News

Welsh Government ministers ‘economical with truth’ over Withyhedge

Published

2 years ago

May 16, 2024

Jon Coles

THE FIRST MINISTER couldn’t have been clearer.

There was no room for misinterpreting his words.

Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives asked him whether the Welsh Government would take the lead in resolving the ongoing scandal at Withyhedge.

Vaughan Gething tried slipping the question, but finally volunteered: “NRW, as the regulator, need to take the required action. I’m not aware that a single member of the Government has attempted to influence the action of NRW; it is for them to undertake the required action to ensure that improvement is delivered, and that’s the very clear position of the whole Government.”

That was the Welsh Government position at around ten-to-two on Tuesday afternoon, May 14.

The following day, Paul Davies asked a series of questions about Withyhedge.

Answering the Preseli Pembs MS, Huw Irranca-Davies, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Climate Change, said: ” “NRW are very clear what our steer is and what our priority is: that the enforcement orders that have been put in place to do the work on the ground and to resolve the problem need to be done for the benefit of local residents.”

On Tuesday, the Welsh Government had not been in touch with NRW about Withyhedge, or at least the First Minister was “not aware” of any such contact.

On Wednesday, NRW not only knew the Welsh Government’s position but had also received “a steer” from it.

The two statements are mutually exclusive.

The answers cannot be reconciled by semantics or wordplay.

Mr Irranca-Davies was being asked directly about Withyhedge. He was not speaking generally about any nebulous influence the Welsh Government might exert. He was not speaking about what he expected NRW to do in all circumstances, including Withyhedge. He referred directly to Withyhedge in each of the answers he gave Paul Davies.

There can be no doubt he meant the Welsh Government had influence over and had influenced NRW’s actions (or lack thereof) at Withyhedge.

One of the Welsh Cabinet misspoke, at the very least.

You cannot go from no contact on Tuesday to “providing a steer” on Wednesday and understand both to mean the same thing.

We put our questions to the Welsh Government.

We asked if no member of the Welsh Government attempted to influence NRW’s actions over Withyhedge, how NRW could be clear about its steer.

We asked what contact the Welsh Government has had with NRW regarding Withyhedge, when it took place, and who from the Welsh Government – minister or civil servant – delivered a steer to NRW.

While we did not get a direct answer, a Welsh Government spokesperson confirmed: “The response from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs speaks for itself, of course we expect NRW to carry out its regulatory functions to resolve these issues.”

That doesn’t wash.

The context of Mr Irranca-Davies’s could not be clearer.

“From my perspective as the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, NRW are very clear what our steer is and what our priority is: that the enforcement orders that have been put in place to do the work on the ground and to resolve the problem need to be done for the benefit of local residents.”

If he is not speaking specifically about Withyhedge, what is he speaking about?

And it’s noticeable that when he was asked point blank by Joyce Watson what conversations the Welsh Government was having with NRW and Pembrokeshire County Council, Huw Irranca-Davies did not say “none”. In fairness, he also didn’t say any. But if the totality of his words speak for themselves, it’s clear the WG is involved in what is happening at Withyhedge at closer than arm’s length.

We raised the contradictory answers with Paul Davies MS.

Paul Davies told us: “This whole situation stinks and it’s clear that the Welsh Government has been engaging with Natural Resources Wales and giving them a steer.

“Whatever that steer is clearly isn’t working – as residents are continuing to live with potentially toxic emissions.

“The only appropriate action now is to close the site immediately and hold an independent public inquiry to get to the bottom of all of this.”

Andrew RT Davies added: “Vaughan Gething’s Welsh Government is developing a reputation for being economical with the truth.”

Community

Weather presenter spotted filming in Pembrokeshire

Published

8 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WELL-KNOWN Welsh weather presenter was spotted in Pembrokeshire as he filmed scenes for a new series celebrating the county’s coastline.

Derek Brockway, who has been a familiar face on BBC Wales since 1995, was in St Davids recently working on another instalment of his popular walking series along the Pembrokeshire Coast.

Local resident Thomas Tudor said it was “lovely” to meet the broadcaster during filming, posing for a photograph alongside his mother, Beryl Tudor, and sister, Bethan Thomas Price.

Brockway, who is based at BBC Cymru Wales in Cardiff, is widely known not only for his weather forecasts across television, radio and online, but also for his programmes showcasing Wales’ landscapes and coastal paths.

The latest filming in St Davids is expected to form part of an upcoming series highlighting the natural beauty and walking routes of Pembrokeshire, an area long regarded as one of the jewels in Wales’ tourism crown.

Ministry of Defence

Defence families in Wales to save up to £6,000 under new childcare scheme

Published

8 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A MAJOR new childcare support scheme for Armed Forces families will be rolled out across Wales from September 2026, the UK Government has announced.

The initiative is expected to save eligible families up to £6,000 per child each year, providing a significant boost to household finances amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

The scheme will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence’s existing Early Years childcare reimbursement system and will bring Wales in line with the level of support already available to forces families in England.

Today, 19/03/2026 The Secretary of State for Defence John Healey visited Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, home to 3rd Battalion the Rifles. He met with families to launch a new scheme for Defence Families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ministers say the move is part of a wider effort to improve recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces, with childcare costs identified as a key pressure affecting morale.

The new support will cover children from nine months old until they reach three years of age in Wales and Scotland, and up to four years old in Northern Ireland.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP announced the scheme during a visit to Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh.

He said: “Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation’s security. As the demands on defence increase, it is right that we step up our support for those who serve.

“This offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, wherever they are posted.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “Service families in Wales make huge sacrifices and deserve the best possible support.

“They contribute not only to our national security but also to the Welsh economy. This scheme delivers meaningful help with the cost of childcare.”

The scheme will reimburse the difference in early years childcare costs for eligible working families. To qualify, both parents must be in employment and meet the income thresholds required for a Tax-Free Childcare account.

Hundreds of families across Wales are expected to benefit.

The announcement forms part of a broader package of support introduced since July 2024, including improved military housing, the largest Armed Forces pay rise in two decades, and plans to strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant in law.

Further details will be provided in the coming months, with families encouraged to begin considering childcare arrangements ahead of the scheme’s launch.

Community

Broad Haven volunteers secure ‘national asset’ status for nature reserve

Published

9 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SMALL stretch of woodland and former opencast coal mine has been transformed into a nationally recognised biodiversity site, in a major first for Wales.

The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve has been awarded ‘Naturfa’ status, becoming the first community-managed site in Wales to receive the designation.

The recognition, confirmed by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, classifies the reserve as an “Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure” (OECM). This means the volunteer-led work of the Support the Boardwalk group will now contribute directly to Wales’ 30×30 target – the global commitment to protect 30% of land, freshwater and sea for nature by 2030.

In a further boost, the site has also been included in the National Forest for Wales, recognising its role in strengthening a connected network of woodlands and habitats across the country.

Once a simple local walkway, the Slash Pond has developed into a thriving wildlife haven. The reserve now supports a wide range of species, including critically endangered European eels, otters, ten species of bat, and more than fifty species of birds, alongside diverse aquatic plants and insects.

Huw Irranca-Davies said: “These special places are a testament to the care and dedication of people working on the ground – securing a legacy for future generations. Nature can only thrive where habitats are resilient, protected and effectively managed.”

The new status is expected to unlock future funding opportunities, supporting long-term plans for maintaining the boardwalk, monitoring biodiversity and water quality, installing new signage, and expanding environmental education work with Broad Haven Primary School and the wider Havens community.

Andy Drumm, a volunteer with Support the Boardwalk, said: “We’ve always known how special the Slash Pond is, but this recognition puts it firmly on the map as a national asset. It’s a tribute to years of hard work and shows that local communities can lead the way in tackling the nature crisis.”

To mark the achievement, a Spring Family Fun Day will take place on Friday (May 9) from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Slash Pond car park.

The event will feature guided nature walks, pond dipping, a wildlife treasure trail, live music, and family activities including crafts and face painting. The official unveiling of the Naturfa certificate and new reserve branding will also take place, alongside the launch of a new book, From Culm to Calm: A History of the Slash Pond by local author David Meanwell.

Karen Riggs, a long-time volunteer, said: “This achievement belongs to everyone in Broad Haven who has supported the site over the years. We’re not just celebrating a new title – we’re celebrating what our community has built together.”

The day will also see the installation of new benches at the observation decks and the launch of a floating island habitat to support wildfowl and other bird species. Visitors will also be invited to share feedback on plans for an improved picnic area designed to withstand local flooding.

Naturfa is a Welsh Government initiative recognising areas outside traditional protected sites, such as SSSIs, that are managed in ways which deliver long-term benefits for biodiversity.

The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve is managed by the Support the Boardwalk group in partnership with The Havens Community Council, and is maintained entirely by volunteers.

Further information and updates are available via the Support the Boardwalk Facebook page.