THE FIRST of Port Talbot’s growth and regeneration projects is set to receive £8.2 million from the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board, marking a significant step towards revitalizing the local economy.

This investment is expected to support over 100 jobs and ultimately contribute more than £87 million to the South Wales economy. To date, the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board has allocated £51 million into the local community, with further projects anticipated.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, chairing the latest Transition Board meeting today (February 6), will announce that £8.2 million will be directed to the South Wales Industrial Transition from Carbon Hub (SWITCH). This initiative will redevelop a four-acre site at Harbourside, Port Talbot, incorporating new shared space, flood mitigation measures, and specialist equipment. The investment aims to establish an Innovation District that will assist the steel and metal industry in reducing carbon emissions. The facility is projected to generate and sustain over 100 jobs while bolstering the South Wales economy by £87 million.

This funding is part of the UK Government’s £80 million Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board fund, which has already allocated £51 million since July. The latest announcement is the first targeted at regional growth and regeneration, with up to £30 million more expected to be invested in similar projects in the coming months.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting Port Talbot’s community through Tata Steel’s transition.

“We said we would back the community of Port Talbot through Tata Steel’s transition, and we continue to do exactly that,” she said. “In just six months, over £50 million has been announced to support individual steelworkers, their families, and businesses in the supply chain. Now, we are investing in a major regeneration project for the town.”

She added that millions more in funding will follow, ensuring continued support for steel communities amid ongoing industrial changes.

The Secretary of State also confirmed efforts to enhance mental health and well-being services, with funding details to be announced at the next Transition Board meeting. The initiative will focus on community cohesion, well-being programs, and peer support networks, including partnerships with local organizations.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy, and Planning Rebecca Evans welcomed the funding, stating, “This announcement builds on investments unlocked through the recent Celtic Freeport and other initiatives we are supporting in and around Port Talbot. Working alongside our Transition Board partners, we will continue to provide opportunities for growth while ensuring support for those impacted by Tata Steel’s changes.”

Neath Port Talbot Council Leader, Cllr Steve Hunt, also praised the investment, noting its role in attracting jobs and industry to the region: “The SWITCH project will build on our area’s longstanding expertise in the steel and metals industries, helping to address modern challenges and secure future employment.”

Professor Helen Griffiths, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Swansea University, highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating, “SWITCH will strengthen Swansea University’s role in uniting academia, industry, and government. This investment will make Welsh research and innovation more accessible to businesses and help stimulate long-term economic growth.”

The SWITCH project, dedicated to industrial decarbonization, will establish a permanent base at Harbourside, adding to its existing £20 million funding from the Swansea Bay City Deal, which also benefits from UK Government support.

What this means for West Wales

This initiative aligns with broader regional development strategies, including the Celtic Freeport, which links Port Talbot and Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire. The Celtic Freeport, which received approval for its full business case in October 2024, aims to attract investment into low-carbon energy projects, create jobs, and contribute significantly to South Wales’ economic transition.

Key connections between the initiatives include:

• Regional economic impact: The Celtic Freeport is projected to generate £900 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) by 2030 and £13 billion by 2050, complementing the Port Talbot project’s goal of injecting £87 million into the South Wales economy.
• Decarbonization focus: The SWITCH project will support the steel and metal industry in reducing carbon emissions, aligning with the Celtic Freeport’s emphasis on low-carbon technologies, including floating offshore wind, hydrogen, and carbon capture.
• Investment and innovation: The Celtic Freeport aims to attract £3.5 billion in investment for the hydrogen sector, while the Port Talbot Innovation District will serve as a hub for industrial research and development.
• Government backing: Both projects receive support from the UK and Welsh governments, reflecting a coordinated effort to foster economic regeneration.
• Energy transition: With Milford Haven already processing around 20% of the UK’s energy needs, both initiatives contribute to the country’s broader shift towards sustainable energy solutions.

By linking these initiatives, stakeholders can emphasize a holistic approach to economic regeneration, decarbonization, and job creation across South Wales, ensuring a sustainable future for communities from Port Talbot to Milford Haven.

HAVERFORDWEST’S economic struggles have made international headlines, with Chinese state media outlet CGTN highlighting the town’s deteriorating High Street in a recent report on bank closures in the UK.

The article, titled Bank branch closures: A growing concern for small towns in the UK, sheds light on the widespread impact of financial institutions shutting their doors in rural and smaller urban communities. The report specifically mentions Haverfordwest as an example of a town grappling with the loss of banking services, resulting in a further decline of its High Street.

CGTN reports: “Once a bustling market town, Haverfordwest has seen a steady exodus of businesses in recent years, accelerated by the closure of key financial institutions. With fewer in-person banking options available, residents—particularly the elderly and those without access to digital banking—find themselves struggling to manage their finances.”

Bank closures worsening decline

The closure of major bank branches has left residents without easy access to cash services, forcing many to travel further afield. The CGTN article highlights that this trend is not unique to Haverfordwest, with similar issues affecting towns across the UK. However, the town’s challenges are now being scrutinised on a global scale, raising concerns about the long-term viability of its High Street.

Councillor Thomas Tudor, who has been vocal about the state of the town centre, told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “For years, we’ve been warning that the loss of essential services like banking would have a devastating effect on Haverfordwest. Now, the issue has gone beyond local and national concerns—it’s being reported on by international media. That should be a wake-up call to policymakers.”

Call for action

Local businesses have echoed concerns about the town’s declining footfall, with many blaming high business rates, online competition, and the disappearance of crucial services like banking. Independent shop owners fear that without intervention, Haverfordwest’s High Street will continue to wither.

The CGTN article concludes: “Without a clear strategy to revitalise small towns like Haverfordwest, their decline may soon become irreversible. Communities rely on local institutions, and their absence leaves an economic and social void that is difficult to fill.”

As Haverfordwest finds itself in the international spotlight, the question remains: will this attention finally spur action, or is it already too late?

The full CGTN report can be read here.

ANYONE selling single-use vapes is reminded that from 1st June 2025 it will be illegal to do so.

It will also be illegal to offer to sell or have in your possessing for sale all single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes – whether online or in a shop and if they contain nicotine or not.

Businesses will have until the 1st June 2025 to sell any remaining stock and prepare for the ban coming in to force.

Reusable vapes, those that can be recharged and refilled, are not affected by the ban.

The UK Government is introducing the ban as part of its commitment to tackle environmental concerns and the rise in young people taking up vaping.

Single use vapes are typically discarded as general waste or littered, rather than recycled. Even those that are sent to recycling facilities, the process of recycling is slow and difficult.

Littering spoils communities, introduces harmful substances into the soil, rivers and streams, and causes harm to biodiversity.

The lithium ion batteries used can also present a fire risk.

Figures show that the number of children and young people taking up vaping continues to rise and disposable vapes are the product of choice for most children who vape. It is hoped the ban will curb the rise of young people taking up vaping.

For all ages the long term health impacts of vaping are unknown, although withdrawal symptoms from nicotine addiction is known to cause anxiety, trouble concentrating and headaches.

Retailers are reminded it is illegal to sell nicotine vapes to anyone under 18 years of age. It is also an offence for an adult to buy a nicotine vape on behalf of someone under 18.