FAQs
How much of Swansea City Centre is now open?
The City Centre never closed but there have been – and remain – government restrictions as to the types of business that can open. This has been for a good reason – to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Many restrictions have now been lifted – but we all still have to continue with physical distancing measures, staying at least 2m away from people from other households.
A “Stay Local” order is still in effect and people should only be coming into the City Centre for essential purposes.
Face coverings are required in all indoor public places, for both customers and staff working in those indoor public areas. This includes a very wide range of locations, such as shops and shopping centres, places of worship, hairdressers and salons, cinemas and museums, gyms and leisure centres, and anywhere that is open to members of the public.
More guidance on the use of face coverings can be found on the Welsh government website.
We work closely with the businesses in the City Centre to ensure that the appropriate safety measures are in place and that those returning to the shops and venues can be reassured that they can enjoy Swansea safely. Please use all sites and services responsibly and respect other people, including business staff, fellow shoppers and those working to keep our communities safe.
What’s different to before lockdown?
We’reall accustomed to the changes brought on by the pandemic, but we shouldn’t become complacent. Physical distancing – and all the measures put in place to allow you to do that – is still in place, as is the requirement for face coverings for both customers and staff in all indoor public areas.
Please plan your visit to the City Centre. Most of our stores and venues are now open but if many thousands visit at the same time there will be queues for car parks, shops and other businesses which will give rise to frustration and difficulties for you to maintain social distancing.
A limited number of people are allowed on re-opened premises at any one time so, if a lot of people flock to the City Centre at once, you can expect queues outside shops and other businesses. Measures have been taken to plan for this and the shop staff are proactively managing their queues. Please follow their instructions and at all times follow physical distancing rules, and wear a face covering where required.
There are lots of signs in place across the City Centre – in shops, on streets and in locations such as the Quadrant Shopping Centre, the Market and arcades. On the streets there are also signs and floor markers to help you queue and keep physical distancing.
There’s hand sanitiser available for your free use in the Quadrant and Swansea Market as well as at the entrances and exits to many stores and venues.
In order to support local businesses and to release space to support social distancing, we may remove some street furniture and other items, extend or introduce new Traffic Regulation Orders and relocate street traders. Our Civil Enforcement Officers will also be issuing fines to those who park illegally. So please support our city retailers – safely and responsibly.
Should I wear a facemask?
Yes, since September 14, face coverings have been compulsory in all indoor public places, for both customers and staff working in those indoor public areas. This includes a very wide range of locations, such as shops and shopping centres, places of worship, hairdressers and salons, cinemas and museums, gyms and leisure centres, public transport and taxis. When premises that serve food and drink such as in cafes, restaurants and pubs are permitted to re-open, face coverings will be required unless seated.
The requirement will apply to everyone aged 11 and over – including customers and staff. However, you may have a reasonable excuse not to wear a face covering if (for example):
- you are not able to put on or to wear a face covering because of a physical or mental illness, or because of a disability or impairment;
- you are accompanying somebody who relies on lip reading where they need to communicate; or
- you are escaping from a threat or danger and don’t have a face covering.
More guidance on the use of face coverings can be found on the Welsh government website.
Why is there no pedestrian one-way system on the streets like in some other places?
We think this would be unworkable because of the wide variety of streets, lanes and pedestrian areas in the City Centre.
We believe the public will respond in these areas to one clear message: “Stay 2m apart.”
A one-way system is in place however in the Quadrant Shopping Centre – the routes are well signed and staff are on hand to help.
Wind Street has historically been closed for safety to vehicles on weekends and during busy evenings. An Experimental Order has recently been implemented to close the road on safety grounds daily from 11am until 7am.
What if the system isn’t working?
We’re confident it will and that people will stay safe as long as we’re all responsible by staying apart. Of course, the new arrangements will be kept under review by the Council and partners and changes will be made where appropriate.
How can I be sure that a trip to the City Centre will be safe?
The practical measures we have put in place will be a big help.
There is help from shop and door staff for those queuing.
The Police, City Centre Rangers, Trading Standards and Licensing Officers are there – especially at key times – to help explain things and to make it clear that physical distancing must be adhered to.
Rangers have reported that most shoppers have maintained physical distancing. Thanks to all who have done that!
The Police and City Centre Rangers are also here to help in matters of anti-social behaviour which have seen a significant fall during lockdown. To report any issues please contact 101 or if it’s an emergency dial 999 Swansea BID issued a free reopening pack to businesses. These contained information on risk assessments, hygiene requirements and legal advice together with samples of PPE.
Will toilets be open and where can we wash our hands?
Toilet facilities in stores such as Tesco Swansea Marina, Sainsburys and Swansea Market have remained open to their customers.
The public toilets in the Quadrant Bus Station are open daily from 9:00am until 18:00pm. The 30p charge remains in place as before, and staff are on hand to manage the numbers using the facilities as well as to undertake additional cleaning.
The toilets in Swansea Market, The Quadrant Shopping Centre and M&S are open whilst those on the first floor of Wilkos are open for café patrons only.
We would encourage people to bring along with them their own mini hand sanitiser or wipes. There will also be hand sanitation stations in place in the Quadrant and Market as well as within many of the stores.
How can I get around the streets?
As you did before lockdown – please just keep your distance from others and do not cut across queues.
How are things for those with mobility needs?
There is access to the disabled toilets in the Bus Station (9.00am-18.00pm daily), and a changing place facility is available on request at Swansea Mobility Hire.
Plans have been put in place so that queues running across tactile paving routes are avoided and A-frames will be relocated where they are causing an obstruction. Similarly, where business set up pavement cafes outside their venues they are required to ensure access is clear in and around the pavement café. The City Centre Rangers are monitoring all this. In addition, several temporary ramps have been installed along Wind Street so that people can safety access the road which is closed to traffic daily from 11am until 7am.
In terms of general street furniture, no seats or benches are being removed but people will need to observe social distancing when using them and signs have been installed.
Swansea Mobility Hire has now reopened, with robust measures in place to keep our staff and customers safe.
Shoppers and visitors to the City Centre with mobility needs can once again hire equipment and access the changing place facility at the Swansea Mobility Hire shop at the Quadrant Bus Station. Rental of left luggage lockers also resumes.
Customers must book in advance either online or by calling 01792 461785. Unfortunately, walk-ins are not guaranteed and will only be possible if equipment is available. For more information on the new measures in place at Swansea Mobility Hire, please click here.
Face coverings are required in all public indoor areas, including Swansea Mobility Hire.
There is no change to the disabled parking provision within the existing car parks in the City Centre which are all open. Guidelines, which have been prepared by the RNIB, have previously been issued to all the shops and supermarkets in the City Centre to raise aware of the Covid-19 related issues facing those who are shopping in the City Centre who are blind or sign impaired.
How will I know where to queue?
Businesses are responsible for their queues so they will let you know as you approach the premises. The Council continues to work with the businesses closely on the areas outside that can be used for queuing and to deal with any issues. These areas can differ in scale and dimensions so arrangements will vary.
Please be considerate and understanding when dealing with shop assistants – they are there to help you and keep you safe, and please remember that their space is limited. Also please be considerate and understanding with other shoppers, especially those who may have disabilities or mobility issues.
How do I know what’s open – and what’s not?
Businesses are responsible for publicising their opening times and it is important to note that some stores and hospitality venues have made changes.
We recommend that you follow your favourite businesses on social media and on other places on the internet.
Websites to check on include the Quadrant, Swansea Market, and BID.
Is the Quadrant open?
Yes. The Quadrant never closed as it has some essential retailers such as pharmacies.. Check out the Quadrant website for further details.
The Quadrant has a number of measures in place to ensure you can keep safe whilst shopping. These include limiting the number of people in the centre, a pedestrian one-way system with the use of signs, floor markers and barriers. Seating and mobile marketing kiosks have been removed to maximise floor-space. Personnel will be manning the entrances during busier times and patrolling the Centre.
Each shop is responsible for its own queues. Please be considerate and understanding when dealing with shop assistants and with other shoppers.
The public toilets in the Quadrant are open. Face coverings are required in all public indoor areas, including The Quadrant.
For further information visit the Quadrant Shopping Centre website.
What about Swansea Market?
Swansea Market never closed as it is home to a number of ‘essential’ traders such as food businesses.
Non-essential traders at the Market were permitted to reopen on Monday 12 April.
Customer safety remains of paramount importance:
- The overall number of customers in the Market at any one time will be limited.
- The Oxford St entrance to the Market will be for entry only.
- Signage and floor markers are in place at entrances and throughout the Market.
- Staff will be posted at the entrances during busier times, queueing systems may be in place and these queues will be managed proactively by staff.
- Face coverings are required for all traders, staff and customers that are able to wear them.
- Opening times will change to 8:30am-16:00 but the Market will continue to be open Monday to Saturday.
- Regular checks will be undertaken by managers throughout the day.
- Additional space has been made available to the traders, for example to allow for queuing.
- All displays have been removed from the aisles to release space for social distancing.
- Hand sanitation facilities are stationed in key areas including the entrances and exits.
- The cleansing of communal touchpoints will be carried out throughout the day and cleaning will also be undertaken each evening after the Market closes.
- Windows and doors will remain open to assist natural ventilation.
- Regular safety announcements will be made over the PA system throughout the day.
- Emergency measures will be executed if the overall numbers in the Market exceed capacity. This may include closing some entrances.
Face coverings are required in all public indoor areas, including Swansea Market.
Further details can be found on the Swansea Market website.
What’s happening with Street Traders?
Many of our established street traders have returned to the City Centre.
They too will be observing safe working practices to protect their staff and their customers.
What’s happening with the sport and cultural venues?
Outdoor visitor attractions can re-open on 26 April 2021. Gyms are permitted to re-open from 3 May 2021.
Are there Click and Collect services available?
Yes. There are designated Click and Collect parking bays on Garden Street which is located at the back of the Quadrant Shopping Centre. These serve the stores in the Quadrant Shopping Centre.
There are a number of other retailers who provide Click and Collect. Please refer to their websites for further details.
Swansea Central library users will be pleased to hear a click and collect type service is now available from Swansea Central Library, click here for the Order a Book service.
What’s the best way to travel into the City Centre?
To help curtail the spread of coronavirus, you are required to wear a facemask on public transport.
Details of the current bus services are here:
First Group
Please check the status of transport services with providers before travelling into the City Centre.
The best way to get to the City Centre, if you can’t walk there or if cycling is impractical, is to drive – but remember that such journeys should only be with members of your own household.
Can I cycle into the City Centre?
As the amount of cycling has increased in recent weeks, the Council is considering additional facilities for cyclists.
A new cycle route has been created along The Kingsway which connects with the cycle and walking routes into and around the City Centre.
There are a number of cycle maps and resources on the Council’s website which may be of use.
Is the Bus Station open?
The Bus Station did not close during the recent Tier 4 lockdown and users maintained full access to the facility as well as to the shops in the concourse, the Quadrant Shopping Centre, and the public toilets.
For safety,alternate bus bays are being used and some seating has been taped off to maintain social distancing. Face coverings are required to be worn within the Bus Station and also on the buses. We recommend you check with the service provider before travelling.
Details of the current bus services are here:
First Group Bus Services – Coronavirus Updates
National Express and Megabus have re-introduced a limited network. Their coaches are operating from the Bus Station.
Is Park and Ride operating?
Check the status of Park & Ride services here.
Please check the status of transport services with providers before travelling into the City Centre.
What buses are running into the City Centre?
First Cymru is using double-decker buses on its busiest services (4, 6, 25, 28, 36 and X6) to aid social distancing measures. New Adventure Travel, South Wales Transport and DANSA are all now operating limited services, mostly under contract to the Council, and these include services to and from Gower, and to and from the Swansea Valley.
Details of the current bus timetable are here:
First Group Bus Services – Coronavirus Updates
South Wales Transport – Bus Routes & Timetables
First Cymru have also launched an App that allows you to see how many seats are available on the approaching bus.
Remember you must wear a facemask when using the bus station and bus services.
Please check the status of transport services with providers before travelling into the City Centre.
Are any coach services running to and from Swansea ?
Yes, both National Express and Megabus are providing limited services again. These were relocated to the Coach Station within the Bus Station on Sunday 12 July 2020
Details of their current timetables are:
Please note a face mask will be required to be worn in the Coach Station within the Bus Station as well on all forms of public transport including coach travel.
Please check the status of transport services with providers before travelling into the City Centre.
Will taxis be available?
Yes. Limited taxis have been using the ranks in the City Centre since the lockdown and their numbers are likely to increase as shoppers and visitors continue to return.
Similarly, private hire firms have also been operating throughout the period albeit in fewer numbers.
You must wear a face mask in taxis.
Where can I park?
Here is a helpful map of the location of the car parks in the City Centre.
In terms of the status of the car parks, all of the Council’s car parks are open and after 9:30am charges in City Centre car parks are:
- £1.00 for up to 2 hours
- £2.00 for all day
NCPs on Orchard Street, The Kingsway and Wind Street as well as several other privately run car parks are also available – please check their opening times via their websites.
The parking bays across the City Centre continue to operate as normal. Please be aware that parking enforcement continues to be operational, with a focus on pedestrian areas, to ensure the roads and pedestrian areas run as smoothly as possible. Tickets will be issued to those who park illegally.
Whilst parking please remember to physically distance – keep 2m away from people who don’t live in your household.
Where can I park if I am a disabled badge holder?
The car parks in the City Centre have ample spaces for disabled drivers and there have been no changes made to this existing provision.
Here is a helpful map of the location of the car parks across the City Centre:
Car Parks Map
What if I have or need a Parking Permit?
Car Park season tickets are operating normally, more information can be found on the Council’s website or you can email: seasonticketenquiry@swansea.gov.uk.
Are there changes to the operation of Pedestrian Zone?
No. The Pedestrian Zone on Oxford Street, Whitewalls and Union Street will continue to operate from 10.30am to 16.00pm daily. Bollards are in place to prevent vehicles accessing this area during these times. Loading and unloading only will be permitted before 10.30am and after 16.00pm – there is no public access at any time.
Wind Street is also now subject to an Experimental Traffic Order which means it is closed to traffic each day from 11am until 7am and can only be used for loading purposes between 7am and 11am. This is great news for pedestrians who can safety use the roadway during this time and enjoy the street cafes that are located on the pavements.
Tickets will be issued by the Council’s Civil Enforcement Officers to those who abuse the traffic orders.
What about the road closures on Wind Street?
The road closures that usually happen on Wind Street have not over lockdown as there hasn’t been any demand given that the majority of businesses there are food and beverage operators that have not been permitted to open.
The Council has been reviewing its position with its partners in terms of how the road closures will operate in the future. A decision has been taken on the basis of safety to close the road daily from 11am until 7am to support the hospitality sector to reopen there by releasing pavement space to venues for street cafes. During this time pedestrians are able to safety use the road and businesses are able to undertake loading and unloading from 7am – 11am.
This measure has been agreed in advance of physical works to upgrade Wind Street which will commence in the autumn. Further information on this exciting upgrade to Wind Street can be found here.
What about the Loading Bays?
Some Loading Bays on Wind Street are being used for street cafes but there are no other changes to the Loading Bays located across the City Centre apart from the Bay immediately outside the entrance to the Market on Whitewalls.
This area has been identified as a potential pinch-point and the bay will therefore be used to provide more space for customer movement as well as to help with queues if needed.
Can I relax by sitting down, and meeting in a cafe?
Hospitality businesses are permitted to open their outside areas for customers from April 26 2021, subject to Welsh Government guidelines.
Will there be events taking place in the City Centre any time soon?
The City Centre has a great programme of events and activities that take place over the year.
However, many events have been cancelled for the foreseeable future.
Are pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants open?
Hospitality businesses are permitted to open their outside areas for customers from April 26 2021, subject to Welsh Government guidelines.
I’m a business in the City Centre – what do I do about A-Frames and outdoor seating?
You need a licence from the Council to be able to place an A-Frame on the public highway. Because of the need to keep areas free-moving at the moment to aid social distancing, sorry but new applications are temporarily suspended.
Business who already have a licence will not be charged until the end of August. If however the A-Frame is causing issues, for example, access to premises due to more queues. then you will be asked to relocate or in the worst case remove it.
Outdoor seating is also a licenceable activity which is subject to the Pavement Café Licencing Scheme. To support local businesses to reopen their venues safely, the Council has streamlined the application process and waivered fees up until the end of September.
These changes will enable food and drink operators, who are only permitted currently to open outdoors, to maximise their space outside and provide an alfresco service to customers. Click here for the latest information on the Pavement Café Scheme.
Are hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons open?
Hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons are permitted to re-open on Monday 12 April, with safety measures in place such as face coverings.
What is all the building work that is going on in the City Centre?
During the lockdown special safety measures have been taken to continue with the regeneration work in the City Centre that started before the virus.
If you have not been into the City Centre for a while as a result of the lockdown, you will see things a lot of things have changed.
Works to The Kingsway have been progressing whilst the Arena next to the LC is really starting to take shape.
Click here for further information on the City Centre regeneration programme.
Will I be able to report poor practice by people or businesses?
Yes. If onsite please report these to Police Officer and City Centre Rangers patrolling the areas.
A coordinated response to complaints regarding breaches of the Covid-19 Regulations is being co-ordinated by the Council’s Licensing Team who are working with Trading Standards and South Wales Police. Complaints and enquiries should be directed to evh.licensing@swansea.gov.uk
BID, in liaison with the Council, are advising businesses as to best practice as to how to comply with the Corona Virus Regulations and there will be extra Council staff in the City Centre to help manage the initial reopening period.
Who’s behind all these plans?
The Council’s City Centre Management team has been working hard on them with key partners such as the Police, Market traders, Quadrant Management , NHS, Fire Service Swansea, St David’s Universities and officials from Swansea BID (Business Improvement District), which has hundreds of business members. Other Council teams involved include those responsible for roads, parking, licensing, cleansing, toilets, marketing and public safety.
They are all eager to take a coordinated approach to help kick-start the local economy. They also want you to stay safe and help others stay safe.
The Council is also working on a wider plan to stimulate economic recovery over the medium to long term.
Swansea BID is busy communicating with businesses on issues such as government restrictions and examples of best practice from essential local businesses that have remained open.
The Council’s City Centre Management team is collating guidance from national bodies such as the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM), the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) – and from English centres where the easing of restrictions began sooner than here.
Why isn’t everything going to be open?
Many Welsh Government restrictions are still in place. That’s why venues such as coffee shops, bars, restaurants (indoors) and cultural locations such as galleries and theatres as well as sporting venues are not due to reopen yet.
The situation regarding these types of facilities and attractions is very fluid and the Council will continue to work with its public and private sector partners to respond to the latest announcements from Welsh Government.
Are you keeping the City Centre clean and tidy?
Yes – and we’re looking to enhance our cleansing resources. Please bear with us at this time – and please take your litter home.
Where can I find more information on the grants and support that is available to businesses?
If you’re a business, more information on help and support during this time can be found on the Council’s Advice for businesses about coronavirus page.
Where can I find more information on how to safely reopen my business?
There is an abundance of information that available to business to help them reopen.
On a local level Swansea BID has put together helpful guidance to support businesses in the City Centre with their re-opening plans.
This post is also available in: Welsh
