News
People with pre-payment meters or not connected to mains gas to get help
SOME of the most vulnerable households in Wales will receive further help with soaring energy bills, as Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt launched a £4m fuel voucher scheme.
The extra help will be targeted towards people with pre-payment meters and households not connected to mains gas.
It comes as figures show people on pre-payment meters in North Wales have been the hardest hit in the UK by rising standing charges, with costs increasing by 102%.
Standing charges for people on pre-payment meters in South Wales have risen by 94% – the fourth highest in Britain.
The £4m of new funding will enable the Fuel Bank Foundation to introduce a national voucher scheme, providing direct support to eligible households on prepayment meters and those not connected to the mains gas network.
Nearly 120,000 people on prepayment meters will be eligible for approximately 49,000 vouchers to support them during the cost-of-living crisis.
Vouchers will range from £30 in summer months to £49 in winter, with households receiving up to three vouchers over a six-month period.
The £4m will also include a Heat Fund, which will provide direct support to eligible households living off the gas grid, which are reliant on heating oil and liquid gas. This will help an estimated 2,000 households across Wales.
Speaking as she visited a foodbank in Wrexham today (10 June) to see the support available to people trying to balance rising energy costs with putting food on the table, Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt said:
“The cost-of-living crisis is having a devastating impact on people in Wales.
“Today, nearly half of all households in Wales are at risk of falling into fuel poverty. This is deeply shocking.
“We are investing an extra £4m in the Fuel Bank Foundation to roll-out a national scheme that covers the whole of Wales and supports people most in need.
“This extra help is for people on pre-payment meters and for those who are not on mains gas or electricity – both ignored by the Chancellor in his latest package.”
The extra funding and target support comes as households across Wales are struggling to pay higher energy bills, exacerbated by the increase in the domestic energy cap rise in April. People with prepayment meters are the most susceptible to rising costs and increased standing charges.
Those on default tariffs paying by direct debit have seen a typical average household energy bill increase by £693 a year, while people on prepayment meters have been hardest hit, with increases of £708 a year.
Households not connected to the mains gas network are also suffering from rising fuel costs and being forced into fuel poverty, with approximately one in 10 households reliant on heating oil in Wales.
Many have reported the cost of heating oil has more than doubled over the past two months. A delivery of 500 litres normally costing approximately £340 can in some regions now cost upwards of £750.
Matthew Cole, head of Fuel Bank Foundation, said: “We are extremely grateful for the support from the Welsh Government, particularly at a time when people are really struggling to cope financially with the cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy bills.
“The funding will enable the Fuel Bank Foundation to continue providing vital services to the most vulnerable in society, to ensure they don’t go cold or hungry this winter, when they can’t afford to top up their prepayment gas and/or electricity meter. This support will also extend to households who live off the gas grid and rely on solid fuels such as oil, wood or coal to heat and power their homes.
“Furthermore, it will enable us to expand our operations and capabilities across Wales, with a Fuel Bank centre in every local authority, which will be up and running in time for autumn, when the weather starts to turn colder.”
Community
New town map unveiled in Fishguard
A NEW town map has been installed in the heart of Fishguard to help residents and visitors discover more of what the area has to offer.
The map, created by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick’s in-house graphic designer, has been placed on the Abergwaun Hotel tunnel, near Offshore Surfwear’s new shop.
The group said it was “incredibly proud” of the finished result and thanked the building owner for allowing the map to be installed on the premises.
Visit Fishguard & Goodwick is now hoping to create a similar map for Goodwick and is asking for help from a centrally located building owner who may be willing to host it.
Anyone who can help, or knows of a suitable location, is being asked to get in touch with Visit Fishguard & Goodwick.
Community
Tenby Summer Spectacular cancelled amid council row over harbour access
Organisers say popular charity events cannot safely go ahead without clear powers to control crowds
TENBY ROUND TABLE has announced that this summer’s Tenby Summer Spectacular events have been cancelled until further notice amid a dispute with Pembrokeshire County Council over crowd control at the harbour.
The events, which were due to take place on Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 30, have been a major feature of Tenby’s summer calendar for decades, drawing large crowds to the harbour for entertainment, food, drink and fireworks.
In a statement, Tenby Round Table said the decision had been made “with enormous sadness” and claimed it had been forced on organisers because of unresolved issues over the safe management of pedestrian access.
The organisation said it needed the council’s Public Realm department to use statutory powers to temporarily restrict pedestrian access through the event area when capacity is reached.
Organisers said the matter had first been raised with the council in September 2025 and again formally in writing in May 2026.
They said volunteers had attended meetings, commissioned professional health and safety consultants and worked on Event Management Plans, but claimed the council had still not provided a clear answer.
Tenby Round Table said: “PCC’s Public Realm department has had nine months to answer one question on safe and controlled access to the harbour. It has not done so.”
The group also alleged that recent written responses from the council contained factual inaccuracies and misleading statements about the relevant legislation.
It added that the council’s legal advice was understood to be provisional and still under internal review.
The cancellation is currently described as provisional, with organisers giving the council a final deadline of June 25 to provide what they describe as a clear, accurate and legally grounded answer.
Tenby Round Table said that if this is provided, it will do everything possible to reinstate the events.
The group said the Summer Spectacular had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, sports teams, community groups and worthy individuals since it began.
It said the cancellation would be a devastating blow to those who benefit from the funds raised.
The statement added that organisers are still working with Dyfed-Powys Police and other relevant authorities ahead of a council licensing committee meeting in July, which is expected to consider whether the event licence should be renewed, amended or withdrawn.
The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.

Charity
Sea shanties and street food bring crowds to Cardigan RNLI festival
SUNSHINE, sea shanties and street food helped draw hundreds of visitors to Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station on Saturday (Jun 20).
The station’s Sea Shanty and Street Food Festival brought together families, supporters and visitors from across the region for a day of maritime music, food and community spirit.
Traditional sea shanty groups performed throughout the event, with songs echoing around the lifeboat station, while street food vendors served a range of refreshments.
The event also gave visitors the chance to learn more about the lifesaving work carried out by the RNLI and its volunteer crews.
Cardigan RNLI thanked the performers, food vendors, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who helped make the day a success.
Bruce Harris, Launch Authority and event organiser, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to support the station, enjoy the entertainment, and celebrate our maritime heritage.
“The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, and contributed to such a memorable event.”
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.
The charity operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.
Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 146,700 lives.
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