News

Sizewell C funding a ‘missed opportunity’ for Wales and the environment, say Lib Dems

Published

6 months ago

June 10, 2025

Dodds urges UK Government to back Swansea tidal lagoon

THE WELSH Liberal Democrats have criticised the UK Government’s decision to invest £14.2 billion in the Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk, calling it a “massive missed opportunity” for Wales and the UK’s wider climate ambitions.

While Sizewell C is expected to power six million homes, none of those homes will be in Wales — and the project is not expected to create any Welsh jobs.

Welsh Lib Dem Leader Jane Dodds MS has written to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, urging the Government to prioritise investment in Welsh renewable energy projects, particularly the long-awaited Swansea Bay tidal lagoon.

“This Labour government is once again putting other parts of the UK ahead of Wales,” said Ms Dodds.

“Just imagine the economic boost to Wales if they had chosen to invest in tidal lagoon power here. It would have created thousands of high-skilled, well-paid jobs and transformed coastal communities — all while helping us meet our climate commitments.”

“For generations, Wales exported energy to the world. We can do it again — this time through renewable sources like tidal power.”

Ms Dodds added that both the UK and Welsh Labour governments “lack ambition” when it comes to securing Wales’ long-term energy and economic future.

The Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project, first proposed nearly a decade ago, was expected to create up to 1,900 full-time jobs during construction, and around 180 long-term positions linked to operations and maintenance.

Under current planning rules, major energy projects above 350MW are designated as “England and Wales” projects and fall under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) framework. Despite this, all of the homes benefitting from Sizewell C’s power will be in England.

Concerns have also been raised over escalating costs. While the official budget is £14.2 billion, industry insiders quoted in The Financial Times have warned it could reach £40 billion — a claim the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has dismissed as “speculative”.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto in 2017 pledged to give the “immediate go-ahead” to the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.