News

Welsh Secretary looks ahead to ‘bright 2026’ for Wales

Published

5 minutes ago

December 30, 2025

THE SECRETARY OF STRATE FOR WALES, Jo Stevens, has said the coming year will bring further jobs, growth and investment to Wales, as she reflected on UK Government spending decisions made during 2025.

Ms Stevens said the past year had seen what she described as “transformative” investment across Wales, aimed at boosting economic growth, supporting public services and helping households with the cost of living.

One of the most significant announcements came in November, when Wylfa on Anglesey was confirmed as the site of the UK’s first small modular nuclear reactors. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs during construction and operation, while contributing to long-term energy security.

That announcement was followed by confirmation of two AI Growth Zones in North and South Wales, forecast to create more than 8,000 jobs over the coming years, alongside £10 million in support for the semiconductor cluster along the M4 corridor in South Wales.

Earlier in the year, the Chancellor’s Spending Review included £445 million for Welsh rail infrastructure, funding which the UK Government says will help modernise services, improve connectivity and support economic growth after what it described as years of underinvestment.

The Welsh Secretary also highlighted cost-of-living measures, including a £150 reduction in the household energy price cap, increases to Universal Credit and the state pension, and a rise in the National Minimum Wage. Around 160,000 of the lowest-paid workers in Wales are expected to benefit.

She said thousands of children would also benefit from the removal of the two-child benefit limit, announced by the Prime Minister in December, with around 69,000 children in Wales affected.

Ms Stevens said public services in Wales had received a record funding settlement in 2025, providing additional resources for the Welsh Government to invest in areas such as the NHS, education, local services and infrastructure.

Support for steelworkers in Port Talbot has also continued throughout the year, with funding for retraining, employment support and new economic opportunities in the area.

Speaking about the year ahead, Ms Stevens said:
“We promised new jobs and economic growth for people across Wales after more than a decade of neglect, and this UK Government has delivered generational investment – from new nuclear to AI and rail.

“The funding for Wales’s semiconductor industry and continued support for the transformation of Port Talbot shows we are investing in Wales’s industrial future and the high-skilled jobs and growth it will bring.”

Looking ahead to 2026, she said two Freeports – in Anglesey and South West Wales – are expected to become operational, offering planning and customs incentives designed to attract new investment.

Further rail improvements are also planned, including work starting on the regeneration of Cardiff Central Station, supported by UK Government funding, alongside new stations, safer level crossings and line upgrades.

As construction continues on Tata Steel’s new electric arc furnace in Port Talbot, the UK Government has confirmed that support for workers and the local community will continue. Just before Christmas, a further £22 million was added to the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board fund, taking the UK Government’s total contribution to £102 million.

Ms Stevens added:
“We are now achieving our ambition to bring positive change to communities across Wales, but we have only just begun. We will move further and faster in 2026.

“The UK Government remains focused on delivering for Welsh communities, creating jobs, driving investment and ensuring the benefits of growth are felt in every part of Wales.”

She also said she hoped to see Wales qualify for another major football tournament, with the men’s team aiming for a place at the World Cup in North America.

“There is a bright 2026 ahead for Wales,” she said.

Community

Former Milford Haven mayor Eddie Setterfield has died

Published

2 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A FORMER Mayor of Milford Haven, county councillor and long-serving town councillor, Eddie Setterfield, has died.

The news was confirmed by Milford Haven Town Council, which said it was saddened to learn of the passing of the former mayor, who served during the municipal year 1997–1998.

Mr Setterfield also served as a Pembrokeshire county councillor and was a former Chairman of the County Council’s Planning and Highways committee.

In a statement, the town council said: “On behalf of all at Milford Haven Town Council, we are saddened to hear of the passing of a former Mayor of Milford Haven and former Town Councillor, Eddie Setterfield.”

The council added that its thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends at this time.

Mr Setterfield was well known locally for his commitment to public service and civic life in Milford Haven, with further tributes expected from across the community in the coming days.

Community

Busy year for Tenby Surf Lifesaving volunteers

Published

2 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TENBY Surf Lifesaving volunteers have completed another demanding year, delivering vital safety services across the resort’s beaches throughout 2025.

The volunteer-run organisation provided beach patrols, event water safety cover, lifeguard training courses and water safety education, supporting both residents and visitors during the busy season.

Over the course of the year, the team contributed 188 hours of volunteer lifeguard patrols on Tenby’s beaches. During that time, lifesavers assisted 113 people who found themselves in difficulty in the water.

Tenby Surf Lifesaving is a locally led registered charity which has worked for many years to save lives through prevention, education and rescue. The organisation operates entirely through the commitment of volunteers, supported by local sponsors and public donations.

The charity has thanked everyone who backed its work during 2025, saying continued community support remains essential to delivering its life-saving services.

Tenby Surf Lifesaving is now recruiting new volunteers. Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to contact the club by email at [email protected] or via its social media channels.

Local Government

Councillor denies ‘fabricated lies’ over caravan relocation claims

Published

2 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

Concerns raised over Ocean Heights Holiday Park expansion near New Quay

A SENIOR Ceredigion councillor has strongly denied allegations made by an objector to a proposed caravan relocation scheme near New Quay, describing the claims as “fabricated lies”.

Vale Holiday Parks Ltd has applied to Ceredigion County Council, through planning agents Geraint John Planning Ltd, to relocate 47 caravan pitches to Ocean Heights Holiday Park at Maenygroes, around 1.6 miles from New Quay on the A486.

The proposal would involve moving 17 caravans from Wern Mill Caravan Park in Gilfachrheda and 30 from The Village Holiday Park in Cross Inn, increasing the total number of pitches at Ocean Heights from 103 to 150.

A supporting planning statement submitted with the application describes the relocation as a “natural extension” of the existing site. The application is expected to be considered by the council’s planning committee in 2026.

New Quay Town Council has not formally discussed the application after several councillors declared interests, leaving the council inquorate. However, Llanllwchaearn Community Council has formally objected, raising concerns over road safety, pressure on local infrastructure, the scale of the development, and its potential impact on residents.

The community council said it believed there was “strong opposition” among residents of Maenygroes.

Numerous objections have since been lodged via the council’s online planning portal. These cite increased traffic, wastewater capacity, and what some objectors describe as overdevelopment in the area.

One objection goes further, making specific allegations about the conduct of New Quay county councillor and cabinet member Matthew Vaux.

In a written submission, the objector claims that Cllr Vaux made comments suggesting he would support the development regardless of its impact. The objection also alleges a potential conflict of interest relating to land ownership and future development in Cross Inn, and calls for the concerns to be formally recorded as part of the planning process.

Cllr Vaux has categorically denied the allegations.

He said he was “shocked” by the claims and described them as “fabricated lies”. He stated that Vale Holiday Parks had owned a lane adjacent to his former business premises in Cross Inn long before his involvement, and that he had no discussions or dealings with the company in relation to its current planning application.

Cllr Vaux confirmed that he has declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the proposal due to an access easement over the lane and his involvement in a New Quay business connected to the tourism sector.