RESIDENTS raised concerns about the future of services at Withybush Hospital during a pop-up advice surgery held by local Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz at Tesco in Pembroke Dock on Thursday (Mar 6).

The informal drop-in session gave shoppers and local residents the opportunity to speak directly with the Conservative MS about issues affecting the community, seek guidance, and raise personal concerns.

Several people stopped by throughout the day to discuss healthcare provision, local banking services, and other matters affecting the area.

According to Mr Kurtz, the future of services at Withybush Hospital dominated the conversations.

Speaking after the event, Samuel Kurtz MS said: “These drop-in surgeries are vital for ensuring open communication and staying connected to the day-to-day experiences of local people.

“The latest set of service changes at Withybush Hospital were the number one topic of conversation today. Everyone is talking about it, everyone is concerned, and people want to see action.”

Residents also raised questions about efforts to secure a banking hub for Pembroke Dock following the closure of several high street bank branches.

Mr Kurtz added: “Events like this are an important reminder that many issues affecting our community, from access to healthcare at Withybush to banking services, have a real impact on people’s daily lives.

“It is important that residents have the opportunity to raise their concerns directly and know that someone is listening.”

The MS thanked residents who took the time to stop and speak with him during the session.

“I am always grateful to everyone who comes over for a chat, whether it is to raise a concern, ask for help, or simply to share their views. These conversations help shape the work I do on behalf of our community.”

Counter-terror officers search home in China espionage investigation

AN AWARD-WINNING Welsh journalist has described the “terrifying” moment armed counter-terror police smashed in the front door of his home during a dawn raid linked to an investigation into alleged Chinese espionage.

Martin Shipton, a prominent political reporter for Nation.Cymru, said an eight-strong team from the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism unit forced entry to his property shortly after 6:20am on Wednesday (Mar 4).

Shipton said he and his wife were asleep when they were woken by loud banging on the door and someone shouting the name “Michael”.

“When I pointed out that nobody of that name lived in the house, the shouter said: ‘We’re coming in!’ and the door was smashed open,” he said.

“It was an utterly terrifying experience, and one that I don’t hope to repeat.”

National Security Act warrant

Officers served Shipton with a search warrant issued by a judge at the Old Bailey under the National Security Act 2023.

The warrant authorised police to search his home for a wide range of items including mobile phones, computers, storage devices, cameras, travel documents and financial records.

The warrant also permitted officers to seize material linked to any foreign intelligence service.

Police told Shipton the search would likely take the entire day but did not provide further details about the investigation.

Shipton said he was “utterly bemused” by the suggestion that he might possess any such material.

“I have never been paid significant sums from foreign jurisdictions, let alone in cryptocurrency,” he said.

“In fact I have little knowledge of cryptocurrency, beyond seeing them as dodgy investments promoted by the likes of Donald Trump and Nigel Farage.”

He also stated that he had never communicated with a foreign intelligence service.

Link to Labour figures

Shipton said he later learned the police operation appeared to be connected to the arrest of David Taylor, a political consultant he has known for more than twenty-five years.

Taylor was reportedly arrested on suspicion of spying for China along with two other individuals.

All three men are understood to have previously worked for the Labour Party and now operate in public affairs and political consultancy.

The journalist said the news prompted him to recall a trip he had taken with Taylor to Hong Kong around three years ago.

Taylor had told him that a Chinese think tank based in Shanghai – which he said advised Chinese president Xi Jinping on international relations – had asked him to attend a briefing in Hong Kong on attitudes toward China in the UK.

Shipton said Taylor invited him to accompany him as another “expert” on the trip, which was paid for by the organisation.

Hong Kong visit

According to Shipton, the visit lasted around a week but involved little serious policy discussion.

Instead, he said much of the trip resembled a tourist visit.

“As the only one of the three of us who had visited Hong Kong before, I became the de facto tourist guide,” he said.

The group visited a Buddhist temple, museums and restaurants and watched a well-known harbour light show from Kowloon.

Shipton said conversations with the Chinese representative were largely general in nature.

Topics included concerns in the West about China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority and the possibility of expanded trade between the UK and China.

“At no stage did it occur to me that anything criminal was taking place,” he said.

Voluntary statement

During the search, Shipton said he offered to give police a voluntary statement about the Hong Kong trip.

He told officers he was willing to do so without a solicitor because he believed he had done nothing wrong.

“I am happy to tell them about the trip,” he said.

Shipton stressed that he has not been arrested and has not been accused of any offence.

He said he is cooperating fully with police inquiries.

Passport seized

Police seized a number of items during the search, including Shipton’s mobile phone and passport.

Officers offered to place him and his wife in a hotel while the search took place, but they declined because they wanted to remain with their cats.

Shipton said he briefly left the house and used a neighbour’s phone to make calls while officers carried out the search.

Police have agreed to pay for a replacement front door after forcing entry to the property.

Shipton said he hopes to have his passport returned soon so he can attend a planned concert in Dublin.

“Finally,” he said, “I would rather like to have my passport back so I can attend with my wife and daughter a long-anticipated concert of Christy Moore in Dublin in two weeks’ time.”

Investigation continues

Police have not provided further details about the investigation, which is being conducted under the National Security Act.

The arrests and searches are part of a wider inquiry into suspected Chinese espionage activities in the UK.

Shipton said the raid came “completely out of left field” and that he has seen no evidence suggesting that any of the individuals arrested committed offences under the legislation.

Cover image: Martin Shipton (Image Reach PLC)

Concerns raised over permit variation as NRW consultation opens

A LOCAL Senedd Member has warned that the controversial Withyhedge landfill site near Haverfordwest should not be allowed to accept any additional waste, following reports that Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is considering a permit change for the operator.

NRW has opened a public consultation on a draft decision relating to a permit variation request submitted by Resources Management UK Ltd (RML), the company which operates the Withyhedge landfill site.

The consultation will run for four weeks and closes on Thursday, March 26, giving residents and stakeholders an opportunity to comment before a final decision is made.

The proposal has prompted concern from Preseli Pembrokeshire MS Paul Davies, who has previously called for the site to be permanently closed following past compliance issues.

Mr Davies said he was alarmed to hear that the regulator may allow the operator to increase the amount of waste it can accept.

“I’m deeply concerned to hear that Natural Resources Wales is considering issuing a permit variation to RML so that it can accept even more waste at the Withyhedge landfill site,” he said.

The Preseli Pembrokeshire MS said the operator’s track record raised serious questions about whether any expansion should be permitted.

“RML has a well-documented history of non-compliance, to the extent that it was ranked the worst performing permitted installation in Wales in both 2023 and 2024 – and so it’s very worrying that the operator is looking to increase the amount of waste it accepts at the site,” he said.

Mr Davies added that he believes regulators should be looking at closing the site rather than allowing it to expand its operations.

“In my view, the site should be permanently closed rather than granted permission to accept additional waste and so I urge Natural Resources Wales to refuse this permit variation,” he added.

The Withyhedge landfill site has been the subject of significant public and political concern in recent years, particularly over compliance issues and its environmental performance.

Natural Resources Wales has said it is now seeking feedback on its draft decision before determining whether the permit variation should be granted.

Members of the public and interested parties can submit their views to the regulator before the consultation deadline later this month.

NRW will consider all responses before making a final decision on whether the permit change should be approved.