LOCAL businesses from across Pembrokeshire have warned that sharp increases in business rates could lead to redundancies and closures, following a public meeting held in Saundersfoot on Monday (Dec 15).

The meeting, held at the Hean Castle venue, brought together traders from retail, hospitality, professional services and the visitor economy to raise concerns about the impact of the latest business rates revaluation, which will take effect from April 2026.

Among those attending were Samuel Kurtz MS, Conservative Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, and Pembrokeshire County Councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton.

Businesses described sudden and significant increases in rateable values, with some reporting rises of more than 100%, despite no expansion in premises or improvement in trading conditions.

Evidence presented to the meeting highlighted concerns first identified by Pembrokeshire County Councillor Huw Murphy, who has been raising the issue locally and working with businesses, The Herald and S4C to bring the scale of the increases to public attention.

Cllr Murphy was unable to attend the Saundersfoot meeting, but details were provided on his behalf by Lee Bridges, drawing on information from businesses in the Newport & District Chamber of Trade area and Dinas Cross.

Figures relating to twenty local businesses showed that eighteen are facing increases in their rateable values, with one business hit by a 140% rise from April 2026. The average increase across the group was 36%, pushing the combined rateable value from £499,000 to £679,000 — an additional £180,000 burden due to take effect within four months.

One affected business has already warned that staff redundancies will be “unavoidable” if the increases go ahead.

Attendees criticised the Welsh Government’s transitional relief arrangements, describing them as inadequate and warning that they fall short of the support currently available to parts of the tourism and hospitality sector.

Tourism and hospitality account for an estimated 23% of Pembrokeshire’s economy, and those present warned that unchecked increases could have a serious impact on employment in coastal communities dependent on visitor trade.

The 2026 revaluation is based on rental values from April 2024 and has sparked concern across the county, with reports elsewhere in Pembrokeshire of increases of up to 400%.

Following the meeting, Mr Kurtz confirmed that he has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford MS, warning that current relief measures are insufficient and risk “pushing otherwise viable businesses over a cliff edge”.

He said businesses are already making decisions to close as a direct result of the projected increases and called for urgent action to protect jobs and local economies.

Businesses are being urged to check their new rateable values on the Valuation Office Agency website and to seek advice or contact their local representatives if they believe the figures are inaccurate or unsustainable.

Image caption:

Business rates meeting: Traders gather in Saundersfoot to raise concerns over impending increases, with Samuel Kurtz MS addressing attendees (Pic: Sam Kurtz MS)

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of five historic sexual offences dating back to the mid-1980s.

Martin Howell, aged 54, of Trafalgar Road, Milford Haven, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 10).

The court heard that Howell faces a total of five charges, all relating to alleged offences against a girl under the age of 16.

They include multiple counts of indecent assault on a girl under sixteen, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956, as well as charges of inciting a girl under fourteen to commit an act of gross indecency, contrary to the Indecency with Children Act 1960.

All of the alleged offences are said to have taken place on Wednesday, March 27, 1985.

The case is unusual in that the defendant himself was a child at the time of the alleged offences. He was 13 years old, one day short of his 14th birthday.

No pleas were entered during the magistrates’ court hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegations and the nature of the charges, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial.

Howell was granted conditional bail.

The case will now proceed at the Crown Court at a later date.

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have launched a winter policing operation aimed at tackling town centre crime, antisocial behaviour and dangerous driving during the festive period.

The force is taking part in the Home Office’s Winter of Action campaign, with officers concentrating on crime “hotspots” across Dyfed, Powys and West Wales in the run-up to Christmas and New Year.

Police say the focus will be on reducing shoplifting, street crime and antisocial behaviour, alongside increased patrols linked to the night-time economy. The operation also includes measures targeting violence against women and girls, as well as alcohol-related disorder.

The winter campaign is being supported by Operation Ivydene, a dedicated antisocial behaviour initiative funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Dyfed-Powys Police received almost £500,000 in 2024 to deliver additional patrols and targeted responses in identified problem areas.

According to the force, Operation Ivydene delivered more than 12,000 hours of patrols during its first year, with reported antisocial behaviour falling by around 40% in hotspot locations.

The second year of the operation began this autumn. Inspector Darren Crockford said lessons learned during the first phase were now being used to broaden the focus.

He said: “Whilst we are still working towards the original aim of reducing antisocial behaviour, there is now an added emphasis on reducing serious violent crime, knife crime and retail crime.

“So far, over 2,050 hours of patrols have taken place across hotspot areas, with more than 70% of those patrols involving engagement with local businesses, charities and third-sector organisations.”

Operation Ivydene is currently active in a number of towns, including Haverfordwest, Milford Haven and Pembroke in Pembrokeshire, along with Ammanford, Llanelli and Carmarthen in Carmarthenshire, Aberystwyth and Lampeter in Ceredigion, and Newtown and Llandrindod Wells in Powys.

Community engagement forms a key part of the operation. Police say more than 6,300 surveys were carried out during the first year of Operation Ivydene to gather feedback from residents and businesses in hotspot areas.

Inspector Crockford added that the responses had helped officers better understand local concerns and shape patrol activity.

Alongside town centre policing, Roads Policing Units are also increasing patrols over the festive period, with a focus on drink and drug driving.

Police said officers would also be targeting the so-called “Fatal Five” offences – speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, driving without due care, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – which are the most common causes of fatal and serious collisions.

Dyfed-Powys Police covers more than 8,500 miles of road across the force area. Officers are urging drivers not to feel pressured into risky decisions and to take responsibility for staying safe behind the wheel.

Updates on the winter operation are being shared through Dyfed-Powys Police social media channels and the Dyfed-Powys Connects messaging service.