Business
Steelworkers’ Union presses Tata to adopt expert plan ahead of talks
THE Steelworkers’ union, Community, is pressing Tata Steel UK to scrap its bad deal for steel and commit to the alternative Multi-Union Plan ahead of crucial talks with the company this week.
The call follows a meeting between steel unions and Tata officials last week, and the publication of a new report from industry experts Syndex which slams Tata’s approach for pursuing ‘what’s cheap’ over ‘what’s best’. The report highlights that the company’s current proposal – which would cut around 2,800 jobs in South Wales by moving production at Port Talbot to a single 3mt Electric Arc Furnace – comes with significant risks, and would make Tata Steel UK an outlier in Europe.
In contrast, Syndex describes the Multi-Union Plan as “the only solution offering to maintain all the volume currently produced by Tata Steel UK” providing “a future for all the company’s assets and a roadmap for a just transition under the constraint of the financial hurdles and the reality of market dynamics for the UK steel industry.”
Community General Secretary Roy Rickhuss said: “During our meeting with Tata last week, members of the National Trade Union Steel Coordinating Committee provided our final conclusions on the company’s restructuring proposals: namely that the company’s plan is reckless; that it weakens national security by removing Britain’s primary steelmaking capacity; and that it would have devastating consequences for steel communities in South Wales and beyond.
“Our Multi-Union Plan is a credible alternative to Tata’s destructive scheme. It would safeguard the future of Port Talbot steelmaking, protect all the downstream plants, save thousands of jobs and can be delivered with no compulsory redundancies.
“It is not too late for Tata to do the right thing and adopt the Multi-Union Plan – and we hope that they will take this step. However, should the company choose to reject it, we will fight them every step of the way. To enable us to do this, we will need the strongest possible mandate from our ongoing industrial action ballot. For that reason, I am urging all our members to vote ‘YES’ and ‘YES’ and return their ballot papers at the earliest opportunity.”
Community’s Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid said: “Syndex’s new report demonstrates clearly that our Multi-Union Plan is viable and sustainable, whilst Tata’s proposals are reckless and harmful. The company must change course, and the UK Government need to step up too. Our alternative plan would require additional investment from the government – taking total public support for the decarbonisation of Port Talbot to £950m overall – but this is still significantly less than the support packages other governments are providing to green their steel industries. It’s also in line with the £3bn Green Steel Fund the Labour Party has guaranteed to deliver in the next parliament.
“We are at a critical moment, and the choices that Tata and the government make now will reverberate for generations to come. The fundamental question here is whether we want to be a country that makes its own steel, or a country that imports it – as would be inevitable under Tata’s damaging proposal. With the spectre of a CBAM exemption for India hanging over free trade talks, we risk under current plans becoming little more than a simple processor for imported Indian Steel. We can’t allow our industry to be sacrificed on the altar of Rishi Sunak’s search for a legacy.
“With so much at stake, we are urging our members to vote ‘YES and ‘YES’ in our industrial action ballot to enable us to fight to maintain blast furnace steelmaking into the 2030s and to prevent compulsory redundancies.”
Leading South Wales steel MPs have also thrown their support behind Community and the GMB’s Multi-Union Plan.
Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberavon, said: “As industry experts at Syndex have laid out this week, the Multi-Union Plan is a detailed, serious, robust and compelling proposal for the future of the Port Talbot steelworks and it has my full and unequivocal support. It’s the only realistic route to retaining our customer base, and it’s also the only credible pathway to a strong, competitive and profitable future for steel-making in Port Talbot and throughout the downstream plants across Wales and the UK. By contrast Tata’s shortsighted and counter-productive plan will mean exporting jobs from Port Talbot to India, a country where steel plants have a far higher carbon footprint.
“It’s vital that steel is at the heart of a forward-looking industrial strategy, which is why Labour has pledged £3billion to support the industry over the next decade.”
Jessica Morden, MP for Newport East which includes Llanwern Steelworks, said: “Tata and Rishi Sunak’s bad deal for steel would represent a huge blow to our steel industry and steel communities like our own in Newport. The deal would also leave the UK country dependent on imported steel from heavy-polluting countries at a time of global uncertainty.
“It doesn’t have to be this way, and the Multi-Union Plan for steel which Community and GMB have put forward represents a viable alternative to protect jobs and preserve steelmaking capacity here in South Wales. I urge Tata to think again and change course from their damaging proposals.”
Business
Tudor Glen Caravan Park Pembrokeshire planning call
A CALL for a Pembrokeshire caravan site to be allowed static caravans in lieu of touring ones, which the applicant says was allowed back in 1988, has been submitted to the national park.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Keith Stevens of Tudor Glen Caravan Park, Jameston, through agent Lambe Planning & Design Ltd, seeks a certificate of lawfulness of an existing use of the site to establish the status of a 1988 planning permission.
Essentially what that means is the applicant is seeking confirmation of details of that permission as to whether it includes static or touring caravans.
A supporting statement says: “Tudor Glen Caravan Park is a long-established family owned and operated Holiday Park. The Park extends to approximately six acres and caters for families within static caravans, touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.
“The Park is exceptionally well run and achieved the 2025 runner up award for Best Family Campsite South Wales. The Park has a range of modern purpose-built facilities including a heated swimming pool, laundrette, dedicated play area, games room and full amenity facilities.”
Covering the 1988 approval of removing two previous conditions connected to the site, granting permission for up to 50 caravans and occupancy of March 1 to January 9, it says: “It does not stipulate that the caravans must be removed from the site during the ‘close period’ as would be the case if the consent related to touring caravans,” adding: “It is therefore clear that the intentions of that planning application and the consent granted relates to the siting of up to 50 caravans and not specifically touring caravans.
“If that consent were to be partially restricted to touring, a touring condition would have been imposed and / or a condition requiring that the caravans must be removed from the site during a close period – it doesn’t.”
It concludes: “Whilst the park has been operated on the basis of providing both Static Caravan and Touring Caravan Pitches, [the 1988] Planning Approval clearly gives permission for any type of caravan which complies with the Legal Definition of a Caravan.
“That permission does not restrict the type of unit to either static or touring caravans and does not restrict the layout of the holiday park it is therefore concluded that [the 1988 permission] allows for the siting of any unit which complies with the legal definition of a caravan, and does not restrict the layout or location of the units.
“The applicant therefore seeks confirmation from the LPA to that effect via this Certificate of Lawful (proposed) Use application.”
The application will be considered by park planners at a later date.
Business
Pembrokeshire Lydstep Beach Village development refused
A CALL for an extra sign advertising a Pembrokeshire holiday park, adding to exiting unauthorised ones, which planners say would create “visual clutter and intrusion” and a distraction to drivers, has been refused.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, permission was sought, through Lakeside Signs Limited, for an additional sign advertising Haven’s Lydstep Beach Village, near Tenby, the sign proposed for North Lodge where the holiday park joins the main road.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s highways authority raised no concerns regarding the specific location of the sign, but said “there remains a broader concern regarding the cumulative impact of signage along this section of highway,” adding: “The increasing proliferation of signs in this location has the potential to create a visually cluttered environment, which may distract drivers and, in turn, give rise to road safety implications.”
A Park officer report recommending refusal said: “Currently, there are eight flagpoles, one A-frame banner type sign, one pole mounted panel sign, and a further panel sign, located behind the stone wall on the western side of the park’s entrance. None of these advertisements have the benefit of advertisement consent.”
It added: “The increasing number of signs in this location has the potential to create a distraction to drivers, which may result in road safety implications. In addition, the proliferation of signage would create clutter that would result in visual intrusion in this countryside location affecting amenity. As such, the recommendation is to refuse.”
It went on to say: “Whilst it is not deemed that the proposed advertisement would result in harm being caused to the specific special qualities of this area, there are concerns that the display of this advertisement would, along with the remainder of the advertisements, which are unauthorised, result in a proliferation of advertisements, which in turn would cause visual clutter and intrusion.
“This is especially problematic in a countryside location where development is strictly controlled. Should the existing signage be consolidated and rationalised, the Authority may support the proposed sign, however, currently, any additional signage would not be deemed appropriate.”
The application was refused on the grounds that it would, along with the exiting signage, “result in visual clutter and intrusion which would detract from the visual amenity of this countryside location, and would result in potential distraction to drivers, which in turn would rise to road safety implications”.
Business
The Cheesecake Guy store could be coming to Saundersfoot
SAUNDERSFOOT’S Coal Building interpretation centre could soon host the third store for Welsh cheesecake business The Cheesecake Guy Ltd, in plans before the national park.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Craig Taylor of Merthyr Tydfil-based The Cheesecake Guy Ltd seeks a change of use of part of Saundersfoot’s Cambrian Terrace Coal Building interpretation centre to create a small retail unit.
On its website, The Cheesecake Guy says of its business and products: “Established in 2019, The Cheesecake Guy is all about delivering indulgent, handcrafted cheesecake desserts with a twist. While we offer a range of sweet treats, our specialty — and customer favourite — is the signature cheesecake jar.
“Made with quality ingredients and packed with rich, creamy layers, our jars are the perfect dessert for any occasion. Whether you’re treating yourself or sharing with others, The Cheesecake Guy brings a spoonful of happiness to every bite.”
While no supporting statement has yet been published for the Saundersfoot proposal, the application says the scheme would employ two full-time members of staff, operating 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, and 10-5 on Sundays and bank holidays.
It says the proposed site is currently a mixed-use retail and gift shop, having previously been used as office space.
It adds: “This is a space within a building that is still trading, the space we are wanting a change of use was last used by Persimmon Homes as an office space.”
Of the scheme itself it says it will involve “retail sales of pre-prepared desserts and merchandise,” adding there will be “no on-site manufacturing or heavy processing,” with “equipment limited to display fridges and freezers”.
If approved, the Saundersfoot site would be the third outlet for The Cheesecake Guy, with sites in Merthyr, and, more recently, Newport Market.
After that store opened following redevelopment of Newport’s Victorian market, Craig Taylor, of The Cheesecake Guy, said: “We are very excited to be part of the new development in Newport Market alongside some other amazing small businesses.
“We feel this is definitely the next step in the right direction after our Merthyr Tydfil store taking off so well.”
For its Newport site, The Cheesecake Guy says: “We specialise in creating a wide variety of cheesecake desserts that cater to all tastes. Our menu features popular favourites that have won the hearts of many, alongside exciting new creations designed to keep your taste buds satisfied.
“Whether you’re a classic cheesecake lover or an adventurous foodie, we promise a cheesecake experience like no other. Each cheesecake is made with the utmost care, ensuring a rich, creamy texture and a burst of flavour in every slice (or jar!).”
The Saundersfoot proposal will be considered by park planners at a later date.
-
News5 days agoBaby in critical condition after Fishguard emergency
-
News4 days agoFormer housing officer admits drink-driving in Pembrokeshire retail park
-
Crime4 days agoJob loss threat for convicted Pembrokeshire drug-driver
-
Crime4 days agoMilford motorist disqualified for drug-driving
-
Crime4 days agoPolice tip-off leads to driving ban for Milford motorist
-
Crime3 days agoRacial abuse suspect barricaded himself inside Johnston lodge
-
Crime4 days agoDelivery driver caught twice over legal drink-drive limit
-
Community4 days agoSixth-former firefighter balances schoolwork with saving lives







