#porttalbot — Public Fediverse posts

Cwtch Mawr multibank begins pilot expansion into Neath Port Talbot

Faith in Families says the expansion marks a significant step for the Swansea‑based project, which has been battling rising need by redistributing new, surplus goods from businesses to families struggling to afford the basics. The charity says it is now moving at speed to support more households across the county.

Five hubs have been chosen for the rollout — in Port Talbot, the Afan Valley, Neath, the Dulais Valley and Pontardawe. Faith in Families says each hub will receive clothing, toiletries, nappies and household essentials, ready to be passed on through trusted local organisations.

The charity says its vans are already being loaded, with deliveries expected to begin as soon as each hub gives the green light.

A rapid response to rising need

Faith in Families says the pilot will test how fast large volumes of essential goods can be moved across a wider area while keeping support rooted in local communities. The charity says the work forms part of a wider partnership known as NPT United, bringing together public services, charities and businesses to support families under pressure.

Jon Waite, Facilities and Development Manager at Faith in Families, said:

“This pilot is about working at pace while keeping things local and practical. We know there is real need across Neath Port Talbot, and by working with established community hubs we can get essential items to families quickly, through people they already know and trust. This trial will help us understand what works best on the ground and how we can build strong, joined‑up approaches going forward.”

Expanding a model built on speed and dignity

Faith in Families says the multibank model is designed to get essential goods to families without delay, paperwork or stigma. The charity says working through schools, community groups and frontline services ensures support reaches people through organisations they already trust.

Faith in Families says the Neath Port Talbot pilot will help shape how the model can be expanded further across Wales, with the aim of making sure no family goes without the basics.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

New and expanded Cwtch Mawr Multibank opens in Swansea
A major expansion of the Swansea hub, boosting capacity to support families across the region.

Local multibank helping over 120,000 people each year gets £30K cash boost
Funding support to help the multibank meet rising demand for essential goods.

New charity initiative already supporting thousands
Early coverage of the multibank model as it began delivering essentials to families in need.

Virgin Media O2 donates hundreds of smartphones and free data to Swansea’s Cwtch Mawr Multibank
A major tech donation helping families stay connected during rising cost pressures.

Plans for giant Y Bryn wind farm near Port Talbot refused after landscape concerns

The Y Bryn Wind Farm would have seen up to 18 turbines, each rising to 250 metres from base to tip, constructed on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate northeast of Port Talbot. At that scale, the turbines would have been more than twice the height of Swansea’s Meridian Quay Tower, and visible across much of South Wales.

A project promising power for thousands of homes

Developers Coriolis Energy and ESB argued the scheme could generate enough electricity to power more than 85,000 homes each year, offsetting over 137,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. They said the project would contribute towards Wales’ 2030 renewable energy target, while also offering a £1 million annual community benefit fund and opportunities for local ownership.

Concerns that the turbines would dominate the skyline

Despite those potential benefits, the inspector concluded the turbines would cause “unacceptable adverse impacts” on the landscape and visual amenity. Both Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend councils warned the sheer size of the structures would dominate the skyline and affect historic sites.

The inspector acknowledged the climate and energy security advantages but ruled that the harm to the landscape outweighed them. The decision noted that while the impacts would eventually end when the turbines were decommissioned, they would be felt for decades.

Relief for campaigners after years of opposition

Local residents in Bryn and nearby communities, who had opposed the plans since 2021, welcomed the refusal.

Resident Rhodri Williams said:

“We’re over the moon with this decision and so happy to see that common sense has prevailed. After fighting it for years, we’re pleased to have saved our local landscape so that future generations can enjoy what we have now.”

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) also praised the outcome, describing the project as “industrial‑scale in an entirely inappropriate landscape” and warning it would have threatened valued forests, wildlife and community wellbeing.

Developers say Wales has missed an opportunity

Project manager Trevor Hunter said Coriolis and ESB were “bitterly disappointed” by the refusal, calling it a setback for Wales’ renewable energy ambitions. He highlighted the inspector’s concerns about long‑distance impacts on the Gower National Landscape and cumulative effects on heritage assets.

Hunter added that the developers would review the decision with legal and technical teams before deciding on next steps, but stressed the project had promised significant community benefits and investment.

What happens next for Y Bryn

For now, campaigners say they are relieved the project has been halted, while developers consider whether to appeal or resubmit revised plans. The debate over how Wales balances renewable energy targets with protecting sensitive landscapes is likely to continue.