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Welsh government announces £1 bus fare for under-21s

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THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has unveiled a new initiative allowing young people across Wales to travel by bus for just £1 per journey. The scheme, set to launch in September 2025, has been met with widespread approval, including strong support from the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).

The £15 million pilot programme will enable those aged 21 and under to travel anywhere in Wales for £1 per trip. The move aims to improve access to education, employment, and social opportunities while encouraging greater use of public transport among young people.

Aaron Hill, Director of CPT Cymru, welcomed the announcement, describing it as a much-needed step in supporting the next generation of public transport users.

“Encouraging young people to travel by bus is an investment in the wellbeing of future generations. This is great news for young people across Wales who will be able to travel more affordably to work, to education and to see friends and family in local communities,” he said.

“This initiative is long overdue: until today, Wales was the only nation in Great Britain with no national scheme to reduce fares for bus users. Every pound invested in bus services brings £4.55 of benefits to the environment, the health of the nation and to communities. Bus operators look forward to working with the Welsh Government to ensure that this scheme can be delivered successfully, is financially sustainable, and that taxpayers get the best possible value for money.”

The scheme is part of a broader effort to enhance public transport accessibility and affordability in Wales. Currently, the mytravelpass scheme, funded by the Welsh Government, provides discounted bus fares of approximately one-third for those aged 16 to 21. The introduction of the £1 fare represents a significant expansion of affordable travel options for young people.

Bus operators across Wales have expressed their willingness to collaborate with the Welsh Government to ensure the smooth implementation of the scheme. Industry leaders have highlighted the potential economic and environmental benefits, citing evidence that investment in bus services yields a significant return in terms of public and environmental health.

The initiative is also part of a wider £15 million package that includes additional funding for local councils and social care services. With bus companies keen to engage in discussions about its long-term sustainability, the scheme is expected to shape the future of public transport policy in Wales.

The Welsh Government hopes that the initiative will not only provide immediate cost savings for young travellers but also promote long-term public transport use, reducing car dependency and supporting environmental goals.

Further details on how young people can access the new fares are expected to be released in the coming months as preparations for the September 2025 rollout continue.

Crime

‘Most extensive’ court order issued against paedophile with Pembrokeshire links

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Predator jailed for historic child sex offences as police enforce strict post-release controls

A CONVICTED paedophile who once lived in Pembrokeshire has been jailed and handed the most extensive Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) ever issued in the Dyfed-Powys Police force area.

STEVEN LOVERIDGE, aged 60, was sentenced to six years and seven months at Swansea Crown Court in May after admitting to a string of sexual offences involving young children, some dating back as far as 2007.

The Herald understands that some of Loveridge’s offending took place while he was living in West Wales, including during a period he spent residing in Pembrokeshire. Police have not confirmed specific locations, but the scale and historic nature of the abuse prompted a far-reaching investigation across multiple counties.

Following his conviction, Dyfed-Powys Police applied for an SHPO so extensive it has shocked even seasoned officers. The order contains 20 separate and highly specific prohibitions designed to protect the public both during and after Loveridge’s release from prison.

Lowri, a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police’s Legal Services team, said: “In most cases, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order will contain two or three tailored conditions. Loveridge’s case was far from typical.

“The final order includes twenty distinct and targeted prohibitions. It reflects the extreme risk he poses to children and the importance of ensuring community safety.”

The SHPO legally binds Loveridge to a set of strict restrictions which will be enforced after his release from prison. These could include limits on internet access, contact with children, travel, and the use of certain technology — although the full details of the order have not been made public.

The force said the measures are part of a wider toolkit to monitor high-risk offenders and prevent reoffending.

Police confirmed that the complexity of the case, combined with the severity of the offences, led to what they have called a “ground-breaking” order, believed to be the most comprehensive ever imposed in the Dyfed-Powys region.

Loveridge will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

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Community

Puffin found 110 miles inland released back into the wild in Pembrokeshire

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Rare rescue sees seabird named Oona nursed back to health after landing in Herefordshire garden

A PUFFIN that somehow found its way more than 100 miles inland has been returned to the sea in Pembrokeshire after being rescued in a Herefordshire garden.

The bird, affectionately named Oona after a children’s book character, was discovered in June in the landlocked county — some 110 miles from the coast — and taken to Vets for Pets in Hereford. At just 218g, around half the normal weight for an adult puffin, she was underweight but otherwise alert.

Wildlife vet David Couper from the RSPCA provided guidance on her initial care, and once stabilised, Oona was transferred to the charity’s specialist West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Somerset. Staff there say puffin patients are extremely rare — only six have been treated at the centre in the past ten years.

Ryan Walker, Wildlife Supervisor at West Hatch, said: “Finding a puffin that far inland is extraordinary. She quickly became a bit of a star here. Our team gave her a good clean-up, helped her regain strength, and she did really well during her stay with us.”

Following her rehabilitation, which included nutritious fish meals and time in a recovery pool, Oona was returned to the sea off the coast of Pembrokeshire — home to Wales’ best-known puffin colonies, particularly on Skomer Island.

Puffins typically breed in coastal colonies, raising their chicks in burrows during spring and summer before spending the rest of the year out at sea. It’s rare for them to be found inland unless blown off course or affected by illness or exhaustion.

Oona’s story is just one of thousands seen by the RSPCA each year. In 2024, the charity took in over 10,000 wild animals across its four dedicated wildlife centres, with many found injured, orphaned or sick in people’s gardens.

The RSPCA is urging the public to act quickly if they find an animal in distress. Where safe, they should take the animal directly to a vet or consult advice on the charity’s website: www.rspca.org.uk/reportcruelty

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Crime

Youth, 19, appears in court over Tenby stabbing incident

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A YOUNG man accused of stabbing a teenager in a Tenby housing estate on Monday (July 14) has been remanded in custody after appearing before magistrates.

OLIVER DOWLING, aged 19, of Newell Hill, Tenby, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (July 17) charged with three offences — including wounding with intent, possessing a knife in a public place, and possession of cannabis.

The charges relate to a serious incident on Hafalnod estate, where Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed a man was taken to hospital after being stabbed with a knife. The victim, named in court as JOSH ALLEN, is recovering from his injuries, which are not believed to be life-threatening.

Dowling faces the following charges:

Wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861),

Possession of a bladed article in a public place, namely a kitchen knife, on Hafalnod estate,

Possession of a quantity of cannabis, a Class B drug.

No pleas were entered, and magistrates declined bail on the grounds that Dowling was likely to reoffend and could interfere with witnesses. He was remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Swansea Crown Court on August 18 at 9:00am.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed a 20-year-old man had been arrested shortly after the incident and that no other individuals are being sought in connection with the matter.

A police spokesperson said: “There continues to be an increased police presence within the area, and if anyone has any concerns please speak to those officers.”

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