News

St Clears railway station project derailed

Published

3 years ago

October 26, 2023

Plans to reopen the long-defunct railway station have been thrown into disarray. The much-anticipated revival, backed by a £4.7 million commitment from the UK Government, has hit a financial brick wall, with the Welsh Government conceding its inability to match the necessary funds for the project’s completion.

The station, which closed in 1964, was slated for a grand revival, promising enhanced connectivity and economic opportunities for the region. Initial optimism had permeated the community when groundwork and surveying commenced in early 2022. However, the dream of a bustling transport hub now seems distant, as the project faces an unforeseen hurdle – a financial shortfall of nearly £6 million.

The crisis came to light during discussions in the Senedd this week. Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, revealed that the original cost estimate of £6 million had doubled due to complications arising from changes in signalling systems. “There’s an assumption in this scheme that the Welsh Government will match-fund and we were willing to match-fund at a lower cost but we simply do not have the funds to match-fund at the higher costs. That is the truth of the situation,” Waters somberly stated. His words laid bare the stark reality faced by the Welsh Government, caught between the community’s needs and financial constraints.

Conservative politicians for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Simon Hart MP and Samuel Kurtz MS, expressed their deep concern during a recent on-site inspection. Mr. Hart elucidated the financial intricacies, saying, “The UK Government promised nearly £5 million towards the project and the Welsh Government put in another £1.6 million – but the costs have doubled due to the price of changing the signalling and there is now a shortfall of nearly £6 million.” Their concern mirrored the sentiments of the local populace, disappointed by the project’s stagnation despite initial promises.

Further complicating matters is the Welsh Government’s approach, intertwining the railway station’s fate with a proposed new hospital in the vicinity. Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz voiced his disappointment, stating, “Despite this project being greenlit a few years ago, the Welsh Government have conflated the station build with the potential new hospital, seemingly making the station conditional on the hospital being built in St Clears. This means there has been no progress at all and, in this time, costs have risen.”

This revelation has left the residents of St Clears in a state of uncertainty, their hopes for improved transportation and economic growth hanging by a thread. The once-promising project now faces an ambiguous future, with the community eagerly awaiting decisive action from both the Welsh and UK Governments.

As the situation stands, the St Clears railway station remains a poignant symbol of unrealized potential, a reminder of the challenges faced by local communities in the pursuit of progress. The residents, alongside their representatives, remain steadfast in their desire for a resolution, hoping that the railway station will one day become more than just a fading memory, but a vibrant reality, breathing new life into their town.

An attempt to reopen the station in 1973 was made by five local authorities and organisations, together with the Department of the Environment, which jointly agreed to fund construction of a new station at a total cost of then of just £5,400 (or £25,000 in today’s money)

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

8 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

8 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.