BRIGHT IDEA TO SPRUCE UP ALLEY
‘‘ We got fed up of waiting for something to be done - I was embarrassed every time I walked down it. My business is down this horrible, smelly, dingy alley. I’m a 6 foot 4 inch man and I can’t imagine how much more intimidating that alley is to smaller men or women - Keiran Ivett
IT’S a handy cutthrough in the heart of the city centre, but has earned itself an unfortunate nickname.
The narrow lane links Wind Street, the heart of Swansea’s night-time economy, to a parallel road which also boasts a number of popular bars and eateries – The Strand.
And yet its relative seclusion so close to what, in normal times, would be of a weekend the thriving and populous Wind Street means it is frequently used by revellers to relieve themselves.
There is a reason many refer to it as ‘p*** alley.’
It is also claimed the area has been used for drug dealing, and even sexual assaults, much to the frustration of local businesses.
Now one business has taken matters into its own hands in a bid to freshen up the area.
Piñatas Burrito Bar is situated at the bottom of the lane, on The Strand, and owner Kei Ivett has long complained about people using the area as a toilet, as well as dumping their rubbish there.
He said staff at Piñatas, which has been operating as a takeaway during the coronavirus pandemic, had seen people using the lane as a toilet, as well as drug deals taking place, and that police researching an assault had requested CCTV from them.
Now, in a bid to spruce up the area, his team has fitted a bright, colourful new frontage to the alleyway, while decorating tiles lead from Wind Street to his business on The Strand.
And the transformation has been dramatic.
Mr Ivett said: “I’ve been trying to get something done about it for years; some lighting, some cameras, even a weekly jet wash or something.
“I ran a bar here a few years ago and literally the first weekend we opened police came to ask for CCTV because of a sexual assault in the alley that comes off ours, and even though other businesses who both share the lane with us were still open, we were the only ones with cameras in there.
“Luckily, I’ve not been made aware of anything that serious since Piñatas opened, but there are definitely still people using it for drugs and as a toilet regularly. We got fed up of waiting for something to be done – I was embarrassed every time I walked down it.
“My business is down this horrible, smelly, dingy alley. I’m a 6 foot 4 inch man and I can’t imagine how much more intimidating that alley is to smaller men or women. So we had enough and thought we will do it ourselves.”
The facelift includes
lighting along the top and some signs painted by Oner Signs Swansea, in a Piñatas logo colour scheme.
“It’s worked so well and just makes it feel a million times more welcoming,” said Mr Ivett.
“They have thankfully started jet washing it now and I’m grateful to whoever put that in motion. Our team are going to take extra care to keep that alley feeling safe.”
A Swansea Council spokesman added: “During lockdown, some routes with little or no footfall were cleansed less frequently.
“This was to enable the council to prioritise teams to other areas or to carry out other duties linked to our overall Covid response.
“More recently, and following the lifting of some restrictions, cleansing teams have completed more widespread street cleaning, including the alleyway off Wind Street.”