News

Green light for £60 million Pembrokeshire marine energy project

Published

6 years ago

June 11, 2020

A £60 million marine energy project that will help tackle climate change while reviving Pembrokeshire’s economy in the wake of Covid-19 has been given the green light.

The UK Government and Welsh Government have now approved the business case for the Pembroke Dock Marine project, which is expected to generate £73.5 million a year to the Swansea Bay City Region’s economy.

Pembroke Dock Marine is led by the private sector, with support from Pembrokeshire County Council. The project is expected to generate more than 1,800 jobs in the next 15 years.
The project is made up of four elements:

· The Marine Energy Test Area within the Milford Haven Waterway led by Marine Energy Wales, enabling technology developers to test their marine energy devices close to their base of operation

· The largest facility of its kind in the world, a 90 square kilometre Pembrokeshire Demonstration Zone delivered by Wave Hub Limited that will enable the deployment of future energy generating technologies, including floating wind

· Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence – a technology, innovation and research centre delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult

· Redevelopment of land at Pembroke Dock, led by the Port of Milford Haven, to deliver the infrastructure needed by the industry as it continues to mature

Cllr David Simpson, Leader of Pembrokeshire Council, said

“The impact of Covid-19 has further heightened the importance of Pembroke Dock Marine, so the project’s approval is very welcome news for Pembrokeshire’s residents and businesses.

“Worth £73.5 million a year, Pembroke Dock Marine will also make our economy more resilient in future by transforming Pembrokeshire and the City Region as a whole into a global example of best practice for zero carbon, marine energy innovation.

“With phase one of the Marine Energy Test Area having already opened last year, we now stand ready and wholly committed to accelerate working with our partners to deliver the project. This project will place Pembrokeshire and the City Region at the heart of a growing global industry, helping further raise the region’s profile as a place to do business and invest in.”

Andy Jones, Chief Executive of the Port of Milford Haven, said: “This is an exciting step – not just for Pembrokeshire and the region but also for our economy, our communities and our environment as we work towards net zero decarbonisation targets.

“As well as having application across other blue economy industries, Pembroke Dock Marine will create the right conditions to support the growth of the marine energy industry.

“Developers, who are already attracted by Pembrokeshire’s energy resources and high-skill supply chain, will benefit from Pembroke Dock Marine’s drive to maximise innovation and operational efficiencies as they seek to drive down the cost of marine energy. It will also act as a foundation project that will support the growth of new initiatives in the region.

“I am personally delighted that Pembroke Dock will be the home of this new industry. With a history of supporting the nation in times of need, Pembroke Dock will be at the heart of a new globally important industry.”

Lee Waters, the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, said: “This announcement signals a significant step forward for the Swansea Bay City Deal. It also clearly demonstrates our commitment to the development of a Centre of Excellence for marine technology here in Wales.

“The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on our economy and projects such as Pembroke Dock Marine will be key in returning us to the economic growth we were seeing before the virus.

“As a Welsh Government, we will continue to work with partners to deliver the City Deal for the benefit of the region and its people.”

Commenting on the news that the business case has been signed off for the Pembroke Dock Marine project, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Member of the Welsh Parliament, Angela Burns MS said

“I am delighted that the Welsh and UK Government have given the go ahead to this project which is fantastic news for our area at a time when Covid-19 is causing such economic uncertainty.

“The project will deliver the perfect mix of providing jobs, sustainable energy and the growth of a centre of excellence for marine energy generation along the Haven waterway.

“I look forward to hearing more about these plans in the coming months and congratulate the Councils, Welsh and UK Government teams for their collaborative approach to enable these projects to move forward.”

David TC Davies, UK Government Minister for Wales, said: “As we look to bounce back economically from the coronavirus pandemic, the development of clean energy projects will help to drive a green and resilient economic recovery and create new jobs.

“Pembroke Dock Marine is an important development in the progress of the Swansea Bay City Deal which will enable the wider region to benefit from the financial investment and diversity of projects within the scheme, as well as from the opportunities a low-carbon economy will bring in future.”

Cllr Rob Stewart, Chairman of the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Joint Committee, said: “This is great news for Pembrokeshire, the region and our City Deal.

“More projects are expected to receive final approval soon, which will be hugely important in helping our economy to rebound following the coronavirus pandemic.”

Pembroke Dock Marine is the third Swansea Bay City Deal project to be approved, following on from the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District, and the Canolfan S4C Yr Egin digital and creative hub at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Carmarthen.

The business case approval means Pembroke Dock Marine can now start accessing the £18 million of funding that the UK Government and Welsh Government have already released the City Deal programme as a whole.
A further £18 million of City Deal programme funding will soon be secured once the City Region has met all recommendations arising from reviews into the City Deal, with detailed work on-going.

The £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal is being funded by the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the public sector and the private sector.

Pembroke Dock Marine is seeking £28 million from the City Deal programme in coming years, which will help leverage a further £32 million of public and private funding.

The Swansea Bay City Deal programme is led by Carmarthenshire Council, Neath Port Talbot Council, Pembrokeshire Council and Swansea Council, in partnership with Swansea University, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea Bay University Health Board and Hywel Dda University Heath Board.

News

Recounts concern raised over new Senedd voting system

Published

10 hours ago

May 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Political sources warn tiny vote differences could decide final seats under Wales’ new proportional voting system, with fears of inconsistent recount decisions across the country

QUESTIONS have been raised over how recounts will be handled in Wales’ first Senedd election using the new six-member proportional voting system, amid fears that tiny vote differences could decide the final seat in some constituencies.

Under the new arrangements, Wales has been divided into larger multi-member constituencies, with six Senedd Members elected in each area using the D’Hondt system of proportional representation.

Political sources have expressed concern that the current Electoral Commission guidance may not adequately address situations where the allocation of the sixth and final seat could hinge on very small differences in party vote totals.

One political source, who asked not to be named, said the issue was not about the competence or integrity of Returning Officers, but about the lack of detailed public guidance surrounding recount decisions under the new system.

They said: “In some constituencies, the final seat may come down to a very narrow margin once the D’Hondt calculations are applied, even if no party’s overall vote total appears especially close in traditional terms.

“The concern is that there appears to be no clear guidance about how close the contest for the final seat needs to be before a recount is granted.”

The source warned that without clearer guidance there could be inconsistencies across Wales, with recounts potentially being allowed in one constituency but refused in another despite similar margins.

Electoral Commission guidance currently states that Returning Officers must be satisfied vote totals are accurate before producing a provisional result and that candidates and agents are entitled to request recounts.

However, the guidance also makes clear that Returning Officers may refuse recount requests if they consider them “unreasonable”.

The Electoral Commission said the existing rules already provide a framework for openness and transparency during the counting process, with candidates and agents allowed to inspect ballot bundles and challenge provisional results before declarations are made.

The guidance also confirms that more than one recount can take place if Returning Officers believe further recount requests are justified.

But critics argue that Wales is entering untested territory with the new electoral system, where relatively small shifts in vote totals could alter the final seat allocation after D’Hondt calculations are completed.

The Senedd election is the first to use the new system, which replaces the previous arrangement of constituency and regional members with fully proportional six-member constituencies across Wales.

This story was first reported by Nation.Cymru, you can read their report here.

Charity

Chief’s Tour honours fallen officers with 75-mile Pembrokeshire ride

Published

11 hours ago

May 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Dyfed-Powys Police team raises thousands for bereaved police families charity

A TEAM of officers and staff from Dyfed-Powys Police cycled 75 miles across west Wales on Wednesday (May 6) in memory of colleagues who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The annual “Chief’s Tour of Pembs 2026” saw participants travel from Fishguard to Carmarthen while raising money for the charity Care of Police Survivors, commonly known as COPS.

The force said the event raised £2,690, with funds going towards support for the families of police officers who have died while serving their communities.

Along the route, cyclists stopped at several locations to meet relatives of fallen officers and take part in moments of reflection.

In a statement shared on social media, the force said the tour was held “in memory of all Dyfed-Powys Police officers who have lost their lives in service.”

The post added: “Those we’ve lost will always remain in our thoughts.”

COPS supports the families of officers who have died on duty by organising national and regional events, helping survivors build support networks and friendships with others who have experienced similar loss.

Dyfed-Powys Police thanked members of the public who supported the cyclists during the challenge.

“A huge thank you to our community for showing our Chief’s Tour cyclists support as they passed through Pembrokeshire,” the force said.

“Your cheers, waves and encouragement kept spirits high for those taking part.”

The 75-mile challenge took riders across parts of north and west Pembrokeshire before continuing east towards Carmarthenshire, combining physical endurance with remembrance and fundraising.

Police charities such as COPS often work quietly behind the scenes, supporting bereaved families long after national attention fades following the death of an officer.

Education

Holocaust survivor’s story shared with pupils at Ysgol Greenhill

Published

11 hours ago

May 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MORE than 150 pupils at Ysgol Greenhill have heard the moving Holocaust testimony of the late Zigi Shipper BEM, who survived some of the most terrible events of the Second World War.

The special visit took place on Tuesday (May 5), when Mrs Lu Lawrence came to the school to speak about the life of her father.

Zigi Shipper survived the Lodz ghetto, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Stutthof concentration camp and a death march, among other traumatic events. When he was liberated by British forces, he was just 15 years old.

Mrs Lawrence spoke to Key Stage 3 and GCSE pupils, sharing not only her father’s testimony but also her own family’s story.

Ysgol Greenhill said more than 150 students attended the session and were “exceptionally well behaved”, asking thoughtful questions during the visit.

The school said: “In the current climate of increasing anti-Semitism, understanding the dangers of prejudice is more important than ever.”

The visit was arranged by the Holocaust Educational Trust, which works with schools to ensure young people continue to learn about the Holocaust and the dangers of hatred and discrimination.

The session gave pupils an opportunity to hear a deeply personal account of survival, loss and resilience, and to reflect on why Holocaust education remains so important today.

Photo caption:

Important lesson: Mrs Lu Lawrence visited Ysgol Greenhill to share the Holocaust testimony of her late father Zigi Shipper BEM (Pic: Ysgol Greenhill).