More needs to be done to regenerate Wales’ town centres, Senedd hears

Published

2 years ago

March 14, 2024

MORE must be done to regenerate Wales’ town centres due to the impact of the pandemic, out-of-town developments and changing shopping habits, the Senedd heard.

Mark Isherwood led a debate in the Senedd on a public accounts committee report following an inquiry on town centre regeneration in Wales.

The committee chair said much good work is being done to improve town centres but the pace of regeneration must be accelerated.

Mr Isherwood warned Wales’ high streets have been changed immeasurably by the pandemic and the increased prevalence of online shopping.

The Tory raised concerns about poor transport links and a lack of car parking affecting footfall as he stressed the importance of developing an integrated, affordable system.

Calling for a simple approach to taxation, Mr Isherwood, who represents North Wales, argued the current business rates system disincentives investment in towns.

He recommended a more interventionist, pragmatic approach to planning – favouring town centres over out-of-town developments – with a focus on repurposing empty properties.

Mike Hedges, a member of the committee, which visited Morriston, Mold, Carmarthen and Wrexham as part of its inquiry, said the days of retail-dominated town centres have ended.

The Labour backbencher, who represents Swansea East, told the chamber: “I recently made a list of retailers that have closed in the last 20 years.

“It was both long and depressing, and if I read out only the big ones I would run out of time.”

Mr Hedges warned shops in town centres are dependent on a rapidly ageing group as he raised concerns about the closure of banks and the growth of digital payments.

Urging people to “use them or lose them”, he said: “Card processing fees are typically 1.5-3.5%, but they can be as high as 6% per sale item.

“What we could do to help out is to use cash when making a purchase from a small local retailer – it will help them and it will cost you the same.”

Natasha Asghar, a Conservative member of the committee, said the Welsh Government has 13 separate funding streams for town centres.

Calling for consolidation and less bureaucracy, the South Wales East MS said the auditor general identified management of the funding as “problematic”.

She told the chamber: “Making this funding easier to access would ultimately encourage more organisations to apply for funding, making town centre regeneration more accessible.”

Luke Fletcher, a Plaid Cymru MS who represents South Wales West, suggested empty office space could be used to address an acute shortage of one- and two-bedroom flats.

He said: “By bringing people into the town centre to live, you’re creating that in-built footfall, aren’t you, because those people are going to want services.

“They’re going to want to go for a coffee, they’re going to want to go for food, they’re going to want to go for a pint. So, you’re creating that in-built footfall.”

Replying to the debate on March 13 on behalf of the Welsh Government, Julie James warned that town centres face unprecedented challenges.

Wales’ climate change minister said: “The impact of out-of-town developments, changing retail habits and the Covid pandemic have all had consequences for our high streets.

“There are too many empty shops, too few homes and too little green space.”

Ms James told MSs the Welsh Government, which accepted the committee’s eight recommendations, has strengthened planning policies to put town centres first.

She said: “We want to see town centres considered first for the location of significant new commercial, retail, education, health, leisure and public service facilities.

“This diverse range of services will, indeed, drive footfall into our town centres.”

Disqualified fisherman caught driving BMW

Published

10 seconds ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Court hears driver had ‘made dreadful decision’

A PEMBROKESHIRE fisherman has appeared before magistrates after being caught driving while disqualified.

David Morgan, 42, was stopped by police on December 29 while driving a BMW on the A413 at Penally.

Officers established that Morgan was uninsured and already serving a 16-month driving ban following a drug-driving conviction.

His solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that Morgan had driven after receiving distressing news about a close family member.

“He went out to clear his head and made a dreadful decision,” he said.

Mr Kelleher added that Morgan’s son is confined to a wheelchair and his wife does not drive, meaning a further ban would cause hardship.

Magistrates chose not to impose a further disqualification. Morgan was fined £500 and ordered to pay a £200 surcharge and £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

Provisional licence holder admits drink-driving through town centre

Published

1 minute ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Motorist was uninsured and driving alone

A PROVISIONAL licence holder has admitted drink-driving through Haverfordwest town centre while uninsured and driving alone.

Kian Kelly, 20, was stopped by police in the early hours of January 11 as he drove a Nissan Juke along Clay Lane.

Checks showed Kelly was driving without insurance and without a supervising driver. A breath test later revealed he had 43 micrograms of alcohol in his breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35.

Kelly, of Hill Street, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

His solicitor Alaw Harries said there were no aggravating factors and that Kelly “deeply regrets his actions”.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 14 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

More rape and sexual assault survivors to get right to challenge dropped cases

Published

2 minutes ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

New review scheme to be rolled out across CPS Cymru-Wales following successful pilot

SURVIVORS of rape and serious sexual assault in Wales will soon have stronger rights to challenge decisions to drop their cases, as the UK Government expands a new review scheme aimed at rebuilding trust in the justice system.

The move was announced by the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves, who confirmed the Victims’ Right to Review scheme will be extended to further Crown Prosecution Service areas — including Crown Prosecution Service Cymru-Wales from April.

The change means that when prosecutors decide there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction in rape or serious sexual offence cases, victims will be able to request that the decision is reconsidered by a different prosecutor before proceedings are formally halted.

Currently, while victims can ask for a review, it cannot alter the final outcome. The new process allows cases to continue if fresh assessment finds sufficient evidence.

The expansion follows what ministers described as “positive feedback” from an earlier pilot scheme.

The roll-out will begin with CPS North West in January, followed by Yorkshire and Humberside in February, before reaching Wales in the spring.

Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli and a long-standing campaigner on violence against women and girls, welcomed the announcement.

She said: “Violence against women and girls is rightly being treated as a national emergency. A key part of the government’s strategy is ensuring victims in Llanelli and elsewhere are given better support to help rebuild trust in the criminal justice system.

“Keeping women and girls safe needs action as well as words. This change puts more power into the hands of victims when they bravely come forward.”

Reeves said rape and sexual assault offences cause “long-lasting physical and emotional trauma” and stressed that survivors “deserve confidence that their voices have truly been heard”.

She added: “This government is committed to halving violence against women and girls. Expanding the Victims’ Right to Review will increase routes to justice and ensure victims are treated with fairness and dignity.”

Siobhan Blake, the national CPS lead for rape and serious sexual offences, said survivors often feel distressed at the prospect of their abuser never facing justice.

She said: “Our specialist prosecutors usually get it right first time, but when we don’t — and a case that could have continued is stopped — an apology alone can never feel like justice.

“Victims who have taken part so far have told us that simply having this option makes a positive difference.”

The measures form part of the UK Government’s wider Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which aims to halve such offences over the next decade through prevention, tougher enforcement and improved victim support.

Under the new system in Wales, cases that are initially discontinued could be revived if an independent prosecutor concludes there is sufficient evidence to proceed.

Ministers say the aim is to give survivors greater confidence that every possible avenue to justice has been explored.