News

Long-awaited overhaul of environmental governance in Wales

Published

2 years ago

February 5, 2024

LONG-AWAITED plans to overhaul environmental governance have been unveiled amid concerns that Wales has the weakest protections in the UK.

Julie James announced the publication of a Welsh Government white paper on establishing environmental principles, strengthening governance and introducing biodiversity targets.

Wales’ climate change minister said a bill will be brought forward to ensure there is no post-Brexit drop in environmental standards.

She told the Senedd that an environmental governance body will be established to oversee implementation and compliance with environmental law by public authorities.
She said: “We think it’s very important that it is independent of the Welsh Government, that it holds our feet to the fire.”

Ms James stressed that the proposals are not simply an exercise in replacing EU structures and legislation, with the approach instead tailored to the Welsh context.
“The governance body will similarly reflect Wales’ priorities,” she explained.

“The body will work in a spirit of collaboration and take an escalatory approach, working with Welsh public authorities to put things right.

“However, where this is not possible, the body will be rightly empowered to take effective enforcement action to ensure compliance.”

Ms James said public authorities will be required to draw up local nature recovery plans.

She told MSs the proposed headline target is that of the 2020 global biodiversity framework: reverse decline with an improvement in biodiversity by 2030, with recovery by 2050.

Janet Finch-Saunders pointed out that the proposals are long-awaited, with the Welsh Government first committing to addressing a governance gap in 2018.

The Conservatives’ shadow minister said: “This is already long overdue and has been requested through our environment and climate change committee so many times.”

Ms Finch Saunders warned that proposals for local nature recovery plans could add to the considerable pressures on public authorities.

Pressed for clarity on the timetable, Ms James cautioned that this is the very beginning of proposals making their passage through the Senedd.

She said work on a bill is under way but suggested it could take a year to bring forward.

Delyth Jewell broadly welcomed the announcement but warned of a genuine need for urgent legislation to close a gap in Wales’ environmental protections.

Plaid Cymru’s shadow minister said: “We’ve been waiting too long for this.”

She urged the minister to make every effort to avoid any further delay, with equivalent governance bodies already established for England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Ms James acknowledged the delays, saying further slippage is not an option as the bill will be one of the last to go through the Senedd in this term, which ends in 2026.

Responding to concerns the new environmental body could be confused with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Ms James said: “Broadly, this is not a regulatory authority.

“This is an authority that gives guidance to public authorities on how to set the targets and monitor and make sure they do them.”

John Griffiths, the Labour MS for Newport East, raised the importance of gaining buy-in from the public and organisations such as the Gwent Wildlife Trust.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

5 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

5 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

6 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.