News

Health Board want to maintain services in Withybush until new hospital is built

Published

4 years ago

September 8, 2022

REPRESENTATIVES from Hywel Dda Health Board have said they want to keep as many services in Withybush as possible until the new hospital is open.

They joined a meeting of the Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday (Sept 8) which discussed a notice of motion from Cllr John Cole.

Cllr Cole had called for the Council to ‘stand with’ its electorate in supporting the retention of services in Withybush Hospital.

The Health Board is in the process of making a business case for a new hospital, to be built in Whitland or St Clears, but there has been opposition to the plans from members of the public.

During the meeting, concerns were raised about travel times to the new site and services being kept in Withybush until the new hospital is built.

Health Board representative Lee Davies said: “The proposals are designed to retain as many services as close to home as possible and retain as many services as we can at Withybush and at Glangwili.”

He said the proposed site of the new hospital was an area which was within an hours travelling time for much of the population.

It was recognised though that this would still be a challenge for some residents of the more rural communities such as Angle, St Davids and the north of the county.

Cllr David Bryan asked if there had been any talks with the Welsh Government about changes to the A40.

Lee Davies said they were in conversation with the Welsh Government and that some improvements were being made but that he didn’t anticipate any change ahead of the new hospital being opened.

Cllr Mike James described the bus service in the north of the county as ‘abysmal’ and said transport should be a huge priority.

Maria Battle from the Health Board responded by saying that they would welcome the help, knowledge and advice from all councillors adding that if they spoke as ‘one voice’ they would have a better chance of influencing such issues.

She went on to say: “This is a £1.3billion investment to West Wales, if we speak as one voice we have a better chance of achieving this. There is a possibility to create long term jobs. It is our turn to get this investment. It will bring more services closer to home in Pembrokeshire and it is a new hospital which we all deserve.”

There were also questions about pediatric services after Cllr Steve Alderman highlighted an incident from his ward, where a young family was told to take their child to Withybush by the 111 service, only to be told they had to go to Glangwili.

Maria Battle said that although it was one incident, it was still one too many, adding they would deal with it.

Lee Davies added that there is a review of pediatrics and they are looking for the safest place for it to be sustainable in the intervening period up until the point of the new hospital.

He said: “It is a substantial programme of work and we’re looking to complete all of that by 2029.”

It is proposed that a consultation on the new hospital will begin in January and last for three months and findings from it will be presented in the summer of 2023.

Cabinet member Cllr Tessa Hodgson said: “I welcome the invitation for councillors to be involved in that process. £1.3billion is a massive investment for west Wales. Withybush is held in great esteem by the people of Pembrokeshire but the building is tired and the investment is desperately needed.”

Committee chairman, Cllr David Bryan asked if there would be a retention of services until the new hospital is built.

Executive Medical Director Phil Kloer said: “The basic premise of the motion, we would agree with. We want to maintain as many services as possible close to people’s homes.

“The new hospital will bring a lot of services that are in Glangwili and beyond will bring services back to Pembrokeshire.

“Our intention is to maintain as many services as local as possible, we don’t intend to make any changes. Withybush and Glangwili need to be working to their maximum.

“There will be medical advances, we do need to keep pace with modern thinking.”

Maria Battle added that they wanted to work ‘closely, collaboratively and creatively’ as possible with Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion County Councils when the new hospital reaches the planning stage.

Concluding, Phil Kloer added: “Withybush has got a really big role to play. We will do what we can to maintain services in that period.”

The Committee agreed with the sentiments of the motion adding that they would ask all councillors to get involved in discussions with the Health Board.

Crime

Portfield Gate man faces careless driving allegation after Tufton crash

Published

5 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

9 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

29 minutes 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.