London airport shutdown sparks flight disruption, missed connections, and infrastructure review

THE UK’S busiest airport, London Heathrow, was forced to close after a major power failure on Thursday night (Mar 20), causing widespread flight cancellations and severe travel disruption for Welsh passengers and businesses.

A fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, West London, knocked out both primary and backup electricity supplies to the airport, which handles around 1,300 flights per day. The disruption is expected to last for several days, with no confirmed timeline for a full reopening.

Welsh passengers stranded or delayed

While Heathrow is not served directly by flights from Cardiff or other Welsh airports, thousands of Welsh residents rely on the airport for long-haul travel, including business trips, holidays, and family connections.

Passengers from Wales travelling via train or coach to Heathrow faced cancelled flights and diversions across the UK and Europe. Some international flights destined for Heathrow were rerouted to Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, and European airports including Brussels and Paris.

Several travellers from West Wales told The Herald they were left “stranded” at Reading and Paddington after trains were cancelled or redirected. One passenger, travelling from Carmarthen to catch a connecting flight to Canada, said they were now facing a 48-hour delay and an unexpected overnight stay in London.

Airport infrastructure questioned

The fire began at around 11:00pm on Thursday night and quickly spread through a transformer containing 25,000 litres of cooling oil. Firefighters remained at the scene on Friday afternoon, with 10% of the blaze still active.

Heathrow’s backup power systems failed to restore full operations. A spokesperson for the airport said the emergency generators are designed to maintain safety systems only, not to power the entire site.

The failure has prompted serious questions over the resilience of key national infrastructure.

Professor Tim Green, an electrical engineering expert at Imperial College London, said: “It is highly unusual for both primary and backup systems to fail at an airport of this size.”

Disruption to business and freight

The closure has also impacted Welsh businesses that rely on air freight through Heathrow, including medical suppliers and exporters of high-value goods.

Freight forwarding firms based in Deeside, Swansea, and Newport said delays in shipments could affect supply chains for days. Some perishable cargo has already been rerouted through East Midlands Airport and Birmingham.

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, estimated that the closure could be costing the travel industry over £20 million a day. “This sort of failure should never happen at a strategic UK transport hub,” he said.

Government and Ofgem announce reviews

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that both the main and reserve power supplies failed. A third transformer is being brought online, but no estimate has been given for when full service will resume.

The energy regulator Ofgem has launched an urgent review. Akshay Kaul, Ofgem’s infrastructure director, said: “We must get to the bottom of this failure and ensure it can’t happen again.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that their Counter-Terrorism Command is leading the investigation due to the site’s national infrastructure importance, though there is no evidence of foul play at this stage.

Legal uncertainty for affected passengers

Under UK and EU rules, passengers may be entitled to compensation if an airline is at fault—but not for infrastructure failures like this one.

Most airlines have issued rebooking offers or full refunds, but many passengers are still waiting for alternative flights. Legal experts say disputes over liability between airlines, the airport, and energy providers are likely.

Travellers from Wales with upcoming flights via Heathrow are being urged to check with their airline before travelling and to consider alternative airports.

A CONVICTED child rapist who led a depraved sex cult in a quiet Welsh cul-de-sac is to be moved to an open prison – despite being refused parole.

Colin Batley, who orchestrated years of abuse under the guise of a sinister “black magic” cult in the Carmarthenshire town of Kidwelly, will remain in custody but could soon be transferred to a Category D facility, the Parole Board has confirmed.

Batley, now 61, appeared before the Parole Board for the third time on March 7, 2025. Despite fears he may be freed, the panel ruled he must remain behind bars – citing the “gravity of the offences and the profound harm caused to victims.”

However, in a controversial move, the Board recommended Batley be moved to an open prison – a decision which now lies with the Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood.

“Obsessed with sex and power”

Batley was jailed in 2011 after being convicted at Swansea Crown Court of 35 charges including 11 counts of rape, indecent assault, and child prostitution. He was handed an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term of 11 years.

The court heard that Batley had created a quasi-religious cult based on the writings of occultist Aleister Crowley, styling himself as ‘high priest’ and ruling over his victims with fear, sexual violence, and threats of damnation.

In chilling detail, the judge described how Batley manipulated women and children, some as young as 11, into acts of abuse, often under threat of harm or supernatural retribution. Victims were forced to wear Eye of Horus tattoos to signify cult membership and were made to call Batley “Lord.”

During his trial, he showed no remorse, smirking and laughing as the verdicts were read out.

No release – but a step closer

In its latest decision, the Parole Board noted that while Batley had completed rehabilitative courses in prison and shown a “commitment to address his risk to others,” the panel was “not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.”

However, it concluded that Batley met the criteria for transfer to open conditions – prisons with minimal security that allow prisoners to leave for work, education, or other resettlement purposes.

The move has sparked outrage among some observers, with concerns that Batley could soon be allowed increasing levels of freedom despite the severity of his crimes.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed that any move to open conditions requires approval by the Secretary of State. “This is not automatic, and all such recommendations are carefully reviewed,” they said.

Cult accomplices already released

Batley ran the cult from his home in Clos yr Onnen, Kidwelly, after moving from Shoreditch in London in the 1990s. He was aided by three women – including his bisexual wife Elaine Batley – all of whom have now been released from prison.

Jacqueline Marling was jailed for 12 years, Elaine Batley for eight, and Shelly Millar for five. The group operated a secretive and abusive world behind closed doors in what appeared to be a typical suburban street.

Justice campaigners alarmed

News of Batley’s potential transfer has reignited debate about the release of high-risk sex offenders. Campaigners have warned that open prisons – which are not subject to the same level of security – pose a risk when used for prisoners convicted of extreme sexual offences.

One child protection expert told The Herald: “Batley created a nightmare for so many young victims, and it’s hard to believe he could ever be considered for open conditions. Survivors need reassurance that their abuser will never again have the opportunity to harm others.”

Batley will remain eligible for future parole reviews. If moved to an open prison, it could mark the first step on a path to eventual release.

Photo caption:
Cult leader: Colin Batley was convicted of 35 serious sexual offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman is due to stand trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Mar 24) accused of breaching a community protection notice and committing racially aggravated public order offences.

Lisa Thomas, aged 34, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, faces three separate charges in connection with an incident which allegedly took place on August 2, 2024, at Honeyhill Grove, Lamphey.

The first charge relates to an alleged breach of a Community Protection Notice.

Prosecutors say Thomas shouted and swore at an individual named in the notice, in contravention of the terms set out under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

She also faces a charge of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. It is alleged that she used words or writing intended to cause harassment or distress to a woman, whose name we have protected, and that the offence was racially aggravated under section 28 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The third charge accuses Thomas of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with the intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to the same individual, contrary to the Public Order Act 1986.

Thomas has pleaded not guilty to all three charges. The trial, originally listed for January 28, was adjourned and is now scheduled to begin at 12:00pm on Monday.

If convicted, she could face fines or a custodial sentence.

The racial harassment charge carries a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

The case will be heard in Hearing Room 4 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.