AN OPPOSITION councillor has asked the Plaid Cymru-Independent administration for an inquiry into its costly Debenhams redevelopment project at a key budget meeting.

Cllr Kevin Madge, of Labour in Carmarthenshire, said it was needed to “restore public confidence.” He also wanted to know when work would start on long-awaited new Ysgol Heol Goffa special school.

It came during a debate about the council’s five-year capital budget. This is money for things like new schools, care homes, refuse lorries, and town centre  regeneration schemes.

Local authorities have to approve a five-year capital budget and a majority of councillors went on to approve Carmarthenshire’s £149.7m programme with £68m of that pencilled in for 2026-27.

It doesn’t include underspends on existing projects which are now estimated, according to a budget report, at around £71m.

The five-year programme includes a phased £16.7m relocation of Llanelli indoor market to the former Woolworths building in nearby Vaughan Street and a £2m demolition of the car park above the market.

Cllr Alun Lenny, cabinet member for resources, said this move had been agreed “step by step” with market traders.

There’s £13.6m for a new council care home in Cwmgwili in 2026-27 with £7m to be carried over from the current financial year.

Meanwhile £5.2m is allocated to the ongoing extension of Ysgol Bryngwyn, Llanelli, £3.5m for refuse vehicles, and £3.7m for the Debenhams revamp in Carmarthen.

The council stepped in when Debenhams went into administration in 2021 and work is well under way on a new council, leisure, and health hub – to be called Atriwm – at the empty St Catherine’s Walk Shopping Centre store in Carmarthen.

But costs have risen considerably and it emerged last month that a structural defect had been identified that hadn’t been picked up during inspections and surveys. It’s forecast the conversion will cost £41m with £28.2m coming from the UK and Welsh Governments and £12.8m from the council.

Cllr Lenny said: “It will be a fantastic resource for the town and its rural hinterland.”

Cllr Madge called for an independent inquiry into the scheme. His party, he said, had “tremendous concerns over governance and project control” and wanted to know what ongoing maintenance costs would be.

He said: “An independent review of this project is now warranted to ensure transparency and restore public confidence.”

Cllr Lenny said the council had a choice in 2021 to step in or “wash our hands of it” and opted for the former. He thanked residents for putting up with the works-related traffic lights. He has previously asked for a full report for councillors and the public about the structural defect.

Cllr Lenny also referred to a report by a retail analyst firm called MRI Software which said Carmarthen town centre had experienced a 19% footfall surge in 2025 compared to the previous year – a rise second only to Ballycastle in Northern Ireland.

Cllr Madge also asked when a new Ysgol Goffa special school would finally be built in Llanelli. It follows years of preparations and delays. Cllr Lenny said a schedule of accommodation for the new 150-place school had been completed and that designs were being finalised.

Planning permission and Welsh Government backing would be needed. The council, he said, remained in constant communication with Ysgol Heol Goffa.

Cllr Madge also wondered when new schools in Ammanford, Llanybydder, and Llandeilo would be built.

Among the projects included in the programme for next year are £4.85m for roads including drainage work, £2.2m to complete the 15-mile Towy Valley cycle path, a £1.2m demolition of the former Llanelli leisure centre, £1.2m for mobile classrooms at Carway Community Primrary School, Kidwelly, following its closure due to a structural issue, a £1m Burry Port harbour investment, £1m for a children’s residential home, and £200,000 for flood mitigation works.

The capital budget will be funded by government grants, the sale of council assets, and borrowing and reserves.

Cllr Madge said Labour supported some but not all of the proposed budget and that it wouldn’t be voting for it in its current format.

Cllr Lenny said no alternative budget or amendments had been put forward by Labour and, reeling off several of the projects mentioned above, he said: “If you vote against the budget you vote against the lot.”

A MAN from Swansea has been jailed after he was found guilty of the murder of a five-month-old baby.

29-year-old Thomas Morgan, from Gorseinon, had earlier pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jensen-Lee Dougal at home on Players Avenue, Clydach, which took place while Jensen-Lee’s mother was in work on March 31, 2024.

However, on Tuesday, February 10, a jury found him guilty of murder, as well as one count of GBH.

He has today been sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Following this week’s sentencing, Jensen-Lee’s mother, Jordan said: “Jensen-Lee was just five months old when his life was taken. He was completely innocent and entirely dependent on the adults around him to keep him safe.

“Since Jensen-Lee’s death, my life has been permanently changed. I live with overwhelming grief, trauma and emotional pain.

“I never had the chance to hear Jensen-Lee say he loved me. I will never hear him call me “mammy”. I will never see him take his first steps, speak his first words, start school, or grow into the person he was meant to be. Those moments were not just lost – they were taken.

“Due to what Thomas Morgan did, I have also received a life sentence, but mine is one of grief.

“Jensen-Lee will never be forgotten. I love you, Jensen-Lee.”

Detective Chief Inspector Lianne Rees said: “With today’s sentencing, we finally have justice for the terrible crime carried out by Thomas Morgan upon a defenceless baby boy.

“Thomas Morgan may now finally and rightfully be going to prison, but this will do little to alleviate the grief experienced by Jensen-Lee’s family, and especially his mother Jordan, who placed her trust into her then-partner Thomas Morgan to take care of Jensen-Lee, only to experience the ultimate betrayal.

“I want to pay tribute to the members of the public, first responders and everyone involved in the desperate efforts to save Jensen-Lee’s life, when faced with the most unimaginable and tragic circumstances back in March 2024. I also want to acknowledge the incredible dignity and strength shown by Jensen-Lee’s family throughout this painful journey.

“Lastly, I would like to thank the investigation team, Crown Prosecution Service and Prosecution Counsel for their continued hard work throughout what has been a very difficult investigation and trial.”

Emergency services diverted from real incidents after false report off south Wales coast

A MAJOR sea rescue operation involving three lifeboats, a coastguard helicopter and multiple rescue teams was triggered by a hoax 999 call — with police now arresting a young man in connection with the incident.

Tenby RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched shortly before midday on Monday (Feb 23) following reports of a person in difficulty between Port Eynon and Rhossili on the Gower coast.

The large-scale response quickly escalated, with lifeboats from Tenby, Mumbles and Burry Port deployed alongside HM Coastguard rescue teams from Mumbles, Rhossili and Oxwich. A coastguard helicopter was also tasked to search the area.

However, the incident was later confirmed to be a deliberate hoax.

South Wales Police said a 23-year-old man from Swansea had been arrested on suspicion of making a false emergency call and later released on bail while investigations continue.

The incident has prompted strong warnings from rescue services about the potentially life-threatening consequences of hoax calls.

An RNLI spokesperson said volunteers would always respond when asked, but false alerts come at a serious cost.

RNLI warning

“RNLI volunteer crew members will respond to any request to help those in trouble at sea,” the spokesperson said.

“However, when a false 999 or 112 call is made and HM Coastguard requests a lifeboat to launch, it uses volunteers’ time, which they selflessly give to help those in trouble.

“It costs the charity valuable funds, which could be better used elsewhere. A false call can take lifesaving resources away from a real emergency.”

While no official figure has been released for this incident, historical estimates suggested launching an all-weather lifeboat cost thousands of pounds — a figure believed to have risen significantly in recent years.

HM Coastguard confirmed the scale of the response, stating that the helicopter, multiple rescue teams and three RNLI lifeboats were all deployed following the initial report received at 11:55am.

The Herald understands enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the hoax are ongoing.

Anyone convicted of making malicious emergency calls can face prosecution, fines and potential imprisonment.