Paul Marr says children playing in streams at Pembrokeshire beaches deserve better protection from pollution risks

REFORM UK MS Paul Marr has warned that dirty water entering rivers, streams and the sea is putting public confidence in Pembrokeshire’s coastline at risk.

The Ceredigion Penfro MS has raised the issue in the Senedd and has now told the Herald that tougher regulation, greater transparency and clear accountability are needed from Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government.

Mr Marr said his concern was not only about rivers, but about small streams running across popular Pembrokeshire beaches, where children often play before the water reaches the sea.

He said one moment at Broad Haven had brought the issue home.

Mr Marr said: “I felt like saying to them, ‘Get out of the water.’ It felt like I was seeing a scene from Jaws.”

The Reform MS said Pembrokeshire’s coastline was one of Wales’ greatest assets, but public trust was being undermined by uncertainty over what was being discharged into local watercourses.

He said: “We have a beautiful coastline and beaches, and these areas have to be safe.

“I am worried about all of them. We need tougher regulation. I want accountability of the water companies.”

Mr Marr used a recent Senedd debate on Reform UK’s call for a Welsh Rivers Act to highlight concerns in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

He told the chamber that several south Pembrokeshire beaches hold Blue Flag status, which is important to the visitor economy, but warned that streams running across beaches and into the sea are not designated as bathing water by NRW.

He said those streams still attract small children, while local citizen science groups had recorded what he described as seriously high levels of E. coli.

Mr Marr told MSs that some results were “consistently far worse” than water classed as poor under freshwater bathing water standards.

He said: “E. coli can cause serious illness and may pose a particular risk to young children.”

Speaking to the Herald, Mr Marr said people had a right to know whether water was safe.

He said: “People’s safety has to be put first. When people are unsure, it is because of illegal discharge and the fault of the water companies.

“NRW is not testing for E. coli because it is not going to be in the report. That is very poor enforcement from NRW.”

In the Senedd, Mr Marr also referred to the Cleddau Project, a 12-month citizen science initiative which assessed water quality across 49 sites within the Cleddau catchment.

He said the project had identified a significant decline in river health, with concerns over sewage discharge, phosphates, nitrates and E. coli.

He also raised the River Teifi, where community monitoring has identified a number of sites exceeding NRW orthophosphate targets.

Mr Marr said citizen-led evidence should not be brushed aside by public bodies.

He told the Senedd that residents were asking “whose agenda NRW are exactly working towards” after concerns that community testing data would not be used or recognised by key authorities.

Mr Marr said the issue was not only about pollution, but public trust.

He said: “Everyone has to hold a shared responsibility. We need honesty and transparency. There has to be a whole rejuvenation and honest discussions.

“We can’t have quangos shielding Welsh Water. People could die. That is not the legacy I want to leave for future generations.”

Reform UK has called for a Welsh Rivers Act, which it says would create tougher rules on sewage discharges, clearer accountability and measurable improvements in water quality.

The party’s motion was defeated in the Senedd by 49 votes to 37.

Mr Marr said any new law would have to deal with enforcement as well as ambition.

Asked whether senior figures should face consequences when pollution failures occur, he said: “There should be consequences. You can’t keep rewarding people for bad behaviour. People’s agendas change when there are no consequences.”

He said Welsh Water had to be held to account where there were failings, and warned that without consequences the same problems would continue.

Mr Marr has also linked water quality and sewer capacity to the future of rural communities.

In the Senedd, he said three housing developments in his constituency had been effectively shelved because of concerns about run-off affecting water quality and the capacity of the sewer network to deal with additional waste.

He said that amounted to more than 200 homes.

Speaking to the Herald, he said communities could not grow properly unless basic infrastructure was fit for purpose.

He said: “You have got to have strong foundations. We need a functional, safe sewage system, or we are throwing money down the drain.”

Mr Marr also said farmers should not be used as a convenient scapegoat for every water-quality problem.

He said sewage discharges, agricultural run-off, septic tanks, highways drainage and development pressure all needed to be looked at honestly.

He said: “We all need to play a part. I am not putting blame on one group. It is a collective responsibility.”

But he said the public deserved the truth, even when it was uncomfortable.

Mr Marr said: “If there is an uncomfortable truth, people can deal with that better than lies. I would want my kids to be told if it was not safe.

“Nothing is transparent. We need a collective approach.”

Welsh Water has previously defended its record in Pembrokeshire, saying water quality is affected by a range of sources and not only by water company assets.

Following concerns at Broad Haven earlier this year, the company told the Herald there were “no capacity issues on the network for normal operations”, but that the system could become overwhelmed during periods of heavy rain.

It said storm overflows had discharged intermittently at Broad Haven on February 15, adding that most of the sewer network in the village is a combined system, taking rainwater from gutters, drains and roads as well as wastewater from homes.

Welsh Water said this meant any release was “very dilute”, with more than 95 per cent rainwater.

The company also said Broad Haven has a Blue Flag and has consistently achieved an “Excellent” rating under the Welsh Government’s bathing water classification scheme since 2019.

In earlier responses to the Herald, Welsh Water has said improving water quality requires “multi-sector cooperation”, citing rural land use, urban run-off, industry, soil erosion, illegal misconnections and private septic tanks as contributing factors.

It has also pointed to planned investment, including environmental improvements and work to reduce the impact of storm overflows.

Mr Marr said the next step should be practical action, including clearer testing, better public reporting, stronger enforcement and investment in infrastructure where the system is failing.

He said: “It is our duty of care to keep Welsh people safe. If we don’t do that, then we are failing.

“Only then can we make progress and implement the things that need to be done.”

REFORM UK has been dealt a series of setbacks in Welsh council by-elections, with the party failing to hold ground in several seats linked to newly elected Senedd Members.

In Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, Plaid Cymru’s Iwan Griffiths won the seat with 483 votes, taking 41.4% of the vote.

Labour’s Jordan Sargent came second with 338 votes, while Reform UK’s Gavin Rashbrook finished third on 283.

The contest followed the resignation of Carmelo Colasanto, who stood down from Carmarthenshire County Council after being elected to the Senedd for Sir Gaerfyrddin.

The result will be seen as a disappointment for Reform, which had taken the seat in a 2025 by-election after the death of Labour councillor Gary Jones.

There was further disappointment for the party in Merthyr Tydfil, where Labour won the Dowlais and Pant by-election.

Labour’s Dean Barrett topped the poll with 356 votes, ahead of Independent Nick Meaney on 215. Reform’s Terry Donegan came third with 160 votes.

That contest was triggered by the resignation of David Hughes, who had been elected to the Senedd for Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr. Mr Hughes had originally been elected as an Independent councillor before later joining Reform UK.

In Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Plaid Cymru secured a commanding win.

Richard Clarke took 1,147 votes, more than 70% of the total, leaving Reform’s Craig Ford a distant second on 260. Labour finished third with 164.

The by-election followed the election of former Plaid councillor Sera Evans to the Senedd.

Plaid did not have everything its own way. In Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, Denbighshire, Independent candidate Ian Evans won the seat with 283 votes, beating Plaid Cymru’s Hefin Edwards into second place.

Reform finished third there, with Nigel Deed taking 47 votes.

The party did, however, have one bright spot in Rhyl South, where Reform’s Tony Thomas gained a seat previously held by Labour, winning 44.3% of the vote.

The mixed results suggest Reform’s Welsh surge is now facing a more complicated local picture.

While the party remains a significant force ahead of future elections, the latest by-elections show that voters are not automatically transferring Senedd-level support into council contests.

As Henry Tufnell MP joins calls for a solution, questions remain over harbour access, pedestrian safety and who can legally authorise the event

WITH Tenby Summer Spectacular still at risk, attention is now turning to a simple but crucial question: who actually has the power to save it?

The much-loved charity event, run by Tenby Round Table, has become one of the town’s biggest summer attractions, bringing thousands of people into the harbour area and raising money for local good causes.

But organisers have warned that the event may not be able to go ahead unless outstanding concerns over pedestrian safety and access around the harbour are resolved.

Henry Tufnell MP has now added his voice to calls for a solution, saying he is “very concerned” that the event is at risk.

The local MP said he had written several times to Pembrokeshire County Council over the past few months to help resolve the outstanding issues, and that his office met with the council this week to press for progress.

Mr Tufnell said he welcomed the council’s public statement confirming its support for the Spectacular, and said he would continue speaking to the council, Tenby Round Table and police.

At the heart of the row is a practical but important issue: how the harbour area can be made safe for thousands of visitors while still allowing access for residents, businesses and emergency services.

Pembrokeshire County Council has said it supports the event and wants it to go ahead. It has also said it has not directed organisers to cancel.

However, Tenby Round Table has said one key legal question remains unanswered after months of discussions.

That question appears to be whether the organisers can legally control or restrict access in the harbour area in the way required to satisfy safety concerns.

For an event of this size, the issue is not simply whether the council, police or organisers want it to happen. The question is whether the right legal powers, safety plans and permissions are in place.

The council has a role through licensing and public safety. The police may advise on safety, traffic and crowd management. The organisers are responsible for putting forward an event plan that can be safely delivered.

That means no single person can simply “save” the Spectacular by saying it should go ahead.

Instead, the event now appears to depend on whether the council, police and Tenby Round Table can agree a workable solution over harbour access, crowd control and emergency arrangements.

The row has also sparked strong reaction online, with many residents frustrated at the possibility of losing one of Tenby’s best-known summer events.

Supporters say the Spectacular is not only a family night out, but an important boost for traders and a major charity fundraiser.

Others have argued that safety concerns cannot simply be brushed aside, particularly when large crowds gather in a confined harbour setting.

Mr Tufnell said: “The Tenby Summer Spectacular is an incredible event run by the Tenby Round Table for our community, supporting local businesses and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.

“Like many of you, I am very concerned to see that the event is at risk of not going ahead.

“I have written several times to Pembrokeshire County Council to help resolve the outstanding issues regarding pedestrian safety and access around the harbour.

“I welcome the statement published by the council reinforcing their support for the Spectacular. I am reassured by their public commitment to finding a path forward.”

The coming days are now likely to be crucial.

For the event to be rescued, the key question is whether a legally sound and practical access plan can be agreed quickly enough for organisers to proceed with confidence.

Until then, the future of Tenby Summer Spectacular remains uncertain — not because there is a lack of public support, but because no one has yet produced a final answer to the question of who can lawfully control the harbour when thousands of people arrive.