OPPOSITION politicians have accused Wales’ new First Minister of failing to commit to major infrastructure projects on two of the country’s busiest transport corridors.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar MS challenged Rhun ap Iorwerth during First Minister’s Questions over congestion on the M4 in south Wales and the A55 in north Wales.

The exchange focused on long-running bottlenecks at the Brynglas Tunnels near Newport and the Menai Strait, where campaigners and businesses have repeatedly called for action.

Mr ap Iorwerth said his government would look at both issues, but stopped short of committing to either an M4 relief road or a third Menai crossing.

‘Get Wales moving’

Speaking after the session, Mr Millar said Plaid Cymru had already had years to set out solutions to Wales’ infrastructure problems.

He said: “We may be in the early days of a new government, but Plaid Cymru have had years to come up with solutions to longstanding traffic congestion on the M4 and A55.

“Capacity issues on Wales’ arterial routes had been kicked into the long grass for decades under Labour.

“Plaid must share responsibility for the failure to invest in Welsh infrastructure because they didn’t prioritise these projects in any of their successive budget deals with Labour.

“What we need now is a commitment to delivering the solutions of an M4 relief road and a third Menai crossing, not warm words about creating endless plans.

“It’s the Welsh Conservatives who are taking a lead on tackling the barriers to economic growth in Wales.

“Plaid Cymru must fully commit to these major infrastructure projects so we can get spades in the ground and get Wales moving.”

Economic pressure

The row is likely to become an early test of the new Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government’s approach to transport and economic growth.

While the debate has often centred on Newport and the M4, the latest exchange widened the issue to Wales’ wider road network, including the A55 and strategic links to north Wales.

For west Wales, the question of major transport investment remains highly relevant. Businesses, tourism operators, hauliers and residents in Pembrokeshire depend on reliable road and rail links to Cardiff, Bristol, London and the wider UK economy.

Congestion further east can have knock-on effects for journeys from west Wales, particularly for freight, tourism traffic, hospital appointments and business travel.

There are also continuing concerns about rail connectivity, including the need for better direct services linking west Wales with major English cities.

Plaid’s dilemma

The new Welsh Government now faces competing pressures.

Business groups and opposition politicians argue that Wales needs firm decisions on major road schemes to unlock growth, reduce delays and improve confidence.

Environmental campaigners, however, have long argued that new road capacity is expensive, increases traffic and conflicts with climate commitments.

Plaid Cymru must now decide whether to back large-scale road building, focus on public transport and rail, or attempt to balance both.

For the Conservatives, the issue is being framed as a test of whether the new administration is prepared to move beyond reviews and deliver visible infrastructure projects.

For Plaid, it is an early indication of how difficult it may be to turn long-standing criticism of Labour’s record into a deliverable programme of government.

TENBY South Beach has been named one of the most baby-friendly beaches in the UK, according to a new study.

The Pembrokeshire beach was ranked third overall, behind only Porthmeor Beach in St Ives and Woolacombe Beach in Devon.

The research, carried out by JoJo Maman Bébé, looked at some of the UK’s most popular beaches and compared factors including accessibility, baby-changing facilities, proximity to parking, water quality, beach ratings and family-friendly places to eat.

Tenby South Beach scored highly across the board, with an average beach rating of 4.6 out of five, excellent water quality, dedicated ramp access, baby-changing facilities and parking around 0.21km away.

The study also found that 62% of nearby food options were considered family-friendly, making the beach particularly suitable for parents visiting with babies and young children.

Pembrokeshire success

Whitesands Bay, near St Davids, also made the top ten, coming ninth in the UK ranking.

It was praised for its excellent water quality, ramp access, baby-changing facilities and nearby parking, with the closest car park around 0.19km away.

The inclusion of both Tenby South Beach and Whitesands Bay means Pembrokeshire has two of the UK’s top ten baby-friendly beaches.

A third Welsh beach, Newborough Beach on Anglesey, came sixth.

The report said the results highlighted Wales as a strong choice for families planning coastal staycations, particularly as rising travel costs continue to influence summer holiday plans.

According to the study, 42% of Britons say the cost of living remains the biggest factor shaping their holiday decisions, while one in five holidaymakers is choosing a UK break this summer.

Advice for parents

JoJo Maman Bébé also shared advice from pharmacist and health expert Thorrun Govind on keeping babies and toddlers safe at the beach.

She said: “Sun hats are a good idea when spending time outdoors. Look for styles that help shade the face, ears and neck and are made from lightweight, breathable materials.”

She added: “During warmer weather, parents may also find it helpful to keep extra fluids, sunscreen, a sun hat, spare comfortable clothing and an umbrella or parasol for temporary shade in their baby bag.

“Apply sunscreen generously before heading outdoors and remember often-missed areas like the ears, neck and tops of feet. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, and more frequently after swimming, sweating or towel drying.”

CALLS have been made for an urgent review of access to cash in Narberth after two town centre ATMs were closed.

Henry Tufnell MP and Cllr Marc Tierney say the popular market town has been left with just one cash machine, raising concerns for residents, visitors and local businesses.

Although cash can still be withdrawn from the Post Office, access is restricted to working hours and is unavailable for much of the weekend and on Bank Holidays.

Mr Tufnell said the closures came at a particularly difficult time, with Pembrokeshire entering the busy summer tourism period.

He said: “People in Narberth must be able to rely on access to cash. It is vital for the local economy. Residents, visitors and businesses all depend on cash for everyday transactions.

“The closure of two ATMs in the town centre has left Narberth with just a single machine. This is not good enough for my constituents, particularly as we enter the busiest period of the year for tourism.

“That is why I called for LINK, the body responsible for protecting access to cash across the UK, to carry out an access to cash assessment for Narberth as soon as possible.

“I am pleased that these calls have been listened to, and a review of cash access will be carried out in the coming weeks.

“Too often, our rural communities face poor access to vital banking services. I will continue to engage with constituents, local businesses, the council, LINK and colleagues in Parliament to ensure that everyone in Pembrokeshire can access the services they need.”

Cllr Tierney said he had been speaking to residents and businesses in recent weeks who were worried about the issue.

He said: “Narberth is a market town and an important hub for several smaller rural communities, so I am pleased that, following our calls for action, LINK will be reviewing the town’s access to cash.

“This will help to ensure that the needs of local residents and visitors are being met.

“I’m pleased to be working with Henry Tufnell MP on making the case for Narberth and Pembrokeshire communities, and will continue to keep residents updated.”

Residents and businesses are being encouraged to continue sharing their experiences of cash access in the town.