WALES has become the first nation in the UK to trial automatic voter registration, as four local authorities launch a new pilot scheme aimed at increasing democratic participation.

The groundbreaking project, unveiled this week, seeks to make voting more accessible and inclusive by reducing the barriers to registration.

Carmarthenshire and Powys will create a replica of the local government register using existing council-held data. This approach will help determine which data sources are most effective at identifying eligible voters without altering the official electoral roll.

Gwynedd, Newport, and Powys will go further by identifying and verifying potential electors directly from council data before adding them to the actual register. In Gwynedd, the pilot also includes targeted outreach to engage communities traditionally underrepresented in elections.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said the pilot reflected the Welsh Government’s commitment to democratic inclusion.

“Whilst we see other countries try to discourage electoral participation for political gain, we in Wales want to see as many people engaged in our democracy as possible,” she said.

“When I first became First Minister last year, I said accountability and delivery would be the watchwords of my government. We’re getting on with delivering on the areas that matter most to the people of Wales, and with these pilots, more people can hold elected officials accountable for what we’re doing.”

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant MS, added:

“Other parties talk the talk on democratic participation, but it is Welsh Labour that is leading the way on strengthening our democracy – bringing in votes for 16- and 17-year-olds, and now automatic voter registration pilots.

“Would any other party be happy to stand up to scrutiny like this?”

A LAMPHEY homeowner has accused Pembrokeshire County Council of negligence after repeated flooding has left his property just feet away from disaster.

Brent Davies, who lives at Honeyhill Grove, says he and other residents were unaware their estate was built on a flood plain when they purchased their homes in 2018.

Now, despite one of the driest March and early April periods on record, fields behind his house are once again waterlogged – with the floodwaters just eight feet from his back door.

Mr Davies told The Herald: “We’ve had countless sleepless nights during bad weather, hoping we’re safe from the water. I’ve even built a retaining wall to protect our property, and we’ve had to call the fire brigade several times.”

He claims Pembrokeshire County Council was warned about the flood risk before granting planning permission for the development, with photographic evidence of the land underwater allegedly submitted to the authority at the time.

“Those warnings were ignored,” Mr Davies said. “The Council knew this area floods, yet they allowed homes to be built here. It’s disgraceful.”

He says all attempts to arrange a site meeting with the Council to discuss flood prevention have been ignored.

The Herald understands residents have now called for a public inquiry into how the development was approved and why their concerns continue to be dismissed.

Mr Davies added: “I’m at my wits’ end. We need answers and action. Who do we turn to when the authorities won’t listen?”

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “Outline planning permission for residential development of Honeyhill Grove was granted following consideration by the Council’s Planning Committee at its meeting of January 8th 2013.

“Consultation was carried out with the then Environment Agency and no objection was made to the proposal. Honeyhill Grove and the field adjoining the site does not lie within a flood zone as defined by Technical Advice Note 15.

“In accordance with the advice of the Environment Agency, a planning condition requiring further details of surface water disposal from the site was included in the outline planning permission granted.

“An application for the approval of reserved matters for Honeyhill Grove was granted following consideration by the Council’s Planning Committee at its meeting of July 30^th 2013.

“The reserved matters application included details to discharge a number of conditions including the surface water disposal condition.

“Consultation was carried out with Natural Resources Wales and no objection was raised to the application or to the method of disposal of surface water. The reserved matters application including the discharge of conditions was approved.

“Whilst flood risk was raised in representations received in respect of the outline and reserved matters applications, consultation with both the Environment Agency and its successor Natural Resources Wales resulted in no objections being raised on the grounds of flood risk.”

SCOUTS CYMRU has warned that the Welsh Government’s proposed Visitor Levy could have unintended consequences for volunteers and youth groups, potentially putting vital learning experiences for young people at risk.

The organisation, which supports thousands of children across Wales in outdoor and educational activities, has called for key changes to the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) (Wales) Bill, currently progressing through the Senedd.

At Stage 1, Members of the Senedd agreed to exempt under-18s from the levy, a move welcomed by ScoutsCymru. However, with Stage 2 discussions now under way, the group says further amendments are needed to ensure that the burden of administration and costs do not fall unfairly on volunteers or disrupt youth programming.

There are currently more than 4,000 young people on waiting lists to join the Scouts in Wales, with demand for overnight events and camps higher than ever. But under the current proposals, Scout halls could be treated in the same way as hotels or other commercial accommodation providers.

“Scout halls are not hotels,” said Kerrie Gemmill, CEO of ScoutsCymru. “Volunteers leading overnight stays with young people in community halls would be classed as ‘visitors’ and charged the levy – despite not being on holiday, but there to lead and safeguard the group.”

ScoutsCymru has called for the Bill to be updated to clarify that buildings like Scout halls and community centres – where occasional overnight use is not the primary purpose – should not fall within the scope of the levy.

There is also concern about the potential administrative burden placed on volunteers. A single overnight stay could require a community venue to register, track occupancy, and manage a payment system, even if only two adults are staying to supervise children.

“This isn’t about avoiding fair taxes – it’s about proportion,” said Gemmill. “We’re talking about people who already give up their evenings and weekends for free. Asking them to set up tax systems for a couple of overnighters a year is unrealistic. It risks putting people off, and that means fewer overnight adventures for young people.”

ScoutsCymru is proposing three key changes to the legislation:

• A clear legal exemption for premises primarily used for education or youth activities.
• Rules that are proportionate to the capacity and nature of volunteer-led groups.
• A national exemption for charitable groups offering occasional overnight stays as part of structured youth programmes.

“We’re grateful for the engagement so far,” added Gemmill. “With a few sensible changes, we can protect the purpose of the Bill while preserving affordable and accessible experiences for young people, led by the volunteers who make them possible.”