News
Milford Haven: Plaid Leader speaking at public meeting this week

PLAID CYMRU Leader Leanne Wood is visiting Milford Haven to set out a radical agenda for ensuring that ‘decisions affecting Wales are made in Wales’ through a programme of democratisation and empowerment.
Leanne will be speaking at a public meeting in the Pill Social Centre, Cellar Hill, Milford Haven, on Thursday (Jun 21) at 6.30pm, to outline these ideas and hear from people in the area about their aspirations for Pembrokeshire and Wales.
The wide-ranging pamphlet, with ideas ranging from education to enterprise to democratic reform, emphasises giving people a greater say over the matters that affect them and their communities. Leanne Wood says it’s vital to re-engage individuals with politics and challenge the despair that has dominated in light of a decade of cuts and the vote to leave the EU.
The Plaid Cymru Leader states that the Tories and Labour present a false choice between top-down, increasingly regressive right-wing politics, and the latter’s London-centric agenda with its stubborn refusal to yield power from Westminster or Cardiff.
The public meeting will be the local launch of the pamphlet as Leanne Wood embarks on a tour of Wales hosting public meetings to discuss the ideas contained in the pamphlet and engage with people on a grassroots level.
Leanne Wood said: “I want people throughout Wales to consider how we can lift up our country by taking responsibility for our own affairs and our own lives, and on how we can start a debate in Wales about ending our dependence on others.
“I have analysed the challenges facing our country: challenges from within the UK, challenges that following the Brexit vote, not least the risk an extreme Tory Brexit poses to Welsh jobs and services, as well as the challenges we face from global developments.
“Decisions about Wales should be made in Wales. Self-determination means that we should choose which powers we want to share with other countries or with Europe.
Yet neither an intensification of neoliberalism, nor the resurrection of British state socialism will provide the solutions that are needed to solve our economic challenges and turn Wales around.
“Both visions offered by the two largest Westminster parties marginalise our specific needs as a nation.
“We need to get out there and show people how the core weakness of Labour’s paternalistic, centralising socialism is its democratic deficit. It will neither enable people to own their own resources nor run them democratically. It won’t empower people because it doesn’t trust people.
“We should look at locating new institutions outside where they are concentrated already, as Plaid Cymru has advocated for the new transport authority, football museum, national development bank, and other bodies. We want to see more powers devolved within Wales to ensure places like Pembrokeshire see the benefits.
“It means ensuring that the poorest areas of the country can benefit from a sustainable regional approach to economic development.
“This is about levelling up and treating geographic inequality as a problem to be tackled in the same way as other inequalities.
“For my party, it means we would legislate to ensure that legal safeguards were in place to fairly share public investment across the country, leaving no community behind.
“I also want to see a minimum set of social rights for all, such as to life-long learning, a decent home, a high standard of health care and a clean environment.
“Other principles here include using public money for public good; maximising people’s participation in democracy; co-operating as individuals instead of competing with one another; and learning from our history to look forward with hope, instead of backwards with nostalgia.
“People want a radical political voice that represents all parts of Wales and that’s what Plaid Cymru can provide.”
This comes after Ms Wood saying that she will stand down as leader of Plaid Cymru after the 2021 election if she is not First Minister.
Ms Wood has not been challenged as leader since her election in 2012, but it is understood that there is disquiet among Plaid AMs over her performance.
News
Drug gang imported £11m worth of cannabis into Wales, including Pembrokeshire

Eleven convicted over parcel delivery operation smuggling drugs from the US
A MAJOR drug trafficking network supplying cannabis across Wales – including Pembrokeshire – has been brought down following a two-year investigation by the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU).
Eleven members of the organised crime group have now been convicted of conspiracy to import and supply Class B drugs after evidence showed they were receiving large quantities of cannabis from the United States via international parcel delivery services.
The gang, headed by 28-year-old Abubakr Khawar from Riverside, Cardiff, is believed to have been importing around 23 kilos of cannabis a week, with estimated sales of more than £10,000 per day. Parcels were concealed in vacuum packs and disguised as innocent items such as clothing and toys.
Some of the cannabis was distributed into Pembrokeshire, The Herald understands, as part of a wider supply network across south Wales.
Recruited individuals were paid between £50 and £200 to receive the deliveries at addresses throughout the region. The parcels, once landed, were overseen by Mohammed Hussain, also 28 and from Cardiff.
On December 9, 2024, coordinated raids were carried out by Tarian, South Wales Police and British Transport Police, leading to the arrest of those involved.
The following individuals have now pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and conspiracy to import cannabis:
- Abubakr Khawar, 28, Riverside, Cardiff (pleaded March 19)
- Daniel Marshall, 40, Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil (April 4)
- Andrew Pethers, 36, St Mellons, Cardiff (May 13)
- Sophie Jones, 32, Splott, Cardiff (May 23)
- Kyle Solowyk, 29, Barry (May 23)
- Ceiron Jones, 28, Whitchurch, Cardiff (May 1)
- Solomon Bertram, 36, Llanishen, Cardiff (March 19)
All were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.
Two others, Mohammed Nurul Hussain, 28, and Abdu Huriara Husain, 28, both from Cardiff, initially pleaded guilty to supplying Class B drugs and later changed their pleas to guilty for importation during a trial earlier this month.
Sean Montgomery, 24, of Rumney, Cardiff, and Steven Munroe, 44, of Riverside, Cardiff, denied both charges but were found guilty following a trial at Newport Crown Court on Wednesday (June 11).
Sentencing is scheduled to begin on September 10, 2025.
Detective Constable Sean Meyrick of Tarian ROCU said: “I welcome the verdicts reached today and await the outcome of the sentencing hearing. I would like to thank Border Force for their assistance in this investigation, and colleagues at Tarian and our constituent forces.”
Farming
’Exceptional’ oat variety bred at Aberystwyth wins major award

THE UK’s most widely grown oat, bred at Aberystwyth University, has scooped one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades.
The National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) has awarded its coveted Variety Cup to the winter oat Mascani describing it as an “exceptional variety” and praising “its unmatched quality and reliability”.
Mascani was bred by researchers at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) and is marketed across the UK by Senova Ltd.
The variety is extremely popular in the milling industry and is known for its consistent grain quality along with reliability in the field and resistance to crop disease.
The 2025 NIAB Variety Cup for Mascani was presented to Dr Catherine Howarth from IBERS and Alison Barrow from Senova Ltd at an awards ceremony at the 2025 Cereals event in Lincolnshire.
The Variety Cup acknowledges exceptional varieties that have made a major contribution to crop productivity through improved quality, disease resistance, grower return or commercial success, and can be drawn from the entire spectrum of horticultural, ornamental and agricultural crops.
Clare Leaman, Niab’s cereal specialist, said: “Despite the emergence of newer oat varieties boasting improved yield and agronomic traits, Mascani has maintained dominance in the industry due to its exceptional quality characteristics, which continue to meet the exacting standards of millers. Its success is testament to the unique dynamics of UK oat breeding programmes which often lead to varieties with remarkable longevity. Mascani’s sustained relevance highlights its unmatched quality and reliability, even in a competitive landscape, making it a prime contender for the Niab Variety Cup.”
Research on developing the Mascani oat began at IBERS thirty years ago and the variety was added to the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board’s (AHDB) list of recommended seeds in 2004.
Dr Catherine Howarth, oat breeding and research lead at IBERS in Aberystwyth University, said: “As a research team, we are incredibly proud to accept the Niab Variety Cup for Mascani. It’s a huge honour for all those who have been involved in the development of the variety – from the original cross in 1995 and subsequent years of selection to its release onto the market as a game changing variety. Its superb quality, yield and excellent milling consistency has made Mascani a favourite across the UK for growers, merchants and millers alike. Its continuing success is evidenced by its share of the UK winter oat market, which has been over 70% for the past 6 years. Oats offer clear benefits to human health, including lowering cholesterol as well as contributing to a more sustainable environment.”
Alison Barrow, Technical Marketing Manager at Senova Ltd, highlighted that, after 21 years on the AHDB Recommended List, the variety continues to stand the test of time and remains the top-selling winter oat variety, with over 70% of the UK winter oat market.
“We’re delighted with the recognition of Mascani’s status and reputation within the marketplace by Niab. Mascani’s success can be attributed to its combination of superior grain quality and performance in the mill, along with its reliability in the field and suitability for sustainable rotations. Appealing to both end users and farmers alike, the variety has spearheaded the increase in UK-wide oat plantings and boosted development work into alternative oat markets, as the health and nutritional benefits of oats have been recognised. As a result, we now see oats being eaten at different times of day to just the traditional breakfast occasion.”
Speaking at the Cereal awards ceremony, Niab Chief Executive Professor Mario Caccamo, said: “It takes an exceptional variety to win the Niab Variety Cup, or its sister Cereals Cup, with candidates reviewed annually by our crop specialists and agronomists. This year, we had several strong contenders for the Variety Cup, and it is incredibly rewarding to acknowledge Mascani’s long-standing contribution to the industry. Its success exemplifies the impact that superior crop varieties can have on productivity and grower returns.
“As Mascani’s legacy continues to inspire innovation in crop breeding, Niab reaffirms its commitment to recognising and fostering excellence in agriculture. The Niab Variety Cup remains a symbol of achievement and dedication, inspiring breeders to push the boundaries of plant breeding.”
Established in 1986, the Niab Variety Cup is not awarded annually and is only presented when the organisers decide there is an exceptional variety which deserves recognition. It has been won twice before by plant breeders at Aberystwyth – for the perennial ryegrasses Aberdart in 2003 and Abergreen in 2015.
Business
Milford Haven Port: Hospitality income overtakes biggest energy terminal

Tourism and hospitality generate more than any single energy customer, marking a historic economic shift for the UK’s leading energy port
THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN — long known as Britain’s busiest energy gateway — has revealed that its hospitality and tourism businesses are now outperforming its largest energy customer.
For the first time in the Port’s history, income from hotels, restaurants, and visitor operations exceeded the revenue earned from its single biggest energy terminal, according to the Port’s 2024 Annual Report.
The milestone marks a strategic turning point in the commercial direction of the trust port, which has traditionally relied on oil and gas terminals such as Valero, Dragon LNG and South Hook.

Chief Executive Tom Sawyer said that the shift demonstrates the value of diversification in a volatile global energy climate. “Hospitality and tourism generated more income for us in 2024 than the busiest of our energy terminal customers,” the report confirms. “This should be very reassuring to all our stakeholders as it underpins our ability to invest with greater confidence in our core port operations.”

Port invests in community and renewables
As a trust port, Milford Haven has no shareholders. All profits are reinvested locally — and in 2024, more than £500,000 was delivered in community grants, youth outreach, environmental work, and local development.
The Port posted £43.2 million in turnover, a 4.6% rise on the previous year. Operating profits rose by 65.9% to £6.8 million, and net profit after tax stood at £1.9 million, reversing a £1 million loss in 2023. Diversified revenue now accounts for 45% of total income, up from 39% the year before.
Green energy future for Pembrokeshire

The year also saw the official opening of the Pembroke Dock Marine facility — a £60 million infrastructure project supported by the Swansea Bay City Deal, with visits from the Deputy Prime Minister, the Welsh First Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales.
With the emergence of Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) as a regional growth sector, and new hydrogen projects launching from Pembroke Port, the Port of Milford Haven is positioning itself as a central hub in Wales’ clean energy transition.
Two green hydrogen firms — ERM and Haush — launched operations in 2024, with trials underway and a 15MW electrolyser planned for local supply and refuelling uses.
Coastal tourism rises — jobs follow

Meanwhile, Milford Waterfront is booming. The Tŷ Hotel, operated by The Celtic Collection, exceeded expectations for its second full year, while McDonald’s, Greggs, Costa, and other outlets created 130 jobs over the past two and a half years.
Milford Marina reached 100% occupancy, with a growing waiting list. The area hosted thousands at events such as the Round Table’s fireworks display and beer festival. One luxury cruise ship, Star Legend, even brought cyclists from North America on a bespoke “Tour de Pembrokeshire”.
A new play park, accessibility upgrades, and repurposing of historic dockside buildings are all planned in 2025.
Changing priorities — and opportunities

While energy remains the Port’s core operation, the fact that hospitality and tourism are now more valuable than its top energy customer sends a strong message about the changing economy of coastal Pembrokeshire.
Dr Siân George, the Port’s new Chair and a veteran of the marine renewables sector, said the shift was both strategic and symbolic: “This Port is anchored in its community. The fact that our strongest individual revenue stream in 2024 came from local tourism, not global energy, shows that our strategy is not just working — it’s transformative.”
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