News
City Deal scheme uncertainty as Port and Council argue over interest payments
TIME is fast running out for vital funding for Pembrokeshire’s part of the controversial Swansea Bay City Deal.
The deadline for obtaining European funding, upon which the Pembroke Dock Marine project depends, is December this year, when European funding ends. The final business case for it is yet to be submitted, let alone approved.
If the business case is not approved by then, the future of the project – or at least its size – will be cast into doubt.
Next week, the County Council’s Cabinet is likely to approve the submission of the project’s business case.
The Port of Milford Haven, in partnership with Marine Energy Wales, ORE Catapult and Wave Hub, aims to develop what it calls ‘a world-class centre for marine energy research and development, fabrication, testing and deployment’.
History is not in its favour.
A key project at Ramsey Sound, Delta Stream, failed catastrophically. The submerged device claimed to be the forerunner to a major tidal power investment stopped working after three months. The company behind it, Tidal Energy Ltd, went bust. The scheme was extensively supported by the Welsh Government and EU funding.
A briefing document shows consideration of the Pembroke Dock Marine project has now become time-critical because of the probable loss of significant European funding if the project is not fully approved by the end of the calendar year.
A source close to the City Deal told The Herald getting the business case fully approved before the December deadline is ‘unrealistic’.
The Council will have to borrow up to £28m for the Pembroke Dock Marine project and will be ‘paid back’ (capital only, no interest by the Governments) over 15 years, with payments ‘theoretically linked to delivery and performance’.
The cost of borrowing for the Pembroke Dock Marine project is estimated to be £2.35m.
Wrangling between Milford Haven Port Authority and Pembrokeshire County Council over the interest on the money the Council will borrow to bankroll the Port Authority’s £76m Pembroke Dock Marine project has caused rancour between the partners.
The Port Authority says it cannot afford the interest charges, while the Council faces having to put money intended for other projects into the pot to make up the shortfall.
It is little secret Council leader David Simpson has misgivings about pouring such a large sum of public money into a single project instead of using the money to regenerate the wider local economy.
His concerns are shared by others involved in the City Deal’s governance and underlined by views expressed in the Deal’s external review that little evidence existed to show proposed projects would deliver the tangible benefits the Deal originally intended.
Certainly, Pembrokeshire will get the least out of the City Deal whether it succeeds or fails.
The City Deal, which is in the middle of reorganisation and is yet to recruit a programme director, has been plagued by governance problems and scandal almost since its outset.
An external review, by consultants appointed by the Welsh and UK Governments, concluded the City Deal’s governance system was unfit for purpose. It also found the Deal’s central control was so lax that incomplete proposals were treated as fully worked up plans.
A report prepared by Pembrokeshire County Council found failure by some City Deal participants to declare either personal or corporate interests and concluded: ‘It was evident through meetings with stakeholders that there is insufficient trust within the Partnership’.
The re-arrangement of governance and the need to build bridges left broken by internal strife across four local authorities, mean not a single penny of the millions promised by the UK and Welsh Governments has been received for any of the projects under the City Deal.
Individuals and companies formerly involved in Carmarthenshire County Council’s controversial Llanelli Wellness Village are under investigation by Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Crime
Three more arrested after 18-year-old dies in Gorseinon crash
Five people are now in custody following a collision involving a car and an off-road motorcycle
THREE more men have been arrested after an 18-year-old died following a collision between a car and an off-road motorcycle in Gorseinon.
South Wales Police were called to Pen Cae Crwn Road at around 12:58pm on Thursday, where the teenager, who is believed to have been from Swansea, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second man, aged 19, was taken to hospital with injuries.
Two 18-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday.
Police confirmed on Friday that a further three arrests had been made.
A 33-year-old man from Gorseinon was arrested on suspicion of murder.
A 38-year-old man from Gowerton and a 38-year-old man from Mount Pleasant were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
The latest arrests bring the total number of people detained in connection with the investigation to five.
Several roads in the area remained closed on Friday morning while officers continued their investigation.
Cordons had been removed from some streets, although traffic cones, road signs and police tape remained at the roadside.
Gorseinon Rugby Club chairman Ian Murphy said the local community had been left in “deep shock”.
He said: “For youngsters to get involved in a tragedy like this is shocking and disturbing, very disturbing for us all.
“Everybody was talking about it. All the roads were closed by police and ambulances, so it took a while for it to sink in what was going on.
“We were aware that there might have been a chase involving a car and a motorbike, and the full tragedy unfolded from there.”
South Wales Police has not confirmed the circumstances leading up to the collision, and enquiries remain ongoing.
Health
Hywel Dda patients waited average of 64 weeks for hip surgery
Freedom of Information figures show more than 1,600 patients remained on the health board’s hip replacement waiting list in May
PATIENTS awaiting elective hip replacement surgery under Hywel Dda University Health Board waited an average of 450 days during the 2025/26 financial year, according to newly released figures.
The average wait was equivalent to just over 64 weeks, significantly longer than the treatment times set out under Welsh NHS targets.
The figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted to the health board by private healthcare marketplace My Medical Gateway.
In Wales, the stated aim is for 95% of patients to begin treatment within 26 weeks of referral, with no patient waiting longer than 36 weeks.
Hywel Dda confirmed that 1,608 patients were on its waiting list for hip replacement surgery as of May 28, 2026.
The health board also said 16 patients had been removed from the waiting list during the 2025/26 financial year after choosing to undergo treatment privately.
Hip replacement surgery is most commonly offered to people experiencing severe pain, stiffness and reduced mobility, often after other treatments such as physiotherapy, pain relief, injections and lifestyle changes have failed to provide sufficient relief.
Sara Gezdari, Head of Investor Relations at My Medical Gateway, said prolonged waits could have a serious effect on patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing.
She said: “Many people join NHS waiting lists after already spending months or years attempting to manage their condition through physiotherapy, pain relief medication, injections and lifestyle modifications.
“By the time surgery is recommended, they are often already struggling. The true impact of waiting is measured not in weeks but in declining quality of life.”
She said patients waiting for surgery could experience increasing pain, disrupted sleep, reduced mobility, loss of independence, social isolation and worsening mental health.
Long waits could also have financial consequences, particularly for people whose employment relies on physical mobility.
Ms Gezdari added: “Many patients continue working despite severe symptoms. As pain worsens, productivity often falls. Some reduce their hours. Others leave work entirely.
“The consequences can be particularly significant for self-employed individuals who depend upon physical mobility to earn a living.”
My Medical Gateway said private hip replacement surgery in the UK typically costs between £12,549 and £14,950.
The company, which connects UK patients with private hospitals in the European Union, said the average price offered by many European providers was approximately £9,088.
However, travelling abroad for medical treatment can involve additional considerations, including travel costs, insurance, post-operative care and arrangements if complications arise.
The Freedom of Information response was returned by Hywel Dda University Health Board on June 8, 2026.
Education
Saundersfoot graduate secures teaching job before completing degree
Local school placements helped Millie Brace gain the experience and connections needed to begin her career at Templeton Primary School
A SAUNDERSFOOT student is celebrating after graduating from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and securing a teaching job in Pembrokeshire before completing her degree.
Millie Brace graduated this week with a BA in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status from UWTSD’s Carmarthen campus.
She will begin her first teaching post at Templeton Primary School in September.
Millie said the opportunity to remain close to home and complete placements in Pembrokeshire schools had been a major factor in her decision to study at UWTSD.
“I chose UWTSD because it allowed me to stay close to my family and continue living at home while studying, which was important to me,” she said.
“Another key reason was the opportunity to complete local teaching placements.
“I knew how competitive teaching jobs can be in Pembrokeshire, so gaining experience in local schools was a great way to build professional connections and develop an understanding of the schools and communities I want to work in.”
Her placements allowed her to gain experience in a range of classrooms and helped her develop the confidence needed to apply for teaching roles.
“Before graduating, I was delighted to secure a teaching position at an amazing primary school in my local area,” she said.
Millie praised the support she received from university staff, school mentors and teachers during her final placement at Lamphey Primary School.
“Although I had not previously taught that particular year group, I received fantastic support from my class mentors and staff at Lamphey Primary School,” she said.
“Their knowledge and experience, combined with the research and understanding I developed through my course and assignments, greatly increased my confidence.”
Millie said the flexibility of the degree allowed her to explore subjects linked directly to her classroom experience and professional development.
“My favourite thing about the course was the flexibility of the assignments,” she said.
“They allowed me to explore topics that genuinely interested me and focus on areas that reflected my personal development targets from placements.
“This made the work feel relevant to my experiences in the classroom and helped me connect theory with practice.”
She also valued the sense of community at the Carmarthen campus and the friendships she formed with other student teachers.
“One of the biggest challenges during my studies was adapting to different placement schools and managing the increasing expectations placed on me as I progressed,” she said.
“Each school had its own routines, approaches and learning environments.
“What helped me most was the support of other student teachers. We shared resources, exchanged ideas and helped each other with lesson planning and preparation.”
Outside her studies, Millie continued to enjoy the Pembrokeshire coastline, spending her spare time paddleboarding, walking her dog and learning to surf.
She said she would recommend UWTSD to anyone considering a career in teaching.
“The course provided excellent placement opportunities, allowing me to gain valuable experience in local schools and build professional connections that helped me secure a teaching job before graduating,” she said.
“I have also made friends for life, and the relationships I built have been one of the most rewarding parts of my university experience.”
Millie will now take the next step in her career when she joins Templeton Primary School at the beginning of the new academic year.
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