YOUR VIEWS ON: OLD YMCA SHOP FOR SALE; YOUTHS DUMP TROLLEYS INTO RIVER

A FIVE-STOREY building on Swansea’s Kingsway that once housed a YMCA charity shop is up for sale. The block, which fronts Portland Street and The Kingsway, is on the market for just shy of £1.5 million. You said . . .

JANE ODDY In a perfect world I would love to see Swansea full of shops but the high street is taking a battering nationally and it’s not just Swansea affected. It was tough before covid but this last year has accelerated it. Realistically what is going to take over the big shops closing? Maybe it’s an opportunity for smaller independent traders to be given opportunities to thrive but footfall is essential. What do people suggest goes into the city centre? It’s currently dire. John Lewis isn’t coming to Swansea, House of Fraser isn’t coming back and neither will IKEA open in the city centre. Nothing worthwhile has opened in the BHS store and God knows what will happen to Debenhams. City centres are changing, sad as it may be. These developments are private not council. Swansea has a reputable university which brings a good income to the city. More students living in city centre student accommodation takes them out of the residential areas moaned about. Rather than saying “not more student accommodation” how about making a realistic suggestion of something positive for the city centre? WARREN WILLIAMS If it’s going to be a student let, then I think it’s a positive move. This along with other recent student developments should in

time release some private student houses back into the market, maybe in the Brynmill / St Thomas areas, etc? Which will help with student issues in those communities, noise, parking, litter, etc. Will subsequently help families get onto the housing market in traditional student populated areas.will also help regenerate a flagging city centre. Bit of a win-win, unless of course you happen to own a student HMO. GEMMA COATES YMCA shop was the best charity shop in Swansea. Too much student accommodation, getting ridiculous. ROSS BULLITT I for one think what Swansea really needs is student accommodation with a trendy cafe bar on the ground floor... maybe some office space for creative start-ups. DAI HATT We have enough creative start-ups, maybe more tech start-up facilities... ANNETTE NEWMAN No more student accommodation, there’s too much of it already. CALVIN HOWELLS Be

interesting to see the percentage of all this student accommodation that’s actually occupied.

YOUTHS have been spotted throwing shopping trolleys into the River Tawe where more than 40 were removed last week. You said . . .

MARK CANT What’s the point in complaining? They’ll only get a wagging finger at them, there’s no punishment any more and until there is what’s the point? STEVE PHILLIPS Heavy fines for the culprits are the only answer. Is there any CCTV at the location? They’d make a bomb if they captured it all on tape. DAVID WILLIAM LEWIS Where’s the parents? If these youths are our future, ‘we’re all doomed!’ AMBER KHAN Ignorance... Lack of education and proper guidance. PAULINE WILLIAMS Got too much energy, get a life or get a job, only happy when they are causing destruction. Put your energy into volunteering, helping others.

SIMON ADDISON Future residents of 200 Oystermouth Road! JULZ AÑABO Congratulations to the proud parents.