News

Census shows Wales’ second homes ‘problem’ is not straightforward

Published

3 years ago

January 14, 2023

Jon Coles

RESULTS from the 2021 Census show Wales’s “second homes problem” is not as straightforward as activists believe.

In key tourism areas, many second homes are owned by those with home addresses in the same county or within Wales.

That undermines several assumptions underpinning the Welsh Government’s and nationalists’ rationale for targeting second homeowners with increased levels of Council Tax. It also suggests that their Welsh owners use properties registered as second homes as undeclared holiday-letting units.

Much of the heat in the second homes debate arises from fears that “incomers” (code for English residents) exploit low Welsh property prices to enrich themselves and price locals out of property markets. There are undoubtedly areas of Wales where that is the case – particularly in places like Abersoch in North Wales or, in Pembrokeshire, along the St David’s Peninsula and Tenby.

However, the census statistics show that 7.5% of homeowners in Gwynedd – where the campaign against second homes is hottest – own second homes. Not all of those second homes are necessarily in Gwynedd or Wales. However, home ownership patterns suggest that a significant proportion of those declaring a second home own them within a short distance from their primary residences.

The number of homeowners who declared second homes varies between Welsh counties in a semi-predictable pattern.

Census data produced by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows the following:

Carmarthenshire recorded a population exceeding 180,000. Around 6,100 declared a second home, 760 outside England and Wales.

Of around 73,000 individuals in Ceredigion, just under 6,500 declared they owned a second home, with 815 homes outside England and Wales.

In Pembrokeshire, the Census recorded a population of just under 119,000. Over 4,200 reported second home ownership, of which 745 are outside England and Wales.

Gwynedd showed that 7,800 declared a second ownership out of a population of 108,000. Over 1,100 of those second homes are outside England and Wales.

Converting those figures into percentages and ignoring those homes outside the UK shows that Ceredigion is a huge outlier in second home ownership. 7.8% of its population own second homes in England or Wales. The corresponding figure for Pembrokeshire is 3%, for Carmarthenshire, it’s 3%, and for Gwynedd, it’s a fraction above 6%.

Cardiff is the only Welsh Council area that exceeds Ceredigion for second home ownership in England and Wales, where 8% of the permanent population own such properties.

Comparing that data with Council Tax records shows the following:

Carmarthenshire reports 1,100 second homes, although this is likely an underestimate.

Ceredigion records 2,120 second homes or holiday lets.

Pembrokeshire records 3,800 second homes or holiday lets that are charged a premium and a further 422 which are not.

In Gwynedd, the figure is 3,750 second homes whose owners pay a premium and an additional 975 second homes not charged a premium.

The Isle of Anglesey has the largest percentage of second homes as a proportion of housing stock.

Comparing second home ownership rates and Council Tax data suggests a strong correlation between the number of people who own second homes and those who live within the local authorities covered above. In other words, those affected most by a second-home premium are likelier to live in Wales than come from outside its borders.

In Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire, the data suggests property flipping to avoid Council Tax is not solely the preserve of greedy incomers capitalising on lower property prices. The same data suggests that new legislation trying to register properties in the right category faces a major obstacle separating second homes owned by residents from those held by predatory speculators.

The Welsh Government places the onus for overseeing the administration of Council Tax premiums and the correct registration of holiday lets onto Welsh councils. How local authorities can fund those functions, let alone carry them out, without significant extra resources is open to question.

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

4 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Health

Medicine shortages now ‘most severe on record’, health leaders warn

Published

4 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PATIENTS are facing some of the worst medicine shortages ever seen in the UK, with pharmacists warning the situation now poses a serious risk to safety.

The National Pharmacy Association said shortages affecting commonly used medicines are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and causing increasing disruption for patients, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

The warning comes as Serious Shortage Protocols for Creon, used by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help digest food, have been in place since May 2024 and have now been extended until July 10, 2026.

HRT treatment Estradot has also been under a Serious Shortage Protocol since December 2024, with the current extension also running until July 10.

Patients travelling between pharmacies

A survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 98 per cent of pharmacies had encountered patients who had visited several pharmacies in one day to find a prescription.

It also found that 96 per cent of pharmacies believed the current situation posed a serious risk to patient safety, while 89 per cent said they had been unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day because of supply problems.

Some pharmacy teams have also faced anger and abuse from patients unable to obtain medication.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.

“These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced.

“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”

Calls for urgent taskforce

The NPA is calling on the government to convene an emergency taskforce involving manufacturers, wholesalers, clinicians and pharmacists.

It also wants changes to rules which currently stop pharmacists from making simple substitutions, such as changing a tablet to a capsule or a cream to an ointment, even where a safe alternative is available.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said medicine shortages were frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists, and added pressure to already stretched services.

She said the College supported pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions where a medicine is unavailable and a safe alternative exists.

She added: “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Pancreatic Cancer UK have also raised concerns about the impact of shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on people who rely on the medication to digest food, maintain weight and stay well enough for treatment.