CARMARTHEN: Glangwili Hospital faces £82m repair backlog as Wales-wide NHS maintenance bill nears £1bn

Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen is sitting on an £82 million backlog of high and significant risk maintenance and repairs — part of a Wales-wide bill that has now reached nearly £1 billion, new figures reveal.

New data from NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership shows the total backlog has grown to £917 million — a 71% rise in just four years — with more than £616 million needed to fix the most serious issues at twelve of Wales’ thirteen main hospitals.

Hywel Dda University Health Board, which runs Glangwili along with Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest and Bronglais in Aberystwyth, carries a combined backlog of £221 million across its four main hospitals. A detailed breakdown of the figures paints a stark picture of the estate:

Glangwili in Carmarthen has a total high and significant risk backlog of £82,097,174 across its 377 beds, with 65% of its space aged 50 years or more. Of that figure, £3.6 million is classified as high risk and £78.5 million as significant risk.

Withybush in Haverfordwest — which declared a major incident in 2023 after the discovery of potentially defective RAAC concrete in its structure, leading to ward closures — has a backlog of £63,055,228 across 211 beds. Some 74% of its space is aged 50 years or more, and £22.4 million of its backlog is classified as high risk — the largest high-risk share of the four hospitals.

Bronglais in Aberystwyth has a backlog of £37,381,068 across 170 beds, with 63% of its space aged 50 years or more and more than 40% of its space not considered fire safety compliant.

Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli has a backlog of £25,017,426 across 264 beds. Notably, none of its space is aged 50 years or more, though £6.6 million of its backlog is classified as high risk.

The figures, covering 2024-25, show more than 30 NHS sites across Wales have more than half of their buildings predating the birth of the NHS in 1948. The only hospital with no maintenance problems is the recently-opened £350 million Grange Hospital near Cwmbran — the first major new hospital built in Wales in 20 years, and one that took decades from first proposal to opening.

Mark Dayan, a policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust health think tank, described the situation in Wales as a “worryingly large backlog of maintenance by anyone’s standards” — more than twice what the entire NHS in Wales spends in a year on all buildings and permanent equipment. He warned that the condition of buildings can have “a really limiting effect on healthcare,” particularly when health boards want to reconfigure services or shift planned care to reduce waiting times.

Carl Peters-Bond, independent Senedd candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, said the figures came as no surprise given the direction of travel in Hywel Dda. “The lack of investment at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen is not unexpected, considering the health board’s intention to spend billions on a replacement hospital far away from where the majority of patients live,” he said.

Peters-Bond argues that the current health board and trust system is failing communities through bureaucracy and duplication, and is calling for a single integrated NHS for Wales with social services brought under the same umbrella. “Bureaucracy is breaking families — and that must change,” he said. “I believe in cutting waste, joining up services, and making sure resources go where they’re needed most. By sharing resources across the country, services can be provided in communities where they’re needed.”

With the Senedd election less than a month away, the state of NHS Wales buildings has become a battleground across the parties.

Welsh Labour is pledging a £4 billion Hospitals of the Future fund to build new hospitals across Wales over the next ten years. The fund includes a “hospital development in west Wales” which, as we reported in March, appears to refer to Hywel Dda’s long-standing and controversial proposal for a new urgent and planned care hospital near St Clears or Whitland in Carmarthenshire — a scheme that would see Glangwili and Withybush downgraded to community hospitals. The party says it will also continue making capital available to health boards to maintain the existing estate in the meantime.

Plaid Cymru called the backlog “eye watering” but said Labour’s pledge “simply doesn’t add up.” Health spokesman Mabon ap Gwynfor described it as “nothing more than another empty promise from Labour that once again won’t be delivered,” and said Plaid would prioritise tackling the high-risk maintenance backlog and carry out urgent repairs to protect the safety of staff and patients, assessing the estate on a case-by-case basis.

Reform UK’s James Evans said crumbling buildings, burst sewage pipes and rodents in hospitals were “completely unacceptable” and called for the Welsh government’s capital budget to be prioritised on clearing the maintenance backlog rather than promising new hospitals. Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar said his party would declare a health emergency and invest in extra capacity including new community hospitals, diagnostic centres and surgical hubs. The Welsh Liberal Democrats said they would prioritise upgrading the worst parts of the NHS estate, backing a replacement for the University Hospital of Wales while linking capital investment to reforms in social care. The Green Party called the backlog “a disgrace” and pledged a multi-year programme to bring existing facilities up to a safe, modern standard.

Whatever the complexion of the incoming Welsh government after May’s election, the NHS estate it inherits will present an immediate and expensive challenge.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Welsh Labour’s £4bn election pledge could revive controversial new Whitland or St Clears hospital plan
Labour’s flagship hospital fund appears to include Hywel Dda’s long-standing proposal for a new hospital in Carmarthenshire.

Calls grow for urgent investment in west Wales hospitals as new-build plan pushed back a decade
Campaigners warn existing sites need major upgrades after the new hospital plan was delayed by ten years.

Glangwili to become regional hub as health bosses centralise emergency surgery and stroke services
Controversial plans approved by Hywel Dda will see Glangwili take on emergency surgery from across the region.

Withybush Hospital declares major incident after concerns over building’s concrete structure
Three wards at Withybush were closed after potentially defective RAAC concrete was discovered in the hospital’s structure.

PONTYATES SURGERY: Senedd candidate Carl Peters-Bond joins campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn as pressure on health board mounts

Independent Senedd candidate and Kidwelly Town Mayor Carl Peters-Bond has publicly backed the campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates, joining a growing list of political figures demanding that Hywel Dda University Health Board halt its closure plans.

Peters-Bond, who is standing as the Sir Gaerfyrddin and Kidwelly constituency candidate at the upcoming Senedd election, is himself a patient at the surgery. He met with campaign co-ordinator Clare Treharne outside the practice to hear residents’ concerns and discuss the growing frustration with the process being led by the health board.

He said the surgery was far more than a building to the people who relied on it. “Pontyates Surgery is not just a building — it is a lifeline. For many residents, especially older people and those without transport, losing this surgery would mean losing access to basic healthcare. That is simply unacceptable,” he said.

Peters-Bond said he had been struck by the strength of feeling among patients and campaigners. “I’ve spoken to patients, campaigners and local councillors. The message is the same every time: people feel ignored, sidelined and worn down by a process that seems designed to reach a predetermined outcome. This community deserves better,” he said.

The campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn has gathered considerable momentum in recent months. Hundreds of residents have attended protest events, a petition has passed 1,000 signatures, a human chain was formed around the building, and campaigners have lodged a formal complaint about the way the consultation process has been handled. Local councillors have repeatedly said they have lost confidence in the health board’s approach.

Peters-Bond warned that closure would have knock-on consequences across the wider rural healthcare system. Patients dispersed to other practices would pile pressure onto already overstretched surgeries, travel times for appointments would increase sharply for those without cars, and vulnerable residents would face new barriers to accessing even routine care.

He said the pattern of rural communities losing services first was one that had to end. “Rural communities like Pontyates are always the first to lose services and the last to see investment. This pattern has to end. Healthcare should be based on need, not postcode,” he said.

He is calling on Hywel Dda University Health Board to halt the closure process, publish transparent evidence for any proposed changes, engage meaningfully with residents and campaigners, and commit to maintaining GP provision in Pontyates.

“People have lost trust in this process — and with good reason. The health board must reset its approach, listen to the community and guarantee that GP services will remain in Pontyates,” Peters-Bond said.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has not yet responded to the latest calls for the process to be paused.

Swansea Bay News coverage of the Pontyates Surgery campaign

Campaigners lodge formal complaint over Pontyates GP surgery closure plans
How residents escalated their concerns after losing confidence in the health board’s process.

Hundreds protest to save Pontyates GP surgery as council demands action
The human chain, the packed public meetings and the growing political pressure.

Health board to hold extra public meeting on Pontyates GP surgery closure plans
How the health board responded to the campaign — and why campaigners remained unconvinced.

Council demands action on Pontyates surgery closure as councillors warn of ‘predetermined outcome’
The full story of the council motion and the accusations against the health board.

‘Scrap the VAT’: Senedd candidate says rural Carmarthenshire is being ‘hit first and hit hardest’ by fuel price surge

Carl Peters‑Bond, who is standing for the new Sir Gaerfyrddin constituency, says the current tax system means the Treasury “profits every time global events push up the wholesale price of fuel”, leaving rural communities exposed and increasingly desperate.

‘Profiteering from a crisis’

Fuel duty has been frozen at 52.95p per litre since 2022 — but VAT is charged as a percentage on top of both the product price and the duty. Peters‑Bond says that means the government’s income rises automatically whenever prices spike.

“Every time global events push up the wholesale price of fuel, the government takes an even bigger cut,” he said. “At a time when families are struggling and businesses are fighting to stay afloat, that is simply unacceptable. It’s time to scrap the VAT for fairer fuel.”

Rural Carmarthenshire ‘hit hardest’

Peters‑Bond says communities across Carmarthenshire are facing a far sharper impact than urban areas, with many residents having no choice but to drive long distances for work, school, health appointments and basic shopping.

Public transport, he argues, is too infrequent or unreliable to offer a realistic alternative.

“For many people here, driving isn’t a choice — it’s a necessity,” he said. “When fuel prices rise, rural families feel it immediately.”

Further duty rises already on the way

Fuel prices are already climbing due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East — but Peters‑Bond warns more increases are baked in.

Under the 2025 Budget, the temporary 5p fuel duty cut will be phased out in three stages:

• 1 September 2026: +1p per litre
• 1 December 2026: +2p per litre
• 1 March 2027: +2p per litre

This will return duty to its pre‑2022 level of 57.95p per litre.

“Not only are people paying more because of global events – the government has already scheduled three separate fuel duty rises,” he said. “It’s completely the wrong approach during a cost‑of‑living crisis.”

‘Rural Wales left behind’

Peters‑Bond also criticised what he sees as uneven investment across the UK, pointing to major spending on HS2 and the Cardiff Metro while rural areas face rising costs and limited transport options.

“Removing VAT on fuel would be a simple, fair step to help communities like ours,” he said.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Row over plans to fix notorious A48 blackspot
Fresh tensions over long‑awaited safety work on a key Carmarthenshire route.

Candidate demands action on stalled St Clears station
Five years of promises — and still no progress on the long‑promised rail stop.

Heating crisis hitting Carmarthenshire families
Oil‑reliant households say they’re being pushed to breaking point.

Fresh cash call to restore lost West Wales rail line
Campaigners renew pressure to reconnect communities cut off decades ago.

Candidate demands action on stalled St Clears station after ‘five years of promises’

Carl Peters-Bond, who is standing as an Independent in the Caerfyrddin constituency and currently serves as Mayor of Kidwelly, is demanding urgent action to reopen St Clears railway station.

Located between Whitland and Carmarthen on the West Wales line, the station closed in 1964 and was handed a major boost in 2020 when it secured UK Government funding — but more than five years later, there is still no construction, no confirmed timetable, and no sign of trains returning.

“Not a single shovel in the ground”

Peters-Bond said patience in Carmarthenshire is wearing thin.

“People were told in 2020 that St Clears station was coming back,” he said.

“Five years on, we have vision documents, glossy strategies and endless consultations — but not a single shovel in the ground. It’s simply not good enough.”

A project stuck in limbo

The frustration reflects a project that has lurched from early optimism into years of uncertainty.

When funding was first secured in 2020, hopes were high that St Clears would be reconnected to the rail network — reversing decades of decline since its closure in the 1960s.

But since then, progress has repeatedly stalled.

Ministers have faced mounting pressure after failing to give clear reassurances on when — or even if — the station would be delivered, despite funding being announced. Concerns have also been raised that the project has slipped down the priority list, with accusations the Welsh Government has been dragging its feet.

At the same time, rising costs and technical challenges have cast further doubt over the scheme, while uncertainty around wider infrastructure plans in west Wales has only added to the delays.

Even now, while the station remains part of long-term regional transport ambitions, it is still effectively stuck on the drawing board — with no firm delivery date in sight.

Metro plans… but no timeline

The proposed station forms part of wider plans for a Swansea Bay and south west Wales metro-style network.

Transport for Wales has previously estimated the project could cost under £50 million, with ambitions to improve connectivity across rural west Wales — but crucially, no delivery timetable has ever been confirmed.

Peters-Bond seized on that lack of progress.

“Plans don’t get people to work, school or hospital — trains do,” he said.

“It’s time for delivery, not more documents.”

‘Left behind’ compared to Cardiff

He also pointed to what he sees as an imbalance in transport spending.

While major investment continues in metro systems in Cardiff and the Valleys — and billions have been spent on rail projects such as HS2 elsewhere in the UK — he said communities like St Clears are still waiting for basic infrastructure.

“Carmarthenshire deserves its fair share of investment, and St Clears station should be at the front of the queue,” he said.

Why it matters

Supporters say reopening the station could be a major boost for the area — improving access to jobs, education and healthcare, while easing pressure on the busy A40.

It could also prove crucial to future development in the region, with St Clears previously identified as a potential location for a new “super-hospital” serving west Wales.

Better rail links, campaigners argue, would be essential to making such large-scale plans viable.

‘No more delays’

Peters-Bond says that, if elected, he will push for a clear timetable and hold both Welsh Government and Transport for Wales to account.

“Carmarthenshire has waited long enough,” he said.

“Our communities deserve action — not another decade of promises.”

Long wait goes on

For now, though, the future of St Clears station remains uncertain — with locals still waiting to see whether the long-promised project will finally move from paper to platform.

“HEATING CRISIS HITTING US HARD”: Carmarthenshire families ‘forced to pay triple’ as oil reliance laid bare

The figures have sparked calls for urgent action from independent Senedd candidate Carl Peters-Bond, who warned families are being left with “no choice but to absorb soaring prices.”

Villages among worst hit in Wales

Data highlighted by the BBC shows just how exposed parts of the county are:

• 69% of households in Llannon, Cross Hands and Pen-y-groes rely on oil
• 65% in Abergwili, Llanegwad and Carmel
• 41% in Llanddarog, Llangyndeyrn and Ferryside

Across Wales, around 7% of homes depend on oil — but that figure jumps dramatically in rural areas like Carmarthenshire.

Bills double — and supplies dry up

The warning comes as families across Wales report being left without heating or forced to pay sky-high prices.

In one case reported by the BBC, a family saw a £323 oil order cancelled — only to be forced to pay £750 elsewhere.

Meanwhile, a man in Garnant said his annual bill could soar from £1,000 to £3,000, adding: “The heating has gone off… I’m basically having to dress up and keep moving.”

“People have no choice”

Peters-Bond said the crisis is already biting in Carmarthenshire:

“This crisis is hitting Carmarthenshire directly. When two-thirds of households in some communities rely on oil, people have no choice but to absorb soaring prices.”

He said funding announced by the UK Government must be targeted at rural areas first.

£3.8m for Wales — but who gets it?

The UK Government has unveiled a £53 million support package for households hit by rising oil prices — with £3.8 million allocated to Wales.

But Peters-Bond warned the money must not get lost in bureaucracy:

“The UK Government has released funding — now the Welsh Government must make sure every penny of that £3.8m reaches the rural households who need it most.”

“Competition won’t fix this”

While industry bodies have welcomed a review into oil pricing, Peters-Bond said that won’t help families stuck off the gas grid:

“Rural families aren’t choosing oil because it’s cheap — they’re choosing it because they’ve been left without options. Competition only works when people can switch.”

Calls for urgent action

He is now calling for:

• Emergency financial support for oil-dependent households
• A major retrofit programme to help homes switch to cheaper, greener heating
• A long-term plan to reduce reliance on volatile oil markets

Global crisis hitting local homes

The surge in prices has been linked to rising global oil costs amid conflict in the Middle East — with experts warning the situation could worsen heading into winter.

And for many in rural Carmarthenshire, the message is clear: without urgent help, the coming months could be even tougher.

“You can’t copy-and-paste urban policies onto rural Wales,” Peters-Bond added.
“Carmarthenshire needs solutions designed for Carmarthenshire.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Police warn oil‑heated homes to secure supplies
Officers urge vigilance after a rise in thefts from outdoor tanks.

Most home insurance covers loss of domestic oil
New analysis shows 90% of policies include protection for stolen fuel.

Homeowners urged to check oil tanks
Environmental experts warn leaks can cause costly, avoidable pollution.

CARMARTHENSHIRE: Row over plans to fix notorious A48 accident blackspot

The Welsh Government has confirmed major alterations for the A48 between Carmarthen and Cross Hands, a notorious accident blackspot that has seen hundreds of crashes in recent years.

But the centrepiece of the plan – a new roundabout at Nantycaws – has been blasted as a “short-term fix” that will create even more congestion.

The criticism comes after alarming new figures revealed the safety record on the 12.5-mile stretch of dual carriageway is getting worse.

Data from Dyfed-Powys Police showed 186 collisions on the road in the 12 months to July 2025, an increase on the 169 crashes recorded in the previous year.

In response to a safety study commissioned in 2020, the Welsh Government has now unveiled a package of measures set to begin this autumn.

These include closing dangerous gaps in the central reservation and shutting six “sub-standard” laybys.

However, the main proposal involves constructing a new roundabout at Nantycaws to eliminate what officials call an “unsafe cross carriageway manoeuvre.”

But Carl Peters-Bond, an independent candidate for the Caerfyrddin constituency, has criticised the proposal.

“The solution to the dangerous A48 does not lie in years of construction, disruption and delays — only to leave us with even more congestion at a brand-new roundabout at Nantycaws, right in the middle of a vital trunk route,” he said.

Mr Peters-Bond, who is also the Mayor of Kidwelly, warned: “That is not a serious long-term plan for a road of national importance.”

He argued that adding another roundabout to the busy stretch of road would simply move the problem elsewhere.

“Anyone who drives this stretch knows how heavily loaded these roundabouts already are. Adding another one at Nantycaws will not solve the problem — it will simply move it, and make the whole route slower and more dangerous.”

Instead, Mr Peters-Bond is calling for a more strategic upgrade, including closing side-access routes, upgrading existing junctions to be fully grade-separated, and beginning work to extend the M4 to Carmarthen.

“These are the strategic solutions that match the scale of the problem — not temporary sticking-plasters,” he added.

The Welsh Government, however, has defended its plans.

Ken Skates, the cabinet secretary for transport, said the changes were designed to “reduce risk and improve conditions for everyone who uses the road.”

He added: “While lane closures will be required during construction and some journeys may take longer, this short-term disruption is necessary to deliver a safer and more resilient road for the future.”

Other changes planned for later this year include restricting right-turns at Llanddarog, Pantyffynnon, Llanarthne, and Foelgastell.

While the initial safety works are set to begin this year and take four months, the new roundabout at Nantycaws is a longer-term proposal, with construction not expected to start until at least 2027, subject to funding.

New figures reveal Wales set to lose £6bn in rail funding row

Billions lost, investment bypasses rural Wales

Wales is set to miss out on another £1.3–£1.6 billion in transport funding after the UK Labour Government confirmed Northern Powerhouse Rail will go ahead as an “England and Wales” project.

The scheme, designed to link Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, will not include a single centimetre of track in Wales. By classifying it as “England and Wales”, the Treasury avoids triggering Barnett consequentials that would have delivered funding for Welsh rail.

It follows similar decisions on HS2, the high‑speed line between London, Birmingham and Manchester, and East‑West Rail, which links Oxford and Cambridge. Together, those projects have already cost Wales up to £4.3 billion in lost investment. Combined, campaigners say Wales could now be short by around £6 billion.

Scotland and Northern Ireland cash in

While Wales is left empty‑handed, Scotland is set to receive £2.7 billion and Northern Ireland just under £1 billion as a result of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

A Treasury spokesperson said:

“Wales will benefit from £445 million of rail investment over the next decade — the biggest ever funding boost for Welsh rail.”

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has also defended the classification of projects like HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail as “England and Wales” schemes, arguing that Wales benefits indirectly from improved connections across the UK rail network.

Welsh Government stresses cooperation

First Minister Eluned Morgan said:

“We will continue to press for further commitments, including electrification of the North and South Mainlines, which remain vital for Wales’s future.”

She added that the settlement would deliver “significant extra investment in rail infrastructure” and emphasised the need for cooperation between governments.

Opposition parties cry foul

Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

“Wales is owed billions from HS2 and now Northern Powerhouse Rail. Labour has failed to address chronic underfunding of our railways, and our communities are paying the price.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth also accused Labour of leaving Wales “short‑changed again” and said the First Minister had “no influence” over her Westminster colleagues.

Lib Dems demand devolved powers

Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson David Chadwick MP said:

“This Labour Government is deliberately depriving Welsh communities of billions of pounds in transport funding, whilst expecting a pat on the back for delivering crumbs.

Labour has the power to change the system and stop these funding scandals, but has made its position clear — they are happy for Wales to be left behind, paying for megaprojects in England whilst our own rail and transport infrastructure collapses.”

Mid and West Wales left behind

Local campaigners say the funding gap is most keenly felt in Mid and West Wales, where rail services remain patchy and major projects have stalled.

Carl Peters‑Bond, independent candidate for the new Caerfyrddin constituency in next year’s Senedd elections, said:

“We’re told Wales is getting investment, but Mid and West Wales see none of it. Communities from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth are crying out for rail connectivity, yet billions are being spent on lines hundreds of miles away. It’s a betrayal of rural Wales.

Both Westminster and Cardiff need to stop playing politics and start building the infrastructure our communities desperately need. People here don’t want excuses — they want action.”

West Wales line campaign highlights the gap

The row comes just days after campaigners renewed calls for funding to restore the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth rail line, axed in the 1960s.

As Swansea Bay News reported at the weekend, supporters say reopening the line would transform connectivity across West Wales, boost the economy, and cut car dependency. Campaigners argue that the billions Wales is missing out on could easily fund projects like the Carmarthen–Aberystwyth line, yet instead the money is being spent on rail schemes in England.

Creaking infrastructure, growing anger

With rail electrification stalled and public transport under strain, campaigners warn the funding gap leaves Wales at risk of falling further behind.

The row adds to growing pressure on Labour to explain why Wales is repeatedly excluded from consequential funding, while neighbouring nations benefit.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Fresh cash call to bring back lost West Wales rail line
Campaigners launch crowdfunding bid to reopen the Carmarthen–Aberystwyth line, as Senedd row intensifies.

MP calls for devolved rail powers after £6.6bn project delivers nothing for Wales
David Chadwick MP demands rail powers for Wales after East‑West Rail confirmed as “England and Wales” scheme.

Chancellor’s £445m for Welsh rail investment criticised as “measly”
Rachel Reeves’ pledge of £445m over ten years branded inadequate compared to billions for Scotland and NI.

#CarlPetersBond #CarmarthenToAberystwythRailLink #DavidChadwickMP #EastWestRail #ElunedMorganMS #HS2 #HS3 #LizSavilleRobertsMP #NorthernPowerhouseRail #PlaidCymru #politics #railInvestment #RhunApIorwerthMS #UKLabour #WelshLabour #WelshLiberalDemocrats

Fresh cash call to bring back lost West Wales rail line

Traws Link Cymru, set up in 2013, wants to reinstate the route axed in the 1960s Beeching Cuts. They say poor roads and patchy rail links are choking Mid and West Wales, leaving communities cut off and opportunities wasted.

“Realising the potential of this region requires vision, planning and inward investment. But the poor communications network remains a major drawback,” the group said.

‘Kick‑start regeneration’

The campaign argues new tracks would kick‑start economic and social regeneration, opening up tourism, agriculture and small industries. They point to three university campuses, the National Library of Wales, the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments, and S4C’s headquarters — all hampered by poor transport.

Supporters say journeys of less than 50 miles can take hours, underlining the lack of direct north‑south connectivity.

Political row over the line

The future of the route has become a political flashpoint. Plaid Senedd member, Adam Price has accused ministers of failing to act and warned the project is at risk unless the Welsh Government formally protects the corridor from development.

“It is not acceptable for the Welsh Government to essentially wash their hands of this commitment. They are dragging their feet and putting this whole project at risk.”

A feasibility study in 2018 put the cost of reopening at £775 million, but campaigners argue little progress has been made since. More recent estimates suggest the bill could rise to around £2 billion. Critics say it’s a huge price tag with no guarantee of political backing. Campaigners counter that the benefits — jobs, investment and national cohesion — would outweigh the costs.

Transport Secretary Ken Skates has pushed back, warning that land protections could harm communities.

“Putting land protections in place for the reopening of sections of railway lines can risk creating blight to landowners, it can have a potential economic cost to communities, and there would also be the obvious ongoing resourcing cost to maintain the protections.”

He added that reopening remains a longer‑term option, subject to full value‑for‑money tests.

Local voices demand action

Community campaigner and independent Senedd candidate for Caerfyrddin, Carl Peters‑Bond, says the time for delay is over.

“This rail link should have been rebuilt decades ago. Communities across West Wales have been left waiting while investment pours into Cardiff and the Valleys.”

He said stations at Llandysul, Llanybydder and Lampeter must be part of the plan to serve towns that have been overlooked.

“People are tired of political point‑scoring. What we need now is real investment in infrastructure that connects our communities, supports local businesses, and gives young people a reason to stay in West Wales.”

Carl added that the project is about fairness as much as transport.

“If we want a stronger, fairer Wales, we need to stop talking and start building. West Wales deserves the same opportunities as the rest of the country — and that starts with laying tracks.”

Traws Link Cymru say their crowdfunding page is live at JustGiving, with donations going towards campaign costs including meetings, advertising and lobbying.

https://vimeo.com/103641050?fl=pl&fe=sh

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Renewed calls to reopen Aberystwyth to Carmarthen rail link
Campaigners and local representatives renew pressure to restore north–south rail connectivity across Mid and West Wales.

New evening buses added to Aberystwyth–Carmarthen route
Transport for Wales expands TrawsCymru T1/T1X services to improve evening and weekend links between Aberystwyth, Lampeter and Carmarthen.

Carmarthen–Aberystwyth route sees 65% passenger growth
Electric TrawsCymru buses deliver a sharp rise in ridership, underscoring demand for stronger north–south connections.

Improved Carmarthen–Aberystwyth bus route a hit with passengers
Over 100,000 journeys recorded since the all‑electric relaunch, highlighting appetite for better regional transport links.

#Aberystwyth #AdamPriceMS #CarlPetersBond #Carmarthen #CarmarthenToAberystwythRailLink #KenSkatesMS #Lampeter #Llandysul #Llanybydder #railInvestment #railLink #TrawsLinkCymru #WestWalesRail

In Pictures: Supporters join Save Our Scarlets march through Llanelli

The Save Our Scarlets march brought supporters onto the streets of Llanelli this afternoon, as fans walked from Sandy Water Park to Parc y Scarlets ahead of the Munster match.

The event was filled with colour, banners and song, as supporters voiced their determination to protect the region’s future.

Related articles

• Llanelli mayor blasts WRU over Scarlets future as town rallies behind ‘Save Our Scarlets’ march
• Save Our Scarlets, urges town council
• ‘Save Our Scarlets’ march planned as WRU consultation sparks fears for region’s future
• Llanelli MP: Parc y Scarlets must be central to Welsh rugby’s future

#AdamPriceMS #CarlPetersBond #CllrDarrenPrice #Llanelli #NiaGriffithMP #protestMarch #Rugby #RupertMoon #SaveOurScarlets #Scarlets

Historic fourth successive term for Kidwelly Town Mayor

Independent councillor, Carl Peters-Bond was unanimously voted as Mayor by all other councillors at a meeting of Kidwelly Town Council on 3 June. Fellow Independent councillor Laura Jones was voted Deputy Mayor. Cllr Chris Peters-Bond, Carl’s husband, will be his consort for the term.

Kidwelly’s first recorded Mayor was Thomas Babington in 1618. The longest serving Mayor was Edmund Blathwayt who held the position for eight years from 1858 to 1865.

Thomas William Angell Evans was town Mayor for seven years from 1874 to 1880, however there hasn’t been a Mayor that has served four or more successive terms since.

Cllr Carl Peters-Bond said: “It is an honour to have been voted mayor of our historic town once again. Kidwelly has been a town for over 900 years and to be a small part of its history is truly humbling.

“Kidwelly is a town of culture, history and legend. From the battle of Princess Gwenllian to our iconic Norman Castle, St Mary’s our beautiful Norman Church to the tale of the black cat of Kidwelly, our town’s emblem – and of course ‘Hen fenyw fach Cydweli’ from the traditional Welsh nursery rhyme.

“Just because Kidwelly is a historic town, doesn’t mean it stands still though, and I’m proud to have led the council through the regeneration of our town square in partnership with  Carmarthenshire Council’s ten town’s scheme, restoring the Grade I listed St Mary’s Church’s town clock, improvement works to the town cemetery, as well as supporting community run events such as food festivals and twinning events.

“I look forward to continuing the work the council does with the community and supporting our vibrant and welcoming town .”

#CarlPetersBond #Kidwelly #KidwellyTownCouncil #Mayor