MORRISTON: Work begins to save crumbling historic house

Work is finally moving forward to protect one of Morriston’s most recognisable – and long-neglected – buildings.

The Grade II-listed Danbert House, a striking Victorian townhouse on Morfydd Street, has stood empty for decades – but now fresh efforts are underway to safeguard what remains.

Backed by funding from Swansea Council and the Welsh Government, the next phase of work is focusing on understanding the building’s true condition.

Scaffolding has now been installed both inside and out, allowing specialists safe access to carry out a detailed historic survey of the structure.

Despite its deteriorated state, Danbert House remains a well-known local landmark, originally built in the 1880s for tinplate manufacturer Daniel Edwards and named after his ‘Danbert’ brand.

The building is privately owned, and the current owner is working to create a full and accurate record of its condition. This will be submitted to the Royal Commission to guide any future restoration in line with official heritage requirements.

Councillor David Hopkins said the progress marks an important step forward.

He said: “Danbert House is a well-known Morriston landmark and an important part of the area’s heritage.

“While it has sadly been in a derelict state for many years, it’s encouraging to see positive progress being made.

“These grants will help enable the specialist access and surveys needed to fully understand the building’s condition and plan the next stages of safeguarding and restoration.”

Funding for the work has come through the council’s Economic Stimulus Fund alongside the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.

While there’s still a long road ahead, the latest developments raise fresh hopes that the historic building could one day be brought back into use.

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#CllrDavidHopkins #DanbertHouse #Grade2Listed #GradeIIListed #heritage #MorfyddStreet #Morriston #SwanseaCouncil #tinplate #TransformingTowns

Swansea opticians practice holds 40th anniversary celebration

Charles Richards, director at Bater & Stout in Woodfield Street, Morriston, was joined by the original founders of the practice, Lindsay and Louise Bater, at a special event on Tuesday, 3 March, to mark the important milestone. 

Originally located in Clase Road, the couple took over from Philip Rees in 1986 and re-opened the practice as Bater Opticians following a complete refurbishment. 

Later, a first-floor extension was added to accommodate a glazing laboratory, allowing the practice to offer same-day service for glasses. The couple went on to own three further practices, occasionally in partnership, at Singleton Hospital, Gorseinon and Pontarddulais, and in 1996, moved from the Clase Road premises to the current location in Woodfield Street.

In 2013, Tony Stout bought the business from the Baters and rebranded the branch as Bater & Stout Opticians, with the other practices also changing hands.

Lindsay and Louise Bater retired in 2019 and in 2020, the now-director Charles Richards joined Bater & Stout Opticians as a Dispensing Optician, working alongside Tony. 

Charles, who had worked in Boots Opticians for 15 years, said:

“When Tony interviewed me for the job, he asked me if I’d ever considered owning my own business. I had managed practices before but owning one seemed like a different kettle of fish.”

Charles was given first refusal when Tony decided to sell the business in 2023 shortly before retiring, with Charles taking on the business with his wife Sian, an optometrist. 

“Having your own business really gives you a reason to get up in the morning, knowing you are helping people. Sian and I work well together, although we don’t see much of each other through the day as I’m on the shop floor and she’s in the consulting rooms conducting eye examinations.

“These days we are seeing a number of independent practices closing their doors when people retire because finding someone to take it on as a going concern can be difficult, so we were keen to make sure Bater & Stout continued.” 

After 40 years, Bater & Stout continues to look after patients across Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and beyond, with loyal patients travelling from as far afield as Canada, London and Pembrokeshire.

Charles added: “We are a real community here – we are known for offering affordable care to the local community and we have seen generations of patients come through the door. We have a good solid core of patients who have continued to support the practice through its past iterations because of the level of care provided.

“We have patients living away at university who return for sight tests, glasses and contact lenses with regularity. We’ve even had patients return from overseas for their check-ups.

“It’s also great to still see the original founders, Lindsay and Louise, as they are now our patients.”

As to the future, Charles said: “We have just opened a third consulting room as the business is growing quite rapidly through word of mouth. We are looking forward to welcoming new generations of patients and carrying on the legacy of Bater & Stout.”

Bater & Stout’s celebration event included Prosecco, cake and raffle, along with exclusive offers on a range of luxury brands.

For more details visit https://www.baterandstoutopticians.co.uk

#BaterStoutOpticians #Gorseinon #Morriston #Optician

Morriston man jailed after police uncover thousands of child abuse images

Kyle Jones, 42, was first flagged to officers when a Kik messaging account linked to him uploaded Category A child abuse videos online in 2023. He denied everything in interview — but the evidence told a very different story.

A joint investigation by South Wales Police’s Online Investigation Team and the Digital Forensics Unit traced the material back to devices belonging to Jones. What they found was vast and serious: thousands of images and videos, including a large number in the most extreme category.

Jones eventually admitted a string of offences. He had been making and distributing indecent images of children, as well as possessing prohibited images and extreme material involving animals.

He has now been jailed for 28 months.

Detective Constable Thomas Connick said Jones “knew exactly what he was doing” and that his actions had caused “immense distress” to his family and community.

“Offences involving these images are not victimless,” he said. “People who access them create a demand that can only be met by the further abuse of vulnerable individuals. South Wales Police will continue to target anyone who enables or encourages this.”

#childProtection #courts #Crime #DigitalForensics #indecentImages #Morriston #onlineSafety #POLIT #sentencing #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea

MORRISTON: Salon owner from travelling community named national beauty finalist

Tammy Cawley, who owns Beauty Haven in Morriston, has been shortlisted for the ‘Best Brows (Non-SPMU) of the Year’ award just 11 months after opening her business.

Tammy said she built her business from scratch with “no hand-downs or shortcuts,” driven by a passion for helping people feel confident in themselves.

Coming from the travelling community, Tammy says she is proud to see more women from her background becoming independent and building their own paths in life.

She said it is something that is becoming more common and she finds it “incredibly inspiring.”

“I love seeing other travelling and gypsy girls working hard, building businesses and creating opportunities for themselves,” Tammy said, adding that she will “always root for them.”

She believes it’s a positive shift, especially as it hasn’t always been this way in the past.

Beauty Haven, which specialises in brows, lashes, facials and aesthetics, was created to be a welcoming and supportive environment where clients can relax.

Known for her warm and friendly “girls’ girl” energy, Tammy says one of the most rewarding parts of her work is building genuine relationships with her clients.

She said she was “incredibly proud” to be recognised at a national level and was grateful to the clients who continue to support her small business.

The winners of the UK Hair and Beauty Awards 2026 will be announced later this year.

#beauty #Business #Morriston #Swansea #TravellingCommunity #UKHairAndBeautyAwards

Swansea’s coat of arms to return to street signs

The move, which the council says will be a “cost-free addition”, will see the historic crest return to street signs as part of the regular replacement programme for damaged or missing nameplates, a move designed to celebrate the city’s heritage.

The council said the new signs will also be more resilient to the weather, ensuring they last longer.

“The city crest is part of our shared heritage,” said Cllr Andrew Stevens,, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure Management.

“By adding them to street signs as we did many years ago will help celebrate our shared history and add to our sense of shared identity.”

The announcement, made on the council’s Facebook page, has generated significant public discussion. The first of the new signs have been installed in Morriston.

Cllr Stevens added that the idea had been suggested by a number of people and that it “does add a stylish new look to the nameplates.”

He also provided some historical context for the crest, which includes the city’s Latin motto, ‘Floreat Swansea’, meaning ‘Let Swansea Flourish’.

The crest itself is rich with symbolism representing the city’s history. The blue and white wavy lines signify Swansea’s status as a seaport, while the castle represents its medieval fortifications. An osprey, long associated with the city, forms the crest, and the shield is supported by a lion, representing the de Braos family who were Lords of Gower, and a dragon, representing Wales.

“The origin of our city’s coat of arms is lost to history, but the one we’re using now dates back more than a century to 1922 when it was granted by the College of Arms. Since then it’s had additions as Swansea has flourished from a town to the city we live in today.”

#cityCrest #CllrAndrewStevens #Morriston #streetNameplate #streetSign #Swansea #SwanseaCoatOfArms #SwanseaCrest #UplandsTerrace

‘Worst he’s seen in 33 years’ – Council appeals for witnesses after 70 trees vandalised in Swansea park

The council has described the damage as the worst example of tree vandalism a staff member has seen in 33 years of service. The issue has been reported to South Wales Police and the council is urging anyone with information to come forward.

Almost all the new trees planted in the much-loved community park over the last 15 years have been attacked. Parks staff discovered last week that the trees had been hacked at with a knife or small bladed tool, with the bark stripped away by pulling.

A young tree at Parc Llewelyn in Swansea shows deep knife cuts to its trunk, one of 70 trees deliberately vandalised in the park.
(Image: Swansea Council)Bark has been stripped from a tree at Parc Llewelyn, exposing the inner wood in an apparent attempt to kill it.
(Image: Swansea Council)A council parks worker examines one of the 70 damaged trees at Parc Llewelyn, described as the worst example of tree vandalism seen in 33 years of service.
(Image: Swansea Council)

Among the damaged trees were cherry trees donated to Swansea by the Japanese consulate in Wales.

Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community Services at Swansea Council, condemned the attack, calling it an “insult to the local community.”

“Someone will know who did this and I’d urge them to come forward and report it to police. They can do it anonymously if they want,” he said.

“The extent of the damage to so many trees would have taken a long time with a concerted effort, going tree to tree both sides of the paths and off into the centre of muddy fields. Cherry trees donated to Swansea by the Japanese consulate in Wales were not spared. It’s just very shaming.”

He added:

“This kind of damage is shocking and an insult to the local community that’s seen these trees grow and thrive.”

Multiple knife wounds are visible on a young tree at Parc Llewelyn, where vandals went “tree to tree both sides of the paths and off into the centre of muddy fields.”
(Image: Swansea Council)A protective guard around a young tree at Parc Llewelyn was no deterrent to vandals who hacked at the trunk with a knife or small bladed tool.
(Image: Swansea Council)Bark has been pulled away from a tree at Parc Llewelyn, exposing the inner wood. The damage was discovered by parks staff last week.
(Image: Swansea Council)The extent of the vandalism at Parc Llewelyn is visible in this image showing a birch tree with its bark completely stripped in a spiral pattern.
(Image: Swansea Council)

Parc Llewelyn recently celebrated the opening of an upgraded play area, making it a popular destination for families in the area.

Anyone with information is asked to report it to the police, quoting crime reference number 2600037943.

#antiSocialBehaviour #antisocialBehaviour #CllrCyrilAnderson #Environment #Morriston #ParcLlewelyn #Plasmarl #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #Treboeth #Trees #vandalism

Morriston man jailed for life after murdering his brother in brutal attack at Clase home

41‑year‑old Darren Steel was told he will serve a minimum of 20 years for killing 48‑year‑old Martin Steel at the victim’s home on Hill View Crescent, Clase, in May 2023. He was also sentenced for two separate assaults committed in the days before the murder.

A jury at Swansea Crown Court found Steel guilty of murder on Tuesday after rejecting his claim that he acted in self‑defence. Today, Judge Geraint Walters said Steel had launched a “frenzied” and “out‑of‑all‑proportion” attack driven by “uncontrolled rage” fuelled by drink and drugs.

Judge: ‘You intended to silence him. To kill him.’

Sentencing Steel, Judge Walters said he was sure the defendant intended to kill his brother during the assault in the early hours of 20 May.

He said Steel had “tailored” his account to fit the evidence and had done “absolutely nothing” to save his brother’s life after inflicting the fatal injuries.

The judge told him:

“Your intention at that moment in time was to silence him. To kill him. That was born from uncontrolled rage which was a consequence of the cocktail of drink and drugs you had voluntarily consumed.”

He said Martin had been subjected to a “horrific beating” in his own home and was left to die in an armchair, where he was later found by his mother.

Family photo of 48‑year‑old Martin Steel, who was found dead at his home in Hill View Crescent, Clase, in May 2023.

Mother: ‘Every night I see him slumped in his chair, beaten to a pulp’

In a deeply emotional victim impact statement, Martin’s mother, Diane Steel, described the moment she found her son’s body as “the day my life changed forever”.

She said:

“Every night when I close my eyes to go to sleep I see Martin slumped in his chair, beaten to a pulp and covered in blood. Completely unrecognisable. Murdered at the hands of his little brother.”

She told the court she had “lost both my children in this tragedy — to death and to prison”, adding that she would now face her final years “without either of my boys by my side”.

Daughters describe trauma of losing their father

Martin’s daughters, Natasha and Surrie, also read statements describing the lasting impact of their father’s death.

Natasha said her father’s murder had left a trauma that “has never left me”, adding that he was not there to walk her down the aisle — something she had imagined all her life.

Surrie described her father as “funny, kind and charming”, saying her children had lost a grandfather and her baby daughter would only know him through photographs.

She said Steel’s conduct during the trial “sickened” the family and that he had shown “not an ounce of remorse”.

A pattern of violence in the days before the murder

The court heard that Steel’s violence escalated in the days leading up to the killing.

On 18 May, he tied a man — Julien Samuel — to a chair with parcel tape, repeatedly punched him, forced his thumbs into the man’s eyes and held a hunting knife to his throat. The following day, he assaulted him again with the help of his brother.

Steel was convicted of grievous bodily harm against Mr Samuel and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his then‑partner, Dawn Begley, at an earlier trial. He received concurrent sentences of three years and one year for those offences.

Judge Walters described Steel as a “career criminal” with a long history of violence, saying he was “punch‑happy” and had a “very real propensity to use violence which is indiscriminate”.

Police: ‘The ultimate betrayal’

South Wales Police said the case had caused “significant” distress to the family and the communities of Clase and Morriston.

Detective Inspector Stuart Prendiville said Steel had committed “the ultimate betrayal” against his brother and caused further anguish by forcing the family through two trials.

He said:

“Darren Steel is a violent and dangerous individual and the life sentence and minimum tariff of 20 years is wholly justified in this case.”

Police also released footage of the moment Steel was arrested:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt_-zTfPpJA&w=100&h=100]

A community shaken by a killing inside the family home

The murder shocked neighbours in Hill View Crescent, who raised the alarm after seeing Martin’s dog running loose outside on the morning of 20 May. When knocks on the door went unanswered, they contacted his mother.

She arrived to find her son slumped in a chair, either dead or close to death. Steel, heavily intoxicated, had given police a false name when arrested and later lied repeatedly about what happened.

Judge Walters said the grief caused to Martin’s loved ones was “irreparable”.

Steel will serve at least 20 years before he can apply for parole. The judge said it may be that he is never released.

#actualBodilyHarm #Clase #DarrenSteel #featured #GrievousBodilyHarm #MartinSteel #Morriston #murder #SouthWalesPolice

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

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

Fresh resurfacing lined up across the city

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

Locations scheduled for repairs include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Part of a wider £300k pothole and resurfacing blitz

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

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

£37m proposed for highways and transport

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

#Bishopston #Clase #CllrAndrewStevens #Cwmrhydyceirw #Llansamlet #Morriston #potholes #resurfacing #roadResurfacing #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #Uplands

Swansea man found guilty of murdering his own brother after brutal flat attack

A jury at Swansea Crown Court today convicted 41‑year‑old Darren Steel, from Morriston, of murdering his brother 48‑year‑old Martin Steel, whose body was discovered in his flat on Hill View Crescent on the morning of 20 May 2023.

Emergency services were called shortly after 10.30am, but Martin — described in court as a “proud father of two” — could not be saved. He was pronounced dead later that morning.

South Wales Police said the case has “shocked” the communities of Clase and Morriston.

Detective Inspector Stuart Prendiville, South Wales Police, said:

“This has been a long and complex investigation into an incident which has shocked the communities of Clase, Morriston and the wider community of Swansea. Darren Steel committed the ultimate betrayal against his older brother and caused further distress by pleading not guilty and putting the family through the ordeal of not one, but two trials.”

He added that the impact on the family had been “significant”.

‘Horrific beating’

During the trial, jurors heard harrowing evidence about the moments leading up to the discovery of Martin’s body.

Neighbours noticed Martin’s dog whining alone in the garden at around 8.30am. When repeated knocks went unanswered, they contacted Martin’s mother, Dianne Steel, who lived nearby and had planned to go shopping with her son that morning.

She entered the flat and was confronted with what prosecutors called a “horrific sight” — her son slumped in a chair, covered in blood.

Prosecutor Andrew Jones KC told the court Martin had suffered “severe blunt force injuries” to his face and neck, including a fractured voice box. “He had been subjected to a horrific beating in his own home and left to die there,” he said.

The court heard that Darren Steel fled the property, leaving his mother to find her dying son.

‘I may have gone too far’

Witnesses told the jury that Steel later admitted he “may have gone too far” during the attack. He initially gave police a false name when officers located him.

During interviews, Steel claimed he acted in self‑defence and alleged that the brothers had taken heroin the night before. Prosecutors argued the violence went far beyond anything that could be considered reasonable force.

Jurors were shown forensic evidence, photographs from the scene and post‑mortem images. They also heard about two earlier assaults carried out by Steel in the days before his brother’s death — incidents the prosecution said showed “escalating violence”.

Second trial, same verdict

This was the second time a jury had been asked to decide the case. The first trial, held last year, collapsed before jurors were able to reach a verdict, meaning every piece of evidence — from the forensic detail to the moment Martin’s mother found her son — had to be heard all over again in a fresh trial.

After weeks of evidence at the retrial, the new jury today found Steel guilty of murder.

He will be sentenced on Friday, February 13, according to South Wales Police.

The force said they were “relieved” the case had finally concluded. “Our thoughts are with the family,” DI Prendiville said.

#Clase #Morriston #murder #SouthWalesPolice

Drugged up burglar raided Morriston home while couple slept

Andrew Hancock, 53, had broken into the house on Glantawe Street in Morriston on December 11 last year, claiming he thought the property was “abandoned” as he slurred his words and staggered about.

When confronted by the homeowner, he left – but not before taking Lego, a pack of chocolate bars, and a box of latex gloves. A stolen jacket was later found dumped outside.

Police caught up with Hancock on nearby Bath Road, where he was found carrying a screwdriver, pliers, a torch, and two sets of nail scissors.

The impact on the victims has been devastating. In a statement read to Swansea Crown Court, one of them described how the break-in had worsened his anxiety and PTSD, leaving him “jumping” at every noise. He now suffers flashbacks to finding Hancock in his living room and struggles to sleep. The couple want to move house, having lost their “safe space”.

Hancock’s criminal history is staggering – 73 previous convictions for 206 offences, including 76 thefts, three house burglaries, two non-dwelling burglaries, criminal damage, drug possession, and weapons offences.

Defence barrister Stuart John told the court his client had stayed out of trouble for most of 2025 – “no small thing for a man with as formidable an antecedent record as Mr Hancock” – before buying street Valium.

He’d consumed a “considerable amount” that night and had “little or no recollection of what happened”. Hancock asked his barrister to express his remorse and said he wanted to make changes.

Judge Paul Thomas KC wasn’t having it. He said the true harm of burglary wasn’t the value of what was stolen, but the feelings of “violation” and “lack of security” left behind. He described Hancock as a “persistently dishonest man”, adding that “time alone will tell” whether his promises to change would materialise.

Hancock, of Chemical Road, Morriston, was jailed for three years after admitting burglary and possession of a bladed article. He’ll serve up to half behind bars before being released on licence.

[Lead image: South Wales Police]

#burglary #Morriston #SouthWalesPolice