News

Sea levels threaten Pembrokeshire coast

Published

11 years ago

November 28, 2014

ON TUESDAY (Oct 28), BBC Cymru-Wales’ Week In Week Out programme covered the threat posed to the Welsh coastline by rising sea levels and the lack of budget available to continue to defend under-threat communities. A BBC spokesperson said “Each of the 48 areas along the coast in Wales have different timescales that estimate when properties are at risk of being lost to the sea. And while the plans are based on scientifi c estimates of future events the impact on home owners is likely to be immediate.” Next week, PCCC is to look at its own strategy on the future of those coastal communities under threat in Pembrokeshire. Bridgend council accepted the shoreline plan almost two years ago.

It told Week In-Week Out it did follow communication guidelines to let people know, and will work with the residents on fl ood defences and coastal change. But a number of Newton residents whose homes are at risk said they knew nothing of the plan or the threat to their homes until Week In Week Out contacted them. However, it appears that communication is a common problem for local authorities. Emyr Williams, a coastal engineer from Pembrokeshire County Council, stated that when a public meeting was called to discuss the council’s managed withdrawal from see wall maintenance along The Strand, no Saundersfoot residents turned up.

The programme made particularly grim viewing for residents and businesses on The Strand in Saundersfoot, as the council’s coastal engineer revealed that the Council anticipated the loss of The Strand to the waves. The Pembrokeshire Herald has taken the opportunity to look at the West Wales Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), to which the council is a key contributor, and has uncovered a worrying picture around the Pembrokeshire coast. The report states: “With increased sea level many of the transport issues will increase, most particularly at Newgale, but also at Little Haven, Broad Haven and Solva.

As sea level rises there would be substantially greater pressure for the coast to roll back with disruption to natural defences at Newgale and the potential for increased loss of beaches where man made defences are in place. Increased risk of fl ooding would also occur to many of the other smaller communities.” The original Shoreline Management Plan suggested that further consideration be given to defence of the coastal road at Settlands, between Little Haven and Broad Haven. The southern part of Pembrokeshire and the Haven Waterway is similarly threatened.

Natural Resources Wales note that Dale, Amroth and Tenby are at signifi cant risk of sea fl ooding and that steps are being taken now to reduce the risk to properties. It seems inevitable, however, that regardless of the short term measures taken to alleviate the effects of fl ooding, the long-term prognosis for Pembrokeshire’s coastal communities is uncertain. In Amroth, in particular, the threat is stark with the policy being to hold the line for as long as possible through maintaining the existing defences to ensure that the risk of erosion is managed, but not to improve the standard of fl ood protection.

Once the defences fail, the shoreline will be allowed to naturally evolve and retreat through no active intervention, with broadly the same policy adopted for the entire coastal area from Amroth all the way round to Saundersfoot, affecting the settlements at Wiseman’s Bridge and Coppett Hall. The plans are due to wind out over periods of time ranging from 0-20 years to – most commonly- 20-50 years. However, that does not mean that defences will be maintained for the whole of that period but that by the end of those periods realignment will have taken place, including but not limited to the redirection of transport links and what is described as ‘relocation’.

Coastal engineer Greg Guthrie said: “There are places where we are saying that continuing to defend is basically daft, that we are actually building up, stacking up problems for the future. We have an opportunity – highlighted by the Shoreline Management Plans – to highlight those areas and say now, while we still have time, we can plan how we get out of the dead-end that we are driving ourselves into.” The new Minister for Natural Resources, Carl Sargeant, claims the Welsh Government has spent £300m on fl ood defences since 2011, but it will be diffi cult to justify defending some areas in future. When asked if people affected would be compensated he said each case would have to be examined individually.

Business

Plaid energy policy challenged by Labour after Adam Price interview

Published

18 hours ago

May 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

LABOUR SAYS MINISTERS MUST EXPLAIN COST AND TIMETABLE FOR PYLON PLANS

PLAID CYMRU’S approach to energy infrastructure has come under scrutiny after Energy Minister Adam Price was challenged over plans to reduce the use of overhead pylons in Wales.

Mr Price defended the Welsh Government’s position during an appearance on BBC Radio Wales’ Sunday Supplement, arguing that communities must have greater confidence in how major grid projects are handled.

Plaid Cymru has pledged to give communities a stronger voice over energy developments and to look more closely at alternatives to overhead transmission lines, including underground cabling where possible.

The issue has become increasingly sensitive in rural parts of Wales, where proposed pylon routes linked to renewable energy schemes have raised concerns about landscape impact, tourism and local consultation.

However, Welsh Labour said the minister had failed to explain when any restriction on pylons would take effect, or who would pay the additional cost of placing cables underground.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “Adam Price keeps saying how clear their manifesto was and yet he won’t say when they’re banning pylons. They won’t say who is paying for the extra cost of undergrounding cables.

“Without certainty, companies won’t invest. That’s thousands of clean, green energy jobs at risk. Plaid need more than a plan to have a plan.”

Labour said the Welsh Government must now set out how its policy would work in practice, including whether it amounts to an outright ban, what exemptions would apply, and how any extra costs would be funded.

The debate highlights the challenge facing ministers as Wales seeks to expand renewable energy generation while addressing public opposition to large-scale grid infrastructure.

Community

Pembroke Fair praised as well-organised community event

Published

18 hours ago

May 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HORSES, STALLS AND FAMILY CROWDS RETURN TO MONKTON

FAMILIES, horse owners and visitors turned out in force for Pembroke Fair on Saturday (May 23), with many praising the event as one of the best organised in recent years.

Held at the Community Centre Field in Monkton, the annual fair brought together horse owners, traders and local families for a traditional day centred around horses, ponies, stalls and socialising.

Coloured cobs, heavy horses, ponies and horse-drawn traps attracted attention throughout the day, with many visitors gathering around the field to watch the animals being shown and led around the site.

A variety of stalls selling everything from clothing and ornaments to tack and second-hand goods helped create a lively market atmosphere, while food vendors kept visitors fed throughout the day.

Despite overcast conditions at times, the event remained busy, with many attendees staying for several hours to enjoy the traditional fair atmosphere.

Community members later took to social media to praise the smooth running of the event, with several publicly thanking organiser Charlie Price for his efforts in bringing the fair together.

Comments described the day as “well organised” and praised the welcoming atmosphere, with many saying it was encouraging to see a long-standing local tradition continuing to thrive.

The fair once again brought together members of the travelling community, local residents and horse enthusiasts from across west Wales.

A horse drive was also due to take place on Sunday (May 24), continuing the weekend’s celebrations.

Photo captions:

Traditional gathering: Horses, ponies, horse-drawn carts and market stalls drew crowds to Pembroke Fair in Monkton on Saturday (Pic: Herald).

News

Watchdog criticises health board over £10m GP contract checks

Published

2 days ago

May 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A HEALTH board has been criticised by Audit Wales after GP contracts worth more than £10m were awarded without sufficient due diligence checks.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board allowed a GP partnership associated with eHarley Street Primary Care Solutions to take on eight GP contracts in south-east Wales, with a combined annual value of around £10.1m.

Audit Wales said the board should have carried out greater scrutiny before approving the arrangements, including checks on financial resilience, workforce plans, business risks and the partnership’s ability to manage several practices at once.

However, the watchdog found no evidence of fraud and noted the board was dealing with significant pressure in general practice, including vacant contracts and limited interest from other bidders.

The report said weaknesses in governance and scrutiny contributed to later disruption and uncertainty for patients and staff when problems emerged.

Concerns included financial and workforce pressures, unpaid invoices, and issues relating to tax and pension payments. Some contracts were later handed back, requiring the health board to step in to protect services.

Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Minister for Health and Social Care, said the findings were “deeply concerning”.

She said: “Patients and staff were left facing disruption and uncertainty because proper scrutiny was not carried out before these contracts were awarded.

“The Welsh Conservatives believe lessons must be learned to ensure robust checks are in place, protect frontline services and restore confidence in primary care across Wales.”

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board accepted the recommendations and said it had already strengthened its processes.

Audit Wales said the case highlighted the need for stronger checks before GP contracts are transferred, particularly when a single partnership is taking on multiple practices in a short period.