News

Welsh Government rejects UK’s controversial Fire Service strike regulations

Published

2 years ago

March 20, 2024

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’S rejection of the UK Government’s minimum service levels for the fire and rescue services has been met with strong support from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), highlighting the depth of opposition to what is perceived as the most significant attack on the union’s ability to strike since its inception over a century ago.

In detailed communication, the FBU outlined the stringent regulations imposed by the UK Government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, received with royal assent on 20 July 2023. These rules, aimed exclusively at England, compel fire and rescue services to maintain operations during strikes as if it were a normal working day. Specifically, the legislation mandates that a minimum of 73% of fire appliances be staffed, and control rooms function fully, regardless of ongoing strike actions.

***During a strike in 2002, ‘Green Goddesses’ were operated by military personnel to tackle blazes***

The FBU has condemned these regulations as a severe infringement on workers’ rights, designed to undermine the effectiveness of strikes. This sentiment is further echoed in the response of Hannah Blythyn, Welsh Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, who criticised the Act as an “unworkable intrusion” into devolved matters, affirming the Welsh Government’s refusal to implement such measures.

The backdrop to this controversy includes the FBU’s recent history of negotiation and industrial action.

Last year, amidst a wave of strikes in other services, the FBU managed to settle a national pay dispute without resorting to strikes, a result overwhelmingly supported by its members.

However, the new legislation threatens to severely restrict the union’s ability to conduct future strikes effectively.

Critically, the regulations introduce the concept of ‘work notices’, identifying specific workers required to maintain minimum service levels during a strike.

Failure to comply with these notices exposes workers to potential dismissal, while the FBU faces substantial fines. These measures have been denounced as draconian by union leaders and members alike.

The scope of the Act currently extends only to England, with the possibility of future regulations affecting other devolved administrations.

Yet, the explicit rejection of the legislation by the Welsh and Scottish governments has highlighted a significant devolution dynamic in the UK’s approach to industrial relations. The Northern Irish administration has also opted out of applying the legislation.

The imposition of these regulations has not gone unchallenged within England. The FBU points to the recent train drivers’ strikes, where no work notices were issued by any train operating company, as a precedent for resistance.

The union is urging fire and rescue authorities in England to commit not to issue work notices, drawing on solidarity and the potential for prolonged strike action to deter such measures.

The Conservative government bears the primary responsibility for these restrictions, with indications that some senior figures within the fire and rescue service have collaborated in designing the new measures.

This collaboration has been met with criticism from FBU members, questioning the mandate of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) in endorsing these laws.

Amid these developments, the Westminster government maintains that the regulations are necessary to ensure public safety during strikes.

This stance is contested by the FBU, which argues that the government’s genuine concern for public safety would be better demonstrated through sustained investment in the fire and rescue service rather than restricting workers’ rights.

As the debate continues, the FBU is mobilising opposition to the minimum service levels, calling on fire and rescue authorities, MPs, and candidates in the upcoming general election to oppose the legislation.

With Labour pledging to repeal the regulations if elected, the battle over minimum service levels and the right to strike in the fire and rescue service is set to intensify in the lead-up to the next general election.

This development underscores the broader tensions between the UK Government’s push for restrictions on industrial action and the resistance from unions, devolved governments, and workers.

Community

Weather presenter spotted filming in Pembrokeshire

Published

13 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WELL-KNOWN Welsh weather presenter was spotted in Pembrokeshire as he filmed scenes for a new series celebrating the county’s coastline.

Derek Brockway, who has been a familiar face on BBC Wales since 1995, was in St Davids recently working on another instalment of his popular walking series along the Pembrokeshire Coast.

Local resident Thomas Tudor said it was “lovely” to meet the broadcaster during filming, posing for a photograph alongside his mother, Beryl Tudor, and sister, Bethan Thomas Price.

Brockway, who is based at BBC Cymru Wales in Cardiff, is widely known not only for his weather forecasts across television, radio and online, but also for his programmes showcasing Wales’ landscapes and coastal paths.

The latest filming in St Davids is expected to form part of an upcoming series highlighting the natural beauty and walking routes of Pembrokeshire, an area long regarded as one of the jewels in Wales’ tourism crown.

Ministry of Defence

Defence families in Wales to save up to £6,000 under new childcare scheme

Published

13 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A MAJOR new childcare support scheme for Armed Forces families will be rolled out across Wales from September 2026, the UK Government has announced.

The initiative is expected to save eligible families up to £6,000 per child each year, providing a significant boost to household finances amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

The scheme will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence’s existing Early Years childcare reimbursement system and will bring Wales in line with the level of support already available to forces families in England.

Today, 19/03/2026 The Secretary of State for Defence John Healey visited Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, home to 3rd Battalion the Rifles. He met with families to launch a new scheme for Defence Families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ministers say the move is part of a wider effort to improve recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces, with childcare costs identified as a key pressure affecting morale.

The new support will cover children from nine months old until they reach three years of age in Wales and Scotland, and up to four years old in Northern Ireland.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP announced the scheme during a visit to Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh.

He said: “Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation’s security. As the demands on defence increase, it is right that we step up our support for those who serve.

“This offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, wherever they are posted.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “Service families in Wales make huge sacrifices and deserve the best possible support.

“They contribute not only to our national security but also to the Welsh economy. This scheme delivers meaningful help with the cost of childcare.”

The scheme will reimburse the difference in early years childcare costs for eligible working families. To qualify, both parents must be in employment and meet the income thresholds required for a Tax-Free Childcare account.

Hundreds of families across Wales are expected to benefit.

The announcement forms part of a broader package of support introduced since July 2024, including improved military housing, the largest Armed Forces pay rise in two decades, and plans to strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant in law.

Further details will be provided in the coming months, with families encouraged to begin considering childcare arrangements ahead of the scheme’s launch.

Community

Broad Haven volunteers secure ‘national asset’ status for nature reserve

Published

13 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SMALL stretch of woodland and former opencast coal mine has been transformed into a nationally recognised biodiversity site, in a major first for Wales.

The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve has been awarded ‘Naturfa’ status, becoming the first community-managed site in Wales to receive the designation.

The recognition, confirmed by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, classifies the reserve as an “Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure” (OECM). This means the volunteer-led work of the Support the Boardwalk group will now contribute directly to Wales’ 30×30 target – the global commitment to protect 30% of land, freshwater and sea for nature by 2030.

In a further boost, the site has also been included in the National Forest for Wales, recognising its role in strengthening a connected network of woodlands and habitats across the country.

Once a simple local walkway, the Slash Pond has developed into a thriving wildlife haven. The reserve now supports a wide range of species, including critically endangered European eels, otters, ten species of bat, and more than fifty species of birds, alongside diverse aquatic plants and insects.

Huw Irranca-Davies said: “These special places are a testament to the care and dedication of people working on the ground – securing a legacy for future generations. Nature can only thrive where habitats are resilient, protected and effectively managed.”

The new status is expected to unlock future funding opportunities, supporting long-term plans for maintaining the boardwalk, monitoring biodiversity and water quality, installing new signage, and expanding environmental education work with Broad Haven Primary School and the wider Havens community.

Andy Drumm, a volunteer with Support the Boardwalk, said: “We’ve always known how special the Slash Pond is, but this recognition puts it firmly on the map as a national asset. It’s a tribute to years of hard work and shows that local communities can lead the way in tackling the nature crisis.”

To mark the achievement, a Spring Family Fun Day will take place on Friday (May 9) from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Slash Pond car park.

The event will feature guided nature walks, pond dipping, a wildlife treasure trail, live music, and family activities including crafts and face painting. The official unveiling of the Naturfa certificate and new reserve branding will also take place, alongside the launch of a new book, From Culm to Calm: A History of the Slash Pond by local author David Meanwell.

Karen Riggs, a long-time volunteer, said: “This achievement belongs to everyone in Broad Haven who has supported the site over the years. We’re not just celebrating a new title – we’re celebrating what our community has built together.”

The day will also see the installation of new benches at the observation decks and the launch of a floating island habitat to support wildfowl and other bird species. Visitors will also be invited to share feedback on plans for an improved picnic area designed to withstand local flooding.

Naturfa is a Welsh Government initiative recognising areas outside traditional protected sites, such as SSSIs, that are managed in ways which deliver long-term benefits for biodiversity.

The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve is managed by the Support the Boardwalk group in partnership with The Havens Community Council, and is maintained entirely by volunteers.

Further information and updates are available via the Support the Boardwalk Facebook page.