THE EARLY stages of a scheme for a potential 20MW solar farm just a mile from Haverfordwest which it is said would provide power for 6,000 homes has been submitted to county planners.

Amberside Energy Ltd submitted a scoping opinion to Pembrokeshire County Council for the for the proposed solar farm and grid connection on land close to Haverfordwest golf club, just off the main A40 road, ahead of a formal application.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Request for land to the north of the A40/Narberth Road, And East of Haverfordwest, Boulston and Slebech was prepared by Stephenson Halliday Ltd, on behalf of Amberside Energy Ltd has been adopted by council planners prior to the submission of a formal planning application.

Supporting documents with the request say: “The proposed development will export approximately 20MW which is anticipated to connect to the national grid at the nearby substation located approximately 500m west of the site’s access.  The proposed development will comprise solar photovoltaic panels, inverters, perimeter stock fencing, access tracks, and CCTV. Planning permission will be sought for a temporary period of 40 years from the date of first exportation of electricity.

“The planning application submission will include the private wire grid connection, facilitated via underground cables to connect the Solar Farm to the point of connection.”

It adds: “The photovoltaic panels within the Site would generate up to 20MW of electricity, to be exported to the national grid. The Proposed Development will produce enough clean energy for approximately 6,000 homes, helping to contribute to the Government’s legally binding Net Zero target and to secure the nation’s energy supply in the context of a volatile global market.”

It says the site is adjacent to two separate solar developments with separate grid connections; Shoalshook Solar farm and Fenton Home Solar farm, but would operate in isolation to any of these neighbouring solar farms.

A formal planning application will be supported by a Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA), the application says, adding: “Overall, given the siting and nature of the proposed development, no significant visual impacts are anticipated.”

MONEY raised by a proposed visitor levy could be used to plug gaps in cash-strapped public services rather than support tourism as intended, the industry warned.

David Chapman, executive director at UK Hospitality Cymru, said the initial goal of the reforms – ringfencing funding to improve the visitor experience – has been eroded.

He told the Senedd finance committee: “We have within the proposed legislation, four items of potential spending that are actually removed quite considerably from that original ethos.

“I’ve lived all my life in Wales, we rely on public services, my family rely on public services, we use the health service – we’re all in favour of extra money going into that.

“But the intention of this originally was to try to assist the industry.”

Mr Chapman argued the visitor levy bill is not watertight enough to prevent the revenue raised being used to plug gaps in other areas such as health and education.

As drafted, the bill says proceeds must be used to: mitigate the impact of visitors; promote the Welsh language; support tourism; or improve local infrastructure and services.

Mr Chapman said: “If you are of a mind to fill gaps in budgets and to replace and displace existing spending then those four qualifying areas would allow you to do that.”

Rowland Rees-Evans, chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance, raised concerns about rushing “headlong” into a levy, warning it could cost the economy £40m and lead to 700 job losses.

But he welcomed mandatory registration of visitor accommodation providers under the bill.

Roy Church, co-chair of the Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions, described the bill as a “blunt instrument”, added that it is based on “hopelessly out-of-date” data from 2019.

He told the meeting on February 5: “The Welsh visitor economy is very different from what’s been looked at in the sessions before this committee.

“We’re not Barcelona, we’re not Venice, we’re not an international destination – our visitors come, 60% nearly, from Wales and the rest mostly from the UK.”

Mr Church, director of Tourism Swansea Bay, said: “It feels a bit like shooting yourself in the foot when you tax a local person to go to take their holiday break in their own country.

“The significance in our sector is the margins at which we work, we work generally with lower-income families … and this tax hits quite hard at their spending ability.”

He was in favour of under-18s not having to pay the levy, as in France and Germany, arguing scouts and educational groups, for example, should be exempt.

Labour’s Rhianon Passmore asked about comparative taxes across Europe and the proposed rates in Wales, £1.25 a night or 75p for hostels and camp sites.

Mr Chapman replied: “We have 17 different taxes which apply to our businesses. We are probably, in fact I’m sure, we are the most taxed sector of any sector.

“We pay three times more than the relevant business rates that we should be paying.”

Mr Chapman told the committee it would cost an extra £63 a week, including VAT, for a family of six which could make a holiday unaffordable.

Mr Rees-Evans asked: “Do we have to have VAT on tax? I’ve never heard of VAT on tax before. It sounds awful because tax is tax.”

Calling for a uniform rate across Wales, he said if one council went to £3 a night then the £63 for a family of six would leap to £126.

The witnesses welcomed a suggestion that the levy could be time-limited, for example to five days, to encourage people to stay longer.

Labour’s Mike Hedges said a three-night stay for a family of four at Bluestone resort in Pembrokeshire would cost £1,065, questioning the material effect of a £1.25 levy.

Mr Rees-Evans replied: “Price has an impact, anything that puts the price up.”

Zoë Hawkins, chief executive of Mid Wales Tourism, raised concerns about Wales gaining a damaging reputation as an expensive holiday destination.

She questioned comparisons to Catalonia, warning of a 10% fall in tourists to Wales.

Ms Hawkins said: “It’s twice the population of Wales, it’s got 18 million international visitors compared to our 800,000 … we need more visitors into Wales, not less.”

Pointing to a 23% fall in visitors to Wales in the past year, Emma Thornton, chief executive of Visit Pembrokeshire, questioned the timing and called for a level-playing field across the UK.

Jim Jones, chief executive of North Wales Tourism, said “Since Covid, it’s gone from bad to worse. We have … over 1,000 members and they are telling us that they are suffering.”

THE FIRST of Port Talbot’s growth and regeneration projects is set to receive £8.2 million from the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board, marking a significant step towards revitalizing the local economy.

This investment is expected to support over 100 jobs and ultimately contribute more than £87 million to the South Wales economy. To date, the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board has allocated £51 million into the local community, with further projects anticipated.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, chairing the latest Transition Board meeting today (February 6), will announce that £8.2 million will be directed to the South Wales Industrial Transition from Carbon Hub (SWITCH). This initiative will redevelop a four-acre site at Harbourside, Port Talbot, incorporating new shared space, flood mitigation measures, and specialist equipment. The investment aims to establish an Innovation District that will assist the steel and metal industry in reducing carbon emissions. The facility is projected to generate and sustain over 100 jobs while bolstering the South Wales economy by £87 million.

This funding is part of the UK Government’s £80 million Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board fund, which has already allocated £51 million since July. The latest announcement is the first targeted at regional growth and regeneration, with up to £30 million more expected to be invested in similar projects in the coming months.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting Port Talbot’s community through Tata Steel’s transition.

“We said we would back the community of Port Talbot through Tata Steel’s transition, and we continue to do exactly that,” she said. “In just six months, over £50 million has been announced to support individual steelworkers, their families, and businesses in the supply chain. Now, we are investing in a major regeneration project for the town.”

She added that millions more in funding will follow, ensuring continued support for steel communities amid ongoing industrial changes.

The Secretary of State also confirmed efforts to enhance mental health and well-being services, with funding details to be announced at the next Transition Board meeting. The initiative will focus on community cohesion, well-being programs, and peer support networks, including partnerships with local organizations.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy, and Planning Rebecca Evans welcomed the funding, stating, “This announcement builds on investments unlocked through the recent Celtic Freeport and other initiatives we are supporting in and around Port Talbot. Working alongside our Transition Board partners, we will continue to provide opportunities for growth while ensuring support for those impacted by Tata Steel’s changes.”

Neath Port Talbot Council Leader, Cllr Steve Hunt, also praised the investment, noting its role in attracting jobs and industry to the region: “The SWITCH project will build on our area’s longstanding expertise in the steel and metals industries, helping to address modern challenges and secure future employment.”

Professor Helen Griffiths, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Swansea University, highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating, “SWITCH will strengthen Swansea University’s role in uniting academia, industry, and government. This investment will make Welsh research and innovation more accessible to businesses and help stimulate long-term economic growth.”

The SWITCH project, dedicated to industrial decarbonization, will establish a permanent base at Harbourside, adding to its existing £20 million funding from the Swansea Bay City Deal, which also benefits from UK Government support.

What this means for West Wales

This initiative aligns with broader regional development strategies, including the Celtic Freeport, which links Port Talbot and Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire. The Celtic Freeport, which received approval for its full business case in October 2024, aims to attract investment into low-carbon energy projects, create jobs, and contribute significantly to South Wales’ economic transition.

Key connections between the initiatives include:

• Regional economic impact: The Celtic Freeport is projected to generate £900 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) by 2030 and £13 billion by 2050, complementing the Port Talbot project’s goal of injecting £87 million into the South Wales economy.
• Decarbonization focus: The SWITCH project will support the steel and metal industry in reducing carbon emissions, aligning with the Celtic Freeport’s emphasis on low-carbon technologies, including floating offshore wind, hydrogen, and carbon capture.
• Investment and innovation: The Celtic Freeport aims to attract £3.5 billion in investment for the hydrogen sector, while the Port Talbot Innovation District will serve as a hub for industrial research and development.
• Government backing: Both projects receive support from the UK and Welsh governments, reflecting a coordinated effort to foster economic regeneration.
• Energy transition: With Milford Haven already processing around 20% of the UK’s energy needs, both initiatives contribute to the country’s broader shift towards sustainable energy solutions.

By linking these initiatives, stakeholders can emphasize a holistic approach to economic regeneration, decarbonization, and job creation across South Wales, ensuring a sustainable future for communities from Port Talbot to Milford Haven.