Pledges to build two skate parks, subsidise bus travel and upgrade play areas were among a flurry of budget announcements by the leader of Swansea Council, but they were questioned at a time when council tax was going up by 5.95%.
Cllr Rob Stewart said £1 million would fund two skate parks, although no locations or time frame were given, and cover upgrades of 13 existing skate facilities in the county. A £600,000 subsidy will continue free local bus travel during school holiday weekends, while £2 million will be spent upgrading playgrounds on top of £5 million already invested in this area.
The council tax hike will mean Band D households paying £1,549.08p from April - up from £1,462.10p currently - plus the South Wales Police precept, which is going up by 7.4%. Cllr Stewart said 5.95% put Swansea in the middle of what Wales's 22 councils were planning in terms of council tax increases. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
