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Bank holiday information - Easter

Bank holiday information for our services, including opening times and emergency contacts. All recycling collections will take place on the usual days.

Let's keep our beaches clean this summer

Beach-goers are being urged to do the right thing and take their rubbish home with them during the hot and sunny weather.

Beach at the Secret in Swansea

Swansea Council has issued the plea as a sustained spell of hot weather encourages residents and visitors to head for the seaside and city parks to soak up the sun.

Forecasters expect temperatures to go higher than 30 degrees over the weekend and for conditions to remain warm though more showery next week too.

For the busy summer months the council has been stepping-up beach litter collections, increasing the number of bins available and intensifying the number of visits by enforcement officers to the beaches it manages.

Extra staff to tackle litter issues are being drafted in this weekend at beaches and parks because of an anticipate surge in visitor numbers and they'll be handing out litter bags to anyone who wants one.

The council has introduced 15 new red bins so people can get rid of their disposable BBQs safely at its busiest beaches.

Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said the council is playing its part to keep beaches and parks clean throughout the hot period when many thousands head for the Swansea and Gower seaside.

He said: "We are doing our bit, visitors need play their part as well. Anyone who thinks that it's OK to bury glass bottles, BBQs or any other waste in the sand at the end of a day out is simply wrong.

"BBQs in particular retain their heat for hours afterwards and young children accidentally stepping on them can cause terrible burns.

"Our most popular beaches - including Caswell, Port Eynon, Langland and Swansea Bay - now have special BBQ bins where people can safely dispose of them. But the fact is that there is no excuse to dump them on any beach thinking it's OK.

"The council does not dump litter on beaches, people do. They do it because either they don't care or because they can't be bothered to do the right thing.

"If you're at the beach and you see the bins are full, take your rubbish home with you instead. If you see one of our litter team picking up the waste, ask them for a bag of your own. They'll be happy to share."

Over the summer period council staff tidy up beaches every morning to hand-pick litter and re-visit periodically during the day.

If you're heading to the beach this weekend, here's some top tips:

  • Use the council's free bus service, Friday to Monday, until 7pm. It's especially good for visits to parks, Swansea Bay beach and Mumbles.
  • Take lots of water with you and drink often
  • Use high-factor sun cream and, if you can, stay in the shade during the hottest part of the afternoon.
  • Use one of our Blue Flag beaches. They've all got RNLI cover. Find them at Port Eynon, Langland, and Caswell. RNLI is also providing lifeguarding cover at Rotherslade, Horton and Three Cliffs Bay. More information here: www.swansea.gov.uk/article/8138/water-safety-at-the-beach
  • Plan ahead. Have a Plan B if your beach or park destination is too busy by the time you get there.
  • Go safely in the water. There's a good RNLI safety video to watch here before you travel: https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety