#britonferry — Public Fediverse posts

BRITON FERRY: The whitewash begins — town’s Brunel mural disappears under the roller

The whitewashing of Briton Ferry‘s much-loved Brunel mural has begun — with a decorator pictured today rolling white paint across the town’s gateway wall.

The banner carrying the town’s names in Welsh and English is already part-erased, while Brunel’s famous stovepipe hat and the viaduct beneath it still show through — for now.

The mural’s fate was sealed last month, when it emerged the artwork would have to be painted over within weeks following a dispute over permission.

The piece, celebrating engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the town’s heritage, filled the side of a building at the entrance to the town. It was the idea of local councillor Gareth Rice, who spent around two years planning, saving for and funding the project himself, with the wall painted by street artist Jenks.

Cllr Rice has said he believed he held the correct permission, having spoken to the people he understood to be the building’s owners — but after the mural was finished, a joint owner he says he had not known about came forward objecting.

The owner later broke her silence, saying she had never been asked — learning of the mural in a photograph sent to her while she was working abroad — and that online abuse directed at her had only stiffened her resolve.

Cllr Rice responded by appealing for calm. “They have made their wishes known, and although I’m saddened by the outcome, I respect their right to make decisions about their own property,” he said.

The dispute prompted an extraordinary wave of support for the artwork, with hundreds of messages left online — among them broadcaster Sian Lloyd, who lived in Llansawel as a girl and described herself as “both heartbroken and indignant”.

In a painful twist of timing, Cllr Rice learned the mural must go just a day after the Lord-Lieutenant — the King’s representative in the county — had remarked how lovely it was to drive into Briton Ferry and see it.

The building’s tenants, a local kitchens and bedrooms business, have nothing to do with the dispute and were supportive of the artwork throughout.

Cllr Rice had invited people to photograph the mural before it was covered — and today, the wall began turning white. The person carrying out the work has not been identified.

The councillor has insisted the story doesn’t end at a blank wall, saying he hopes to create similar artwork elsewhere — in the right place, and with full permission.

“This isn’t the end,” he said. “If anything, it’s the beginning of something bigger — something we can create together, in the right place, with the right permissions.”

His brush hasn’t been idle, either — days ago Jenks completed his latest commission, a sweeping mural beside the rugby club in the Gwendraeth Valley village of Pontyates, packed with miners, dragons and Welsh legends.

Tucked among them is EastEnders icon Dot Cotton — there because June Brown, who played her for more than three decades, was evacuated to the village as a girl during the Second World War. One Jenks wall may be turning white this week, but another, a few valleys west, has just burst into colour.

By the time the paint dries, the wall that greeted visitors to the town will be blank again — two years of planning, and a few weeks of admiration, gone under the roller.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Town’s much-loved Brunel mural to be whitewashed within weeks after ownership dispute
Where the saga began — Cllr Rice ordered to paint over the artwork he funded himself.

Building owner breaks silence as councillor urges calm
The owner’s account of how she learned about the mural — and the abuse that followed.

Dot Cotton, dragons and miners — the Pontyates mural years in the making
Jenks’ latest wall, and the wartime story behind its most surprising face.

NEATH PORT TALBOT: Safer routes to schools, stations and parks — the walking and cycling plans for your area

Getting the kids to school on foot. Cycling to the station instead of driving. Reaching the local park without walking along a busy road.

These are the kinds of everyday journeys behind a set of new walking, wheeling and cycling routes proposed across Neath Port Talbot, which the council says would make active travel easier and safer.

The council has drawn up a long list of routes it wants to add or improve, each one intended, it says, to fix a spot where getting around without a car is currently hard, unsafe or impossible.

There is a catch worth stating up front: these are “future routes” — lines on a map marking where the council wants to act, not funded, designed schemes with a start date. But routes have to be on the map to qualify for Welsh Government money, which is why the council wants views now.

Here’s a flavour of what’s proposed, area by area.

Neath, Skewen and the surrounding villages

In Skewen, the railway currently cuts the village off from Neath Abbey. The council is proposing a route along the lane between Pale Road and the railway bridge, with a link along Cardonnel Road, which it says would reconnect the two — plus a separate path through Skewen Park to create a traffic-free way across the village.

At Cadoxton, a new path along Bryn Catwg would, according to the plans, give families a step-free route to Cadoxton Community Park.

Aberdulais and Cilfrew are split by the railway and the River Dulais. The council says a proposed route over the bridge, joining New Road to Cefn-yr-Allt, would connect the two communities.

For commuters, the council has placed some of its highest-priority schemes around Neath train station, with another new link aimed at getting people safely to Briton Ferry station.

Port Talbot, Aberavon and Taibach

In Taibach, the council says a route along Lady Charlotte Lane would make it easier to reach the community centre, the education centre and Mount Surgery.

A second Taibach route, along the path between Wood Street and Elba Avenue, is intended to improve the traffic-free options through Margam’s residential streets.

In east Port Talbot, the plans propose a route along Pen-y-Cae Road to improve access around the Tan-y-Groes Street roundabout.

Much of Port Talbot’s town centre, seafront and Sandfields network already ranks among the highest-priority routes in the borough, alongside a proposed walking and cycling link to Neath Port Talbot Hospital.

Cwmavon, Glynneath and the Neath valleys

At Cwmavon, the council is proposing an off-road path along the western bank of the River Afan, which it says would give people on the Gwaun Afan estate a direct, traffic-free route in and out, tying into National Cycle Network Route 887.

In Glynneath, the plans include a route from the B4242 to the library, intended to put key community buildings within safe reach on foot or by bike.

At Resolven, the council is proposing a quieter alternative to the B4434 along Heol Herbert.

In Seven Sisters, officers say a route along Heol Heddwch and Tan-y-Rhiw would give children a safer way to reach Blaendulais Primary School and connect homes to the village’s sports and play facilities.

Also at Resolven, the council is proposing to extend an existing route along the B4434 to Melincourt, to serve possible new housing sites.

In Croeserw, the plans propose a walking route linking Viaduct Road to the village via Eastern Avenue, South Avenue and Bryn Siriol.

Pontardawe and the Swansea Valley

Along the Swansea Canal near Pontardawe, the council is proposing a towpath route it says would create a continuous, car-free path through the Swansea Valley.

Elsewhere in Pontardawe, the plans note that the A474 currently allows no pedestrian access, and propose a new link up to Glan-Rhyd Road to address it.

Higher up, a future route from Tairgwaith to Cwmllynfell, via the reservoir, is intended to open access to a new visitor destination in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen.

How the routes are chosen — and how to have your say

Each route has been scored and ranked by Transport for Wales, which weighed how many people would use it and how well it connects schools, workplaces and local centres. That ranking helps decide which come forward first.

But the council is clear that ranking doesn’t guarantee delivery: every scheme still depends on funding, design and further consultation.

Cllr Wyndham Griffiths, the council’s cabinet member for strategic planning, transport and connectivity, said the aim was to help people make everyday journeys — to school, work or the shops — in a healthy, safe and sustainable way.

He said the consultation gave people and businesses a chance to say where changes were most needed, which would then shape the council’s funding bids.

The council says it especially wants to hear where walking, wheeling or cycling currently feels unsafe or difficult, and where links between communities are missing.

The 12-week consultation runs until 21 September. People can complete an online survey on DataMapWales, or view paper copies at Neath and Port Talbot libraries. Drop-in events will run over the summer, with dates listed at npt.gov.uk/activetravel.

This consultation follows earlier council proposals for active travel schemes across the borough, including a major revamp for Sandfields and Aberavon, a masterplan for Neath town centre and a proposed Neath to Cimla route.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Major revamp planned for Sandfields and Aberavon as council unveils huge active travel upgrade
A £multi-million, 4.7km scheme to link Aberavon seafront with Afan Way.

Council looks for views on new Neath cycling and walking plans
Three routes proposed for improvement in and around Neath town centre.

Council seeks views on proposed Neath to Cimla walking, cycling and wheeling route
An earlier consultation on a key active travel link in the Cimla area.

BRITON FERRY MURAL: Building owner breaks silence as councillor urges calm

The owner of the Briton Ferry building at the heart of the Brunel mural row has broken her silence — saying she was never asked for permission, and will not be pressured into letting it stay.

The colourful artwork, celebrating engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, has sparked an extraordinary wave of support since news broke that it must be painted over.

Hundreds of people flooded Cllr Gareth Rice’s original Facebook post with messages, many calling the mural a bright, welcoming entrance to the town and pleading for it to be saved.

Now the building’s owner has had her say.

In a public post, Amy Wilson said she owns the property through her company, AJ Wilson Property Ltd, and that no permission was ever given.

“In the two years that AJ Wilson Property Ltd have owned this property we never granted any permission for this project to go ahead,” she wrote.

She also rejected any suggestion that there was another co-owner who objected after the work was done. “There are no co-owners whatsoever,” she said.

Ms Wilson said the mural had come as a complete surprise. “Whilst working abroad I received a photograph showing a completed mural, to which I was obviously very surprised about,” she wrote, adding that she then spent weeks trying to find out who was responsible.

She said she had since faced abuse online, with her personal details shared and the police contacted — and that it had only stiffened her resolve.

“Due to the abuse I’ve received on here, I won’t be forced into allowing this mural to stay,” she said.

Cllr Rice, who funded the mural himself and has said he believed he had the correct permission, has since posted again — this time appealing for calm.

He said his original post had “never intended to create anger or animosity towards anyone, including the owners of the building”.

“They have made their wishes known, and although I’m saddened by the outcome, I respect their right to make decisions about their own property,” he wrote.

He urged people to stay respectful, adding: “We are a strong community, and we can show that even in disappointment.”

He also said he was now looking for another site for a future mural, with the response showing the appetite for public art in the town was “stronger than ever”.

The strength of feeling was clear in the hundreds of comments left under the original post.

Among them was the broadcaster and weather presenter Sian Lloyd, who has roots in the area. “This lovely kind of mural is exactly what’s needed to make us aware of the things that count in life,” she wrote.

She said she had lived in Llansawel — the Welsh name for Briton Ferry — as a little girl, and was “both heartbroken and indignant about this awful situation”.

Many others described stopping to admire the mural on their way through the town, with several urging that a way be found to keep it.

The mural was painted by street artist Jenks, whose work brightens walls across the region.

Cllr Rice has also been keen to stress that the building’s tenants, a local kitchens and bedrooms business, have nothing to do with the dispute.

For now, the Brunel mural’s days appear numbered — and a community that has fallen for it waits to see if anything can still be done.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Briton Ferry’s Brunel mural to be whitewashed within weeks
How the dispute over the much-loved artwork first emerged.

Artist Jenks transforms Llanelli seafront wall
The street artist behind the Briton Ferry mural.

BRITON FERRY: Town’s much-loved Brunel mural to be whitewashed within weeks after ownership dispute

A much-loved community mural in Briton Ferry is to be painted over within weeks, after a dispute over permission to put it up.

The artwork, celebrating engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the town’s heritage, fills the entire side of a building at the entrance to the town.

It was the idea of local councillor Gareth Rice, who says he spent around two years planning, saving for and funding the project himself.

In a public statement, Cllr Rice said he had now been told he must whitewash the mural — and described himself as “gutted”.

He said he had believed he held the correct permission, having spoken to the person or people he understood to be the owners of the building, and that he had acted in good faith throughout.

Only after the mural was finished, he said, did another joint owner — whom he says he had not known about — come forward objecting to it and asking for it to be removed.

He said the joint owner has reported both him and the mural to the police as alleged criminal damage.

No further details of any police involvement have been made public, and the position of the joint owner is not known.

Cllr Rice said he had transformed the surrounding area from overgrown wasteland into a landscaped space over the same period, intending it as a welcoming entrance to the town and a fitting setting for the artwork.

The mural was painted by street artist Jenks, whose community murals have appeared across the region, from Llanelli’s seafront to Port Talbot.

Cllr Rice paid tribute to the artist, calling the finished piece “a masterpiece that lifted the whole community”.

He was also keen to stress that the tenants of the building, a local kitchens and bedrooms business, had nothing to do with the dispute and had been supportive throughout.

The timing, he said, had been especially hard. Only the day before he was told the mural must go, he had been with the Friends of Jersey Park as the group received a King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

He said that during the ceremony, the Lord-Lieutenant — the King’s representative in the county — had remarked on how lovely it was to drive into Briton Ferry and see the mural and its nod to the town’s heritage.

A veteran of military service and a former firefighter, Cllr Rice said the situation had affected him more than he expected — not because of the mural itself, but because of what it had come to mean to people.

He said the response from residents had shown how much the community valued public art and colour in the town.

Cllr Rice has invited people to photograph the mural before it is covered, saying he has been instructed it must be gone within a week or two.

He also said he hoped to create similar artwork elsewhere in future — in the right place, and with full permission.

“This isn’t the end,” he said. “If anything, it’s the beginning of something bigger — something we can create together, in the right place, with the right permissions.”

The joint owner of the building, who has not been identified, could not be reached for comment.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Briton Ferry volunteers honoured with King’s Award
The Friends of Jersey Park recognised with the UK’s highest award for volunteer groups.

Artist Jenks transforms Llanelli seafront wall
The five-panel community mural the street artist funded himself.

The Briton Ferry coastal path closure
Councillors demand action over a long-closed stretch of the estuary path.

BRITON FERRY: Man banned from keeping animals for seven years after cats found living among rubbish

A Briton Ferry man has been banned from keeping animals for seven years after three cats and two kittens were found living among rubbish and hazards in his flat.

Jordan Brian Saunders, 29, of Victoria Street, appeared at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 3 June after pleading guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act.

He admitted failing to meet the needs of three cats — Arianna, Carlos and Cole — and two kittens, by not providing them with a suitable environment.

Saunders was disqualified from keeping all animals for seven years, handed a 12-month community order with up to 10 days of rehabilitation activity, and ordered to pay a £200 fine and £400 costs.

An order was also made for any further animals in his possession to be taken into the care of the RSPCA.

The court heard RSPCA officers had attended Saunders’ home several times before Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Black visited on 14 January this year to check on the animals’ welfare.

“Through the letterbox and gaps in the windows I became concerned once again for the living conditions of the animals,” she said in a written statement to the court.

“As I looked through the letterbox I saw two small black kittens playing amongst rubbish on the floor. I saw empty dishes, no food or water and rubbish all over the floor.”

When Saunders failed to answer the door, police were called for assistance — and he initially refused to allow access before agreeing to a visit two days later.

Returning with animal rescue officer Paula Milton on 16 January, DCI Black said she was “overwhelmed with the smell”.

“There was an awful smell of ammonia that was affecting my nose and eyes from within the front room,” she said. “The floor was bare, hard concrete and was stained with dirt and grime. Areas of the floor were clear but other areas were full of rubbish, hazards and animal waste.”

Saunders signed three of the cats over to the RSPCA, while Arianna and Carlos were taken into possession by police. A vet told the court all five animals were in good body condition, but said the living situation was “not a suitable one for the cats”.

“Despite the warning and advice given previously, the owner has failed in their duty of care by failing to provide for the animals’ needs,” the vet added.

The court heard in mitigation that Saunders was remorseful and regrets his actions.

There was a happy ending for the animals — the kittens and one-year-old Cole have been rehomed, while Arianna, nine, and three-year-old Carlos have now been signed over to the RSPCA and will also find new homes.

Following sentencing, DCI Black said: “We always try to work with owners and deal through advice and education and there is often a lot of prevention work carried out.

“Every animal deserves to be treated with kindness and respect and if you are responsible for a pet you must make sure all their welfare needs are met.”

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BRITON FERRY: Two years on, the Wales Coastal Path closure on the estuary has become a political football — as 20 Labour councillors demand action over sinkholes that nobody will pay to fix

Twenty opposition Welsh Labour councillors from Neath Port Talbot have written to the new Welsh Government Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability demanding urgent action and funding to reopen long-closed sections of the Wales Coastal Path through Baglan, Briton Ferry and Sandfields West — a stretch that has now been fenced off for more than two years over fears of subsidence and sinkhole collapse.

The letter, sent this week to Plaid Cymru MS Llŷr Gruffydd — who took on the newly created rural resilience portfolio when Plaid Cymru formed Wales’s first ever Plaid-led government earlier this month — lands at the heart of a long-running political dispute over who should pay to fix a deteriorating path on land owned by the Welsh Government and maintained, until 2023, by the council.

Campaign led by three local councillors

The campaign for the path’s reinstatement has been led by Cllr Josh Tuck (Baglan), Cllr Gareth Rice (Briton Ferry) and Cllr Rob Wood, whose wards either border or contain the closed section. This week’s letter to the Cabinet Minister has been signed by 17 of their Welsh Labour colleagues from across the borough.

Cllr Rice’s ward of Briton Ferry contains the stretch of path that runs alongside the Briton Ferry estuary — where the original closure was made in April 2023 after the path was deemed too dangerous to use.

Closed since April 2023

According to the council’s own official response to a 2024 enquiry from Aberavon and Maesteg MP Stephen Kinnock, the section was closed in April 2023 because of “subsidence connected to the formation of sinkholes, which unfortunately made the path hazardous to use.”

The same letter, written by NPT’s Head of Planning and Public Protection Ceri Morris, set out a longer history of problems. Repair schemes had been carried out approximately every four years since 2012 to fill or bridge the sinkholes that were continually forming in the area — but those works “did not address the wider problem that is affecting the adjacent land.”

By early 2023, the council said, officers had noticed new cracks opening up along the path. “The Authority considered it had no option other than to close the path on safety grounds,” the letter said.

Walkers were redirected along the cycle route from The Quays Offices, passing through the industrial estate to pick up the Wales Coast Path connection at Purcell Avenue.

Walkers using eroded unofficial route around closure

More than two years on, councillors say walkers are increasingly bypassing the official closure altogether and using an unofficial route through eroded ground alongside the fencing — raising fresh concerns that the closure may be creating new safety risks rather than removing them.

The letter from the 20 councillors describes the closures as “a visible symbol of neglect along a key part of our coastline” and says that despite repeated questions to Neath Port Talbot Council from elected members, no clear timetable has ever been provided for restoration.

March 2024: borehole testing

The council’s 2024 response confirmed that NPT had used Wales Coast Path funding in March 2024 to carry out “an extensive bore hole testing scheme to ascertain the extent of the issues in this area.” Officers were said to be reviewing the final report to ascertain whether the route remains feasible for future use as the Wales Coast Path.

But the council was clear that reopening depends on funding from above. “Whilst it was not the Authority’s intention to permanently close this section of the path, ultimately it comes down to whether funding becomes available from Welsh Government,” Mr Morris wrote.

The official council position has been that NPT itself cannot continue to fund repeated repair schemes indefinitely — and that even if it did, the underlying subsidence affecting the adjacent land would mean the path could only be reopened on a temporary basis without a wider intervention.

A funding dispute the council says rests with Welsh Government

The closure has happened entirely under the current Plaid Cymru-led rainbow coalition, which took control of Neath Port Talbot Council in 2022 — meaning the path has been fenced off for almost the whole of this administration’s time in office.

Council leader Cllr Steve Hunt has previously stated publicly that the path “has nothing at all to do with NPTCBC” because the underlying land is in the ownership of the Welsh Government — placing responsibility for any repair work with whoever forms that government.

David Rees, who served as Welsh Labour MS for Aberavon until losing his seat at the May 2026 Senedd election, said in 2024 that he had been told by NPT that the council needed money from Welsh Government to fix the path, while Welsh Government had stated that the council had already received maintenance funding. “It is unlikely to re-open until this is resolved as the argument of people’s safety will be dominant,” he said at the time. Two years on, his prediction has held: the path remains closed.

“A flagship national asset”

The Wales Coastal Path is an 870-mile route around the entire Welsh coastline, launched in 2012 as the first dedicated long-distance walking route to cover an entire country. It is jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales, with day-to-day maintenance delivered by local authorities. The Welsh Government also owns the adjacent land affected by the subsidence — making it both funder and landowner in the dispute.

The letter from the 20 councillors describes the path as “internationally recognised” and intended to be “a source of pride for Wales” — but says that large sections through Baglan, Briton Ferry and Sandfields West remain “inaccessible, fenced off and deteriorating.”

A cross-party political map

The letter has been copied to all six Members of the Senedd for the new Afan Ogwr Rhondda constituency, which covers the affected communities under the new D’Hondt voting system introduced for the May 2026 election.

Those six MSs are Sera Evans, Alun Cox and Elyn Stephens, all of Plaid Cymru; Benjamin Hodge McKenna and Steve Bayliss, both of Reform UK; and former Welsh Labour cabinet member Huw Irranca-Davies, who was elected Llywydd of the Senedd earlier this month and is now politically impartial.

Cabinet Minister Llŷr Gruffydd, MS for Clwyd, only took on the rural resilience brief on 13 May after First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth appointed his first cabinet. The portfolio includes responsibility for Wales’s outdoor and natural environment infrastructure.

‘We loved watching the birds and wildlife’

Baglan residents Gaynor and Graham, both members of the RSPB, said the loss of the path had stripped local people of a free, accessible community asset.

“The coastal path at Briton Ferry has always been a lovely, easy, flat walk for people of all ages,” they said. “Walkers from Neath and Port Talbot used it, not just residents of Baglan and Briton Ferry. It’s a local asset that’s free to use, and obviously helps people’s fitness, mental health and well-being. Apart from meeting people socially along the way, it really needs to be reinstated.

“For us personally, we loved watching the birds and wildlife as we are both members of the RSPB. In these challenging times it would be great to have somewhere that’s free to enjoy.”

Three areas of damage

The councillors set out three distinct impacts of the closures.

On health and wellbeing, the letter says the closures have cut off vital routes for walking, cycling and daily exercise relied upon by residents for years.

On active travel, the closures have severed key walking and cycling connections between Baglan, Briton Ferry, Sandfields and the wider Swansea Bay coastline.

And on local business and tourism, the councillors say visitors have been diverted away from the area’s seaside businesses, undermining wider Welsh Government ambitions around tourism and outdoor recreation.

“Unacceptable and unworthy”

Calling for a “clear programme for restoration and reopening,” the councillors describe the current position as “unacceptable for local communities and unworthy of a flagship national route such as the Wales Coastal Path.”

“Its continued closure damages confidence in public infrastructure and undermines wider Welsh Government ambitions around tourism, wellbeing and active travel,” the letter states.

The 20 signatories

Alongside Cllr Josh Tuck, Cllr Gareth Rice and Cllr Rob Wood, the letter is signed by Cllr Carol Clement-Williams (Baglan), Cllr Suzanne Paddison (Sandfields West), Cllr Sarah Thomas, Cllr Laura Williams, Cllr Mike Harvey, Cllr Lauren Heard (Neath East), Cllr Stephanie Grimshaw (Aberavon and Baglan Moors), Cllr Saifur Rahaman and Cllr Alan Lockyer (Neath North), together with the Welsh Labour ward councillors for Margam and Taibach and for Port Talbot.

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BRITON FERRY: Police throw a security ring around the docks all weekend as fears grow of bank holiday rave

Police have moved to lock down Briton Ferry Docks for the entire bank holiday weekend after fears grew of a potential illegal rave in the area.

South Wales Police have brought in special powers — known as a Section 35 dispersal order — that let officers tell anyone they suspect of being there for trouble to leave the area. Anyone who refuses can be arrested on the spot.

The order came into force on Friday evening and runs until 3pm on Sunday — meaning officers have the power to clear the docks throughout the warmest weekend of the year so far.

Police say there will be a heavy uniformed presence around the docks all weekend, both day and night.

The crackdown covers the dock area on the eastern bank of the River Neath, close to the M4 and the Briton Ferry bridge — a quiet, semi-industrial spot that police say has previously been targeted by people organising illegal music events.

So-called raves — unlicensed music gatherings, often held in remote or industrial locations — have become a particular concern over bank holiday weekends, when organisers count on long nights, good weather and the chance of getting in before police can shut them down.

Sergeant Molly Llewellyn, of South Wales Police, said the force understood people wanted to enjoy the bank holiday — but warned there were limits.

She said: “With the forthcoming bank holiday weekend and the associated warm weather forecast, it is recognised that many individuals will wish to socialise and enjoy this period. However, it is essential that all such activities take place in a safe and lawful manner.”

She added that illegal raves were not just a problem for the people attending, but for the wider community.

“Unlicensed music events, commonly referred to as ‘raves’, present significant risks not only to those in attendance but also to the wider community,” she said. “These risks include — but are not limited to — increased levels of anti-social behaviour, public disorder, violence, drug and alcohol misuse, and the presence of unsafe environments.”

People are being warned not to head to any unlicensed event they hear about over the weekend — and anyone who knows of one being planned is being asked to tip off the police.

Sgt Llewellyn said: “Members of the public are strongly advised not to attend such gatherings. Additionally, anyone with information relating to these activities is encouraged to report it to the police.”

A Section 35 order can be put in place for up to 48 hours at a time. The Briton Ferry order will run for about 72 hours in total — meaning police will have extended or renewed the powers to cover the full bank holiday.

As well as ordering people to leave, the powers also let officers seize items being used in anti-social behaviour — for example, sound equipment that could be used at an illegal event.

Anyone with information can call South Wales Police on 101, message them on social media, or pass tips anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 in an emergency.

WOMEN’S CRICKET: ‘The younger girls would race to get the smallest shirt’ — how south Wales women finally got a kit that fits

Ask Gemma Pugh what it used to be like when the kit bag came out before a match, and the answer tells you everything about what women’s cricket in south Wales has been missing.

“Teenage girls are often so self-conscious about what they look like,” she says. “Until now, we had been using hand-me-downs from men’s teams so when the kit bag came out, the younger girls would be racing to get the kit with the smallest t-shirts that fitted better, as the big, baggy tops were so uncomfortable.”

That changed this season with the formation of Western Steel — a new women’s cricket team combining the talent of Briton Ferry Steel Ladies and Carmarthenshire Ladies, competing in the South Wales Cricket Premier League with a second team in Division One.

Western Steel is the first women’s hardball cricket team in Carmarthenshire and south-west Wales to play in kit designed and made specifically for women — purpose-built clothing from Maiden Cricket, a brand founded by teenage sisters Honor and Cat Black who were frustrated by the same ill-fitting kit their players had endured for years.

Pugh, who co-manages the team, said having kit with their own name on it would change more than just how the players look.

“It seems crazy that we’ve waited this long to have our own kit for women — one that fits properly, has our own name on and will make us all feel a lot more confident and proud to be out on the cricket field,” she said.

The team spans players aged 13 to over 40. One of Western Steel’s bowlers is a fashion designer in her day job, and worked directly with the Maiden team to create a design that reflects the combined squad’s ambition — described as daring, stylish and practical.

Karen Hughes, who has coached Briton Ferry Steel Ladies for eight years and is now co-manager of Western Steel alongside Pugh, said the merger represented a significant moment for women’s cricket in the region.

“The merger of Briton Ferry Steel Ladies and Carmarthenshire Ladies marks an exciting new chapter for women’s cricket in Wales,” she said. “The squad has expanded with several new players joining ahead of the campaign, creating a strong and competitive group for the year ahead.”

The timing is significant. Next month, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup comes to England and Wales — bringing elite women’s cricket to the doorstep of a region that is only now building its own competitive women’s game. The tournament has already broken records before a ball has been bowled, with ticket sales surpassing 145,000, making it the highest-selling Women’s T20 World Cup in history. Warm-up matches will be held at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens from 6 to 10 June, giving Welsh fans the chance to see the world’s best players before the main event begins.

Women’s cricket has grown significantly in Wales in recent years, with Cricket Wales expanding the girls’ league structure and the number of teams entering women’s competitions rising steadily. Western Steel’s formation — merging two existing clubs to create a stronger, wider-reaching outfit — is itself a sign of that growth.

Cricket Wales Women’s and Girls’ Lead Carl Holding, who launched the Cricket Wales Girls League and expanded women’s competitions across the country, said Western Steel’s debut was good news for the whole women’s game in Wales.

“Having their own kit, designed specifically for them, ensures they can play, and look, their best, getting into a positive mindset the moment they put it on,” he said.

Pugh hopes the visibility of the team will open a door for girls in the region who might never have considered cricket as a sport for them.

“There is still a lot to do to raise the profile of women’s cricket in Wales but hopefully young girls will watch us play and see that there’s a pathway for them to get into the game and succeed,” she said.

Western Steel’s first team is competing in the South Wales Cricket Premier League this season. Anyone interested in joining can contact the club through Cricket Wales.

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Live updates as M4 crash causes gridlock – Wales Online

Live updates as M4 crash causes gridlock  Wales OnlineLive: M4 and Newport crawl to a halt amid heavy congestion…
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BRITON FERRY: Cannabis factory with up to 120 plants discovered after neighbours tip off police

A cannabis factory containing up to 120 plants has been discovered at a property in Briton Ferry – after local residents tipped off police about suspicious activity.

Officers from South Wales Police obtained an emergency search warrant and forced entry to the property on Middleton Street over the weekend.

The scale of the operation became immediately apparent. South Wales Police said the smell of cannabis could be detected strongly from the street outside before officers had even entered the building.

Inside, officers found between 100 and 120 cannabis plants arranged in a commercial-scale growing operation.

Nobody was present at the property when officers arrived.

South Wales Police also said that electrical wiring at the property had been tampered with.

The force said the illegal modification posed a significant danger – not only to the property itself but to neighbouring homes on Middleton Street.

Illicit cannabis farms frequently involve bypassed electricity meters and unauthorised rewiring, which can cause fires and put residents in surrounding properties at serious risk.

South Wales Police said: “Upon entry, they were greeted with between 100 and 120 cannabis plants forming a grow which could be smelled strongly from the street. Electrical wiring had also been tampered with, posing a danger to the property and neighbouring properties.”

The cannabis factory was dismantled by officers and all plants seized.

South Wales Police confirmed an investigation is currently ongoing.

The discovery followed a tip-off from the local community. South Wales Police said officers had acted “upon information from the local community” when obtaining the emergency warrant.

It is not the first time officers have uncovered a large-scale cannabis operation in the area.

Police previously raided a secret cannabis factory hidden inside an abandoned Marks & Spencer store in Neath, while two men were jailed after a cannabis factory was discovered in Swansea.

South Wales Police has also warned landlords specifically about the risk of cannabis factories being established in rental properties without their knowledge.

Anyone with information about suspected drug activity in their area can contact South Wales Police on 101, or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Information can also be submitted online at south-wales.police.uk.

Port Talbot motorists set to face 12 months of roadworks as underground electricity network upgraded

National Grid has confirmed that work to install new underground electricity cables between the existing substations in Briton Ferry and Ynys Street will begin on Monday 9 March.

The energy company has warned the project is expected to take between nine and 12 months to complete, depending on ground conditions.

Work will be carried out in sections along the route, starting at the Ynys Street end. National Grid says it will use a ‘rolling road system’ to try and minimise disruption, meaning only short sections of the route will be affected at any one time.

However, the company has admitted that residents and businesses within affected sections may be asked to move their vehicles and avoid parking in specific areas for limited periods. Those impacted will receive advance communication, it said.

It follows previous work by National Grid in the Port Talbot area to supply power for Tata Steel’s new electric arc furnace.

Despite the long period of works, National Grid claims the project is vital to improve the reliability of power supplies for homes and businesses.

Ffion Owen, a specialist at National Grid, admitted the work could be disruptive, stating:

“This is vital reinforcement work to ensure the electricity network in Port Talbot can continue to support homes and businesses now and in the future. While we know roadworks can be disruptive, this investment will help improve the reliability of the network in the local area and reduce the risk of future outages.

“We would like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience while this essential work is carried out.”

National Grid said it would work closely with the local authority throughout the project.

Neath Port Talbot crushes fly-tippers’ vehicles as crackdown intensifies

New figures released by the Welsh Government and Fly-tipping Action Wales reveal that whilst fly-tipping incidents have risen nationally by 14.7 per cent, Neath Port Talbot has maintained its strong enforcement record, seizing and crushing vehicles belonging to offenders caught dumping waste illegally.

Recent prosecutions include Richard Darren Barwell, whose vehicle was seized and crushed after an investigation found he had dumped house renovation waste at two locations in Briton Ferry.

The council’s tough approach comes as Wales recorded over 48,000 fly-tipping incidents last year — around 133 every day — with household waste accounting for 71 per cent of all illegal dumps. Nationally, more than 1,500 fines were issued alongside 69 successful prosecutions.

Cllr Scott Jones, Cabinet Member for Streetscene, said seizing and crushing vehicles sends a powerful message to would-be offenders.

“Seizing and crushing vehicles is an effective way of sending a strong message to fly-tippers that we take the crime extremely seriously,” Cllr Jones said.

“This Council is using a variety of methods – including surveillance cameras – to proactively catch the culprits who are blighting our environment. Anyone who fly-tips risks an unlimited fine and a prison sentence of up to five years.”

The council’s commitment to strengthening enforcement has been backed by a dedicated Welsh Government grant to support camera-based projects aimed at catching offenders in the act.

One of the new cameras will be installed at the site of the authority’s recently unveiled community mural in Melin, created in collaboration with Fly-tipping Action Wales, celebrity artist Nathan Wyburn and Year 5 pupils from Ysgol Melin.

The striking mural, which features piercing green eyes and the bilingual warning “No fly tipping — don’t waste our future,” was designed by the pupils themselves as a creative response to the problem blighting their community.

Neath Port Talbot has achieved significant success in tackling fly-tipping, recording a 26 per cent reduction in incidents this year — one of the largest decreases across all Welsh local authorities.

The council prosecutes large-scale, repeat or commercial fly-tipping, as well as the dumping of hazardous waste, whilst issuing fixed penalty notices for smaller-scale offences including littering, minor fly-tipping and failing to check a waste carrier’s licence.

Heidi Pawlin, Programme Manager for Fly-tipping Action Wales, said the problem damages communities and costs taxpayers millions.

“Fly-tipping damages our environment, costs taxpayers millions, and undermines communities,” Ms Pawlin said.

“Help keep your local community clean – if you’re paying someone to take your waste away, always check they have a waste carrier’s licence with Natural Resources Wales.”

Householders who fail to check whether their waste carrier is properly licensed face a fixed penalty of £300, or a fine of up to £5,000 and a criminal record if the case goes to a Magistrates Court.

The penalties for fly-tipping itself are even more severe, with offenders facing unlimited fines and prison sentences of up to five years.

Residents can check whether a waste carrier is registered by visiting naturalresources.wales/CheckWasteLicence or calling 0300 065 3000.

The Welsh Government figures show that 71 per cent of fly-tipping incidents involve household waste, highlighting the importance of householders taking responsibility for ensuring their rubbish is disposed of legally.

Fly-tipping Action Wales is a Welsh Government-sponsored initiative established in 2007 to tackle illegal dumping. The all-Wales partnership includes more than 50 organisations, including the 22 Welsh local authorities, Natural Resources Wales, Keep Wales Tidy, the three National Park Authorities, Network Rail, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, the Fire Service and all four Welsh police forces.

Briton Ferry homes hit by two-foot flood waves as amber alert turns real

Street turns to river as cars plough through

Briton Ferry residents woke to scenes of devastation on Monday morning (15 December) as torrential rain overwhelmed drains and turned Pant Yr Heol into a flood zone.

Photos shared by local councillors show water gushing from manholes, cars half-submerged, and emergency crews responding near a flooded railway bridge. One image shows a fire engine parked under the bridge with lights flashing, while another captures water bursting from a drain as cones struggle to contain the flow.

A third shows a residential street under water, with flood levels reaching doorsteps and traffic lights reflected in the rising tide.

“Waves were two feet high”

Daniel Popp, a resident of Pant Yr Heol, said drivers made the flooding worse by ignoring pleas to avoid the street.

Daniel Popp said:

“People are so inconsiderate — even after pleading with them not to go through the water they completely ignored myself and others and made things two times worse for people on the street.

It was worse when the cars were coming through — the waves coming off it were about two feet high.”

Daniel said the road hadn’t flooded in around three years, but used to flood regularly during heavy rain.

Amber warning remains in force

The Met Office’s Amber warning for rain remains in place until 9pm tonight, covering Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Bridgend, Cardiff, Pembrokeshire and 10 other counties.

Natural Resources Wales has warned of a “severe risk to life” in parts of South Wales, urging residents to prepare for further flooding as rivers swell and surface water builds.

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Council crushes Llanelli man’s truck after dumping household debris in two Briton Ferry lanes

Richard Darren Barwell, 55, of Ropewalk Road, pleaded guilty at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on 30 October 2025 to two offences under Section 33(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The court heard that on 10 August 2024, large quantities of household debris — including timber, bathroom fittings, carpets, and building rubble — were found dumped in a lane between Gower Street and Tucker Street, and again later that day at Wharf Road.

Among the items were internal doors, a cream bath and sink with a seashell-like pattern, bags of rubble, loft insulation, a broken toilet, and a Carmarthenshire Council recycling bag.

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Waste Enforcement Officers traced the fly-tipping to a black Ford tipper van seen at both locations. Mr Barwell was found to be insured to drive the vehicle, making him liable under the law even if he did not personally deposit the waste.

The van was seized and later crushed after being deemed unfit for the road.

Mr Barwell was ordered to pay £1,516 in costs, a £114 victim surcharge, and complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

“A serious environmental crime”

Councillor Scott Jones, Cabinet Member for Streetscene, praised the council’s enforcement team:

“This kind of fly-tipping is a serious environmental crime and can be very distressing for the communities where waste is unlawfully deposited. I want to praise our Waste Enforcement Officers who worked hard to bring about this prosecution. It sends out the message that those who fly-tip, and in so doing damage our communities, will be brought before the courts.”

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Local volunteer groups in Briton Ferry and Glyncorrwg honoured with King’s Award

Friends of Jersey Park in Briton Ferry and Noddfa Community Centre in Glyncorrwg are among just five Welsh recipients this year, standing alongside 231 groups across the UK. The award celebrates the impact of volunteers who give their time to strengthen communities, improve wellbeing and preserve local places.

Friends of Jersey Park, Briton Ferry

Jersey Park has long been a green heart of Briton Ferry, and the Friends group has worked tirelessly to keep it that way. Volunteers organise events, raise funds, and involve residents in improving the park’s environment. Their efforts promote health and wellbeing through open‑air activities, while also building a stronger sense of community.

The recognition has been warmly welcomed locally. Trustee Gareth Rice said:

“As a trustee of The Friends of Jersey Park, I am incredibly proud to share this news. Our volunteer group has been honoured with an award from His Majesty King Charles III — one of only 231 awards across the entire United Kingdom in 2025.

“This distinction is equivalent to an MBE, placing our local volunteers among the nation’s most outstanding community champions. It is proof that when a community comes together, it can achieve something truly remarkable.”

Fellow Trustee, John Beck added:

“The Friends of Jersey Park are honoured to receive this award from King Charles. Some 231 awards were made across the whole of the United Kingdom for 2025. This award is equivalent to an MBE, and we are very proud to receive it.”

Noddfa Community Centre, Glyncorrwg

Noddfa has been serving Glyncorrwg since 1976, run day‑to‑day by a volunteer executive committee. The centre is a hub for social wellbeing, offering room hire for community activities, a nursery school, and even a community church. It hosts initiatives like Codi’r To, a regeneration project through music, and provides space for programmes such as Gwaith Gwynedd, which helps people into work.

Volunteers at Noddfa Community Centre said the award was a proud moment for the whole community:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to share some amazing news! Noddfa Community Centre has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service — the highest honour a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, and the equivalent of an MBE.

“This incredible recognition celebrates the outstanding dedication, compassion, and hard work of our volunteers who give their time, energy, and hearts to support our community.

“We want to say a huge thank you to every single one of our volunteers — you make everything we do possible. And a special thank you to Jennifer Morris who nominated us for this prestigious award — your support means the world to us! We’re so proud to be part of such a caring and committed community.”

National recognition

Minister for Civil Society Stephanie Peacock said the awards highlight the extraordinary contribution of volunteers:

“These awards celebrate the extraordinary volunteers who are the lifeblood of communities across Wales. Day in, day out, they give their time, energy and compassion to transform lives and strengthen the places we call home.”

KAVS Chair Sir Martyn Lewis CBE added:

“The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the UK’s top award for groups of remarkable citizens transforming many aspects of life in their local communities. For over two decades these annual awards have shown the people of our country at their very best.”

Looking ahead

Nominations for the 2026 King’s Award for Voluntary Service are now open, with applications closing on 1 December 2025. Any group of three or more volunteers, active for at least three years, can be put forward.

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My wife treating me to lunch at the drive-thru McDonald's at Briton Ferry. Romantic beyond...

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