THE POTENTIAL sale of WH Smith’s high street stores has raised concerns that Pembrokeshire could become a “book desert,” limiting access to reading for young people and reducing opportunities for book lovers. With Tenby’s WH Smith and Haverfordwest’s branch now changing brands, the county could soon be left without a major high street book retailer—though independent bookshops like Victoria Bookshop in Haverfordwest continue to serve the community.

WH Smith has now sold its 233-year-old high street business to the owner of Hobbycraft in a £76 million deal. The sale includes 480 stores and affects roughly 5,000 staff. Both the Haverfordwest and Tenby branches are likely to be impacted by the changes, with rebranding on the horizon. The move raises fresh questions about the future of bookselling in the region and whether books will remain a central part of the new business model.

The retailer had previously confirmed it was exploring the sale of around 500 high street stores to focus on its 1,300 branches in airports, hospitals, and train stations. While WH Smith has often been dismissed as “not highbrow enough,” author Gareth Rubin, whose works include Holmes and Moriarty, stressed its importance in introducing people to books. “Kids who started with comics then moved on to children’s books and later to adult fiction. People popped in for stationery and left with a novel. That’s brilliant. If it disappears, we lose that.”

WH Smith’s high street division remains profitable, generating £452m in revenue last year with £32m in profit.

For many Pembrokeshire residents, WH Smith has long been a vital gateway to reading. “As a child, I used to get WH Smith gift vouchers for Christmas to spend on books, so to see the chain leaving our high streets is a huge loss,” said Victoria Selman, author of Truly Darkly Deeply.

“I don’t think the importance of WH Smith’s book sections can be overstated,” added Sarah Underwood, author of Gentlest of Wild Things. “They’re critical for getting books into the hands of teenagers, especially those who are reluctant readers or those who can’t afford the higher prices of independent bookshops.”

In many towns, WH Smith is the only place to buy books without resorting to online shopping. “It’s a huge blow for readers who now find themselves in a book desert,” said Jess Popplewell, author of The Dark Within Us. However, Victoria Bookshop remains a key source of books in Haverfordwest, providing an alternative for local readers.

Authors have also voiced concerns about the potential loss of major book promotion platforms. The Richard and Judy Book Club, run in partnership with WH Smith, has provided many writers with a chance to reach new audiences. “If WH Smith’s high street stores go, it’s likely the book club will disappear too,” said Selman. “That’s another major opportunity lost for authors trying to stand out in an increasingly competitive industry.”

Publishers are also watching closely. Major firms including Hachette and Bloomsbury have urged any new buyer to keep books as a central part of the business. Pan Macmillan noted that WH Smith’s high street stores “play a vital role in the bookselling ecosystem.”

“If these stores close, it would be incredibly damaging for the publishing industry and authors,” said David Headley, managing director of Goldsboro Books. “There will be fewer avenues for promoting commercial fiction and emerging writers.”

Chris Vick, author of Shadow Creatures, warned that fewer bookshops mean fewer readers. “As the channels through which people buy books shrink, the world narrows. There’s less choice, less visibility, and, in the end, fewer people reading.”

With the loss of WH Smith in Tenby and the potential changes ahead for Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire faces an uncertain literary future. The question now is whether independent bookshops like Victoria Bookshop can step in to fill the gap, or if the county will see a permanent decline in high street bookselling.

Public meeting draws 150 as MP vows to raise issue in Parliament

HENRY TUFNELL MP chaired a major public meeting last week to address the worsening condition of the Cleddau River, bringing together key stakeholders, environmental experts, and community members in a call for urgent action.

The event, organised by local environmental group The Cleddau Project, took place at Haverfordwest Rugby Club and drew over 150 concerned residents. It followed Natural Resources Wales’ recent classification of the Cleddau as the worst-performing Special Area of Conservation (SAC) river in Wales.

The panel discussion focused on pollution sources, enforcement failures, and practical solutions to restore the river’s health. Panellists included representatives from Afonydd Cymru, Welsh Water, NRW, Cardiff University, and First Milk.

Speaking after the event, Henry Tufnell MP said: “The Cleddau is a vital natural resource, and last night’s discussion highlighted the urgent need for action. The insight shared by our expert panel and members of the community reinforced the importance of tackling pollution at its source and ensuring our regulatory bodies are held accountable.

“I am committed to continuing this fight for cleaner water and a healthier environment for future generations.”

Ric Cooper of The Cleddau Project said: “The Cleddau Project has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the ongoing pollution issues facing the river. It was encouraging to see so many people engaged in this discussion, but we need to ensure that words translate into concrete action.”

During a lively open-floor Q&A, residents voiced deep concerns over the lack of enforcement on illegal discharges, the role of agriculture and industry in pollution, and what they saw as a failure by regulatory bodies to hold offenders accountable.

Concluding the evening, Henry Tufnell MP pledged to bring the matter to Westminster: “This discussion was an important step, but it must be followed by action. I will be raising these issues in Parliament and pushing for stronger regulations and enforcement. The Cleddau deserves better, and I will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure its restoration.”

Notable quotes from the panel:

• Jennifer Grubb, Welsh Water: “We can do better. We need to do better.”
• Mark Brooking, First Milk: “The Cleddau Project has had a massive influence on First Milk … our attitude has completely changed. How good can we become? It’s not just about passing a test.”
• Gail Davies-Walsh, Afonydd Cymru: “Is NRW meeting its role as a regulator in Wales and taking appropriate actions on the organisations that impact our rivers? We need much stronger enforcement against the existing regulations.”
• Huwel Manly, NRW: “One of the [Cleddau] waterbodies is the worst failure of all SAC rivers in Wales (out of 330).”
• Prof Steve Ormerod, Cardiff University: “There should be investment in helping farmers to farm in a better way that doesn’t have such a large negative downstream effect.”

Six officers at HMP Parc have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office as police continue to investigate a series of serious allegations at the troubled Bridgend jail.

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said the arrests followed “a series of incidents” at the privately run prison, which has faced growing scrutiny over violence, inmate deaths, and alleged corruption.

The latest arrests at the facility, which houses many offenders from Pembrokeshire, come as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into conduct at the Category B facility, operated by security firm G4S.

In a statement, police confirmed that during a second phase of arrests in January, the following individuals were detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office:

A 35-year-old man from Bridgend

A 40-year-old man from Swansea

A 38-year-old man from Barry

A 50-year-old man from Taibach

A 23-year-old woman from Cardiff

A 36-year-old man from Llanelli

Five have been bailed while enquiries continue, and one has been released under investigation.

The second wave of arrests follows an earlier operation in September 2024, when four Parc prison officers were arrested on suspicion of assault and misconduct in public office. Those arrests were linked to the discovery of social media messages allegedly shared between staff, reportedly referring to the excessive use of force and other serious misconduct.

Police have now confirmed that no charges were brought in that first phase, but the investigation remains live.

Detective Chief Inspector Dean Taylor said officers are working closely with G4S as part of the inquiry.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “We are aware a decision has been made not to proceed further with a number of initial cases. It is not appropriate for us to comment on other cases which are ongoing, but we will continue to support police colleagues.”

Meanwhile, it has also emerged that police are probing a separate allegation that a group of officers at Parc assaulted an inmate, leaving him with serious injuries including possible broken ribs and heavy bruising. The incident was reported last Saturday and remains under investigation.

G4S has declined to comment directly on the alleged assault.

The prison has been engulfed in controversy over the past year, with a steady stream of reports highlighting issues with violence, drug use, staff shortages, and inmate deaths.

In the wake of last year’s riot at Parc, G4S replaced the prison’s director by mutual agreement. The role was taken over by Will Styles, formerly of G4S-run HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire.

Earlier this week, The Herald reported that police are investigating an alleged sexual assault on a young inmate on X1 Wing, said to have involved coercion and scalding.

Zack Griffiths of the HMP Prisons Justice Group, speaking about that case, said: “A vulnerable young person was left exposed to a violent, dangerous offender, and the consequences have been devastating. This isn’t just an individual crime—it is a catastrophic failure of the prison system to safeguard those in its care.”

The Ministry of Justice’s anti-corruption unit is working alongside South Wales Police as part of the wider investigation into the jail.

HMP Parc is the largest prison in Wales and one of the few in the UK operated by a private firm. The growing number of allegations has sparked renewed calls for an independent inquiry into its management and oversight.

In addition to the ongoing police investigations, the prison has recorded multiple deaths over the past 12 months. At least eight inmates are reported to have died in that period. Some of those deaths are understood to be drug-related or suspected suicides, though not all have been officially confirmed.

Campaigners and whistleblowers have warned that conditions inside Parc have become dangerously unstable, with claims that vulnerable prisoners are frequently left without adequate supervision or support.

None of the officers arrested to date have been charged, and all remain innocent unless proven otherwise.

The Herald has contacted G4S and the Ministry of Justice for further comment.