Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London

Tracey McNulty, Swansea Council’s head of cultural services, said Swansea’s selection reflected the strength of the city’s cultural offer. “We are grateful for the enduring partnership with Hayward Touring and for the support received from Arts Council Wales, which has helped make this happen, not just for Swansea but for the nation,” she said.

Karen MacKinnon, curator at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, said the gallery was excited about the opportunity to work on a major multi-venue national project. “Curator Ekow Eshun will be bringing together an incredible range of artists from across the UK, and this exhibition will create new opportunities for local artists and a lasting creative legacy for Swansea,” she said.

“Glynn Vivian has a longstanding relationship with Hayward Gallery Touring and we very much look forward to working with them on this major exhibition.”

Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive of Arts Council of Wales, said the exhibition would raise the profile of Swansea’s arts scene. “The British Art Show provides an excellent opportunity to showcase what Swansea has to offer in terms of its vibrant art scene, raises awareness and increases opportunities for the artistic community, and best of all will bring people into the city to enjoy an exciting cultural offer,” he said.

The exhibition is supported by Swansea Council and Arts Council Wales. Alongside the main show, a programme of workshops, talks, tours and events will run throughout the Swansea leg of the tour.

The full British Art Show 10 tour schedule is: Coventry, October 2 2026 to January 10 2027; Swansea, February 12 to May 16 2027; Bristol, June 19 to September 19 2027; Sheffield, October 23 2027 to February 20 2028; Newcastle-Gateshead, March 24 to June 18 2028.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

British Art Show to visit Swansea for the first time in 2027
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Glynn Vivian Art Gallery — all our coverage
Our full archive of reporting on the gallery.

#BritishArtShow #GlynnVivianArtGallery #HaywardGalleryTouring #SwanseaCouncil

SWANSEA: Trading Standards secures conviction against company issuing fraudulent HGV medical certificates

A director whose company issued fraudulent medical certificates as part of HGV licence applications has been convicted following a years-long investigation by Swansea Council Trading Standards.

Andrew Eburne, 51, of Hill Rise, Burbage, Hinckley, was found guilty of operating a fraudulent business through his company Doctors on Wheels Ltd, which provided D4 medical certificates — a legal requirement for anyone applying for an HGV licence.

The investigation was triggered by concerns raised by the DVLA, which had spotted anomalies in certificates being submitted as part of HGV licence applications. Swansea Council Trading Standards worked alongside investigators from across the UK to build the case.

A D4 medical certificate confirms that a driver is physically and mentally fit to operate a heavy goods vehicle. It must be completed by a qualified medical professional — typically a GP or occupational health doctor — and covers eyesight, blood pressure, neurological conditions and a range of other health factors relevant to driving large vehicles safely.

HGV drivers are required to hold a valid D4 certificate when applying for a Group 2 licence, which covers lorries, buses and other large vehicles. The certificates must be renewed periodically as drivers age, with more frequent renewals required for older drivers.

Fraudulent certificates raise serious road safety concerns. An HGV driver who is unfit to drive but holds a falsely obtained licence poses a significant risk to other road users. The weight and size of heavy goods vehicles means that accidents involving them can have catastrophic consequences.

The fraudulent certificates raised the prospect of unfit drivers obtaining HGV licences, with potential consequences for road safety.

Rhys Harries, Swansea Council Trading Standards Team Leader, said the outcome demonstrated the value of close working between agencies. “We were able to show in court that D4 medical certificates were submitted to the DVLA with the intention of them being issued as part of a HGV licence application,” he said.

“Fortunately, due to the expertise shown by the DVLA in spotting these anomalies, along with our own investigation, we prevented this becoming a much more serious issue.”

Harries added that the case underlined the importance of ensuring medical certificates are properly completed by qualified professionals to help keep roads safe.

The DVLA is based in Swansea and is one of the city’s largest employers, responsible for maintaining records on more than 50 million drivers and 40 million vehicles across the UK. The agency’s role in spotting the anomalies that triggered the investigation was described by Trading Standards as central to the successful prosecution.

Anyone with concerns about a business operating unfairly or unlawfully can report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

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#DVLA #DVSA #motoring #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TradingStandards

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.

View of the Hafod Morfa Copperworks and the River Tawe

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.

Cycle and walking link at Gowerton train station
(Image: Swansea Council)

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.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

New walking and cycling route proposed between Gowerton and Loughor
The long-planned Pont Y Cob Road route between Gowerton and Loughor — now funded for construction.

Gowerton’s long-awaited cycle and walking link to station finally opens after delays
The most recent active travel milestone in Gowerton, which the new investment builds on.

Penderyn Distillery handed keys to new Morfa Copperworks site in Swansea
One of the major regeneration projects at the northern end of the new Tawe riverside path.

New images show how heritage sites at Swansea’s Strand, Hafod Copperworks and museum could be transformed
The wider regeneration vision for the area at the northern end of the new Tawe path.

#ActiveTravel #Gowerton #HafodMorfaCopperworks #Loughor #PontYCobRoad #RiverTawe #StuartDavies #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaComStadium

Fforestfach: Planning application put in for major housing development

The proposed 35-hectare site is primarily located north of Titanium Road and Ystrad Road. 

The 430 properties would range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, and 86 of them would be available for social rent.

Barratt Homes would build the social rented properties and 175 of the open market homes while one of its brands, David Wilson Homes, would build the remaining 169. Access to the homes would be from Titanium Road.

Swansea Council is assessing a detailed planning application for the 430 houses in tandem with an outline application for the primary school, plus three commercial units and community space referred to as a “local centre”.

Around 65% of the site is currently pastureland, according to a design and access statement submitted on BDW Trading Ltd’s behalf. There’s also scrub, marshland, woodland, a cluster of farm buildings, and a waste storage and recycling facility.

The plan is to create new areas of habitat enabling residents to look onto a network of green spaces.

“Walking, running, and cycling routes will open up the meadows for everyone and create car-free connections to neighbouring communities,” the design and access statement said.

“There will be plenty of places to meet your neighbours with a community heart near the school offering a place to get together for social events.”

The development would come with new paths for cyclists and walkers and increased bus services. Subject to these being implemented the transport impact of the development would be “negligible”, according to a transport assessment submitted on behalf of BDW Trading Ltd.

The primary school, along with the “local centre” and a community sports pitch, would be on the east of the site with the houses on the west and south. The northern chunk would have open space, meadows, trees, and other features such as a park running along the Afan Llan.

A pre-application consultation has been carried out, including a drop-in session at St Illtyd’s Church Hall, Ystrad Road.

There was feedback from two residents, who were worried about the scheme’s impact on roads and surface water flooding, during the consultation period.

A flood assessment on behalf of the applicant said the proposed houses and commercial buildings would be sited in areas deemed to be at little or no risk of flooding, and measures would be implemented to reduce flood risk for the school and playing field area.

The 35-hectare site is part of a larger chunk of land stretching west to Gowerton and north to the A484, which was allocated by Swansea Council for 716 homes and a large employment zone as part of its current county-wide development plan.

There had been an expectation of a new east-to-west link road, but the latest proposals envisage it being for pedestrians and cyclists rather than vehicles – partly because more people work from home and partly because of the new school and community facilities proposed on site.

The residents who responded to the pre-application consultation felt the link road was needed and should be built as part of the application. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Proposed Development Details

• Housing Mix: The development includes a range of properties from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses.
• Social Housing: 86 units (20%) are designated for social rent, to be built by Barratt Homes.
• Market Housing: 175 open-market homes will be built by Barratt Homes, and the remaining 169 by their brand, David Wilson Homes.
• Community Infrastructure: The plans include an outline application for:
  • A new primary school.
  • Three commercial units and community space (referred to as a “local centre”).
  • Leisure facilities and green spaces including meadows, woodland, and car-free walking and cycling route

[Lead image: V-real Architectural Visualisation]

#BarrattHomes #BDWTrading #Fforestfach #housing #SwanseaCouncil #WilsonHomes

SWANSEA: Five jailed after street brawl saw family arm themselves with nail-studded plank in revenge attack

Swansea Crown Court heard that the background to the violence was a belief on the part of brothers Adam Miller and Kristian Thomas that Corey Jenkins was involved in drug dealing in the Ravenhill area of Swansea.

On 6 June, the pair acted on that belief by taking golf clubs to the Jenkins family home on Rhodfa’r Brain, where they smashed a number of downstairs windows before walking to the nearby home of a relative, David Dallimore.

In response, four members of the Jenkins family — Paul, Christopher, Corey and Lisa Jenkins — armed themselves with weapons and made their way to Mr Dallimore’s address, where the confrontation spilled into the street.

The disturbance was captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage. Corey Jenkins was seen wielding a plank of wood studded with nails and a metal pole, Paul Jenkins had a hammer, and Christopher and Lisa Jenkins were armed with sticks.

During the melee, Thomas struck neighbour Kirsty Choi on the head with a metal pole as she tried to help an injured member of the Jenkins family nearby.

Judge Catherine Richards said that while Miller and Thomas had sparked the incident by taking the law into their own hands and attacking the Jenkins home, the Jenkins family had then armed themselves and engaged in an act of “vigilantism” without regard for the impact on the wider community or the fear caused to fellow residents.

The judge’s remarks underlined the serious impact the disorder had on innocent people in the area. Residents who had no connection to either party were left to witness a large-scale armed confrontation on their street, with the judge making clear that the Jenkins family’s decision to arm themselves and pursue retribution had significantly aggravated the situation.

Paul Jenkins, 64, Christopher Paul Jenkins, 45, Corey Jenkins, 23, and Lisa Dawn Jenkins, 45, all of Rhodfa’r Brain, Ravenhill, had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. Paul and Christopher Jenkins have previous convictions; Corey and Lisa Jenkins had been of previously good character.

Kristian Dale Thomas, 39, of Tudno Place, Penlan, had pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was convicted at trial of the unlawful wounding of Miss Choi. He was described as having an extensive record including possession of offensive weapons, affray, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and handling stolen goods.

Adam Miller, 34, also of Tudno Place, Penlan, had pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. He too was described as having an extensive record including affray, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, arson and criminal damage. Both men were acquitted at trial of violent disorder in relation to the Rhodfa’r Brain incident. Mr Dallimore was also found not guilty.

With discounts for their guilty pleas, Paul Jenkins and Christopher Jenkins were both sentenced to 18 months in prison, and Corey Jenkins to 22 months. Lisa Jenkins received an 18-month sentence suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and abide by a nightly curfew for two months.

Miller was sentenced to nine months in prison. Thomas, whose conviction at trial for the wounding of Miss Choi added significantly to his sentence, received 26 months in prison.

Those given immediate custodial sentences will serve 40% of their terms behind bars before being released on licence to complete the remainder in the community. The case was prosecuted following a police investigation into the disorder, which had been captured in detail on CCTV and mobile phone footage recovered from the scene.

#CCTV #criminalDamage #DrugDealing #featured #Penlan #Ravenhill #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCouncil

Swansea’s only independent cinema to close this summer after 10 years on Castle Street

The venue — which opened in 2016 — is far more than a cinema. It has operated as a fully licensed café bar, art gallery, live music venue and community hub throughout its ten years, carving out a distinctive identity as one of the most characterful independent spaces in the city centre.

In a statement posted to social media, Redfern was candid about the reasons for the closure. “The reality of trying to run a principled, independent space in the current climate has become unsustainable — not just financially, but personally, creatively and emotionally too,” she said. “Rather than compromise what this place stands for, we are choosing to end it on our own terms. This is not a failure. This is a co.nclusion.”

In a longer personal post, she described the toll that running the space has taken over the years. “Running an independent space today means wearing every hat, holding everything together, and constantly fighting to keep something special alive,” she wrote. “And over time, that takes its toll. Not just on the business — but on the person behind it.”

Redfern acknowledged that the closure of Cinema & Co. was part of a much wider pattern affecting independent venues across the country. “You’re seeing it everywhere,” she wrote. “Independent spaces are disappearing — not because people don’t care, but because the conditions to sustain them are becoming impossible.”

Cinema & Co on Swansea’s Castle Street

The venue has never shied away from controversy. In 2021, Cinema & Co. refused to enforce the Welsh Government’s Covid pass scheme, with Redfern describing the measures as “discriminatory and unlawful.” The decision made national headlines and turned the Castle Street venue into a focal point for debate about Covid restrictions.

Swansea Council bolted the shutters after the venue defied closure orders and repeatedly reopened — including after a court order. The cinema opened on December 1, 2, 3 and 5 following a court order for it to close, and Redfern sent a letter to the council stating she would not comply with the closure notice.

Redfern was subsequently given a 28-day suspended sentence at Swansea Magistrates Court, fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £9,000 in council costs after pleading guilty to contempt of court, criminal damage and failing to comply with enforcement officers. District Judge Neale Thomas said: “Ms Redfern makes choices and she ignores the law and expects the law to treat her with special dispensation.”

The Covid controversy also drew the venue into a wider political row over its associations. Stand Up To Racism wrote an open letter — signed by more than 180 people including Lord Peter Hain, Geraint Davies MP, poet Patrick Jones and musician Helen Love — calling on Redfern to publicly distance herself from Voice of Wales, a group the letter accused of antisemitism, homophobia and links to figures including Tommy Robinson and the Proud Boys.

Voice of Wales had been a vocal supporter of Cinema & Co.’s anti-Covid pass stance, and members of the Stand Up To Racism group reported regular sightings of its members at the venue. Voice of Wales strongly denied the allegations, describing Stand Up To Racism as a far-left organisation spreading lies about them.

Redfern also rejected any connection to far-right groups. “I absolutely reject any claims that I am in any way connected to far-right groups, far-left groups or any form of racism,” she said. A crowdfunder set up by former Brexit Party and Abolish the Welsh Assembly candidate Richard Taylor raised more than £60,000 in support of the venue during the period.

Cinema & Co on Swansea’s Castle Street

The closure will leave Swansea city centre without an independent cinema. The venue’s ten years have encompassed film screenings, late-night events, community gatherings, art exhibitions, live music and the kind of relaxed café culture that larger commercial chains have rarely managed to replicate in the city.

Cinema & Co. built up a loyal following over the course of its decade on Castle Street, with its programming and atmosphere drawing a creative and community-minded crowd. Its loss will be keenly felt by many in the city who saw it as one of the few genuinely independent cultural spaces in Swansea’s city centre.

No specific closing date has been confirmed beyond “this summer.” Redfern urged those with fond memories of the venue to visit while they still can. “We have a few months left,” she said. “If Cinema & Co. has ever meant something to you — come and be part of it while you still can.”

The three images posted by Cinema & Co. to mark the announcement capture the venue’s characteristic flair — a “That’s all Folks!” graphic styled as a vintage film ending card, dated 2016–2026, alongside a message inviting regulars to be part of its final chapter before “the end credits roll.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Suspended sentence and £15k fine for Cinema & Co. owner
Redfern pleaded guilty to contempt of court after repeatedly defying closure orders during the Covid period.

Anti-racism group writes open letter to Cinema & Co. owner
Over 180 signatories called on Redfern to distance herself from Voice of Wales.

All our Cinema & Co. coverage
Our full archive of stories from the venue over the years.

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SWANSEA: Crime down 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69% as Dyfatty crackdown delivers early results

The results cover the period between 15 January and 15 March, the first two months of the Clear Hold Build initiative, which was launched by South Wales Police and partners in late March with a pledge to take back the streets from organised crime.

South Wales Police say that in that period, officers carried out 28 proactive arrests for offences including assaults, robberies, drug dealing and possession, fail-to-appear warrants and weapon-related offences. A further 45 stop searches were conducted, 15 of which produced positive results leading to arrests or out-of-court disposals.

Police say 38 people were issued with directions to leave the area in response to anti-social behaviour, and four community protection warning notices were issued to repeat offenders with no legitimate reason to be in Dyfatty. Officers also executed five misuse-of-drugs warrants at identified addresses during the period.

The 69% reduction in reported anti-social behaviour incidents compared to the same period last year is particularly striking given the scale of the problems that preceded the operation. Residents had been living with the effects of organised crime for years — a situation Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones described as “long overdue” for action when the operation launched.

Acting Chief Inspector Andrew Hedley said the results reflected the strength of the partnership approach established between police, the local authority, support services and the community. “Our continued presence in Dyfatty is making a real difference, and we are committed to building on this progress to ensure residents feel safe and supported,” he said. “This is only the beginning, and we will keep working together to deliver long-lasting improvements for the area.”

The Clear Hold Build model, backed by the Home Office, follows a three-phase approach. The first — Clear — involves a year-long police-led crackdown targeting offenders and disrupting criminal networks. The second phase, Hold, focuses on stabilising the area and preventing gangs from returning once enforcement pressure eases. The final phase, Build, brings long-term investment to tackle the root causes of crime and support economic growth.

The force says the Dyfatty project is the flagship scheme for the Swansea Public Services Board and builds on similar operations delivered elsewhere in the South Wales Police force area, including in Merthyr Tydfil, Adamsdown, Roath and Butetown.

The Hold phase will be led by Swansea Council working with all Public Services Board partners, and police and partners say it will focus on maintaining security, preventing criminal re-infiltration and strengthening community confidence. The Build phase will begin during the Hold phase and continue over the longer term.

The operation is being coordinated through the Swansea Public Services Board, which brings together South Wales Police, Swansea Council, Swansea Bay University Health Board and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Council leader Rob Stewart had pledged at the outset that the project would run alongside a separate regeneration programme expected to bring up to £20 million of investment into Dyfatty over the next decade.

The early results suggest the intensive enforcement phase is having a tangible effect on the ground. Police have not yet detailed how many of the 28 arrests have led to charges or prosecutions, but the volume of activity in just eight weeks underlines the scale of the operation.

The force has signalled that work will continue in the months ahead, with the stated aim not simply of making arrests but of achieving lasting change for residents who have long borne the brunt of crime and disorder in the area.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Dyfatty crime crackdown: Major police operation targets Swansea hotspot
Our original report on the launch of the Clear Hold Build operation in March.

Dyfatty set for £20m investment boost
The regeneration plans running alongside the police operation.

Dyfatty flats set for major upgrade
Multi-million pound plans to improve ageing council tower blocks in the area.

#antiSocialBehaviour #ClearHoldBuild #CrimeReduction #Dyfatty #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCouncil

Padel courts, zip wire and a year-round lido: Swansea’s big plans for the bay — but no answers on the slip bridge

The plans were presented to councillors at a meeting of the economy and infrastructure service transformation committee on 2 April, where a feasibility study commissioned in 2024 was laid out in full for the first time.

The study covers the foreshore corridor from West Pier at Swansea Marina all the way to the Clyne River Bridge at Blackpill — deliberately steering clear of the Civic Centre site, which is already being redeveloped by Urban Splash, and Mumbles, where a major seawall and promenade project has recently been completed.

Mumbles prom as it looks now
(Image: Swansea Council)

Steve Hopkins, the council’s strategic manager for tourism, marketing and special events, told councillors that tourism is already worth £658 million a year to Swansea’s economy and supports 5,400 jobs, with 4.62 million visitors recorded in 2024. But the study was blunt about the bay’s shortcomings. The official report identifies a “lack of vibrancy and facilities along the foreshore” and an “undefined unique selling point” compared to other UK seaside destinations, with the road dominating and facilities in poor condition in places.

Nearly 800 people were consulted as part of the study — including seafront businesses, beach users, residents and councillors — and the message was consistent: more eateries, better toilets, improved seating, barbecue spots, public art, viewing platforms, beach-related retail and easier access to the beach itself. Better and cheaper parking also came through strongly, as did a call for the Swansea Bay Rider land train service to be extended eastward past St Helens, in addition to its current westward run towards Mumbles.

Swansea Bay Land Rider Train – photo by Enjoy Swansea

The study divides the foreshore into a series of distinct zones. The promenade area closest to the Civic Centre would get separate “fast” and “slow” routes for cyclists and pedestrians, widened surfaces, new seating, tree planting, improved lighting and a new signature sculpture. The St Helens activity zone — which will see the Ospreys return to St Helens Stadium — would get improved public realm to make the matchday and events experience better for spectators, with pop-up food stalls and a large screen among the ideas. The ecology area near the foot golf site would become a nature education centre, using the existing building, with better interpretation and footpaths allowing visitors to explore SSSI habitats closer to the shore.

The centrepiece of the near-term ambitions is Blackpill. The study proposes significantly expanding the lido and surrounding area, with a relocated zip line and crazy golf from Singleton Park, a new flexible events space with a tensile structure for all-year use, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Clyne River, formalised beach access points, planting to improve the road frontage and food and drink including a beach bar. The aim is to make the lido somewhere people visit in January as well as July.

Blackpill Lido
(Image: Swansea Council)

Padel courts are also specifically proposed near the Singleton Park boating lake, alongside upgraded kiosks, terraced banks and improved planting. Hopkins acknowledged the sport’s rapid spread — “dare I say it, padel courts, they don’t seem to be going away,” he told the committee — but said the foreshore offered a great backdrop for the right facility in the right place. Beach sports zones and designated family areas are also in the mix.

Tracey McNulty, head of cultural services, parks and cleansing, was clear that the plans were early-stage. “At this moment the proposals are very much about improving things gently rather than building new things,” she told the committee. The study is not yet an adopted strategy and no funding has been secured. The next step, officers say, is to develop the proposals into worked-up schemes ready to bid for capital funding when opportunities arise — whether through Welsh Government regeneration grants, tourism funding, active travel budgets or partnership with organisations including Swansea University and the Welsh Wildlife Trusts.

Committee chair Cllr Phil Downing welcomed the report but asked whether new commercial activity along the foreshore could drain footfall from the city centre — a concern officers said they had factored in, with the aim being to attract new visitors rather than displace existing spending. Cllr Mike White called the bay “absolutely tremendous” and asked about beach volleyball, log cabin lookout points and whether boats could return to the boating lake, citing busy volleyball events he had seen in Bournemouth as an example of what the space could host.

The slip bridge at it’s current resting place on Swansea promenade

One question councillors couldn’t get a straight answer on was the future of the slip bridge. Cllr White raised it directly, but Tracey McNulty told the committee it hadn’t been included in the study, describing it as “a live topic, an issue structurally with highways” and adding that she wasn’t party to that discussion. The slip bridge — a much-loved Victorian iron footbridge that once connected the promenade to the foreshore near St Helens — remains dismantled, with its arch currently sitting on the cycle path near St Helens and the original stone abutments standing unused along Oystermouth Road. Swansea Council has allocated £139,000 to assist the Friends of Swansea Slip Bridge, and campaigners are pushing for a replica built from modern steel after the original 1915 span was deemed beyond repair. But its future remained unresolved at the meeting — and absent from the official report entirely.

Cllr Downing closed the meeting on a lighter note, suggesting saunas could be added to the foreshore offer for winter visitors.

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SWANSEA: Lauren Bryant named Sportsperson of the Year as city’s sporting heroes celebrated at annual awards

The ceremony, held in association with Freedom Leisure and presented by ultra-endurance athlete and TV presenter Lowri Morgan, brought together 500 guests to recognise the city’s sporting community — from grassroots clubs and volunteers to elite individual performers.

Tracey McNulty, Head of Cultural Services, Parks and Cleansing at Swansea Council, said this year’s winners reflected the full range of the city’s sporting life. “These awards once again highlight the incredible depth of sporting talent we have in Swansea,” she said.

“This year’s winners reflect the full spectrum of our sporting community, from the volunteers and coaches who give countless hours behind the scenes, to the dedicated individuals and teams who continue to excel in their disciplines.”

Craig Jones, General Manager at Freedom Leisure’s Swansea LC, said sport had a unique ability to bring communities together. “Events like these highlight the important role physical activity plays in improving health, wellbeing and community spirit,” he said. “It is a privilege for Freedom Leisure to recognise and support those who make such a difference.”

Lauren Bryant took the top individual prize on the night, named Sportsperson of the Year in an award sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited. Ken Wright received the Lifetime Contribution to Sport award, also sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited.

Among the junior honours, Jacob Robert Morgan Davies was named Junior Sportsman of the Year and Kaitlin Gourlay took Junior Sportswoman of the Year. The School Team of the Year award went to the Ysgol Gyfun Gwŷr Year 9 Rugby Team.

Eleanor Organ won Junior Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, sponsored by Stowe Family Law, while Chloe Morgan was named Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. Sindhu Bhairavi Mahadeven received both the Volunteer of the Year award and the Getting Swansea Active Award.

In the club and team categories, Mumbles Rangers Girls Section won Junior Club or Team of the Year, and West Swansea Hawks Ladies RFC took Senior Club or Team of the Year. Pontlliw Primary School Young Ambassadors received the Swansea Young Ambassador Recognition Award.

The coaching awards went to Andrew Williams, named Community Coach of the Year sponsored by Specsavers, and Gareth Jones, who won Performance Coach of the Year. Keisha Wilde received the Inspiring Young Person of the Year award, and David Huxtable was given the Special Recognition Award.

The full list of winners is below.

Sportsperson of the Year — Lauren Bryant (sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited)

Lifetime Contribution to Sport — Ken Wright (sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited)

Junior Sportsman of the Year — Jacob Robert Morgan Davies (sponsored by Childcare Offer for Wales)

Junior Sportswoman of the Year — Kaitlin Gourlay (sponsored by Specsavers)

Junior Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability — Eleanor Organ (sponsored by Stowe Family Law)

Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability — Chloe Morgan (supported by Wales National Exercise Referral Scheme)

Volunteer of the Year — Sindhu Bhairavi Mahadeven (sponsored by EYST Wales)

Getting Swansea Active Award — Sindhu Bhairavi Mahadeven (supported by Enjoy Swansea)

Community Coach of the Year — Andrew Williams (sponsored by Specsavers)

Performance Coach of the Year — Gareth Jones (supported by The National Institute for Sport & Health)

Inspiring Young Person of the Year — Keisha Wilde (sponsored by Arvato Connect)

Special Recognition Award — David Huxtable (supported by Freedom Leisure)

Junior Club or Team of the Year — Mumbles Rangers Girls Section (sponsored by Route Media)

Senior Club or Team of the Year — West Swansea Hawks Ladies RFC (supported by 60+ Active Leisure Scheme)

School Team of the Year — Ysgol Gyfun Gwŷr Year 9 Rugby Team (sponsored by Gower College Swansea)

Swansea Young Ambassador Recognition Award — Pontlliw Primary School Young Ambassadors (sponsored by Youth Sport Trust)

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