News

Council Leader David Simpson responds to Home Office’s Penally Camp plan

Published

6 years ago

September 18, 2020

EARLIER this week, following speculation on social media, The Pembrokeshire Herald broke the news of the confirmed Home Office decision that Penally Camp had been chosen by the Home Office as a site to provide safe and secure accommodation. This in line with their statutory responsibility to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation.

Responding to the news, Council Leader, David Simpson, said: “I am aware there is a lot of discussion and concern about this announcement.

“I want to make it clear that Pembrokeshire County Council were ‘informed’ of this decision by the Home Office and did not have any discussion or say in the matter.

“It was immediately obvious to us that the Home Office’s decision has the potential for a number of impacts affecting our local community.

“Therefore, this week, we have been undertaking urgent work to review this in order to provide support to the community, provide reassurance, and support partner agencies.

“All formal communication about the accommodation is being undertaken by the Home Office, and I am not able to comment on issues relating to the camp accommodation.”

The Home Office had issued the following press communication earlier this week: “During these unprecedented times the government is working with a range of partners and across departments to secure further accommodation and the MOD has offered use of some of its sites.

“When using contingency accommodation, we work closely with organisations, including local authorities and law enforcement, throughout the process to ensure value for money and that vulnerable asylum seekers, who would otherwise be destitute, have suitable accommodation while their claims are processed.”

The Leader added: “I understand there are concerns and queries from all different viewpoints on this matter and I stress again the Council have not been involved in the decision to allocate Penally Camp as a site to provide safe and secure accommodation for destitute asylum seekers.

“We are, however, now trying to work with the Home Office and other key partners to try and manage the impacts of this decision.

“I am fully aware that this decision by the Home Office is leading to all sorts of comments and actions relating to the site. I would urge anyone involved to please respect our local community. ”

Member of the Senedd, Eluned Morgan has said that she is concerned local communities were not consulted prior to decision to repurpose the Penally Training Camp as accommodation for asylum seekers by the UK Government.

WELSH MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ‘CONCERNED’

Eluned Morgan, who is also Minister for International Relations in Welsh Government confirmed that the Welsh Government received no prior notification of the decision taken by the Home Office but that she had been engaged in discussions this week to seek clarity on plans and to relay the concerns of her constituents in relation to the suitability of the location.

Commenting, Eluned Morgan MS for Mid and West Wales said: “The decision to select Penally Training Camp was taken solely by the Home Office without any prior discussion with Welsh or local government. I am concerned also at the lack of consultation with the local community. I would hope the local MP will take this up with his cabinet colleagues in Westminster.

“In my discussions, I have asserted that the UK Government must provide proper resources to Pembrokeshire Council, the NHS and Police to support those asylum seekers who will be arriving from as early as next week.

“Initially, Welsh Government was told that 454 people would be placed in Pembrokeshire. However, the Welsh Government has been clear with the Home Office that the site must be Covid-19 secure limiting the number of refugees who will be temporarily housed at Penally to 250.

“The UK has an international obligation to support people fleeing war and persecution. Within that context, I am proud that Wales has been clear about how we will step up to that commitment as a nation of sanctuary. We have seen in Pembrokeshire how the local community has come together to help resettle people from Syria. Whilst recognising that there are concerns, I know that most Pembrokeshire people will be supportive of providing a safe haven in Wales and we will not tolerate the small minded minority who are seeking to use genuine concerns for their own personal hate-filled agendas.”

Climate

Blue sea creatures wash up on Welsh beaches including Tenby

Published

6 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

VISITORS to Welsh beaches have been warned not to touch unusual blue sea creatures which have washed ashore along parts of the coastline.

Hundreds of velella velella, commonly known as by-the-wind sailors, have been reported on beaches in Anglesey, Gwynedd and Tenby.

The small, bright blue marine creatures are free-floating hydrozoans and are related to Portuguese man o’ war, sea anemones and corals.

They get their name from a small sail-like structure on their body, which catches the wind and carries them across the surface of the sea.

One was spotted on Tenby South Beach on Tuesday (Jun 16), where beachgoer Maxine Allinson described it as “fantastic” and “like a crystal”.

Marine experts say the creatures are often seen after changes in currents or stormy weather, which can push large numbers ashore at the same time.

Although they are much smaller and less dangerous than Portuguese man o’ war, they do have stinging cells.

Their sting is usually mild, but people are being advised not to pick them up, especially as contact with the face, lips or sensitive skin could cause pain or tingling.

Experts also warn that the stinging cells can remain active even after the creatures appear to be dead on the beach.

The advice is to admire them from a safe distance and leave them where they are.

Caption: Maxine Allinson spotted a velella velella on Tenby South beach Tuesday

Local Government

Mayor to hold drop-in session for Haverfordwest residents

Published

7 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HAVERFORDWEST residents will have the chance to raise ideas, concerns and local issues directly with the town’s mayor this week.

Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner will hold a Talk to Your Mayor session on Thursday, from 12:00pm until 2:00pm.

The initiative is aimed at giving residents an opportunity to speak directly with the mayor about matters affecting the town and wider community.

Cllr Thomas-Turner said communication and engagement were “vital”, adding that the session was about listening to local people, working together, and ensuring every voice had the opportunity to be heard.

Anyone wishing to book an appointment is asked to contact the Haverfordwest Town Council town clerk.

The mayor said: “Together, we can continue building a stronger and more connected community. Together we can make Haverfordwest the best in the west.”

News

Senedd rejects Reform call to end Welsh Government international spending

Published

8 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE SENEDD has rejected a Reform UK motion calling for an end to all Welsh Government international spending, after a heated debate which saw several Members walk out of the chamber.

The motion, tabled by Reform MS Llŷr Powell, was defeated by 48 votes to 37 on Wednesday (Jun 17).

An amended motion, backing Wales’ reputation as an “internationalist, tolerant and outward-looking nation”, was then passed by the same margin.

The debate followed warnings from Hub Cymru Africa and other campaigners that ending international spending would damage Wales’ global reputation and undermine projects linking Welsh communities with partners overseas.

Reform argued that Welsh Government money should be focused on domestic pressures, including the NHS, schools, transport and the cost of living.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar backed the Reform motion, saying foreign relations and international development were matters for the UK Government rather than Cardiff Bay.

But Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government speakers rejected that argument, saying Wales’ international work supported trade, public services, education, health partnerships and the country’s reputation abroad.

The debate became heated after comments by Reform MS Joe Martin, who criticised overseas schemes including beekeeping and tree-planting projects in Uganda.

Several MSs left the Siambr during his contribution, with the Llywydd later urging Members to reflect on the tone of the debate.

Hub Cymru Africa had said before the vote that Wales’ international solidarity budget represented a tiny fraction of overall spending and helped deliver work in public health, climate action, women’s empowerment and sustainable development.

The organisation said the vote was an opportunity for the Senedd to reaffirm Wales’ place in the world.