Gareth Rice - Briton Ferry Community

📣𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 – 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞🌊🚶‍♂️

Thank you Josh 👍

Just to reassure everyone — we’re still working hard behind the scenes to keep this important issue right at the top of the agenda. We’ll continue pushing until a suitable and lasting solution is in place.

A big thank you, as always, to Josh Tuck Councillor for Baglan and Councillor Robert Wood — working together as a team makes a real difference. 👏

Diolch
Gareth Rice - Briton Ferry Community

❗𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞❗

I recently had an update from Cabinet Member Councillor Wyndham Griffiths, who very kindly provided me with a thorough response, detailing that discussions occurred between the Council and Welsh Government recently and that the Welsh Government seemed to have a genuine desire to understand the challenges and try and find a way forward to get the path re-opened.

I am very grateful to Cllr Griffiths for keeping me updated and for responding to my emails so quickly.

In addition to this, our Senedd Member Huw Irranca-Davies MS/AS wrote on behalf of local residents to Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary Llyr Gruffydd asking for an update from Welsh Government. Please find his response to Huw below 👇

I am very grateful to Huw for once again acting on behalf of local residents.

As always, I work on this issue in close partnership with all of the local councillors, specifically Gareth Rice and Councillor Robert Wood.

📢 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝘆

Welsh Water – Overnight Sewer Survey Works

Please be aware that Welsh Water will be carrying out urgent sewer survey investigations of sewer apparatus within the highway 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 on Brunel Way - westbound lane off the A48 Baglan to Briton Ferry Roundabout.

🕗 Planned closure: 20:00 – 06:00
⏱️ Duration: The closure is planned for these times, but may be shorter depending on the results of the survey.
🚧 Directly affected area: A short section for a distance of 20m along its length, (roughly in front of the car auctions as you come off the roundabout).
However as a result of this, please see the diversionary route in the map below whilst this work is underway.
🔄 Briton Ferry Roundabout itself will remain fully open and unaffected.
🔀 Diversion: The alternative route for vehicular traffic will be via the unaffected section of Brunel Way, Central Avenue Seaway Parade and A48 from Baglan to Briton Ferry.
🚑 Access: Emergency services, residents and pedestrians will be maintained.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while this emergency inspection takes place.

Gareth Rice - Briton Ferry Community
Councillor for Briton Ferry East

A reminder of the Bank Holiday waste collections

Here’s our bank holiday refuse and recycling dates for next week!

Collections will be 1 day later than normal ♻

🦇✨ 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 ✨🦋

A fantastic evening event is coming up for anyone who loves nature or wants to experience Shelone Woods in a completely different way.

On 2nd September (7:30pm–9:30pm), ecologists will be leading a guided bat walk and moth‑trapping session, giving you the chance to discover the wildlife that comes alive after dark.

You’ll get to listen for bats using detectors as they hunt through the trees, and see the variety of moths attracted to specialist light traps.
It’s a great opportunity for families, nature enthusiasts, or anyone curious about the nocturnal side of our local woodland.

📍 Shelone Woods, Wern Bank, Neath
🎟️ Booking required
📧 Full details, meeting point and parking info will be included in a confirmation email.

For further details, please click on the poster below.

Diolch
Gareth Rice - Briton Ferry Community

In Flight at Night: Bat Walk & Moth Trapping at Shelone Woods | NPT LNP Join ecologists Di Clark and Vaughn Matthews for a fascinating evening exploring Shelone Woods after dark.

📍 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁
🚌 𝗕𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 – 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲

As mentioned in my earlier post regarding Parc Newydd play park - I also reported the damaged roof on the adjacent bus stop shelter during my visit.

The maintenance team has now logged the issue, and the report reference number is: 1497835.

I’ll update residents once I receive confirmation of repair scheduling.

Diolch
Gareth Rice - Briton Ferry Community

📍 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘆𝗱𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲

I’ve been contacted by our current Briton Ferry Mayor, Bethany Elaine Rhian Morgan, who has repeatedly tried to contact the councillor responsible for the Parc Newydd area regarding the poor condition of the playpark, but has sadly not received any response. She asked if I would step in and help progress the issue.

This morning I arranged a site meeting with an officer from the Parks Team. As a result of today’s visit, Parc Newydd is now expected to receive short‑term improvements, including:

• Repairs to the safety flooring where it has come away from the edges
• Looking at options to reintroduce missing play equipment
• Replacing the two open‑topped bins with enclosed bins to prevent litter being scattered by birds, animals and the wind.

The officer also explained that this year’s parks maintenance budget is focused on improving or replacing the 16 worst‑condition parks in the borough first, before moving on to the next batch. Parc Newydd has been identified within that next group.

For context, Briton Ferry West has three play areas:
》James Field – recently received major improvements
》Victoria Park – identified within the worst 16 and currently undergoing work this week
》Parc Newydd – now expected to receive interim improvements while awaiting more significant investment in the next phase.

I hope this is welcome news for residents of Briton Ferry West. 👍

Furthermore,
While on site, I also noted that the adjacent bus stop is in a very poor state, with a badly broken roof.
I reported this at the same time and hope repairs will follow shortly.

I’ll keep you updated as soon as I receive further feedback.

Diolch
Gareth Rice - Briton Ferry Community

FLY TIPPING!

Great result from the recent fly tipping in Olive Branch Crescent

£400 Fixed Penalty Notice Issued for Fly Tipping | Hysbysiad Cosb Benodedig o £400 wedi'i gyhoeddi am dipio anghyfreithlon
Yn dilyn ymchwiliad trylwyr i adneuo gwastraff anghyfreithlon yn Olive Branch Crescent, Llansawel, olrhain swyddogion y gwastraff yn ôl i eiddo yn Port Talbot. O ganlyniad, mae'r unigolyn sy'n gyfrifol wedi cael Hysbysiad Cosb Benodedig o £400 am Dipio Anghyfreithlon.
Mae tipio anghyfreithlon yn niweidio ein hamgylchedd, yn niweidio ein cymunedau, ac yn rhoi pwysau diangen ar adnoddau cyhoeddus.
Gadewch i ni i gyd chwarae ein rhan i gadw ein strydoedd, mannau gwyrdd, a chymdogaethau yn lân ac yn ddiogel.
Os ydych chi'n dyst i dipio anghyfreithlon, rhowch wybod amdano fel y gellir cymryd camau. Gyda'n gilydd, gallwn amddiffyn ein hamgylchedd.
-------------
Following a thorough investigation into an illegal deposit of waste on Olive Branch Crescent, Briton Ferry. Officers traced the waste back to a property in Port Talbot. As a result, the individual responsible has been issued with a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice for Fly Tipping.
Fly tipping harms our environment, blights our communities, and places unnecessary pressure on public resources.
Let’s all play our part in keeping our streets, green spaces, and neighbourhoods clean and safe.
If you witness fly tipping, please report it so action can be taken. Together, we can protect our environment.



@

RIP Dolly Parton 🙏 ❤️

Dolly Parton, Country Music Legend, Dies at 80, Just 4 Days After Saying, ‘I Still Have so Many Things I Want to Achieve’ Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. The country music legend was known for songs including “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You” and “9 to 5.” She also starred in movies like ‘Steel Magnolias’ and ‘The Best Little Wh******se in Texas’.