News
Wales aims to meet 100% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2035

CLIMATE Change Minister Julie James has this week (Tuesday, January 24) published a consultation on ‘ambitious but credible’ targets for Wales to meet 100% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2035.
Wales is already making good progress on previous targets set in 2017 and, already, generates 55% of our electricity from renewables.
Today, the Minister proposed Wales sets a target for at least 1.5 GigaWatt of renewable energy capacity to be locally owned by 2035, excluding heat pumps.
There is also a target for 5.5 GigaWatt of renewable energy capacity to be produced by heat pumps by 2035 but this is subject to scaled up support from the UK Government and reductions in the cost of technology.
Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “Our previous targets signalled our high ambitions for renewable energy and this Government’s desire to move away from a use of, and reliance on, fossil fuels.
“However, the climate crisis shows that we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Providing new targets compels us to stride towards Net Zero as quickly as we realistically can.
“The evidence is clear that towards the end of this decade we will need to rapidly ramp up our generation of electricity to meet our energy needs.
“The renewable energy target proposals that we are consulting on today are ambitious, but credible.
“I am very pleased that they propose a pathway for us to meet the equivalent of 100% of our annual electricity consumption from renewable electricity by 2035, and to continue to keep pace with consumption thereafter.”
The Minister stressed that Wales’ infrastructure and supply chain would be key to hitting these revised targets and went on to reveal details of £1m funding to explore the potential of offshore wind.
This grant will be match funded by Associated British Ports for preparatory work to enable future floating offshore wind projects to deploy from Wales.
The Minister added: “This investment signals, to both the industry and the UK Government, Welsh Government’s commitment to the floating wind sector. It also provides important funding for the infrastructure that we will need to deliver floating wind to meet our ambitions.
“Of course, this is not the end of our support, and we will continue to work closely with Port Talbot, Milford Haven Port Authority and colleagues in the Celtic Sea Alliance to maximise the benefits from floating wind to Wales.”
Andrew Harston, Regional Director, Wales & Short Sea Ports added: “Associated British Ports warmly welcomes this early-stage support from Welsh Government to help kick start the development of a major green energy hub at Port Talbot. This support is key to the construction of transformational infrastructure, which will enable the manufacturing, integration and assembly of floating offshore wind components at Port Talbot.
“The roll-out of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for South Wales to lead a global market and will play a major role in contributing to Wales and the UK’s net zero targets. By doing so it will support and create thousands of long-term, high-quality jobs.
“As the gateway to the Celtic Sea, and with unique capabilities and natural advantages, this support will help position Port Talbot at the heart of these emerging green technologies and industrial decarbonisation.”
Crime
Police launch appeal following theft of vintage military Land Rover

POLICE in west Wales have launched an investigation after a vintage military Land Rover was reported stolen from a property in Ceredigion.
The green soft top Land Rover was reported stolen from an address in Tregaron between 9.30pm on Monday, September 18 and 9am the following morning, September 19.
The vehicle is right-hand drive and it had a tyre on the bonnet. However officers are stating that this may have been removed.
The vehicle may have been driven out of Ceredigion and into neighbouring counties of Carmarthenshire or Pembrokeshire, police said.
As a result, Dyfed-Powys Police is appealing to anyone who may have a doorbell camera or dashcam footage to contact them on 101, https://orlo.uk/MOaRJ or [email protected] quoting reference 23000903316.
Alternatively, report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
News
Ceredigion and north Pembrokeshire Westminster hopefuls selected

Early stages of the battle for the new Westminster seat of Ceredigion Preseli have started with the current Ceredigion MP launching his campaign in north Pembrokeshire.
Ben Lake – who has represented Ceredigion in Westminster since 2017 – kicked off his campaign at Crymych Rugby Club recently, outlining his priorities as Plaid Cymru’s candidate.
The new Ceredigion Preseli constituency joins parts of north Pembrokeshire – including Crymych and Maenclochog – with Ceredigion.
The new constituency takes effect automatically from the next scheduled General Election, following a Westminster vote to cut the number of Welsh MPs from 40 to 32.
After the launch, Ben Lake said: “My priorities were I to be elected as the Member of Parliament for Ceredigion Preseli are clear – a fair deal for rural communities, investment in infrastructure and increased funding for public services, and a thriving, sustainable economy that has the needs of communities rather than those of large corporations as its focus.
“I look forward to getting to know more people and communities across north Pembrokeshire over the next few months whilst also continuing to serve the communities of Ceredigion to the best of my ability.”
Liberal Democrat Mark Williams, formerly the MP for Ceredigion from 2005- 2017, is standing for his party in the same seat.
He said: “I too am looking forward to putting forward my Party’s message on the doorsteps of Preseli, and across Ceredigion, not least our measures to help people with the cost-of-living crisis, and promote the agricultural sector. There is a battle for hearts and minds across our new constituency, and I believe I have the energy and experience to win it.”
Welsh Labour recently selected Jackie Jones – who has been contacted for a statement- for Ceredigion Preseli.
As part of the constituency changes, other parts of north Pembrokeshire – including St Davids – are joining the new Mid and South Pembrokeshire constituency, which will replace parts of the current Carmarthen West and Pembrokeshire South.
Welsh Conservatives, who are in the unusual situation of having two sitting MPs in seats that are to disappear, have yet to make any selections for the new constituencies.
They currently have MPs Simon Hart and Stephen Crabb sitting – respectively – in the current constituency seats of Pembrokeshire South and Carmarthen West, and Preseli (Pembrokeshire).


News
Haverfordwest old library plans expected to be approved

PLANS by housing association group Ateb to move to Haverfordwest’s former library are expected to be approved despite concerns about a potential loss of parking and the relocation of an important piece of artwork.
The former library building in the town’s Dew Street has not been used since 2012, a replacement library is now sited at the former riverside market.
In an application before the October meeting of Pembrokeshire County council’s planning committee, W Lloyd Davies of Ateb Group seeks permission for a change of use of the 1960s building – designed by Pembrokeshire County Architect Gilbert Ray – to provide office accommodation, a communal cafe and ancillary community uses.
The application, which includes lettable office space, conference facilities and meeting rooms, is recommended for approval.
If permission is granted, Ateb plans to relocate the company’s headquarters from its current premises at Meyler House, St Thomas’ Green, Haverfordwest.
A report for planners says the applicant owns and controls an existing car park nearby with an indicated capacity of 126 spaces, the former library and Dew Street public car parks which are now operated as ‘pay & display’ parking.
Haverfordwest Town Council and residents have expressed concerns about the impact of development on existing parking provision.
The Dew Street Campaign, a local residents group, has submitted representations calculating a ‘worst case’ scenario suggesting that 70 parking spaces would be required to serve the development. The group has also suggested that there is potential for loss of the car parking provision to any housing development as it is controlled by the applicant.
The Head of Infrastructure – Highways indicates that it is likely that there is sufficient parking adjacent to the site to accommodate all of the proposed uses, the report says.
However, it is recommended that 27 spaces in addition to five proposed in the application are secured in a suitable layout to serve the development.
It is also recommended that efforts should be made to encourage active and sustainable travel modes to and from the proposed development in order to minimise the amount of personal vehicle use.
“The concerns of the Dew Street Campaign vis-à-vis potential housing development on the existing car parks is noted,” the report states.
“However, there are presently no applications for such development and in any event, the loss of available car parking provision would be a material consideration in the determination of any application should an application come forward.”
Another concern raised about the development is cultural.
The library building features a first-floor sculpture by David Tinker, an important and influential modernist sculptor and painter, designed to capture the light falling on the building, but it is proposed to move it where it will be less apparent to the public.
Officers are recommending a condition that requires a detailed method statement for the relocation of the Tinker sculpture.
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