News
Where’s Wally: Has Tenby Walrus disappeared for a quiet life?

TENBY’S most famous visitor, Wally The Walrus, has disappeared after being repeatedly disturbed by members of the public getting too close to him on the slipway to Tenby’s Lifeboat Station.
Last spotted at around 7am on Bank Holiday Monday, the Arctic Walrus was the subject of intense interest for many people, local and visitor alike.
Sadly, neither locals nor visitors heeded advice given by experts and continually got too close to the Walrus who, it seems, got ‘spooked’ and has departed our shores for good.
A statement issued at the weekend by British Divers Marine Life Rescue, Tenby harbour master Chris Salisbury, the RSPCA, Tenby lifeboat coxswain Phil John, CSIP Marine Environmental Rescue, Welsh Marine Life Rescue, and Natural Resources Wales, warned us all that it was in Wally’s “best interests to be left alone as much as possible” and implored people to “avoid the temptation to get near to him and disturb him”.
The joint statement they released also mentioned that they were “concerned” to hear that members of the public had “tried to get close to him by using personal watercraft or paddle and surfboards”.
Unable to help themselves, people were repeatedly seen ignoring advice and getting far too close to him, something that Terry Leadbetter, co-ordinator at Welsh Marine Life Rescue believes Wally would’ve been aware of.
“There’s been all sorts of boats, watercraft, jet-skis, paddleboards, canoes, dinghies, yachts, all sailing across the areas where he normally feeds.” Said Terry “I believe the harbour master put signs up saying to avoid that particular area.
“People have been travelling across the border from places like Leeds and Essex just to see him.
“He was last seen at 7am on Monday morning at the lifeboat station and has not been seen since. There have been boats trying to find him but where he’s gone, we don’t know.
“The poor thing has had eyes on him the whole time and he’s had a lot of disturbance while he’s been there.
“His only haul out was the lifeboat station. They go out and feed and then come in and try to sleep but if they can’t get sleep then that to me is a disturbance.
“Now he’s gone and whether it’s because he’s exhausted his food supply, I don’t know. He’s only about half his weight at about 500kg so he’s probably going to grow to around 1,200kg.”
Whatever you believe, all we know is that Wally hasn’t been seen in 3 days now and even boats that have gone out looking for him haven’t found a sign of the wandering Walrus who was also seen off the coast of Kerry in the Republic of Ireland before taking up residency at Tenby.
News
Independent Alun Wills wins Prendergast by-election by 39 votes

HAVERFORDWEST’S Prendergast ward has a new county councillor after Independent candidate Alun Wills emerged victorious in a closely contested six-way by-election.
Wills secured the seat with 199 votes (31.6%), defeating five other candidates: Kaleb Jenkins (Welsh Liberal Democrats, 160 votes), Mike Mathias (Welsh Conservative Party, 136 votes), Scott Thorley (Reform UK, 71 votes), Alison Tudor (Welsh Labour, 57 votes), and James Henry Purchase (Wales Green Party, 8 votes).
The by-election, held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, was triggered by the resignation of former Conservative councillor Andrew Edwards. Edwards stepped down in December 2024 following a controversial tenure marred by allegations of racism. In 2023, he faced public backlash after reportedly stating that “all white men should have black slaves.” Although he withdrew from the Conservative group and served as an independent councillor following the scandal, he ultimately resigned from his role, citing family reasons.
The Herald at the time questioned if the recording of him saying those words was created by using Artificial Intelligence.
A shift in representation

Edwards originally won the Prendergast seat for the Conservatives in 2022, securing a decisive victory over Labour. However, his departure and the controversy surrounding his comments resulted in a highly competitive race that ultimately saw the Conservatives lose their grip on the ward.
Wills’ victory as an independent marks a significant political shift, reflecting voter dissatisfaction and a changing political landscape in Haverfordwest.
Priorities for the new councillor
Speaking after his win, Wills vowed to “insist on council tax value for money” and pledged to do his “utmost to revive the fortunes of Haverfordwest town centre.”
He will take office at a time when Haverfordwest’s regeneration remains a key concern for residents. Major projects such as the Western Quayside redevelopment and the proposed Public Transport Interchange are already in motion, with the aim of boosting the local economy and improving connectivity.
Additionally, Wills is expected to focus on tackling rising council tax costs, an issue that has sparked growing frustration among residents.
With an independent now representing the ward, the political landscape in Pembrokeshire continues to evolve. The question remains whether this result signals a broader trend of voters shifting away from traditional party politics.
News
Crown Estate profits soar – but Wales sees little return, says MP

THE LAND and sea assets in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion are amongst the most lucrative of those owned by the Crown Estate.
In 2023, they helped accumulate a Welsh financial handover totalling £853m, resulting in a record net profit to the UK public finance coffers of £1.1billion. This represented a marked increase in Wales’ contribution, compared to its 2007 asset value of just £21.1m.
The escalation is being driven by the rising demand for renewable energy projects, and with the offshore investments that are currently taking place in seabed of south Pembrokeshire, Wales’ contribution to the Crown Estate looks set to soar even further
But how much of this contribution finds its way back to Wales? The answer, sadly, appears scant.
Instead of finding their way back to the Welsh public purse, profits generated from Wales’ green wealth are being distributed to the HM Treasury and the monarch’s Sovereign Grant, which funds a handful of senior members of the Royal family. In 2023-24, the sovereign grant amounted to £86.3m.
Now, in a bid to ensure greater transparency and a fairer financial management, pressure is being put on the Government to allow the Crown Estate to be devolved to Wales, putting it on equal footing with Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“The value of the Crown Estate in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion is hugely significant,” commented Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion and Preseli.
“The Crown Estate owns 65% of Wales’s foreshore and riverbeds, and more than 50,000 acres of land. And a considerable amount of this lies in the foreshores around south Pembrokeshire and the more rural areas of Ceredigion.
“Welsh County Councils, including Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, are having to make payments to the Crown in leasing fees and in 2023, this sum was nearly £300.000 Yet this is happening at a time when local services in Wales are under severe pressure. It doesn’t strike me as fair that we have these significant natural assets which are generating significant amounts of profit, yet they’re not returning back to Wales.
“The UK government says it’s spending money here, but when it comes to the provision of health, education and social services, Wales only gets a Barnett formula of roughly just under 5%.”
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In 2024, Scotland, which devolved from the Crown Estate in 2017, saw more than £100m enter its coffers as a result of its offshore energy.
“And the potential for Wales is just as significant,” said Ben Lake. “Engineers and experts are all pointing to the fact that the regeneration of renewable energy in Wales is going to be big and over the next ten years, the waters around Wales are going to see some of the biggest developments in offshore wind. But unless the Crown Estate is devolved, Wales is going to be severely shortchanged.”
The Crown Estate owns more than £603m of land in Wales which includes:
65% of Wales’ coast and riverbeds;
- The seabed which extends up to 12 miles out to sea;
- 50,000 acres of land;
- 250,000 acres of mineral deposits and
- All gold and silver deposits.
Last week Westminster blocked the transfer of Crown Estate management to the Welsh Government by voting down an amendment tabled by Plaid Cymru to the Crown Estate Bill.
The Liberal Democrats also tabled an amendment calling for Crown Estate assets to be handed to Wales. But both amendments were blocked by Labour MPs.
The stance contradicted recent comments from Wales’ First Minister, Baroness Eluned Morgan, who said she was “fighting very hard” for more control.
The Bill is expected to return to the House of Commons later this month for further debate and a bid to enforce a vote on the issue,
“Even if we’re able to get a small percentage of what Scotland is generating, Wales will be able to start investing in its public services given the acute pressures that are currently being placed on the NHS and the county councils,” concluded Ben Lake. “This will go a long way to alleviate the pressures they’re under.
“And further down the line, it’s possible that Wales could then start considering its own Wealth Fund, similar to what has happened in Norway as a result of its oil and gas licensing. Through its profits and interest, the Norwegian Wealth Fund has become one of the largest in the world. In 2024 it generated $220 billion to subsidise a significant amount into public services
“And Wales is no different.
“It’s now time for the money that’s being generated from Wales’ natural assets to come back for the benefit of the people who live here.”
News
Wales set to ban supermarket junk food promotions

New rules could reshape the way snacks are sold
SHOPPERS in Wales may soon find fewer tempting offers on unhealthy snacks as the Welsh government plans to ban the promotion of junk food in supermarkets.
Under the proposed regulations, retailers with 50 or more employees will be prohibited from placing sugary, salty, and fatty foods near tills, store entrances, or at the end of aisles. Similar restrictions will apply online, preventing junk food promotions from appearing on homepage banners, category pages, or checkout screens.
The crackdown, which could come into effect in March 2026 if approved by the Senedd next month, would also spell the end for buy-one-get-one-free deals and free refills on sugary drinks.
Health Secretary Jeremy Miles defended the measures, highlighting concerns about childhood obesity. “With nearly a quarter of children in Wales overweight or obese by the time they start school, we must take action to help people make healthier choices,” he said.
Retailers who fail to comply with the new rules could face fines of up to £2,500.
Industry concerns
The proposed legislation is similar to rules introduced in England in 2022 and follows a consultation launched last year. However, the Welsh Retail Consortium has raised concerns, particularly over limits on promotional pricing, arguing that price competition benefits customers.
“Restricting meal deal offers and category promotions could impact affordability for consumers,” a spokesperson warned.
Some smaller businesses, such as independent sweet shops and specialist chocolatiers, will be exempt from the restrictions.
The Welsh government says the new rules are designed to curb impulse buying of unhealthy foods and encourage better dietary habits across the nation. However, with opposition from some in the retail sector, the debate over balancing public health and consumer choice is set to continue.
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