Welsh Water says wider environmental factors, including private systems and run-off, can affect bathing water quality

HENRY TUFNELL MP has demanded urgent answers from Welsh Water following concerns over water quality at Tenby and Lydstep Haven.

The Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP has written to Roch Cheroux, chief executive of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, after reports that a young boy had been hospitalised with sickness and diarrhoea after swimming in the sea at Tenby.

He also referred to a Natural Resources Wales no-swim alert at Lydstep Haven on Wednesday (May 6), with warning signs still reportedly in place on Monday (May 11).

Mr Tufnell described the situation as “extremely concerning” and said pollution incidents could affect public health, local businesses and Pembrokeshire’s tourism economy.

He said: “A situation like this has serious implications for our local economy, which relies heavily on tourism, particularly during the summer months when visitors rightly – and wisely – come to enjoy Pembrokeshire’s beaches.”

He added that such incidents could prevent residents from safely enjoying local bathing waters and deter visitors from coming to the county.

Welsh Water response

Welsh Water said water quality was affected by a range of environmental sources, and said there had been no storm overflow spills in the North Tenby area in the weeks leading up to the sample dates which led to its bathing water classification moving from Excellent to Good.

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “At North Tenby, the classification moved from Excellent to Good following the results of samples taken during July and August.

“These samples are collected by NRW and test for two different types of bacteria. These bacteria can originate from a range of environmental sources, and it is important to note that there were no storm overflow spills in this area in the weeks leading up to the dates those samples were taken.

“Improving water quality is a shared challenge, and progress will only come through coordinated action across sectors. Factors such as rural land use, urban runoff, industry, soil erosion, illegal misconnections and private septic systems all play a part.

“We are committed to playing our role. We are currently investing more than £2.3 million a day to improve our services, including £2.5 billion between 2025 and 2030 to deliver environmental improvements across Wales.”

The Herald understands Welsh Water has previously indicated that the Lydstep issue relates to a private sewer and is not connected to Welsh Water assets or operations.

Wider concern

The intervention comes amid growing concern over the condition of Pembrokeshire’s rivers and bathing waters.

As The Herald has reported, volunteers involved in The Cleddau Project were recently given a stark warning over the decline of the Cleddau rivers at a meeting in HaverHub.

Professor Paul Withers, of Lancaster University, presented two years of citizen science monitoring data gathered across the Cleddau catchment, with those present told that major changes would be needed to restore the rivers to good ecological health.

The issue has become increasingly sensitive in Pembrokeshire, where clean seas and rivers are central not only to public health and wildlife, but also to tourism, hospitality and the wider coastal economy.

Mr Tufnell’s letter now places further pressure on Welsh Water and other agencies to explain what is being done to protect residents, visitors and businesses ahead of the summer season.

VOLUNTEERS and supporters gathered at HaverHub on Thursday (May 14) for a major update on the health of the Afonydd Cleddau catchment.

The Cleddau Project presented two years of citizen science water quality data, collected by volunteers from sites across the rivers and their tributaries.

Professor Paul Withers, of Lancaster University, who has authored key reports on the catchment, including the CCAP 2 report, gave a detailed analysis of the findings.

The message from the meeting was stark: Pembrokeshire’s iconic rivers have suffered a serious decline in water quality and wildlife, and major change will be needed to restore them to good ecological health.

Volunteers have spent the past two years monitoring water quality across the Cleddau system, gathering information on nutrients including phosphates and nitrates, as well as other indicators of river health.

The project says the data provides an important grassroots picture of the pressures facing the Western and Eastern Cleddau.

Local residents, environmental campaigners and community members filled the room, reflecting growing concern about the future of rivers which are central to Pembrokeshire’s biodiversity, tourism and heritage.

The meeting heard that pressures including agricultural diffuse pollution, wastewater discharges and nutrient enrichment continue to affect the catchment, with concerns over impacts on fish populations, habitats and species such as salmon, trout and otters.

The Cleddau Project works with partners including the West Wales Rivers Trust and contributes to wider efforts linked to the Afonydd Cleddau Nutrient Management Board.

A full report setting out the findings is expected to be released in the coming days.

One volunteer who attended said the evening brought both pride in the work carried out and renewed determination to push for action.

They said: “This data shows we can’t afford to wait.”

The Cleddau Project is continuing to welcome new volunteers and supporters as it moves into the next stage of advocacy and practical restoration work.

The group has previously organised community events and exhibitions, including My River at HaverHub, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of the Cleddau rivers to Pembrokeshire life.

The Herald will publish further details when the full report is released.

PLAID CYMRU’S new Welsh Government is planning a pilot scheme which could see some of the poorest families in Wales receive an extra £10 a week for young children.

The proposed Cynnal payment, meaning “maintain” in Welsh, would initially support around 15,000 children aged under six in households already receiving Universal Credit.

Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams said ministers would spend the first 100 days drawing up the scheme before launching it “as soon as possible” afterwards.

The pilot is expected to cost around £10m and would be modelled on Scotland’s child payment, which began at £10 a week and has since risen to £26.70.

Ms Williams said the Welsh Government wanted to test the impact of the payment before making the case for wider powers from Westminster.

She said: “If we needed further powers in order to roll that out beyond a pilot, then we would take the evidence that we have, evidence that is already apparent from Scotland.

“We would be able to show the impact that it’s had and then we would say we need those powers to roll it out across Wales.”

However, Reform UK’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas questioned whether families would actually be better off if the UK Government deducted the money from existing benefits.

He said: “It’s completely unclear whether this move would make anybody better off.

“If Westminster deducts the amount from other benefits, this project would use up a substantial amount of Welsh Government resources with no benefit to working people.

“Benefits claimants are not guinea pigs and should not be used as pawns in Plaid’s funding battles with Westminster.”

The policy was outlined as First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth unveiled the first solely Plaid Cymru Welsh Government.

Plaid has also pledged to work towards a national care service, free at the point of use, although Mr ap Iorwerth said financial pressures meant that could not happen immediately.

The party also wants to expand childcare to every child aged nine months to four years, for 20 hours a week, but Mr ap Iorwerth said around 1,000 more childcare workers would be needed to deliver the plan.