SENEDD Members called for annual health checks for firefighters in Wales, with a study showing instances of cancer are up to 323% higher than the general population.

Luke Fletcher, who has been campaigning on the issue over the past two years, led a debate in the Senedd on a cross-party motion calling for urgent action.

“The dangers our firefighters face do not end once the flames are out,” said Mr Fletcher.

“Fire creates a cocktail of toxic chemicals that are known to increase the risk of cancers and other life-threatening illnesses.”

The Plaid Cymru politician pointed to research commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union, showing firefighters aged 35 to 39 faced an age-specific cancer rate up to 323% higher.

Mr Fletcher added: “Firefighters serving 15 years or more were almost twice as likely to develop cancer than those who served less time.”

Calling for urgent reform to safeguard firefighters’ health, he said: “Across the world, countries like the US, Canada and Australia have recognised the link between exposure to toxic effluents and the increased incidence of cancer among firefighters.

“Legislation in these countries ensures firefighters not only receive workplace compensation when illness strikes but also have access to routine medical monitoring, designed to catch illnesses early. Yet here in Wales, as across the UK, little such support exists.”

Mr Fletcher criticised Welsh ministers for not committing to a specific health monitoring programme: “Every delay now carries consequences and we just need to get on with it.

“Further delays simply translate into more deaths due to cancer. The evidence is there, the stories are there – and the risk is very real.”

He concluded: “Quite simply, it is the right thing to do, to do right by our fire service people and the families who have lost loved ones because of this occupational risk.”

Altaf Hussain, a surgeon-turned-Senedd Member, said: “Firefighters regularly put their health on the line to deal with threats to ours and we regularly let them down.”

The Conservative added: “We, at the very least, owe this service a commitment to do everything to minimise and mitigate the risk of the job.

“That includes ensuring they are protected from toxins as well as monitored for exposure. This is not an issue that should be left to individual fire and rescue authorities.”

Rhys ab Owen, who sits as an independent, said: “The issues raised in this report cannot be kicked down the road for the next government to resolve. The risk, the danger and the responsibility sit firmly at the government’s door – and action must be taken.”

Responding to the May 14 debate for the Welsh Government, Jayne Bryant said ministers support the Fire Brigades Union campaign to reduce the risk of cancers firefighters face.

The housing and local government secretary told the Senedd all three fire and rescue services in Wales provide regular fitness and medical checks.

But Ms Bryant, whose responsibilities include fire services, stated the UK National Screening Committee does not recommend targeted screening programmes based on occupation.

She said Isabel Oliver, who was appointed the chief medical officer for Wales In January, will work with experts and relevant UK bodies to consider the evidence

“I’d like to reassure the Senedd that we remain fully committed to addressing these risks as effectively as possible,” she said. “We will continue to work in social partnership with employers and unions to do so.”

Senedd Members voted 30-0 in favour of the motion, with 14 Labour members and the Conservatives’ Tom Giffard abstaining.

National day of action calls out sewage pollution across the UK

BROAD HAVEN was the scene of a dramatic demonstration on Saturday (May 17) as around 200 swimmers, surfers, and paddleboarders took to the sea in protest against sewage pollution.

The “Paddle Out Protest” was part of a nationwide campaign coordinated by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), with similar events taking place at over 40 coastal locations across the UK. It marked a growing wave of public anger over sewage discharges into rivers and bathing waters.

In Pembrokeshire, the Broad Haven protest was the flagship event for Wales. Campaigners gathered on the beach from midday, taking part in placard-making and a community beach clean before heading into the water at around 2:30pm for a mass paddle-out.

Organisers said the message was clear: enough is enough.

“This is about protecting our beaches, our wildlife, and our health,” said Kate Beardsmore, one of the local organisers. “We’re not just making noise – we’re demanding accountability from the water companies and from the government.”

Speakers at the event included Sian Richardson, founder of the Bluetits cold-water swimming movement, and Sue Burton, Marine Conservation Officer for Pembrokeshire. Both stressed the importance of clean water for local communities and the wider ecosystem.

The event ended with live music, food, and speeches at Rwts, formerly Sunshine Italian, overlooking the bay.

The protest comes amid growing scrutiny of the UK’s water companies, which have faced criticism for repeated sewage discharges and underinvestment in infrastructure.

Surfers Against Sewage say that public pressure is having an impact, but warned that without continued action, nothing will change.

Award for Nicola Harteveld kept quiet to focus on charity work

MILFORD HAVEN campaigner Nicola Harteveld has been named one of the UK’s Top 100 Most Influential People for 2024—an accolade she kept secret for months to avoid drawing attention away from her team’s work.

The emotional award ceremony took place in Cardiff in March, but Harteveld, 44, only recently shared the news publicly. “I didn’t set out to influence—I set out to survive,” she said, dedicating the award to her daughter Megan, who died by suicide aged 14 after suffering cyberbullying.

“I’m still in disbelief,” Harteveld said as she accepted the award, “but I accept this for Megan, and for everyone in our community who believes in kindness and hope.”

The honour recognises individuals who have made a significant difference in British society. Harteveld was recognised for her work with Megan’s Starr Foundation, an anti-bullying charity she founded in memory of her daughter. The foundation has grown to become a leading grassroots voice on youth mental health in Wales.

Despite the national recognition, Harteveld said she didn’t want the award to overshadow recent projects in her home county. “We were busy opening The Dizzy Bear and our new support centre—that had to be the focus,” she said.

The Dizzy Bear, which opened earlier this year at Milford Waterfront, is more than just a café. Run as a social enterprise by the Megan’s Starr Foundation, it combines food, fun, and a mental health mission. Alongside waffles and street food, the café offers youth training schemes and a safe, welcoming space for those in need. Every purchase helps fund the charity’s free counselling and outreach services for vulnerable young people in Pembrokeshire.

“We’re unBEARlievably proud of what we’ve built,” said a spokesperson for the café. “This is about community, kindness, and giving young people a place to belong.”

Harteveld’s journey from personal tragedy to public impact has inspired people across Wales. Since losing Megan in 2018, she has devoted more than 40 hours a week to the foundation. In 2023, she was named Volunteer of the Year at the Welsh Charity Awards.

The charity’s motto—“Be kind”—comes from a note Megan wrote before her death, and has since sparked a movement in Pembrokeshire schools, encouraging empathy and mental health awareness.

From local coffee mornings to national talks, Harteveld has shared her story to highlight the dangers of bullying and the need for better support. “No young person should feel they have no choice but to end their life,” she said.

Volunteers with Megan’s Starr Foundation include those who’ve faced adversity themselves, offering peer mentorship and lived-experience counselling.

Organisers of the Top 100 Influential People list praised Harteveld’s dedication, saying she had turned heartbreak into hope and was “leading a quiet revolution” in youth mental health.

In Milford Haven, news of her award has been met with an outpouring of local pride. “This may have my name on it,” Harteveld said, “but it belongs to all of us—my team, our supporters, and of course Megan. We are just getting started.”