CARMARTHENSHIRE £10M STORM BOOST: Welsh Government confirms massive funding for flood recovery

The Welsh Government has confirmed a fresh £11.2 million funding package, with the lion’s share — more than £10 million — allocated to Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire.

The cash is designed to help local authorities recover from the “devastating” floods of November 2025, which saw emergency rescues and widespread damage across West Wales.

It follows a major incident declaration at the height of the storms, which saw fire crews and lifeboats called out to save residents from rising waters.

The funding comes as a lifeline for the region, which has already seen £100k drainage grants used to tackle persistent flooding issues in the city and surrounding areas.

Among the most heart-breaking stories from the 2025 floods was the rescue of 34 animals from a Carmarthenshire dog sanctuary after it was completely submerged.

Jayne Bryant, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, said: “The storms of late 2025 caused real hardship for communities right across Wales.”

She added: “I am determined that no council should be left to bear those costs alone.”

The new funding will be used to repair infrastructure, clear debris, and support ongoing recovery efforts in the hardest-hit areas.

It builds on previous support, including £2.5 million already made available to communities in Monmouthshire following Storm Claudia.

The announcement is a major step forward for Carmarthenshire, which has been at the forefront of the battle against extreme weather.

Ms Bryant concluded: “I want residents in Carmarthenshire to know that the Welsh Government stands with them as they continue to recover and rebuild.”

The funding will be officially allocated in the 2026-27 financial year, which the Welsh Government say will provide long-term security for the county’s recovery plans.

MILFORD HAVEN: £50m hydrogen green energy ‘revolution’ to create 70 local jobs

Construction is expected to kick off this year on the hydrogen-generating facility, in what is being described as a “defining milestone” for the West Wales energy sector.

The plant, developed by MorGen Energy, will be built on the site of a former oil refinery at the Impala terminal, previously Puma Energy.

MorGen say this “significant investment” is poised to create 60 jobs during the construction phase alone, providing a major boost to the local economy.

The company say that the new plant will be up and running by early 2028, and is set to produce approximately 2,000 tonnes per annum of low-carbon hydrogen, compliant with the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

Once completed, the facility will support up to 10 permanent, highly skilled roles, according to the developers.

The hydrogen will be used across a broad range of applications, including port decarbonisation, industrial heating, manufacturing and chemical feedstock.

The West Wales Hydrogen project is among the first in the UK to receive the green light from investors, backed by a 15-year government revenue guarantee.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens hailed the project, stating it will “create jobs and help grow the Welsh economy.”

Luciana Ciubotariu, CEO of Celtic Freeport, welcomed the move, noting its importance for the local tax site.

“MorGen Energy’s decision is another major step forward for the hydrogen economy in South West Wales,” she said.

Ms Ciubotariu added that projects within the Milford Haven Tax Site demonstrate how the Celtic Freeport is accelerating decarbonisation while creating high-value jobs.

The 20MW plant is expected to produce approximately 2,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen annually, powered primarily by UK windfarms.

This hydrogen will be used to decarbonise heavy industry, including port operations, industrial heating, and manufacturing across South Wales.

The plant will produce hydrogen through electrolysis, a process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity.

Sheffield-based ITM Power has been selected to supply the electrolyser system, providing a further boost to UK manufacturing and technology.

This clean energy process is expected to achieve more than 15,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions savings annually, according to the developers.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks emphasised the importance of hydrogen in the UK’s energy strategy.

He said backing hydrogen was “crucial in de-carbonising industry, driving investment, boosting our energy security and creating hundreds of jobs in our industrial heartlands.”

Shanks added that this investment demonstrates how Wales is embracing the clean energy transition, creating new opportunities for local communities.

Werner Lieberherr, CEO of MorGen Energy, described the investment decision as a “defining milestone” for the company and the UK hydrogen sector.

He highlighted that it shows green hydrogen projects in the UK can be delivered as “bankable infrastructure investments.”

The project’s location within the Celtic Freeport area means it will benefit from existing infrastructure in Milford Haven, including 63 storage tanks and a comprehensive network of pipelines.

This development marks a significant step forward for renewable energy in West Wales, positioning the region at the forefront of the green technology revolution.

Local contractors are expected to play a key role in the construction, providing a direct boost to the Welsh economy and creating further opportunities.

JAILED: Newport duo locked up for ‘brazen’ £43k West Wales golf club raid

Mikael Bourkhari, 45, and Simon Dickey, 38, were both handed prison sentences at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (March 2) following their “devastating” overnight raids.

The pair had previously admitted to the burglary spree which targeted both Haverfordwest and Carmarthen golf clubs in back-to-back hits.

The court heard how police were first alerted at 12.45am on Sunday, January 18, when an intruder alarm was triggered at Haverfordwest Golf Club.

Officers arrived just six minutes later to find a “forcible break-in” had occurred, with the club shop stripped of high-value equipment.

It was estimated that several golf clubs, worth between £100 and £500 each, had been snatched, with the total value of the Haverfordwest haul reaching a massive £36,000.

While police were investigating the first scene, a red Vauxhall van was identified as a vehicle of interest, sparking a cross-county hunt for the burglars.

Officers in Carmarthenshire were alerted and, while patrolling Carmarthen Golf Club as a precaution, discovered that the duo had already struck again.

The front door of the Carmarthen club had been smashed in, with around £7,000 worth of clubs stolen and £5,000 in damage caused to the building.

The pair were finally intercepted by Roads Policing Officers shortly after 2am on the A48, despite having fitted fake number plates to their getaway van.

Inside the vehicle, police discovered a “suspiciously large number” of golf clubs and bags, leading to the immediate arrest of the two men.

The duo, who initially gave fake names to officers, later confessed to the crimes, and all stolen items were successfully recovered and returned to the clubs.

At Swansea Crown Court, Boukhari was sentenced to two years and six months behind bars, while Dickey received a sentence of two years and eight months.

Detective Constable Kate Williams of Dyfed-Powys Police slammed the “brazen” actions of the pair, who targeted hard-working local business owners.

“Today’s result underlines the fact that if you travel into the Dyfed-Powys area to commit crime, you will be caught,” DC Williams warned.

Rebecca wasn’t just angry—she was right. In 1840s Wales, tollgates bled poor farmers dry.
So “Rebecca and her daughters” rose up. They wore dresses. They smashed gates. They demanded justice and they won reforms.
A riot? Yes.
A turning point? Absolutely.

#RebeccaRiots #WelshHistory #CymruAmByth #Cymru #Wales #WestWales

First Bus strike to cause major disruption across south and west Wales

The company said it had been “unable to reach agreement” with the Unite trade union over a pay offer for drivers, engineers and some support staff.

As a result, industrial action will take place from Wednesday 22 October to Saturday 25 October inclusive, with further strikes planned between 30 October and 2 November, and again from 5 November to 8 November.

‘Every possible effort’

In a statement, First Bus said:

“Despite talks and every possible effort, we have been unable to reach agreement with the Unite trade union regarding a pay offer for our driving, engineering and some support colleagues across south and west Wales.

This will result in industrial action that will lead to significant disruption to First Bus services across south and west Wales.”

The company added that it was continuing to liaise with the union and would provide further updates as the additional strike dates approach.

Services affected

Details of which routes and timetables will be impacted are expected to be published on the operator’s website in the coming days. Passengers are being urged to check for the latest updates before travelling.

The strike action is set to affect thousands of commuters, students and shoppers across the region, with Unite members saying they are pushing for a fairer pay deal in the face of rising living costs.

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Council leader speaks out on bus funding changes as services cut and operators fold
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#busStrike #featured #FirstBus #FirstCymru #industrialAction #southWales #strike #UniteUnion #westWales

We've just shared a blog detailing an exciting road trip itinerary through West Wales. If you're planning a journey and need some inspiration, this guide covers everything you need to know. Check it out and start planning your adventure. #camperbug #RoadTrip #WestWales #TravelGuide #AdventureAwaits #CamperVanLife

https://www.camperbug.co.uk/blog/a-complete-itinerary-for-a-road-trip-through-west-wales

Went to Ty Canol wood pasture in Pembrokeshire. I think there are cattle, sheep and horses on different parts of land about the place.

Apparently site of very important lichen in the UK? There was a lot of Bracken, so possibly not managed so much for vascular plants.

Lovely space, very varied. And very #WoodMeadow.

I want to create #common, #community #WoodMeadows in #WestWales, as response to #NatureEmwrgency. My fundraiser for #ecology conference in #Estonia:

https://ko-fi.com/natureworks/goal?g=43

Three Hagges #Woodmeadow is an inspirational project for #WoodMeadows, which have the among the highest biodiversity of vascular plants *in the world* yet are also maanged productively.

https://www.plantlife.org.uk/our-work/three-hagges-woodmeadow-nature-reserve

I’m going to the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration to find out more, and to create a #Common #WoodMeadow in #WestWales

I have a fundraiser to help with the expenses, any donation gratefully received 🙏

https://ko-fi.com/natureworks/goal?g=43