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Plaid: ‘Betrayed’ Port Talbot must get fair share of steel investment

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PLAID CYMRU leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has accused both the UK and Welsh Labour governments of turning their backs on the people of Port Talbot, calling for urgent investment and a strategy to secure the future of steelmaking in Wales.

During a visit to the town on Tuesday (Apr 15), Mr ap Iorwerth and South Wales West MS Luke Fletcher met with residents and former steelworkers, pledging to stand with what they described as a “betrayed community” following the closure of Tata Steel’s blast furnaces last year.

Rhun ap Iorwerth: Accused both the UK and Welsh Labour governments of turning their backs on Port Talbot

The visit comes just days after the UK Government announced emergency legislation to rescue the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe—prompting renewed anger in Wales that no such action was taken for Port Talbot.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “This is a community angry at having been betrayed. The UK Government took action to save jobs in Scunthorpe but left Port Talbot to deal with devastating job losses alone.

“Plaid Cymru will do all we can to fight for the investment needed here. The Labour Government in Westminster must deliver on its so-called enhanced deal and ensure Port Talbot receives its fair share of the UK’s £2.5bn steel fund.”

He added: “It was in the gift of both Labour and the Conservatives to act when it mattered. Now Labour cannot simply dismiss our demands, as they did when we asked for nationalisation to be put on the table. Further inaction is not an option—they owe it to this community.”

Call for urgent Senedd debate

Plaid has written to the Welsh Government’s Trefnydd requesting a formal Senedd debate to examine how the UK Government’s emergency steel measures will impact Wales, and what support will be made available to the communities affected by job losses.

Luke Fletcher MS, Plaid’s spokesperson for Economy and Energy, said there are “serious questions” for the Welsh Labour Government to answer.

“We must hold the Labour Welsh Government to account at the earliest opportunity,” he said. “They must explain what discussions they have had with their UK counterparts, what impact this new legislation will have on the promised Steel Strategy for Wales, and what specific support will be provided to those who lost their livelihoods in Port Talbot.

“The people of this town feel completely let down. There must be a full and open debate in the Senedd, and it must happen urgently.”

Port Talbot’s blast furnaces were shut down in September 2024, resulting in the loss of 2,800 jobs. Tata Steel is now moving toward a greener model using electric arc furnace technology, which will require fewer workers and has left the local community worried about long-term economic decline.

 

Community

New town map unveiled in Fishguard

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A NEW town map has been installed in the heart of Fishguard to help residents and visitors discover more of what the area has to offer.

The map, created by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick’s in-house graphic designer, has been placed on the Abergwaun Hotel tunnel, near Offshore Surfwear’s new shop.

The group said it was “incredibly proud” of the finished result and thanked the building owner for allowing the map to be installed on the premises.

Visit Fishguard & Goodwick is now hoping to create a similar map for Goodwick and is asking for help from a centrally located building owner who may be willing to host it.

Anyone who can help, or knows of a suitable location, is being asked to get in touch with Visit Fishguard & Goodwick.

 

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Community

Tenby Summer Spectacular cancelled amid council row over harbour access

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Organisers say popular charity events cannot safely go ahead without clear powers to control crowds

TENBY ROUND TABLE has announced that this summer’s Tenby Summer Spectacular events have been cancelled until further notice amid a dispute with Pembrokeshire County Council over crowd control at the harbour.

The events, which were due to take place on Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 30, have been a major feature of Tenby’s summer calendar for decades, drawing large crowds to the harbour for entertainment, food, drink and fireworks.

In a statement, Tenby Round Table said the decision had been made “with enormous sadness” and claimed it had been forced on organisers because of unresolved issues over the safe management of pedestrian access.

The organisation said it needed the council’s Public Realm department to use statutory powers to temporarily restrict pedestrian access through the event area when capacity is reached.

Organisers said the matter had first been raised with the council in September 2025 and again formally in writing in May 2026.

They said volunteers had attended meetings, commissioned professional health and safety consultants and worked on Event Management Plans, but claimed the council had still not provided a clear answer.

Tenby Round Table said: “PCC’s Public Realm department has had nine months to answer one question on safe and controlled access to the harbour. It has not done so.”

The group also alleged that recent written responses from the council contained factual inaccuracies and misleading statements about the relevant legislation.

It added that the council’s legal advice was understood to be provisional and still under internal review.

The cancellation is currently described as provisional, with organisers giving the council a final deadline of June 25 to provide what they describe as a clear, accurate and legally grounded answer.

Tenby Round Table said that if this is provided, it will do everything possible to reinstate the events.

The group said the Summer Spectacular had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, sports teams, community groups and worthy individuals since it began.

It said the cancellation would be a devastating blow to those who benefit from the funds raised.

The statement added that organisers are still working with Dyfed-Powys Police and other relevant authorities ahead of a council licensing committee meeting in July, which is expected to consider whether the event licence should be renewed, amended or withdrawn.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.

 

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Charity

Sea shanties and street food bring crowds to Cardigan RNLI festival

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SUNSHINE, sea shanties and street food helped draw hundreds of visitors to Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station on Saturday (Jun 20).

The station’s Sea Shanty and Street Food Festival brought together families, supporters and visitors from across the region for a day of maritime music, food and community spirit.

Traditional sea shanty groups performed throughout the event, with songs echoing around the lifeboat station, while street food vendors served a range of refreshments.

The event also gave visitors the chance to learn more about the lifesaving work carried out by the RNLI and its volunteer crews.

Cardigan RNLI thanked the performers, food vendors, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who helped make the day a success.

Bruce Harris, Launch Authority and event organiser, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to support the station, enjoy the entertainment, and celebrate our maritime heritage.

“The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, and contributed to such a memorable event.”

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.

The charity operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 146,700 lives.

 

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