News

Cleddau Bridge will be free by 2020, says Welsh Labour

Published

9 years ago

October 1, 2017

THE WELSH Labour Government has signalled that it will scrap the Cleddau Bridge tolls by 2020 in a budget deal it has announced today (Oct 1).

The toll, 75p for a car, is said to have divided the county and have been the subject of repeated campaigns for the scrapping of the charge. Removing the fee to cross the A477 could save workers up to £360 a year, and improve the economy of the area say supporters.

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Labour spokesperson, Marc Tierney told The Herald: “Labour has been campaigning for a long time to remove the tax to cross the Cleddau. Thousands signed a petition I launched back in the Summer of 2015 to remove the charges which many see as an unfair tax and a barrier to trade across the river.

“I am pleased that the Welsh Labour Government will honour the commitment it made in December 2015 to examine all options with a view to scrapping the toll. Whilst I will be seeking to ensure staff are redeployed elsewhere within the Council, I am confident a toll free bridge will bring benefits to the local economy.”

Philippa Thompson, Labour’s candidate at the last General Election for Preseli Pembrokeshire also supported the campaign and has welcomed the decision to drop the toll from 2020.

She commented: “The Cleddau Bridge toll has held back our economy and added a financial burden to local families. People living on one side of the Haven but working on the other are set to save more than £360 a year by having these charges dropped. This is good news for local people and local businesses. The Welsh Labour Government has heard local people’s views and acted on them.”

Cllr Paul Miller, Labour leader on Pembrokeshire County Council said in a statement: “I’ve always been a firm advocate for scrapping the Cleddau Bridge tolls as have a number of my cabinet colleagues. The tolls are, without question, an unwelcome barrier to trade in Pembrokeshire and removing that barrier, which currently almost perfectly divides the Haven Waterway Enterprise Zone, can only be a positive thing.

“That said, there is much work to do before scrapping the tolls becomes a reality. Since the new administration came into being in April we’ve had some very high level discussions with Welsh Government on this issue but the detail is key. I’m acutely aware the bridge has significant implications for the authority’s budget and there is of course a potential impact on our staff too.

“I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in Government to agree the detail in the coming months.”

Crime

Portfield Gate man faces careless driving allegation after Tufton crash

Published

52 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A PORTFIELD GATE man has appeared before magistrates accused of failing to stop after a road accident on the B4329.

Tony Mallon, 32, of Chestnut Tree Cottage, Portfield Gate, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 17).

He is charged with driving a Peugeot Partner without due care and attention on the B4329 Preselly Mountain Road at Tufton on November 12, 2025.

Mallon is also accused of failing to stop after an accident in which damage was allegedly caused to a Toyota Auris, and failing to report the accident to police within 24 hours.

The case was adjourned at the request of the defence for an intermediary report to be prepared.

Mallon is due to appear again at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 8 for a further pre-trial review.

News

New left-wing political party forms first Welsh branch in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire

Published

56 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Founding conference to be held at Aberystwyth University with Jeremy Corbyn expected to speak

A NEW political party has formed its first Welsh branch covering Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

The Ceredigion Penfro branch of Your Party Cymru held its inaugural meeting on Sunday, June 7, with members attending in person in Aberystwyth and online from across both counties.

The group says it is the first Your Party Cymru branch to be formally constituted in Wales and will now receive party funding to develop locally and begin campaigning.

Your Party Cymru says it aims to address inequality and injustice, with the new branch planning to stand candidates in elections, launch local campaigns, and support existing causes.

The branch said its priorities would include industrial action, housing campaigns, protecting local health services, environmental issues, Palestine solidarity, and opposing the far right.

Organisers say the party will operate as a member-led movement, giving local members a say in how branches are run and offering opportunities to become active in campaigns.

Dinah Mulholland, Your Party Ceredigion Penfro organiser, said: “We are offering a significant alternative to political parties in the Senedd and in Westminster, who have disregarded the needs of ordinary people for far too long.

“Your Party Cymru will be a new kind of political party. We are rooted in communities, trade unions and social movements, and we are building positive and sustainable change from the ground up.”

Maria Donnellan, Your Party Cymru representative for Your Party UK’s collective leadership, said the formation of the branch was a “historic day” for the party and for Welsh politics.

She said: “Ceredigion Penfro communities have always found ways to look after each other when the state has failed to. It is exactly the right place for Your Party Cymru to take its first steps as a member-led party built from communities, not from the top down.”

The Ceredigion Penfro branch will host the Your Party Cymru founding conference at Aberystwyth University on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19.

Jeremy Corbyn and other socialist figures are expected to speak at the event.

Business

Wales unemployment close to UK rate as ministers promise productivity push

Published

1 hour ago

June 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WALES’ unemployment rate is broadly in line with the UK average, according to the latest labour market figures.

The Welsh Government said figures from the Annual Population Survey showed unemployment among people aged 16 and over in Wales at 4.5%, compared with 4.4% across the UK.

Ministers said Wales’ employment rate was also “relatively close” to its all-time high, but acknowledged that official labour market data should be treated with caution because of continuing concerns over reliability.

The figures come as the newly elected Welsh Government seeks to put productivity at the centre of its economic agenda.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “As a newly elected Government we are committed to driving investment, innovation and higher productivity across Wales.

“We have announced a National Productivity Goal to close the gap with the rest of the UK and help unlock the full potential of the Welsh economy.

“By focusing on productivity, we will deliver more jobs, higher pay, stronger businesses and thriving communities.”

The Government says the new goal will help shape the work of its planned Welsh innovation and development agency, including how it supports businesses, develops skills and invests in the wider economy.

However, ministers also said Wales’ labour market appears to be following similar trends to the UK as a whole.

They pointed to ongoing work by the Office for National Statistics to improve the quality of Labour Force Survey data, saying the figures should be read alongside other labour market indicators to get a clearer picture.

The Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, is seeking a meeting with the ONS to discuss the reliability of labour market data for Wales.