News

Sea swimming fears grow amid sewage scandal and political pressure

Published

4 months ago

August 4, 2025

NEW data reveals that almost half of people in Britain say they would never swim in the sea during the summer — the news comes amid growing anger over sewage pollution, including on Pembrokeshire’s beaches.

A new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats found that 44% of people would not swim in the sea, up six percentage points in just two years. This comes despite the UK Government’s pledge to halve sewage spills by 2030.

The survey also revealed little public faith in that target. Fewer than one in five (18%) said they would be more likely to swim if sewage spills were halved, while 19% said they would be less likely. Nearly half (45%) said they still would not swim even if the target was met.

Almost three in ten (29%) of those who currently swim in the sea during summer now say they have stopped altogether because of sewage dumping — up from 23% in 2023.

Protests in Pembrokeshire

In May, around 200 people joined a “Paddle Out” protest at Broad Haven, organised by Surfers Against Sewage, to highlight repeated sewage discharges and demand urgent action from Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water. Campaigners warned that pollution threatens public health and the tourism economy.

Welsh Water has previously admitted to sewage discharges into Pembrokeshire waters, but says these are legal storm overflow releases during heavy rainfall to prevent flooding. The company says it is investing millions in infrastructure to reduce the need for overflows.

Local concerns
Some Pembrokeshire residents say their confidence in the safety of local waters has been badly shaken. Last year, Tenby mother Jayne Etherington said her daughter became seriously ill with E. coli after swimming at Amroth, warning that people “can’t swim safely” without checking pollution alerts.

On social media, beachgoers have voiced anger at the number of Pembrokeshire bathing spots affected by sewage warnings, with one commenting that it covers “basically the entire coast.”

Political voices
Mid & South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell has repeatedly pressed Welsh Water over its environmental record and executive pay while sewage discharges continue. He has highlighted figures showing the equivalent of 17 tanker-loads of sewage a day being released into a protected conservation area in Haverfordwest as “simply unacceptable.”

Tufnell has chaired public meetings on river and coastal water quality, worked with local environmental groups such as The Cleddau Project, and called for tougher regulation and enforcement. He regularly checks water-quality monitoring data for Pembrokeshire’s beaches and has raised concerns over conditions in Newport and Fishguard.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate for Ceredigion Penfro, Sandra Jervis, has also made water quality a campaign priority. She says both the UK and Welsh Governments have failed to address the sewage scandal and is calling for a ban on executive bonuses at water companies, higher fines for polluters, and stronger regulatory powers.

Welsh Water response
Welsh Water says it is committed to cutting sewage spills by investing in upgrades, better monitoring, and nature-based solutions. It points to Natural Resources Wales data showing most Pembrokeshire bathing waters rated “good” or “excellent” last season.

The company says it operates within environmental permits and that meeting the 2030 target will require continued cooperation between water companies, governments, regulators and communities.

Protecting Pembrokeshire’s coastline
While campaigners, politicians and residents may disagree on the pace of change, there is broad agreement that Pembrokeshire’s coastline is central to its identity, economy and quality of life. The question now is not whether action is needed — but how quickly it can be delivered.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Candidate for Ceredigion Penfro (Ceredigion & Pembrokshire) Sandra Jervis said: “This coastline crisis threatens to wreck Welsh summers, with people afraid of swimming in the sea due to rampant sewage dumping. These polluting firms have been let off the hook at every turn, and it is our local environments and people’s summer holidays that are suffering the consequences.

“In communities like mine, the sewage crisis poses a serious risk not only to wildlife and human health, but also to our thriving tourism industry.

“Both the UK and Welsh Governments have failed to get to grips with this crisis, and the public expect more than a job half done.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will be running on a platform to clean up our waterways for good at next year’s Senedd elections. That means a full ban on water company executive bonuses, higher and more persistent fines for breaches and for a strong regulatory body that actually enforces the rules.”

***Sandra Jervis testing coastal waters: She joined campaigners in checking for signs of pollution, as fears grow over the impact of sewage discharges on Welsh beaches*** (Image: Supplied)

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.

Local Government

Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure

SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.

“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.

Urgent works underway

Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.

Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.

Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.

Further updates are expected later this week.