TAXI passengers in Milford Haven are facing a sudden jump in fares, as drivers increasingly switch on their meters and charge full council-approved rates.

One Herald reader said a short return trip from Milford Haven to Neyland cost £30 — around double what he expected to pay.

But drivers insist the prices are not new — they are simply the official tariff now being applied.

Under Pembrokeshire County Council rules, the standard daytime fare starts at £4 for the first mile (£5 after 6pm), rising by around £3 per mile thereafter. Waiting time is also charged, meaning even short return journeys can quickly add up.

Higher rates apply in the evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays.

End of the £3 taxi

Milford Haven has long been known for cheap taxis, with short in-town journeys often costing as little as £3 — far below official rates.

That was down to competition, older vehicles, and the need to keep prices low in a town where many rely on affordable transport.

Drivers say those days are now over.

One local driver told The Herald: “People got used to cheap fares, but that was never the real price. Now we have to use the meter or we’re losing money.”

Fuel costs biting

Most taxis run on diesel, now around 170p per litre locally. For drivers covering long distances each day, the increase has hit hard.

Global tensions in the Middle East have pushed up oil prices, feeding directly into higher fuel costs in the UK.

With fare increases requiring a lengthy council process, many drivers say they have no option but to charge the full tariff.

Vulnerable hit hardest

The change is being felt most by those who rely on taxis the most.

Elderly residents, people on low incomes and those without access to a car are now facing higher everyday travel costs.

There has been no recent increase in Pembrokeshire’s official taxi fares, which have remained broadly unchanged since 2022.

The difference is simple: drivers are now charging them.

As one put it: “We’re not putting prices up — we’re just finally charging what we’re supposed to be charging.”

Support for bereaved children among local causes chosen in Pembroke Dock

LIDL colleagues in Pembroke Dock have chosen a Pembrokeshire children’s bereavement charity to receive a community donation as part of the retailer’s expanded investment programme across Wales.

Staff at the store selected Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity as one of two local organisations to receive a £500 donation. The charity provides specialist support to children and young people up to the age of 25, helping them cope with loss and rebuild confidence.

Sandy Bear was chosen in recognition of its work supporting bereaved families across Pembrokeshire, including more than 20 families in the Pembroke area.

Ben Rees, shift manager at the Pembroke Dock store, said the scheme allows staff to support organisations making a real difference locally.

Martin Jones, business development manager at Sandy Bear, said: “Behind every child we support is a story of loss that no family should have to face alone. Support from local businesses like Lidl means we can continue to be there when families need us most, helping children understand their grief and find a way forward.”

Colleagues also selected Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen Mind, which provides mental health support through community programmes and wellbeing initiatives across the region.

The donations form part of Lidl GB’s wider community investment programme, which has supported more than 145 causes in Wales since 2022, contributing over £188,000 to local charities.

Alongside financial donations, charities linked to Lidl stores also receive support through the retailer’s ‘Feed it Back’ scheme, run in partnership with Neighbourly. The initiative redistributes surplus food, providing the equivalent of more than 2.3 million meals in Wales since 2016.

Lidl GB chief executive Ryan McDonnell said the programme empowers staff to support causes that matter most to their communities.

The retailer says its wider community work in Wales includes investment in initiatives such as its Foodies programme, which promotes healthy eating in schools and has reached more than 25,000 children across the country.

NEARLY 1,000 deaths in Wales have been linked to long waits in accident and emergency departments, according to new data.

Figures published by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) estimate that 965 deaths in 2025 were associated with patients waiting 12 hours or more for care. That equates to around 18 deaths a week and marks an increase of 29 compared to 2024.

The RCEM has described the situation as a “tragedy” that should send shockwaves through the political system.

Dr Rob Perry, Vice President of RCEM in Wales, said his thoughts were with the families affected.

He said: “My heart goes out to the loved ones of anyone who died following long waits in emergency departments.

“These are often some of the most vulnerable patients — those who are seriously ill or injured and in need of urgent admission. They should be receiving timely care, but too often they are left waiting the longest.”

Dr Perry said the figures point to a wider failure across the healthcare system, highlighting a lack of hospital beds and what is known as “exit block” — where patients cannot be discharged due to delays elsewhere in the system.

He said improving patient flow through hospitals, rather than diverting people away from emergency departments, is key to tackling long waits.

With Senedd elections approaching, the RCEM is urging political parties to prioritise increasing hospital capacity and addressing overcrowding in emergency departments.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said too many people are still waiting too long for emergency care.

They said: “Long stays in emergency departments are distressing for patients and their families and can lead to poorer outcomes, particularly for older people and those with complex needs.

“We have made clear that health boards must improve patient flow, eliminate 12-hour waits and end care being delivered in temporary spaces.

“We are working with the NHS, local authorities and partners to reduce pressures by expanding community-based care and increasing social care capacity.

“We remain committed to improving outcomes for people who need emergency treatment.”

Sandy Harding, Associate Director of Nursing, Policy and Professional Practice, Royal College of Nursing Wales said: “These findings are deeply disturbing and reflect our members’ experience in our 2025 report On the frontline of the UK’s corridor care crisis.  

“Every day, our members are witnessing the consequences of a system under extreme and sustained pressure, where patients are waiting far too long in environments that are not fit for safe, dignified care. 

“Corridor care has become an all-too-common reality in our hospitals, with patients being treated in inappropriate spaces without the privacy, monitoring, or resources they need. This is not what patients deserve, and it is not what nursing staff are trained to deliver. 

“Behind the figures are real people – patients whose conditions can deteriorate rapidly while waiting and nursing staff who are doing everything they can in increasingly difficult circumstances. The emotional and professional toll on the workforce cannot be overstated. 

“We urgently need action to address the root causes of these delays, including improving patient flow, increasing capacity and investing in both health and social care services. Without meaningful intervention, we risk normalising a level of care that falls far below acceptable standards. 

 “Our Election Manifesto is clear that the next Welsh government must eradicate corridor care as a matter of urgency, and we expect that in the first 50 days of being in office that they:  

• commit to publish Corridor Care data by Health Board monthly
• direct NHS Wales to pause the reduction in hospital beds and commission two national reviews, to examine A&E and hospital bed capacity at different levels of patient dependency
• establish care delivered to a patient in a chair for more than 24 hours as a “never event”.”