#singleton-park — Public Fediverse posts

Padel courts, zip wire and a year-round lido: Swansea’s big plans for the bay — but no answers on the slip bridge

The plans were presented to councillors at a meeting of the economy and infrastructure service transformation committee on 2 April, where a feasibility study commissioned in 2024 was laid out in full for the first time.

The study covers the foreshore corridor from West Pier at Swansea Marina all the way to the Clyne River Bridge at Blackpill — deliberately steering clear of the Civic Centre site, which is already being redeveloped by Urban Splash, and Mumbles, where a major seawall and promenade project has recently been completed.

Steve Hopkins, the council’s strategic manager for tourism, marketing and special events, told councillors that tourism is already worth £658 million a year to Swansea’s economy and supports 5,400 jobs, with 4.62 million visitors recorded in 2024. But the study was blunt about the bay’s shortcomings. The official report identifies a “lack of vibrancy and facilities along the foreshore” and an “undefined unique selling point” compared to other UK seaside destinations, with the road dominating and facilities in poor condition in places.

Nearly 800 people were consulted as part of the study — including seafront businesses, beach users, residents and councillors — and the message was consistent: more eateries, better toilets, improved seating, barbecue spots, public art, viewing platforms, beach-related retail and easier access to the beach itself. Better and cheaper parking also came through strongly, as did a call for the Swansea Bay Rider land train service to be extended eastward past St Helens, in addition to its current westward run towards Mumbles.

The study divides the foreshore into a series of distinct zones. The promenade area closest to the Civic Centre would get separate “fast” and “slow” routes for cyclists and pedestrians, widened surfaces, new seating, tree planting, improved lighting and a new signature sculpture. The St Helens activity zone — which will see the Ospreys return to St Helens Stadium — would get improved public realm to make the matchday and events experience better for spectators, with pop-up food stalls and a large screen among the ideas. The ecology area near the foot golf site would become a nature education centre, using the existing building, with better interpretation and footpaths allowing visitors to explore SSSI habitats closer to the shore.

The centrepiece of the near-term ambitions is Blackpill. The study proposes significantly expanding the lido and surrounding area, with a relocated zip line and crazy golf from Singleton Park, a new flexible events space with a tensile structure for all-year use, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Clyne River, formalised beach access points, planting to improve the road frontage and food and drink including a beach bar. The aim is to make the lido somewhere people visit in January as well as July.

Padel courts are also specifically proposed near the Singleton Park boating lake, alongside upgraded kiosks, terraced banks and improved planting. Hopkins acknowledged the sport’s rapid spread — “dare I say it, padel courts, they don’t seem to be going away,” he told the committee — but said the foreshore offered a great backdrop for the right facility in the right place. Beach sports zones and designated family areas are also in the mix.

Tracey McNulty, head of cultural services, parks and cleansing, was clear that the plans were early-stage. “At this moment the proposals are very much about improving things gently rather than building new things,” she told the committee. The study is not yet an adopted strategy and no funding has been secured. The next step, officers say, is to develop the proposals into worked-up schemes ready to bid for capital funding when opportunities arise — whether through Welsh Government regeneration grants, tourism funding, active travel budgets or partnership with organisations including Swansea University and the Welsh Wildlife Trusts.

Committee chair Cllr Phil Downing welcomed the report but asked whether new commercial activity along the foreshore could drain footfall from the city centre — a concern officers said they had factored in, with the aim being to attract new visitors rather than displace existing spending. Cllr Mike White called the bay “absolutely tremendous” and asked about beach volleyball, log cabin lookout points and whether boats could return to the boating lake, citing busy volleyball events he had seen in Bournemouth as an example of what the space could host.

One question councillors couldn’t get a straight answer on was the future of the slip bridge. Cllr White raised it directly, but Tracey McNulty told the committee it hadn’t been included in the study, describing it as “a live topic, an issue structurally with highways” and adding that she wasn’t party to that discussion. The slip bridge — a much-loved Victorian iron footbridge that once connected the promenade to the foreshore near St Helens — remains dismantled, with its arch currently sitting on the cycle path near St Helens and the original stone abutments standing unused along Oystermouth Road. Swansea Council has allocated £139,000 to assist the Friends of Swansea Slip Bridge, and campaigners are pushing for a replica built from modern steel after the original 1915 span was deemed beyond repair. But its future remained unresolved at the meeting — and absent from the official report entirely.

Cllr Downing closed the meeting on a lighter note, suggesting saunas could be added to the foreshore offer for winter visitors.

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SINGLETON PARK: Future of iconic 200-year-old Swiss Cottage in doubt again as leaseholder pulls out

The Friends of Singleton Park group announced that the leaseholder for the Grade II listed building had given up their lease, leaving no clear path to renovating the historic landmark.

Swansea Council confirmed the news, saying that while it was “disappointing”, the authority remained committed to finding a new sustainable use for the cottage.

The news comes less than three years after it was announced that the landmark was set for a new lease of life, with Swansea-based Tifa Properties taking on a 15-year lease in August 2023.

The company had planned to transform the vacant building into a café with food and drink units, creating a new hub for park users.

In a statement on social media, the Friends of Singleton Park said: “It has been brought to our attention that the lease holder for Swiss Cottage has given up his lease.

“This means that 3 years on, there is not a clear path to renovating this iconic building.”

The group noted that while the exterior of the cottage had been repainted, the building was not any more “functionally useable”.

They also highlighted that 2026 is a significant year for the cottage, as it marks the 200th anniversary of its construction in 1826.

A Swansea Council spokesperson said: “The council has provided considerable support to help restore the exterior of this fantastic feature of Swansea’s history.

“While it’s disappointing that the current leaseholder at Swiss Cottage has decided to surrender the lease, we remain committed to finding a suitable sustainable use for the Swiss Cottage and will now look at alternative options to achieve that.”

The picturesque cottage was designed by architect Peter Frederick Robinson, who designed Sketty Hall for the Vivian family, after he was inspired by timber-built houses he had seen in Switzerland.

It has stood empty for many years and has been the subject of numerous failed plans and proposals.

The building was badly damaged in an arson attack in 2010, with a major restoration project completed in 2014 to repair the roof, windows, doors and distinctive decorative features.

Last year, the park was the subject of a public consultation on a new improvement plan, with drop-in sessions for residents held next to the historic cottage.

Ibiza anthems, Nashville cowboys and a tidal wave of sausages and cider — Swansea’s biggest party weekend is coming

From Ibiza anthems to sausages and cider to a full‑blown Nashville takeover, organisers say the weekend — running from 31 July to 2 August 2026 — will bring something for everyone, with thousands expected to descend on the park.

Weekend tickets, covering all three events, are already on sale from £49.

Ibiza Orchestra Experience – Friday 31 July

The party kicks off on the Friday with the Ibiza Orchestra Experience, returning to Wales after a sell‑out UK tour. A 26‑piece orchestra will take over Singleton Park with live renditions of White Isle classics from the likes of Rudimental, Daft Punk, Tiësto, Fatboy Slim and The Prodigy.

Organisers promise their biggest Swansea production yet, with stilt walkers, fire breathers, laser shows, pyrotechnics and a full festival market. A new 90s dance tent is being added for 2026, alongside DJs, MCs and special guests still to be announced.

The event is strictly 18+ and runs from 6pm to 11pm.
Tickets from Ticket Tailor.

Sausage & Cider Festival – Saturday 1 August

Saturday sees the return of the Sausage & Cider Festival, bringing more than 30 cider flavours, 20 types of sausages, craft beer, cocktails and a huge outdoor stage.

Tribute acts to Oasis, Coldplay, Queen, The Killers, Fleetwood Mac and Stereophonics will headline, with celebrity guests, a silent disco, sausage‑eating competitions and a bustling festival market adding to the chaos.

Families are catered for too, with a dedicated children’s tent offering discos, entertainers, face painting and character meet‑and‑greets. The event runs from midday to 10pm, with under‑18s required to attend with an adult over 21.

Tickets from Ticket Tailor.

Summer in Nashville – Sunday 2 August

The weekend closes with a full‑scale country music takeover as Summer in Nashville brings the spirit of Tennessee to Swansea. Fans can expect tributes to country legends, rising Nashville artists flown in from the US, and a second stage showcasing new talent.

Alongside the music, organisers are promising line dancing, American BBQ, street food, rodeo bull rides, axe throwing, tin can alley and even 500 free cowboy hats.

Marketing manager Tom Cullen said demand is already high: “We can’t wait to bring Summer in Nashville to Swansea for the biggest Nashville party in the UK.”

Tickets from Ticket Tailor.

‘Biggest weekend Swansea has ever seen’

With three major events back‑to‑back, organisers say Singleton Park will be transformed into a “non‑stop summer celebration” — and early ticket sales suggest Swansea is ready for it.

Tickets for each event, plus weekend passes, are now available through the official websites.

Happy misty, damp Thurs. 😊👋
But fear not…Spring isn’t far away. Here are some bloomin snowdrops..
#snowdrops
#signsofspring
#SingletonPark
#Swansea #Abertawe

Happy misty, damp Thurs. 😊👋
But fear not…Spring isn’t far away. Here are some bloomin snowdrops..
#snowdrops
#signsofspring
#SingletonPark
#Swansea #Abertawe

Happy misty, damp Thurs. 😊👋
But fear not…Spring isn’t far away. Here are some bloomin snowdrops..
#snowdrops
#signsofspring
#SingletonPark
#Swansea #Abertawe

Happy misty, damp Thurs. 😊👋
But fear not…Spring isn’t far away. Here are some bloomin snowdrops..
#snowdrops
#signsofspring
#SingletonPark
#Swansea #Abertawe

Happy misty, damp Thurs. 😊👋
But fear not…Spring isn’t far away. Here are some bloomin snowdrops..
#snowdrops
#signsofspring
#SingletonPark
#Swansea #Abertawe

Snowdrops pushing up already. Happy New Year folks 😊👋✌️
Peace, love and nurture nature 🕊️
#snowdrops
#Swansea
#SingletonPark

Snowdrops pushing up already. Happy New Year folks 😊👋✌️
Peace, love and nurture nature 🕊️
#snowdrops
#Swansea
#SingletonPark

Snowdrops pushing up already. Happy New Year folks 😊👋✌️
Peace, love and nurture nature 🕊️
#snowdrops
#Swansea
#SingletonPark

Snowdrops pushing up already. Happy New Year folks 😊👋✌️
Peace, love and nurture nature 🕊️
#snowdrops
#Swansea
#SingletonPark