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Criticism at large bonuses for Welsh Water bosses despite 100,000 ‘sewage events’

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THE BOSSES of Welsh Water have awarded themselves over £930,000 in bonuses over the past two years despite pumping out raw sewage into Welsh waterways 100,000 times last year, figures from the Welsh Liberal Democrats have revealed. The bosses of Severn Trent, which covers parts of mid and north Wales also awarded themselves bonuses of £5.56 million.

An analysis of company house records by the Welsh Liberal Democrats shows that executives at Dwy Cymru were paid £2.6 million in 2020 and 2021 including £931,000 in bonuses, benefits and incentives.

The eye-watering executive pay packets and company profits were made despite the 100,000 sewage dumping events taking place in 2020 and 2021 alone.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling on the Welsh Labour Government to ban new bonuses for Dwy Cymru executives until sewage offences are brought to an end. The party is also calling on Dwy Cymru and Severn Trent bosses to hand back last year’s bonuses and for the funds to be used to clean up rivers and lakes that have been polluted by sewage.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member Jane Dodds said: “Both Labour in Wales and the Conservatives in England are allowing water companies to pump raw sewage into our precious rivers and lakes while awarding themselves obscene bonuses.

“I’ve watched first-hand as my local river, the River Wye struggles to survive. It has been given just two years until it is declared biologically dead. We cannot put off action any longer.

“Welsh Liberal Democrat plans for a sewage bonus ban would stop water company execs being paid a penny in bonuses more until our waterways are protected from sewage dumps. These bosses should be made to hand back the millions of pounds already received in bonuses to help clean up their mess.

“It’s time to send a message to the Welsh Labour Government that they cannot let water company bosses get away with pumping raw sewage into our rivers and beaches any longer. Every vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats in May is a vote for a strong local champion who will stand up for their local community, clean rivers and countryside.”

Last Wednesday, 265 MP’s, including Preseli Pembrokeshire’s Stephen Crabb, voted with the Government to reject an attempt by the House of Lords to toughen up the approach to the discharge of sewage into rivers and the sea. 22 Conservative MP’s rebelled and voted against the Government.

The Lords Amendment 45 to the Environment Bill would have placed a legal duty on water companies in England and Wales “to make improvements to their sewerage systems and demonstrate progressive reductions in the harm caused by discharges of untreated sewage”.

Despite this Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb has expressed dismay at the lack of a plan from Welsh Government to tackle storm sewage discharges in Wales, saying it was their problem. Legally speaking, in Wales, these issues are the responsibility of Welsh Government.

In November, Mr Crabb wrote to the First Minister asking for an update on what steps are being taken to tackle the issue of raw sewage being pumped into Welsh waterways. The reply stated that ‘The Welsh Government is taking an approach to improving water quality which is best suited for the specific circumstances in Wales’. But no specific plans to achieve this have been released.

The plan launched by UK Government today for England will deliver the largest programme to tackle storm sewage discharges in history. It outlines a change in how water companies tackle the number of discharges of untreated sewage. Views are sought from the public on the targets as part of a collection of measures to be considered for the final Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, which will be published in September.

Stephen Crabb said: “The amount of sewage discharged by water companies into our rivers and beaches is unacceptable. I am very pleased to see that UK Government are leading by example through imposing strict limits on when water companies can make use of storm overflows. However, devolution means these changes have little impact in Wales.”

“This issue is especially important for us in Pembrokeshire. I have previously met with Natural Resources Wales and local Surfers Against Sewage representatives to discuss what action is required. It’s a complicated and very costly problem due to the sheer amount of ageing pipework involved. But the first step is getting a plan in place to reduce the discharges. We really do need to hear from Welsh Government now on how they will use their powers to fix the problem in Wales.”

Across Wales as a whole, raw sewage, including human waste, wet wipes and used condoms, was dumped into Welsh rivers more than 100,000 times last year, for almost 900,000 hours.

News

Local MP completes his first Haverfordwest Parkrun

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HAVERFORDWEST Parkrun number 312 took place on Saturday (Mar 15) at the Racecourse, with 80 participants crossing the finish line—among them, Henry Tufnell MP, who completed his first parkrun.

The MP recorded a time of 18 minutes and 14 seconds at the free weekly 5k community event. His wife, Poppy, also took part, volunteering for the first time as one of 15 helpers who ensure the event runs smoothly under the parkrun UK umbrella.

The event, which has now seen 24,536 finishers, takes place every Saturday at 9:00am. Organisers expressed gratitude to Haverfordwest Racecourse Public Park Trust for their continued support in hosting the event and to Haverfordwest Cricket Club for providing toilet facilities for participants each week.

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Why did Senedd vote against fair funding for Wales from HS2?

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THE SENEDD recently voted down a motion demanding fair funding for Wales from the High-Speed Rail 2 (HS2) project, reigniting concerns over Westminster’s treatment of Welsh interests in major infrastructure investments. The decision has sparked frustration across political lines, particularly given the widely accepted view that Wales has been unfairly denied financial compensation for a rail scheme that provides no direct benefit to the country.

A flawed classification

The root of the controversy lies in HS2’s classification as an ‘England and Wales’ project, despite not a single mile of track being laid in Wales. This designation, originally justified by the Conservative UK Government on the grounds that HS2 would benefit North Wales via a link to Crewe, has deprived Wales of consequential funding under the Barnett formula. However, the scrapping of the Birmingham-Manchester leg of HS2 by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak further undermined this justification, leaving many to question why Wales has continued to be excluded from receiving a fair share of funding.

While Scotland and Northern Ireland have received consequential funding from the HS2 project, Wales has been left without any direct financial benefit. Estimates suggest that Wales should have received around £4bn-5bn in consequential funding if HS2 had been correctly classified as an England-only project. However, recent recalculations by the Treasury have seen those figures fluctuate dramatically, with more recent estimates dropping to mere millions—a shift that suspiciously coincides with the arrival of a Labour government in Westminster.

Cross-party recognition of unfairness

There is a broad political consensus in the Senedd that Wales has been shortchanged. In 2022, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies broke ranks with his party to tell Boris Johnson that Wales was owed funding from HS2. Labour in Wales has long argued that the country has been systematically underfunded in rail infrastructure, and Plaid Cymru, alongside the Welsh Liberal Democrats, has also championed the cause.

Yet, despite this shared recognition of unfairness, when a motion was tabled in the Senedd this week demanding that HS2 be reclassified as an England-only project and that Wales receive its fair share of funding, both Labour and Conservative MSs voted against it.

Why did the motion fail?

The failure of the motion appears to be as much about political maneuvering as it is about policy disagreements.

The motion, proposed by Plaid Cymru, called for:

  • Updated figures on the rail enhancement funding shortfall in Wales.
  • A confirmation from the Welsh Government that HS2 should be reclassified as an England-only project.
  • A formal request to the UK Secretary of State for Transport to release the full consequential funding to Wales.

However, Labour and Conservative MSs rejected the motion, with Labour opting instead to delete its contents entirely and replace it with a statement highlighting the supposed benefits of having a Labour government in Westminster. Several Welsh Conservative MSs indicated that they might have supported the motion if Plaid Cymru had not included language that criticised the previous UK Government’s unfulfilled pledge to electrify the North Wales Main Line. This suggests that party rivalries overshadowed any genuine attempt to secure additional funding for Wales.

Apathy and absenteeism in the debate

The broader issue at play is the growing sense of disengagement from Senedd members during opposition debates. The HS2 debate saw conspicuously low attendance from both Conservative and Labour MSs. Onlookers noted that only two or three Conservatives were present, while Labour benches had around seven members in attendance. Such poor participation, despite the significance of the topic, raises concerns about whether some MSs are taking their duties seriously.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MS Jane Dodds described the debate as “depressing,” noting that while all parties seem to agree that Wales has been shortchanged, they were unable to unify on the issue.

Labour’s dilemma: Party loyalty vs Welsh interests

The shift in Labour’s stance on HS2 funding is notable. Before Keir Starmer’s election as Prime Minister, Welsh Labour had been vocal in demanding fair funding for Wales. However, since the new UK Government took office, Labour MSs in Cardiff Bay appear to have softened their approach, likely to avoid disrupting relations with their Westminster counterparts.

This reluctance to push for what is widely acknowledged as a fair claim for Wales has led to accusations that party loyalties are being prioritised over the national interest. Labour backbencher Alun Davies, one of the few to go on record about the issue, acknowledged the problem, stating that while HS2 funding is a historic and ongoing issue, the real solution lies in the full devolution of rail infrastructure.

The bigger picture: Structural inequality in UK funding

At its core, the HS2 funding dispute highlights a deeper issue: Wales remains the only UK nation without full control over its rail infrastructure funding. Without these powers, Wales is at the mercy of UK Government decisions that consistently prioritise England’s transport needs while leaving Welsh infrastructure underfunded.

Even if Plaid Cymru’s motion had passed, the UK Government would still have had to be pressured into acting. However, the rejection of the motion sends a worrying signal that the Welsh political establishment is not willing to present a united front on an issue of major financial importance.

In the end, the Senedd’s decision to reject the motion is a stark reminder of how political maneuvering can obstruct meaningful progress. While MSs from across the political spectrum claim to support fair funding for Wales, when the opportunity arose to take a stand, party interests and political calculations took precedence. The failure to secure HS2 consequential funding is not just a financial injustice—it is yet another example of how Wales continues to be placed at the back of the queue when it comes to Westminster’s spending priorities.

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Future of Wales’ last Greyhound track uncertain amid ban proposal

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THE VALLEY Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, the last remaining greyhound racing track in Wales, faces an uncertain future following the Welsh Government’s proposal to outlaw the sport.

Greyhound racing has been a part of Welsh sporting history for nearly a century, with the first races taking place on April 7, 1928. At its peak, the sport drew tens of thousands of spectators, with the Welsh White City Stadium in Cardiff once attracting crowds of 25,000. The Valley Greyhound Stadium itself opened in 1976 and has undergone significant renovations over the years, including the addition of an indoor lounge and licensed bar in 2011. The stadium was granted a licence by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) in August 2023, ensuring compliance with modern animal welfare and racing standards.

Welsh Government pushes for ban

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies announced on February 18, 2025, that the government intends to implement a ban on greyhound racing “as soon as practically possible.” He stated: “I believe that now is the right time to move to ban greyhound racing in Wales. We are proud to be the first nation in the UK to do this.”

The proposed ban follows increasing pressure from animal welfare groups and a government consultation that received 35,000 signatures supporting the end of the sport. Welfare concerns, including the risks of injury and post-racing care for retired dogs, have been key drivers behind the move.

Divided opinions on the proposal

The announcement has sparked widespread debate. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed the decision, arguing that it aligns with evidence-based policy on animal welfare. BVA President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux commented: “It is crucial that all animals in sporting activities are protected under the highest welfare standards.”

However, industry representatives and racing enthusiasts argue that the decision is not grounded in sufficient evidence. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has strongly opposed the move, with Chairman Jeremy Cooper stating: “This decision has been heavily influenced by animal rights activists. Our industry has made significant strides in ensuring the welfare of greyhounds.”

Essex businessman Dave Barclay, who has owned the Valley Greyhound Stadium since November 2021, is understood to be seeking legal advice in light of the government’s plans.

Impact on local economy and sport

If the ban is enacted, Wales would become the first UK nation to outlaw greyhound racing, leaving only 18 tracks operational in the rest of the country following the closure of Crayford Stadium in January. The closure of the Valley Greyhound Stadium is expected to result in the loss of approximately 30 jobs and leave a void in the local sporting community.

Former England and British and Irish Lions rugby player Mike Burton, now a greyhound trainer, expressed disappointment: “I come to Wales because they are good people, they are all grafters and love the sport. This is a huge loss.”

Uncertain future for greyhound racing in Wales

Despite the outcry from the industry, the Welsh Government remains committed to phasing out the sport. The exact timeline for implementation is unclear, but with the next Senedd election set for May 2026, the ban could be in place before then.

As the debate continues, stakeholders on both sides await further details on the government’s plan, including support measures for affected workers and provisions for the welfare of retired racing greyhounds. For now, the final bend looms for Wales’ last greyhound track, and its future remains uncertain.

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