News

‘Staggeringly low’ number of complaints upheld against Senedd members

Published

5 months ago

July 15, 2025

TRADE UNIONS have called for an independent system to address bullying and harassment of staff by Senedd members, warning a “staggeringly low” number of complaints are upheld.

Osian Evans, vice-chair of the Plaid Cymru Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union branch, expressed concerns about a lack of confidence, anonymity and independence.

He urged the Senedd’s standards committee to follow Westminster’s lead by introducing an independent-adjudicated process specifically looking at workplace bullying and harassment.

PCS warned complainants have not had their anonymity respected, leading to them being targeted and creating a significant barrier to making complaints.

In written evidence, PCS pointed to one example of a former member of Senedd support staff being targeted with abuse to the point that the police had to be contacted.

‘Bad behaviour’

The trade union said: “The need for a name to be stated and for that name to be disclosed to the member who is the subject of the complaint was a strong theme here. Frankly, this is not a conducive environment to encourage people to call out bad behaviour.”

The union also warned people lack confidence in the process to yield a just outcome and criticised an “unrealistic” six-month window for complaints to be made.

Mr Evans told the committee: “The amount of upheld complaints is actually staggeringly low.”

He warned the current system, which covers everything from using the wrong envelopes to sexually harassing a member of staff, is too complex for complainants.

Laura Murton similarly called for an overhaul, with 36 more Senedd members from May 2026 and, arguably, less individual accountability due to the way they will be elected.

‘Conflict of interest’

Giving evidence on July 15, the Unite union representative said: “Staff still aren’t clear about the process of how they would make a complaint and don’t feel comfortable doing so.”

She warned of a conflict of interest in the informal grievance process through the Senedd’s internal “members’ business support” team. “It’s not ‘members of support staff business support’,” she pointed out. “So, you’ve already got that in-baked… maybe prejudice.”

Ms Murton added that political parties’ complaints processes are potentially even less transparent than the current Senedd process.

Complaints can be escalated to the Senedd’s standards commissioner, Douglas Bain, who investigates complaints for the standards committee which is made up of politicians.

Ms Murton said: “Once you get to that point, if you are a member of support staff and you’re making a complaint against a Senedd member… it’s kind of like endgame essentially, you’re going to end up losing your job – one way or another.”

‘Nuclear button’

Ed Stubbs, also a Unite rep, added: “Laura talked about pressing the nuclear button, it’s a really difficult thing to do because you are taking personal risk, so – most importantly – wherever we can, [we need to] take the politics out of it.”

In written evidence, Unite described the current process as not fit for purpose due to a lack of transparency and trust. Both unions warned complaints can “drag on” for years.

Ms Murton said: “The reasons or excuses… for not having an independent process … is we’re too small, there’s not the expertise, there’s not enough complaints. I just don’t think any of those are valid reasons to deny victims of bullying and sexual harassment justice.”

Unite raised concerns about the current system “exacerbating” a power imbalance in the workplace – “one which is magnified in such a political environment”.

“Significant concern has also been flagged regarding the role Senedd members have in the complaints/standards process,” the union warned. “This does not give people in more vulnerable positions confidence in coming forward.”

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

37 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

42 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.

Local Government

Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure

SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.

“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.

Urgent works underway

Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.

Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.

Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.

Further updates are expected later this week.