THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’S draft budget has sparked debate, with the Welsh Liberal Democrats labelling it a “missed opportunity” for failing to deliver on childcare, while Labour officials defend their record on supporting families.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have argued that the government missed a “golden opportunity” to support Welsh families during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis while delivering a boost to the Welsh economy. They claim that high childcare costs are forcing more parents out of work, and the extra £20 million allocated in the budget will only “paper over the cracks.”

The Liberal Democrats have proposed a universal offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week for all children in Wales aged 9 months to 4 years. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS expressed disappointment, stating:

“Instead of taking this opportunity to steer Welsh families away from sky-rocketing childcare costs, the Welsh Government has instead left them to fend for themselves. Thousands of people from across Wales are being forced to make the difficult choice between paying out of pocket for childcare or leaving work.

This shouldn’t be the case. We want to see a universal offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week for every single child in Wales between the ages of 9 months and 4 years old. By taking away the burden of childcare costs, we can help people get back into work, which will give our economy a huge boost.

The UK Labour Government has been talking about encouraging more economic growth, but it appears as though their colleagues in Cardiff Bay didn’t get the message.”

However, the Welsh Government has countered these claims, highlighting existing childcare support schemes and their broader efforts to ease financial pressures on families. A Welsh Government spokesperson said:

“Our government remains committed to supporting families across Wales. Our existing childcare offer provides up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare for working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds during term time, which we extended to include support during the school holidays.

In addition, we are investing £20 million to enhance childcare provision further, ensuring families who need it most can access support. We are continually working to develop policies that benefit Welsh families and strengthen our economy.”

The debate comes amid growing scrutiny of government policies as families grapple with the rising cost of living. Critics and supporters alike will be watching closely to see how the draft budget evolves and whether further measures are introduced to address childcare costs.

A NUMBER of changes to key local bus services in Pembrokeshire will be introduced in January 2025, including reinstating some reduced services.

The changes are designed to improve punctuality and service performance on key routes.

In addition, several services that had been reduced in recent years will be reinstated.

This includes an hourly year-round service between Haverfordwest and Tenby via Pembroke Dock, a Saturday service between Tenby and Pendine and additional daytime journeys between Haverfordwest and Broad Haven, and between Merlin’s Bridge and Haverfordwest town centre.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said: “We have listened to feedback from passengers and worked with bus operators to put in place these improvements with additional funding through the Welsh Government Bus Network Grant.

“We hope these changes will provide a better and more reliable service for bus users in Pembrokeshire.”

Passengers using Fflecsi Pembrokeshire services may also notice that the Fflecsi app now provides details of bus timetables where a fixed route bus service is available for the journey they have requested. This will help improve the availability of the Fflecsi service for journeys where there is no other public transport option.

A temporary timetable will also be introduced on the T5 service operated by Richards Bros between Haverfordwest and Cardigan, due to a major road closure in Newport.

For further information about copies of the new timetables, please visit https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/bus-routes-and-timetables/planned-bus-service-changes or contact [email protected]

The changes are as follows:

From 04/1/25

351 – Tenby-Amroth-Pendine (Taf Valley Coaches)

• Service will now also run on Saturdays during the winter.

From 6/1/25

301 Haverfordwest Town Service (Pembrokeshire County Council)

• Service will no longer call at Augustine Way. Alternative bus stops are available at St Thomas Green or Horsefair.
• New stop on Scarrowscant lane near the junction with Tasker Way.

302 – Withybush Hospital –Hubberston (First Cymru)

• Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality.

307 Haverfordwest to Merlins Bridge (Pembrokeshire County Council)

• New service mid-morning (Monday to Friday) and mid-afternoon (Fridays only).

308 Haverfordwest – – Llangwm-Burton circular (Pembrokeshire County Council)

• Afternoon journey will call at Withybush hospital and retail park.

311 Haverfordwest – Broad Haven (Pembrokeshire County Council)

• Two additional journeys provided, mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

322 Withybush Hospital – Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen (First Cymru)

• Change to route in Carmarthen. Bus will go from Carmarthen bus station around the bypass to Glangwili hospital, and then return via the town.
• Connection with 381 in Narberth for travel to/from Tenby has been maintained.

Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality.

349 Haverfordwest-Pembroke Dock-Tenby (First Cymru)

• Change to route in Haverfordwest. Bus will depart from Bus Station to Withybush hospital, then around the bypass to Picton Place.
• 14.25 service from Haverfordwest will run throughout the year, not just in school holidays.
• New later bus from Pembroke-Haverfordwest at 19.40.
• Improved connection with 381 in Tenby.
• Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality.

381 Haverfordwest-Narberth-Tenby (First Cymru)

• Change to route in Haverfordwest. Bus will depart from Bus Station to Withybush hospital, then around the bypass on its way out of town towards Narberth. Passengers for Withybush retail park will use the stop outside Home Bargains for both inward and return journeys.
• Connection with 322 in Narberth for travel to/from Carmarthen has been maintained.
• Improved connection with 349 in Tenby.
• Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality

T5 Haverfordwest-Fishguard-Cardigan-Aberystwyth (Richards Bros)

• A temporary timetable will be in place from 6/1/25 for at least 8 weeks, due to a road closure in Newport.
• Buses will not be able to use the main bus stop in Newport. Alternative bus stops will be available at Newport Memorial Hall and the Golden Lion.
• Due to the narrow diversion route, a low-floor accessible minibus will be provided between Fishguard and Cardigan.
• All passengers will have to change at Fishguard for onward travel towards Cardigan or Haverfordwest.
• The 07.45 from Haverfordwest will terminate at Fishguard.

ARON O’NEILL and his cousin, Shaun Nicholas, are standing trial at Swansea Crown Court, accused of being involved in an altercation with James O’Neill, a family member, at the Boathouse in Saundersfoot in 2022.

Nicholas, an apprentice electrician, described the evening as initially enjoyable before tensions escalated. He admitted to drinking six pints of Madri, while his cousin consumed five. “Towards the end of the night, I was slightly tipsy. We were having a great night,” he told the court.

Trouble reportedly began when Aron O’Neill was asked to leave the bar for vaping indoors, despite warnings. CCTV footage allegedly showed him vaping before he exited the premises with Nicholas and other family members. A physical confrontation followed soon after.

Nicholas recounted the altercation: “I felt a bump to the left of me and thought, what is going on? I saw the complainant, Stephen Kanauros, going for my uncle. I didn’t want him to hit my uncle.”

Aron O’Neill said he intervened when Kanauros allegedly punched his father, James O’Neill, in the face. “I hit the man a couple of times, two or three times, to defend my father,” he admitted.

CCTV footage reportedly showed Kanauros holding James O’Neill’s head. Nicholas admitted to striking Kanauros, saying, “I punched him in the face. I saw him assault my uncle. I panicked; I’ve never been in a situation like this before.” When questioned about allegations of biting, Nicholas denied it, stating, “I saw Stephen going close to my uncle’s head, but no biting.”

Aron O’Neill claimed he tried to de-escalate the situation. “The man picked me up. I said no, I don’t want anything to do with this. I then left the premises.” He denied allegations that the incident stemmed from an earlier argument between his father and bar staff, calling it “irrelevant to this incident.”

The court reviewed CCTV footage of the altercation. O’Neill disputed claims that his punches connected, asserting, “You can slow it down frame by frame. It’s completely false. I completely missed.”

During police interviews, O’Neill, who spent 13 hours in custody, said he was scared. Nicholas described the event as “still a blur,” admitting he was shocked by his actions.

Prosecutor Dyfed Thomas questioned Nicholas on whether his drinking influenced his actions. Nicholas replied, “It was a traumatic experience. I panicked. I was defending my uncle.” He acknowledged that alcohol and adrenaline might have affected his memory, saying, “I didn’t think I assaulted anyone, and I can’t remember anyone assaulting me. It partly could be because of alcohol, but also adrenaline.”

Thomas highlighted the severity of the injuries, describing the force needed to cause significant damage to Kanauros’s lip. “This was not a nibble or a bite that left teeth marks. This was a bite that removed part of the lip. How much force and determination does it take to bite a lip off?” he asked.

The defence argued the actions of the accused were acts of self-defence. Nicholas’s lawyer, Mr Singh, said, “Shaun Nicholas acted out of a desire to protect his uncle. How is this any different from when Mr Kanauros defended his wife?”

Judge Catherine Richards reminded the court, “The law of self-defence is common sense. If someone is under attack, it is reasonable to defend oneself.”

The trial continues.