Swansea launches £300k pothole blitz as major M4 roundabout set for overnight resurfacing

The council said more than 760 potholes were filled in December alone, with teams now working “day and night” to keep traffic moving. Some of the busiest periods saw up to 150 new pothole reports a day as ice, snow and heavy rain caused road surfaces to crack and break up.

According to the authority, four repair teams are now travelling the city aiming to fill around 100 potholes a day, with an additional specialist crew drafted in to tackle larger patches where the top layer of road has been stripped away by the weather.

Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Swansea Council, said the scale of the problem was being felt “right across the country”, but Swansea was “taking action to tackle the problem”.

He said the extra teams would repeat last year’s post‑Christmas campaign, which saw larger surface defects repaired at a rate of one location a day for two months.

The pothole push comes alongside the council’s wider £20m highways investment for 2025/26, which includes major resurfacing already completed in Ynysforgan, Killay, Morriston, West Cross, Birchgrove, Gowerton and Llanmorlais. Recent work has also taken place on the A4118 in South Gower and the A48 Peniel Green Road near the M4.

Overnight works at M4 junction 44

As part of the same programme, the council confirmed that highways teams will spend the next week resurfacing the main roundabout at M4 junction 44 (Birchgrove) overnight to minimise disruption. A smaller roundabout on the B4625, which links to the westbound M4, will also be renewed.

Cllr Stevens said the junction was “a very busy part of the network” and in need of resurfacing “to keep motorists on the move”.

He added that record investment in the 2025/26 maintenance programme had allowed the council to prioritise full resurfacing schemes in areas most affected by wear and heavy traffic.

Recent resurfacing has also been completed on the A4118 at Parkmill, West Cross Avenue, Woodfield Street in Morriston and Mill Street in Gowerton.

Swansea Council maintains more than 1,000 miles of non‑motorway roads and says engineers carry out regular inspections to identify defects. The public can also report potholes directly, with the council pledging to repair as many as possible within 48 hours.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Councils face record numbers of compensation claims for pothole damage
New figures show a surge in drivers seeking payouts for damage caused by deteriorating road surfaces.

Welsh Government hails 37,000 pothole fixes but drivers still face a bumpy ride
Ministers say thousands of repairs have been completed, though motorists report worsening conditions.

Councils across south west Wales reject almost every pothole claim
Data reveals drivers are footing the bill as the vast majority of compensation claims are turned down.

Night‑time road closures as new safety upgrades head to Mumbles seafront
A major safety scheme is being rolled out on the seafront, with overnight closures planned to minimise disruption.

Swansea man jailed after brutal domestic assault on partner

A former boxer from Birchgrove has been jailed for 32 months after launching a violent assault on his partner — just days after crashing her car while drunk and kicking a police officer in the head.

David Bradshaw, 34, was already on bail for a previous domestic violence offence when he attacked the woman at his home in Swansea. The court heard he threw a television and table at her, pulled out her hair extensions, and repeatedly kicked and stamped on her as she lay curled on the floor.

He was found drunk and shirtless in a pub car park after crashing the victim’s car in Sketty, having taken it without consent while disqualified from driving. During his arrest, he kicked a police officer in the head.

“Possessed by petty jealousy”

The assault took place just over a week later, after Bradshaw drank a bottle of vodka and accused his partner of being unfaithful.

He brandished a knife, punched her in the head and face, and grabbed her by the neck. The victim was later treated at Morriston Hospital for a fractured rib, swollen jaw, bruising to her neck, and a black eye swollen shut.

In a statement read to the court, she said the relationship had “completely altered” her life and left her suffering nightmares.

Judge Huw Rees told Bradshaw:

“You are, in short, in a domestic context a bully… possessed by petty jealousy and inadequacy.”

Guilty pleas and jail sentence

Bradshaw pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, aggravated vehicle-taking, driving while disqualified, and assaulting an emergency worker.

He was sentenced to 32 months in prison — 27 months for the GBH and five months for the earlier offences, to run consecutively. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence.

PC Adam Jones said:

“David Bradshaw is clearly a violent bully, who left his victim fearing for their life… His violence clearly knows no bounds, but justice has again caught up with him.”

Support for survivors

South Wales Police said domestic abuse can affect anyone, regardless of background, and urged victims to report.

You can call 101, report online, or dial 999 in an emergency. Anonymous reports can be made via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

For signs of abuse and support services, visit:
What is domestic abuse? | South Wales Police
Support organisations for victims of domestic violence | South Wales Police

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea man jailed for breaching domestic violence order
South Wales Police marked its 100th DVPO of the year after a Port Tennant man was jailed for breaching the order.

Swansea man who punched and strangled woman jailed
Dylan Fuller was jailed after pleading guilty to assaulting and strangling a woman in a separate domestic violence case.

Swansea man jailed for raping vulnerable victim in city pub toilet
A Sketty man was sentenced to 13 years after admitting rape and sexual assault in a Swansea pub.

#assault #birchgrove #domesticAbuse #domesticViolence #gbh #southWalesPolice #swansea

Brothers rally to raise £3,000 after mum’s breast cancer diagnosis

When single mum Meinir Morgan sat her four teenage sons down just before Christmas to tell them she had breast cancer, she described it as the worst day of her life.

“I broke four hearts that day,” she said. “As their only constant, for me to have cancer wrecked their worlds.”

Meinir, from Birchgrove, had discovered a lump while on holiday in Florida. Within days of returning home she was seen at Singleton Hospital’s Breast Care Unit and, after a series of tests, was diagnosed with HER2+ cancer.

Treatment began on New Year’s Day: four months of chemotherapy, followed by surgery, radiotherapy and a year‑long course of immunotherapy. The side‑effects were brutal. “Chemo was rough, and I was hospitalised twice,” she recalled. “It was so hard on the boys to see me so ill. I lost my hair, but we made light of it with jokes about wigs and colours.”

A teenage response to heartbreak

For Lewis (18), Rhys (17), Ioan (15) and Iestyn (13), the news was devastating — but their response was immediate.

“It was almost instant,” said Lewis. “We thought, we’ve just got to crack on. The best way to support Mum was to raise money for the people taking care of her.”

With the backing of their school, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe, the brothers organised a bake sale, joined the Race for Life 5k, and hosted an afternoon tea. They also set up a JustGiving page, nervously setting a £500 target.

They needn’t have worried. Donations poured in, and by the end they had raised £3,150.

Giving back to those who cared

Earlier this month, the family returned to Singleton Hospital to hand over cheques of £1,500 each to the Chemotherapy Day Unit and the Breast Care Unit. The remaining £150 went to Cancer Research UK.

Meinir said she was “immensely proud” of her sons:

“When they were facing the worst news and scared of what the future held, they decided this was a positive focus for them — all while sitting A‑levels and GCSEs. It’s been the most challenging year, but they have been awesome.”

Community pride

Cathy Stevens, community support officer for Swansea Bay Health Charity, praised the boys’ determination:

“Throughout the entire journey, they kept their mum at the heart of everything they did. The result is a truly amazing achievement. Da iawn.”

For Meinir, the fundraising has been more than just money raised. It has given her sons a way to channel their fear into something positive. “They’ve been surrounded by great friends and support from the school,” she said. “I couldn’t be prouder.”

Related Articles

• £14m Singleton Hospital development to transform cancer diagnoses
• New location for blood tests at Singleton Hospital
• Health board confirms temporary transfer of Gorseinon Hospital inpatient beds to Singleton
• Singleton Hospital to get more parking spaces

#Birchgrove #BreastCancer #breastCancerFundraising #BreastCareUnit #Cancer #CancerResearchUK #Chemotherapy #ChemotherapyDayUnit #fundraising #immunotherapy #Radiotherapy #SingletonHospital #SwanseaBayHealthCharity #SwanseaBayUniversityHealthBoard #YsgolGyfunBrynTawe

Swansea grandfather who turned redundancy into opportunity is toasting national awards glory

Leslie Wheelan, 68, from Morriston, had spent most of his adult life working in cosmetics factories before being made redundant in his early 50s. With a mortgage to pay and two teenage daughters at home, he decided to take a leap of faith and applied for a job with Swansea‑based M&D Care.

To his surprise, he discovered his true calling.

Now a senior support worker at a Supported Living Service in Crown Street, Morriston, Leslie helps adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs to fulfil their goals and regain independence. His dedication has seen him shortlisted for the Care Practitioner in Small Group or Supported Living Award, sponsored by Cartref Ni, at this year’s Wales Care Awards.

The awards, organised by Care Forum Wales and sponsored overall by Meddyg Care, celebrate the frontline heroes of social care. All finalists are guaranteed to receive either a gold, silver or bronze award at the ceremony, which takes place at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel on Friday, October 17.

Leslie, a grandfather of eight, said he was “over the moon” to be nominated.

“I was quite taken aback when I found out – it’s not often you get to be nominated for a national award. My manager put me forward, she pushes us to be the best we can be and is an inspiration. We all work as a team, and it’s a team effort. I’m elated.”

After leaving school in Birchgrove, Leslie worked in factories for decades and had never considered a career in care. But redundancy forced him to rethink.

“It was a very daunting experience. My daughters were in their teens, I had a mortgage, and everything runs through your mind at 100 miles per hour. It wasn’t a nice time.

I took a year out and then spotted a job with M&D Care in the local paper. I was nervous at first, but once I started I realised I’d been doing it my whole life. As the eldest of seven, I was dressing my brothers and sisters, getting them to school before I even got ready myself. Without realising it, I was already doing care work.”

Now semi‑retired and working two days a week, Leslie is praised by colleagues for his calmness and ability to de‑escalate challenging situations.

“It’s very rewarding. You support someone for many years and then see them move on to independent living – that’s the greatest reward you could get. I’ve never won anything in my life, so just to be at the final is a privilege. The social care sector is very underrated and doesn’t get enough credit. It can be just as skilled and demanding as any other profession.”

Sian Henley‑Davies, M&D Care’s Marketing Coordinator, said:

“We are incredibly proud that three of our outstanding colleagues – Deborah Deru, Rob Hayward, and Les Whelan – have been named as finalists in this year’s Wales Care Awards. Their passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the people we support make a real difference every single day.”

Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of Care Forum Wales, added:

“Every single one of our finalists is a winner and will be presented with a gold, silver or bronze award. The Wales Care Awards underline the importance of the social care sector – it is the glue that binds our communities together.”

#Birchgrove #Care #careAwards #CareForumWales #MDCare #Morriston #redundancy #supportedLiving

Cocaine traffickers jailed after Swansea drug handover intercepted by specialist officers

The pair were under surveillance on 9 June 2024 when officers watched 50-year-old Lee Ruggles and 21-year-old Kian Piyadasa carry out a handover between two vehicles. Ruggles, from Barking in east London, was seen leaving his Ford Focus and passing a package through the window of a BMW driven by Piyadasa, of Birchgrove, Swansea.

Minutes later, both men were stopped — Ruggles on the M4 heading east, and Piyadasa in Swansea. Inside the Ford Focus and a third vehicle linked to Piyadasa, officers uncovered significant quantities of cocaine. Piyadasa also had a zip lock bag of the drug on him.

Mobile phone downloads revealed messages between the two consistent with large-scale drug supply.

Heavy prison sentences handed down

Both men admitted conspiring to supply Class A drugs and were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Friday 8 August 2025.

• Lee Ruggles, 50, was jailed for 9 years and 9 months.
• Kian Piyadasa, 21, received 10 years and 8 months.

A spokesperson for Tarian, the regional specialist organised crime unit said:

“These men were making serious money from the misery of others. Their sentences should send a clear message — if you’re involved in drug trafficking, we will find you, stop you, and put you before the courts.”

Part of wider crackdown across southern Wales

The case is the latest in a string of major drug busts across southern Wales, where specialist officers have dismantled multiple organised crime groups. Recent operations have led to dozens of convictions and prison sentences totalling more than 140 years.

Investigations continue in partnership with UK forces and the National Crime Agency, targeting those profiting from Class A drug supply.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Two men jailed after specialist officers intercept drug handover in Swansea
Cocaine traffickers sentenced after being caught red-handed in a multi-vehicle exchange.

Seven men jailed after being convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine
Swansea-based organised crime group dismantled following major investigation.

Warrant leads to drug seizure and shotgun recovery in Brynmill, Swansea
Officers uncover Class A drugs, paraphernalia and firearms during targeted raid.

#Birchgrove #cocaine #drugs #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #Tarian

#Australia / PM referred to International Criminal Court accused of complicity in genocide

A team of Australian lawyers from #Birchgrove Legal has filed a 92-page document with the International Criminal Court (#ICC) accusing Australian Prime Minister Anthony #Albanese of being an accessory to genocide in #Gaza

The document, endorsed by over 100 Australian lawyers and barristers, outlines several actions by Albanese and other officials that allegedly constitute complicity, including:

Freezing aid funding to UNRWA in Gaza

Providing military aid and approving defense exports to Israel

Deploying Australian military to the region without disclosing details

Allowing Australians to join the Israeli military

Providing political support for Israel's actions in Gaza

https://birchgrovelegal.com.au/2024/03/01/birchgrove-legal-files-case-for-complicity-to-genocide-to-the-hague-international-criminal-court-media-release/

H/t @KarenWyld

@israel
@palestine
#Israel #WarCrimes