Welsh PR pedals an upbeat Swansea message

The Swansea PR machine has been in top gear for today's leg of the Tour of Britain cycle race.

As the men with jerseys brighter than the 2010 Mensa champion prepare to hit the city streets, the media has been fed a saddlebagful of info.

It wasn't enough to stop the Evening Post pointing out - in pictorial grandeur no less - that there were one or two potholes amongst the Constitution Hill cobbles.

But the public relations onslaught has since had the desired effect of raising the neighbourhood profile of the Tour's visit.

On two fronts it's been important - the Swansea public need to know about the day's road traffic changes, and the city must generate positive publicity for its economic well being.

Bigging up

The council media team has trawled its contacts book to issue quotes bigging up the day. Those tapped for comments include council culture chief Iwan Davies, cafe owner Nigel Evans, Federation of Small Businesses official Mike Jones, Tourism Swansea Bay chairman Tony McGetrick and city tourism manager Steve Hopkins.

The front page Tour picture in the current edition of council tabloid The Leader was predictable but there was also page one exposure via glossy mag What's On in Swansea, a decent build-up on Real Radio and increasingly excitable material in the Evening Post.

Post reporter Jason Evans has provided the journalistic highlight, cycling some of the long, hilly route himself and even managing to conquer the daunting incline of Constitution Hill (now with potholes repaired).

The media interest shows what can be achieved with an informed and coordinated promotional effort.

Good luck to all concerned - saddle sore or not.

Picture power helps Gwalia impress

Today's South Wales Evening Post highlights a fabulous example of how a new building can marry beautifully with its stunning natural environment.
Gwalia is creating new-generation care scheme Cwm Aur at Llanybydder, near Newcastle Emlyn, and they went to the trouble of taking a landscape photograph of the site under construction.
The result shows how strong imagery can help media exposure: the Post use the photo and accompanying text prominently in today's Find a Property supplement.
For more about the £6.5m development in Carmarthenshire's rolling green hills, tune in to S4C's Sioe'r Ty this Friday.
Meanwhile, Swansea Council are unlikely to be impressed with two more big pictures in the Post.
The authority plans to repair cobbles and screen a collapsed wall before TV cameras follow Tour of Britain cycle racers up historic Constitution Hill on September 13. But that's not stopped the Post flagging up the issues with big-style photos - and the concerns of one resident - on pages one and three.