CARMARTHENSHIRE: Two Debenhams buildings, two very different outcomes — as Senedd candidates question council’s town centre spending priorities

Two former Debenhams buildings sit at the heart of two Welsh town centres – but their stories could not be more different, and the contrast is drawing scrutiny from candidates standing in Thursday’s Senedd election for Sir Gaerfyrddin.

In Swansea, the former Debenhams building in the Quadrant was sold this week to Centurion – the company that already owns the shopping centre – with three major new tenants set to be announced within days. The sale was brokered by Swansea Council after the Welsh Government helped fund the purchase of the building.

In Carmarthen, the picture is more complicated. Carmarthenshire County Council purchased the town’s former Debenhams building and announced plans to transform it into Atriwm, a cultural and community venue – part of a strategy to repurpose large vacant units left by departing chains.

But opening has been pushed back to 2027 after a structural defect was discovered in the building following purchase – a complication the council says forms part of its £146 million capital programme.

Welsh Labour’s Calum Higgins pictured in Ammanford town centre. Image: Welsh Labour

Calum Higgins, Welsh Labour’s lead candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, said the situation raised serious questions about spending priorities across the county. “There have been some poorly thought out purchases in Carmarthen by the Plaid Cymru led Carmarthenshire County Council, and a lack of investment in towns like Ammanford and Llanelli because money is being sucked up by white elephants,” he said. He is calling for a Senedd inquiry into how local authorities spend money on town centres.

The spending in Carmarthen comes against a backdrop of contested town centre plans for Llanelli and Ammanford set out by the council in September last year.

The masterplan acknowledged that both towns face significant challenges – in Llanelli, the Murray Street multi-storey car park and indoor market beneath it are nearing the end of their structural life, while Ammanford’s plan focused on reconnecting the town centre with surrounding communities and tackling the leakage of shoppers to larger centres.

Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford — three of Carmarthenshire’s primary town centres at the heart of the debate over council spending priorities. Image: Carmarthenshire County Council

Llanelli Market has been at the centre of significant controversy since plans emerged in July 2025 to demolish the existing building and relocate to the former Woolworths site, with traders and Labour councillors raising concerns about the process.

A Bake Off star who opened a bakery in the market quit after just a year, blaming the council’s handling of the situation.

Independent candidate Carl Peters-Bond inside Llanelli Market Hall. Image: Carl Peters-Bond

Carl Peters-Bond, Mayor of Kidwelly and independent candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, said the pattern of spending reflected a wider failure of priorities. “Councils and Welsh Government must start listening to people rather than ploughing blindly on with vanity projects,” he said. “Money seems to be no object when it comes to Carmarthen – yet other market towns across the county are left to survive on whatever grant funding they can find, with all the restrictions and conditions that come with it.”

Peters-Bond said the Llanelli Market move illustrated the problem. “The proposed move to the former Woolworths site is only happening because refurbishment of existing retail is a condition of the grant the council has applied for – not because it is the best outcome for the town or its people,” he said. Carmarthenshire Council has not publicly addressed this specific claim.

Plaid Cymru’s Mari Arthur, candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin. Image: Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru’s candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, Mari Arthur, pointed to a different root cause – arguing that the business rates system was working against town centres across Wales, not just in Carmarthenshire. “A café owner on Stepney Street pays rates that bear no relation to the advantages enjoyed by a big-box retailer on the edge of town,” she said. “That is not a fair system – it is a rigged one.” Plaid’s manifesto commits to restructuring business rates to level the playing field between high-street businesses and out-of-town retail.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s position, as set out in its capital programme, is that the Atriwm project remains a long-term investment in Carmarthen’s cultural offer, with the 2027 opening date reflecting the work required to address the structural issues identified after purchase.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration Cllr Hazel Evans said in September that the placemaking plans for all three towns would “only succeed if they’re driven by the communities they affect.”

Related coverage

Carmarthen’s old Debenhams reborn as Atriwm — but opening pushed back to 2027
Our report on the delays and structural issues affecting the Carmarthen project.

Swansea: Debenhams building sold to Quadrant owners as three major new tenants set to be named
This week’s news on Swansea’s former Debenhams — a very different outcome.

Llanelli faces twin loss as council moves to demolish market and multi-storey car park
Our original report on the Llanelli Market controversy.

Future of Llanelli, Ammanford and Carmarthen town centres set out in new plans
The council’s own vision for town centres across Carmarthenshire, published September 2025.

#Ammanford #CalumHiggins #CarlPetersBond #Carmarthen #Debenhams #Llanelli #MariArthur #SeneddElection2026

PONTYATES: Independent candidate and surgery patient calls on Hywel Dda to scrap Meddygfa’r Sarn closure after FOI recruitment revelation

An independent Senedd candidate who is himself a patient at Meddygfa’r Sarn has called on Hywel Dda University Health Board to scrap its recommendation to close the Pontyates surgery – after Freedom of Information documents revealed the board made no targeted attempts to recruit a salaried GP to the practice in nine years.

Carl Peters-Bond, Mayor of Kidwelly and independent candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, said the FOI revelation directly contradicted the impression given in the health board’s own January report, which cited a lack of recruitment interest as a key reason for recommending closure.

“This is duplicitous, beyond fairness, and misleading behaviour from Hywel Dda,” he said. “They cited a lack of recruitment interest as justification for closing this surgery – but they never actually tried to recruit anyone. Sending a circular letter to locums already on the books is not a recruitment campaign. Those responsible for presenting this to the board in the way they did need to be held to account.”

The FOI documents, obtained by the Save Meddygfa’r Sarn Working Group and reported by Swansea Bay News last week, show that since Hywel Dda took over management of the practice in 2017, the only recruitment activity undertaken was a small number of circular letters sent to locums already working across managed practices – asking whether any wished to take up salaried roles. No targeted recruitment campaign was ever run specifically for Meddygfa’r Sarn.

Peters-Bond also raised concerns about the consultation process itself, which he said had failed to ask the right question. “The health board’s consultation only asked people about the impact of the closure – not whether the closure should happen at all,” he said. “That is not a fair or genuine consultation. In light of what these FOI documents have revealed, I am calling on health board bosses to scrap the closure proposal entirely and go back to the drawing board.”

The campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn has been running since January 2026, when the health board first proposed dispersing all 4,300 patients to other surgeries. Hundreds of residents protested and the council demanded action in February as fears grew the outcome had been predetermined by the health board. Campaigners held a human chain around the surgery in February and lodged a formal complaint over the consultation process in March.

The working group subsequently submitted a 52-page report and sustainability document to the board alongside a new clinical proposal for the surgery’s future. A temporary lifeline was granted when the board delayed its final decision in January – but that decision is now due on 28 May.

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s January report stated that the practice was “entirely locum-dependent” and that there had been “little interest in recruitment to salaried roles” – the characterisation that Peters-Bond disputes.

The final decision on the future of Meddygfa’r Sarn will be made at the Hywel Dda University Health Board meeting on Wednesday 28 May at Yr Egin in Carmarthen.

Our Meddygfa’r Sarn coverage

PONTYATES: FOI reveals no specific recruitment attempts for Sarn surgery GP in 9 years
Our original report on the FOI revelation that prompted this reaction.

Senedd candidate joins campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn as pressure on health board mounts
Our previous coverage of Carl Peters-Bond’s involvement in the campaign.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt as health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients
Our original report when the closure threat first emerged.

#CarlPetersBond #HywelDdaNHS #MeddygfaRSarn #PontIets #Pontyates #PontyatesDoctorsSurgery #SeneddElection2026

SENEDD ELECTION: Green candidate caught on camera removing Labour leaflet from letterbox while canvassing in Carmarthenshire

A Green Party candidate standing in the Senedd election has been caught on camera removing a Labour party leaflet from a letterbox while out canvassing in Carmarthenshire.

Doorbell camera footage shared with ITV Wales shows Rob James posting a Wales Green Party leaflet through a door in the Sir Gaerfyrddin constituency before removing a leaflet that had been posted by Labour’s candidate Martyn Palfreman just moments earlier.

James is a former Labour group leader on Carmarthenshire County Council who left the party to join the Greens in November 2025. Both he and Higgins are candidates in Sir Gaerfyrddin ahead of the Senedd election on May 7.

Green Party Senedd Candidate and Carmarthenshire County Councillor, Rob James

After being alerted to the footage, the Wales Green Party said it had spoken to James about the incident. A party spokesperson said: “We have reviewed the footage and have spoken to the candidate to make clear that removing other party leaflets isn’t acceptable. He acknowledges he should not have removed the leaflet.”

Welsh Labour described the incident as disappointing. A party spokesperson said: “Our candidates and volunteers are out every day, knocking on doors, delivering leaflets, working hard to get our message out there. It’s disappointing to see other parties resorting to unfair tactics.”

The spokesperson added: “The problem with the Greens is they’re not as cuddly as they make out. He probably didn’t even recycle it.”

Rob James has been approached for comment.

Sir Gaerfyrddin is one of the most competitive constituencies in our area ahead of May 7. Earlier this week, Swansea Bay News reported how candidates from Labour, Plaid Cymru and independent Carl Peters-Bond united across party lines to demand Senedd scrutiny of the WRU’s plans for professional rugby in west Wales.

According to the More in Common MRP we reported earlier this week, Plaid Cymru are projected to win three seats in Sir Gaerfyrddin, with Reform UK taking two and Labour one. However, the latest YouGov MRP projects Labour winning no seats in the constituency at all.

This story will be updated when Rob James responds to a request for comment.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SENEDD ELECTION: Plaid on course to make history — who’s set to represent YOU on May 7?
Our More in Common MRP analysis with candidate-by-candidate projections for Sir Gaerfyrddin and every other constituency in our area.

Scarlets: Candidates unite across party lines to demand Senedd scrutiny of WRU’s West Wales merger plans
How Sir Gaerfyrddin candidates from Labour, Plaid and the independents found common ground on the WRU crisis.

Senedd Election 2026 — all our coverage
Full archive of Swansea Bay News reporting on the May 7 election.

#CarlPetersBond #GreenParty #MartynPalfreman #RobJames #SeneddElection2026 #WelshLabour

WRU: ‘A massive victory’ — reaction as Ospreys and Scarlets handed lifeline in Welsh rugby U-turn

The announcement that the Welsh Rugby Union will offer the 2025 Professional Rugby Agreement to both the Ospreys and Scarlets has been met with celebration and relief across south and west Wales — but also with sharp words for the union over the months of uncertainty that preceded it.

The WRU confirmed this week that Y11 Sport & Media has withdrawn from its bid to purchase Cardiff Rugby, that Cardiff will remain under WRU ownership for now, and that both the Ospreys and Scarlets will be offered the PRA25 agreement in line with Dragons RFC and Cardiff Rugby. The WRU has been clear, however, that its ambition to move to three professional clubs by the end of the 2027/28 season remains unchanged, with a decision on how to implement that strategy expected by June.

Here is how some of those who campaigned for the regions have responded.

Rob Stewart, Swansea Council leader and Labour candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart, who launched legal action against the WRU and called in the competition watchdog during the campaign to save the Ospreys, described the outcome as a major win.

Rob Stewart, Swansea Council leader and Labour candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe, gives his exclusive reaction to the WRU’s decision to offer professional rugby agreements to the Ospreys and Scarlets. (Video: Kirstie Logan Communications)

Rob Stewart said: “Today the WRU have announced the deal to sell Cardiff to Y11 is off and a new Professional Rugby Agreement is being offered to the Ospreys and Scarlets — ensuring four teams remain potentially until 2030,” he said.

“Let me be clear — this is a major win for the campaign to save the Ospreys that I’m proud to have been a part of.

“The Ospreys will be playing at a redeveloped St Helens from the start of next season, which will be fantastic for the city, our local economy, and the Ospreys supporters.”

Stewart was also blunt in his criticism of the WRU’s handling of the saga. “We could have been in this position a year ago had the WRU not presided over chaos and confusion. The clubs and the union have suffered financially and fans and our game have faced unnecessary uncertainty. This was completely avoidable and the leadership of the WRU have to take responsibility for the crisis they caused.”

However, the WRU’s own statement makes clear its three-club ambition remains firmly in place. CEO Abi Tierney said the union remains “undeterred from our ambition to move to three professional sides,” with a decision on implementing that strategy expected by June. The PRA25 agreements provide near-term stability — but the longer-term picture for all four regions is still unresolved.

Torsten Bell MP, Swansea West

Torsten Bell, the MP for Swansea West who has been among the most vocal critics of the WRU’s handling of the Ospreys crisis, called the announcement a turning point.

“Today is a huge moment. Fans, and those of us who campaigned relentlessly alongside them against WRU’s chaotic reforms to Welsh rugby, have won a massive victory,” he said.

“The WRU have backed down and the Cardiff deal is off. More importantly the Ospreys will sign a new agreement with the WRU for the next four years — seeing the club into the next decade with a significant funding boost.

“So the attempt to force the Ospreys out of professional rugby with no proper process has been defeated.

“Crucially, this means the exciting development of St Helens will now be going ahead. Professional rugby is coming back to the centre of Swansea.

“Today is a vindication for everyone that stood up to be counted. I want to congratulate the fans and clubs for what they have achieved.”

Carl Peters-Bond, independent candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin

Peters-Bond, who joined politicians from Labour and Plaid Cymru earlier this week in calling for Senedd scrutiny of the WRU’s west Wales plans, welcomed the development but echoed the sentiment that much of the damage had already been done.

“I’m delighted that the WRU board have finally seen sense and regional rugby will continue in Llanelli and Swansea,” he said. “Rugby is more than just a sport — it’s part of our culture and an important part of our region’s economy.

“It’s just a shame that it has taken over a year of uncertainty causing anger, frustration and confusion for fans, players and the wider community — something that could have been avoided if the WRU had just listened instead of ploughing on regardless.”

More reaction to follow as it comes in.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

WRU: Cardiff Y11 ownership bid collapses
Our reporter’s full account of the WRU announcement.

Ospreys lifeline as council seals historic St Helens deal
How the St Helens redevelopment became central to the Ospreys’ future.

Swansea Council launches legal action against WRU over Cardiff Rugby sale
The moment Rob Stewart took the fight to the courts.

Scarlets: Candidates unite across party lines to demand Senedd scrutiny of WRU’s West Wales merger plans
Yesterday’s cross-party response to the WRU’s EGM position.

WRU — all our coverage
Full archive of Swansea Bay News reporting on the Welsh rugby crisis.

#CarlPetersBond #Llanelli #Ospreys #RobStewart #Scarlets #SeneddElection2026 #Swansea #TorstenBellMP #WelshRugby #WRU

SCARLETS: Candidates unite across party lines to demand Senedd scrutiny of WRU’s West Wales merger plans

Candidates standing in the same Carmarthenshire constituency have united across party lines to demand greater scrutiny of the Welsh Rugby Union’s plans for professional rugby in West Wales, following the WRU’s restatement of its position at an extraordinary general meeting last week.

The WRU used its EGM on April 13 to maintain its stance that only one professional team should represent West Wales — a position that would effectively force a merger between the Scarlets and the Ospreys, ending one or possibly both clubs as independent regional sides. Politicians of all parties are warning that the consequences would be felt far beyond the rugby pitch.

Labour Senedd candidate Calum Higgins standing outside Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli

Calum Higgins, Labour’s lead candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, said scrutinising the WRU’s proposals would be a priority if elected on May 7.

“It’s vital for the Carmarthenshire economy and rugby heritage in Llanelli that we have professional rugby here,” he said. “The Senedd should scrutinise the proposals and hold the WRU accountable for their actions.

“There are also lots of fans from the other regions in Carmarthenshire, mainly Ospreys fans who are understandably worried about their future. Any decent rugby fan would be supporting each other during this — we shouldn’t allow the WRU to divide the regional rugby fan base.

“If elected in May, a priority for me will be to scrutinise the proposals from a fan’s point of view. The rivalry between the Scarlets and Ospreys is something to protect and nurture for the future, and this proposal risks trashing rugby heritage in the South West.”

Higgins, a keen rugby fan from Tycroes in Carmarthenshire, was pictured outside Parc y Scarlets.

Independent Senedd candidate, Carl Peters-Bond at last year’s Scarlets march through Llanelli.

Carl Peters-Bond, independent candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, said he had attended the Save Our Scarlets march in Llanelli last year and that the stakes went far beyond sport.

“The Scarlets have a huge heritage in the area. The loss of the Scarlets through the WRU’s potential reduction of the number of professional sides would be devastating, not just for the economy of South West Wales — Llanelli in particular — but also for the culture of the region,” he said.

“Rugby here is more than a sport. It’s part of who we are, and it binds our communities together. That’s why I’ll always stand up for the Scarlets and for grassroots rugby across Carmarthenshire.

“This isn’t about party politics. It’s about protecting something that belongs to all of us. The Scarlets are woven into the fabric of west Wales life, and losing them would be a blow we cannot afford.”

The sentiments echo those previously expressed by Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru’s lead candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, who backed a petition calling on the WRU to protect the Scarlets’ future during the union’s formal consultation period last September.

Writing on his website at the time, Campbell said dissolving the Scarlets would be “disastrous news not only for Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, and the wider region, but also on a national level.”

“A club that has produced legendary players — from Phil Bennett, Delme Thomas and Ray Gravell, to Stephen Jones and Ken Owens, to name but a few. And away from the pitch, the team contributes so much to the local economy, identity and culture. If this was lost it would leave a massive gap to fill and would lead to disillusionment by ordinary fans of the sport.”

“We will be contributing to the formal consultation process as I hope thousands of others will as well, in order to send a clear message to the WRU that dissolution of the Scarlets is not the solution to the mismanagement of professional rugby in Wales over many years.”

The cross-party response reflects growing concern among Carmarthenshire politicians ahead of the Senedd election, with candidates from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Conservatives and the independent benches all in agreement that the next Welsh Government must use its scrutiny powers to challenge the WRU’s direction of travel. The WRU’s insistence on a single West Wales team raises the prospect of a merger that could mean the end of the Scarlets, the Ospreys, or fundamentally alter both clubs beyond recognition.

Swansea Bay News has reported extensively on the WRU’s plans for the future of professional rugby in Wales, including the reaction of supporters and the broader implications for the Scarlets and Ospreys.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

WRU — all our coverage
Full archive of our reporting on the Welsh Rugby Union’s regional restructuring plans.

In pictures: Supporters join Save Our Scarlets march through Llanelli
Our coverage of the protest march that Carl Peters-Bond attended.

WRU doubles down on three-team plan after EGM as Ospreys supporters warn of lasting damage to Welsh rugby
Our report on the EGM that prompted these responses.

SENEDD ELECTION: Plaid on course to make history as largest party
Our MRP analysis predicting which candidates are set to win seats in Sir Gaerfyrddin and across our area.

#CalumHiggins #CarlPetersBond #Llanelli #SaveOurScarlets #Scarlets #SeneddElection2026 #WRU

LLANDEILO: Green candidate’s bypass backing sparks row with Labour MS — as locals say just build it

A bypass that has been promised, delayed, reviewed and re-promised for more than half a century has found a new use — as ammunition in a Senedd election row between a Green Party candidate and the Labour MS whose seat he is now trying to win.

The flashpoint came when Cllr Rob James, the Green Party’s lead candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin — the constituency covering the whole of Carmarthenshire — posted on Facebook backing the long-awaited Llandeilo bypass.

The bypass has been in the pipeline since it was first raised in Parliament in 1970. Feasibility studies were underway by 1973. Construction was supposed to begin in 2019. It didn’t. A new start date of 2025 was set. That didn’t happen either. The current estimate has construction beginning in 2029, with completion targeted for 2031 — and a price tag of £88 million, up from an original budget of £50 million.

Cllr James invoked the case of Ella Kissi-Debrah — the first person in the UK whose death was officially linked to air pollution — to make his case. “Air quality isn’t an abstract issue. It has real consequences,” he wrote, arguing that HGVs thundering through Llandeilo’s narrow streets every day were creating real health risks.

Llandeilo is a designated air quality management area due to historic breaches in nitrogen dioxide levels. “Doing nothing,” Cllr James said, “isn’t a Green option.”

Lee Waters, the outgoing Labour MS for Llanelli — whose constituency has been absorbed into the new county-wide Sir Gaerfyrddin seat at this election — was unimpressed. A champion of sustainable transport who is not seeking re-election in May, his response on Facebook was brief and pointed: “Novel to have a Green candidate who favours building a by-pass on a flood plain.”

Waters then contacted media outlets to pile on further, saying: “See this Facebook comment from the lead Green candidate in Carmarthenshire, doubling down in favour of a by-pass. Needless to say, this is not Green policy.”

Lee WatersGreen Party Senedd Candidate and Carmarthenshire County Councillor, Rob James

There is some irony in Waters taking this particular stand. As transport minister, he oversaw a review that froze most new road-building projects in Wales — but the Llandeilo bypass was one of the few schemes that survived the cull. A consultant, Arcadis, was subsequently appointed to develop the outline design. The bypass remains Welsh Government policy — a point Cllr James was quick to make.

“The Welsh Government has decided to take forward the Llandeilo bypass, so it’s Labour Party policy,” Cllr James hit back. “Obviously there are concerns about its precise routing and there’s a need to make sure that environmental factors are taken into consideration. To be fair, Plaid Cymru, which controls the county council, has taken that view for a long time. Llandeilo deserves its bypass.”

While the two traded blows online, Carl Peters-Bond, an independent candidate for Sir Gaerfyrddin, said the whole row was missing the point. “Having listened to the people of Llandeilo, they’re not interested in political spats — they just want their bypass built,” he said.

Carl Peters-Bond in Llandeilo

Peters-Bond, who has been campaigning in the town, said the reality on the ground was hard to ignore. “Whilst campaigning recently in Llandeilo it was not possible to hold a conversation for more than a few seconds before getting deafened by huge HGVs thundering through the narrow streets. Air pollution, noise and road safety concerns in Llandeilo are a real concern for residents.”

He added: “The bypass has been talked about at length for decades. It’s a trunk-route part of the major A483 that links South West and North Wales. The volume of heavy goods and other vehicle traffic that navigate the narrow roads have far exceeded what is safe. It’s about time the bypass was built.”

Cllr James also used the exchange to make a bold claim about the Greens’ prospects in the constituency. “The Labour vote in Carmarthenshire has collapsed and we believe the Greens are likely to poll higher than Labour. We are definitely in with a chance of winning a seat here,” he said.

The spat is not without its backstory. Cllr James was previously the leader of the opposition Labour group on Carmarthenshire County Council before being suspended by the party in January 2024 and subsequently joining the Greens.

His path out of Labour followed an incident in which he was accused of sending a text message to a Plaid Cymru councillor suggesting they could have some fun by claiming that Waters had two homes in Llanelli and didn’t live in either of them. He said the message was meant facetiously and that he had forgotten sending it. Party officials said allowing him to remain in Labour’s parliamentary candidate selection process would risk reputational damage for the party.

That history between the two makes the Facebook spat feel like rather more than an abstract policy debate — and all the while, in Llandeilo, the lorries keep coming through.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Consultant appointed to progress Llandeilo bypass scheme
The Welsh Government appointed Arcadis Consulting to develop the outline design for the long-awaited A483 bypass.

Former Carmarthenshire Labour leader defects to Green Party
How Cllr Rob James made the move from Labour group leader to Green Party Senedd candidate.

Controversial Welsh transport minister to leave post
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Freeze on new roads projects to be announced
The road-building review that froze most Welsh Government schemes — but not the Llandeilo bypass.

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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.

Withybush General Hospital in Haverfordwest. Image: Hywel Dda University Health Board

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.

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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.

Independent Senedd Candidate, Carl Peters-Bond with Meddygfa’r Sarn campaign organiser Clare Treharne

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.

Carl Peters-Bond speaking with Meddygfa’r Sarn campaign organiser Clare Treharne

“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

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How residents escalated their concerns after losing confidence in the health board’s process.

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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’
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‘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.

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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.”

Class 197 TfW train at Pembroke Dock station
(Image: TfW)

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.

The railway line through St Clears, between Whitland and Carmarthen, where no station has operated since 1964.

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.

A Transport for Wales Tram-Train run on the Merthyr, Aberdare and Treherbert lines, travelling to Cardiff and Cardiff Bay

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.

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