Swansea Council says demand has risen sharply, but new supported accommodation is expected to reduce reliance on hotels

SWANSEA COUNCIL spent more than £7.2m placing people in bed and breakfast accommodation last year, as the city continues to face mounting pressure from homelessness and a shortage of affordable homes.

The bill for 2025-26 was almost three times higher than in 2022-23, when temporary accommodation costs stood at £2.5m.

Figures released under freedom of information laws show 1,499 people were placed in B&B accommodation during the year. The most expensive placement lasted 498 nights and cost £34,860, equal to £70 per night.

The council recovered around £3.4m through Welsh Government funding, housing benefit and Home Office funding for released prisoners.

A council spokesman said Swansea, like towns and cities across the UK, was facing both a housing shortage and rising demand.

He said many people needing emergency accommodation were dealing with difficult circumstances, including family breakdown or domestic abuse.

The authority hopes its reliance on bed and breakfasts will fall following the opening of Llys Glas, the former Swansea Central police station on Orchard Street, which has been converted with Codi Group into temporary supported accommodation.

The building opened in January and provides around 70 rooms for single people and couples, along with kitchen facilities.

Further supported accommodation is also planned at a former office block and student development on St Helen’s Road.

Homelessness charity The Wallich said the costs were high, but warned that the alternative would be leaving vulnerable people without support.

A spokeswoman said Wales had too many older homes and too few properties available, adding that councils were struggling to find enough social housing.

She said private rents could not solve the crisis, with the average one-bedroom flat in Swansea now costing around £750 per month, compared with a local housing allowance rate of £525.

She added that rough sleeper teams in Swansea had not seen an increase in people sleeping on the streets since the pandemic, despite the rise in housing demand.

The Welsh Local Government Association said more than 10,500 people were currently in emergency temporary accommodation across Wales, including more than 2,200 children.

A spokesman said building more social rented homes remained a vital part of the response.

The new Welsh Government is expected to set out its homelessness priorities shortly.

Wards at Withybush, Prince Philip and Bronglais hospitals affected as health board urges people with symptoms to stay away

VISITOR restrictions remain in place at wards in three west Wales hospitals following cases of norovirus.

Hywel Dda University Health Board said temporary measures are affecting wards at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.

Only essential or exceptional visits are currently being allowed, with families urged to contact wards directly or phone hospital switchboards before travelling.

The health board said the measures remain in force until further notice and are being reviewed regularly.

Health officials said the restrictions were introduced after cases of norovirus were identified both within hospital wards and across the wider community.

Norovirus, often referred to as the winter vomiting bug, spreads quickly and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, headaches, aching limbs and a mild fever.

Patients and visitors experiencing symptoms are being urged not to attend hospital and to remain at home for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.

Health officials are also reminding the public to wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, avoid preparing food for others while unwell, and keep household surfaces clean to help prevent transmission.

NATURE-LOVERS in west Wales are being invited to take part in a week of wildlife, gardening and climate-focused activities next month.

The Big Green Week on the St Davids Peninsula will run from Saturday, June 6, to Sunday, June 14, with events led locally by volunteer group EcoDewi.

The programme includes nature walks, moth watching, willow weaving, community gardening, wildlife workshops, a cathedral service and a garden trail.

Events begin with a “Moth breakfast” in Trefin, including a talk by Dr William Wint on British moths, followed by a family activity day at the new Community Green at Maes Glasfryn.

St Davids Cathedral will host a Big Green Service at 4:00pm on Sunday, June 7, while a willow weaving workshop will take place the following day in the community garden.

Other highlights include a Rebel Botanists Walk at St Davids airfield, a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing, gardening sessions at Erw Dewi and Caeriad, and a Wildlife Day at Oriel y Parc.

The week will close with a walking trail giving visitors the chance to explore more than 25 private gardens in St Davids.

The Great Big Green Week is organised nationally by The Climate Coalition and led in Wales by Climate Cymru. It aims to celebrate local action on climate change and nature recovery.

Most events are free, although donations are welcomed.

EcoDewi is run by volunteers and works across the St Davids Peninsula on projects including beach cleans, tree planting, wildflower meadows, community gardens and the Peninsula food market.