News

Senedd reveals estimated £4.22m costs of expanding debating chamber

Published

2 months ago

September 25, 2025

WORK to expand the Senedd’s debating chamber to accommodate more politicians will cost the public purse an estimated £4.22m – up nearly 30% on an initial estimate.

Construction work on the Siambr began this year with the Welsh Parliament set to expand from 60 to 96 members at the next election in May 2026.

The Senedd commission earlier estimated the total costs of chamber-related works at £3.25m, according to its response to a freedom of information (FoI) request in May 2025.

Now, the commission – which is the corporate body responsible for the Senedd estate and support services – has confirmed the refurbishment will cost taxpayers nearer £4.22m.

During today’s (September 24) questions to the commission, James Evans asked for an update on the costs of the new chamber and expected timelines for completing the work.

Elin Jones, the speaker or Llywydd, was confident Senedd members would return to the new Siambr following the spring half term in late February.

Ms Jones said: “The latest estimate for the full costs of the works is £4.22m. This cost will be fully funded from the Senedd reform budget for this current year.”

Mr Evans, who represents Brecon and Radnorshire, responded: “I’m totally against Senedd expansion and the spending of that £4.22m as you’ve outlined.”

The Conservative added: “It’s important if we are spending that money that we are making sure Welsh businesses are benefiting from the work that is being done and we’re using Welsh materials, so that money is being reinvested back into our economy.”

Ms Jones said all public tendering work was clear about the commission’s preference for Welsh companies and materials. She confirmed the main contractor is Welsh.

Politicians have moved to Siambr Hywel in Tŷ Hywel, the red-brick building linked to the Senedd by glass walkways, while work is ongoing to accommodate 36 more members.

Senedd members moved back into Siambr Hywel – where the then-National Assembly for Wales met from 1999 to 2006 – in April 2025.

The work includes removing the back wall to make more space, replacing the back corridor with small lobbies and removing steps to make the Siambr more accessible. Desks will be installed for 96 members – with a refit of circulation, lighting and audio-visual systems.

The second and third floors of Tŷ Hywel are also being reconfigured to create more offices.

Over the summer, in response to a separate FoI request, the Senedd commission committed to publishing an itemised list of the spending on refurbishment in autumn 2025.

News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

35 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

3 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 last week, 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 on
shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 26th November, 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, has arrived in Pembroke Port today 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 last week 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.

The Weather conditions are currently were favourable for this morning’s the 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 early next year, 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

3 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.