LOCAL businesses are being urged to check their new rateable values immediately to understand whether recent changes could increase their business rates bills.

Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz has warned that many firms may be unaware of how the updated valuations could impact them financially and is encouraging business owners to act quickly.

“Business rates are already a major burden for many local businesses,” Kurtz said. “With new rateable values now in place, it’s vital that businesses check their valuation as soon as possible to see whether it will affect what they pay. Too many businesses only realise there’s an issue when the bill arrives. Businesses can visit the VOA website and search their property by postcode or address.”

Rateable values are used to calculate business rates and are based on factors such as rental values and property use. Changes to these valuations can result in higher bills, even where a business has not expanded or increased turnover.

Kurtz stressed that early action is key, particularly for small and independent businesses operating on tight margins.

“Checking your rateable value early gives you time to understand the changes, seek advice, and challenge the valuation if it appears incorrect. Waiting could mean missed opportunities to reduce costs or appeal.”

Businesses are also being encouraged to attend the local information event online to better understand reliefs, exemptions, and the appeals process.

“At a time when costs are rising across the board, businesses need clarity and support, not surprises. I would urge every business owner to take a few minutes to check their rateable value and make sure it’s right.”

Samuel Kurtz MS has also written to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Mark Drakeford MS, calling on the Welsh Government to follow the UK Labour Government’s apparent change of direction on business rates in England warning that rising rateable values are pushing Welsh businesses to the brink.

For more information on business rates and for a chance to attend the upcoming advice session with the Valuation Office Agency hosted by Kurtz and Paul Davies MS on the 26^th January, businesses are encouraged to register their interest on www.samuelkurtz.wales

A PUBLIC consultation which could lead to the ending of an air quality management scheme in Pembroke and Haverfordwest, brought in after high levels of pollution were recorded back in 2012, has been backed.

At the Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet meeting of January 12, members were recommended to support a six-week public consultation on the proposal to revoke the Haverfordwest and Pembroke Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).

A report for members ahead of the meeting, presented by Cabinet Member for Planning & Regulatory Services Cllr Jacob Williams said: “In 2012, Pembrokeshire County Council identified that concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) were exceeding the national annual mean objective within certain areas of Pembroke (specifically along Main Street) and within sections of Haverfordwest’s main commercial streets.

“The elevated concentrations were attributed primarily to road traffic emissions, particularly in narrow streets where vehicle emissions were less effectively dispersed. Although the number of exceedances was limited, the council had a statutory duty under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to take action to achieve and maintain compliance with national air quality objectives.

“Consequently, as a precautionary measure, Pembrokeshire County Council formally designated these areas as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).”

It added: “To support the AQMA designations, a comprehensive local monitoring network was established, comprising 48 diffusion tube monitoring stations across both Haverfordwest and Pembroke. Each diffusion tube is tested and replaced on a monthly basis, providing a continuous dataset on ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations to track progress and assess the effectiveness of implemented measures.

“Over several years, measured NO₂ levels have shown a consistent downward trend, reflecting the effectiveness of local emission reduction measures and broader improvements in vehicle technology and fleet composition.”

It says monitoring over the last three years has shown levels to be below national objective and precautionary threshold levels, adding: “On the basis of this sustained compliance and the clear evidence of air quality improvement, Pembrokeshire County Council proposes to revoke both the Haverfordwest and Pembroke AQMAs.”

It stressed: “Although the statutory Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) designations for Haverfordwest and Pembroke have been proposed for revocation; Pembrokeshire County Council will continue to undertake air quality monitoring to ensure that standards are consistently maintained and that public health remains protected.”

Cllr Alistair Cameron said: “This is a good news story, it’s so important for people to breathe good quality air in Pembroke and Haverfordwest.”

He was joined by Leader Cllr Jon Harvey, who represents Pembroke St Mary North, who said: “Modern vehicles are less pollutive than previous ones, it’s a good news story.”

MID and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell has pressed the UK Government for action on poor mobile connectivity in Pembrokeshire — with Tenby namechecked in Parliament just weeks after the town was left out of the latest round of publicly announced rural coverage upgrades.

Mr Tufnell asked Ministers what steps are being taken to improve mobile connectivity in Mid and South Pembrokeshire including Tenby, amid growing frustration from residents and businesses about unreliable signal and slow data in parts of the county.

The intervention follows recent reporting by The Herald highlighting that a UK Government announcement promising improved mobile coverage across rural Wales did not include Tenby, despite longstanding complaints about not-spots in the busy seaside town — particularly as it prepares for another visitor season.

Independent performance data has also added weight to local concerns. Analysis by Ookla, which tracks real-world mobile experience through millions of user tests, reported that UK-wide median mobile download speeds increased in 2025 — but found Wales remains the slowest-performing UK nation overall. Pembrokeshire was among the weaker-performing areas identified, with typical median speeds in the mid-teens to low-20s Mbps and fewer than half of samples reaching 25 Mbps.

Responding in a written Parliamentary answer, Labour MP Kanishka Narayan, speaking for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said the Government’s “ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030”, including villages and rural communities. He said delivery is expected through commercial rollout by network operators, with Government working closely with firms to support continued investment.

However, industry and landowner groups warn that the ambition could be undermined by policy decisions affecting the cost of hosting mobile masts — a particular concern for rural counties where coverage depends on securing and maintaining sites on private land.

Under changes linked to the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act, campaigners say the valuation model used for telecoms sites is being extended, with some landowners reporting rent reductions of up to 90% and warning the approach risks driving providers away from hosting masts or refusing new ones.

Ted Hobbs, based in New Tredegar, described the impact of renegotiation attempts on long-running agreements, saying: “My 1995 Vodafone lease was £3,500 yearly. It expired in May 2025 – now they demand a slash. This is confiscation, not partnership.”

The row comes as the UK’s Shared Rural Network programme continues to fund upgrades in remote areas, with earlier milestones showing dozens of mast improvements completed in Wales — leaving some communities questioning why local blackspots, including in Pembrokeshire, are still waiting to see tangible improvements.

For Pembrokeshire, the issue is not simply about convenience. Businesses reliant on card payments, visitors navigating the county, and residents needing reliable access for work, healthcare and emergencies have repeatedly raised concerns about patchy coverage — and Tenby’s omission from the latest upgrade announcement has sharpened calls for clearer answers on when and where improvements will actually arrive.