Climate

Children fear heavy rain as flood report warns Wales is falling behind

Published

6 months ago

November 13, 2025

CHILDREN in Wales are now afraid to go to bed when it rains heavily due to the “hidden scars” left by repeated flooding, the Senedd has heard.

The warning comes as a Senedd report found Wales risks “falling behind” England on forecasting technology, leaving communities vulnerable to increasing extreme weather.

Llŷr Gruffydd, who chairs the climate committee, led an inquiry into the response to storms Bert and Darragh which battered Wales from Pontypridd to Holyhead this time last year.

He said people in Pontypridd received no flood warning for storm Bert until water was “over a foot deep” and the town was “let down” by failed promises made since storm Dennis.

His Plaid Cymru colleague Heledd Fychan echoed this, telling the Senedd of people being told by officials to “ring back if the water starts coming in” when they called for sandbags.

Mr Gruffydd urged the Welsh Government to ensure Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has access to the latest forecasting technologies and sufficient funding. “We need to ensure that Wales doesn’t fall behind in this regard,” he said.

Plaid Cymru MS Llyr Gruffydd — Plaid Cymru MS Llŷr Gruffydd

Mr Gruffydd explained: “We heard that technical limitations might be affecting the accuracy of flood forecasting in Wales, which is very concerning to us as a committee.

“We’re currently seeing divergence from England where there’s greater focus and investment on computational modelling in forecasting and longer lead times, and piloting forecasts for surface water flooding.”

The Plaid Cymru politician expressed concerns about the level of public engagement with weather and flood warnings remaining “worryingly low” in Wales.

He was particularly concerned about disparities among poorer households and those who are digitally excluded – with only 9% of low-income households in the UK signed up for warnings compared with 31% in affluent areas, according to the British Red Cross.

Mr Gruffydd raised an “urgent need” for utilities firms to maintain a unified priority service register of vulnerable customers due to often inaccurate and out-of-date systems.

The Welsh Government accepted most of the committee’s recommendations but rejected calls to review the adequacy of emergency funding. Ministers also rejected calls for grants to enable families and businesses to put preventative measures in place, such as floodgates.

During the November 12 debate, Mr Gruffydd said: “This is particularly concerning given the evidence we heard about the impact of flooding events on mental health.

“Contributors to our inquiry described the emotional toll of coping with the aftermath of the damage and the persistent uncertainty surrounding extreme weather events.”

Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservatives’ shadow climate secretary, was baffled by ministers rejecting calls to review emergency funding.

She said: “The inquiry found that residents and businesses reported that the emergency support and funding was not anywhere near sufficient to cover the damage.”

Labour’s Mick Antoniw, who represents Pontypridd, highlighted that £100m has been invested in flood defences in Rhondda Cynon Taf since storm Dennis in 2020.

But he acknowledged improvements elsewhere were “no consolation” to constituents in Sion Street and Egypt Street who were flooded again during storms Bert and Darragh. He warned of “big issues” on affordable insurance for businesses and renters in flood-risk areas.

South Wales East's Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell — South Wales East’s Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell

Delyth Jewell, Plaid Cymru’s shadow climate secretary, said: “The kinds of storms that used to be considered a once-in-a-century event are now happening on an almost annual basis.”

She warned of the “hidden scars” as well as the physical damage wrought by flooding.

Ms Jewell said: “I know families where children fear going to bed when it’s raining heavily because they fear that they will lose everything that’s downstairs. They fear whether their pets will be safe overnight because they have suffered flooding in the past.”

Huw Irranca-Davies, the Deputy First Minister and climate secretary, stated the Welsh Government has invested £77m in flood resilience this year – a record allocation.

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies

He said NRW now operates a “clearer, more timely” 24/7 flood warning information system, which has been refined in light of lessons learned from each storm in recent years.

Mr Irranca-Davies pledged: “We will continue to listen, to learn and to invest in the solutions that safeguard our communities and our natural environment.”

Business

Pembroke Power Station National Grid shutdown power plans

Published

14 hours ago

May 1, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to site specialist diesel generators at Pembroke Power Station to help keep the lights on in the event of a National Grid shutdown has been lodged with county planners.

In a screening application to Pembrokeshire County Council, RWE Generation UK PLC, through Ove Arup & Partners Ltd, wants to site up to six containerised diesel generators, diesel storage tank(s) and electrical connections at Pembroke Power Station, Pwllcrochan, near Pembroke.

The application site is within the site of the existing Pembroke Power Station, a combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) station which began commercial operation in September 2012, with a gross consented capacity of about 2,199 megawatts electric (MWe), replacing the previous oil-fired power station which operated for almost 30 years and was decommissioned in 1999.

A supporting statement says, subject to confirmation, it is considered to comprise permitted development, the scheme “a standalone plant, with its own fuel supply, capable of starting up, operating and shutting down independently from the power station”.

It adds: “It is required only in an emergency to maintain plant status and keep the power station operationally ‘ready’ in the event of a total or partial shutdown of the National Grid system. It is not required for the normal operation of the power station and does not extend its capacity, which remains as already consented, therefore it is not considered a change or extension.”

On need, it says it is mandatory that all electricity generators of over a megawatt have to adopt a new minimum standard of asset resilience; power stations “must be capable of restoring demand on the National Grid electricity transmission system in the event of a total or partial shutdown of the National Grid system”.

“The Power Station does not currently meet this new asset resilience standard, therefore new back-up power, control philosophy and on-site services that support site critical systems enabling the power station to remain ready to operate must be implemented.

“RWE is required to install a new enhanced emergency site auxiliary solution (diesel generators and diesel storage tanks) at the power station for resilience against the failure of the interconnected electricity distribution network into which it is normally connected in order to satisfy the Grid Code requirements by the mandated implementation deadline of December 31, 2026.

“RWE will make operational and fuelling provision, within its new resilience design at Pembroke power station of up to 120 hours, in order to provide capability to a slightly enhanced standard known to be valued by the National Energy System Operator (‘NESO’) in certain emergency network scenarios.”

It says construction is hoped to start in July 2026, lasting approximately nine to 12 months, the main part across the summer months.

The call will be considered by county planners at a later date.

Business

Pembrokeshire St Brides Castle biomass and solar scheme

Published

18 hours ago

May 1, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for a green energy scheme at a Pembrokeshire former country house which is now holiday apartments have been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, HPB Ltd, through agent Acanthus Holden Architects, sought permission for a biomass boiler plant and installation of 16 rows of solar panels to the south of the tennis courts, St Brides Castle, St Brides, along with the removal of two tennis courts, two polytunnels, two sheds and relocation of a container.

Marloes and St Brides Community Council: Supporting

An officer report recommending approval said: “St Brides Castle. Listed Grade II* is a former country house (now holiday apartments) just south-west of the small settlement of St Brides.

“The house and its listed ancillary buildings stand prominently within a large grade-II-registered park and garden. The development site lies immediately south of the registered asset, outside of its boundary.”

It added: “Although in a sensitive location, the proposed scheme is well-screened, utilising an existing hedged enclosure. The proposed panels do not protrude over the hedge line, the proposed extra planting to the south and west providing further screening. The proposed building, also well-screened, is of traditional design, proportions and materials.”

The application was conditionally approved by park planners.

Climate

Climate campaigners call for action ahead of Senedd election

Published

4 days ago

April 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

NEW polling suggests voters in Wales want stronger action on climate change, nature recovery, clean energy and pollution ahead of next month’s Senedd election.

Climate Cymru, a coalition of organisations, communities and campaigners, said the findings showed public concern remained high as Wales prepares to go to the polls on Thursday, May 7.

The polling, highlighted by Climate Cymru partners including Friends of the Earth Cymru, WWF Cymru and RSPB Cymru, found that six in ten people in Wales said they were worried about climate change.

Concern was even higher among younger people, with 78 per cent of 16 to 29-year-olds saying they were worried.

The research also pointed to growing concern about the impact of climate change on daily life, including extreme weather, food insecurity, poverty and the wider economic consequences for communities across Wales.

Climate Cymru said the findings showed strong support for practical measures including warmer homes, home energy efficiency schemes, community-led renewable energy, and the expansion of solar and wind power.

The Friends of the Earth Cymru polling found that 81 per cent supported funding for home energy efficiency, 75 per cent backed community-led renewable energy, 83 per cent supported solar power, 72 per cent supported offshore wind, and 65 per cent supported onshore wind.

Nature recovery was also highlighted as a major public priority.

RSPB Cymru polling found that 74 per cent of people in Wales supported legal targets for nature recovery, while 76 per cent wanted governments to do more to tackle nature loss. A further 77 per cent said they wanted to see more wildlife thriving in local green spaces.

WWF polling found strong support for action on water pollution, with 87 per cent backing measures to tackle river pollution, 81 per cent supporting a target to halve freshwater pollution by 2030, and 79 per cent supporting the restoration of seagrass, saltmarsh and oyster reefs.

Climate Cymru said Wales had seen a 20 per cent decline in wildlife since 1994, with one in six species threatened with extinction nationally.

A Climate Cymru spokesperson said: “The message from the public is clear: people want political leaders to match the scale of the climate and nature crises with bold, practical policies that improve everyday life.”

The coalition is calling on all parties contesting the Senedd election to commit to clean energy, warmer homes, stronger legal protections for nature, urgent action on river pollution, and support for nature-friendly farming.