Community
Council chiefs quizzed over leisure and library cuts
COUNCIL chiefs warned of “no fat left to cut” with leisure centres and libraries across Wales facing the threat of closure due to “unprecedented” financial constraints.
The Senedd culture committee took evidence from councils on October 24 as part of an inquiry on the impact of cuts on the arts, culture and sport.
Emily Owen, deputy leader of Conwy Council, said: “Everything’s on the table that isn’t statutory at the moment, we’re in that much of a difficult financial situation.”
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), the national voice of Wales’ 22 councils, warned spending on culture, recreation and libraries has fallen by up to 43% over a decade.
Cllr Owen said: “Last year, our economy and culture service had a 20% cut and the year before it had an 11% cut. That’s a serious amount of money that has gone from services.”
With the WGLA warning of a £432m funding gap across Welsh councils, Cllr Owen told the committee the council is trying to avoid closing leisure centres.
“We strongly believe that once they’re gone, they’re gone,” she said.
The Labour councillor cautioned cuts have had a considerable direct impact on participation of the most vulnerable people amid a mental health epidemic.
“It’s really not good,” she said. “If we’re having to remove facilities and access for people to be able to manage their mental health and wellbeing … we are having a really big impact.”
She pointed to plans to turn Venue Cymru in Llandudno into a culture hub, hosting library services, tourist information and welfare benefits advice.
Huw Thomas, leader of Cardiff Council, warned the scale of the budget gap leaves councils little latitude to continue to fund loss-making facilities they are not legally required to provide.
Cllr Thomas, who is culture, arts and leisure spokesperson for the WLGA, told the committee Cardiff is facing a £60m gap in the coming year.
He said: “We’re at the toughest point of budget setting I think we’ve experienced even in 14-15 years of austerity.”
Setting out the scale of the deficit, the Labour councillor told committee members the city’s combined annual budget for parks and libraries totals about £12m.
He said the council felt obliged to move away from a £1m-a-year subsidy for St David’s Hall.
Cllr Thomas cautioned it is increasingly difficult to find savings after 14 years of austerity, adding that councils are overwhelmingly prioritising services in areas of higher poverty.
He made a case for additional funding for Cardiff as the capital, raising the example of other cities in the UK receiving help with policing costs for major events.
Sarah Ecob, head of culture at Conwy Council, said: “We’re fighting really hard to keep our buildings and our services open in a backdrop of extremely severe financial difficulties.”
She expressed concerns about a lack of longer-term investment in facilities, warning: “We still have leisure centres that are desperately, desperately in need of major capital funding.”
Amanda Davies, managing director of Byw’n Iach which runs 12 centres across Gwynedd, cautioned: “There’s no fat left to cut. We’re running on a basis of individual staff running some facilities – you can’t cut back further … it’s not possible.”
Ms Davies raised concerns about a crisis in terms of ageing leisure facilities across Wales, with increasing costs and some centres set to close for maintenance.
Asked about cultural venues, Roland Evans, assistant head of economy at Gwynedd Council, said numbers are yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
He warned that without the shared prosperity fund (SPF), which replaced EU structural funds, the council would be facing a “cliff edge” with little arts and museums activity.
Ms Ecob echoed this, saying: “The SPF has absolutely rescued us this year.”
She warned core staff are “very much under threat” when the funding comes to an end, which would have knock-on impacts in terms of applying for grants.
Mr Thomas agreed about the importance of the SPF as he similarly raised concerns about uncertainty surrounding funding beyond March 2025.
POLICE have issued an urgent update in the search for two missing teenagers from Ceredigion, following a confirmed sighting in Aberystwyth.
Isabelle and Daniel, both 16, were reported missing on Monday (April 7) and are believed to have been travelling together across Wales. The latest confirmed sighting was on Alexandra Road, Aberystwyth, at 12:30pm on Friday (April 11).
It is believed they boarded the T1 bus, which departed the town at 12:36pm.
Isabelle is described as 5ft 3in tall and usually has blonde hair, though she may have dyed it a darker colour. She was last seen wearing a black parka-style coat with a fur-lined hood, grey jogging bottoms, and carrying a large black backpack.
Daniel is 6ft 1in tall with short dark brown hair and shaved sides. In the latest sighting, he was wearing a black baseball cap with white markings, dark blue jeans, a black T-shirt, and a black collared coat. He was carrying a large black, red, and grey camping backpack.
Both teenagers are believed to have taken spare clothes and camping equipment with them. Police say they may now be wearing different clothing.
Isabelle and Daniel have known connections to Gloucestershire, Merseyside, and North Wales, and their families are growing increasingly concerned for their welfare.
Officers are urging anyone who has seen the pair or has information about their whereabouts to get in touch immediately.
Information can be submitted via the following methods:
| Dyfed-Powys Police website
| Email: 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk
| Direct message Dyfed-Powys Police on social media
| Call 101 and quote reference 141 of April 7
A 26-year-old man has been reported missing in Thailand after his family lost contact with him more than eight weeks ago.
Daniel Davies was last seen on March 13 on Phi Phi Island, a popular tourist destination in southern Thailand. He had been staying at the Hangover Hostel in Bangkok prior to his disappearance.
A missing person report has been filed with Dyfed-Powys Police, and the case is now listed under reference number DP-20250329-215.
Daniel is described as being around 6ft tall, of slim build, with blonde hair and a beard. He also has tattoo sleeves on both arms.
Echoes of the Lost – a national missing persons initiative – has now joined the appeal alongside SARS Cymru, urging anyone with information to come forward. In a statement, they said: “Daniel, if you happen to see this post, please get in contact with your family. They are worried. If you wish to message us to pass information along, please feel free to do so.”
His aunt, Nicola Doran, has been sharing emotional appeals online, writing: “My nephew Daniel Davies, 26, from Llanelli – he’s gone missing in Bangkok, Thailand. He’s been reported and is now a missing person. No one has had any contact in weeks.”
Friends and family have been spreading the appeal across social media, hoping someone in Thailand may have seen him. One post reads: “Can all my mates out in Thailand, Bangkok area, please share this and keep eyes out for my lil’ kuzen – he’s been missing 8 weeks over there.”
Daniel’s disappearance has been reported to Thai police, and the UK Foreign Office is understood to be aware of the case.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk or calling 101, quoting reference DP-20250329-215.
DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued new photos in the search for Isabelle and Daniel, who are both aged 16 and have been reported missing from their homes in the Cardigan area on Monday April 7, 2025.
Enquiries have led to a new confirmed sighting of them both at Llandunno train station at 8.20pm on Monday, where they asked for directions to the Dolgellau area.
Isobel is described as 5ft 3 and usually has blonde hair, however she may have dyed her hair to a darker colour. She was last seen wearing a black parker style coat with fur edge, grey jogging bottoms, carrying a large black backpack.
Daniel is described to be 6ft 1 with short dark brown hair, with shaved sides. He was last seen wearing dark blue jeans, black t-shirt, and a black collared coat, carrying a large camping backpack, which is black, red and grey.
Both are believed to have taken a change of clothes with them and may now be wearing something different.
It is believed that they have taken camping equipment with them and have connections to the Gloucestershire, Merseyside and North Wales areas.
Their families are increasingly concerned for their safety and welfare and eagerly await their safe return home.
DI Rebecca Thomas said: “We are continuing our search to find Isobel and Daniel. “We know that they purchased camping equipment but they have left their homes without any communication and their family and friends are becoming increasingly concerned as they have had no contact with Isabelle and Daniel for almost a week. “It is also know that they don’t have their mobile phones on them.
“I would ask anyone who has seen them to get in touch.
“I would especially appeal to Isabelle and Daniel to get in touch with the police or family so we can ensure that they are safe.”
If you have seen Isabelle and Daniel, or have information about their whereabouts, please, let us know:
️ | https://bit.ly/DPPmissingperson
| 
| 101
Quote reference 141 of April 7
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