A CELEBRATION of the Cleddau will take place in Haverfordwest this weekend as the town’s River Festival returns for a second year.

The event will be held on Saturday (June 13), from 10:00am until late, centred on HaverHub and stretching along the quay towards the Bristol Trader.

Organised by The Cleddau Project, the family-friendly festival will include guided walks, demonstrations, art, science activities, live music, market stalls, free canoe trips and a boat race.

The event aims to celebrate the beauty, wildlife and heritage of the Cleddau, while encouraging more people to make use of the river and riverside area.

Organisers said the weather is looking promising and have invited families to “come on down” and enjoy the day.

Groups involved include West Wales Rivers Trust, Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, Paddle West and Pembrokeshire Marine Wildlife.

Opposition parties clash over flagship pledge as Senedd debate exposes growing divisions

PLAID CYMRU’S flagship promise to create what it describes as the “most generous childcare offer in the United Kingdom” has become the centre of an increasingly bitter political row, with questions mounting over cost, delivery and whether the plans are fully developed.

In a week of political sparring in Cardiff Bay, both Reform Wales and the Welsh Conservatives accused the Plaid-led Government of failing to explain how the policy will be funded or when families will actually see the promised support.

At the same time, Reform and the Conservatives turned on each other in the Senedd chamber, accusing rival MSs of hypocrisy over childcare votes.

The increasingly heated exchanges underline how childcare is emerging as one of the first major battlegrounds of the new Senedd term.

PROMISES UNDER PRESSURE

Plaid Cymru campaigned heavily on a pledge to expand childcare support across Wales, describing it as a transformational policy for working families.

However, critics say ministers have yet to provide detailed costings, timelines or clear implementation plans.

The concerns first surfaced following comments made by Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams in an ITV Wales interview, where she suggested detailed planning for the scheme had not yet begun.

That prompted criticism from Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Minister for Education, Families and Constitution Sam Rowlands MS.

Mr Rowlands said: “Improving childcare in Wales is important and can provide the support many parents need, but Plaid cannot roll out their flagship policy without being honest about how it will be funded.

“The Deputy First Minister’s comments in an ITV interview that Plaid have not yet begun planning how this will be fully delivered are extremely concerning.”

The Conservatives argued that because Plaid had supported Labour’s budget prior to entering government, ministers should have already developed a workable delivery model.

Mr Rowlands added: “The Welsh Conservatives believe that any funding for this policy must not come from cuts to essential services.”

REFORM: ‘ALL TALK, NO DELIVERY’

Reform Wales later escalated the criticism, accusing Plaid ministers of prioritising announcements over delivery.

Responding to a Welsh Government childcare statement this week, Reform Wales Deputy Leader and Shadow Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language Helen Jenner MS said families had still not been given meaningful clarity.

Ms Jenner said: “Plaid Cymru’s manifesto promised what it described as the most generous childcare offer in the United Kingdom, but there is still no clarity on cost, funding or delivery timelines.

“Today’s statement has offered more talk of working groups, planning exercises and future phases, rather than clear delivery or firm commitments.”

Reform said parents deserved “full transparency” over how the childcare offer would be funded and delivered.

SENEDD DEBATE TURNS INTO POLITICAL BRAWL

The argument intensified dramatically during a Senedd debate on childcare on Wednesday (Jun 10).

The original Reform motion criticised the Welsh Government’s approach to childcare, but amendments tabled by Plaid Cymru changed the wording before the final vote.

The amended motion ultimately passed by 61 votes to 29, with one abstention.

The debate triggered a furious exchange between Reform and the Conservatives.

Conservative MS Sam Rowlands accused Reform Members of the Senedd of effectively criticising their own party after 11 Reform MSs voted for an amended motion which noted Reform UK had made no childcare commitments in its Welsh manifesto.

“What surprised everyone was that 11 Reform MSs voted with us and Plaid to attack their own party,” Mr Rowlands said.

“Either Reform MSs have no idea what they were doing or one third have decided to attack their own party.”

REFORM HITS BACK

Reform Wales quickly responded, accusing the Conservatives of siding with Plaid Cymru and helping the Government avoid scrutiny.

Dan Thomas MS, Reform Wales Leader of the Opposition, said the Conservatives had effectively given ministers a “blank cheque”.

Mr Thomas said: “The Conservatives had a perfect opportunity to stand with Reform Wales and hold this Plaid Cymru minority government to account.

“Instead, they chose to side with the Government and have effectively written the Government a blank cheque on a policy expected to cost hundreds of millions of pounds.”

He added: “The people of Wales deserve full transparency on every major policy brought forward by this administration.”

WHO IS RIGHT?

Behind the political point-scoring lies a genuine policy question: how much will expanded childcare cost, and how quickly can it realistically be delivered?

Plaid Cymru’s childcare pledge was one of the centrepieces of its election offer to families. But critics argue that major reforms of this scale usually require significant workforce expansion, new childcare capacity and detailed cost modelling.

Supporters of the policy say investment in childcare pays for itself through higher employment, better early-years development and lower long-term social costs.

The Herald understands ministers are expected to face increasing pressure in the coming weeks to publish more detailed plans, including funding arrangements and delivery timetables.

For now, childcare has become one of the first major flashpoints of the new Senedd — exposing fault lines not only between government and opposition, but between opposition parties competing to define themselves as the toughest critics of Plaid Cymru’s minority administration.

Town’s civic leaders praised as event highlights community spirit

A HOST of civic dignitaries and community representatives joined residents for this year’s Milford Haven Founders Day, helping to mark the town’s annual celebration of its heritage and community spirit.

The event, held on Saturday, welcomed mayors and representatives from towns across Pembrokeshire, alongside police officers, clergy and local business leaders.

Milford Haven Founders Day organisers thanked guests for attending and supporting the occasion, describing their presence as helping to make the day “even more special”.

Among those attending were the Mayor of Milford Haven, Mark Woodward, accompanied by Mayoress Evija Upeniece Woodward; the Mayor of Haverfordwest, Councillor Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner, accompanied by Mayoress and Sheriff Councillor Dani Thomas-Turner; the Mayor of Pembroke, Jonathan Grimes; the Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Councillor Tony Wilcox; and the Mayor of Neyland, Councillor Peter Hay, accompanied by Mayoress Mitzy Hay.

The event also welcomed local Police Community Support Officers from Milford Haven and Neyland Police, Reverend Dr Adrian Furse of St Katharine and St Peter’s Church, Milford Haven, Milford Haven Business Circle chairman Byron Thomas Jenkins, and treasurer Amanda Dyson.

Organisers said the strong turnout from civic leaders reflected the importance of Founders Day as a celebration of Milford Haven’s identity and local pride.

A spokesperson for Milford Haven Founders Day said: “Your presence and support helped make the day a memorable celebration of our town, its history and its community spirit. We are truly grateful that you took the time to join us and share in the festivities.”

Pembroke Mayor Jonathan Grimes later praised the event, commenting: “Thank you for the kind invitation – it was a wonderful event!”

Photo caption:

Civic guests: Mayors, community representatives and local officers gather during Milford Haven Founders Day celebrations (Pic: Captured Soul Photography).