PATIENTS at a Carmarthen mental health unit will benefit from a fully refurbished gym thanks to funding from Hywel Dda Health Charities.

The official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board has awarded £8,902 from its Making a Difference fund to improve facilities at Cwm Seren’s Low Secure Unit and Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit.

The money has been used to replace outdated gym equipment, improve the gym environment, and provide gym instructor training for four members of staff.

The refurbished facility now includes a treadmill, air bike, kettlebells, dumbbells, an Olympic bar and plates, an adjustable bench, squat rack, and protective floor mats. The room has also been repainted, fitted with protective splashback boards, and updated with a new whiteboard to support activity planning.

Health board officials said physical activity plays an important role in supporting patients with mental illness, particularly those who may experience poorer physical health, increased risk of obesity, and limited access to community exercise during inpatient stays.

Caryl Griffiths, Ward Manager at Cwm Seren Low Secure Unit, said: “We are incredibly grateful that kind donations from the local community have funded the refurbishment of the gym, which will make a significant difference to both our patients and staff.

“Daily access to modern gym facilities provides structure, reduces boredom and frustration, and has a positive impact on mood, anxiety, and overall physical health.

“Training additional staff means we can offer the gym seven days a week, ensuring more patients benefit more consistently. We know how much of a difference this makes to people during long periods of inpatient care.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are able to fund projects like this that go above and beyond what the NHS can provide.

“The refurbished gym at Cwm Seren will enhance patient experience and support healthier lifestyles. A huge thank you to all our supporters for making this possible.”

Hywel Dda Health Charities funds items and initiatives across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire to improve patient care and support the wellbeing of NHS staff.

Pictured:

Cwm Seren staff with the new gym equipment.

Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock could benefit as UK reforms aim to speed up floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea

PEMBROKESHIRE could be among the biggest winners from new UK Government reforms aimed at accelerating offshore wind development, with Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock expected to play a key role in the emerging clean energy economy.

New environmental legislation affecting offshore wind farms came into force on Thursday (May 21), with industry leaders claiming the changes could help deliver both more renewable energy and better outcomes for nature.

The reforms, introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), change how environmental compensation for offshore wind projects can be approached, allowing developers to take what ministers describe as a broader and more strategic approach to protecting marine habitats.

Supporters say the changes could help remove delays that have slowed offshore wind developments while maintaining environmental protections.

The move is particularly significant for Pembrokeshire, where hopes are high that the fast-growing floating offshore wind sector in the Celtic Sea will bring major investment, jobs and regeneration to the Milford Haven Waterway.

For several years, Pembrokeshire has been positioning itself as a key player in the UK’s clean energy transition, with the Port of Milford Haven promoting ambitious plans around floating offshore wind, hydrogen production and marine renewables.

Pembroke Dock Marine, supported by millions of pounds of investment, has already been developed as a specialist base for marine energy projects, while the wider Celtic Freeport vision has focused heavily on green industries linked to the Haven.

Industry figures believe the new rules could help speed up planning and consent processes for major offshore wind developments, potentially unlocking investment opportunities for west Wales.

Commenting on the reforms, Offshore Wind Industry Council environment lead Benj Sykes, who is also UK Country Manager for renewable energy company Ørsted, insisted the changes were not about weakening environmental standards.

He said: “By enabling a broader and more strategic range of options, the UK is taking a more outcomes-focused approach to marine compensation.

“Crucially, this is not about lowering environmental standards. It is about implementing a more effective, strategic approach that will deliver better outcomes for nature as we deliver the UK’s Clean Power 2030 ambitions.”

However, the reforms are likely to attract scrutiny in Pembrokeshire, where environmental protections are often a sensitive issue.

The county is home to internationally important marine habitats and wildlife, including seabird populations around Skomer Island, marine conservation zones, and the protected waters of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Fishing groups and environmental campaigners have previously raised concerns about the impact of large offshore energy developments on marine ecosystems and local industries.

At the same time, supporters argue offshore wind represents one of the biggest economic opportunities Pembrokeshire has seen in decades.

With Milford Haven already handling around a fifth of the UK’s energy needs through its existing energy infrastructure, many local leaders believe the county is well placed to become a centre for the next generation of low-carbon energy production.

Environmental group says Pembrokeshire MP’s North Sea stance risks undermining climate policy

PEMBROKESHIRE MP Henry Tufnell has been accused by local environmental campaigners of backing “drill baby drill” tactics over future North Sea oil and gas production.

Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth made the claim after Mr Tufnell wrote an article in The Sun in March criticising the UK Government’s position on new oil and gas drilling.

The group said it wrote to the Labour MP on April 3, challenging his comments and urging him to reconsider his position.

In its letter, the group argued that further North Sea drilling would do little to reduce energy bills or improve energy security, because UK oil and gas prices are linked to international markets.

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth said Mr Tufnell’s approach was “supported by the likes of Reform UK and Donald Trump” but rejected by energy and climate experts.

The group said the UK Energy Research Centre had concluded that additional UK oil and gas production would have “negligible impact” on the cost of living, and that the priority should instead be reducing demand and investing in renewable energy.

It also pointed to Climate Change Committee analysis suggesting that job losses in fossil fuel industries would be outweighed by job creation in areas such as renewable energy, retrofitting and electric vehicles.

Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth also criticised Mr Tufnell’s call for the removal of carbon taxes in manufacturing, saying it showed a lack of understanding of the urgency of climate change.

The group said Mr Tufnell had failed to reply to its letter, despite allegedly promising to do so during a face-to-face conversation in Narberth in April.

The spokesperson added: “The fact that the MP has refused to reply to our letter suggests that he either has more respect for a London tabloid newspaper than for his own constituents or is having difficulty justifying the viewpoints he presented in The Sun.”

MP says transition must protect jobs

In response, Mr Tufnell said he was “immensely grateful” for the work of Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth and praised the group’s campaigning on environmental issues.

He said he was proud to have supported the group last month by attending its screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing film, which highlighted threats to nature and climate.

Mr Tufnell said Pembrokeshire was “uniquely placed” to lead the clean energy transition, citing floating offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture, sustainable aviation fuel and battery storage.

He added that the county was proud of its coastline, rivers and wildlife, and that the community was committed to protecting them.

However, he said the transition to clean energy had to be “a just one”.

Mr Tufnell said: “Pembrokeshire’s energy sector has powered the UK for decades, and still supplies 20% of the country’s energy demand.

“I am calling on the Government to protect our established energy industries by cutting carbon taxes. Failure to act puts jobs and livelihoods in industrial communities like ours at risk.

“Decarbonisation cannot come at the cost of deindustrialisation and greater deprivation in our county.”

He said households and businesses across the UK had felt the impact of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and argued that Britain must strengthen energy security by making full use of its own resources rather than relying on imports.

Mr Tufnell added: “Oil and gas will remain part of our energy mix for decades to come. It therefore makes sense to use our domestic resources.

“Doing so will not only strengthen our energy security, but support British industry — protecting jobs, boosting tax revenue, cutting our trade deficit and strengthening the economy.

“I will continue to work hard to ensure we have a just energy transition, protecting the jobs and skills base of today, while building the industries of tomorrow.”