News

Warning of ‘deepening risks’ to local economy as ferry disruption continues

Published

1 minute ago

December 12, 2025

Calls grow for urgent resilience plan as routes face repeated cancellations

PAUL DAVIES MS and Samuel Kurtz MS have issued a renewed warning over the fragility of Welsh–Irish connectivity, after a series of cancelled sailings once again highlighted the strategic importance of Pembrokeshire’s Irish Sea ports.

Several crossings on the Rosslare–Pembroke Dock and Rosslare–Fishguard routes were cancelled over the weekend, prompting concerns about the long-term reliability of services that thousands of passengers, hauliers and businesses depend on each year.

The disruption comes at a time when Terminal 5 at Holyhead remains closed, and just twelve months after severe damage to berthing infrastructure there caused major delays across the UK–Ireland network. With Holyhead still unable to operate at full strength, the two Pembrokeshire ports now carry a disproportionate share of Wales’ Irish Sea traffic — a shift that local Members of the Senedd say has not been matched with the investment or planning required.

‘Southern Corridor now carrying the weight’

Both Members stressed that Pembroke Dock and Fishguard have effectively become the backbone of the Southern Corridor, absorbing diverted freight, seasonal passenger surges and commercial pressures that were previously spread more evenly across Welsh ports.

They say that any interruption now has amplified consequences — not only for local hauliers and employers, but for the reliability of the UK supply chain during the busiest trading period of the year.

The crossings, they argue, underpin jobs across Pembrokeshire’s logistics, hospitality and retail sectors, and ensure that essential goods ranging from food to pharmaceuticals continue to move smoothly into the county.

Paul Davies: ‘We need answers — and long-term resilience’

Paul Davies MS said the latest cancellations highlight a need for “clear communication and firm commitment” from operators.

“These crossings play a key role in connecting communities and are strategically vital routes for Wales, Ireland and the wider UK,” he said. “As a result, any disruption can cause challenges for businesses and supply chains, and so it’s vital that operators keep people as informed as possible and work to maintain reliable services.

“Moving forward we must look at how we can build long-term resilience into these routes, and that means strengthening the engagement between operators, government and local stakeholders in order to protect and support these vital routes for the future.”

Mr Davies said the public deserved transparency about the cancelled sailings, adding that operators should explain what steps are being taken to ensure stability going into 2026, particularly as freight volumes continue to rise.

Kurtz: ‘This is a red flag for the Christmas supply chain’

Samuel Kurtz MS said the timing of the disruption could not be worse for local businesses.

“These routes are not simply transport links; they are economic lifelines, and operators must provide assurances that their contingency planning is strong enough to prevent disruption at such a critical trading period,” he said.

“The failure to move key freight ahead of Christmas is especially concerning, given how heavily local supply chains rely on timely deliveries at this point in the year. When sailings are cancelled at short notice, the pressure on our local haulage firms intensifies significantly, forcing them to absorb delays, reroute vehicles, and manage rising costs.”

Mr Kurtz added that the cumulative effect of repeated cancellations risked undermining confidence among businesses choosing between Welsh ports and alternatives elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.

Call for joint Welsh–UK action

Both Members urged the Welsh Government and the UK Department for Transport to work together on a formal Southern Corridor resilience strategy, ensuring that Pembrokeshire’s ports receive the investment, dredging support, and infrastructure planning needed to manage increased traffic.

Industry representatives have privately warned that further cancellations over the festive period could lead to stock shortages and reduced availability for retailers in west Wales.

Davies and Kurtz say the message is simple: Pembrokeshire’s Irish Sea links can no longer be treated as secondary to Holyhead.

“They are now central to the economic health of west Wales,” they said, “and government must act accordingly.”

Crime

Stalking case against Tenby man discontinued by CPS

Published

8 minutes ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Charge dropped due to lack of evidence, confirms prosecution

PROSECUTORS have discontinued the stalking case against a Tenby man who was previously remanded in custody following a breach of bail conditions.

Cory Jenkins, aged twenty-eight, of Serpentine Gardens, had been charged with stalking involving serious alarm or distress, relating to an alleged period between April 26 and May 7 this year. As The Herald reported at the time, he was granted conditional bail but was later arrested after breaching those conditions, appearing before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on May 23 and being remanded to Swansea Prison.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service has now issued a formal Notice of Discontinuance, confirming that the charge has been withdrawn. In the letter sent to his solicitors on September 1, the CPS states that the case no longer presents a “realistic prospect of conviction” based on the evidence available.

All bail conditions imposed in relation to the discontinued proceedings have now ceased to apply.

The CPS notes that the decision could only be revisited if significant new evidence came to light, but the discontinued charge will not proceed to trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court as originally scheduled.

Crime

Noise nuisance case against Carmarthenshire wood-chipping firm adjourned

Published

14 minutes ago

December 12, 2025

Court Reporter

Llanelli magistrates review multiple alleged breaches of abatement notice

PROCEEDINGS against a renewable fuels company accused of repeatedly breaching a statutory noise abatement notice have been adjourned until the new year.

BIOSEL Renewables UK Ltd, based at Tir Powell Ddu Farm, Nant y Glyn Road, Glanamman, Ammanford, did not attend Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 11). The company was represented by counsel, Phillipa Ashworth. The case was brought by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

The charges relate to a series of alleged breaches of an abatement notice served on the company on 24 November 2023 under section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Multiple alleged breaches

The court heard that on six separate dates — 11 October 2024, 14 January 2025, 16 January 2025, 17 January 2025, 21 January 2025 and 22 January 2025 — noise was said to have continued to emanate from a wood chipper at Resolven in such a manner as to constitute a statutory nuisance, contrary to the requirements of the notice.

In each instance, the allegation is that the company, without reasonable excuse, failed to comply with the notice served by Neath Port Talbot Council.

Case adjourned

District Judge M Layton adjourned the case to Wednesday, 12 February 2026, at 9:30am in Courtroom One at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court. The adjournment is listed for review and further directions.

No pleas were entered, and the defendant remains on unconditional bail as the matter concerns a corporate entity.

Crime

Whitland man guilty of 17 offences relating to farm and domestic animals

Published

23 minutes ago

December 12, 2025

Court Reporter

A FARM operator from Whitland has been imprisoned for 18 weeks for 17 offences involving domestic and agricultural animals. This includes causing, permitting or failing to prevent unnecessary suffering (Animal Welfare Act 2006)’ and follows a three-day trial at Llanelli Magistrates Court.

Thomas Raymond Jones of Penygraig Farm, Whitland, was also ordered to pay £26,805.10 in prosecution costs in full within 6 months and a surcharge of £154. He has received a disqualification order, which bans him from owning and keeping animals for 10 years and has received a deprivation order which removes all animals from his control.

Mr Jones was found guilty of all offences that he had not already plead guilty to. These related to his care and management of cattle and a dog following investigations by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Welfare Team and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. This was sparked by an anonymous complaint regarding a cow carcass that has not been properly disposed of.

During their visit in February 2024, Animal Health Officers discovered cattle being kept in poor living conditions which included no dry lying areas, poor quality/inedible forage provided and a number of animals suffering from lameness/overgrown hooves and skin conditions. Animal carcasses had also not been properly disposed of.

An elderly dog was also discovered living in unsuitable conditions, being kept within a small, bramble filled enclosure littered with rubbish. The dog was in a poor condition and required immediate veterinary attention which was sought by the team. A local Animal Charity collected the dog.

On veterinary examination, the dog was found to be underweight, blind with mature bilateral cataracts, had overgrown nails and suffering from a penile prolapse alongside other conditions. Due to the level of suffering, the decision was taken for the dog to be put to sleep.

Following the visit, an Improvement Notice and Animal By-Product Notice was issued which required Mr Jones to dispose of a cow carcass within a shed and improve conditions.

A return visit 9 days later revealed that sufficient improvements had not been made in line with the Notice, with no veterinary attention sought for the cattle with lameness/skin conditions and animal remains not being properly cleared. Mr Jones had attempted to treat the cattle himself and arranged a hoof trimmer to visit the farm, however the products used appeared to be old and veterinary attendance was noted as a requirement in the Improvement Notice. A pregnant cow was also found lame and living in unsuitable conditions.

Following a visit from Mr Jones’s vet and the Rural Inspectorate of Wales (RIW), a number of cattle were found without ear tags, improperly registered or unregistered. Due to the volume of errors, the RIW placed a whole herd restriction on Penygraig Farm until the issues could be resolved. Six cows were also identified as thin and two as very thin.

Nearly five weeks later, further complaints were received regarding a calf carcass not being properly disposed of.

Animal Health Officers previously visited Penygraig Farm in 2022, following complaints of animal carcasses not being properly disposed of. During the visit Officers also witnessed cattle being kept in poor conditions, cattle without tags and animals not registered as well as animal by-product offences. Notices/warnings were issued to Mr Jones to improve practices. The same offences were then committed in 2024.

Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Animal Welfare said:

“I’m pleased that once again the hard work of Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Welfare Team’s has provided a positive result with regards this case. I hope this serves as a reminder that we will always advocate for good animal welfare and hold those who do not accountable for their actions.”