Business

Welsh Water chief quizzed over plans to slash 500 jobs

Published

4 weeks ago

November 7, 2025

SENEDD Members quizzed the boss of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water about plans to cut around 500 jobs amid concerns about the “enormous” pay and bonuses pocketed by executives.

Peter Perry, the outgoing chief executive, appeared before a Senedd committee today (November 5) after Welsh Water unveiled plans to cut annual spending by £50m.

Mr Perry is retiring from the industry after joining the company as an apprentice in 1979, with former Sydney Water boss Roch Cheroux set to take the reins in the new year.

He told the climate committee: “In my 46 years, I’ve never seen a time for the industry or the company where there is so much external focus, so much challenge.

“Customers are, rightly, expecting better standards and there’s an unparalleled interest in the environment… we welcome both but there are also considerable challenges.”

He outlined Welsh Water’s trawsnewid (transformation) plan to reduce its workforce by approximately 500 full-time-equivalent roles over the next 18 to 24 months.

“This is not a desired outcome, this is a necessity,” he said.

Mr Perry explained the sector has faced hundreds of millions in extra costs due to the pandemic and droughts, with £60m spent on the Felindre water treatment works alone.

He told Senedd Members a sector-wide credit-rating downgrade has increased borrowing costs, reducing Welsh Water’s financial wiggle room.

“We are not in the same strong financial position we would have been in five years previously,” he said. “The whole idea of trawsnewid is the company taking responsible action now to make sure we remain in a sustainable financial position for five, ten, 15, 20 years.”

Llŷr Gruffydd, who chairs the committee, asked whether Welsh Water will have to do less due to having fewer people – warning of a “doom loop” of worsening performance.

Plaid Cymru MS Llyr Gruffydd — Plaid Cymru MS Llŷr Gruffydd

Mr Perry insisted: “That’s not the case at all… we would not, for one second, look at service levels dropping – our targets are tightening.”

Welsh Water stressed the transformation programme will not impact its £4bn investment plan for 2025 to 2030, which is nearly double the amount of the previous five years.

Sam James, commercial managing director at Welsh Water, added: “It’s about doing more with the people we have. How do we make it easier for people to do their job?

“There is still a lot of manual data processing, for example.”

The not-for-profit company is focusing on reducing “back-office” support and management roles to limit the impact on front-line teams.

Ms James said the plan is broader than a restructuring, with 50% of savings to come from employment costs and 50% from other efficiencies, such as better use of data and AI.

Martin Driscoll, Welsh Water’s business support and people director, said 316 people have so far put their name forward for voluntary redundancy.

On the risk of losing experienced staff, Mr Perry said: “We will be disappointing some colleagues who would like to go on the basis that we can’t lose their expertise.”

Janet Finch-Saunders, a Tory committee member, said: “There’s been so much concern about the level of executive pay and bonuses at a time… when it is felt by many people that there has been a lot of failings within the water industry and, in particular, Dŵr Cymru.”

Welsh Water’s chief executive received a £460,000-a-year base salary in 2025/26, with total target remuneration of £894,000, according to the company’s latest accounts.

Mr Perry, who earned a base salary of £369,000 in 2024/25, replied: “First and foremost, any of the variable pay that executives have is entirely based on performance so there has been a proportionate reduction.”

He added: “I acknowledge I’m well paid, I’m not going to win the argument on that, but what I would say: the figure that’s been in the public domain of an £800,000 salary is incorrect. 40% of it was linked to an accounting practice… for a future pension accrual.”

Mr Driscoll described the £892,000 listed in the 2021 accounts as total remuneration as “to some extent fictional”, claiming the chief executive’s pay has “tracked downward” over the past five years.

Asked whether executives will take a pay cut, Mr Perry told the committee: “Trawsnewid is not about cutting people’s pay in the organisation at all.

“We’re losing colleagues, regrettably, but we’re not attacking people’s terms and conditions.”

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

7 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port last week, 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 on Wednesday 26^th November, 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, has arrived in Pembroke Port today (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 last week 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.

The Weather conditions were favourable for the 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 early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide 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

Business

Cardiff Airport announces special Air France flights for Six Nations

Published

11 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Direct services to Paris-Charles de Gaulle launched to cater for Welsh supporters, French fans and couples planning a Valentine’s getaway

CARDIFF AIRPORT and Air France have unveiled a series of special direct flights between Cardiff (CWL) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) scheduled for February 2026.

Timed to coincide with two major dates — the Wales v France Six Nations clash on Saturday 15 February and Valentine’s weekend — the flights are designed to offer supporters and holidaymakers an easy link between the two capitals.

For travelling French rugby fans, the services provide a straightforward route into Wales ahead of match day at the Principality Stadium, when Cardiff will once again be transformed by the colour, noise and passion that accompanies one of the tournament’s most eagerly awaited fixtures.

For Welsh passengers, the additional flights offer a seamless escape to Paris for Valentine’s Day, as well as opportunities for short breaks and onward travel via Air France’s wider global network.

Cardiff Airport CEO Jon Bridge said: “We’re thrilled to offer direct flights to such a vibrant and exciting city for Valentine’s weekend. Cardiff Airport is expanding its reach and giving customers fantastic travel options. We’ve listened to passenger demand and are delighted to make this opportunity possible. There is more to come from Cardiff.”

Tickets are already on sale via the Air France website and through travel agents.

Special flight schedule

Paris (CDG) → Cardiff (CWL):

13 February 2026: AF4148 departs 17:00 (arrives 17:30)
14 February 2026: AF4148 departs 14:00 (arrives 14:30)
15 February 2026: AF4148 departs 08:00 (arrives 08:30)
15 February 2026: AF4150 departs 19:40 (arrives 20:10)
16 February 2026: AF4148 departs 08:00 (arrives 08:30)
16 February 2026: AF4150 departs 16:30 (arrives 17:00)

Cardiff (CWL) → Paris (CDG):

13 February 2026: AF4149 departs 18:20 (arrives 20:50)
14 February 2026: AF4149 departs 15:20 (arrives 17:50)
15 February 2026: AF4149 departs 09:20 (arrives 11:50)
15 February 2026: AF4151 departs 21:00 (arrives 23:30)
16 February 2026: AF4149 departs 09:20 (arrives 11:50)
16 February 2026: AF4151 departs 17:50 (arrives 20:20)

Business

Cwm Deri Vineyard Martletwy holiday lets plans deferred

Published

19 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

CALLS to convert a former vineyard restaurant in rural Pembrokeshire which had been recommended for refusal has been given a breathing space by planners.

In an application recommended for refusal at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Barry Cadogan sought permission for a farm diversification and expansion of an existing holiday operation through the conversion of the redundant former Cwm Deri vineyard production base and restaurant to three holiday lets at Oaklea, Martletwy.

It was recommended for refusal on the grounds of the open countryside location being contrary to planning policy and there was no evidence submitted that the application would not increase foul flows and that nutrient neutrality in the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC would be achieved within this catchment.

An officer report said that, while the scheme was suggested as a form of farm diversification, no detail had been provided in the form of a business case.

Speaking at the meeting, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, after the committee had enjoyed a seasonal break for mince pies, said of the recommendation for refusal: “I’m a bit grumpy over this one; the client has done everything right, he has talked with the authority and it’s not in retrospect but has had a negative report from your officers.”

He said the former Cwm Deri vineyard had been a very successful business, with a shop and a restaurant catering for ‘100 covers’ before it closed two three years ago when the original owner relocated to Carmarthenshire.

He said Mr Cadogan then bought the site, farming over 36 acres and running a small campsite of 20 spaces, but didn’t wish to run a café or a wine shop; arguing the “beautiful kitchen” and facilities would easily convert to holiday let use.

He said a “common sense approach” showed a septic tank that could cope with a restaurant of “100 covers” could cope with three holiday lets, describing the nitrates issue as “a red herring”.

He suggested a deferral for further information to be provided by the applicant, adding: “This is a big, missed opportunity if we just kick this out today, there’s a building sitting there not creating any jobs.”

On the ‘open countryside’ argument, he said that while many viewed Martletwy as “a little bit in the sticks” there was already permission for the campsite, and the restaurant, and the Bluestone holiday park and the Wild Lakes water park were roughly a mile or so away.

He said converting the former restaurant would “be an asset to bring it over to tourism,” adding: “We don’t all want to stay in Tenby or the Ty Hotel in Milford Haven.”

While Cllr Nick Neuman felt the nutrients issue could be overcome, Cllr Michael Williams warned the application was “clearly outside policy,” recommending it be refused.

A counter-proposal, by Cllr Tony Wilcox, called for a site visit before any decision was made, the application returning to a future committee; members voting seven to three in favour of that.