Business

Welsh Water customers face one of the steepest bill rises in UK

Published

1 year ago

February 2, 2025

HOUSEHOLDS across most parts of Wales, including Pembrokeshire, are set to face a 27% increase in their water bills from April, with the average annual bill rising from £503 to £639. The hike marks the beginning of a five-year period of increases from Welsh Water, culminating in a total rise of 42% by 2029-30, with the steepest increase occurring at the outset.

The company has justified the rise by stating that from April, clean water will cost “an average of £1.75 a day” and that the overall increases will fund a “68% increase in investment” over the next five years. Water companies across Wales and England argue that the additional revenue will lead to improvements in infrastructure, tackling persistent issues such as leaks and sewage overflows.

However, consumer groups have expressed concerns about the financial impact on households. Rhodri Williams, deputy chair of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), has called for an end to what he described as the “postcode lottery” of support available to struggling families. The CCW has proposed a unified system of financial assistance across Wales and England, stating that under such a scheme, “there would be more money to spend on assistance for customers in Wales” due to higher poverty levels compared to England.

Higher costs along the Wales-England border

Hafren Dyfrdwy, which serves approximately 87,000 customers along the Wales-England border, will see an even steeper increase, with bills rising by 32% from April. This will take the average annual bill from £447 to £590. The company, however, insists that its customers still “have the lowest bills in Wales and one of the lowest in the UK” and has pledged support for those struggling to meet payments.

Each water company operates its own system of social tariffs, offering discounted or capped bills for eligible customers. Welsh Water currently supports 150,000 customers with reduced bills and has announced an increase in its financial assistance packages from £63 million to £73 million over the next five years.

Political backlash over rising costs

Plaid Cymru has condemned the planned increases, arguing that consumers should not bear the cost of cleaning up Welsh waters. Delyth Jewell MS, the party’s spokesperson for Climate Change, stated: “Investing in the water network is, of course, necessary, but this increase in water bills will be difficult for households across Wales who are already struggling with rising costs. Consumers should not be footing the bill to clean up our water.”

Jewell further called for Wales to have direct control over its water, arguing: “Having full control over our water would enable us to tackle soaring water bills, better manage our resources, and properly address the problem of sewage.”

Conservatives and Lib Dems criticise Welsh Water’s performance

Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, also criticised the price hikes, pointing to Welsh Water’s track record of service disruptions and environmental concerns. She highlighted a series of incidents, including a major burst pipe at Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works in Dolgarrog, Conwy, that left 40,000 homes without water. Additionally, residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf were recently issued boil water notices, and Welsh beaches have recorded some of the highest levels of sewage discharge in England and Wales.

“This latest water bill hike from Dŷr Cymru is unacceptable,” said Finch-Saunders. “With Wales facing four times as many sewage discharges proportionally as England, and water bills set to become the highest in the UK, it feels like they’re flushing our money down the drain.”

She further accused the company of delaying necessary infrastructure upgrades: “Dŷr Cymru has been dragging its feet for years, and the public shouldn’t have to foot the bill for water companies’ long-standing failures and reluctance to upgrade their infrastructure until it’s far too late.”

Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick said: “Welsh customers are paying the price for Government incompetence.

“Under the last Conservative UK Government and current Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff Bay, Dwr Cymru was able to get away with minimal oversight.

“They spent years paying out excessive executive bonuses despite being a ‘non-profit’ and having one of the worst environmental records in the country.

“Welsh customers will now have the highest water bills in the UK, despite having some of the lowest incomes, it’s an absolute disgrace.

Calls for reform

As water bills continue to rise, pressure is mounting on regulators and the Welsh Government to introduce reforms to ensure fairness and accountability within the industry. With households facing mounting financial strain, consumer advocacy groups and political leaders are demanding urgent action to prevent further hardship for Welsh residents.

Business

Taxi fare shock in Milford Haven as drivers switch to meters

Published

41 minutes ago

March 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

TAXI passengers in Milford Haven are facing a sudden jump in fares, as drivers increasingly switch on their meters and charge full council-approved rates.

One Herald reader said a short return trip from Milford Haven to Neyland cost £30 — around double what he expected to pay.

But drivers insist the prices are not new — they are simply the official tariff now being applied.

Under Pembrokeshire County Council rules, the standard daytime fare starts at £4 for the first mile (£5 after 6pm), rising by around £3 per mile thereafter. Waiting time is also charged, meaning even short return journeys can quickly add up.

Higher rates apply in the evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays.

End of the £3 taxi

Milford Haven has long been known for cheap taxis, with short in-town journeys often costing as little as £3 — far below official rates.

That was down to competition, older vehicles, and the need to keep prices low in a town where many rely on affordable transport.

Drivers say those days are now over.

One local driver told The Herald: “People got used to cheap fares, but that was never the real price. Now we have to use the meter or we’re losing money.”

Fuel costs biting

Most taxis run on diesel, now around 170p per litre locally. For drivers covering long distances each day, the increase has hit hard.

Global tensions in the Middle East have pushed up oil prices, feeding directly into higher fuel costs in the UK.

With fare increases requiring a lengthy council process, many drivers say they have no option but to charge the full tariff.

Vulnerable hit hardest

The change is being felt most by those who rely on taxis the most.

Elderly residents, people on low incomes and those without access to a car are now facing higher everyday travel costs.

There has been no recent increase in Pembrokeshire’s official taxi fares, which have remained broadly unchanged since 2022.

The difference is simple: drivers are now charging them.

As one put it: “We’re not putting prices up — we’re just finally charging what we’re supposed to be charging.”

Business

Cardiff Airport expects Easter passenger surge as demand rises

Published

2 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CARDIFF AIRPORT is preparing for a busy Easter getaway, with more than 46,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport over the holiday period.

The figure represents an 18% increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting growing demand for both sunshine destinations and European city breaks.

The busiest routes this Easter are set to be Alicante, Dublin and Málaga, with flights operated by airlines including Ryanair, Vueling and TUI Airways.

Travellers heading for warmer weather can also take advantage of direct flights to the Canary Islands, including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, alongside popular destinations such as Faro and Palma.

The airport says the increase builds on a strong start to 2026, with passenger numbers continuing to rise.

Chief executive Jon Bridge said the airport is approaching the one million passenger mark and expects the summer season to be its busiest since the pandemic.

He said: “It’s been an incredibly positive start to the year, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more passengers over the Easter period.

“Our teams are working hard to ensure travellers can start their holidays smoothly.”

Passengers travelling over Easter are being advised to allow extra time for their journey and check with airlines for the latest updates.

A total of 46,158 passengers are expected to pass through the airport between March 27 and April 12, with arrivals and departures almost evenly split.

Cardiff Airport said it continues to expand its range of destinations, including the addition of a direct service to Toronto, as it looks to strengthen its role in connecting Wales to international travel.

Business

New pilot vessel Llanion arrives at Milford Haven

Published

4 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

State-of-the-art 22-metre craft marks reset after £3.6m pilot boat controversy

THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN has taken delivery of a new 22-metre pilot vessel, marking a major investment in safety and operational capability on one of the UK’s busiest waterways.

The vessel, named Llanion, has arrived in Welsh waters following a successful delivery voyage from the Netherlands, where it was built by Next Generation Shipyards.

Designed specifically for pilotage operations, the new craft features a modern hull design, self-righting capability, and advanced safety systems, enabling it to operate in challenging conditions while supporting the safe movement of vessels across the Milford Haven Waterway.

Its arrival effectively brings to a close a long-running saga surrounding a previous generation of pilot boats built locally in Pembrokeshire at a reported cost of around £3.6 million. The Pembrokeshire Herald previously reported extensively on the issue, including a front-page story highlighting concerns about the vessels’ performance and suitability for operational use.

Those vessels were later withdrawn from frontline service following safety concerns raised by crews.

Since taking over as Chief Executive, Tom Sawyer has overseen a shift in direction at the Port, with a stronger emphasis on operational reliability, safety and long-term performance. The commissioning of Llanion is widely seen as part of that reset, addressing issues that had affected confidence in the pilot fleet.

Tom Sawyer said: “This project is a testament to collaboration and innovation. Working closely with our partners and our own technical teams, we now have a vessel that reflects the highest standards of design, safety and operational capability.

“Llanion will play a key role in supporting the safe and reliable movement of vessels on the Milford Haven Waterway for years to come.”

The new vessel is the result of a five-year collaboration between the Port of Milford Haven, naval architects BMT, Camarc Design and the Dutch shipyard, with Port teams closely involved throughout.

Dirk Keizer, Technical Director at Next Generation Shipyards, said the company was “extremely proud” to deliver the vessel, adding that it “excels in safety, performance and reliability.”

Ed Soothill, Technical Director at Camarc Design, said it was “wonderful to see Llanion arriving in Milford Haven,” while Steven Lee, Chief Naval Architect at BMT, described the vessel as “the Port’s next generation pilot boat.”

The Port of Milford Haven is the UK’s largest energy port and a key economic driver in Pembrokeshire, supporting thousands of jobs and handling a significant share of Britain’s oil and gas imports.

Photo caption:

New arrival: The Port of Milford Haven’s 22-metre pilot vessel Llanion (Pic: Port of Milford Haven).