Swansea
Leader Issue 110
February 2018 inside
The newspaper of Swansea Council
your city: your paper
Legendary Celebrity Sean heads coastline campaign plus
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• EARLY START: Youngsters at Highgate Day Nursery in Morriston are getting a great start to life thanks to extension of council’s free childcare offer. See page 11 for more.
SWANSEA Council is aiming to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in the coming year on services that touch residents’ lives every day. The council spends the equivalent of £4,000 on every household in every community in Swansea ranging from early morning recycling collections to late-night road gritting, from children’s education to elderly and disability care. Later this month councillors will decide how the council’s budget is going to be spent in the year ahead. Thanks to a major public consultation the views of hundreds of residents, young people and staff will be taken into account before decisions are made. Among the proposals on the table is an increase of £2.2m in funding for our schools which will go directly to head teachers, taking overall spending on education services to well above £160m a year.
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Budget aiming to invest in our communities’ priorities Key features of budget plans: • Budget will spend an average £1.6m a day on vital services • Around £100m for social services and around £50m on recycling, libraries, highways and other services • Proposed increase in funding for schools and wider education services • Around £22m of further savings on top of £60m total amount achieved in last three years.
That’s on top of a planned investment of more than £140m in the coming years to build new schools fit for the 21st century. Rob Stewart, Council Leader, said: “The consultation process has helped ensure the priorities of the people of Swansea are our priorities as well. “Our ‘Big Conversation’ with young people is
making a difference because they’ve influenced our thinking about the things that matter to them such as good facilities in which to learn.” He added: “We are doing more with less because the council is becoming smarter, leaner and more efficient. We’ve automated services so more often people can do business with us when they want 24/7 rather than when we can. “We’re also working with local communities who want to support services in their areas and we’re providing social services sooner to promote health and wellbeing and prevent problems later. “Despite budget reductions due to the austerity agenda, independent inspectors rate our priority services like education and social services very highly and they say we are in a good position to carry on delivering for the people of Swansea day in, day out in the years ahead.”
Looking up Sky’s the limit for our city’s propsects page 5
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useful numbers Active Swansea Leisure centres
Penlan 01792 588079 Morriston 01792 797082 Penyrheol 01792 897039 Cefn Hengoed 01792 798484 Pentrehafod 01792 641935 Bishopston Sports Centre 01792 235040
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February 2018
Pothole teams keep city on move in all weathers
Highways Sewers - 24 hours 0800 0855937 Drainage - Mon to Fri 01792 636121 Damage to roads etc 0800 132081 Other highways issues 01792 843330 Housing Main number 01792 636000 Repairs (out of hrs tenants) 01792 521500 Social Services General Inquiries 01792 636110 Child, family access, investigation team 01792 635700 Elderly disabled intake team 01792 636519 Child disability, family support 01792 635700 Education Main number 01792 636560 Environment 01792 635600 Main council switchboard 01792 636000
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DESPITE the gloomy winter weather Swansea Council teams will continue to brave the elements over coming months to help keep the city moving. Our Pothole Repair Teams will be out and about in all conditions to ensure the council continues to deliver on its pledge to repair potholes within 48 hours of being reported. When needed they’ll also be working alongside our other highways teams unblocking culverts and drains to make sure they’re not the cause of flooding in heavy rain. Since the launch of the #fillin48 pothole repair campaign, pothole
investment that makes a difference FROM Pontarddulais to Sketty, Townhill and Bonymaen, the council’s highways team have filled in thousands of potholes The pothole pledge was issued to take on an issue which residents have asked the council to deal with and, after initial scepticism, the public have lined-up to praise the move. The pledge involves repairing potholes rather than planned highway maintenance improvements for larger sections of road which are managed differently.
repair teams have filled in more than 6,000 potholes within the designated period. Maintenance teams were also busy fixing problems on the Swansea section of Fabian Way after the winter weather took its toll of surfaces on one of the city’s busiest roads. Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member
for Environment Services, said: "Despite the cold, wet or freezing weather we get this time of year our repair teams remain committed to fulfilling our pothole pledge. “No-one likes to see potholes but they’re inevitable given the amount of wear and tear our roads get from the sheer amount of traffic and the weather. Our solution to the problem
is extra investment and a promise to get the fixes done quickly.” Cllr Thomas said: “The challenges for the road teams increase in the winter because wet and icy weather will seep into cracks in the road and potentially create more potholes. “Poor weather also makes it more difficult for effective pothole repairs to take hold and have the impact we want.” "But while we do all we can, our staff can't be everywhere at once, so I'd ask the public to be our eyes too. As a council, we cover a road network of 1,100km - that's the equivalent of a drive from Swansea to Aberdeen.” You can report a pothole at www.swansea.gov.uk/potholes
February - April 2018 8 The Forgotten Burton: P.H. Burton, Schoolmaster, Playwright, Producer and Performer 17 February Dylan Thomas Centre 01792 01792 463980 Active Swansea Half Term Fun 19 - 23 February Active Swansea Centres activeswansea.com/kids Fam Film Club Family 20 Feb February Glynn Vivia Vivian 01792 516900 5169 16900 01792
Sister Act Choir S Cho 1 March 10 B Brangwyn 01792 01792 637300 7
Engine Cymru Man Eng gine C ymru 12 April Various locations lo 01792 0179 792 2 637300
World Book Day 1 March Dylan Thomas Centre 01792 01792 463980
Sports Awards S 1 March 14 B Brangwyn sswansea gov uk/ swansea.gov.uk/ s sportsawards
Ty yˆ Hafan Hafan n Rainbow Run 28 April S Swansea a Bay enjoysw anseabay com anseabay.com enjoyswanseabay.com
Croeso A Welsh Celebration 1- 3 March City Centre 01792 01792 637300
Public Service P B Broadcasting 1 April 11 B Brangwyn 01792 01792 637300
Animal Ani Zone: Rainforest orest Adventure 20 - 22 February Plantasia 01792 01792 474555
For more great events eve visit: enjoyswanseabay enjoyswanseabay.com
enjoyswan enjoyswanseabay.com nseabay.com
Contact Swansea Leader To contact the news team call 01792 636092
• ROAD WATCH: Our pothole repair teams are a smart investment
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your guide to council meetings
February 2018
Council diary markers WELCOME to your guide to Council meetings. Most meetings take place at the Guildhall, but please note you may be excluded from attending all or any part of a meeting. This list is correct at the time of going to press but if you are considering attending please call 01792 636000 before setting out to check the venue and time. You can also pick up agenda details by going to the Council website at http://bit.ly/councildiary
February 6 Planning Committee, 2pm February 8 Cabinet, 2pm
• GREAT ESCAPE: Sean Fletcher has fallen in love with our beautiful countryside
IT’S not just Dylan Thomas who says Swansea is the best place – celebrities, journalists and visitors from all over the UK are heaping praise on glorious Gower. Good Morning Britain and Countryfile presenter Sean Fletcher has fallen for Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty big-time. And now he’s going to carry the torch for a year of celebrations to highlight the special nature of our coastal attractions. This year is ‘Year of the Sea’ and is part of a Wales-wide initiative to celebrate our coastal culture. As part of the campaign Sean will
coastal delights
Celebrity Sean falls for the charms of Gower’s gems • Rhossili Bay is one of the world’s top ten beaches, according to Trip Advisor • The Wales National Coast Path stretches for 51 miles around Swansea • There’s 10 nature reserves, 22 wildlife trust reserves, 35 sites of Special Scientific Interest and six Special Areas of Conservation • Five Blue Flags including beaches at Port Eynon, Bracelet Bay, Caswell Bay and Langland Bay. For more information head to visitswanseabay.com
be featuring in a new magazine being launched in the spring. The magazine will be a celebration of Swansea Bay’s links to our coastline and the culture which has grown up around it. Features will include how the
power of water has shaped our city, an insight into the volunteers of the RNLI and exploring Gower attractions who have sustainability at the heart of their business. Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and
Major Projects, said the council is pulling out all the stops to promote the area as a vibrant destination. He said: “Tourism employs more than 5,000 people in Swansea and boosts the local economy by well over £400m a year. We’ve got some brilliant natural coastline and countryside. So, working together with our local tourism businesses we can offer our customers an outstanding visitor experience. “The work our tourism team does ensures our city’s cultural and tourist attractions remain in the public eye across the UK and beyond. We know why Swansea is a great place and we want to make sure everyone else does too.”
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Economy and Infrastructure Policy Development and Delivery Committee, 2pm February 9 General Licensing Committee February 13 Audit Committee, 2pm February 14 Education and Skills Policy Development and Delivery Committee, 4pm February 22 Council, 5pm March 6 Planning Committee, 2pm March 8 Economy and Infrastructure Policy Development and Delivery Committee March 9 General Licensing Committee March 14 Education and Skills Policy Development and Delivery Committee, 4pm March 15 Cabinet, 2pm March 22 Council, 5pm April 3 Planning Committee, 2pm April 10 Audit Committee, 2pm April 11 Education and Skills Policy Development and Delivery Committee, 4pm April 12 Economy and Infrastructure Policy Development and Delivery Committee, 2pm April 13 General Licensing Committee, 10am April 19 Cabinet, 2pm April 26 Council, 5pm
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Centre is a real gem MOTIVATED and enthusiastic staff are helping to give children at the Little Gems Flying Start at Seaview Primary School the best possible start in life, an inspection has found. It found children who attend are happy and inspired by their play and learning experiences. Flying Start centres offer funded, high quality part-time childcare for children between the ages of two and three and are inspected by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales. Their report on Seaview states: “Children at this service have a strong voice. They are suitably safe, happy and valued. Children have opportunities to take part in a variety of well planned activities, whilst also enjoying periods of free play. “They are cared for by a knowledgeable, nurturing and motivated team of staff who are dedicated to meeting the children’s individual needs and learning.” The report added there were strong links with parents, carers and other organisations and praised the leadership of staff as very effective. Cllr Mark Child, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Little Gems at Seaview can take a great deal of pride in this report and I would congratulate and thank them for their hard work.”
Service offers a lifeline PEOPLE living with dementia or mobility problems in a Swansea day centre are being provided with a transport lifeline to get them out and about. Swansea Council has teamed up with community transport provider DANSA and St Johns Day Centre to launch a new community transport scheme that will help dementia sufferers and others get out and about, including trips to the local supermarket or hospital appointments. The scheme is being piloted at St John’s Day Centre in Cwmbwrla and volunteer drivers have been given training as part of the programme.
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Recycling gets a boost with new fleet of trucks
• ALL SET: Our new fleet of recycling trucks will make millions of visits a year to communities across the city A SHINY new fleet of refuse collection vehicles have been taking to the roads after a £6m council investment. The council has signed a five-year lease for a total of 38 vehicles that will travel for hundreds of thousands of miles between them collecting tens of thousands of tonnes of refuse and recycling from more than 108,000 households. Included in the new fleet are 22 recycling vehicles that are capable of picking up approximately nine tonnes of material each – more than the weight of an elephant. Three more vehicles will be smaller and able to cope with narrow streets
Tip Treasures shop is open for your gifts If you need a new home for an unwanted present or make space for something Father Christmas brought you, don’t stick it in the bin – take it to the council’s Tip Treasures re-use shop. Tip Treasures is located at the Baling Plant at Llansamlet and is an Aladdin’s Cave of inexpensive electronics, furniture, homeware and other items rescued from landfill. More details here: http://www.swansea.gov.uk/reuseshop
and lanes in rural parts of Swansea. The remaining vehicles will be used to collect black bag waste. The fleet will make between 11m and 12m visits to properties a year. Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Services, said: “Our fleet of collection vehicles travel a huge number of miles each week collecting
waste and our current fleet has certainly felt the strain of the last few years. “It’s been no secret that we have experienced one or two vehicle failures which has affected collections so I’m delighted we are now able to start introducing the new vehicles and ensure residents get the service they
expect.” The new state-of-the-art vehicles also feature a number of modern safety features including a warning system on the passenger side of the vehicle to alert the driver of cyclists near the kerb. Pedestrians who are near the rear of the vehicle are also protected by an automatic braking system. Cllr Thomas added: “These are large vehicles and we want to ensure other road users are safe when they are near them. “We are continuing to promote cycling in the city as an alternative mode of transport and an increase in cyclists is something we need our drivers to be aware of.”
Guide offers hints on beating scammers RESIDENTS are able to protect themselves against scams following the launch of a new information guide. The booklet highlights dozens of scams which regularly occur across the country – either via the internet and letters or through cold-calling activities at the door. Popular scams including those where callers claim to be from global computer-based companies including Microsoft and Apple and encourage the
public to log onto their home computer to correct a problem they say has occurred. This leads to the caller downloading viruses to the computer to extract personal data. Other examples of scams in the booklet include lottery and prize draw scams or pension fraud. The booklet also advises on how to deal with bogus tradespeople who knock at the door. Will Evans, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said: “Scams come in many different
formats and are designed to fool the recipient into either handing over money or personal details. “Vulnerable people including elderly residents are most at risk from many of the scams that regularly occur and we are determined to do all we can to protect our residents so they don’t fall into these traps.” The booklet is now available at all council libraries, council offices and can be downloaded from the council website at www.swansea.gov.uk/scams
February 2018
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Admiral 10k bids for top award THE Admiral Swansea Bay 10k has been named best event of its kind in Wales and now it’s in the running for a top UK award. The event is among the final 12 races in the running for the UK-wide title and it means people who have already voted now have the chance to do so again. The 10k is hoping it’ll be third time lucky as last year and in 2016 it came second in the UK-wide poll. Swansea Council is behind the Admiral Swansea Bay 10k, which is part of the year-long Enjoy Swansea programme of events and activities. Head to the 10k voting area of www.therunningawards.co.uk to vote for the Admiral Swansea Bay 10k which battling events in Berkshire and Doncaster for top spot.
Closing doors to insulation scam • ROOM WITH A VIEW: A Kilvey Hill cable car has the potential to bring thousands of new visitors to our city
Sky’s the limit as our city rings the changes BY THE end of the year work will have started on Swansea’s new digital indoor arena and Kingsway’s major transformation will be taking greater shape. These two Swansea Council projects are among many that will help transform Swansea city centre into a top quality destination for entertainment, leisure, retail and business in coming years. By the summer a contractor will be appointed for the first phase of the Swansea Central development, which is made up of the 3,500-capacity digital indoor arena, car parking facilities and a new, broad pedestrian footbridge over Oystermouth Road. Due to host up to 200 days of
Cable car plan is world-class ANOTHER project in the pipeline includes a new world-class attraction being developed to connect the Liberty Stadium to Kilvey Hill. Work on detailed designs and legal discussions with a New Zealand-based company called Skyline Enterprises are continuing and could see a new cable car, toboggan ride, zip ride, restaurant and viewing platform attraction developed there. The project would be entirely funded by private money.
touring shows, concerts, exhibitions and other events a year, the digital indoor arena will be open in 2020. Rivington Land is managing the Swansea Central development for Swansea Council, which will see new shops, restaurants, public spaces and other facilities built on the former St David’s shopping centre site under a second phase of works. Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “The digital indoor arena will be the centrepiece
of the exciting Swansea Central development, giving people across South West Wales access to worldclass entertainment, while acting as a catalyst for further investment. “We have also started the search for a hotel operator close to the indoor arena, with early work now on-going to considerably improve Kingsway’s look and feel, as we pave the way for the street’s transformation into an employment district that will open up thousands
of jobs for local people and boost city centre spending. “We have always been determined to deliver on our promise to transform the city centre into a destination that meets people’s aspirations, with 2018 being the year that people start to see boots on the ground and cranes in the sky.” Also forming part of Kingsway’s future is a digital district, funded by major City Deal investment secured from the UK Government for the Swansea Bay City Region. With a return to two-way traffic, the refurbishment of existing buildings, the construction of new buildings and the introduction of green public spaces, it’s hoped Kingsway will help attract major employers.
Minister’s backing cultural ambition THE Welsh Government stands ready to work with Swansea to deliver aspects of their 2021 City of Culture bid. The strength of the bid coupled with the numerous opportunities during 2018’s Year of the Sea means this is a time of real opportunity for Swansea. Lord Elis-Thomas, Welsh Government Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, was keen to make clear his commitment to continuing to work with partners from across the region to ensure the
energy, confidence and passion which was so evident in the run up to the 2021 decision continues and bears fruit. Lord Elis-Thomas said: “After meeting business owners, councillors and members of the extremely talented Swansea 2021 bid team, I’m clearer than ever that the region has all the ingredients to be very optimistic about the coming years, both in further enhancing its unique offering and driving up visitor numbers. I’ve been very encouraged by initial talks,
ascertaining what their culture and tourism priorities are for the city.” Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, welcomed the endorsement and added, “We are primed to deliver a truly transformational vision and programme for Wales to demonstrate how culture is a key means for lifting pride, ambition, profile and reputation for inward investment, galvanising the support of businesses and crosssector working to tackle poverty, while increasing cohesion, connectivity and wellbeing.”
HOUSEHOLDERS are being warned about doorstep callers in the city offering claims against defective cavity wall insulation. Rhys Harries, Swansea Council’s Trading Standards Team Leader, said their latest reports show companies are making misleading statements to householders about large sums of money that have been set aside for them to claim. In fact, most properties with cavity wall insulation are covered by a 25-year Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency guarantee and any issues with workmanship identified under it will be investigated and rectified at no expense to the guarantee-holder, he said.
One-stop shop has all the answers MORE services for young people than ever are now available at Info-Nation on The Kingsway. Aimed at young people between 11 and 25, it’s a onestop shop providing free and confidential information and advice on a range of subjects including sexual health, relationships, substance misuse and finding work. Have a look at www.infonation.org.uk for more information or call 01792 484010.
Innovative idea AN exciting new partnership is to see Swansea University's School of Management expand into part of the Civic Centre. The deal will see university teams work from their new Centre for Regional Innovation which will occupy the whole of the Civic Centre’s third floor. The council will earn rental income while the school will grow and benefit from having new academic excellence in its business community.
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February 2018
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SWANSEA Council is saving millions of pounds a year cutting back on paperwork and automating services as part of its modernisation drive. Over the last few years millions of pounds have been saved in back-office and other costs thanks to a programme that’s seen extra income generated and investment in streamlining services. Clive Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Service Transformation and Business Operations, said the council’s modernisation programme is helping keep costs down to ensure its overall budget remains on track. He said: “We’ve cut back on the amount of office space we need, automated more than 30 requests for services and streamlined services to reduce overheads. In the coming years the council plans to go still further in its efficiency and savings drive to help protect frontline services and jobs. He added: “The services the council provides these days are very different to the ones we provided even a few
years ago and they’ll be changing further in the years ahead. “Rather than take a salami-slicing approach as some councils have, we’ve invested in new approaches and that’s yielded important efficiency savings. For example our ‘agile working’ initiative for staff has resulted in a reduction in the amount of office space they need. The reduced amount of office space needed means we’re saving £1m a year.” On top of that the council is also investing in providing new digital services which make it easier than ever for people to do business with the council when it suits them. And that’s led to a 26% jump in just 12 months in the number of times people have gone on the council’s website to look for services or information. Cllr Lloyd said: “Doing business digitally is not only super-convenient, it’s more efficient and more effective in getting things done. Doing away with paperwork means we get things done more quickly and we get it done right first time more of the time.”
VITAL services which make a difference to the lives of residents in Swansea every day are continuing to improve, according to the latest Council figures. School attendance, social services and measures to help tackle poverty in austere times as well as recycling and economic regeneration are council priorities which have shown progress in making a difference in city communities. Clive Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Service Transformation and Business Operations, said: “What matters to our residents is the provision of great schools providing great teaching, better support for those facing the blight of poverty and the right care in the right place at the right time.” Recycling rates have improved to 64.4% - well above the Welsh Government target of 58%. School attendances are improving, particularly in primary schools where the 94.28% figure is the jointhighest rate of improvement among primary schools across Wales.
Let Lowri inspire you to visit great outdoors A GLOBETROTTING adventurer and TV presenter is to help inspire people of all ages to take part in outdoor activities on Gower in Swansea. Lowri Morgan has been named ambassador for Swansea Council’s outdoor activity service, which attracts thousands of people every year to its two centres on Gower. As part of her new roleLowri will help promote events and support activities including climbing, hiking, bushcraft, survival skills, hill walking, gorge walking, surfing, coasteering and kayaking. Lowri said: “I’m delighted to become
an ambassador for the council’s outdoor activity service on Gower, especially as it was Gower that introduced me to the world of adventure in the first place.” “I’m also passionate about inspiring the next generation to enjoy the great outdoors, so I’m honoured to be able to play a small part in helping make that happen in my home city of Swansea.” As well as catering for schoolchildren and holidaymakers, the council’s outdoor activity service provides tailormade activity packages to many other groups There’s more information at www.goweractivitycentres.co.uk
February 2018
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Empty properties are filling up MORE empty properties in Swansea were brought back into use than in any other part of South Wales. Figures for the 2016/2017 financial year show 358 empty properties being brought back into use across the city – the the third most in Wales as a whole. Close to 1,400 empty properties in Swansea have been brought back into use over the last five years. Swansea Council says this can be attributed to a proactive approach where officers take whatever action is necessary to encourage the reuse of empty properties. Under Swansea Council’s Grants for Nominations scheme, grants of up to £5,000 are available to private owners of properties that have been empty for six months or more to help bring them back into use.
Business info at your finger-tips • FULL HOUSE: Colliers Way development is just the start of council investment in homes fit for the future
New homes shape of things to come WITH residents now settling in to the first new Swansea Council homes in a generation, site preparation works have started for a second scheme. The new scheme, at Parc-yr-Helyg in Birchgrove, follows on from the completion of 18 new homes at Colliers Way in Penderry, which all benefit from state-of-the-art energy efficiency technology, meaning they need very little energy for heating and cooling. Among their features are specialist, highly airtight doors and windows. The properties at Colliers Way have also been designed to innovative Lifetime Homes standards, so they can be adapted to meet the current and future needs of
council investing in community’s future ANDREA Lewis, Cabinet Member for Housing, Energy and Building Services, said: “UK Government restrictions that had been in place since the 1980s meant we couldn’t build new council homes for many years, but we’re determined to make up for lost time now these restrictions have been lifted. This is important because new council homes are essential in Swansea to meet the city’s need for more affordable housing. As well as the new scheme at Parc-yr-Helyg, other similar projects will also follow in Swansea.
tenants. Twelve one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments are planned for the Birchgrove site, with preconstruction work there to include drainage and ground level works, the construction of major retaining walls and the diversion of high-level cables before the new homes are built. Like the Colliers Way project, the scheme will be funded by council
rents and not by council tax. Cllr Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Energy and Building Services, said: “The Colliers Way scheme, built to innovative, high energy efficiency standards, was a pilot initiative that will inform the specification of other council home construction projects in future. “We’re now working with the
Welsh School of Architecture on a study that will determine the energy savings at the Colliers Way development. Evaluations will take place before we decide on the final specification of the Parc-yr-Helyg scheme, but the homes there will also be highly energy efficient and constructed to Lifetime Homes standards as we look to tackle fuel poverty by helping tenants save money on their heating bills. “Like Colliers Way, our corporate building and property services team will again be constructing the new homes forming part of the Parc-yrHelyg development. With apprentices among the team on site, this is important because local young people will be learning key skills that will stand them in good stead in future.”
Easier and quicker ways for you to pay RESIDENTS are now paying for more council services online - and can make quicker in-person payments thanks to new self-pay kiosks in the Civic Centre. You can use our Payment Point touch-screens to pay bills by debit or credit card, cash or cheque. You can pay regular bills such as Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Rents and Council Invoices as well as many more. The Payment Points, similar to those in banks,
are operating now and are transforming the council in line with modern needs. They will provide a receipt and give change in notes and coins. They meet security standards and all our chip and pin terminals will have additional security features. The kiosks are bilingual and accessible to customers of all abilities. We have spoken to customers to listen to their views. Housing Rent and Council Tax customers with our plastic reference
cards will be able to scan them at the kiosk. Many of our future bills will have bar codes which can be scanned at the kiosk. The Payment Points replace two cashier windows in the Civic Centre entrance hall and will free-up staff to carry out other essential work. No jobs have been lost. Civic Centre visitors will be able to enjoy personal interaction with council floor walkers. There is more information at www.swansea.gov.uk/payments
HELPING to keep money in the Swansea economy, an updated online directory of local businesses has been launched. The new, free directory is fully integrated with directions, Google Maps and Google Street View. Available at www.itslocalswansea.co.uk, the directory links to the websites and social media accounts of all the businesses included. The new directory can be accessed by mobiles and tablets by sending a ‘123Swansea’ text message to 88802. It’s free for business to add their details, with nearly 2,000 companies having listed their details so far.
Visions of the past HISTORIC footage of Swansea has emerged that shows how parts of the city looked in the 1950s and 1970s. The footage, discovered by Swansea Council staff at the West Glamorgan Archive Service, includes videos of Castle Street, the closing of South Dock, and motorists on a local stretch of the M4. To find out more about Swansea’s historic past take a look at www.swansea.gov.uk/westglam organarchives or call 01792 636589.
Plugging the gap MORE charging points could be made available across South West Wales in future to cater for an increase in the use of electric vehicles. Swansea Council is exploring introducing more charging points in collaboration with local authority, university and health board partners in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire.
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Lending jobless a hand MANY more long-term unemployed people across Swansea and South West Wales will soon benefit from a scheme dedicated to helping with their route back into work. Swansea Council’s Cabinet has approved a £10m Wales European Funding Office grant that would allow the Workways+ programme to run until December 2022. Since the start of the programme’s delivery in June 2016, Workways+ has helped 270 long-term unemployed people in Swansea. The project is led by Neath Port Talbot Council in collaboration with Swansea Council, Carmarthenshire Council, Pembrokeshire Council and Ceredigion Council. Cllr Jennifer Raynor, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “With the Workways+ team now wellestablished, continual work is taking place to engage new participants for the programme, as well as to maintain and build contacts with venues, referral organisations and employers. “With a new regional training framework due to be up and running in the summer of 2018, even more people will soon gain qualifications or work-relevant certificates and that is good news for them and the city economy too.”
Honour for hard workers TWENTY volunteers who support children’s play across Swansea were honoured by Lord Mayor Cllr Philip Downing. The volunteers work across the city on projects and in organisations such as the Buddies scheme for children with additional needs, the council’s Children’s Play Team, the Morriston Young Persons Group, the Play and Leisure Opportunities Library and Swansea Community Farm. Cllr Downing said: “Without these dedicated individuals giving up their time and effort, children and their families would not have access to such a range of quality play.”
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February 2018
Careers changing lives one person at a time
• CAREER MOVE: Caring is a job about life CARERS looking to change lives one person at a time are getting the chance to do just that with the launch of a region-wide recruitment campaign. Councils in Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot have joined-up with ABMU to encourage people to take the step into a career in caring. Care workers are needed to help transform services so residents can be supported to live as independently as possible by having the right services, at the right time, in the right place. There are potentially hundreds of paid care worker jobs available and it could be a first step in a career which could make a real difference to the
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JOHN Gerring, aged 53 has had a few jobs in his time, including sandwich delivery man, hotel porter, electrician and engineer. He came across care when he returned to live in Swansea to be closer to his family and help his mum out from time to time. He said: “I started volunteering to work with the homeless and realised I could and wanted to help people improve their quality of life. I applied for a job as a care worker with Deluxe Homecare and I’ve never looked back. “I have found a job worth getting up for every morning. Every day is different but one thing stays the same – it’s always a great job to have."
quality of life of people in local communities. Working hours can fit in with your other commitments such as family life or training. And if you want to further develop your career, the experience and opportunities offered in care work
make people well-placed for future nursing and social work posts. Mark Child, Swansea Council Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We are proud to be part of the Western Bay Join Our Caring Community campaign. “We are grateful for the dedication
and care of all care workers whether they are employed by the council directly or via one of the private providers we contract to provide care on the council’s behalf.” He added: “It’s a paid job (with training, career prospects and flexible hours if needed) that people fall in love with because it’s a chance to do those important things which make a difference to people’s lives.” “They are a great support in helping residents to achieve the outcomes that matter to them. “I would urge people to find out whether a career in care is for them.” To find out more about the opportunities available head to www.westernbay.org.uk/care
Award for road that gives you Morfa SWANSEA’S newest section of road has scooped up a national award for its environmental benefits. The new Morfa Distributor Road recently picked up the Environmental Sustainability Award at the CIHT Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Wales awards. Swansea Council formally opened the 1.7km road last August after investing more than £5m to create the new route. The costs also included contributions from developers who have secured development sites
along the route. Stretching between the Liberty Stadium and the city centre, the road is helping to provide an alternative route for motorists who normally travel along Neath Road in the Hafod. Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Services, said: “The new road is an important element of our highway infrastructure and has led to a number of benefits for locals. “Neath Road in Hafod is a heavily-used and
congested route which suffers from high levels of air pollution. One of the main benefits is that we are now seeing motorists use the Morfa Distributor Road as an alternative route into the city centre.” The creation of the road has also led to key sites along the Tawe corridor becoming more attractive as development sites and has prompted over £50m of investment along its length. Other benefits have included restoration work to elements of the Hafod Copperworks site.
February 2018
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Adoption plan is blooming great SOME of Swansea’s most beautiful flowerbeds can now be adopted by residents and businesses. You can arrange an adoption of a bed in one of two prestigious Swansea Council public areas - Victoria Park or Singleton Park’s Botanical Gardens. A stainless steel plaque with an agreed engraving will stand in the adopted flower bed for three years. The arrangement, which can begin with a simple enquiry through a council web page, mirrors a successful longstanding council scheme for the adoption of park benches. The scheme will help the council cut costs and generate income to help meet the needs of residents now and in the future. More information at www.swansea.gov.uk/adoptabe nch
Taking a rest with arresting views • BUILDING A FUTURE: More than £15m is helping boost education facilities at Pentrehafod Comprehensive
Pupils already feeling benefit of investment THIS YEAR is already shaping up to be a landmark year for pupils and staff at a comprehensive school in Swansea. Work is progressing at pace on a £15.1m refurbishment of Pentrehafod School and is on track to be completed this year. The huge investment in updating the buildings and facilities is part of the 21st Century Schools Programme jointly-funded by Swansea Council and the Welsh Government. Plans for a further £149.7m investment to improve other school buildings and facilities in the coming years have recently been agreed in principle between both partners. Pupils at Pentrehafod say the
schools help shape our children’s future THE next big handover should be in April when Building Two is handed back to the school and this will create a significant amount of new teaching and learning spaces and a wonderful new library. A new building for the Pentrehafod Alternative Curriculum Education (PACE) has also been completed allowing pupils on the programme to return to the main school grounds and give them easier access to the mainstream curriculum.
investment in their school is already making a positive difference to their education. Year 7 pupil Catherine Matthews said: “Some of the new classrooms have been done, like the new art buildings and they are bigger really nice classrooms.” Fellow pupil Abbie Durran said: “Like Catherine said the classrooms are bigger and there’s more space. They are really smart and at the end I think it will look really nice.”
One of the other areas of the school that has been finished is the school hall which now comes complete with retractable seating making it a much better venue for assemblies and performances. Pupil Curtis Woolley said: “When they were just chairs in a line people at the back could barely see what was going on at the front but now there’s this giant staircase so all pupils can see and the seats are much
more comfortable than they ever were before.” The contractor is Morgan Sindall and the company created 10 new jobs and, working in partnership with the Swansea Council's Beyond Bricks and Mortar Team, have offered five apprenticeships. Cllr Jennifer Raynor, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Life Long Learning, said: “Significant progress has been made on the refurbishment of Pentrehafod and I’m delighted with pupils’ very positive feedback. “We have exciting plans for more major investments in other schools in Swansea and have agreed a £149.7m outline programme for the next round of our 21st Century School programme.”
Time to take woody walk from sofa NATURE-lovers from across the world can now explore one of Swansea’s most picturesque attractions without leaving their computer screen thanks to pupils at a city school. Geography students at Birchgrove Comprehensive have helped to map Penllergare Valley Woods for Google. They used a 360 degree camera provided by Google and their work has been used to create a Google Street View tour of the attraction. Now people can take a virtual tour of the grounds
and it is hoped some will be inspired to visit for real to take-in the stunning scenery. The project was part of on-going work by Kevin Williams, a Parent Governor at Birchgrove, who also has a role in the Association for Geographic Information to promote careers in Geography. Cath Davies, Head of Geography at Birchgrove Comprehensive, said: “The work of the pupils during the fieldtrip was really beneficial to them and we hope it will help promote the woods and encourage more to visit.
“It was an opportunity for the pupils, who have all elected to study GCSE Geography, to get outside of the classroom, to visit an area and look at the landscape. They used a map to navigate around the valley and to appreciate how the landscape has changed in a historical context due to human activity.” At the height of its prosperity in the 19th century, the Penllergare estate was an outstanding example of a picturesque, romantic landscape, created for the enjoyment of its owners.
RESIDENTS seeking a picturesque moment of rest on a stroll along Swansea prom will have noticed the benches there have been enjoying a makeover. Swansea Council and Mumbles Community Council joined forces to refurbish or install 58 benches between Norton and Knab Rock. And other sections of the prom from the Civic Centre westwards have also been benefiting from locally-made benches constructed from cast iron and hardwood slats. Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Major Projects, said: “I might be biased but the views from Swansea Prom are world-class.”
Time stands still at new family centre A TIME capsule created by staff and children at the Mayhill Family Centre has been buried in the walls of a new state-ofthe-art building . The time-capsule includes information and artefacts that have been housed in the original family centre since it launched over 30 years ago as well as more up-to-date items chosen by the children including a recent copy of the Evening Post, a Swansea City AFC programme, drawings and a toy fidget spinner.
Play in the park VICTORIA Park has a new attraction for children called an Ability Swing. The new piece of specialist equipment allows children to play on the swing without having to leave their wheelchair and is the first of its kind in a public park in Swansea. Swansea Council has installed the swing in response to calls from parents and young people and more could follow elsewhere in the city.
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Let’s all join conversation RESIDENTS are getting the chance to have their say on the council’s draft local wellbeing plan. The vision behind the draft plan is for our communities to work together to make Swansea a place which is prosperous, where our natural environment is appreciated and maintained and where every person can have the best start in life, get a good job, live well, age well and have every opportunity to be healthy, happy, safe and the best they can be. The plan has four main objectives which are to focus public services on Early Years; Strong Communities; Living Well and Ageing Well and; working with nature. The consultation runs until February 13 and to find out more information about the plan go to www.swansea.gov.uk/ps b The final report on the plan is due to be published in May.
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February 2018
Get set to have your say on new plans for HMOs
Services ready when you are RESIDENTS are making the most of a new range services they’re now able to access when it suits them 24 hours a day. Over the past two years the council’s been investing in developing new services which make it easier than ever for people to do business with the council when it suits them. And that’s led to a 26% jump in just 12 months in the number of times people have gone on the council’s website to look for services or information. Online services have been introduced as a result of consultation.
Make your voice heard RESIDENTS who want to have their say on council services and local issues can join our Swansea Voices citizens’ panel. The Council has been successfully operating the Panel since 1999. Its membership is regularly refreshed to ensure the Panel continues to be representative of the County's population and to give as many people as possible the opportunity to take part. Apply at:www.swansea.gov.u k/article/7002/Swanse a-Voices
• CONSULTATION: Residents will have a chance to have their say on future numbers of HMOs in city communities. EARLY this spring residents will have the opportunity to have their say on draft guidance the Council is set to publish linked to houses in multiple occupation (HMO). A full public consultation will get underway on the guidance which seeks to put a limit on the numbers of HMOs in communities across the city. At present there are approximately 2,000 HMOs in Swansea with the majority in Castle and Uplands wards. Following recent changes in planning legislation, all HMOs regardless of size require planning permission. Two licensing schemes also operate to ensure standards are maintained in terms of the quality and safety of the accommodation. Calls have been made to the
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LANDLORDS and their tenants are being urged to be good neighbours in their communities. Swansea Council’s HMO licensing team has contacted more than 700 HMO landlords across the city, offering them support and advice on what they need to do to keep their properties in good condition. At the same time the council’s recycling team has been targeting students living in HMOs with advice on how to manage their recycling responsibilities.
Council to introduce Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) which will be referred to when planning applications for HMOs are considered. An earlier draft of the guidance failed to get approval and would have restricted HMOs in parts of Uplands and Castle that already have high concentrations of HMOs to a 25% limit, along with a proposal for a 10% level for other parts of the city. Instead agreement was reached to look at considering other concentration levels, including the
impact of having a lower level of 15% in the south of Uplands. Andrea Lewis, Cabinet Member for Housing, Energy and Building Services, said: “HMOs provide a significant service to the private housing rental sector in Swansea. “They are used not only by students but also by other individuals and families who have not bought their own property. “But we also need to recognise the council needs extra powers to ensure that the number and density of HMOs
does not risk overwhelming the communities in which they exist. “Supplementary Planning Guidance will give us the extra powers we need to do this. But any guidance we introduce must be evidence-based to ensure it is able to stand up to appeal by applicants who may have proposals turned down.” A significant amount of community engagement has already taken place, with the Council talking to a wide variety of groups and individuals, including rental companies, landlords and universities. Cllr Lewis added: “The information we have gathered during these discussions mean we can put forward a strong piece of guidance that addresses and also ensure that HMOs continue to be provided as a means of living for many people in our city.”
School improvement is the best in Wales PRIMARY schools in Swansea have seen the most improved attendance rate in Wales in recent years. Five years ago the rate stood at 93% across the city, but thanks to a strong focus on improving the figure led by Swansea Council, hard work by staff and pupils at the schools with of course the support of parents and carers this climbed to 95% for the 2016-2017 academic year. The figures, which have recently been released by the Welsh Government, show in terms of attendance rates at primary schools, Swansea has
risen from being in the bottom half of the 22 local authorities in Wales to eighth. For 2016-2017, eight schools achieved an attendance rate of 96% or better, 39 schools had a rate of at least 95%, and 21 achieved 94% or better. A range of measures have been introduced in Swansea to improve school attendance. The council set-up an Improvement Board five years ago and cabinet members receive regular reports to ensure progress.
Work is ongoing with a small number of schools with low attendance rates and there is to be a further focus on pupils with persistent absences. The picture is also positive among comprehensive school pupils. Cllr Jennifer Raynor, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “These latest figures showing Swansea has the most improved primary school attendance figures in Wales over the last five years reflect a lot of hard work and effort.
February 2018
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More youngsters set for a great start in life
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Give road safety patrols a break Motorists are being urged to stop when instructed to by school crossing patrols. The call follows reports from Swansea Council’s Road Safety Team that some patrols working outside local schools have encountered motorists failing to stop when they are helping young school children cross busy roads. The Council has now launched its ‘Stop means Stop’ campaign where large banners are being displayed at sites around the city where patrols are present. Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Services, said: “It’s very concerning to hear that our patrols are reporting that some motorists are failing to stop when they are attempting to help young children across the road.Our patrols are carrying out an important role.”
Making history and houses THREE recent sales totalling over £1m will benefit Swansea by providing new homes and help bring history back to life. Swansea Council has now sold the former Cwmbwrla School site, two acres of land off Heol Eifion in Gorseinon and its former transport depot off Pontardawe Road, Clydach. A residential development is anticipated for the former transport depot which has now been sold to a private developer for £212,000. This sale follows on from Swansea Council gifting part of the land there to the Swansea Canal Society, helping with plans to breathe even more life into the waterway.
Pupils inspired by art in the park • HEAD START: Youngsters at Highgate Day Nursery enjoying their books. purchasing childcare has been removed. Happy and healthy families give children the best-possible start in life and the opportunity to make the most of their potential at school and later on. That’s why we are pleased the offer is being rolled-out more widely across Swansea.” The service is currently provided in Dunvant, Penclawdd, Llangyfelach, West Cross, Morriston, Pontarddulais and Gorseinon.
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MORE families are set to benefit from 30 hours a week of early years’ funded childcare. Nine more communities across the city are to see the provision introduced six months after it was successfully launched in seven areas of the city. The council’s Cabinet and the Welsh Government have agreed to extend the offer to Penderry, Kingsbridge, Upper Loughor, Lower Loughor, Penyrheol, Cockett, Llansamlet, Penllegaer and Gowerton. The decision mean hundreds more families will be eligible under the scheme aimed at three and four-yearolds. Penllegaer, Gowerton and Llansamlet are being rolled-out in January and the others as soon as possible after that. Eligible families will get a total of 30 hours of government-funded childcare from registered childcare and early years’ education for 48 weeks of the year, including 30 hours of childcare during school holidays. Jennifer Raynor, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “It is very exciting that the Welsh Government have agreed to a big expansion of the scheme across Swansea. “It follows on from a successful launch in July and is already helping to change lives, supporting parents who are already in work but need good quality pre-school education and childcare.” “We will also be engaging with parents and carers to make sure they have an opportunity to receive the full benefits of this flagship programme.” Swansea is one of seven areas in Wales piloting the programme the Welsh Government intend to roll out across the country by 2020. Eligible parents have to be working the equivalent of at least 16 hours a week at national living wage or national minimum wage, therefore earning at least £107 per week. Cllr Mark Child, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, added: “Early feedback from parents and providers is very positive with some parents reporting that their family’s quality of life has improved immeasurably since the burden of
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JAYNE Lewis of Highgate Day Nursery in Morriston: “We’ve had quite a bit of positive feedback from parents. Some parents who were with us before have seen their childcare bills reduced and it’s made life easier for them. We’ve also got a few new parents who have started work. “We run a really large play scheme at our Morriston site and that’s worked really well because they can have their 30 hours free during the holidays and so parents can work during the holidays whereas maybe they couldn’t before. “People should know it’s really easy. Ring the council’s family information service, which is a lovely team, give them your postcode, give them your details and they’ll let you know straight away if you are entitled to it or not.”
Building a future for homes and jobs FORMAL talks will soon be taking place that could lead to hundreds of new homes being manufactured off-site in Swansea every year. Swansea Council has signed an agreement with a company called Live Verde to further explore options that would help tackle the city’s need for more housing in future. Live Verde is the WElink Group’s off-site housing manufacturing solution in the UK, which was launched in late 2016 as a result of a new partnership between the company and the China
National Building Materials company. Quickly and efficiently manufactured off-site through a production line process, Live Verde’s modular homes benefit from advanced energy efficiency technology. Swansea Council’s agreement with Live Verde could lead to hundreds of local jobs and a manufacturing facility in the Swansea area. Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “Post-Brexit, we’ve been working hard to develop new partnerships overseas for the benefit of
Swansea people in coming years, especially in China. This agreement is a demonstration of a growing economic partnership between Swansea and China, where we’ve been busy promoting Swansea as an innovative, business-friendly city where inward investment is embraced. “We’ll now hold further talks with Live Verde as we look to establish a joint venture with the company that will help quickly tackle Swansea’s need for more housing and generate hundreds of jobs for local people.”
ONE of Swansea’s most popular parks has provided inspiration for pupils from six primary schools. They joined artist Sara Holden on a visit to Brynmill Park and explored the picturesque site and its Discovery Centre. They then used everything they’d heard, smelled and touched to make a variety of artworks. The project was staged by the council’s Education Arts Team with the Arts Council of Wales.
In the right place LIFE-SAVING equipment has been installed at four coastal beauty spots in Swansea. The council has teamed up with a charity called Cariad to put defibrillators in place at Langland Bay, Caswell Bay, Knab Rock and Oystermouth Castle. A defibrillator is a device that gives a controlled electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest.
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February 2018
Leaflet Award for life-changing teams has six appeal
Jennifer Raynor, Cabinet member for Children, AN INNOVATIVE service that improves the lives of Education and Life Long Learning, said: "TIS is vulnerable children and their families has won a transforming children’s lives. prestigious national award. "It’s a radical, innovative and sustainable locallyThe Team Around the Family in Schools (TIS) programme trains primary school staff across the city driven initiative whereby council workers coach and develop primary school staff to recognise and tackle to tackle social challenges. early-stage social challenges facing vulnerable pupils The result is fewer complex social cases, higher and their families.” levels of school attendance and increased community A WALKERS’ leaflet and Council Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, resilience. schools activity pack has been Cllr Mark Child, said: “Congratulations to all TIS won the Learning and Development category created by Swansea Council to involved in contributing the service winning this of the prestigious Guardian Public Service Awards encourage more people to prize – it’s recognition from one of the UK’s most enjoy and appreciate six woody 2017. walks within the city boundaries. Mark Winder, Swansea Council’s Ecologist, said ancient woodland is rich in wildlife, beauty and atmosphere, and is one of our most precious habitats in Wales. He said the woods are at their most beautiful for a few weeks in early spring when woodland flowers such as bluebells and wild garlic are in bloom. The leaflet is currently available from community libraries in Swansea and from the Civic Centre, with distribution planned shortly for more venues across Swansea and Gower. The woody walks include places such as Cwm Ivy near Llanmadoc, Bishopston Valley and Cwm Clydach. Also in the guide is Nicholston Woods, Penllergare Valley Woods and Bishop’s Wood. The leaflet was created as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund project to record the biodiversity of ancient woodland in Swansea, a joint project between the Council’s Nature Conservation Team and West Glamorgan Archive Service. • GOOD STEP: Slippers with grippy soles and a back are the way to go.
Mansion House new role SWANSEA’S Mansion House could be about to enter a new chapter in its illustrious history. The Mansion House, which is situated in Ffynone and was completed in 1863, currently holds a number of functions hosted by the Lord Mayor of Swansea. Swansea Council is now looking to work alongside a company to host new events and activities there. The Council already has an arrangement at the historic Brangwyn Hall which holds a range of events and celebrations throughout the year. The Mansion House was built by local builder Evan Matthew Richards and was purchased by the then County Borough of Swansea in 1922.
prominent public sector awards schemes.” TAF manager Sue Peraj added: “Our success is testament to the drive and professionalism of all who’ve become involved in this scheme as it has rolled out across Swansea. "Schools have been amazing. They have embraced TIS, going beyond what we expected by buying resources, releasing staff, running groups, hosting training sessions and giving valuable feedback with which we plan for future years." TIS was launched in 2015, now covers 63 primary schools and has supported more than 600 children.
Slippers a secret weapon against the risk of a fall A DECENT pair of slippers could be a secret weapon in a new campaign to help older people stay their feet about the house. They might not sound like much, but proper slippers provide comfort and stability for older people walking around their homes and can prevent them from falling over and ending up needing hospital care. And now Swansea Council’s older people’s team is backing efforts to raise awareness among older people and their families to encourage them to adopt ideas that’ll help reduce the risk of older people coming a cropper in their own homes. Mark Child, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Slips, trips and falls can happen to any of us at the best of times. But there are a
Find out how you can help MARIE Jones, Community Sister with the Swansea Acute Clinical Team, said: “Most falls don’t end up with serious injury but some do lead to broken bones and it can lead to some people feeling they’ve lost their independence, becoming withdrawn and less confident. “But there’s a few straightforward things people can do like getting involved in exercise, eating well, checking that any medication they’re on is right for them as well as making sure they get their vision and hearing checked regularly.” For more information you can go to the ageing well web site where you will find a wide range of resources at: www.ageingwellinwales.com/en/resource-hub/fp-resources
few things we can do in our own homes to reduce the risk. “For some older people a fall might lead to a period in hospital, physiotherapy and social care services afterwards. What the falls prevention campaign will do is, hopefully, mean fewer of us ending up needing medical treatment.”
The campaign is being run alongside Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) and Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, who have produced a helpful booklet packed with advice on what people can do to help themselves and prevent falls around the house. Copies are available at doctors’ surgeries.
Cllr Child said: “For example, a mat or rug on the carpet might look cosy and warm but it’s also a trip hazard if your foot catches it. So is the edge of a carpet that’s not properly held-down. “The best advice for older people is to make sure their homes are as uncluttered as possible and well-lit so if there are any trip or slip hazards then they’re easily visible.” Last year more than 4,000 people aged over 75 were admitted to ABMU hospitals after a fall. While not all the falls are linked to ill-fitting footwear, many of them would have been. Slippers best for older people are low, have a back and a broad heel and a velcro fastener and a firm, slipresistant sole so they provide maximum support. Old slippers which are ill-fitting or don’t have a back should be avoided.