Community

Paul Davies joins growing backlash over £40m Newgale road scheme

Published

4 weeks ago

April 25, 2025

Senedd Member backs STUN’s £500k alternative to protect coast without harming village

SENEDD Member Paul Davies has joined growing opposition to Pembrokeshire County Council’s £40 million Newgale road realignment, branding the project “ill conceived” and urging the authority to reconsider a more affordable, environmentally sensitive alternative drawn up by the local community.

***Says plans are ill conceived: Paul Davies MS***

The Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project (NCAP), developed by the council in partnership with consultants AtkinsRéalis, proposes rerouting the A487 inland through the Brandy Brook valley. The scheme is aimed at mitigating future storm damage and sea-level rise, but critics say it will devastate the landscape, split the village in two, and waste tens of millions of pounds.

Mr Davies is working with the Newgale campaign group STUN (Stand Up for Newgale), who have drawn up a rival plan costed at just £250,000–£500,000. Their proposal would see a 400-metre stretch of the existing shingle bank moved around 10 metres seaward, maintaining the existing A487 route and drastically reducing environmental and financial impact.

“I’m very disappointed that the Council is pushing ahead with its plans rather than working with the community on a much more affordable scheme,” Mr Davies told The Herald. “We know the Council is struggling financially and yet somehow, it’s content to find millions of pounds for a scheme that the local community opposes.

“In my view, Pembrokeshire County Council’s plans are ill conceived. Any changes to the infrastructure in Newgale must meet the needs of the local community and should aim to be as environmentally sensitive as possible. I’ve raised this at the Senedd, and I will be doing so again, urging the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to intervene and support the local community.”

‘We just want the council to talk to us’

***The pebble bank in Newgale is over a mile long (Image: File)***

The STUN proposal includes drainage measures, improved beach access for disabled users, and avoids any disruption to existing businesses such as the Duke of Edinburgh pub, surf shop, and campsite. It also claims to meet every target laid out in the Welsh Government’s Future Generations Act and Net Zero commitments—unlike the council’s more invasive plan.

***Peter Keeling (in blue – STUN Chair) and Colin Haywood (STUN member) clearing up the pebbles from day to day visitor traffic (Image: Herald)***

Expert: Council’s modelling is flawed and alarmist

STUN’s report is backed by a detailed independent assessment from STUN’s Chair, Professor David Keeling, a retired academic who examined the coastal data underpinning the council’s justification for the new road. He concluded that the predictions of the shingle bank migrating inland were “unnecessarily alarmist” and based on “extreme upper-end climate scenarios” that do not reflect local conditions.

Professor Keeling states that moving the shingle bank 10–12 metres seaward would delay any significant landward movement by at least 80–100 years, while allowing real-time monitoring of sea level changes in future.

Historical evidence ignored, say campaigners

***Rare event: STUN say that clean up from 2014 overtopping event cost just £13,000 (Image: WNS)***

The group’s report also highlights historical records, dating back to 1795, showing that storm damage to the A487 from pebble over-topping has occurred only a handful of times in centuries—and was always remedied quickly and cheaply.

The 2014 overtopping event that prompted the NCAP plan, for example, incurred a one-off clean-up cost of just £13,000. STUN argues that even if such events doubled in frequency, it would still be more cost-effective to maintain the existing road than to spend £40 million on a new one.

Professor Keeling told The Herald that the council has ignored legally required procedures and failed to properly engage with local people.

“We want the council to communicate with us and properly assess our alternative plan,” Prof. Keeling said.

“Realigning the shingle bank 10 metres seaward would protect the road for the next 80 to 100 years, improve beach access, and save tens of millions of pounds that nobody in the village wants to see spent on a new road through Brandy Brook,” he added.

Local business owners worried

Local surf shop owner Rhys Morgan told The Herald: “This road scheme could finish us. Most of us here would rather see that money spent protecting the beach and improving access—not destroying what makes Newgale special.”

Legal concerns over council’s process

***Calls to restart the decision-making process: Pembrokeshire County Council (Image: File)***

STUN has also raised concerns that Pembrokeshire County Council may have breached its obligations under the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. They claim that their realignment proposal was never properly considered at any stage and was later dismissed on a technicality.

The group is calling on the council to restart the decision-making process, re-evaluate the modelling data, and consult the public on the cheaper, less destructive option.

Consultation open until May 11

The statutory pre-application consultation on the NCAP scheme remains open until 11th May 2025. Residents are being urged to submit feedback and demand that all options—particularly the STUN proposal—are properly reviewed.

How to have your say:

Email: [email protected]
Post:
Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project Team
AtkinsRéalis
Floor 4, West Glamorgan House
12 Orchard Street
Swansea
SA1 5AD

Online: www.newgalecoastaladaptation.co.uk

Printed copies of the consultation documents can also be viewed at St Davids Library, City Hall, SA62 6SD:

Tuesday: 10:00am–1:00pm and 2:00pm–5:00pm

Thursday: 10:00am–5:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am–12:00pm

With mounting public opposition, academic backing, and growing political scrutiny, pressure is building on Pembrokeshire County Council to revisit its controversial plan—and engage with the community before it’s too late.

Community

Public invited to explore Pembroke Port at Open Day and Stakeholder Meeting

Published

14 hours ago

May 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MEMBERS of the public are being invited to go behind the scenes at Pembroke Port as part of a special Open Day and Annual Stakeholder Meeting hosted by the Port of Milford Haven.

The event will take place on Wednesday, 18 June, at Catalina House, Pembroke Dock (SA72 6JD), offering a unique opportunity to discover the inner workings of one of Wales’ busiest ports.

Running from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, the Open Day will include guided bus tours around the site, giving visitors a rare, close-up look at port operations and activities across the facility. Port staff, local business representatives, and partners from across the supply chain will also be on hand to discuss their work and answer questions.

From 6:00pm to 7:30pm, the Port’s Annual Stakeholder Meeting will be held, where attendees will hear updates from the Chair and Chief Executive, meet members of the Board and senior management, and take part in a Q&A session. Questions can be submitted in advance via email to [email protected].

Throughout the day, visitors can explore the wide-ranging roles of the Port of Milford Haven – from commercial marine services and energy sector support to community initiatives and leisure activities. A number of external organisations will also be present, including emergency services, marine experts, and conservation groups highlighting Pembrokeshire’s diverse wildlife.

Community

RNLI lifeguard patrols extend across Welsh beaches for half term

Published

23 hours ago

May 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THIS weekend RNLI lifeguard patrols are extending the number of patrolled beaches across Wales, as the lifesaving charity are encouraging the public to visit a lifeguarded beach.

This Saturday 24 May, RNLI lifeguard patrols begin at a number of beaches across Wales for the half term holiday. The RNLI are advising those planning a trip to the coast, to visit a lifeguarded beach.

Tom John Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for Swansea said: ‘There are plenty of lifeguarded beaches around Wales to choose from during half term. Remember to swim and bodyboard between the red and yellow flags, and surf, kayak or stand-up paddleboard between the black and white flags.

‘The lifeguards position the flags in the safest area of the beach, if you see a red flag the lifeguards have deemed that area of the beach as unsafe – so do not enter the water. If you ever have any questions, feel free to approach the lifeguards who will be happy to help and can provide local beach safety advice for the conditions that day.’

From Saturday 24 May, RNLI lifeguards will be patrolling from 10am-6pm at the following locations:

In Denbighshire, Rhyl and Prestatyn will be patrolled every day from 24 May – 1 June. They will then be patrolled on weekends only up until 29 June when they go live full time for the remainder of the season.

In Ceredigion Borth, Aberystwyth South, Llangrannog, Tresaith and Aberporth will be patrolled every day from 24 May – 1 June. Borth and Llangrannog will continue to be patrolled full time, whilst the other beaches will be patrolled on weekends only up until 19 July when they go live full time until 31 August.

In Pembrokeshire, Whitesands, Newgale Central and Tenby South will be patrolled every day from 24 May – 1 June. Whitesands and Tenby South will continue to be patrolled every day, Newgale Central will be patrolled on weekends only up until 15 June when it goes live full time.

In Swansea, Aberavon, Langland, Caswell and Pembrey will be patrolled every day from 24 May – 1 June. Aberavon, Langland and Caswell will continue to be patrolled every day, with Pembrey to be patrolled on weekends only up until 5 July when it goes live full time.

In Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan, Rest Bay, Coney Beach, Trecco Bay and Whitmore Bay will be patrolled every day from 24 May until the end of the season.

Chris Cousens RNLI Water Safety Lead said: ‘If you’re visiting the coast, remember to visit a lifeguarded beach. It’s safest not to go into the water alone – the person you’re with can help you stay safe and get help in the event of an emergency.

‘If you unexpectedly find yourself in difficulty in the water, float to live. If you see anyone else in difficulty anywhere along the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’

The RNLI’s advice for anyone struggling in the water is ‘Float to Live’:

Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged
Relax and try to breathe normally
Move your hands and feet to help you stay afloat
It’s fine if your legs sink, we all float differently.

Community

Safety plea issued for DIY enthusiasts after cable damage

Published

23 hours ago

May 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DIY enthusiasts and builders in South and West Wales are being urged to take extra care when digging to avoid hitting underground electricity cables, which is dangerous and can lead to power cuts.

Digging into a live high voltage cable can cause explosions and fires that may lead to fatalities or severe injury, including burns to face, hands and body.

Most cables are laid in trenches between 450mm and one metre deep and often there are no permanent markers to show their presence.

National Grid Electricity Distribution is advising workers to:

find out if electrical equipment is near the digging area by checking cable location plans
ensure someone competent at using a Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) locates all cables shown on the plans
mark cable locations on the ground surface with waterproof road paint or marker
dig trial holes by hand to locate exact positions of cables using an insulated spade or shovel – never a pick, fork or power tool
remember cable record plans are not guaranteed to be completely accurate. Kerb lines, roads and buildings may have been moved or altered since the cables were laid
if a cable is hit, clear the area of personnel and call 105 to report it

Chris Cleveland, National Grid Electricity Distribution’s Head of Safety, said: “There’s a high risk of serious injury if an underground cable is damaged and that’s why we want anyone carrying out excavation, drilling, piling, demolition and site investigations to check in advance if live cables are anywhere near their work area.

“As well as possible injury and delaying people’s projects, damaging cables can also cause significant disruption to other customers and lead to considerable repair costs for those responsible.”

Details of how to obtain National Grid Electricity Distribution cable location plans can be found at: https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/our-network/check-before-you-dig-location-of-our-cables-and-equipment