FISHGUARD and Goodwick Town Council has held two site meetings with transport officials to address pedestrian safety and longstanding traffic congestion problems in the area.

The first meeting took place with the South Wales Trunk Road Agency (SWTRA) in central Fishguard, where councillors reviewed existing pedestrian crossings and explored options for additional crossing points.

A second meeting was held in Lower Town Fishguard involving local representatives including Paul Davies MS and Ben Lake MP, alongside SWTRA and Welsh Government officials. Discussions focused on ongoing congestion and safety concerns on the narrow route through Lower Town and across the bridge.

The timing of the visit highlighted the issue, with the meeting reportedly delayed after a lorry became stuck in the area.

The Town Council said the discussions were productive, with Welsh Government representatives confirming that new traffic monitoring cameras will be introduced. The cameras are intended to gather detailed data on the length and width of vehicles travelling through the route.

Officials are also considering the possible introduction of priority access arrangements on the bridge as part of efforts to improve traffic flow and safety.

The long-discussed possibility of a separate pedestrian footbridge remains under consideration. However, the Town Council acknowledged that the proposal faces significant challenges, including flooding risks, environmental constraints, planning issues and costs.

Councillors shared findings from a recent local survey during the meeting and said they hope to collect pedestrian footfall data on the bridge, which will also be provided to Welsh Government to support future decision-making.

AN OPPOSITION councillor has asked the Plaid Cymru-Independent administration for an inquiry into its costly Debenhams redevelopment project at a key budget meeting.

Cllr Kevin Madge, of Labour in Carmarthenshire, said it was needed to “restore public confidence.” He also wanted to know when work would start on long-awaited new Ysgol Heol Goffa special school.

It came during a debate about the council’s five-year capital budget. This is money for things like new schools, care homes, refuse lorries, and town centre  regeneration schemes.

Local authorities have to approve a five-year capital budget and a majority of councillors went on to approve Carmarthenshire’s £149.7m programme with £68m of that pencilled in for 2026-27.

It doesn’t include underspends on existing projects which are now estimated, according to a budget report, at around £71m.

The five-year programme includes a phased £16.7m relocation of Llanelli indoor market to the former Woolworths building in nearby Vaughan Street and a £2m demolition of the car park above the market.

Cllr Alun Lenny, cabinet member for resources, said this move had been agreed “step by step” with market traders.

There’s £13.6m for a new council care home in Cwmgwili in 2026-27 with £7m to be carried over from the current financial year.

Meanwhile £5.2m is allocated to the ongoing extension of Ysgol Bryngwyn, Llanelli, £3.5m for refuse vehicles, and £3.7m for the Debenhams revamp in Carmarthen.

The council stepped in when Debenhams went into administration in 2021 and work is well under way on a new council, leisure, and health hub – to be called Atriwm – at the empty St Catherine’s Walk Shopping Centre store in Carmarthen.

But costs have risen considerably and it emerged last month that a structural defect had been identified that hadn’t been picked up during inspections and surveys. It’s forecast the conversion will cost £41m with £28.2m coming from the UK and Welsh Governments and £12.8m from the council.

Cllr Lenny said: “It will be a fantastic resource for the town and its rural hinterland.”

Cllr Madge called for an independent inquiry into the scheme. His party, he said, had “tremendous concerns over governance and project control” and wanted to know what ongoing maintenance costs would be.

He said: “An independent review of this project is now warranted to ensure transparency and restore public confidence.”

Cllr Lenny said the council had a choice in 2021 to step in or “wash our hands of it” and opted for the former. He thanked residents for putting up with the works-related traffic lights. He has previously asked for a full report for councillors and the public about the structural defect.

Cllr Lenny also referred to a report by a retail analyst firm called MRI Software which said Carmarthen town centre had experienced a 19% footfall surge in 2025 compared to the previous year – a rise second only to Ballycastle in Northern Ireland.

Cllr Madge also asked when a new Ysgol Goffa special school would finally be built in Llanelli. It follows years of preparations and delays. Cllr Lenny said a schedule of accommodation for the new 150-place school had been completed and that designs were being finalised.

Planning permission and Welsh Government backing would be needed. The council, he said, remained in constant communication with Ysgol Heol Goffa.

Cllr Madge also wondered when new schools in Ammanford, Llanybydder, and Llandeilo would be built.

Among the projects included in the programme for next year are £4.85m for roads including drainage work, £2.2m to complete the 15-mile Towy Valley cycle path, a £1.2m demolition of the former Llanelli leisure centre, £1.2m for mobile classrooms at Carway Community Primrary School, Kidwelly, following its closure due to a structural issue, a £1m Burry Port harbour investment, £1m for a children’s residential home, and £200,000 for flood mitigation works.

The capital budget will be funded by government grants, the sale of council assets, and borrowing and reserves.

Cllr Madge said Labour supported some but not all of the proposed budget and that it wouldn’t be voting for it in its current format.

Cllr Lenny said no alternative budget or amendments had been put forward by Labour and, reeling off several of the projects mentioned above, he said: “If you vote against the budget you vote against the lot.”

CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has approved its revenue budget for 2026-27, confirming a 4.9% increase in council tax alongside £9.6 million in spending reductions.

The agreed rise is lower than the originally proposed 6.5%, following a period of public consultation with residents, schools, businesses and other stakeholders across the county. The reduction was also made possible by a £5 million saving from the Dyfed Pension Fund employer contribution and additional funding from the Welsh Government.

Council tax currently raises around 17% of the authority’s income, with approximately 70% of the net budget funded through Welsh Government grants.

Cabinet Member for Resources Cllr Alun Lenny said the final budget reflected feedback gathered during the consultation process.

“The Budget Strategy approved at Full Council responds to the valuable feedback raised as part of the public consultation process and ensures, as far as possible, that service levels and standards are maintained,” he said.

He added that additional Welsh Government funding — almost £6.5 million — had improved the council’s financial position by nearly £3 million and removed a projected £3.5 million shortfall.

More than 1,200 people, including residents, school staff, town and community councils, unions, scrutiny committees and young people, responded to the consultation.

As a result, the final budget includes amendments totalling £850,000 and removes some previously proposed cuts.

Changes include the restoration of £160,000 for highways, a 50% reduction in the planned increase to school meal costs, and the removal of a proposal to close Pendine Outdoor Education Centre in 2027-28 to allow further feasibility work.

Savings affecting the Families Together Team have also been withdrawn.

The council said the budget also includes additional investment in property maintenance, the modernising education team, increased support for the Welsh language in education, and further investment in highways.