News

Welsh Government pledges £25m to fix potholes and resurface roads

Published

1 year ago

February 3, 2025

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has announced an additional £25 million to repair roads and prevent around 30,000 potholes and other defects across the country.

The funding, revealed by Transport Secretary Ken Skates, will allow for an extra 100km of Welsh roads to be resurfaced in the next financial year, addressing thousands of existing potholes.

The Welsh Government says it has spent more than £81 million on road resurfacing since 2021, with total investment expected to rise to £118 million by 2026.

Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: “The people of Wales have told us again and again that they want us to fix our roads, and so I’m delighted to announce today more funding to prevent 30,000 potholes and fix thousands more of existing ones.

“This is only possible because of the substantial funding settlement from the UK Government, and because of the refocusing by Eluned Morgan towards the priorities of the people of Wales.”

The announcement follows First Minister Eluned Morgan’s summer listening tour, during which improving road conditions was identified as a key priority.

The Welsh Government has criticised opposition parties for failing to support the additional investment. Skates added: “The Conservatives pretend to be on the side of motorists. Plaid Cymru are mysteriously quiet on the issue, hoping you won’t notice. If they believe in connecting communities, like this Welsh Labour Government does, they’ll vote for £25 million for potholes in the Budget.”

The funding boost comes as road conditions remain a significant concern for motorists, with local authorities facing increasing pressure to repair deteriorating infrastructure.

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

3 minutes ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

5 minutes ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

33 minutes ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.