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Hotel at centre of asylum housing row closes with immediate effect

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THE STRADEY PARK HOTEL in Llanelli has closed with immediate effect, less than two years after controversial plans to house asylum seekers there were scrapped following months of protests.

The four-star hotel reopened in 2024 after the Home Office abandoned proposals to accommodate up to 241 asylum seekers at the site in 2023. The plans sparked 100 days of demonstrations, a makeshift protest camp outside the entrance, and a major policing operation.

Councillor Stephen Williams said staff were left in tears after being told the hotel would shut immediately.

He visited the hotel on Monday evening and said residents had been asked to leave.

“Local staff have been kicked in the teeth by a business or organisation which is based out of the town, which has led to this,” he said.

“To see them there in tears yesterday was really heart-breaking.”

BBC Wales has contacted the hotel and its owners for comment.

The hotel had been due to house 241 asylum seekers under Home Office plans announced in 2023. The proposals prompted significant local opposition, with Carmarthenshire County Council, the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, and Hywel Dda University Health Board raising concerns at the time.

Protests began in July 2023 and escalated over the summer. Large rocks were placed across the entrance, a protest camp was established, and fires were reported near the site. Around 40 arrests were made between mid-August and early October.

In October 2023, the Home Office confirmed the plans had been dropped, saying it was working to reduce the “unacceptable use of hotels” by moving asylum seekers into alternative, cheaper accommodation.

The hotel later underwent renovations and reopened to the public in 2024. At the time, management said it intended to rehire staff and resume trading as soon as possible.

It later emerged that the policing operation linked to the protests cost Dyfed-Powys Police more than £1 million.

Sean Rees, leader of Llanelli Town Council, described the hotel as an “important part of Llanelli’s economy and identity”.

“This abrupt closure will cause significant financial and personal anxiety for those employees and their families, and they must now be our priority,” he said.

He added that he had written to the leader of Carmarthenshire County Council to ensure affected staff receive clear information about redundancy rights and access to benefits, retraining and possible redeployment.

Councillor Williams said the town was now in “shock and dismay” at the sudden closure.

Nia Griffith MP
Got reassurances from the Immigration Minister: No chance hotel will re-open for asylum seekers

Dame Nia Griffith, Member of Parliament for Llanelli, said: “Events at the Stradey Park Hotel earlier this week have come as a devastating blow, particular to the hardworking staff there.
The top priority at this time is for those affected to receive all the necessary support from
Carmarthenshire County Council, Welsh Government and other relevant agencies to help them get through this very difficult time.

“The hotel’s current owners now, as a matter of urgency, need to provide more clarity on its future intentions and make every effort for the hotel to be retained as an important and positive asset of community and economic life here in Llanelli. 

“I want to reassure residents that I have been in touch directly with the Immigration Minister Alex Morris MP in the last 24 hours, and he has given me immediate, firm assurances that the Home Office will not be using Stradey Park Hotel to house asylum seekers. This Labour Government is closing asylum hotels, not opening them.”

 

Crime

Man, 37, found dead following major police response in Pembroke Dock

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Death not being treated as suspicious as police make statutory referral to IOPC following active investigation

A 37-YEAR-OLD man has been found dead at Warrior Way in Pembroke Dock.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers attended the area at around 7pm on Sunday, July 19, after concerns were raised for the welfare of an individual.

There was a significant police presence in the area, with several units positioned at the scene on Sunday and further police activity continuing into Monday.

The scale of the response prompted speculation among members of the public about the nature of the incident.

Police have now confirmed that the man was found deceased and that his death is not being treated as suspicious.

His next of kin have been informed.

HM Coroner has been advised, and officers will continue to assist with the coroner’s investigation.

The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because the man had been involved in an active police investigation.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the referral was made in line with the IOPC’s statutory referral criteria.

Such referrals are required in certain circumstances and do not, in themselves, indicate that police officers or staff are suspected of wrongdoing.

 

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Charity

Salvation Army offers free meals and school uniforms to families across Wales

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Children in Mold can receive free meals throughout the summer holidays, while thousands of school uniform items are being distributed through centres in Swansea and Cardiff

THE SALVATION ARMY is helping families across Wales cope with the additional cost of the school summer holidays by providing free meals for children and free school uniforms ahead of the new academic year.

Its church and community centre in Mold is opening from 9.30am until 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday, throughout the Welsh school holidays.

Free meals are available to all children aged under 16, with no requirement for accompanying adults to purchase anything.

Major Michelle Hayter said the scheme had made a significant difference to families in the area over recent years.

She said: “If your children usually receive free school meals, suddenly having to provide lunch, snacks and activities every day can be costly.

“By offering free meals, we are helping families free up money so they can enjoy the fun things their children want to do.

“When we remind parents that the meals are free, you can see the smile on their faces.”

The Mold centre is also holding recycling-themed craft sessions on selected days, including activities such as making mosaic coasters, decorating jars and creating bird feeders.

The charity is also supporting parents who may already be concerned about the cost of buying school uniforms for September.

Salvation Army charity shops and donation centres across Wales are offering free school uniform items, subject to availability.

Donation centres in Gorseinon, Swansea, and Cardiff have already distributed more than 3,000 items donated by Bridgend-based school uniform supplier Euroschools Direct.

Craig Mawer, manager at Euroschools Direct, said the company wanted its unused stock to benefit families rather than go to waste.

He said: “We are really pleased the uniforms have been able to support The Salvation Army’s work.

“When we realised we had unused stock, we wanted it to make a genuine difference rather than end up as waste.

“The Salvation Army felt like the right choice because of its strong community presence and the support it offers to parents facing financial pressure.”

Families seeking help are advised to contact their nearest Salvation Army church, community centre, charity shop or donation centre to find out what support is available locally.

 

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Business

Dedicated 5G network introduced at Royal Welsh Show to keep livestreams running

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BT says protected mobile connection will help Welsh traders process card payments and allow organisers to share live content during periods of heavy network demand

DEDICATED 5G connectivity is being used at this year’s Royal Welsh Show to prevent card payments, livestreams and other essential digital services from being disrupted when the showground becomes crowded.

BT and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society are demonstrating new 5G+ “network slicing” technology at the event, which is expected to attract as many as 250,000 visitors during its four-day run.

The technology creates a dedicated and protected section of the EE mobile network for specific services or organisations.

This means businesses using the connection should continue to receive reliable mobile coverage even when thousands of visitors are simultaneously using their phones, potentially placing the wider public network under significant pressure.

At the showground, the dedicated connection is supporting payment systems operated by Welsh food and drink businesses Radnor Hills and Fire and Flank.

BT says the system will help traders process card payments quickly during peak periods, reducing the risk of lengthy queues or lost sales caused by network congestion.

Chris Butler, marketing manager at Radnor Hills, said dependable connectivity was essential because thousands of visitors use the company’s stands during the show.

He said: “The Royal Welsh Show is one of the most important events in our calendar, both as a proud Welsh business and a long-standing supporter of the show itself.

“With thousands of visitors stopping by our stands every day, dependable connectivity for our payment systems is essential to keeping queues moving and making sure customers can quickly grab a drink and get back to enjoying their day.

“Having a dedicated 5G+ network slice gives us greater confidence that we can continue serving people smoothly, even during the busiest periods.”

Fire and Flank is exhibiting at the Royal Welsh Show for the first time.

Founder and director David Evans said: “When demand is high, the last thing any business wants is connectivity issues slowing down card payments or creating long queues.

“Reliable connectivity for our electronic point-of-sale systems helps us serve customers quickly, deliver a great experience and focus on what matters most, sharing our food with visitors.”

The technology is also being used by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s communications team and 2026 show ambassador Teleri-Haf Thomas.

It will allow them to livestream, upload videos and share content from the showground, even when tens of thousands of visitors are using the public network.

Aled Jones, chief executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, said mobile connectivity had become increasingly important to the running of the event.

He said: “The Royal Welsh Show is about bringing together hundreds of thousands of people from across Wales and beyond, and connectivity has become an increasingly important part of that experience.

“From supporting exhibitors and traders to helping our team deliver the event safely and efficiently, reliable mobile connectivity plays a vital role.

“Working with BT to showcase 5G+ network slicing demonstrates how next-generation mobile technology can support critical operations while helping us share the best of Welsh agriculture, food and rural life with audiences both on the showground and online.”

The Royal Welsh Show trial is described as one of the first large-scale public demonstrations in the UK of network slicing being used to support both business-critical services and visitor experiences at a major event.

BT is preparing to launch its first network slicing services to customers later this summer.

Adam Price, the Welsh Government’s Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, said: “It is important that visitors and businesses alike experience high-quality digital connectivity at nationally significant events like the Royal Welsh Show.

“BT and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society have committed to ensuring the event benefits from world-class technology, and I am pleased Welsh Government collaboration has helped to make this possible.”

Greg McCall, BT’s chief security and networks officer, said the technology could provide businesses and organisations with more predictable connectivity during major events.

He said: “Whether it is buying food and drink from local traders, sharing moments from the show on social media or following the action online, people increasingly expect seamless connectivity wherever they are.

“By providing dedicated, high-performance connectivity for specific applications, we are helping businesses keep payments flowing, enabling reliable livestreaming and content uploads, and showing how next-generation mobile technology can support better experiences for organisations and consumers alike.”

BT has upgraded equipment at the Royal Welsh Showground and a neighbouring mobile mast in Builth Wells as part of the project.

The company says it has invested more than £500 million in fixed and mobile connectivity across Wales since 2020.

 

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