A CALL for a £75,000 grant to support the coastal bus network in Pembrokeshire has been backed by the national park.

At the March meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, members were recommended to authorise payment of approximately £75,000 to Pembrokeshire County Council as a contribution towards the coastal bus network and the Integrated Transport Unit Strategy Manager post for the financial year 2026/2027.

A report for members said: “The Authority has contributed financially towards the provision of the coastal bus services and the Integrated Transport Unit Strategy Manager post and seeks agreement for financial contributions to be made over the financial year 2026/27. The financial contribution of approximately £75,000 is considered to be manageable for the Authority.”

It added: “Continued funding during the next financial year is critical during a period of transport reform and will help secure the future of the coastal bus provision when services are franchised across the region.

“If Pembrokeshire County Council were to introduce a tourism levy in the future, it is anticipated that revenue generated through such a scheme could be used to support sustainable transport infrastructure, including the coastal bus network.

“The Authority has made longstanding payments towards the operation of the coastal bus network and support services provided by a transport officer post. In the financial year 2025/2026 the National Park Authority’s contribution was: – £55,989 contribution to the Coastal bus services – £16,400 towards the Integrated Transport Unit Strategy Manager post which provides the Secretariat for Pembrokeshire Greenways and coordinates the Coastal Bus provision. The Authority also contributes £7,000 towards the Tenby Park and Ride Service, however, this is under a separate agreement.”

This year, a contribution for the coastal bus services of £58,117, together with an identical £16,400 towards the Integrated Transport Unit Strategy Manager post was sought, bringing the total amount to £74,517.75.

It said the 2025-’26 total cost of running the coastal bus network, covering the 400 Puffin Shuttle, the 404 Strumble Shuttle, the 403 Celtic Coaster, and the 387/388 Coastal Cruiser amounted to £316,755.95; the park’s financial contribution equating to 17.6 per cent of the total cost against a historic contribution of approximately a third, the remainder council funded through the Bus Network and Bus Service Support Grants.

The report added: “The services operate almost entirely within the National Park, providing access to the majority of the coast for visitors and also provides a service for residents. The Authority’s contribution enables the provision of enhanced services to the Pembrokeshire coast, running daily, seven days per week through the summer.”

Members backed the £75,000 contribution recommended.

THE ROW over Peter Mandelson has escalated after the Welsh Government cleared its own dealings with the Labour grandee — as UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of “lying” about him.

First Minister Eluned Morgan ordered a review into communications between Welsh Government officials and Mandelson following pressure from Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.

The investigation examined all correspondence — as well as material from documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein — and concluded there was “nothing which represented a risk to the conduct of Welsh Government business.”

But the findings come as Mandelson is once again at the centre of a growing political storm in Westminster.

Westminster clash

Speaking on LBC, Badenoch claimed Starmer had misled Parliament over Mandelson, saying: “This is a man who tells lies at PMQs… just like he did with Peter Mandelson when he said, ‘I didn’t know the full extent of his relationship’, and the papers… showed the opposite.”

While such language would be ruled out of order in the Commons, the accusation marks a significant escalation in political rhetoric around the issue.

Labour has not yet responded to the claims.

Questions remain

In Wales, ministers insist the matter has been fully examined and closed.

However, the Welsh Government has not published the underlying correspondence reviewed, nor detailed the extent of any contact with Mandelson.

That lack of transparency may leave the door open to further scrutiny — particularly given the wider controversy now unfolding at UK level.

Political risk

Although no wrongdoing has been identified, the timing is sensitive.

With the Senedd election approaching, any perceived links — however indirect — to a figure caught up in a Westminster row involving Epstein-related material could prove politically damaging.

Opposition parties are likely to argue that the issue is no longer just about internal processes, but about public trust.

For now, the Welsh Government is standing by its findings.

But as the row intensifies in Westminster, the Mandelson question may not be going away any time soon.

Support package announced as global fuel prices rise amid Middle East tensions

THOUSANDS of households across Wales are set to receive financial support to help cover heating costs, as rising global fuel prices continue to hit those reliant on oil and LPG systems.

Low-income households using heating oil or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) will be eligible for a one-off £200 payment if they are on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The funding forms part of a £3.8 million allocation to Wales from the UK Government, announced on Sunday (Mar 16).

Local authorities will contact eligible households directly and invite applications. Claimants will need to confirm their fuel type and provide bank details, with payments made directly into accounts. The scheme will remain open for six months from launch.

Additional support has also been expanded for those facing severe hardship. The Discretionary Assistance Fund will now offer up to £750 for heating oil, an increase from £500, and applicants will be able to apply twice within a 12-month period. Support is available via local authorities, housing associations, and organisations including Citizens Advice.

A new “Warmth on Prescription” pilot scheme will launch in September 2026 within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area. Delivered by energy charity Severn Wye, the two-winter trial will provide £500 directly to energy suppliers for 100 households suffering from conditions worsened by cold homes, such as COPD, asthma, and cardiovascular disease.

Participants will be referred through healthcare services rather than applying individually. The pilot aims to assess whether warmer homes can improve health outcomes and reduce pressure on NHS services.

The Welsh Government says the measures build on existing schemes, including the Warm Homes Nest programme and the Optimised Retrofit Programme, which together provide more than £130 million annually for energy efficiency improvements such as insulation and heating upgrades.

Since 2022, more than 230,000 people in Wales have also received emergency energy support through the Fuel Bank Foundation.

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said the package was aimed at those most in need.

She said: “The cost of living continues to put pressure on many households across Wales, and the conflict in the Middle East is driving up prices, adding to the anxiety many people already feel about paying their bills and heating their homes.

“Supporting people through these pressures is a priority for us and we are doing all we can for those who need it most. Today’s announcements will provide immediate extra help for those in greatest need.”

She added that support services remain available for those struggling with energy costs or financial pressures.

Advicelink Cymru can be contacted on 0800 702 2020, while the Nest Warm Homes scheme is available on 0808 808 2244.