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County voices heard at the Senedd

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voices heardOVER 500 concerned Pembrokeshire people made the journey to Cardiff Bay to protest against the decision to close the Special Care Baby Unit at Withybush Hospital and transfer services to Glangwili, Carmarthen.

Speaking to The Pembrokeshire Herald, Angela Newman of Johnston said: “It was a great turn out and it was good to be part of something so important. It is a pity that Mark Drakeford lacked the courage to meet with Chris Overton or come out and face us, the people who he claims to represent. “He was quick to post on Facebook that he had been pleased to meet with a delegation from Pembrokeshire. Two nurses, I heard.”

Angela went on to tell The Herald: “We could not believe that we were not allowed access to the Senedd building, a public building paid for out of our taxes, on a six in/six out basis.

“The security officer on the door just told us to write a letter to the head of building security.

“Our mood was very positive and there was no aggro, even though they could not have stopped us from forcing our way into the Senedd.

“We will not give this up.”

AMs meeting with baby unit plan opponents

ASSEMBLY members Joyce Watson and Rebecca Evans have held a meeting with health minister Mark Drakeford and Withybush Hospital campaigners. Hundreds of campaigners opposing changes to specialist baby care in West Wales protested at the Senedd on Wednesday.

Before the demonstration the Labour Mid and West Wales AMs convened a meeting between the minister and a group of campaigners.

Speaking after the hour and a half long private meeting (the minister was present for around 45 minutes; the meeting continued with a senior official), Mrs Watson said: “I am pleased that members of Withybush’s nursing staff, paediatricians and interested parties had a chance to speak to the minister at length, directly and candidly.

“We discussed issues including patient transport and travel costs; accommodation for parents when their baby has to stay in hospital; fast, safe onward transport for mothers; and the critical baby stabilisation ‘safety net’. The minister gave cast-iron assurances that all necessary arrangements would be in place before any service changes.

“I was concerned by a suggestion that, throughout this process, Hywel Dda has been reluctant to engage openly with front-line staff. That is not on, and Rebecca and I have requested an urgent meeting with the health board.”

Rebecca Evans AM added: “The Minister was able to provide reassurances that the Health Board has presented him with no proposal that A&E will be anything less than 24/7. He reiterated his view that Withybush Hospital has a secure and successful future, and that it is a ‘necessary’ hospital for the people of west Wales.”

AM Backs Protest

MID AND WEST AM, Simon Thomas welcomed campaigners aiming to keep services at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire outside the Senedd.

Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas speaking to the estimated 200 protestors said: “I want to congratulate campaigners on their successful rally outside the Senedd. A clear message was sent to the Labour government that their plans are deeply unpopular. Not only that, their decision to remove consultant-led maternity services will put lives unneccesarily at risk.

“The loss of one service has a knock on impact on other services at the hospital. The management of Hywel Dda is not being honest wheyn they say that there won’t be any significant changes in the future to A&E. Plaid Cymru is asking the question how long can A&E last without 24 hour paediatric cover?”

“We are calling on the Labour Welsh Health Minister to rethink this decision. The Party of Wales is willing to work with all parties, and those of no party allegience to ensure the continuation of services at Withybush Hospital.

“The people of my Mid and West region deserve the same health care as those in large towns and cities. Plaid Cymru’s policy is to recruit 1000 doctors to bring Wales up to European standards and enable services to be as local as possible.”

Welsh Conservatives have long campaigned for core services at Withybush to remain unchanged

Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM, said:

“Welsh Labour’s endorsement of plans to downgrade Withybush is a catastrophic mistake.

“Expectant mothers must be confident in the knowledge that services are fit for purpose.

“That is now not the case and I wholeheartedly support those who have travelled from Pembrokeshire to make their voices heard.”

Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies said:

“The voices of all those who have gathered at the Senedd must be respected and considered by Carwyn Jones and Welsh Labour.

“Their plans to strip Withybush of core services are reckless, unnecessary, and dangerous.

“It will mean much longer travelling distances, and – in immediately life-threatening cases – could pose severe harm to mothers and babies.

“I stand with all those here today and I will continue to fight Labour’s damaging centralising NHS agenda.”

Assembly Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Angela Burns, said:

“Given the gravity of this dangerous and irresponsible decision, it is no surprise to see so many making their way to the Senedd steps.

“Every single voice should be heard by Labour ministers and every single view carefully considered.

“Previous promises not to downgrade hospitals have been left in tatters.

“Carwyn Jones and Welsh Labour carry a heavy responsibility in pursuing this centralising agenda.

“Our fight will continue until this decision is reversed.”

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Campaigners urge Welsh Government to adopt proportional representation for Local Elections

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CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Welsh Government to introduce the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for local elections, following moves by two councils to shift away from the First Past the Post (FPTP) system being blocked on technical grounds.

Yesterday (Nov 14), Ceredigion Council voted narrowly, with an 18 to 17 majority, in favor of adopting STV. This follows Gwynedd Council’s decision last month, where 65% of councillors backed the move. However, both councils have been prevented from implementing STV due to a requirement for a two-thirds majority under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

In recent consultations, public support for STV has been overwhelming, with over 70% in Gwynedd and 67% in Ceredigion favoring the change. Only Powys Council rejected the proposal, despite 60.5% of its respondents supporting STV. Campaigners argue that the current system deprives voters of representation, citing that over 100,000 people were denied a vote in the 2022 elections due to uncontested seats.

The Electoral Reform Society Cymru (ERS Cymru) highlights the contrast with Scotland, where the introduction of STV for local elections in 2007 has significantly reduced uncontested seats. According to ERS Cymru, Scotland has had fewer uncontested seats in the last four elections combined than Gwynedd Council recorded alone in 2022.

Jess Blair, Director of ERS Cymru, said:

“Decisions made in council chambers affect everyone in those areas, so every vote should count. It’s absurd that councils choosing STV are blocked by a technicality, leaving them stuck with an outdated system that denies representation to thousands. The Welsh Government must act to avoid repeating the undemocratic outcomes of the last elections.”

Campaigners are now calling on the Welsh Government to introduce STV across all councils in Wales, ensuring representation that reflects the electorate’s wishes.

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Business

Upgrades completed at Port of Milford Haven’s simulator suite

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UPGRADES have been completed to state-of-the-art equipment within the Port of Milford Haven’s navigation simulator suite at Milford Waterfront enabling marine professionals to receive bespoke specialist training. The virtual reality simulation system can safely replicate a range of scenarios that seafarers may experience in real world situations such as extreme weather conditions, emergency situations and escort tug work.


The upgrades provided by Netherlands-based company MARIN contain the latest hardware in terms of processing power and graphics, as well as upgrades to MARIN’s ‘Dolphin’ software, increasing the capability to create scenarios. These are complemented with new 4k visuals on 75” screens which increase the depth and field of vision, adding to the realism.

Recently, a training day was led by Training Pilot Captain Mark Johnson, assisted by ex-Pilot Andy Hillier, involving members of the Svitzer team as well as Pilots Matt Roberts and Ian Coombes. As part of the scenario, they were faced with a loss of engine power and steering along with worsening weather and sea conditions. The Pilots had to communicate with Svitzer in order to successfully instruct them on how to tow and direct a drifting tanker. While scenarios like these are uncommon within port operations, it is important to rehearse procedures that would be implemented if they are required and enhances participants’ skill sets.

Marine Pilot and Simulator Instructor, Captain Ewan McNicoll, said “This simulator suite has future proofed our training capabilities, both internally for Pilots and marine staff, but also externally for clients wishing to use the facility, be it for training purposes or research and development. We can create any type of scenario with any type of ship, ranging from practicing ship handling manoeuvres to emergency situations, it really is game changing! Working with our partners at MARIN has been a complete success and I am very proud of our new facility.”

For more information about training at the navigation simulation suite please contact the Port of Milford Haven at [email protected] or 01646 696100.

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Business

Thousands of homes in rural Wales gain from faster 4G boost

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RURAL Wales is seeing a major upgrade in mobile connectivity, with faster 4G now live in several areas. Seven locations across North, South West, and West Wales are benefitting from new 4G mast upgrades funded by the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN), aimed at closing the digital gap between rural and urban areas.

The upgrades, which went live on Thursday (Nov 14), bring improved 4G coverage to communities including Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch. Local businesses, emergency services, and residents are expected to benefit from faster internet access, which supports daily communication, business opportunities, and economic growth.

There is a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for modern life and should be available from Cardiff to the remotest parts of Wales. Today’s upgrades bring us closer to making this a reality.”

SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION

As part of the rollout, Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visited Ebbw Vale to discuss digital inclusion with charity and industry leaders. They met with representatives at BGfm, a digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, to learn about how connectivity impacts daily life in Welsh communities.

Telecoms Minister Bryant said: “We are working tirelessly to make sure rural communities aren’t left behind online.

“These upgrades mean businesses can now operate without connectivity limitations, 999 services are better equipped to respond, and residents and tourists can stay connected across the Welsh countryside.”

ADDRESSING CONNECTIVITY GAPS

An estimated 1.5 million homes across the UK remain without internet access, limiting people’s ability to access essential services such as banking and healthcare. In addition to the SRN upgrades, the Chancellor has allocated over £500 million in next year’s budget for digital infrastructure expansion, targeting these underserved areas.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens highlighted the importance of this investment, particularly for rural Wales, where fast, reliable internet can be transformative.

“Connectivity is critical for day-to-day life in rural areas – from supporting local businesses to ensuring emergency services are just a call away,” Stevens said.

The upgraded masts, previously limited to EE customers and emergency 999 calls, now serve a wider user base, bringing essential internet access to more people without requiring new infrastructure.

Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, said: “With the activation of five new SRN sites, Wales is seeing the tangible benefits of the Shared Rural Network, bringing crucial connectivity to rural communities.”

GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN REMOTE WALES

The improvements come alongside a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties, helping future-proof digital access in even the most isolated locations.

The latest upgrades mark another step in the Government’s mission to improve mobile coverage and close the connectivity gap across Wales, creating opportunities and supporting economic growth across rural communities.

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