News

Warning of ‘deepening risks’ to local economy as ferry disruption continues

Published

2 months ago

December 12, 2025

Calls grow for urgent resilience plan as routes face repeated cancellations

PAUL DAVIES MS and Samuel Kurtz MS have issued a renewed warning over the fragility of Welsh–Irish connectivity, after a series of cancelled sailings once again highlighted the strategic importance of Pembrokeshire’s Irish Sea ports.

Several crossings on the Rosslare–Pembroke Dock and Rosslare–Fishguard routes were cancelled over the weekend, prompting concerns about the long-term reliability of services that thousands of passengers, hauliers and businesses depend on each year.

The disruption comes at a time when Terminal 5 at Holyhead remains closed, and just twelve months after severe damage to berthing infrastructure there caused major delays across the UK–Ireland network. With Holyhead still unable to operate at full strength, the two Pembrokeshire ports now carry a disproportionate share of Wales’ Irish Sea traffic — a shift that local Members of the Senedd say has not been matched with the investment or planning required.

‘Southern Corridor now carrying the weight’

Both Members stressed that Pembroke Dock and Fishguard have effectively become the backbone of the Southern Corridor, absorbing diverted freight, seasonal passenger surges and commercial pressures that were previously spread more evenly across Welsh ports.

They say that any interruption now has amplified consequences — not only for local hauliers and employers, but for the reliability of the UK supply chain during the busiest trading period of the year.

The crossings, they argue, underpin jobs across Pembrokeshire’s logistics, hospitality and retail sectors, and ensure that essential goods ranging from food to pharmaceuticals continue to move smoothly into the county.

Paul Davies: ‘We need answers — and long-term resilience’

Paul Davies MS said the latest cancellations highlight a need for “clear communication and firm commitment” from operators.

“These crossings play a key role in connecting communities and are strategically vital routes for Wales, Ireland and the wider UK,” he said. “As a result, any disruption can cause challenges for businesses and supply chains, and so it’s vital that operators keep people as informed as possible and work to maintain reliable services.

“Moving forward we must look at how we can build long-term resilience into these routes, and that means strengthening the engagement between operators, government and local stakeholders in order to protect and support these vital routes for the future.”

Mr Davies said the public deserved transparency about the cancelled sailings, adding that operators should explain what steps are being taken to ensure stability going into 2026, particularly as freight volumes continue to rise.

Kurtz: ‘This is a red flag for the Christmas supply chain’

Samuel Kurtz MS said the timing of the disruption could not be worse for local businesses.

“These routes are not simply transport links; they are economic lifelines, and operators must provide assurances that their contingency planning is strong enough to prevent disruption at such a critical trading period,” he said.

“The failure to move key freight ahead of Christmas is especially concerning, given how heavily local supply chains rely on timely deliveries at this point in the year. When sailings are cancelled at short notice, the pressure on our local haulage firms intensifies significantly, forcing them to absorb delays, reroute vehicles, and manage rising costs.”

Mr Kurtz added that the cumulative effect of repeated cancellations risked undermining confidence among businesses choosing between Welsh ports and alternatives elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.

Call for joint Welsh–UK action

Both Members urged the Welsh Government and the UK Department for Transport to work together on a formal Southern Corridor resilience strategy, ensuring that Pembrokeshire’s ports receive the investment, dredging support, and infrastructure planning needed to manage increased traffic.

Industry representatives have privately warned that further cancellations over the festive period could lead to stock shortages and reduced availability for retailers in west Wales.

Davies and Kurtz say the message is simple: Pembrokeshire’s Irish Sea links can no longer be treated as secondary to Holyhead.

“They are now central to the economic health of west Wales,” they said, “and government must act accordingly.”

Crime

Two arrested after high-value shoplifting incident in Kilgetty

Published

29 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of shoplifting following a rapid police response to a reported high-value theft at a supermarket in Kilgetty.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were called to the Co-op store at around 3.35pm on Wednesday (Jan 28), after a report that a large quantity of alcohol and other items had been stolen.

Using information provided by the caller, Roads Policing Unit officers worked closely with control room staff to identify a vehicle believed to be involved. Several patrol cars were deployed, and the vehicle was located a short time later travelling east.

Police said the safety of all those involved was treated as a priority, with specialist Tactical Pursuit and Containment (TPAC) advice obtained while officers maintained constant observation of the vehicle.

The car was brought to a safe stop on a back road approaching Hendy, involving three Roads Policing Unit vehicles. No injuries or damage were reported.

Following roadside checks, two men — aged 67 and 46 — were arrested on suspicion of theft from a shop.

Both remain in police custody while enquiries continue.

Police said the swift response helped prevent further offending and demonstrated the effectiveness of specialist roads policing officers acting on real-time intelligence.

Climate

Breaking down barriers between finance and industry in offshore renewables sector

Published

39 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

EARLIER this week, Marine Energy Wales brought together senior representatives from national and devolved finance institutions with developers, ports and supply-chain companies operating across Wales’ offshore renewable energy sector for a dedicated finance roundtable in Pembroke Dock. Attendance was limited to premium MEW members to allow for frank, focused discussion.

The session was intentionally designed to be different.

Rather than relying on formal presentations or sales pitches, the roundtable created a facilitated, closed-door space for open dialogue. Finance organisations were able to explain clearly how they operate, what types of projects they can support, and where constraints still exist. Industry participants, in turn, set out the real-world challenges they are facing across tidal energy, floating offshore wind, port infrastructure and supply-chain development.

What emerged was more than information sharing—it was a clearer, shared understanding of how decisions are made on both sides.

From siloed conversations to shared problem-solving

A consistent theme from the discussion was that significant public and institutional finance is now available to support clean energy projects. However, navigating that landscape remains complex, particularly for early-stage developments, smaller supply-chain businesses and emerging technologies.

By bringing the right people into the room at the same time, the roundtable helped to:

demystify how different finance bodies assess risk, scale and project readiness
highlight where policy ambition, market signals and investment criteria are not yet aligned
identify opportunities where better sequencing and coordination of funding could unlock progress
establish direct relationships that will support follow-up conversations beyond the room

The discussion also surfaced where gaps remain. In particular, the need for clearer market signals and more tailored support for tidal stream and other early-stage marine technologies was repeatedly raised. These are challenges that are difficult to address in isolation, but far more productive to tackle collectively.

The value of convening

For Marine Energy Wales, the roundtable reinforced the importance of our role as a neutral convener for the sector.

Members consistently tell us that access to finance is one of the most significant barriers to progress—not only in terms of capital availability, but in understanding how to engage effectively with funders. At the same time, finance organisations are keen to deepen their understanding of project development timelines, technology risk and the scale of Welsh supply-chain ambition.

Creating space for those conversations is where real value is added.

This is not about Marine Energy Wales brokering individual deals. It is about building shared understanding, reducing friction, and helping to align finance, policy and industry around credible pathways to delivery.

What comes next

This roundtable was not a one-off.

Marine Energy Wales is committed to continuing this work, developing structured and trusted forums where finance, industry and government can engage early, openly and constructively. As Wales moves from ambition to delivery in offshore wind and tidal energy, these relationships and conversations will be critical to ensuring projects are investable, deliverable and anchored in Welsh economic benefit.

We will continue to work with our members and partners to identify priority issues, convene the right voices, and help turn opportunity into tangible outcomes on the ground.

Business

Eight-year prison sentence after vehicle stop uncovers drugs worth over £150,000

Published

1 hour ago

January 29, 2026

Court Reporter

A ROUTINE vehicle stop by roads policing officers has led to an eight-year prison sentence after more than £150,000 worth of illegal drugs were discovered in a car in Pembrokeshire.

On Friday, January 2, officers from the Roads Policing Unit stopped a grey Seat Ateca on Hoyland Road, Pembroke. The vehicle was being driven by 43-year-old Dean Evans.

During the stop, Evans told officers they would find “stuff” in the car. He and the vehicle were subsequently searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A search of the boot uncovered a cardboard box containing a one-kilogram block of cocaine and ten half-kilogram packages of herbal cannabis. The street value of the drugs was estimated to be well in excess of £150,000.

Evans was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs. He was later charged with possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

The 43-year-old pleaded guilty at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, January 3.

On Thursday, January 28, Evans was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to eight years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis.

DC Jones, from Dyfed-Powys Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “Tackling the supply of illegal drugs is a priority for Dyfed-Powys Police, and the misery that illegal drugs bring to local communities will not be tolerated.

“We welcome the sentence passed to Dean Evans, given the large quantity of harmful drugs he was caught trafficking into Pembrokeshire.