News

Council’s Deputy Leader doubles down in Welsh language row

Published

12 months ago

May 15, 2025

THE DEPUTY LEADER of Pembrokeshire County Council has defended the Cabinet from claims it is “anti-Welsh”.Cllr Paul Miller’s remark came after the content of a Cabinet discussion on Welsh-Medium Education in Pembrokeshire was criticised by the leader of the opposition, Cllr Huw Murphy, and the Welsh Language Commissioner.

During the Cabinet debate on April 28, Cllr Miller opined that Welsh-medium schools were popular because they were new and had good facilities. He added fuel to the flames generated by his words by stating that most parents don’t care what language their children are taught in, as long as the quality of the education is good.

Cllr Miller’s words no doubt express his personal view and the view of those to whom he speaks.

However, their effect was to undo much of the good work the Council had done in meeting its obligations under the Welsh Government’s Code for Welsh in Education. Moreover, a Cabinet decision to ask officers to survey parents about the reasons for their choice of their children’s education was so poorly debated that it gave the impression that only parents electing to choose Welsh-medium education would be canvassed.

While the final wording of the Cabinet resolution on canvassing parents’ views is sufficiently neutral, the manner in which the Cabinet conducted its debate raised concerns among those more deeply rooted in the Welsh language than any Cabinet member.

Cllr Miller’s words and those of other contributors to the April 28 debate were dismissive and inflammatory.

They prompted Cllr Huw Murphy to refer the debate to the Welsh Language Commissioner and request a call-in to the local authority’s powerful Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Welsh Language Commissioner’s response was blunt and excoriated the Cabinet debate.
Efa Gruffydd Jones wrote: “In 2019, the Welsh Government introduced significant changes to the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 and also to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) Regulations 2019.

One of the main changes was to move away from the concept of measuring demand, and, rather, to place a duty on local authorities to encourage the demand for Welsh-medium education. That is, local authorities are expected to expand Welsh-medium provision proactively, thereby encouraging more parents to choose Welsh-medium education for their children.”

She added: “It is not clear to me why there is a need to question the choices of parents regarding Welsh-medium education in particular.
“It is also difficult to see how a process of questioning parents’ motivation for choosing Welsh-medium education would be compatible with the commitments that have been made in Pembrokeshire County Council’s WESP.”

Cllr Miller’s attempt to defuse the row at the Education Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 14, was undone by his failure to reassure Committee members that the decision reached on April 28 was a neutral act by an authority merely seeking to capture potentially valuable data that might inform its future decisions. Cllr Miller constantly asked members to consider the issue in the context of the words of the resolution that the Cabinet passed. However, he failed to appreciate that the resolution’s context was framed by his and his fellow Cabinet members’ attitudes on April 28.

Instead, unwilling to apologise for fostering the wrong impression, Cllr Miller doubled down on his assertions about parents’ motivations for sending their children to the new Welsh-medium schools, stating that the parents he spoke to “couldn’t give a toss” about the medium of their children’s education. He also attacked Cllr Huw Murphy for calling in the decision and the Welsh Language Commissioner for her criticisms.

During the debate, it became apparent that the Cabinet was unaware of the additional cost of capturing the data it sought, how such a request might be framed, or how the received data would be handled. The Director of Education, Stephen Richards-Downes, could not help committee members who asked about the additional costs of the Cabinet’s proposal.

Cllr Miller might have paused to reflect that, accepting his rationale that free transport and good facilities in Welsh-medium schools enticed parents to send their children to Welsh-medium schools, the Council had work to do improving its English-medium provision.

At the conclusion of the debate, Cllr Huw Murphy pointed out the Cabinet had no Welsh speaker in its membership and that the absence of someone with a perspective on the importance of Welsh to Pembrokeshire’s communities would have avoided the loaded way in which the Cabinet conducted its debate.

The Committee voted to send the Cabinet decision back for reconsideration.

News

Land Rover swallowed by tide at popular Welsh beach

Published

37 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A LAND ROVER Discovery has been lost to the sea at Abersoch after becoming stranded on the resort’s Main Beach.

The vehicle, worth tens of thousands of pounds, was spotted by early morning dog walkers on the sand at the Gwynedd coastal village before being completely covered by the incoming tide at around 10:00am.

Stranded on sand

Images circulating on social media showed the 4×4 marooned on the beach, with some locals initially questioning whether the pictures were genuine.

However, witnesses later confirmed the incident, with one RIB owner reporting: “People are paddleboarding over its roof!”

It is believed the vehicle may have become stuck while being used to recover a boat trailer or jet ski.

‘Not the first’

Locals said the incident was a familiar sight at the popular seaside resort, where vehicles have previously become trapped by soft sand and fast-moving tides.

One man wrote: “Not the first and it won’t be the last.”

Another joked: “The tide comes in. Who knew?”

Others described it as the start of the “silly season”, when coastal mishaps increase as visitor numbers rise.

Expensive mistake

New Land Rover Discovery models can cost around £80,000, while Discovery Sport models start from about £55,000.

Commenters suggested the vehicle’s off-road reputation may have given the driver false confidence.

One wrote: “It probably gave him a sense of security that it can go anywhere — we all know it can’t.”

Recovery expected

As the tide began to recede, boat owners reported the outline of the vehicle starting to reappear beneath the water.

Recovery was expected to require a beach tractor, but seawater damage means the Land Rover is likely to be written off.

One local said: “Very sad to see that something went wrong. You see many cars go into the sea to retrieve boat trailers, and you know that car will be rotten very soon afterwards.

“There’s a reason why old tractors are used.”

Despite the flood of “can’t park there” jokes and “Chelsea tractor” comments online, many said they felt sorry for the owner, who now faces what one person called a “very expensive weekend.”

Community

Cllr marks 10th blood donation and urges others to give blood

Published

39 minutes ago

May 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE councillor has urged more people to become blood donors after receiving his 10-unit donation badge from the Welsh Blood Service.

Cllr Thomas Tudor said he was pleased to receive the recognition and encouraged anyone who is able to donate to come forward.

He said: “If you can give blood, please do so.”

The Welsh Blood Service says hospitals in Wales need around 350 blood donations every day to support patients in need.

A single donation can help up to three patients, as blood can be separated into different components and used in different ways to help people recover.

The service is calling for donors from all backgrounds, including first-time donors and those who have given blood before, to help maintain supplies for hospitals across Wales.

Giving blood is described as quick, simple and safe, and remains one of the most important ways members of the public can help save lives.

Anyone wishing to find out more can contact the Welsh Blood Service on 0800 252 266, Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 7:00pm, or Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. They can also email [email protected].

Caption:

Cllr Thomas Tudor giving blood after receiving his 10-unit donation badge from the Welsh Blood Service.

News

Welsh Labour manifesto pledge: Direct London train for Milford Haven

Published

12 hours ago

May 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WELSH LABOUR has unveiled a pledge to deliver a direct rail service between Milford Haven and London – a move that would transform connectivity for communities across Pembrokeshire.

This commitment builds on £50 million of UK Labour investment to upgrade rail services to Milford Haven.

Work is already underway, in partnership between the Welsh Labour Government and Pembrokeshire County Council, led by Council Labour Leader Paul Miller, to transform Milford Haven railway station into a modern Public Transport Interchange – delivering smoother, better connected and more accessible journeys.

Together, these upgrades will pave the way for direct London services to call at Milford Haven, alongside an hourly service and vital level crossing safety improvements delivered by the UK Labour Government.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “This pledge sits alongside a record commitment to rail in Wales – up to £14 billion of investment, new stations and a transformed Metro. But this is about more than just a rail line.

It’s about opening Pembrokeshire up – bringing more people to one of the most beautiful parts of Wales, strengthening our tourism sector and creating new opportunities for local businesses to grow.

“And as we do that, we’re doing it the right way – backing a greener economy, making it easier for people to travel sustainably, and ensuring that growth benefits our communities. This is how we build a stronger future for West Wales – with better connections, more opportunity and an economy that works with our environment, not against it.”

Welsh Labour candidate for Ceredigion Penfro, Marc Tierney added: “A direct train to London from Milford would be a game changer for our communities – boosting tourism, supporting local businesses and making it easier for people to live and work here.

“The work underway to transform Milford Haven station into a modern transport hub, alongside plans for an hourly service, shows what Welsh Labour can deliver when we work in partnership with local authorities – investing in the infrastructure our communities deserve. With new funding from the UK Labour Government and a strong partnership in place, we can now go further.

“Welsh Labour is delivering the investment and the ambition needed to ensure West Wales is at the forefront of modern, connected and accessible transport.”

The pledge forms part of Welsh Labour’s wider plan to modernise public transport, strengthen regional connectivity and ensure no part of Wales is left behind.