THE STRADEY PARK HOTEL in Llanelli has closed with immediate effect, less than two years after controversial plans to house asylum seekers there were scrapped following months of protests.

The four-star hotel reopened in 2024 after the Home Office abandoned proposals to accommodate up to 241 asylum seekers at the site in 2023. The plans sparked 100 days of demonstrations, a makeshift protest camp outside the entrance, and a major policing operation.

Councillor Stephen Williams said staff were left in tears after being told the hotel would shut immediately.

He visited the hotel on Monday evening and said residents had been asked to leave.

“Local staff have been kicked in the teeth by a business or organisation which is based out of the town, which has led to this,” he said.

“To see them there in tears yesterday was really heart-breaking.”

BBC Wales has contacted the hotel and its owners for comment.

The hotel had been due to house 241 asylum seekers under Home Office plans announced in 2023. The proposals prompted significant local opposition, with Carmarthenshire County Council, the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, and Hywel Dda University Health Board raising concerns at the time.

Protests began in July 2023 and escalated over the summer. Large rocks were placed across the entrance, a protest camp was established, and fires were reported near the site. Around 40 arrests were made between mid-August and early October.

In October 2023, the Home Office confirmed the plans had been dropped, saying it was working to reduce the “unacceptable use of hotels” by moving asylum seekers into alternative, cheaper accommodation.

The hotel later underwent renovations and reopened to the public in 2024. At the time, management said it intended to rehire staff and resume trading as soon as possible.

It later emerged that the policing operation linked to the protests cost Dyfed-Powys Police more than £1 million.

Sean Rees, leader of Llanelli Town Council, described the hotel as an “important part of Llanelli’s economy and identity”.

“This abrupt closure will cause significant financial and personal anxiety for those employees and their families, and they must now be our priority,” he said.

He added that he had written to the leader of Carmarthenshire County Council to ensure affected staff receive clear information about redundancy rights and access to benefits, retraining and possible redeployment.

Councillor Williams said the town was now in “shock and dismay” at the sudden closure.

Police increase presence as enquiries into school incident continue

PUPILS at Ysgol Maesydderwen will return to class tomorrow (March 4) after the school was closed for a day following a second threat.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that officers are continuing to work closely with Powys County Council after threats were received by the school on Monday (March 2).

A second threat, sent via email, was reported to police later that evening.

The school remained closed on Tuesday (March 3) while enquiries were carried out. Following a review of the circumstances, a decision has been made to reopen the school on Wednesday.

Superintendent Gareth Grant said: “We understand this is a very unsettling time for the school’s pupils, teachers, parents and the wider community.

“I want to reassure the public that there is no evidence to suggest any threat against any other schools or businesses in the local area.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety of pupils and teachers at the school, and we are working closely with Powys County Council and the senior leaders at Ysgol Maesydderwen to this end.

“I want to thank the community for their understanding and patience while we carry out our enquiries. The impact of school closures on parents and carers cannot be underestimated, and I extend my thanks to everyone who has supported us to this point.

“You will see an increased police presence in the area as we continue our enquiries and provide reassurance to the local community.

“We will continue to share more information as soon as we are able to.”

Police have confirmed that enquiries remain ongoing.

NATIONAL EDUCATION UNION CYMRU has published a new manifesto outlining its vision to “Save Education in Wales” ahead of the Senedd elections in May.

The union says the document is designed to help political parties ensure their policies reflect the needs of the education workforce and learners across Wales.

Launching the manifesto, Nicola Fitzpatrick, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union, said education must be at the heart of the next Welsh Government’s priorities.

“NEU Cymru members are clear that education must be a priority for the next Welsh Government. May’s election is important — this is our chance to vote for education in Wales,” she said.

She identified funding, workforce trust and tackling child poverty as key issues.

“Funding is clearly a priority for NEU Cymru, along with trusting the workforce and ending child poverty. The next Welsh Government needs to invest in education to ensure that we are supporting the next generation. But we can’t be complacent,” she added.

The union also set out areas it believes must be protected, including opposition to academisation.

“There are parts of the education system that we need to protect — no academisation of schools, for example, because in Wales children are the priority, not private interests. Free school meals for all our primary school children must be protected. And our Welsh values are important too — protecting diversity, equality and inclusion.”

The manifesto sets out a series of policy proposals aimed at strengthening public education in Wales as parties prepare their campaigns for May’s vote.