#waun-wen — Public Fediverse posts

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
Karen Jones takes on the Afan Valley’s Pride in Place programme.

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
The wider regional context for the funding that is now being put to work in Swansea.

Swansea: Waun Wen man jailed after being found guilty of rape

30-year-old Adam Ezalden, from Waun Wen, punched and kicked his victim on a number of occasions after the victim had made clear that he did not have her consent.

The victim was only able to escape the assault, which took place in April 2024, after elbowing Ezalden to the face and taking the opportunity to run away.

Ezalden was found guilty of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in March 2026. He has this week been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

Detective Constable Carys Davies said:

“This was a harrowing attack in which Adam Ezalden used his clear power over the victim to achieve sexual gratification, even using violence as he did so.

“He is clearly a danger to women and is therefore not welcome on the streets of Swansea.

“We hope that the victim is able to overcome her trauma suffered at the hands of Adam Ezalden, and commend her for her bravery in coming forward.”

If you have been sexually abused, and you are not yet ready to report to police, please don’t suffer in silence. A wealth of information and details of support services can be found here.

[Lead image: South Wales Police]

More local Police & Crime stories can be found here.

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
Local MPs welcome the investment and outline what it could mean for neighbourhoods across the region.

Swansea drug line boss jailed after police find SIM cards hidden in waistband

Abbas Al‑Sulaimawi, from Waun Wen, was operating the line by bulk‑texting known drug users with offers of supply, frequently switching numbers in an attempt to stay ahead of police. But a joint investigation by South Wales Police and the Metropolitan Police linked the changing phone lines back to him.

When officers arrested him, they found SIM cards for two active drug lines hidden inside a waistband sewn into clothing in his bedroom. A further search uncovered £3,490 in cash stashed beneath a wardrobe.

Al‑Sulaimawi pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin and has now been jailed for five years, seven months and two weeks.

Speaking after sentencing, Sergeant Luke Tucker from South Wales Police said the 22‑year‑old had shown a persistent pattern of dealing.

Sergeant Tucker said:

“Abbas Al‑Sulaimawi, despite being just 22 years of age, has multiple previous convictions for being involved in the supply of Class A drugs,” he said. “He just cannot stay away from peddling the misery that these drugs cause onto the streets of Swansea. It is very satisfying to see that justice has now caught up with him, and he will rightfully spend years in prison.”

Police say the takedown of the “Milly” line has disrupted a significant supply route into Swansea, and further work is ongoing to target associated networks.

More Crime & Courts

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Newport pair admit overnight raids across Haverfordwest and Carmarthen.

Brothers jailed after burglary spree across two counties
Homes in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire targeted in series of break‑ins.

Kidwelly cannabis farm uncovered after phone photos found
Officers discover large grow after searching suspect’s mobile.

Swansea man jailed following Townhill burglary

38-year-old Daniel Allen, from Waun Wen, was identified as the suspect after attempting to sell a lamp stolen from the property at a nearby shop. Other ornaments, computers, phones and trainers were also stolen during the burglary, at an address on Gomer Road.

He has 37 previous convictions for 76 offences, with around 50 relating to theft and similar matters. The court heard he has been jailed for 17 shoplifting offences this year alone.

Dan Griffiths, defending his guilty plea at Swansea Magistrates Court, said a custodial sentence was inevitable and told the court that addiction to Class A drugs and excessive alcohol consumption had blighted Allen’s adult life and been the “driver” for his offending.

“The reality is his client is ‘simply unable to cope in the community, and the best place for him for the foreseeable future would be the structured environment of a custodial setting,” he said.

Allen refused to attend his sentencing hearing, with Mr Griffiths saying even if given another chance to attend on a subsequent date, he did not think his client would.

Judge Vanessa Francis said it was clear Allen’s life was blighted by drink and drugs, but added that he was “in turn blighting the lives of others by his actions”.

She said she had not been invited to consider suspending the custodial sentence, and even if she had been, given the defendant’s “abject failure” to comply with court orders in the past, an immediate custodial sentence was the only option.

With a one-third discount for his guilty plea, Allen was sentenced to 20 months in prison. He will serve no more than half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

Detective Constable Liam Jenkins said:

“Daniel Allen had already been remanded for 13 shoplifting offences at the time of the investigation into this burglary.

“Whilst he was known to the victim, any burglary will cause worry amongst all those who live on the victim’s street, so I hope that they can feel some relief in knowing Daniel Allen is going to prison.

“It is very disappointing that Daniel continues to offend in this way.”

[Lead image: South Wales Police]

Serial shoplifter jailed after £861 spree targeting Swansea stores

Nicky Barratt, 26, from Waun Wen, was sentenced to five months in prison after admitting five counts of theft from a shop at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on December 18.

Targeted Tesco Express and Co‑op stores across the city

Police said Barratt repeatedly targeted Tesco Express and Co‑op branches between 17 November and 11 December 2025, stealing items including cheese, chocolate, alcohol and meat. The total value of the stolen goods came to £861.40.

His offending came to an end when patrol officers were alerted to a theft in progress during his final spree. Barratt was stopped, detained at the scene and later linked to four further offences.

Neighbourhood officers: “He’ll spend Christmas in jail”

PS Jon Shaddick, from the Swansea Neighbourhood Policing Team, said officers were focusing on offenders who repeatedly target local businesses during the force’s Winter of Action campaign.

PS Shaddick said:

“During our Winter of Action we are focusing on targeting those who target businesses in our community to shoplift for their own gain.”

He added that the sentence sends a clear message.

PS Shaddick said:

“I’m pleased to see Barratt will spend Christmas in jail. I hope this time will provide him time to reflect on his choices.”

Police highlight the ‘Cost of Christmas’

South Wales Police said neighbourhood teams will continue working throughout the festive period to protect businesses and show offenders the #CostOfChristmas.

Two men in hospital and three arrested after disturbance on St Helen’s Road

South Wales Police said they were called to St Helen’s Road, Sandfields, at around 10.15pm (24 September).

Arrests

A 25‑year‑old man from Sandfields, a 23‑year‑old man from Waun Wen, and a 19‑year‑old man from Barry have all been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault and affray. They remain in custody.

Victims

Two men were taken to hospital with stab wounds. Police say both are in a stable condition.

Scene and disruption

A police cordon remained in place on Thursday morning, with officers warning of traffic disruption. The closure affects the first section of Richardson Street, where it meets St Helen’s Road, and extends around the pavement outside Madbuns Milkshakes and Mocktails.

Police statement

A South Wales Police spokesperson said:

“An investigation into this incident is currently ongoing. A scene is being held in the area alongside an increased police presence which may cause traffic disruption. Please avoid the area if you can.”

Appeal

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has mobile phone or dashcam footage, is asked to contact police quoting reference 2500307012.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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#Affray #assault #knifeCrime #RichardsonStreet #Sandfields #SouthWalesPolice #StHelensRoad #Swansea #WaunWen

Swansea uncle and nephew convicted over fatal street killing of Joshua Norman

Paul Rosser, 49, from Gendros, was found guilty of murder, while his nephew Joshua Cullen, 32, from Waun Wen, was convicted of manslaughter following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

The convictions follow a South Wales Police investigation into the fatal attack, which took place on Cwm Road inm Hafod at around 12.08pm on 11 September 2024. Emergency services arrived to find Joshua Norman with a catastrophic neck injury. Despite the efforts of paramedics and passers-by, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Violent End to a Drug-Fuelled Morning

According to evidence presented during the trial, Rosser stabbed Norman in the throat using a broken Thatcher’s Katy cider bottle, severing his carotid artery. The three men — Rosser, Cullen, and Norman — had spent the previous night drinking and smoking crack cocaine at Norman’s flat on Matthew Street.

On the morning of the killing, they were seen travelling in a black Audi A3, withdrawing cash and allegedly purchasing drugs in Port Tennant. Witnesses later saw the men walking through Hafod, where an argument broke out. Rosser smashed the bottle and used it to stab Norman, while Cullen was accused of encouraging or assisting the attack2.

Both men walked away, leaving Norman to bleed to death on the pavement. Rosser was arrested less than an hour later on the same street, covered in blood and with facial injuries

“A Beautiful Person Whose Smile Lit Up Any Room”

In a tribute released by South Wales Police, Joshua’s family described him as a “loving son, father, brother, and uncle” whose “smile and sense of humour would light up any room and any heart”.

They added:

“We will miss him terribly and ask for privacy at this time to grieve the loss of our dear son.”

Investigation Praised for Swift Action

Detective Chief Inspector Lianne Rees, who led the investigation, said:

“What happened to Joshua Norman was a tragic incident, taking place during broad daylight. I’d like to thank the investigation team, CPS and prosecuting counsel who worked hard to ensure justice was brought.”

She also paid tribute to the passers-by who tried to save Joshua’s life, acknowledging the trauma they experienced.

Sentencing Ahead

Both Rosser and Cullen will be sentenced in due course.

The case has prompted renewed calls for better intervention strategies for individuals at risk of violent behaviour due to addiction and social isolation.

#Gendros #Hafod #manslaughter #murder #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #WaunWen

Three men jailed after attempting to use Swansea woman’s home as drugs base

31-year-old Saeed Afshar, from Barking, 26-year-old Gary Akister, from Swansea, and 25-year-old Tyrese Douglas, from Southwark, London, left the occupant of the home feeling scared for their safety when they stayed for four hours within the property. The men stashed drugs within the property after targeting the occupant for ‘cuckooing’.

Afshar and Akister then left to collect a further drugs debt elsewhere in Swansea, but they were soon arrested by officers.

Saeed Afshar and Gary Akister have been sentenced to eight years in prison. Tyrese Douglas has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.

Detective Inspector Richard George from South Wales Police said: “These three men, all of whom are connected to the “Gavin” drugs line, were clearly prepared to exploit vulnerable people in order to ensure that their illegal drugs money was coming in.

“The men were part of an organised crime group (OCG) which uses high levels of violence and intimidation in order to “cuckoo” innocent people into having their homes used for drugs operations.

“Often OCGs target people who are lonely, isolated, or have addiction issues. It’s common for OCGs to use a property for a short amount of time, moving address frequently to reduce the chance of being caught.

“It is fortunate that, in this case, the brave victim was able to get help swiftly.”

#cuckooing #drugs #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #WaunWen

Waun Wen man jailed for dealing cocaine

34-year-old Andrew Davison was stopped by police on 2 February, where officers say messages on his mobile phone showed clear evidence that he was concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Police then visited Davison’s home where a set of digital scales was seized.

He has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Heather Southway from South Wales Police said: “Andrew Davison supplied drugs illegally to people in his local community without any concern for their wellbeing.

“As with other drug dealers like him, he is now going to receive justice for his offence in the form of a number of years in prison.

“To anyone else involved in this illegal activity, you will be identified, and you will be sent to prison.”

(Lead image: South Wales Police)

#cocaine #drugs #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #WaunWen