‘They say it takes a community to raise a child – I can’t think of a better one to raise our children in’
Killay in Swansea has officially been ranked the safest community in Wales, with just 101 crimes committed there in all of 2022. Molly Dowrick reports
WHEN we ask one resident why she thinks Killay is a special place to live, she says: “People in Killay take pride in their homes and gardens.”
The neighbourhood, which has a real village feel despite only being four miles from Swansea city centre, has officially been ranked the “safest” community in Wales, according to the latest police data.
With this in mind, we headed there to speak to locals and business owners about why they love the area, and why they think it’s so safe.
Typically, when we visit communities and ask residents what they think about their area, they tell us a list of things they want to see added, improved or drastically changed.
But our conversations with residents in Killay could not have been more different.
Time and time again, people were stumped when we asked them if there was anything they would like to see changed in the area, and more often than not people weren’t the least bit surprised that their district had been ranked the safest in Wales.
If you’re not familiar with Killay, it’s a residential area between Swansea city centre and Gower and is seen by many as a “gateway” village to Gower.
Not strictly a village, Killay community is home to a few pubs, salons and takeaways, a library, doctor’s surgery and pharmacy – and several thriving independent businesses, many of which are located in the community’s “precinct” shopping area.
There are around 5,000 residents living in the area and, according to population data shared by Swansea council, 25.8% of the population of Killay and neighbouring Dunvant are aged 65 and over.
Many people living in Killay have done so for decades – and they really know their neighbours and their neighbours’ neighbours.
It’s this familiarity that several residents credit as a key factor in making it feel special and safe.
People in Killay are very friendly, working people – or retired people who used to work.
“It’s quite an affluent area, where people look after their homes and gardens and drive nice cars,” Kathy Jones, manager of The Pettifor Trust charity shop in Killay Precinct, said.
“You can tell everyone works because there can be a lot of traffic in the mornings.
“But Killay has a community feeling, a lot of people have been here for a long time, they have pride in their community, pride in their homes and gardens.”
“People really care here – and they care for animals in particular!” added shop volunteer Veronica Rouge.
Keen to hear from a wide range of people, we posted on a couple of Killay community groups on social media, as we were conscious our visit during the working day meant we were unlikely to see working people who live locally, and asked them why they think it is such a safe area to live and work in.
Among the responses, local business owner Jim Robinson said: “My experience is that the community looks out for each other.
“I run a local business and some youths trashed some planters outside the shop one evening – a local person witnessed this and followed them home, then reported it to the police.
“In the morning, when I phoned the police myself, they were able to tell me that it was all in hand, they knew who had done it and the culprits would be coming by to apologise the next day.
“They even did an hour of voluntary service as reparation – it is those small things that keep a community feeling safe.”
Another way in which the residents look out for one another is through a wide range of community events and social groups. There’s a weekly support group for people living with dementia and their partners, as well as regular community events – and one of the pubs even offers an afternoon pub quiz, as they found a typical evening event was too late for their regular customers.
Long-running Killay business The Village bar and cafe, previously known as Gatsby’s, is more like a traditional red-brick pub than a bar and cafe and offers a weekly pub quiz on a Tuesday evening – and a weekly quiz and bingo session on a Monday afternoon, as this best suits older people in the community, manager Jamie Barrow said.
“I’m not really surprised Killay is the safest area,” he added.
“The majority of people here are older and some people have lived here for years. And you get people here that are like part of the family – they know everything that is going on and everything that has gone on.”
This sentiment was echoed by local resident Rachel Gauntlett, who praised the community spirit of the area.
“We chose to move here because the area just seemed so welcoming, you have a lot of options for local stores nearby with the precinct, and things like the cycle path and park were a huge bonus too,” she said.
Everything is convenient here,” added local resident Susan Taylor. “The buses are reliable and there’s friendly people in the shops, Killay is lovely.”
Resident Jamie Jones said: “I moved to Killay with my family around four to five years ago, having lived in quite a few places in Wales. Killay is pretty unique in Wales, I think, and that’s why it’s special.
“It’s really close to Gower beaches and Clyne country park but is mostly free from tourist traffic. There’s great housing options but it’s not overpriced like Cardiff or Mumbles/ Gower. It’s got independent shops, pubs and restaurants, but just enough of your chain stuff too. And
all the primary schools are nice, with Olchfa great place for comp [secy on dayschool].”
Prasing the work of the community council and Swansea council as a key reason why the area is so safe, another resident said: “Killay is a pleasant, safe place to live because it has had a strong team looking after it for years. It has two long-standing city concillors, Mary Jones and Jeff Jones who have looked after Killay for over 20 years. They work hard with local police to keep the area nice.'
Prasing the work of the council and people serving the community factors in the continued sucess and safety of Killay, resident Bob Harri took to the comments on our post on social media and said: “I wasnt very familiar with Killay at all where I moved here nearly 10 years ago but now I don’t think I would live anywhere else in Swansea – and as a local, I’ve seen most of it.
“Much more affordable housing than further west towards Mumbles, and only 15 minutes’ drive to town or the M4 east or west, or a bit more for shopping at Trostre in Llanelli, while the city centre’s offering remains dire.
“Everything you need is within easy walking distance – the shops, doctor, dentist, florist, churches, several pubs, barbers etc.
“Mostly all independent businesses, and several sought-after schools. Good sense of community spirit with the likes of Dunvant RFC and Killay and Community Council, and the local area co-ordinator organising and highlighting lots that goes on – bands in the precinct, events for the elderly, Santa Parade etc.
“I also have to give particular mention to Cllr Louise Sian Gibbard, who has done so much to improve the area in recent years – notably as leader of Friends of Dunvant Park (much improved with new playground, orchard, football/basketball area etc) but also as a contact for residents to report (and act on) much smaller issues that make a difference to the quality of life of residents,” he added.
“Overall, Killay is just a very pleasant place to live.”
Replying to Mr Harris’ comment, staff at Dunvant RFC said: “Many kind words about our club. We feel we are a club at the heart of the community who encourage the best in our members.
“With nearly 350 junior members who see Broadacre as their second home and a senior section brimming with homegrown talent, we know they love their community.
“When they say it takes a community to raise a child, I can’t think of a better one to raise our children in.”
Explaining the community council’s involvement in the local community, chairman of Killay Community Council Nigel Fletcher said: “It is great news to know that Killay is ranked as the safest community in Wales. Killay Community Council was formed in 1983, so this year is celebrating its 40th year.
“The community council comprises 15 councillors who are all local residents, many of which have served the community for over 10 years.
“The community council express the views of residents and act in their best interest to maintain a friendly and safe village feel. Residents can contact the community council on any issue and attend the monthly meetings, where all matters can be addressed as appropriate.
“Killay Community Council, funded solely by the residents through a precept, work throughout the year to provide a range of activities including floral displays, children’s activities, a senior citizens’ Coronation lunch, band nights in the precinct, Christmas illuminations and the increasingly successful Santa’s parade around the whole of Killay.
“The council recently jointly funded the purchase of three new defibrillators located through the area. Councillors are involved in local planning applications, public rights of way, promoting environmental initiatives and generally being there for its residents.”
The owner of Heritage Carpet & Flooring in Killay precinct, Ian Garden, said he wasn’t surprised it is the safest place in Wales and said he chose the precinct for his business 18 years ago as it’s an area full of independent businesses and the people living locally are the key demographics most suited to his business.
“In this area there’s a lot of retired professional people who have a standard of living,” he said.
“Everybody knows everybody, Killay has a village feel even though it’s not a village. I spend a lot of my day just waving through the window at people I know or recognise, or people who wave just to be polite.”
Asked what he would like to see added to the area, Ian said he misses the old butcher shop which closed down a few years ago due to its owners’ ill-health, and he and his staff would love to see the return of the bank – but they noted that many high streets and shopping areas around Wales and beyond are seeing their banks close down.
Alan Melville, in Allsortz card shop, also in Killay Precinct, wasn’t surprised to learn Killay is the safest area in Wales either.
He says the precinct, which he notes is “the last one left” in Swansea, helps make Killay “very much a community” – with the hard work of the community council and regular activities throughout the year bringing people together. Cllr Gibbard said: “Killay is a friendly, settled community with a lot of neighbours who know and look out for each other.
“We have a wide range of voluntary groups who support people and excellent local services and independent businesses, which I think is really important, such as fantastic schools, great pubs, doctor’s surgery, lovely library, shops, hair salons, churches, parks and green spaces. “It really is a nice place to live.”