Ministers say £41,600.90 supported wider screen industry project — not the Watch Africa event itself

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has moved to clarify reports that more than £40,000 of public money was spent directly funding an African film festival in Cardiff, saying the payment was instead for a wider skills and diversity project across the Welsh screen industry.

Earlier figures showed that £41,600.90 was paid in February 2025 to Watch Africa CIC, the organisation associated with the annual Watch Africa Film Festival. The festival, launched in 2013, celebrates African cinema through film screenings, workshops, filmmaker discussions and cultural showcases.

However, the Welsh Government has told The Herald that none of the funding was allocated specifically to the festival itself.

In a statement issued to this newspaper, ministers said the money was instead provided to support Culture Connect Wales, a broader industry partnership initiative aimed at improving skills and promoting diversity within Wales’ film and television sector.

A spokesperson said: “We have not provided any funding for the Watch Africa Film Festival. The £41,600.90 was provided to Watch Africa to fund Culture Connect Wales, a wider industry partnership project aimed at boosting skills and promoting diversity across the Welsh screen sector.

“The screen sector plays a major role in the Welsh economy and is a key employer. The latest industry research data for Wales’ screen sector reports that film and TV production achieved £568m turnover in 2024 and is home to 695 companies that create significant freelance and trainee opportunities for our workforce.

“Creative Wales has invested in 72 productions through Production Funding alone, generating almost half a billion pounds in economic return to the nation, and these numbers continue to grow.”

The spending had previously been questioned by Gareth Davies, the Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism, Sport and North Wales, who raised concerns about cultural funding priorities at a time of ongoing pressure on public finances and NHS waiting times.

Mr Davies said that while he supported cultural events operating in Wales, he believed limited public funds should be focused primarily on Welsh institutions and services under strain.

He also pointed to the closure of National Theatre Wales in 2024 after it lost core funding, arguing that established Welsh organisations had struggled while other projects received government support.

The Welsh Government maintains that the Culture Connect Wales programme is intended to strengthen the domestic screen industry, create jobs and improve opportunities for workers and trainees across Wales, rather than fund individual festivals.

The article has been updated to reflect this clarification.

CONSTRUCTION work has started on a Haverfordwest scheme to provide sheltered housing apartments for the over-55s.

The Tŷ Haverfordia affordable housing and reablement development of 26 sheltered housing apartments for the over-55s alongside a dedicated 12-bed reablement centre to support residents returning home from hospital at the former Haverfordia House site, delivered by Wynne Construction, forms part of Pembrokeshire County Council’s “continued commitment to increasing high‑quality, accessible housing and deliver effective modern health and social care support across Pembrokeshire”.

Initial works began on January 26 and include securing the site, setting up a small compound and contractor parking area, installing controlled access for site personnel, and positioning temporary office and welfare units.

To maintain safe access to nearby facilities, including the GP surgery and Haverfordwest Leisure Centre, pedestrian routes through the area will remain open.

In addition, a minimum number of public parking spaces, including disabled bays, have been kept with Pay & Display machines relocated to reduce inconvenience.

In keeping the minimum number of parking spaces as well as needing to accommodate essential contractor welfare facilities, a small section of Rifleman Field has had to be used during the duration of the development of the site.

This space will be securely fenced off, and the footprint minimised. Any areas of Rifleman Field affected by the works will be fully reinstated on completion and restored to a condition that is equal to or better than at present.

To ensure residents and stakeholders are kept informed and have the opportunity to engage with the development, Pembrokeshire Housing Services will be hosting a Community Engagement Drop-in Event on Thursday, February 19, 5-7pm, at The Green Room, Haverfordwest Leisure Centre.

Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Michelle Bateman, said: “I am pleased that we have finally reached the stage of commencing on site and look forward to seeing the development progressing.

“We have been able to progress with the development after receiving much-needed Welsh Government grant assistance for both the reablement and housing parts of the development.”

Last year, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members approved awarding a fixed contract of £13,560,454.21 to C Wynne & Son for the Haverfordia House works.

In 2019, Cabinet backed the acquisition of the freehold of Haverfordia House, with the overall intention to deliver a new housing and wellbeing facility following its demolition.

A report for members at last year’s June meeting said: “As well as providing long-term residents with a sense of place and community, it will provide short-term reablement users with the facilities and in-house support which they need to relearn the skills required to keep them safe and independent when they return home.”

It said there was a need for one-bed properties, and a review of sheltered over 55 accommodation was undertaken in 2018-19 which identified that existing sheltered housing stock is “no longer fit for purpose”.

A CALL to regularise the use of an annexe as a holiday let at the Pembrokeshire seaside village of Porthgain has been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Ryan Davies sought permission for a change of use of a previously occupied annexe at Gallery Cottage, Harbour Lights Gallery, Porthgain for use as a short-term holiday let.

An officer report recommending approval said: “This application seeks consent for a change of use from the existing C3 use of the annexe known as Gallery Cottage to allow both family and guest short stays. The annexe had originally been given consent for use purely incidental to the enjoyment of the main dwelling. However, the annexe is currently in use as a short-term holiday let.

“An application under Section 73 has previously been submitted to allow the subdivision of the property as a whole in order that the use of the annexe as a short-term holiday let could be regularised.

“However, given that this would have involved a fundamental change to the development previously granted, it was considered that a full application would be required.

“It is not considered that the change of use of the annexe to a short-term holiday let would result in harm being caused to the residential amenity of nearby properties, nor the special qualities of the National Park.

“Neither is it deemed that the residential amenities of the dwelling known as ‘Harbour Lights’ or the closest dwelling to the rear would be adversely affected since the unit is separated from the main dwelling by a frame shop, gallery space and an office/store room and on a different level to the nearest other dwelling.”

It added: “This application also seeks to regularise some external changes to the building and boundary treatments since the granting of [a 2021 application for the erection of extension and alterations to provide additional habitable accommodation to existing dwelling following demolition of gallery workshop / shed].

“It is deemed that since the overall form of the annexe remains largely the same, there would be no harm caused to the general character of the area, nor to the special qualities of the Park.”

The application was conditionally approved by park planners.