News

Green candidate questions impact of Senedd ‘Bus Bill’ on rural Wales

Published

9 months ago

October 16, 2025

THE GREEN PARTY’S candidate for Ceredigion and Penfro, Amy Nicholass, has criticised the Welsh Government’s proposed ‘Bus Bill’, warning it could harm vital rural bus services across west Wales.

The legislation, currently progressing through the Senedd, would introduce a franchising system under which decisions on routes, timetables, fares, and service standards would be made by the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales (TfW), working alongside local authorities.

But Nicholass, who regularly relies on local bus routes including the T5, T3, 381, 460 and 430, fears the changes will centralise control and risk cutting lifeline services.

She said: “I use buses in rural west Wales. My journeys often take over an hour. I’m not sure franchising will make them more reliable — and I worry that the unprofitable ones will disappear altogether.”

Rural lifelines at risk

The Green Party argues that the Bill fails to define what constitutes a “socially necessary route,” suggesting such services could be replaced by community transport schemes run largely by volunteers.

Nicholass added: “Rural buses are lifelines for people to access shops, see friends and get to work. People build communities on buses — it’s lovely to hear regular passengers greeting each other.”

She said the franchising model might work for urban areas such as Cardiff and Newport, but not for sparsely populated regions like Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Powys Council has already reported difficulties with TfW over coordinating school bus services, she noted, warning that similar problems could spread west.

“I see buses as a vital part of the community,” Nicholass said. “Their services should be designed for efficiency, reliability and care for community need — not profit or centralised control from Cardiff.”

A Green vision for west Wales

Nicholass helped organise Ceredigion’s Bus Action Day in September 2023 and co-authored a follow-up report that called for more investment in rural public transport.

The report stated: “Higher patronage means lower car use, which is good for the climate. People being able to move around, stay independent, and take part in activities improves health and reduces pressure on the NHS and social services.”

Nicholass said that vision — greener, better-connected, community-centred transport — remains at the heart of her campaign.

For more information on the consultation, visit haveyoursay.tfw.wales.

Community

Milford Haven Carnival organisers appeal for help from residents

Published

7 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN ROUND TABLE is asking residents in Hakin and Hubberston to help keep roads clear ahead of this Saturday’s Carnival Procession.

Organisers say the event is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with a large number of floats, lorries and support vehicles expected to make their way through Hakin before the procession begins at Waterloo Square.

Residents living along Gelliswick Road, Rectory Avenue, Glebelands and Picton Road, particularly near the junction with Observatory Avenue, are being asked to avoid double parking or parking on pavements where possible between around 11.45am and 1.00pm.

The route being used by the floats and support vehicles is shown on the map.

Some of the vehicles involved are large, and organisers say keeping the roads as clear as possible for the short period will help ensure the procession reaches Waterloo Square safely and on time.

Milford Haven Round Table said the carnival “belongs to the whole community” and thanked residents for their continued support.

They added: “Your understanding and cooperation, even for this short time, will make a huge difference and help make this year’s Carnival another fantastic day for our town.”

Residents are also being encouraged to share the message with friends, family and neighbours who live along the affected roads.

Crime

New Year’s Day drug-driver banned after police stop in Milford Haven

Published

7 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A NEW YEAR’S EVE drive has resulted in a 12-month road ban after a motorist was found to be more than twice the legal cannabis limit.

Ridwan Rahman, 20, was stopped by police as he drove his Vauxhall Astra along Steynton Road, Milford Haven, on January 1.

“Police noted the car accelerating away from traffic lights in an erratic manner,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“When officers asked the vehicle to stop, they smelt cannabis coming from inside.”

A blood test later showed Rahman had 5.2mcg of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in cannabis, in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Rahman, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to drug-driving. He was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who disputed the prosecution’s claim that he had been driving erratically.

“He does not accept that he was driving in an erratic manner, nor that he accelerated away from the traffic lights,” she said.

“The officers told him he had been stopped because the vehicle’s registration plate light was not working.”

Rahman, of Carbon Close, Newport, was fined £323 and ordered to pay a £129 court surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Crime

Fishguard man jailed after breaching order banning contact with mother

Published

7 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A FISHGUARD man has been jailed after breaching a restraining order which banned him from contacting his mother.

Steven O’Sullivan attended his mother’s home on June 22, despite the order having been imposed in November 2012. It prohibited him from having any direct or indirect contact with her.

“She felt she needed to phone the police because she was frightened of her son,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He had been dropped off at his mother’s property by a female, and his mother went upstairs to ring the police because he makes her feel vulnerable.”

When officers arrived, they found O’Sullivan inside an outbuilding, crouching beside an outside toilet.

“There have been a number of previous breaches, the most recent being on June 5,” continued Ms Vaughan. “Now we have yet another one on June 22.”

O’Sullivan, of Gwelfor, Fishguard, is currently on remand at Swansea Prison. He is also accused of stealing beer and food worth £45 from the Nisa store in Haverfordwest on June 21.

Representing him in court, solicitor Tom Lloyd said there had been no threats of violence when O’Sullivan went to his mother’s home.

“But the aggravating factor is his previous convictions,” he told the bench.

“He was particularly upset and had nowhere else to go. This was why he went to see his mother.”

Magistrates jailed O’Sullivan for eight weeks. He was also ordered to pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

He is due to return to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on July 7 to enter a plea in relation to the alleged theft offence.