#hafod — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #hafod, aggregated by home.social.
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HAFOD: Snapchat messages led police to a dealer’s ketamine stash — hidden in a Tesco bag in his spare bedroom
A Hafod drug dealer whose Snapchat messages gave him away has been jailed for four years — after police found 2.7kg of ketamine and hundreds of grams of cannabis stashed in a Tesco carrier bag in his spare bedroom.
Flynn Johnson-Andrews, 28, of Grandison Street, was identified during an unrelated phone download, when Snapchat messages showed him selling cannabis and ketamine, South Wales Police said.
Officers went to his home on 9 June and arrested him as he got out of his car and headed for his front door, Swansea Crown Court heard.
After his phone was seized, the 28-year-old told officers they would find ketamine and cannabis in a spare bedroom — where a Tesco carrier bag was found holding packages of ketamine totalling some 2.7kg, along with 623g of cannabis.
The search also turned up cannabis joints under the bed and on a bedside cabinet, small snap bags, and weighing scales in the kitchen covered in white powder.
Messages sent and received on his phone over the previous few days related to the supply of cannabis, the court heard.
Johnson-Andrews was on licence at the time, having been sentenced to 32 months in prison in 2024 for supplying cocaine and cannabis. He has five previous convictions for 11 offences, including possession of Class A, B and C drugs and three counts of drug-driving.
He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of ketamine with intent to supply, and was jailed for four years — four years for the ketamine offence and six months for the cannabis, to run concurrently — after a one-third discount for his guilty pleas.
His barrister, Andrew Evans, told the court that both of his client’s parents had struggled with drug addiction, saying it was “perhaps not surprising that he is a young man with his own addiction issues”. He conceded an immediate custodial sentence was inevitable.
Judge Huw Rees told Johnson-Andrews it was not his fault that he did not have the best start in life, and said that as he approached his 30th birthday he was left wondering what direction his life would take. The judge told him he would make a “good teacher” telling people to give up drugs.
Acting Inspector Jonathan Shaddick said: “This was an excellent arrest, charge and sentence which demonstrates quick and efficient police work following a thorough investigation from start to finish.
“I recognise the work of PC Finch, who led the warrant, along with the fine work of other City NPT officers involved in this investigation.
“With our Clear Hold Build work currently ongoing in the area to build a better Dyfatty, this sends a strong message that those in the area who are involved in criminality can expect to be tracked down and brought to justice as we address the long-standing issues the people of Dyfatty have had to contend with for too long.”
The Clear Hold Build operation — which clears an area of organised crime, holds the ground, then works with the community to build longer-term resilience — has been credited with cutting crime in Dyfatty by more than a tenth in four months. Over the same period, a row of long-shuttered High Street units reopened as the Dyfatty Junction community hub.
Hafod itself sits within the wider turnaround area. The neighbourhood is one of six — alongside Dyfatty, North Hill, High Street, Brynmelyn and Waun Wen — covered by a £20m, decade-long UK Government investment programme, and applications are open until later this month for residents to join the board deciding how the money is spent.
South Wales Police said tackling organised crime was a priority for the force, and that it would “continue to be relentless” in pursuing criminals to protect communities from harm.
Anyone who suspects drug dealing is taking place — or is concerned that a young person or vulnerable adult may have been targeted by an organised crime group — can call South Wales Police on 101, or report anonymously to Crimestoppers online or on 0800 555 111. “You don’t have to be certain, just concerned,” the force said. In an emergency, always call 999.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
SWANSEA: Empty Dyfatty shops reborn as community hub in neighbourhood’s turnaround
Crime in the area is down by more than a tenth in four months as the regeneration takes hold.DYFATTY: Want a say in how £20m transforms your neighbourhood? Applications open for the board that decides
Residents of Hafod, Dyfatty and four neighbouring communities can apply to steer a decade of investment.DYFATTY: Residents asked to shape the next chapter of their community’s turnaround
#BuildingABetterDyfatty #Cannabis #ClearHoldBuild #DrugDealing #Dyfatty #Hafod #ketamine #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #SwanseaCrownCourt
The regeneration and safety drive moves into its next phase. -
DYFATTY: Want a say in how £20m transforms your neighbourhood? Applications open for the board that decides
People across a swathe of north-central Swansea are being invited to apply for the board that will decide how £20m of UK Government money is spent in their neighbourhoods over the next ten years.
Applications opened today to join the area’s new Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board, which will draw up a ten-year vision and investment plan.
“North Gate Swansea” is the name given to the programme area, covering North Hill, Upper High Street, Dyfatty, Hafod, Brynmelyn, Waun Wen and surrounding neighbourhoods — the cluster of communities north of the railway station selected earlier this year for up to £20m under the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme.
The board will be chaired by Thom Lynch, co-founder of the High Street charity Matthew’s House, whose appointment was announced last month.
Anyone who lives, works, volunteers, studies or has a strong connection to the area can apply, and no previous board experience is needed. Applications can be made in writing or by video, with a deadline of 12pm on Thursday 16 July.
Mr Lynch said more than forty local people had expressed an interest before applications had even opened.
“We are looking for people who care deeply about this area and want to play an active role in helping it thrive,” he said. “What matters most is your passion for the community, your willingness to work with others and your desire to create lasting positive change.”
Swansea West MP Torsten Bell said people in the area deserved “not only to see investment to strengthen their communities” but “a voice in what those investments should be”.
“I fought for this funding because it gives us the chance to show that no part of Swansea can be written off,” he said. “Please do get involved.”
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said the board would ensure local people helped shape priorities and decisions, adding that he looked forward to “a wide range of people stepping forward”.
Places on the board are limited, but applicants who miss out will be encouraged to join a wider North Gate Swansea Changemakers Network supporting projects across the area.
Anyone wanting to find out more can meet Mr Lynch at an informal drop-in session at Matthew’s House on High Street this Friday, 10 July, between 11am and 1pm.
Application packs are available at northgateswanseapip.co.uk or by emailing [email protected].
The area has seen a run of recent investment activity, including a row of long-empty High Street units reopening as the Dyfatty Junction community space last month, as police reported falling crime in the neighbourhood.
North Gate Swansea is one of three Pride in Place areas locally. In Llanelli, where an equivalent board is steering the town’s own £20m programme, applications close today — while the Afan Valley’s £20m drive is chaired by former Neath Port Talbot Council chief executive Karen Jones, who was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours last month.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
DYFATTY: Swansea homelessness charity boss to lead £20m drive to transform city neighbourhoods
Thom Lynch’s appointment as chair of the North Gate Swansea board.SWANSEA: Empty Dyfatty shops reborn as community hub in neighbourhood’s turnaround
Long-shuttered High Street units reopen as the Dyfatty Junction community space.LLANELLI: Residents wanted for board steering town’s £20m, 10-year transformation
The equivalent Pride in Place board across five Llanelli wards.HONOURS: ‘An incredible honour’ — MBE for the council chief now leading the Afan Valley’s £20m revival
#CllrRobStewart #Dyfatty #GatewayCommunities #Hafod #homelessness #MatthewSHouse #PrideInPlace #SwanseaCouncil #TorstenBell #WaunWen
Karen Jones takes on the Afan Valley’s Pride in Place programme. -
The wild fires above the #Elan Valley have spread across into #Ceredigion and are now nearing the forestry above the #Hafod estate near #Cwmystwyth.
Wind is a brisk easterly, so it's not looking good for the forestry.
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The wild fires above the #Elan Valley have spread across into #Ceredigion and are now nearing the forestry above the #Hafod estate near #Cwmystwyth.
Wind is a brisk easterly, so it's not looking good for the forestry.
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The wild fires above the #Elan Valley have spread across into #Ceredigion and are now nearing the forestry above the #Hafod estate near #Cwmystwyth.
Wind is a brisk easterly, so it's not looking good for the forestry.
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The wild fires above the #Elan Valley have spread across into #Ceredigion and are now nearing the forestry above the #Hafod estate near #Cwmystwyth.
Wind is a brisk easterly, so it's not looking good for the forestry.
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The wild fires above the #Elan Valley have spread across into #Ceredigion and are now nearing the forestry above the #Hafod estate near #Cwmystwyth.
Wind is a brisk easterly, so it's not looking good for the forestry.
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SWANSEA: Community champion sought to help shape how £20 million is spent on Gateway Communities regeneration
Community leaders in Swansea are being urged to apply for a new independent role that will sit at the heart of one of the most significant regeneration programmes the city has seen in years.
The position — Independent Chair of the Neighbourhood Board — will provide strategic leadership over how £20 million of Pride in Place funding is invested in Swansea’s Gateway Communities. The area covers a cluster of neighbourhoods north of Swansea railway station, including Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill, Dyfatty and Hafod — communities that have long been identified as among the most overlooked in the city despite being passed through daily by thousands of commuters and visitors.
The Chair’s role will be to act as a champion for those communities, ensuring the Neighbourhood Board is genuinely community-led, inclusive and rooted in local needs rather than top-down priorities. The money can be used on a wide range of projects — from saving threatened pubs or libraries and improving community safety, to revitalising local high streets or restoring green spaces.
Swansea West MP Torsten Bell, who secured the funding through the Pride in Place programme, is calling on community leaders to put themselves forward.
Bell said: “The Pride in Place scheme is all about handing power back to people — this role is a fantastic opportunity for a community champion to have a lasting impact, working with a Swansea neighbourhood whose residents have too often felt overlooked.”
He added: “I fought for this funding because it gives us the chance to show that no part of Swansea can be written off. If you care deeply about these neighbourhoods and want to help make that vision a reality, I would strongly encourage you to apply.”
The Pride in Place scheme is part of a wider £214 million investment across south west Wales, designed to give communities a direct say in tackling long-standing problems in their areas. The Swansea allocation is one of the largest individual awards in the region and is intended to be spent over a decade, with decisions made in phases as priorities are identified.
Bell has previously set out his own vision for how the money should be used, but has been clear that the decisions must ultimately be driven by residents — not politicians or officials. The Independent Chair role is central to that ambition, providing a community-rooted voice at the top of the board rather than a council or government appointee.
The area covered by the funding has been in the spotlight in recent months for a range of reasons. South Wales Police has been running a targeted crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in Dyfatty, which has already produced significant early results — with crime falling 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69%. The regeneration investment offers a longer-term complement to that enforcement work, addressing the underlying conditions that can fuel deprivation and disorder.
The Neighbourhood Board will be responsible for overseeing how the money is prioritised and spent, and the Independent Chair will play a key role in making sure that process is transparent, community-led and genuinely responsive to the needs of residents in the affected areas.
Full details of the role and the application process are available on the Swansea Council website at swansea.gov.uk/prideinplacechair.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost as MP urges residents to shape decade of investment
The announcement of the Pride in Place funding for Swansea’s Gateway Communities.Opinion: Torsten Bell MP — how Swansea should spend its Pride in Place funding
The MP sets out his priorities for the decade-long regeneration investment.Crime down 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69% as Dyfatty crackdown delivers early results
South Wales Police’s targeted enforcement in the same area is already showing significant results.South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment for local projects
#Brynmelyn #Dyfatty #GatewayCommunities #Hafod #PrideInPlace #Swansea #TorstenBellMP #WaunWen
The wider regional context for the funding that is now being put to work in Swansea. -
Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost as MP urges residents to shape decade of investment
The funding, confirmed today, will focus on the communities north of Swansea railway station — stretching through High Street, Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill and Hafod. The area, used daily by thousands travelling in and out of the city, has long been identified as one of Swansea’s most overlooked corridors.
MP: ‘This area is too often forgotten’
Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, welcomed the announcement and said the decade‑long investment must be shaped by the people who live there. He has launched a public survey asking residents to set the priorities for the scheme.
“Swansea is making real progress,” he said. “Our city centre is seeing landmarks renewed and new buildings open, from the Albert Hall to the new Y Storfa. And today’s confirmation of £20m investment in the neighbourhoods north of the train station will make sure an area, that thousands travel through every day but is too often forgotten, is part of this progress.”
He said the funding would “make a real difference” and urged residents to take part in the consultation.
What the money will target
The £20m comes from the Pride in Place programme — a £180m, 10‑year regeneration fund for communities across Wales. The scheme is designed to give local people a direct say in tackling issues that have blighted their neighbourhoods, from run‑down high streets to graffiti, vandalism and the loss of community facilities.
Alongside the main investment, Swansea will also receive a share of £34.5m in capital funding to improve public spaces across the city. That includes repairing broken bus shelters, reopening park toilets and upgrading other neglected infrastructure.
Residents asked to set priorities
The MP’s survey — available on his website — asks people to identify the problems they want fixed first. Early suggestions include improving lighting and safety on key walking routes, restoring community buildings, and tackling long‑standing fly‑tipping hotspots.
The funding will be rolled out over the next decade, with decisions expected to be made in phases.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Llanelli handed £20m lifeline as decade‑long regeneration drive targets town’s most deprived communities
A major investment package aims to revive struggling neighbourhoods and restore key community assets.Upper Afan Valley lined up for £20m boost as council backs decade‑long regeneration bid
Long‑term funding is set to support jobs, infrastructure and community renewal across the valley.Opinion: Torsten Bell MP — how Swansea should spend its Pride in Place funding
The Swansea West MP sets out his priorities for how the city can make the most of the investment.South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment for local projects
Communities across the region are set to benefit from a decade of targeted regeneration funding.‘Transformational for our communities’: South West Wales MPs react to £214m Pride in Place funding
#Brynmelyn #deprivation #featured #Hafod #HighStreet #NorthHill #PrideInPlace #PrideInPlaceFund #PrideInPlaceImpactFund #Swansea #TorstenBellMP #WaunWen
Local MPs welcome the investment and outline what it could mean for neighbourhoods across the region. -
Swansea’s blue bag plastics trial extended – 70 tonnes collected so far
Around 20,000 households across the city have been stuffing crisp packets, bread bags and biscuit wrappers into special blue bags for kerbside pick‑up. The trial, launched in spring, was designed to see if residents would embrace recycling the trickiest plastics that usually end up in black bags.
They did. Within weeks, Swansea Bay News reported more than five tonnes had already been collected. Now the total has soared past 70 tonnes, with the material recycled into new products like bags for life and bin liners.
“A great success story”
Cabinet Member Cyril Anderson said:
“The trial so far has been a really great success story. Residents have got on board with it and have quickly seen the value in using the recycling service and reducing the amount of household waste they put in the black bag. Our plan is to continue the trial into the new year and give residents in the trial areas the opportunity to use the blue bags until June.”
Where it runs
The scheme covers a mix of areas across Swansea – from Blaenymaes, Fforestfach and Penlan to Clydach, Hafod and Townhill – chosen to test how different housing types use the service. Residents outside the trial can still recycle soft plastics at supermarket collection points.
What goes in the bag
Accepted items include crisp packets, bread bags, cereal liners, pet food bags, magazine wrapping and multipack rings. Residents are asked to rinse items and tie bags securely with a double knot.
Items such as cling film, polystyrene, cleaning product pouches and blister packs are not accepted and should go in black bags.
What’s next
The Welsh Government is collating data from Swansea’s trial to help decide how similar schemes could be rolled out across other towns and cities. For now, Swansea households in the pilot areas can keep filling their blue bags until 30 June 2026.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Council to trial soft plastic kerbside recycling scheme in Swansea
Swansea Council launched the pilot scheme in April, inviting 20,000 households to recycle soft plastics at the kerbside.Swansea residents embrace new soft plastics recycling trial with over five tonnes already collected
Early figures showed strong uptake, with residents quickly filling blue bags and more than five tonnes collected within weeks.Plans revealed to change kerbside recycling in Swansea
#Blaenymaes #blueBags #breadBags #cerealLiners #crispPackets #Hafod #magazineWrapping #Penlan #petFoodBags #PlasticRecycling #Recycling #softPlastic #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #Townhill
Wider proposals to reshape recycling collections across the city, including how soft plastics could fit into future services. -
Swansea man jailed for 30 years for child sex offences
Adam Davies, 36, of Odo Street, Hafod, was described by a judge as a “manipulative and predatory” paedophile who posed a significant risk to children.
Offending spanned years
Swansea Crown Court heard Davies sexually abused two young girls on multiple occasions and repeatedly raped a young boy over a period of years. The offending first came to light in 2023 when one of the girls confided in someone she trusted about what had happened when she was younger. Police launched an investigation and further victims were identified.
When officers seized Davies’s laptop, they discovered indecent images of children, adding to the weight of evidence against him. Despite this, Davies denied all allegations and the case went to trial in October this year.
Convictions and sentence
Jurors found Davies guilty of a long list of offences, including rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and causing children to engage in sexual acts. He was also convicted of possessing indecent images of children.
Judge Catherine Richards said she had “no doubt” Davies was a dangerous offender who posed a significant risk of causing serious harm to children. She described him as “manipulative and determined” and told the court that his behaviour had left lasting scars on his victims.
Davies was handed a 30‑year extended sentence, comprising 26 years in custody followed by four years on licence. He must serve at least two‑thirds of the custodial term before the Parole Board considers release. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Police statement
Detective Constable Stacey Jones, South Wales Police, said:
“Adam Davies’s offending is some of the worst of its kind we have seen in Swansea. He disgustingly took advantage of multiple children to act out vile acts for his own depraved sexual pleasure.
“He is of an immeasurable danger to children, and the streets are far safer for young people now that he has been sent to prison for a hugely significant sentence. He showed no remorse and took no responsibility for what he has done.
“We pay tribute to the immense bravery of the victims who have come forward, and hope that they are now able to move on with their lives safe in the knowledge that Adam Davies cannot access them anymore.”
Support for survivors
South Wales Police said anyone affected by this case can contact them via 101, quoting reference 62WN0407323. Survivors of sexual abuse will be listened to, treated with dignity and respect, and supported throughout the judicial process.
Further information and details of support services are available on the South Wales Police website.
#adamDavies #childSexOffences #hafod #sentencing #southWalesPolice #swansea #swanseaCrownCourt
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Over 1500 sign petition asking to close #Hafod #Landfill down and start independent inquiry into fire https://buff.ly/4hlhwtH