A CENTURIES-old fishing tradition on the River Towy could be under threat after coracle fishermen reported suspected sewage pollution entering the water near Carmarthen.

The Carmarthen Coracle and Netsmen’s Association said members discovered foul-smelling waste when they went to the river on Friday night, just as the traditional coracle fishing season was getting under way.

The season begins on May 1 and runs until late July. Coracle fishing, once widespread in Wales, is now largely limited to the Towy, Teifi and Taf.

Suspected burst main

The association shared images and video on Facebook on Saturday (May 2), saying members had traced the pollution to a suspected burst rising main on a stretch of the river running through Carmarthen, parallel to the A40.

They said fields leading to the valve were coated with remnants of toilet paper and faeces, with waste “pouring directly into the river”.

The group said members of the public had told them the problem may have been ongoing since the previous weekend.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water later said it was responding to an incident affecting the River Towy at Pensarn, Carmarthen, caused by a burst rising main.

River monitoring

The company said the affected pipe had been isolated and tankers were in place to manage flows while repairs were carried out.

A spokesperson said teams were on site and working as quickly as possible, adding that water quality testing was being carried out upstream and downstream of the location.

The company apologised for the incident and said it understood the concern caused to the local community.

Tradition under pressure

The coracle association said the pollution could have a serious impact on wildlife and on a tradition which has existed for more than a thousand years.

They said: “Our reports are falling on deaf ears and repeated pollution is killing not only the river, but a tradition that has been here for over a thousand years.”

Members also reported seeing further pollution entering the river near the Mekatek outlet close to Towy Bridge.

Natural Resources Wales encouraged the incident to be reported, with the association saying it had already contacted NRW and requested confirmation on whether officers had visited the site to take samples or check wildlife.

Public anger

The post prompted anger from members of the public, with some claiming sewage smells had been present in the area for weeks.

Others called for politicians and regulators to take stronger action, saying water companies should not be allowed to pollute rivers while bills continue to rise.

Figures released by Natural Resources Wales last year showed Dŵr Cymru was responsible for 155 pollution incidents in 2024, with most linked to sewerage assets.

The company has also faced wider scrutiny over pollution incidents affecting Welsh rivers, including the River Wye and River Usk catchments.

HAVERFOODFEST has been hailed a success after bringing crowds, colour and community spirit to Haverfordwest town centre on Saturday (May 2).

The annual food and drink festival returned with artisan produce, street food stalls, entertainment and family-friendly attractions across the town.

County Councillor Thomas Tudor, who represents the Castle Ward, said it had been “brilliant” to help with the event, starting at 7:00am on traffic duties before assisting two of the festival’s popular characters, Mr Pizza Man and Mrs Strawberry, as they made their way around the town.

He said: “What an amazing day we all had, and thanks to everyone involved who made this event such a success, which is only getting bigger and better every year.”

The festival, promoted as “the big one” for 2026, ran from 10:00am to 4:00pm and attracted visitors into the centre of Haverfordwest throughout the day.

Organisers and volunteers helped support the event, which showcased local food, drink and produce while also providing a boost for town centre businesses.

Cllr Tudor thanked those involved, including Alison Tudor, Tim Evans, James Phillips and Cllr Bethan Price, for helping make the day a success.

The event has become one of Haverfordwest’s best-known annual attractions, bringing together traders, volunteers, performers and families for a celebration of local food and community life.

A MAJOR construction materials company has signed a long-term deal to use renewable energy from Welsh windfarms as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions.

Energy firm RWE has agreed a 15-year contract to supply electricity to Breedon Group plc, which operates sites across Great Britain producing materials including concrete, asphalt and cement.

Under the agreement, RWE will provide around 70 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity each year from its windfarm portfolio.

The power will initially come from the Gwynt y Môr offshore windfarm, about 24km off the coast of North Wales in the Irish Sea. From 2033, supply will switch to the Brechfa Forest West onshore windfarm in Wales.

The electricity will support the production of key building materials, helping Breedon reduce emissions linked to its energy use in a sector widely regarded as difficult to decarbonise.

RWE said the agreement highlighted the role renewable energy can play in helping heavy industry move towards lower-carbon operations.

Olaf Lubenow, head of commodity solutions at RWE, said: “This agreement underlines our commitment to supporting the construction materials sector on its journey towards a more sustainable future.

“By supplying renewable electricity from our wind portfolio, we are helping to reduce the carbon footprint of Breedon’s operations.”

Breedon said the deal would also provide long-term energy stability while supporting its wider sustainability plans.

Donna Hunt, the company’s sustainability director, said the agreement marked “a meaningful step forward”.

She said: “It secures long-term energy supply and helps accelerate the reduction of emissions from our operations.”

The company has set targets to cut emissions across its business by more than 20% by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050.

The agreement reflects a growing trend of major industrial firms turning to renewable energy to help meet climate targets while managing rising energy costs.