TENBY residents and traders are once again raising the alarm about poor mobile phone coverage, as the town enters another busy tourist season with no clear sign of improvements.

County Councillor Michael Williams first raised the issue with Pembrokeshire County Council’s trading standards department back in November, warning that unreliable mobile signal was becoming a serious concern for both residents and businesses. With Easter holidays now underway and visitors flooding back into the town, the problem has resurfaced as a pressing issue.

“All the providers are blaming visitor numbers, but that excuse doesn’t justify the charges people are paying,” Cllr Williams said. “It’s the same problem every year, and it’s time something was done.”

Real-life impact on residents

One local resident, Paul, who is disabled following a serious leg injury, told The Herald that poor signal had led to missed hospital appointments and vital calls.

“It’s ridiculous that in 2025, my phone signal is worse than it was in the 1990s,” he said. “I’ve missed calls from my doctor and the Ambulance Transport Service trying to arrange transport to Morriston Hospital in Swansea. My provider, Three, dropped my bill to £9.99 a month, but what’s the point if I still can’t use the phone?

“I’ve looked into switching providers, but I contacted them all and they said there are problems in Tenby too.”

Missed bookings and safety concerns

Ben Jones, a local plasterer, said the problem is also costing him work.

“I’ve missed bookings from clients because they couldn’t get through,” he said. “One persistent customer said it took him five tries to make contact. I don’t know if emergency calls are prioritised, but if not, this could be a serious safety issue too.”

Local businesses relying on mobile networks for card machines, bookings, and deliveries also say they are being let down.

“It’s embarrassing having to explain to customers that we can’t process a payment because the network’s gone down again,” one shop owner told The Herald. “It makes us look like we’re stuck in the past.”

Infrastructure plans face resistance

Although all four major UK networks—EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three—operate in Tenby, the infrastructure struggles to cope during peak seasons. While there have been plans to install new masts, including a proposed 20-metre 4G mast, progress has been hampered by objections linked to the town’s location within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

“There’s a tension between improving connectivity and preserving the landscape,” said a council planning officer. “But the pressure on mobile networks isn’t going away.”

Regulator urged to step in

The Herald contacted Ofcom to ask whether they are aware of Tenby’s ongoing mobile signal issues and whether they intend to work with providers to improve service ahead of the summer.

In a recent Parliamentary debate, ministers acknowledged concerns that Ofcom’s mobile coverage reports may not always reflect users’ real-world experience—an issue likely to resonate with residents in Tenby and other rural tourist hotspots.

As the Easter holiday rush continues, locals are left hoping that 2025 will finally be the year something changes.

RAMSEY ISLAND, one of Pembrokeshire’s most popular wildlife destinations, will be closed to visitors over the Easter holidays due to serious safety concerns.

The RSPB-owned nature reserve, renowned for its towering cliffs, seabird colonies, and rare plants, normally welcomes thousands of tourists each year between April 1 and October 31. However, this year the island will remain closed after the RNLI shut the St Justinians slipway used by ferry and tour boats.

The RNLI confirmed that the concrete structure had suffered ‘catastrophic’ storm damage over the winter and earlier this year, making it unsafe for public use.

“An urgent safety critical issue with the slipway following the recent storm damage has led the RNLI to take the responsible action to remove access,” said a spokesperson. “As a lifesaving charity, we cannot continue to carry the liability or invest in the maintenance of a site which does not support our lifesaving mission.”

The charity said a risk assessment highlighted major issues with the slip’s concrete, metalwork, steps and handrails.

As a result, no boats are able to land on the island, and visitor access has been suspended. Three tour boat operators are reportedly still running restricted trips around the island at high tide, but the majority of services have been disrupted.

A spokesperson for the RSPB confirmed: “The slipway is not in a condition to be used, and visits to Ramsey Island will not be possible for the Easter holidays.”

They added that alternative access options are being explored and further updates will follow.

Ramsey Island is designated as a Special Protection Area for choughs and supports internationally important flora and breeding colonies of Manx shearwaters, peregrines, and grey seals.

Has Zack Griffiths been locked up for speaking out?

ZACK GRIFFITHS, a prominent whistleblower and prison reform campaigner, has been recalled to prison and is now facing fresh criminal charges — sparking outrage across Wales and beyond.

The 35-year-old, who has helped lead protests over the management of HMP Parc in Bridgend, was arrested at Cardiff Crown Court last week and is expected to remain in custody until at least October. Supporters have called his detention “a national scandal” and “a clear attempt to criminalise whistleblowing.”

The prison houses hundreds of inmates from Pembrokeshire, as it is the our nearest long-term jail and the largest in Wales.

Campaigners — including bereaved families, justice groups and former inmates — say the authorities are targeting Griffiths because he has consistently spoken out about deaths, alleged abuse and neglect at the G4S-run prison.

Arrested, recalled and facing new charges
Griffiths was arrested at court while attending a scheduled hearing. A video widely shared on social media shows officers detaining him under Section 43 of the Prison Act 1952 — an obscure offence linked to blackmail involving unauthorised prison communications.

That blackmail charge has since been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, with no case to answer. Griffiths now faces a charge of malicious communications under the new Online Safety Act — an offence that could lead to further time in custody.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police, when asked by The Herald about the arrest, said:
“South Wales Police neither confirms nor denies names put to us in connection to an arrest and nor do we provide guidance on names put to us.”

Why he was on licence
Griffiths was on licence at the time, following a 12-month sentence handed down in November 2024. He had pleaded guilty to transmitting an image from prison and sending offensive communications, after posting a video online which showed HMP Parc officers restraining an inmate.

The court ruled the footage breached prison security and imposed a restraining order banning him from contacting certain individuals or sharing related material. Breaching such conditions — including through alleged malicious communications — allows the Probation Service to recall an individual to custody.

“The only one telling the truth”

Griffiths is the co-founder of Predator Awareness, a group originally set up to expose child grooming gangs and institutional failings. More recently, he co-led the HMP Prison Justice Group, which has campaigned for transparency and reform at UK prisons, particularly HMP Parc.

Since early 2024, he has been one of the most outspoken critics of G4S and South Wales Police — sharing testimonies from families, whistleblowers, and former officers, and helping to organise vigils and protests outside Parc prison.

“Zack is the only one who has dared to name names and shine a light on what’s going on,” said Sean Wilson, a fellow campaigner. “And now he’s been silenced. The system wants him gone.”

Tom Blewitt, another organiser, posted: “He’s had a full recall. They’re panicking because we’re getting too close to the truth. But this won’t stop us — it just proves we’re right.”

On Griffiths’ official Facebook page, his partner shared a heartbreaking message: “I don’t have my partner here to hold me anymore. He sacrificed himself for the greater good… My family is broken.”

“He gave us a voice”: Zack’s final protest

Just days before his arrest, Griffiths organised what would become his final public protest — a highly visible demonstration outside HMP Parc attended by dozens of bereaved families and national media outlets. Around twenty people stood together at the gates of the troubled Bridgend prison, demanding that G4S be stripped of its contract and that urgent reforms be introduced to tackle what they described as a “drug epidemic” and “mental health emergency” behind the walls.

Among those present were the families of men who had died inside Parc — some from suspected spice overdoses, others by suicide. Mothers, siblings, and partners spoke candidly about their pain, the unanswered questions surrounding their loved ones’ deaths, and their fears for those still incarcerated. Protesters carried placards and gave interviews to TV and radio crews, helping to catapult the issue onto the national agenda.

Clare Jones, whose 29-year-old son Ross died in Parc in 2023, said: “This needs to stop. Ten days before Ross died, another boy passed away. They were warned to make improvements — nothing changed. Zack was the only one who gave us a voice.”

Frances Jones, who lost her nephew Michael “Mikey” Horton to suicide inside Parc at just 19, said: “There were 33 families like us, maybe more now. Zack helped bring us together. We believe justice will come — but not without a fight.”

Brandon Lee-Jones, Mikey’s cousin, added: “He committed suicide, but no-one was there to help him. He felt so alone. Zack gave us a reason to keep pushing for answers.”

The Herald understands the protest attracted widespread media coverage and placed significant pressure on authorities — just days before Griffiths’ sudden recall to prison.

HMP Parc: A prison in crisis
The arrest comes amid mounting scrutiny of conditions inside Parc. Since the start of 2025, at least seven inmates have died at the Category B private prison, with causes ranging from suspected overdoses and suicide to alleged neglect.

In January, six prison officers were arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Investigations are ongoing, and G4S has confirmed it is cooperating with the Ministry of Justice.

“My son died in Parc last year. We still haven’t had an inquest,” one grieving mother told The Herald. “Zack was the only one who cared. Now they’ve taken him too.”

Legal support grows
A fundraiser titled “Justice for Zack Griffiths – Support His Fight” has been launched to help cover legal costs. It has already raised hundreds of pounds, with messages of support from across the UK.

Sophie Lewis, who started the campaign, said:
“Zack stood up when nobody else would. Now we must stand up for him. This is about truth and accountability.”

Concerns have been raised that Griffiths’ legal team needs strengthening ahead of a potential hearing at Swansea Crown Court later this month.

Demands for inquiry and intervention
There are now growing calls for a public inquiry into the management of HMP Parc and the handling of Griffiths’ arrest by South Wales Police.

“If speaking up about dead prisoners gets you jailed, but those responsible walk free — we don’t live in a democracy anymore,” said one campaigner. “We live in fear.”

Several groups are calling on the Justice Secretary, the Parole Board and the Independent Office for Police Conduct to intervene.

“You can’t jail the whistleblower and walk away,” said one supporter. “This country needs to wake up.”

What comes next
Griffiths remains in custody and is expected to be held until at least October 2025 pending the outcome of the malicious communications charge. A court date has not yet been set.

Meanwhile, protests calling for his release are gaining momentum, both on the streets and online. Supporters say they will not stop until Griffiths is freed and a full inquiry is launched into what they describe as “the Parc Prison cover-up.”