News

Renewed urgency needed to bolster financial support for struggling water customers

Published

4 years ago

July 27, 2022

EFFORTS to bolster financial support for households in Wales struggling to afford their water bill must succeed amid growing pressure on customers’ finances, the Consumer Council for Water has said.

CCW has called for renewed urgency in putting in place a new universal water affordability scheme to provide fair, consistent and sustainable financial help for the 1.5 million households across Wales and England living in water poverty.

It comes as the water consumer watchdog’s annual Water Matters report reveals a steep rise among the unemployed, students and disabled customers, who say their water bill is unaffordable.

Just over a third of bill payers in Wales (36%) who took part in the survey said their finances had got worse during the past year, as the cost of living crisis continues to deepen and with the prospect of further inflation-busting energy bill rises looming this autumn.

CCW has been working with water companies in Wales as part of its independent review of water affordability to bring immediate relief to struggling households through a raft of changes. These include improving the promotion of and access to existing water company assistance schemes.

However, CCW continues to campaign for the introduction of a new universal water affordability scheme that would provide fair and consistent support for low-income households. The scheme would replace existing individual water company social tariffs, which remain hampered by funding constraints and variations in eligibility criteria.

Rhodri Williams, Wales Chair of CCW – the voice for water consumers, said: “Soaring living costs are putting an intolerable strain on some of the most vulnerable households in Wales and we’re determined to ensure water bills don’t add to people’s worries.”

“Water companies in Wales are already doing a huge amount to support those in crisis but we must seize the opportunity to introduce a new water affordability scheme that will provide meaningful and sustainable support for those that need it most.”

The Welsh and UK governments established a development group to explore the proposal of a new water affordability scheme. New legislation would be needed to implement the changes but CCW wants to see the scheme launched no later than April 2025.

CCW’s latest survey findings show about 1 in 8 households in Wales currently consider their water bill to be unaffordable. That rises to around 1 in 5 among the unemployed, students and households with a disabled occupant.

The report also shines a light on the wider views of customers about the services they receive from their water company.

It found that overall satisfaction with water services in Wales remains very high at 93 per cent, while 86 per cent of households were satisfied with their sewerage service.

Fewer customers than the previous year felt what they were being charged by their water company was fair – slipping from 72 per cent to 62 per cent. However this could be a reflection of the wider financial pressures customers are experiencing due to the cost of living crisis.

Health

New NHS regional body raises questions over future hospital services in Pembrokeshire

Published

8 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Health bosses promise better joined-up care — but patients will want assurances over Withybush and travel distances

PEMBROKESHIRE patients are likely to be asking what a major NHS shake-up means for the future of hospital services closer to home after a new regional health body formally took over planning across south west Wales.

Health chiefs this week confirmed that regional working has formally transferred from ARCH (A Regional Collaboration for Health) to the South West Wales Regional Joint Committee (RJC), bringing together Hywel Dda and Swansea Bay university health boards under a new leadership structure.

The move is being presented by NHS leaders as a way to improve coordination, reduce waiting times and strengthen specialist healthcare across the region.

Key programmes expected to continue under the new body include cancer care, stroke services, vascular treatment, orthopaedics, pathology and eye care.

But for many in Pembrokeshire, the announcement may trigger familiar concerns about whether “regional working” could eventually mean more services being delivered further east, requiring patients to travel longer distances to Carmarthen or Swansea.

Withybush Hospital remains fiercely valued by local communities, and previous changes to hospital services have often sparked strong public reaction.

For patients in more rural parts of Pembrokeshire — including St Davids, Fishguard, Newport, Crymych and Tenby — access to healthcare can already involve journeys of 40 to 60 miles or more for appointments and treatment.

While health officials insist the new structure is about improving care and making better use of expertise across the region, questions are likely to be asked locally over how Pembrokeshire’s voice will be represented in decisions affecting frontline services.

Among the issues patients may want clarified are whether services currently provided at Withybush could be affected, how travel difficulties for rural communities will be considered, and whether the new regional approach will improve care locally or lead to greater centralisation.

The Regional Joint Committee replaces ARCH, which since 2015 brought together Swansea Bay University Health Board, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Swansea University to support healthcare innovation and service planning.

Health leaders say the new committee will continue to support research, technology and partnership working, while involving patients and communities in shaping services.

But in here Pembrokeshire, many will this plan weaken Withybush, not strengthen it.

Crime

Man used vulnerable victim’s bank card at Milford Haven Tesco

Published

8 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Court Reporter

A 41-YEAR-OLD man has been given a suspended prison sentence after using a vulnerable man’s bank card at Tesco Extra in Milford Haven.

Mark Anthony Hambrook, of Keeston, admitted fraud by false representation when he appeared before magistrates.

The court heard that Hambrook dishonestly used the card on April 29, 2025, spending £220.

Magistrates said the offence crossed the custody threshold because it involved a breach of trust, a vulnerable victim, and was committed while Hambrook was on post-sentence supervision.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Hambrook was also ordered to pay £220 compensation, together with a £154 surcharge and £85 costs.

Local Government

Aberystwyth mayoral appointment reversed after councillor controversy

Published

8 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Town council cancels mayor-making ceremony as incumbent asked to remain in post

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN COUNCIL has dramatically reversed its decision over who will serve as mayor for the coming year, following controversy surrounding councillor Dylan Lewis-Rowlands.

At an extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday evening, councillors agreed that current mayor Cllr Emlyn Jones should remain in post for a second term, replacing an earlier decision that had seen Cllr Lewis-Rowlands selected for the role.

The council confirmed Cllr Jones will formally continue as Mayor of Aberystwyth from Monday (May 18).

In a statement, the authority said: “Following an extraordinary meeting of the Council, Cllr Emlyn Jones has been appointed as Mayor elect for the 2026/27 municipal year and is due to be appointed as Mayor of Aberystwyth, commencing his second term of office from Monday 18 May 2026.

“In light of these circumstances, the council has decided that the Mayor Making Ceremony scheduled to take place on Friday 15 May will no longer go ahead.”

The reversal follows recent media reports concerning historic messages sent by Cllr Lewis-Rowlands to a teenage student, which prompted criticism and renewed scrutiny over his suitability for ceremonial office.

The messages, first reported by local media, were said to contain sexually suggestive content. The matter reportedly led to internal disciplinary action by the Labour Party, which issued a formal warning after reviewing complaints.

Public concern over the appointment had grown in recent weeks, with a protest reportedly planned ahead of the mayor-making ceremony. Those plans are understood to have been withdrawn following the council’s decision to retain the existing mayor.

Cllr Lewis-Rowlands has previously apologised for the messages, describing them as “stupid and embarrassing” and saying he regretted the upset caused.

He has maintained that multiple complaints and investigations into the matter were either dismissed or not upheld, with one formal warning issued by the Labour Party relating to a specific allegation.

The move leaves Cllr Emlyn Jones set to continue in office while questions remain over how the original mayoral appointment was allowed to proceed in the first place.

The controversy has also renewed debate over the standards expected of civic leaders in Aberystwyth, particularly in ceremonial roles such as mayor, where office holders are expected to act as ambassadors for the town and represent the wider community.