News

M4 relief road cancelled after cost estimates rise to over £2 billion

Published

7 years ago

June 5, 2019

THE WELSH Government has ditched plans to build an M4 relief road.

After years of planning, a lengthy public inquiry, and extensive controversy both about the delays in making a decision and the potential environmental impact of the new road, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced his widely anticipated decision to cancel the project in a statement issued on Tuesday, June 4.

The M4 relief road was a marquee project for the Welsh Government; however, internal Labour politics slowed down progress towards a decision with the result that former First Minister Carwyn Jones passed the buck for the final decision to his successor. Mr Jones favoured the scheme, while Mr Drakeford was more equivocal about its prospects.

Originally proposed in 1991, the scheme was dropped by the Welsh Government in 2009 on grounds of cost (then an estimated £1bn) before being revived in 2011. The project secured UK Treasury support in 2013 and was approved by the then-Welsh Government Transport Minister Edwina Hart in 2014, with a completion date of 2022.

Since 2014, the road lingered in development hell through a raft of consultations and a public inquiry.

M4 decision: Drakeford slated for dither and delay

The First Minister’s decision to cancel the scheme raises questions about the huge amount of public money and government manpower expended on it. His principal objection is the same as that which led to the original scheme’s cancellation in 2009: money, or the Welsh Government lack of it/unwillingness to spend it.

Friends of the Earth Cymru director Haf Elgar said: “This is great news for Wales and the planet.

“As well as costing Welsh taxpayers over £2 billion pounds, this devastating road would have ploughed through the unique, wildlife-rich Gwent Levels, pumped more climate-wrecking emissions into our atmosphere, and ultimately caused even more congestion and air pollution.

“This decision is a testament to the untiring efforts of local residents who have opposed this plan over decades and is a clear signal that the Welsh Government is taking its climate emergency declaration and commitment to future generations seriously.”

Ian Price, CBI Wales Director, said: “This is a dark day for the Welsh economy. After decades of deliberation and over £40m spent, no problem has been solved today. Congestion and road pollution around Newport can only increase. Economic growth will be stifled, confidence in the region will weaken and the cost of an eventual relief road will rise

“Today’s announcement is a short-term measure that regrettably solves nothing and sends the message that Wales is not open for business.

“As the Welsh Government said at the public inquiry, the black route would emit less carbon emissions than the current road and the whole project would be carbon neutral by 2070. The wider south Wales region around Cardiff and Newport constitute only 4% of Welsh carbon emissions in total. That figure will now likely rise at a higher rate than if the black route had been built.”

On his Facebook page, Stephen Crabb MP said: “They’ve bottled it. The Welsh First Minister’s decision not to give the M4 relief road the green light is short sighted and will be deeply frustrating for number of commuters, businesses and tourists.

“I’ve spoken to numerous Pembrokeshire businesses, from hauliers to tourism operators, who are all fully aware the damage the congestion around Newport does for our local economy. One Pembrokeshire haulage firm alone runs 40 lorries each way through the M4 bottle neck each day, with drivers calling it a ‘no go’ area between 7.30am and 10am in the morning and from 4pm to 6.30pm in the afternoon.

“This decision even contradicts the independent public enquiry led by a planning inspector which backed the project. This is a failure of devolution as the Welsh Assembly was supposed to help projects such as this get off the ground.

“I recently held a debate in Parliament about the importance of this project for the wider Welsh economy, so it is very disappointing that Mark Drakeford has dropped it especially as this issue has dragged on for nearly 30 years.”

Full in-depth coverage in The Herald this Friday

Local Government

Tessa Hodgson elected leader of Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

10 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

TESSA HODGSON has been elected as the new leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, becoming the first woman to hold the role.

Cllr Hodgson, who represents Lamphey, was chosen at the council’s annual general meeting on Friday (May 15). She succeeds Cllr Jon Harvey, who did not seek re-election as leader.

Following her election, Cllr Hodgson said: “It is a great honour to have been elected leader of Pembrokeshire County Council.

“I thank Cllrs Tinley and Clements for also putting themselves forward and Cllrs Alderman and Williams for proposing and seconding me.

“It is an important moment for the council to elect the first woman to this position, but now the hard work begins.

“I am prepared to work with everyone across the chamber for the benefit of every resident and community of Pembrokeshire, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Cllr Hodgson was first elected in 2012 and is not affiliated to any group on the council.

She previously served as Cabinet Member for Social Services and Safeguarding from 2017, and most recently held the adult social care and safeguarding portfolio.

Before entering local government, Cllr Hodgson worked in marketing and business and ran several hospitality and tourism enterprises.

She is expected to announce her Cabinet shortly.

Business

Cod price crisis puts Pembrokeshire chip shops under pressure

Published

31 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CHIP SHOP owners in Pembrokeshire say soaring costs are forcing up prices, changing customer habits, and putting pressure on young staff facing questions from customers.

Speaking to the BBC this week, Rhys McLoughlin, co-owner of Môr Ffres in Dinas Cross, said he is installing self-service tills partly to protect staff from being put on the spot over rising prices.

Mr McLoughlin said cod, once his biggest seller, is being overtaken by cheaper options such as chicken chunks as families look for ways to keep costs down.

Prices keep rising

He said: “There are lots of questions being asked. Incoming prices are going up and up.

“We have no control over that, so either we work for no money, or we follow the price increase and pass it on.”

The average price of takeaway fish and chips rose to £11.17 in March, compared with £6.48 in 2019.

Mr McLoughlin warned that cod prices could rise further by September, saying: “If these prices continue to go up, who’s going to buy fish and chips for £21? Who can afford that?”

Staff under pressure

He said the planned digital kiosks would help manage queues in the small shop during the busy summer season, but would also reduce the pressure on young staff.

Mr McLoughlin said: “We have got young staff working here and sometimes this is their first stepping stone out of school.

“It’s no fun for a boy or girl to come to work to be asked pretty abrupt questions on the spot with 20 people in the chip shop.

“We have actually lost a few members of staff through that.”

Seaside favourite

In Saundersfoot, Sy Crockford, of Marina Fish & Chips, said keeping the traditional seaside meal affordable had become increasingly difficult.

He said cod alone had risen by around 50 per cent, adding: “One thing we don’t want to do is out-price fish and chips.

“It’s nostalgia, it’s romance, to come to the beach and have fish and chips. We definitely don’t want to outprice.”

Mr Crockford said cod and haddock were becoming “a luxury, not a necessity”, and suggested more sustainable and affordable fish options may become more common on chip shop menus.

Rural shops hit

At Cegin-24 in Crymych, owner Sioned Phillips said the price of a box of cod had risen from around £36 to between £50 and £60.

She said: “When I opened, it was £6.95 for a piece of cod. I’ve had to raise it to £9, and that’s being quite reasonable.

“If I wanted to make a normal amount of profit, it should be about £11 or £12 for a piece of cod.

“For me, in such a rural community area, to justify charging elderly people and local people so much for a piece of cod is absolutely ridiculous.”

Ms Phillips said some customers were still sticking with cod despite cheaper alternatives being offered, but were cutting back elsewhere by sharing portions of chips.

The National Federation of Fish Friers said cod price rises were linked to reduced quotas in the Barents Sea, sanctions on Russian fish, and wider cost pressures.

President Andrew Crook said many customers understood fish was a premium protein, but added that higher prices had affected visit frequency and footfall in many shops.

Entertainment

Circus Mondao returns to Tenby and Pembroke Dock with spectacular new show

Published

1 hour ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CIRCUS Mondao is returning to Pembrokeshire by popular demand, bringing its traditional big top show to Tenby and Pembroke Dock.

The family circus promises a packed programme of international performers, comedy, daring stunts, showgirls, ponies and high-energy circus acts.

This year’s show includes award-winning Chilean clown Kikin, Miss Madalane’s ponies, glass balancing with Fairy Talula, fast-paced juggling from Brazil, and the Agazian Brothers from Ethiopia.

Audiences can also expect one of the most daring line-ups ever presented by Circus Mondao, including the Wheel of Death, Russian swing, Icarian games, Russian bar, chair balancing and the South American Crazy Brothers.

Organisers said the show keeps alive the atmosphere of a traditional circus while also using modern lighting, music and production.

A spokesperson for Circus Mondao said: “This is a show not to be missed. We are delighted to be returning to Tenby and Pembroke Dock with amazing artistes from around the world, including performers from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Morocco, Chile, Spain, Ethiopia, Wales and the UK.”

The circus will be at Marsh Farm, Marsh Road, Tenby, SA70 8DU, from Wednesday, May 27 to Sunday, May 31.

Performances in Tenby will take place at 5:00pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 2:00pm and 5:00pm on Saturday, and 2:00pm only on Sunday.

Circus Mondao will then move to Harlequins RFC, London Road, Pembroke Dock, from Wednesday, June 3 to Sunday, June 7.

Performances in Pembroke Dock will follow the same times: 5:00pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 2:00pm and 5:00pm on Saturday, and 2:00pm only on Sunday.

Special offers include all seats for £8.50 on Wednesdays, buy one get one free on Thursdays, four seats for £45 on Fridays, children going free on Saturdays with each full-paying adult, and family tickets on Sundays for two adults and two children priced at £45, £55 or £60.

Terms and conditions apply to all offers, and they cannot be used with any other offer.