THE DUTY of care for Pembrokeshire councillors and would-be if they are subject to “the cesspit of social media” online abuse needs to be more robust, members heard.

The issue was raised when members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s May full council discussed an action plan aimed at supporting greater diversity within the council.

Speaking at the meeting, recently-elected Fishguard North councillor Billy Shaw raised the issue of social media and councillors receiving abuse, saying: “One area that puts people off is social and the amount of abuse on it.

“I’ve been subject to that recently, with a number of pictures of me sitting having a coffee in Fishguard.

“As soon as you put yourself forward social media becomes a cesspit because your pollical view do not match someone who’s quite vocal on social media.

“I was wondering if there’s  there any way of putting protections for anyone who wants to put their name forward [to be a councillor]?

“I do know there’s a number of councillors sitting here who’ve been subject to the cesspit that is social media of late.”

Cllr Alistair Cameron shared Cllr Shaw’s concerns, saying: “I agree with Cllr Shaw, social media is a real issue; as a council we’ve got a duty to support people standing for council.”

Cllr Neil Prior said the duty of care for councillors “feels quite woolly,” adding: “You are absolutely in the front line, you can be in any situation in your community and be subject to a lot of difficult situations; I don’t think the council has a particularly strong duty of care for councillors.”

Another who raised the issue, was Haverfordwest’s Cllr Tom Tudor, who said it had been brought to his attention recently that he had been attacked on social media by an unnamed sitting member of the county council.

Cllr Shaw’s highlighting of abuse suffered by councillors followed “a petty and vindictive attempt” to land him in trouble with the Ombudsman, the abuse referenced in the meeting including claims of posts on social media and verbal abuse.

Last month, it was stated no Ombudsman investigation was to take place into Cllr Shaw following a “waste of taxpayers’ money” complaint of a claimed breach of the code of conduct.

William Cuthbert Linton Shaw, commonly known as Billy Shaw, won the Fishguard North-East ward seat for Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales in February following a byelection called after the death of Cllr Jordan Ryan last November.

The complaint, a claimed breach of the Code of Conduct, was made following his first, March, full council meeting when he stood for a picture outside County Hall with campaign group Solidarity with Palestine, who were there for an agenda item on ‘Disinvestment in Companies profiting from Genocide’.

Cllr Shaw has previously said there were two lessons following the unsuccessful complaint: “It was a waste of the Ombudsman’s time, as it was a petty and vindictive attempt by this individual who has a long history of trolling anyone especially those in public office with a left-wing viewpoint.”

Welsh Government and Liberal Democrats say Wales is being ‘short-changed’ as high-speed rail bill could reach £102.7bn

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has renewed calls for Wales to receive a fair share of rail funding after the latest figures showed the cost of HS2 could rise to as much as £102.7bn.

Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper said the figures made it “clearer than ever” that Wales was being short-changed by the UK Government’s approach to the high-speed rail project.

HS2 has been classified by the Treasury as an “England and Wales” scheme, despite the line not entering Wales. The classification means Wales does not receive the same Barnett consequential funding that would normally follow spending on a transport project in England.

Mr Hooper said: “The latest figures showing HS2 will cost up to £102.7bn make it clearer than ever Wales is being short-changed by the UK Government’s approach.

“HS2 has been classified as an ‘England and Wales’ project – despite not a single centimetre of track being laid in Wales.

“This is not acceptable. Every pound denied to Wales is a pound that cannot be invested in the integrated, modern transport network that our communities deserve.”

The row over HS2 funding has become one of the longest-running disputes between Cardiff Bay and Westminster over infrastructure spending.

Rail infrastructure is not fully devolved in Wales, and the UK Government has previously argued that HS2 should be treated as a project benefiting both England and Wales. Welsh ministers, however, say that position is unfair because the line is being built entirely in England.

The latest cost estimate comes after UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander gave a statement to the House of Commons on the future of HS2, confirming that the project could now cost between £87.7bn and £102.7bn, with services between London and Birmingham not expected to begin until between 2036 and 2039.

The project has already been significantly scaled back, with previous plans for high-speed lines to Manchester and Leeds cancelled.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said HS2 had become “a textbook example of Government mismanagement”.

He said: “After years of delays, spiralling costs and broken promises under the previous Conservative Government, taxpayers across the UK are now being left to pick up the bill.

“At the very least, Wales must now receive the consequential funding it is owed so we can invest in desperately needed transport infrastructure here at home.

“The Labour Government can no longer hide behind accounting tricks to deny Wales funding that Scotland and Northern Ireland rightly receive as a matter of fairness.

“There is simply no justification for Wales continuing to be short-changed.”

Welsh ministers argue that if HS2 had been treated as an England-only project, Wales would have received billions of pounds in additional funding through the Barnett formula.

Mr Hooper said securing Wales’s share would now be a “central priority” in the Welsh Government’s relationship with Westminster.

He added: “We are committed to pressing the UK Government to right this wrong and ensure Wales receives the funding it is owed.”

The issue is likely to remain a major point of tension as the new Welsh Government seeks investment for rail, bus and integrated transport improvements across Wales.

Residents urged to prepare as flooding possible between St Dogmaels and Amroth

A FLOOD alert has been issued for the Pembrokeshire coast by Natural Resources Wales.

The alert covers the coastline between St Dogmaels, Cardigan and Amroth, where flooding is possible.

Residents are being urged to be prepared, check flood plans, and make sure family members, pets, vehicles, livestock and important belongings can be moved to safety if needed.

Natural Resources Wales is also advising people to keep mobile phones charged, know how to turn off electricity, gas and water supplies, and prepare a small emergency bag with essential items including medication, chargers, warm clothing, baby and pet supplies, sanitary items and insurance documents.

People are warned not to drive or walk through floodwater. Just 30cm of water can carry a car away, while 15cm can knock a person off their feet.

For more information, visit the Natural Resources Wales flood warning service or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188, using quick dial number 503013.