WELSH LABOUR has pledged to introduce a £2 cap on all single bus fares across Wales if it forms the next Welsh Government following the 2026 Senedd election.

The policy, announced by Transport Secretary Ken Skates, would come into force in April 2027 and apply to passengers aged between 22 and 59.

Under-21s already benefit from a £1 cap on single fares, while those aged over 60 are entitled to free bus travel across Wales under existing Welsh Labour policies.

In addition to the fare cap, Welsh Labour has committed to introducing more than 100 new bus routes across the country between 2027 and 2030. The new services would be spread across all parts of Wales and prioritise links to employment, hospitals, train stations and other key services.

Members of the public would also be invited to help shape the network by suggesting where new routes should operate.

The party said the proposals are made possible by its Bus Services Bill, which aims to bring bus services back under public control and end the current deregulated model.

Launching Welsh Labour’s first major policy offer ahead of the 2026 election during a visit to Wrexham bus interchange, Mr Skates said the reforms would put passengers at the centre of the transport system.

He said: “Through our landmark Bus Services Bill, we are ending the era of fragmented services forced on Wales by the Tories deregulating the bus network. From now on in Wales, buses will be run for people, not just for profit.

“These changes are about making our transport system fairer. Cheaper journeys, more routes to the places where passengers want them to go, and a bus service that serves those who use it.

“We want to unlock opportunity by connecting people to their jobs, hospitals, town centres and libraries, and Welsh Labour will take action to do that.”

Mr Skates also criticised political opponents, adding: “Reform UK trade in angry but empty promises. Welsh Labour wants people to be better off, and Welsh Labour is delivering.”

ACTOR Martin Clunes is to take on the role of disgraced former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards in a new factual drama examining one of the most damaging scandals in British broadcasting history.

The two-part series, provisionally titled Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, will air on Channel 5 and will chart Edwards’ rise to prominence, his fall from grace, and the events that culminated in his conviction and suspended prison sentence.

Clunes, best known for his long-running role in Doc Martin, is depicted in character wearing a black suit and silver watch, seated in a newsroom studio with papers spread before him as journalists work in the background. The production aims to recreate the atmosphere of Britain’s flagship television news at the height of Edwards’ career.

Edwards began his broadcasting career in Wales before becoming one of the most recognisable and highest-paid presenters at the BBC, fronting News at Ten for decades. During that time, he delivered some of the most significant moments in recent British history, including coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

His career ended in disgrace following a series of revelations that emerged in July 2023, when a newspaper report alleged that a senior BBC presenter had paid a teenager for sexual images. Days later, Edwards’ wife publicly identified him as the individual at the centre of the allegations. He resigned from the BBC in April 2024.

In June 2024, after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, Edwards was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children, linked to WhatsApp exchanges with a man named Alex Williams. He pleaded guilty the following month, admitting to possessing forty-one images, including seven of the most serious category.

Edwards received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

Channel 5 said the drama will explore how the scandal unfolded and will feature interviews with journalists who first reported the story, as well as those involved in investigating the case. The series will be directed by Michael Samuels, known for acclaimed British dramas including The Windermere Children and Any Human Heart.

Ben Frow, Channel 5’s chief content officer, said the programme would examine “how a man in a position of power and trust betrayed that status,” adding that it would focus on “the human cost behind the headlines.”

The drama is expected to reignite debate about accountability, safeguarding and power within British broadcasting, and marks the first major scripted portrayal of the Edwards scandal since his conviction.

A £180,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales has helped bring a new eco-friendly tourism development to life overlooking the River Teifi in Cardigan.

Fronteifi Nature Lodges, created by husband-and-wife team Tim and Julia Percival, opened this autumn and offers high-quality, accessible and environmentally responsible accommodation designed to support the local visitor economy.

Having moved to Cardigan in January 2022, Tim, a retired architect, and Julia, who continues to work in social housing, set out to transform their 2.5-acre site into a small-scale, nature-led destination inspired by the surrounding Teifi Marshes.

Following full planning consent in 2023, the couple developed two five-star timber-framed lodges, alongside a garage with loft apartment, landscaped grounds, guest pathways and new drainage infrastructure. While most of the construction was self-funded, the £180,000 loan from the Development Bank’s Wales Tourism Fund supported completion of the Seren loft apartment and the final phase of hard landscaping and guest facilities.

The project has been delivered with a strong emphasis on sustainability and social value. Local tradespeople and specialist contractors were used throughout, while independent businesses from the surrounding area supplied furnishings, artwork, tree planting, ecological consultancy and guest services.

A wide range of low-carbon technologies has been incorporated, including photovoltaic panels, EV charging points, air-source heat pumps, sheep’s wool insulation, ground-screw foundations, eco stoves and sedum (green) roofs. Materials from existing buildings on site were reused wherever possible, and more than 35 new trees have been planted to enhance biodiversity and carbon capture.

The development aligns with sustainable tourism priorities set by Ceredigion County Council and has also benefited from a £50,000 Cynnal y Cardi grant, supported through the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Accessibility has been central to the design. The Tir and Afon lodges offer level access throughout, step-free entrances, level-access showers, and clear orientation features for guests with mobility or visual needs. Wheelchair-friendly pathways lead to a riverside deck and a purpose-built bird hide, Bwthyn Adar, overlooking the Teifi and its wildlife.

Fronteifi Nature Lodges can accommodate up to 12 guests across the two lodges and the Seren loft apartment, targeting visitors seeking modern, luxurious and sustainable accommodation in west Wales.

Each lodge features open-plan living areas, adjustable beds, digital access, luxury bathrooms, outdoor kitchens, hot tubs and welcome hampers showcasing seasonal local produce. The business also holds fishing rights on the Teifi and is listed with Canopy and Stars, connecting the site to audiences seeking high-end, nature-focused stays.

Julia Percival, co-founder of Fronteifi Nature Lodges, said: “The support from the Development Bank has enabled us to complete the final phase of the project while staying true to our environmental and community principles. We’re proud to have worked with so many local businesses and to offer guests the chance to experience the natural beauty of the Teifi Valley.”

David Knight, investment executive at the Development Bank of Wales, added: “Fronteifi Nature Lodges is a great example of a locally driven tourism project that combines sustainability, accessibility and community benefit. It aligns closely with the aims of the Wales Tourism Fund in supporting distinctive, high-quality destinations across Wales.”

The Wales Tourism Investment Fund is a £50 million fund, financed by the Welsh Government, offering loans between £100,000 and £5 million to support standout tourism projects that demonstrate innovation, sustainability and a commitment to the Economic Contract.