News

Urgent review demanded over regulator’s handling of landfill site

Published

3 months ago

June 22, 2024

AN “urgent review” is required into the actions of the environmental regulator following a barrage of complaints concerning the controversial Withyhedge landfill site, according to the Welsh government. This call to action follows a damning investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme, which aired on Friday, alleging improper waste management practices at the site.

Residents living near the Withyhedge landfill site, located near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, have likened the overwhelming stench to “a stink bomb on steroids.” Their complaints reached a crescendo as the Dispatches programme brought to light accusations that unsuitable waste, including vials of blood, had been disposed of at the landfill.

Despite the allegations, the company operating the site has vehemently denied these claims, stating that no unsuitable waste has been placed in the landfill. The company has, however, apologised to the local community for the persistent odour issues.

dispatches on channel four: watch from 15 mins 50 seconds in

National Resources Wales (NRW), the country’s environmental watchdog, has stated it is actively working to address the concerns. However, the spotlight has intensified on David Neal, the firm’s director, who has a history of environmental offences. Neal, who has been convicted twice for environmental crimes, is embroiled in controversy over a £200,000 donation from his company to the leadership campaign of First Minister Vaughan Gething. Neal received a suspended prison sentence in 2013 for illegally dumping waste on a conservation site and faced prosecution again four years later for failing to remove the waste.

First Minister Gething has consistently maintained that the donation rules were adhered to. However, the Dispatches programme’s claims have reignited scrutiny over Neal’s operations and his relationship with the Welsh government.

One anonymous former employee, who worked as a driver for Neal’s company between 2020 and 2022, alleged that recyclable materials, including tyres and syringes, were not sorted as required but instead were dumped directly into the landfill. The whistleblower also mentioned materials known to produce hydrogen sulphide, such as plasterboard, being improperly discarded.

Another ex-employee revealed that medical waste, including vials of blood, was delivered to the site daily. A third former worker corroborated these claims, adding that leachate—a contaminated liquid produced by landfill sites—was not correctly disposed of but was instead placed in holes in the ground. This leachate, the programme reported, could contribute to the hydrogen sulphide smell and pose environmental risks if it leaches into surrounding areas.

Public Health Wales has disclosed that its monitoring detected hydrogen sulphide levels at the Withyhedge site during March and April that exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. Officials advised residents to keep their doors and windows closed when the odour is present and to seek medical help if they feel unwell.

In response to the Dispatches programme, a Welsh government spokesperson highlighted NRW’s responsibility to ensure landfill operators comply with stringent environmental and legal standards. “Given the serious nature of the issues raised by the programme, we have asked NRW to urgently review what action it took to investigate and address the complaints raised directly with it since 2020,” the spokesperson stated.

Senedd leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, expressed frustration over the prolonged issues at Withyhedge. “The evidence and allegations put forward last night in the Channel 4 programme regarding the first minister’s donor’s company cannot be ignored and urgent action must finally be taken,” he said.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, questioned First Minister Gething’s judgement in accepting a substantial donation from Neal, a convicted polluter. “Last night’s programme raises further serious questions about Vaughan Gething’s judgement in accepting a large donation from David Neal,” Iorwerth said. He also criticised the Welsh government for only now requesting an urgent review from NRW, despite longstanding concerns about Neal’s operations.

Gareth O’Shea of NRW responded by stating that the regulator has been gathering information to decide if further enforcement action is necessary. “Since the odour issues at the site were first identified in late October 2023, our priority has always been to ensure the operator takes the action required to remediate the most likely source of those odours as quickly as possible,” O’Shea said. He assured that NRW has maintained a significant regulatory presence on site and will continue to collaborate with Pembrokeshire County Council and Public Health Wales to address the issues at Withyhedge Landfill.

The operator of Withyhedge landfill reiterated its denial of dumping inappropriate materials, apologised for the odours, and highlighted its significant financial investments aimed at resolving the site’s issues.

As the Welsh government and NRW move forward with the urgent review, the residents of Haverfordwest and the surrounding areas wait anxiously for concrete actions to address the longstanding environmental and health concerns posed by the Withyhedge landfill site.

Health

MS slams decision to proceed with St Davids GP surgery closure

Published

20 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SENEDD Member Paul Davies has criticised Hywel Dda University Health Board’s decision to
proceed with the transfer of patients from St David’s surgery to surgeries elsewhere in
Pembrokeshire. In a board meeting held on the 26 th September 2024, the Health Board also
confirmed that it is in discussions with Shalom House in St David’s about the establishment
of a branch surgery to deliver some services.

Mr Davies said, “It’s shameful that Hywel Dda University Health Board is pushing ahead with
these plans, despite the vocal opposition shown by the local community.

“The city of St David’s will soon be the only city in the United Kingdom without a GP surgery,
and I’m appalled that the Health Board has allowed this to take place. For many people the
travel to other surgeries from St David’s is just too far and too stressful and a weak
commitment to coordinate surgeries with bus times is just not going to cut it.”

“Residents have been trying to engage with the Health Board and urging the management to
look at a range of other options and it appears as though the Health Board is unwilling to
consider the views of the people of St David’s. The people of St David’s deserve better, and
I hope all political representatives in Pembrokeshire can work together to stand up for the
local community.”

But Hywel Dda University Health Board says it is continuing the work to prepare for the transfer of patients from St David’s Surgery in Pembrokeshire to nearby surgeries ahead of the end of October when the current contract will come to an end.

The Health Board agreed that the care of patients at St David’s Surgery in Pembrokeshire would be transferred to local practices as close as possible to where they live, in a meeting of the Board at the end of July.

The Health Board also committed to work on establishing a Branch Surgery in St David’s providing services for part of the week for those patients transferring to nearby Solva Surgery.

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long-Term Care, at Hywel Dda announced at a Board Meeting today (Thursday, 26 September) that the Health Board is in discussions with Shalom House in St David’s about the establishment of a Branch Surgery

“The location on Nun Street is convenient for patients and is a well-established organisation which is well-supported by the local community and we are delighted to be working with the Shalom Trustees to take forward this development,” said Ms Paterson.

“We are in the process of planning services to be delivered by a multi-disciplinary team and are planning community services there and some cluster-based services too.”

The decision to transfer patients from St David’s Surgery was made following an extensive period of engagement with patients at the practice and Llais, the patient’s voice organisation for Wales. This followed the decision by the one GP who runs the surgery to resign his General Medical Services Contract.

From 1 November 2024 the Solva GP Surgery will be known as the Peninsula Practice/ Meddygfa Penrhyn to reflect the broader reach of the Practice. The name was proposed by the Peninsula Working Group, which includes representatives from St David’s City Council and Solva and Llanrhian community councils.

The employed staff at St David’s Surgery will transfer to Peninsula Practice to join the growing team there, including administration and nursing staff and the salaried GP.

All patients at St David’s Surgery will have been sent a letter informing them which Practice they will be transferred to, and everyone will be contacted soon with a welcome letter with further information.

Ms Paterson said: “The planning for the transition is well under way. Patients don’t need to do anything – we will be transferring all records and registrations.

“Meanwhile, work to adapt the surgery building in Solva to accommodate the additional staff and patients will be taking place in the coming weeks. This involves internal alterations to the surgery building which will be taking place over the coming weeks to convert underused rooms into consulting and treatment rooms, and to move some office space to the first floor.”

Ms Paterson said that she was aware that some of the St David’s Surgery patients were concerned about travelling to Solva for appointments.

“In terms of travel, we recognise that this is a challenge. Some individuals are going to have to travel three miles to the Solva Surgery, but we hope that that need will not be significant because we are working to provide as many services in the local community that we can.

“We have also been working with PACTO – the Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations. They have helped us develop a leaflet and they are looking for volunteer drivers to assist with this process, so that they can respond to need where buses are not available for individuals.

“We have also had a commitment from the surgery that, as far as possible, when people do need to go to the surgery, they will try to co-ordinate appointment times with bus times.”

For those who need to travel to the Peninsula Surgery in Solva, there will be information regarding public transport options for patients on the surgery website.

Patients who require help or further information should contact the Health Board by telephone us at 0300 303 8322 (option 5), or email [email protected].

Business

New electric vehicle charging stations installed in Kilgetty

Published

20 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

TWO new electric vehicle (EV) rapid charging stations have been installed on Carmarthen Road in Kilgetty as part of InstaVolt’s expanding network across the UK. The site includes one fully accessible bay, with an additional 1.2 metres of space on either side, providing ease of use for all drivers.

The chargers are flush with the ground and feature lower screens, along with an improved cable management system for easier manoeuvrability.

Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, expressed his excitement about the new installation: “We’re delighted to bring more of our award-winning rapid chargers to the area, with class-leading reliability. InstaVolt is on hand to offer a fast charge that will get drivers back on the road in no time.”

Lane also highlighted the user-friendly nature of the chargers: “EV drivers can be confident that when they arrive at the site, they’ll find an easy-to-use charger with payment by contactless debit or credit card, as well as on-site driver amenities. With an extensive, fully nationwide network, EV drivers are never far away from an InstaVolt rapid charger. A bit of route planning in advance using search engines or InstaVolt’s app makes long journeys easier.”

InstaVolt, one of the UK’s largest public EV rapid charging networks, continues to expand rapidly. With over 1,560 chargers currently installed nationwide, the company aims to have 10,000 rapid chargers in place by 2030. The new stations in Kilgetty contribute to the growing infrastructure supporting the more than 1.2 million fully electric cars now on Britain’s roads.

Praised as one of Britain’s top rapid charging networks, InstaVolt’s chargers are designed for convenience, accepting contactless payments without the need for a subscription. Drivers can find their nearest charging station, check real-time availability, and pay for their charge all through InstaVolt’s website or app.

Crime

Man charged with possession of offensive weapon and assault

Published

20 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A MAN has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and common assault following an incident in the Pembrokeshire village of St Dogmaels.

David Rees, 62, is set to appear in court on 9th October in relation to the incident, which took place on 16th September and left one person with minor injuries.

Locals reported that armed police, dog units, and a police helicopter descended on the scene, creating a significant emergency response in the normally quiet village.

In a police update that evening, it was confirmed that the ‘unusual police presence’ was due to an ‘isolated incident’ which had been ‘safely resolved’. Two police patrol cars remained in the village late into the evening to reassure residents and members of the public.

An update issued by Dyfed-Powys Police on Wednesday, 25th September, confirmed they had responded to reports of an assault resulting in injury to the victim. Following their response, officers arrested and charged a man with possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and common assault in connection with the incident.