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  12. <title>Swansea Standard</title>
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  26. <title>Swansea Standard</title>
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  32. <title>Rugby heroes join Howden in fundraising for local Swansea charity</title>
  33. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/12/rugby-heroes-join-howden-in-fundraising-for-local-swansea-charity/</link>
  34. <comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/12/rugby-heroes-join-howden-in-fundraising-for-local-swansea-charity/#respond</comments>
  36. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Keith Evans-Hurley]]></dc:creator>
  37. <pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2025 10:42:17 +0000</pubDate>
  38. <category><![CDATA[Local News]]></category>
  39. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1515621</guid>
  40.  
  41. <description><![CDATA[Howden, the global insurance group and a Principal Partner of the British &#38; Irish Lions, hosted a Lions watch event at the Swansea.com Stadium earlier this week, raising over £2,500 for local charity, Joseph’s Smile. The event, on July 2, saw 100 guests gather to watch the Lions’ victory over the Queensland Reds, a triumph [&#8230;]]]></description>
  42. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Howden, the global insurance group and a Principal Partner of the British &amp; Irish Lions, hosted a Lions watch event at the Swansea.com Stadium earlier this week, raising over £2,500 for local charity, Joseph’s Smile.</div>
  43. <div></div>
  44. <div>The event, on July 2, saw 100 guests gather to watch the Lions’ victory over the Queensland Reds, a triumph made all the sweeter for the local crowd by Ospreys star, Jac Morgan, taking centre stage and being named Man of the Match in Australia. Guests at the event were joined by multiple Wales and Lions rugby heroes including Shane Williams, Dafydd James, Glenn Webb, Craig Quinell, Rhodri Jones and Iestyn Hopkins.</div>
  45. <div></div>
  46. <div>The event raised over £2,500 for Joseph’s Smile through a raffle and a hotly contested auction for a British &amp; Irish Lions shirt signed by Gareth Edwards, which one generous bidder took home for £400.</div>
  47. <div></div>
  48. <div>Joseph’s Smile provides grants to children to access lifesaving or life-changing medical treatment or equipment that&#8217;s currently not available to them on the NHS, as well as raising awareness, support and research for childhood cancer. Since its founding in 2022 in memory of Joseph Yeandle, the charity has provided £167,154 in funding for children to access lifesaving or lifechanging medical treatment or equipment.</div>
  49. <div></div>
  50. <div>Howden also took the opportunity to present Ospreys CEO, Lance Bradley, with their Lions Origin plaque in recognition of the Ospreys players who have represented the British &amp; Irish Lions. The list included an awe-inspiring 21 rugby players, including Shane Williams, Leigh Halfpenny and Alun Wyn Jones.</div>
  51. <div></div>
  52. <div>Gary Stevens, Regional Managing Director at Howden, said: “We had a fantastic day welcoming our Swansea community to watch the victorious British &amp; Irish Lions, which was topped off by raising an incredible amount for Joseph’s Smile. The charity is one close to all our hearts. Their work is truly life-changing for so many families, and we are incredibly proud to be supporting them in any way we can.</div>
  53. <div></div>
  54. <div>Catherine Robinson, Associate Director at Howden said: “It was an additional honour to present the Ospreys’ CEO Lance Bradley with their Lions Origin plaque, and especially to see the Ospreys’ own Jac Morgan doing such a fantastic job representing Wales out in Australia.”</div>
  55. <div></div>
  56. <div>Emma Rees from Joseph’s Smile said: “We are so grateful to Howden for their ongoing support. This event alone will have an incredible impact on the support we are able to provide, and we are blown away by the generosity.</div>
  57. <div></div>
  58. <div>“Our aim is to provide lifesaving support for families who need to access medical treatment and equipment that is not available via the NHS. By giving them access to additional funding it is our hope that rather than spending precious time fundraising, families will be able to spend more quality time together. With the funds raised today we are one step closer to helping a family in need.”</div>
  59. ]]></content:encoded>
  61. <wfw:commentRss>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/12/rugby-heroes-join-howden-in-fundraising-for-local-swansea-charity/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  62. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  65. <media:content url="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Howden-and-Josephs-Smile-team-scaled.jpeg" medium="image"></media:content>
  66.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1515621</post-id> </item>
  67. <item>
  68. <title>TOURISM TAX SET TO HAMMER LOCAL ECONOMY –  Tom Giffard MS</title>
  69. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/12/tourism-tax-set-to-hammer-local-economy-tom-giffard-ms/</link>
  70. <comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/12/tourism-tax-set-to-hammer-local-economy-tom-giffard-ms/#respond</comments>
  72. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Keith Evans-Hurley]]></dc:creator>
  73. <pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2025 10:39:20 +0000</pubDate>
  74. <category><![CDATA[Political News]]></category>
  75. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1515619</guid>
  76.  
  77. <description><![CDATA[Tom Giffard MS the Member of the Senedd for South Wales West has expressed grave concerns at the impact the Tourism Tax – passed this week &#8211; is going to have in Swansea. The Tourism Tax can be levied by local authorities on anyone staying overnight at visitor accommodation in Wales. To begin with it [&#8230;]]]></description>
  78. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="font-weight: 400;">Tom Giffard MS the Member of the Senedd for South Wales West has expressed grave concerns at the impact the Tourism Tax – passed this week &#8211; is going to have in Swansea.</p>
  79. <p style="font-weight: 400;">The Tourism Tax can be levied by local authorities on anyone staying overnight at visitor accommodation in Wales. To begin with it will be £1.30 per person per night, but the provision of an unlimited premium which may be added means that once it has been introduced the Councils will be able to request that Ministers increase it.</p>
  80. <p style="font-weight: 400;">This new Labour Welsh Government policy has the potential to ruin what was already a fragile economy, causing worry to one of the largest employment sectors in Wales.</p>
  81. <p style="font-weight: 400;">Tom Giffard MS is concerned about the impact this will have on Swansea and Gower.</p>
  82. <p style="font-weight: 400;">The Welsh Conservatives, meanwhile, will axe the Tourism Tax before it comes into force.</p>
  83. <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Commenting, Tom Giffard Senedd Member for South Wales West said:</strong></p>
  84. <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“Gower and Swansea are great places to come and visit, but Welsh Government plans to introduce a tax on overnight stays only threatens to harm this crucial sector of our economy.”</em></p>
  85. <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“One in seven jobs in Wales relies on the tourism and hospitality industry, so this tax is a tax on Swansea jobs.</em></p>
  86. <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“So, if the Welsh Government won’t rule out introducing this tax, then the Council must.</em></p>
  87. <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em> </em><em>That’s why I’ve written to the Leader of Swansea Council asking him for a commitment that they will completely rule out levying the Tourism tax in the city.”</em></p>
  88. ]]></content:encoded>
  90. <wfw:commentRss>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/12/tourism-tax-set-to-hammer-local-economy-tom-giffard-ms/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  91. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  94. <media:content url="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tom-Giffard-MS-scaled.jpeg" medium="image"></media:content>
  95.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1515619</post-id> </item>
  96. <item>
  97. <title>Heatwave: Lib Dems call on Welsh Government to open community ‘cool hubs’ and support fire services</title>
  98. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/12/heatwave-lib-dems-call-on-welsh-government-to-open-community-cool-hubs-and-support-fire-services/</link>
  99. <comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/12/heatwave-lib-dems-call-on-welsh-government-to-open-community-cool-hubs-and-support-fire-services/#respond</comments>
  101. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Keith Evans-Hurley]]></dc:creator>
  102. <pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2025 10:37:16 +0000</pubDate>
  103. <category><![CDATA[Political News]]></category>
  104. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1515617</guid>
  105.  
  106. <description><![CDATA[Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS has today called on the Welsh Government to take practical measures ahead of the forecasted heatwave, including opening up ‘cool hubs’ in public spaces with air-conditioning and supporting the fire services to deal with the threat of wildfires. The Met Office has said that temperatures could climb to [&#8230;]]]></description>
  107. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS has today called on the Welsh Government to take practical measures ahead of the forecasted heatwave, including opening up ‘cool hubs’ in public spaces with air-conditioning and supporting the fire services to deal with the threat of wildfires.</div>
  108. <div></div>
  109. <div>The Met Office has said that temperatures could climb to 33C across Wales this weekend.</div>
  110. <div></div>
  111. <div>The elderly and those in inadequate housing are particularly at risk. UK Government data estimated 2,295 deaths were associated with heatwaves in summer 2023, with spring 2025 already the warmest and sunniest on UK record.</div>
  112. <div></div>
  113. <div>Wales has also suffered numerous forest and grass fires in recent heatwaves, primarily in Mid Wales and the South Wales Valleys.</div>
  114. <div></div>
  115. <div>Community spaces with air conditioning such as gyms, leisure centres and libraries could provide much-needed respite from soaring temperatures in summer months, following similar ‘cool bank’ schemes in other countries.</div>
  116. <div></div>
  117. <div><strong>Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:</strong></div>
  118. <div></div>
  119. <div>“The imminent hot weather could be very difficult for vulnerable and elderly people, and it also carries the risk of wildfires, which we have already seen breaking out across Wales in recent years.</div>
  120. <div></div>
  121. <div>“It is only right that public spaces, which are there to serve their communities, are used to provide some much-needed relief during the sweltering temperatures.</div>
  122. <div></div>
  123. <div>“I would also urge ministers to do everything they can to make the public aware of how they can mitigate the risk of wildfires, including by avoiding lighting fires outdoors where possible and being careful with glass and cigarettes.</div>
  124. <div></div>
  125. <div>“Heatwaves and other extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common, but too often the Welsh Government is caught on the hop. That’s why I want to see ministers taking practical steps to keep everyone safe and cool, as well as properly resourcing the fire service so that they can tackle the threats that confront our planet today.”</div>
  126. ]]></content:encoded>
  128. <wfw:commentRss>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/12/heatwave-lib-dems-call-on-welsh-government-to-open-community-cool-hubs-and-support-fire-services/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  129. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  132. <media:content url="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Jane-Dodds-37-scaled.jpg" medium="image"></media:content>
  133.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1515617</post-id> </item>
  134. <item>
  135. <title>Two men jailed for the murder of Joshua Norman</title>
  136. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/09/two-men-jailed-for-the-murder-of-joshua-norman/</link>
  137. <comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/09/two-men-jailed-for-the-murder-of-joshua-norman/#respond</comments>
  139. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Emyr]]></dc:creator>
  140. <pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
  141. <category><![CDATA[South Wales Police]]></category>
  142. <category><![CDATA[Swansea news]]></category>
  143. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1515183</guid>
  144.  
  145. <description><![CDATA[50-year-old Paul Rosser, from Gendros, was found guilty of murder on Monday (July 7) by a jury following a trial at Swansea Crown Court. 32-year-old Joshua Cullen, from Waun Wen, was found guilty of manslaughter. The court heard how, on September 11, 2024, at 12:08pm, officers were called to Cwm Road in Hafod to reports [&#8230;]]]></description>
  146. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>50-year-old Paul Rosser, from Gendros, was found guilty of murder on Monday (July 7) by a jury following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.</p>
  147. <p>32-year-old Joshua Cullen, from Waun Wen, was found guilty of manslaughter.</p>
  148. <p>The court heard how, on September 11, 2024, at 12:08pm, officers were called to Cwm Road in Hafod to reports of a stabbing.</p>
  149. <p>Officers attended, alongside paramedics, and Joshua Norman was found with a significant injury to his neck. Despite the best efforts of those at the scene, he was pronounced dead shortly after.</p>
  150. <p>Witnesses placed Rosser leaving the scene, and he was quickly sighted by officers and arrested on Cwm Road less than an hour after the attack happened. Rosser was covered in blood and had facial injuries. He was arrested and taken to hospital for checks before being questioned and subsequently charged.</p>
  151. <div class="js-third-party-iframe u-h-full" data-content-id="1516586" data-content-type="1206291">
  152. <div class="cms-block single-video-block u-w-full">
  153. <div class="embed-container u-m-auto"><iframe title="Rosser and Cullen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nxJVR9CdFOk" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
  154. <p class="embed-caption">
  155. </div>
  156. </div>
  157. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  158. <figure class="image"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://www.south-wales.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/images/south-wales/news/news-images/2025/07-gorffennaf-july/paul-rosser.png" alt="Paul Rosser.PNG" width="568" height="763" /><figcaption>Paul Rosser</figcaption></figure>
  159. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  160. <p>Paul Rosser has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 18 years and 298 days.</p>
  161. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  162. <figure class="image"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.south-wales.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/images/south-wales/news/news-images/2025/07-gorffennaf-july/joshua-cullen.png" alt="Joshua Cullen.PNG" width="566" height="753" /><figcaption>Joshua Cullen</figcaption></figure>
  163. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  164. <p>Joshua Cullen has been sentenced to 8 years in prison</p>
  165. <p><strong>Detective Chief Inspector Lianne Rees said:</strong></p>
  166. <p><span class="cms-block-quote">“Joshua Norman was only 27 years old when his life was tragically taken from him during broad daylight, on September 11th last year.</span></p>
  167. <p><span class="cms-block-quote">“Joshua was a much-loved son, father, brother, nephew and uncle. His family describe him as a beautiful person, whose smile and sense of humour would light up any room.</span></p>
  168. <p><span class="cms-block-quote">“Joshua’s family have demonstrated great strength and dignity throughout the investigation and legal process. Our thoughts are with them today as they have been throughout, and I hope that today’s sentences will help them find some comfort in what has been an extremely difficult time.</span></p>
  169. <p><span class="cms-block-quote">“I would like to pay tribute to the members of the public and emergency services who were present on that day, and worked so hard to help Joshua and attempt to save his life.</span></p>
  170. <p><span class="cms-block-quote">“I would also like to thank the police investigation team, Crown Prosecution Service and Prosecuting Counsel, who’s hard work and dedication have contributed to today’s outcome.”</span></p>
  171. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  172. ]]></content:encoded>
  174. <wfw:commentRss>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/09/two-men-jailed-for-the-murder-of-joshua-norman/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  175. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  178. <media:content url="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/paul-rosser.png" medium="image"></media:content>
  179.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1515183</post-id> </item>
  180. <item>
  181. <title>Swansea Named One Of The UK&#8217;s Most Affordable Seaside Towns</title>
  182. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/08/swansea-named-one-of-the-uks-most-affordable-seaside-towns/</link>
  183. <comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/08/swansea-named-one-of-the-uks-most-affordable-seaside-towns/#respond</comments>
  185. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Web Contributer]]></dc:creator>
  186. <pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
  187. <category><![CDATA[Swansea news]]></category>
  188. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1515001</guid>
  189.  
  190. <description><![CDATA[New research from The Co-operative Bank has revealed the most affordable seaside towns in the UK, along with the best seaside towns in the UK to live in Oban ranks as the most affordable seaside town in the UK with the average property costing 7.97 times more than the average yearly income, and the average [&#8230;]]]></description>
  191. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<ul>
  192. <li aria-level="1">New research from The Co-operative Bank has revealed the most affordable seaside towns in the UK, along with the best seaside towns in the UK to live in</li>
  193. <li aria-level="1"><b>Oban</b> ranks as the most affordable seaside town in the UK with the average property costing <b>7.97 times</b> more than the average yearly income, and the average rent price costing <b>34.70%</b> of the average monthly income</li>
  194. <li aria-level="1"><b>Falmouth</b> ranks as the best seaside town to live in in the UK, followed by <b>St Ives</b> in second and <b>Newquay</b> in third</li>
  195. </ul>
  196. <p>According to recent data, demand for seaside properties has surged by an impressive<a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/press-centre/coastal-homes-sell-twenty-days-quicker-than-pre-pandemic-as-city-to-seaside-demand-doubles/#:~:text=City%20dwellers%20enquiring%20about%20homes%20for%20sale%20in%20coastal%20locations%20has%20more%20than%20doubled%20compared%20to%20before%20the%20pandemic%20(%2B115%25)%2C%20as%20more%20people%20chose%20to%20swap%20cities%20for%20a%20life%20by%20the%20coast"> 115%</a> compared to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that many Brits are eager to swap city living for a life by the coast. But as demand grows, so too do prices, making house hunting at the seaside a bit more of a challenge.</p>
  197. <p>To help make the dream of coastal living more achievable, The Co-operative Bank has used data from Rightmove to reveal the most affordable UK coastal towns for both buying and renting. On top of this, the research also looked at metrics including the number of beaches and average sunshine hours to find out the very best seaside towns to live in throughout the UK.</p>
  198. <p><b>Oban</b>, a resort town in idyllic highlands of Scotland, claims the top spot as the most affordable seaside town in the UK with an average house price of £220,458 coming in at 7.97 times the price of the average yearly income and an average monthly rental price of £800 sitting at 34.70% of the average monthly income.</p>
  199. <p>Completing the podium are <b>Morecambe</b> and <b>Blackpool</b> who are tied at second place with average house costs sitting at 7.44 and 6.98 times the cost of the average yearly income, respectively. In terms of rent costs, <b>Morecambe</b> rent costs sit at 37.74% of the average monthly income and <b>Blackpool</b> rent costs sit at 40.02% of the average monthly income.</p>
  200. <p><b>Falmouth</b> in Cornwall, known for its impressive natural harbour, claims the top spot as the best seaside town in the UK to live in with 142 beaches, 36 crimes per 1,000 people, a walkability score of 92 and 4.5 hours of average daily sunshine hours.</p>
  201. <p><b>St Ives,</b> Cornwall, comes in as the second best seaside town to live in with 142 beaches, 19 crimes per 1,000 people, a walkability score of 84 and 4.5 hours of daily sunshine hours on average. Known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant art scene and rich history, it&#8217;s definitely one to consider when moving to the seaside.</p>
  202. <p><b>Newquay</b> in Cornwall, which is one of the best locations in the uk for surfing and other watersports, comes in third place, with 142 beaches, 71 crimes per 1,000 people, a walkability score of 88 and 4.5 hours of daily sunshine on average.</p>
  203. <p>When it comes to the best counties for seaside living, <b>Cornwall</b> is home to the top three spots (Falmouth, St Ives and Newquay), <b>Devon</b> is home to fourth and fifth place in this ranking (Salcombe and Torquay), and <b>Dorset</b> is home to sixth, seventh and eighth (Bournemouth, Weymouth and Swanage).</p>
  204. <p><b>Warren Cain, Head of Mortgage Products at The Co-operative Bank, shares tips for seaside buyers:</b></p>
  205. <p><i>&#8220;Buying a home, especially in a sought-after seaside location, requires careful financial planning. Start by researching the average house prices in your preferred seaside town and calculate how much deposit you&#8217;ll need. Typically, you&#8217;ll need to save a minimum of 10% of the cost of the property you want to buy.&#8221;</i></p>
  206. <p>&#8220;<i>You&#8217;ll also need to figure out how much you can afford to spend and create a budget. You can use tools like our</i><a href="https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/products/mortgages/mortgage-calculator/repayment-calculator/"> <i>mortgage calculator</i></a><i> to see what property price you can afford or what your monthly mortgage repayment could be.</i></p>
  207. <p><i>&#8220;Don&#8217;t forget to consider additional costs of coastal living such as flood insurance premiums that may be higher in coastal locations, the maintenance costs for sea-facing homes such as salty air causing wear and tear, and the commuter costs.&#8221;</i></p>
  208. ]]></content:encoded>
  210. <wfw:commentRss>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/08/swansea-named-one-of-the-uks-most-affordable-seaside-towns/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  211. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  214. <media:content url="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Swansea-Council-1.jpg" medium="image"></media:content>
  215.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1515001</post-id> </item>
  216. <item>
  217. <title>Off-Duty Fireman Helps Stricken Dad</title>
  218. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/07/off-duty-fireman-helps-stricken-dad/</link>
  219. <comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/07/off-duty-fireman-helps-stricken-dad/#respond</comments>
  221. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter]]></dc:creator>
  222. <pubDate>Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:30:34 +0000</pubDate>
  223. <category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
  224. <category><![CDATA[Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter]]></category>
  225. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1514874</guid>
  226.  
  227. <description><![CDATA[A firefighter who had offered to buy a critical bleed control kit for his community found himself using one a couple of days later when two children whose father lay bleeding on the pavement outside knocked on his door. Steve Richards, of Ffordd Yr Afon, Bryngwyn Village, Gorseinon, initially used tea towels and tissues to [&#8230;]]]></description>
  228. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A firefighter who had offered to buy a critical bleed control kit for his community found himself using one a couple of days later when two children whose father lay bleeding on the pavement outside knocked on his door.</p>
  229. <p>Steve Richards, of Ffordd Yr Afon, Bryngwyn Village, Gorseinon, initially used tea towels and tissues to try to stem the flow of blood from the head of Matthew Williams, who had tripped while trying to catch a rugby ball, but it kept seeping through.</p>
  230. <p>Mr Richards’ wife Leanne phoned for an ambulance, and it emerged there was a bleed control kit located in a defibrillator box outside nearby Gorseinon Fire Station.</p>
  231. <p>Mrs Richards collected it, and her husband then deployed it to staunch Mr Williams’ bleeding before driving him to Morriston Hospital as there was a lengthy wait for an ambulance.</p>
  232. <p>There are now 420 publicly accessible critical bleed control kits in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot – mainly in defibrillator boxes – thanks to an initiative by the former High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, Melanie James.</p>
  233. <p>They contain a tourniquet, a special type of gauze and chest seal dressing, gloves, scissors, foil blanket, resuscitation shield and instructions showing which type of dressing to apply to which part of the body.</p>
  234. <p>“The kit was absolutely fantastic,” said Mr Richards, 41. “The quality of the bandage was noted at Morriston Hospital. It clotted the wound. The nurses were well impressed.</p>
  235. <p>“Not a lot of people know these kits are out there. We need to raise awareness.”</p>
  236. <p>Mr Richards, who is based at Llanelli Fire Station, said he had previously bought a defibrillator for Bryngwyn Village and had recently offered to buy a bleed control kit.</p>
  237. <p>He had been liaising with Mrs James, and couple of days before last Saturday’s incident he also spoke to Doug Dawson, of defibrillator charity Heartbeat Trust UK, and local councillor Nicola Matthews, who said she would fund the kit along with her ward colleagues Jan Curtice and Andrew Stevens.</p>
  238. <p>The incident details are a little more hazy for Mr Williams, who had been returning home with his partner Sharon and two children, Finley, 15, and Maya, 5, from Gorseinon Cricket Club last Saturday evening.</p>
  239. <p>“My son is a rugby fanatic and takes his rugby ball everywhere,” he said. “I think he had thrown the ball and I went to catch it. I was wearing flip-flops. I fell, and knocked my head and scraped my face on the pavement.”</p>
  240. <p>The accident took place outside Mr Richards’ house, and Mr Williams’ partner Sharon happened to know he lived there and was a fireman.</p>
  241. <p>Mr Williams was unconscious for a short time and recalled having “flittering brief memories” and being in Mr Richards’ kitchen with a head bandage before being driven to Morriston Hospital.</p>
  242. <p>The 43-year-old said he had various tests before being discharged, and that the wound had clotted so well that he didn’t need stitches. He returned with Sharon to their home a few streets up from where had fallen, his father-in-law having taken the children home earlier.</p>
  243. <p>“The kids were initially a bit shocked and distressed,” said Mr Williams, who thanked Mr and Mrs Richards’ daughter Eva for keeping them occupied while at the family home.</p>
  244. <p>Mr Williams suffered bruised ribs and grazes as well as the cut to the head but was well enough on the Monday to return to work at the DVLA where he is a commercial manager.</p>
  245. <p>He added: “We went round on Wednesday evening to Steve’s to say thanks and took a couple of beers, some wine, flowers and chocolate. I think we’ll be lifelong friends now.”</p>
  246. <p>He said he’d like to take part in training sessions to use the kits, and hopes the word will spread about them. “For some people it could be the difference between saving a life or not,” he said.</p>
  247. <p>Mr Richards was also keen to bang the bleed control kit drum and encouraged people to attend any training sessions in their area.</p>
  248. <p>You don’t need any expert medical knowledge to use them, but instructions in the packs tell people to phone 999 before applying their contents.</p>
  249. <p>Mrs James, whose high sheriff tenure ended in April, described them as being fairly easy to use. She is rolling out training sessions in conjunction with Heartbeat Trust UK.</p>
  250. <p>She said Swansea and Neath Port Talbot was the first area in Wales where the kits have been introduced, and that all secondary schools now have them. There were around 30,000 kits, she said, in England.</p>
  251. <p>Mrs James said she was relieved the outcome of last Saturday’s accident was positive. “Steve was amazing – what a star,” she said.</p>
  252. <p>It wasn’t the first time someone has knocked on Mr Richards’ door for help as many people know him as a fireman.</p>
  253. <p>“I slipped into action mode,” he said. “I could see him (Mr Williams) lying unconscious. There was a lot of bleeding.”</p>
  254. ]]></content:encoded>
  256. <wfw:commentRss>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/07/off-duty-fireman-helps-stricken-dad/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  257. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  260. <media:content url="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/kit1-scaled.jpg" medium="image"></media:content>
  261.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1514874</post-id> </item>
  262. <item>
  263. <title>Only in cinemas: CBeebies Musical serves up summer fun</title>
  264. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/07/only-in-cinemas-cbeebies-musical-serves-up-summer-fun/</link>
  265. <comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/07/only-in-cinemas-cbeebies-musical-serves-up-summer-fun/#respond</comments>
  267. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Keith Evans-Hurley]]></dc:creator>
  268. <pubDate>Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:28:27 +0000</pubDate>
  269. <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
  270. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1514890</guid>
  271.  
  272. <description><![CDATA[A brand-new musical outing starring everyone’s favourite CBeebies characters is arriving at Vue Swansea this summer. Featuring a star-studded cast &#8211; including Justin Fletcher, Maddie Moate, and Andy Day &#8211; CBeebies Musical: The Great Ice Cream Hunt promises to add a sprinkling of joy to the holidays. Showing in 300 cinemas nationwide, the film is arriving [&#8230;]]]></description>
  273. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>A brand-new musical outing starring everyone’s favourite CBeebies characters is arriving at Vue Swansea this summer.</div>
  274. <div>Featuring a star-studded cast &#8211; including Justin Fletcher, Maddie Moate, and Andy Day &#8211; <i>CBeebies Musical: The Great Ice Cream Hunt</i> promises to add a sprinkling of joy to the holidays.</div>
  275. <div>Showing in 300 cinemas nationwide, the film is arriving on York Street from July 11. The musical is an original piece that includes song performances that are exclusive to the cinema and the big screen. The hour-long special won’t be appearing on the small screens until later this year.</div>
  276. <div>The musical tale follows Lolly the cow and Pinecone the hedgehog as they investigate the disappearance of ice cream across the land. During their adventure, the pair befriend Storyland Rangers at Coconut Cove, learn magical moves at Mermaid Falls and help a stressed-out caterpillar find his voice at the Summer Fruits Festival. But when they finally catch up with their prime suspect &#8211; the rain-loving Professor Raindrop &#8211; things aren’t quite what they seem…</div>
  277. <div>Eve Gabereau, Director of Distribution at Vue Lumiere, said: “After bringing two bumper collections of<i>Bluey</i> to cinemas up and down the country, we can’t wait to showcase this original musical treat from CBeebies to young fans. It’s a great continuation of our work with the BBC and their Children &amp; Family content on the big screen.”</div>
  278. <div>To find out more, including to book tickets, visit: <u><a id="OWA6d8c3a95-274c-fb5e-e78d-ed29210fb706" class="x_x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.cbeebiesmusical.co.uk/" data-auth="NotApplicable">https://www.cbeebiesmusical.co.uk</a></u>.</div>
  279. ]]></content:encoded>
  281. <wfw:commentRss>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/07/only-in-cinemas-cbeebies-musical-serves-up-summer-fun/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  282. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  285. <media:content url="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Lumiere-Ice-Cream-Farm-scaled.jpeg" medium="image"></media:content>
  286.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1514890</post-id> </item>
  287. <item>
  288. <title>Alarming Surge in School Absenteeism Prompts Call for Action in Swansea – Tom Giffard MS</title>
  289. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/05/alarming-surge-in-school-absenteeism-prompts-call-for-action-in-swansea-tom-giffard-ms/</link>
  290. <comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/05/alarming-surge-in-school-absenteeism-prompts-call-for-action-in-swansea-tom-giffard-ms/#respond</comments>
  292. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Keith Evans-Hurley]]></dc:creator>
  293. <pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2025 08:56:35 +0000</pubDate>
  294. <category><![CDATA[Political News]]></category>
  295. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1514555</guid>
  296.  
  297. <description><![CDATA[Tom Giffard MS, the Member of the Senedd for South Wales West, has written to the Leader of Swansea Council urging immediate and decisive action to address the escalating rates of pupil absenteeism in local schools. Recent figures paint a concerning picture across the Swansea area, with unauthorised absences in secondary schools now more than [&#8230;]]]></description>
  298. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="font-weight: 400;">Tom Giffard MS, the Member of the Senedd for South Wales West, has written to the Leader of Swansea Council urging immediate and decisive action to address the escalating rates of pupil absenteeism in local schools.</p>
  299. <p style="font-weight: 400;">Recent figures paint a concerning picture across the Swansea area, with unauthorised absences in secondary schools now more than double the levels recorded just five years ago. The data, which tracks school attendance trends since the 2018/19 academic year, highlights a dramatic and persistent rise in the number of pupils regularly missing school.</p>
  300. <p style="font-weight: 400;">Expressing deep concern, Mr Giffard criticised what he describes as a lack of effective local interventions and called on Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart to outline a clear strategy to reverse this worrying trend.</p>
  301. <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Commenting on the situation, Tom Giffard MS said:</strong></p>
  302. <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“These figures are deeply troubling. Despite repeated warnings, far too many pupils are losing vital classroom time, and alarmingly little has been done to stem the tide.</em></p>
  303. <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“Swansea Council must take stronger and more proactive steps to support families and schools in ensuring children are in class. Every day a pupil is absent represents a missed opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.</em></p>
  304. <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“I am calling on the Leader of Swansea City Council to explain what actions are currently being taken—and what further measures will be introduced—to urgently address this crisis. Our young people deserve better, and we cannot allow this to become the new normal.”</em></p>
  305. ]]></content:encoded>
  307. <wfw:commentRss>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/05/alarming-surge-in-school-absenteeism-prompts-call-for-action-in-swansea-tom-giffard-ms/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
  308. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  311. <media:content url="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tom-Giffard-MS-scaled.jpeg" medium="image"></media:content>
  312.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1514555</post-id> </item>
  313. <item>
  314. <title>Swansea man jailed after assault during burglary</title>
  315. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/04/swansea-man-jailed-after-assault-during-burglary-2/</link>
  317. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Web Contributer]]></dc:creator>
  318. <pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:01:29 +0000</pubDate>
  319. <category><![CDATA[South Wales Police]]></category>
  320. <category><![CDATA[Swansea news]]></category>
  321. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1514445</guid>
  322.  
  323. <description><![CDATA[A man from Swansea has been jailed after he attacked and injured another man while carrying out a burglary at the man’s home. 46-year-old Michael Parker, from Penlan, targeted an address in Mount Pleasant. During the break-in, the victim discovered Parker going through his fridge. The victim then managed to push Parker out of the property, but Parker assaulted him in the process. Parker pleaded guilty to attempting grievous bodily harm during a dwelling burglary and has been sentenced to three years in prison. Detective Sergeant Alanna Lan said:  “This will have been a traumatic experience for the victim, who […]]]></description>
  324. <content:encoded><![CDATA[
  325. <p>A man from Swansea has been jailed after he attacked and injured another man while carrying out a burglary at the man’s home.</p>
  326.  
  327.  
  328. <!-- wp:image "id":904277,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media" -->
  329. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://southwaleschronicle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/michael-parker-swp.jpg"><img decoding="async" src="https://southwaleschronicle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/michael-parker-swp.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-904277" /></a></figure>
  330. <!-- /wp:post-content -->
  331.  
  332. <!-- wp:paragraph -->
  333. <p>46-year-old Michael Parker, from Penlan, targeted an address in Mount Pleasant. During the break-in, the victim discovered Parker going through his fridge. The victim then managed to push Parker out of the property, but Parker assaulted him in the process.</p>
  334. <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
  335.  
  336. <!-- wp:paragraph -->
  337. <p>Parker pleaded guilty to attempting grievous bodily harm during a dwelling burglary and has been sentenced to three years in prison.</p>
  338. <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
  339.  
  340. <!-- wp:paragraph -->
  341. <p><strong>Detective Sergeant Alanna Lan said: </strong></p>
  342. <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
  343.  
  344. <!-- wp:paragraph -->
  345. <p>“This will have been a traumatic experience for the victim, who entered his kitchen to find a stranger going through his belongings.</p>
  346. <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
  347.  
  348. <!-- wp:paragraph -->
  349. <p>“Even when caught, Michael Parker still made things worse for himself by assaulting the victim. His violence shows that he is a dangerous individual.</p>
  350. <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
  351.  
  352. <!-- wp:paragraph -->
  353. <p>“I would like to pay tribute to the work of Detective Constable Gemma Tarling where her diligent investigation, which included extensive CCTV work, was influential in securing this sentence.”</p>
  354. <!-- /wp:paragraph -->]]></content:encoded>
  358. <media:content url="https://swanseastandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/South_Wales_Police_badge.svg-min.png" medium="image"></media:content>
  359.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1514445</post-id> </item>
  360. <item>
  361. <title>Solar Farm Footpath Compromise</title>
  362. <link>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/04/solar-farm-footpath-compromise/</link>
  363. <comments>https://swanseastandard.com/2025/07/04/solar-farm-footpath-compromise/#comments</comments>
  365. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter]]></dc:creator>
  366. <pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:00:57 +0000</pubDate>
  367. <category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
  368. <category><![CDATA[Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter]]></category>
  369. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://swanseastandard.com/?p=1514441</guid>
  370.  
  371. <description><![CDATA[A solar farm developer and members of the public who were worried about losing access to land when it was built got together and came up with a better solution. Residents of Glais and elsewhere applied to Swansea Council four years ago to add 3.5km of “claimed” footpaths to the public rights of way map [&#8230;]]]></description>
  372. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A solar farm developer and members of the public who were worried about losing access to land when it was built got together and came up with a better solution.</p>
  373. <p>Residents of Glais and elsewhere applied to Swansea Council four years ago to add 3.5km of “claimed” footpaths to the public rights of way map after learning that a large solar farm was planned off Graig y Pal.</p>
  374. <p>The application was supported with evidence from 35 people saying they had used the routes over a 20-year period, a meeting of the council’s planning committee heard.</p>
  375. <p>The 20-megawatt solar farm was approved by the Welsh Government last year and a compromise has now been reached resulting in the applicants discontinuing their support for the claimed footpaths to be formally recorded.</p>
  376. <p>Instead an alternative 5.5km network of mainly bridleways has been proposed and agreed. It’ll now need a “dedication agreement” to be signed by the developer and council, a report before the committee said.</p>
  377. <p>Speaking after the planning meeting Cllr Brigitte Rowlands, whose Clydach ward includes Glais, said there was a lot to be learned from people working together. “A bit of give and take from everybody really helps,” she said.</p>
  378. <p>Councillors heard that part of the proposed 5.5km network would go through the solar farm and be fenced off for security reasons but that it followed the developer’s own access routes and therefore wouldn’t interfere as much as the original application would have.</p>
  379. <p>The benefit for the applicants is a longer network with more bridleways, which can be used by cyclists and horse riders as well as walkers.</p>
  380. <p>Addressing the committee, countryside access officer Chris Dale said: “Both the applicants and the developer have approached the situation with a willingness to compromise and the result has been beneficial for both parties.”</p>
  381. <p>This made the case unusual, he said, as had the applicants’ decision to stop supporting their own application.</p>
  382. <p>Mr Dale explained there was no mechanism in law to formally withdraw the application meaning the committee was advised to refuse it and approve the alternative, larger network subject to the dedication agreement, which it did after a short discussion.</p>
  383. <p>Mr Dale also said a 380m section of the 5.5km network was in Neath Port Talbot and that Neath Port Talbot Council had agreed to dedicate that section as a right of way in tandem with Swansea Council.</p>
  384. <p>He further explained that the proposed network did not include a footpath claimed by the applicants which ran across a neighbouring landowner’s land. He said the applicants still sought to have this route added as a public right of way. “We will deal with that at a later date,” he said.</p>
  385. <p>Cllr Rowlands, addressing the committee, said the longer network would benefit different users and that the cooperation reflected “a constructive and balanced approach between land management and public access”.</p>
  386. <p>The 5.5km network is to be added to the rights of way map once the 68-hectare solar farm is built by CYP Solar. The council is responsible for recording, maintaining, and protecting around 655km of public rights of way in Swansea.</p>
  387. ]]></content:encoded>
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  394.            <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1514441</post-id> </item>
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