West Wales Review of the Year: January to March

As we reach the end of another year, we take a look back at the headlines that have shaped the past 12 months, starting with January to March.

January

The year started with hospitals in West Wales  asking people to pick up sick loved ones if they are able to go home because they are “extremely busy”.

Hywel Dda University Health Board made the urgent call week due to “continuing high demand” and an influx of “many sick patients”.

Just before Christmas health chiefs asked members of the public to stay away from the two major A&E departments in South West Wales – located at Carmarthen’s Glangwili Hospital and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest – unless their condition was significantly serious or life-threatening.

In addition, three wards and a unit at Llanelli’s Prince Philip and Carmarthen’s Glangwili hospitals stopped taking patient admissions and visiting was halted while test results for respiratory infections were awaited.

In Carmarthen, business owners were seething because roadworks that were meant to take 12 weeks had taken 10 months and were still ongoing.

This had resulted in simple access to their shops being blocked off at times.

Work began on Blue Street, in April 2022, with the aim of revamping the town’s bus stop, located opposite a number of local and independent shops and businesses.

The work, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, ultimately saw the introduction of two new shelters, the widening of a central reserve and enhanced landscaping in an attempt by Carmarthenshire Council to attract people to the area and make it more welcoming to shoppers.

However, by the start of the year, the work had so far had the exact opposite effect.

Angry shop owners claimed they have taken a massive hit financially because of the inconvenience caused by the project that was meant to be concluded in July of the previous year but was overrunning.

Carmarthenshire Council stressed that it has communicated with affected businesses and “listened to the concerns” raised. However, it admitted that the project had been delayed and that disruption was caused.

The work was finally completed at the end of the year in December.

Elsewhere in the town in January, a rally took place in Carmarthen with campaigners calling on the Welsh Government to take action to protect the Welsh language.

It was organised by Cymdeithas yr Iaith in response to concerns over the falling numbers of Welsh speakers throughout Carmarthenshire.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics has revealed that the number of Welsh speakers in the county had fallen by nearly 25,000 in the 10 years between 2011 and 2021. It represented a drop from 43.9% to 39.9% of those in the county who are Welsh speakers – the largest decline over the 10-year period in any part of Wales.

Protesters including welsh folk singer Dafydd Iwan marched from the County Hall building, through the town and up to the Welsh Government office in Picton Terrace, where Cymdeithas yr Iaith presented seven demands to the powers that be.

One of those was a call for a Property Act for Wales, which the group says will prioritise local people and allow conditions on ownership of housing and land, thus making it easier for local people from Carmarthenshire to live and stay within the county.

Iwan spoke at the rally and said: “We must heed the warning of the census statistics, but we should never despair. There are clear signs that the campaigning over the last 60 years has created a revolution in Wales, and it is important that we celebrate that.

“The battle to win the minds and hearts of the Welsh, especially the young, continues, and in the battle lies hope. It will never end.”

Official maps published this month showed parts of Llanelli most at risk of future flooding. Some of the areas most at risk are coastal areas between Burry Port and the town.

Heavy rainfall as the year started had shown just how vulnerable huge areas of Wales are to flooding. It was warned that the situation is only going to become more challenging as the impacts of climate change continue to play out.

The Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales regularly update interactive maps showing the levels of risk of flooding across Wales. Wales was the first UK nation to do this and the maps take into account the future impact of climate change and compel developers to take into account future flooding and coastal erosion risk.

February

Four major road schemes in Carmarthenshire survived a review which saw some of the most high-profile road-building schemes in Wales scrapped.

The Welsh Government made the announcement while publishing the results of a wide-ranging roads review by a panel of experts.

It followed a freeze on new developments announced in June 2021.

Despite the review, some major projects have been allowed to progress, including the Llandeilo bypass in Carmarthenshire and the hugely expensive dualling of the A465 across the heads of the South Wales Valleys.

Also being allowed to go ahead were works on the A48 from Cross Hands to Pensarn, and two schemes along the A40 corridor – one from Carmarthen to St Clears and another from Carmarthen to Llandeilo.

Work to improve the junction of the A48 at Nantycaws will also progress, but the review said it would now consider ‘alternative and small-scale options’ to improve safety. This will exclude proposals for a grade-separated junction.

In Carmarthen, it was announced that no flood defences would be built along the Quay in Carmarthen to protect local businesses from flooding.

Firms along the Quay have been flooded repeatedly in recent years, with several public meetings held to find a solution to the flooding and some town leaders even calling for a temporary flood barrier.

However, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which is the main decision maker for where flood defence schemes are prioritised, confirmed this month that there are no plans for the Quay.

In a double blow to businesses, Welsh Government Climate Change Minister Julie James said in the Senedd that the Welsh Government “investing in flood alleviation measures at the Quay would mean diverting funding away from high-risk communities.”

Ms James and the Welsh Government pointed to the fact that the way the Quay was originally built at a lower level to allow ships to unload meant it would always be at risk of flooding.

The family of a one-year-old baby who was “lucky to be alive” following a fall at home on February 10, started raising money to thank those who saved his life.

Eighteen-month-old Jack Howells was rushed to Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales in Cardiff on Friday, February 10, after he fell hitting his head on the kitchen floor at home in Drefach, near Cross Hands in the Gwendraeth Valley.

He was put in an induced coma and at hospital it was discovered Jack had fractured his skull and had a bleed on the brain, needing emergency surgery.

His mum Jessica Howells, 28, said she and husband Jamie, 35, experienced "every parent's worst nightmare" when they didn't know if their "happy and bouncy" son would survive.

Now almost a year on, Jack is a happy and healthy little boy, developing well.
In the days after the fall the family started raising money with a GoFundMe page to thank those who saved his life, namely Llanelli First Responders, Wales Air Ambulance and Noah's Ark Children's Hospital Charity and the McDonald House Charities UK.

By June £40,000 had been raised and as of this month it has reached £64,000.

Plaid Cymru Senedd Members and an MP held talks with an energy company which wants to construct electricity pylons in rural Carmarthenshire.

Bute Energy, under the name Green GEN Cymru, announced plans to erect pylons that will connect several wind farms to the National Grid.

The proposed project, includes 132kV electricity overhead lines which will link Nant Mithil Energy Park, east of Llandrindod Wells in Powys, to the National Grid in Carmarthenshire. The proposal will connect 237MW of green energy in the Radnor Forest of Powys to the grid at a point near Carmarthen.

The exact route is undetermined with the project is still an early stage almost 12 months on and has seen consultations with communities, but proposals currently includes proposals for 27 metre high pylons to be placed in areas including the Towy Valley.

While the project will increase grid capacity and utilise green energy in Wales, there has been opposition from local residents.

A public meeting was held in the Towy Valley village of Llanarthne, between Carmarthen and Llandeilo, which more than 70 people attended.

It was the first of several in communities affected by the plans.

Senedd Members Adam Price and Cefin Campbell and MP Jonathan Edwards also met with Bute Energy to discuss the scheme.

The opposition to the project centres on the potential effects to the landscape of the Towy Valley.

The building of pylons, according to local residents, would damage the green landscape of the valley and could have a detrimental impact on the tourist industry.

Residents have been calling for cables to be placed underground instead of using pylons.

Mr Price MS, whose Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency includes the Towy Valley, said “it was important for us to meet with Bute Energy, in order to understand exactly what they are proposing.

“Plaid Cymru support green projects, but they must appropriately sized and respect local landscape.

“There are many local residents with strong feelings on the project, and we will make sure their views are put to the company."

Further consultations and details are expected in the coming year.

March

Tributes were paid to Welsh actor Dafydd Hywel, best known for his roles in Stella, Pobol y Cwm and Keeping Faith, who has died aged 77.

Mr Hywel had become known for his roles in both Welsh and English language plays, films and television productions since the 1960s.

Originally from Garnant, near Ammanford, his contribution to the acting profession in Wales was described as “immeasurable”.

He played leading roles in several Welsh productions and became well known for his role as Jac Daniels in Pobol y Cwm, a character which appeared sporadically in the soap from 1976 to 2004.

Tributes were been paid to Mr Hywel from broadcasters across Wales, friends, fellow actors and politicians.

Plaid Cymru MS Cefin Campbell said: “Sad news about the passing of Dafydd Hywel. A dear friend, and one who gave so much to his local area and Wales. He will be sorely missed.”

Locals were given a sneak look at Pendine’s new seafront tourism hub, ahead of its official opening.

The new site opened on Friday, March 31, but residents and dignitaries were amongst the first to tour the new facility.

The project, called the Pendine Tourism Attractor, aims to maximise the community’s heritage - including its sands, famous for land speed records - and natural assets in order to drive forward its economic regeneration.

The tour was hosted by Cllr Gareth John, Carmarthenshire Council’s then cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture and tourism and deputy minister for arts and sport, Dawn Bowden MS along with Carmarthenshire Council leader Cllr Darren Price.

The scheme comprises three projects.

The Caban accommodation, boasting 43-bed accommodation that has been constructed using sustainable building technologies.

Overlooking the beach, the Caban also includes a restaurant and will cater for the walking holiday and outdoor sports adventure market as well as those seeking a coastal experience.

There is also an adventure playground that along with an events area, and exhibition esplanade, offer up the chance to host events. It also has a beach sand sports area; improved car parking facilities and the Dune Gardens provide seating and interpretation trails.

The final part of the scheme is the new Museum of Land Speed which will opened later in the year. This is an exhibition space displaying motor cars and associated land speed memorabilia.

A call went out to give Llanelli town centre’s heritage greater protection.

Labour leader of Llanelli Town Council, Cllr David Darkin, made the plea as a heritage trail information board was unveiled near Llanelly House.

Cllr Darkin claimed a number of important historic buildings could be lost in the future if the town’s Conservation Area is not extended.

He said: “Llanelli has one of the smallest conservation areas in the county, especially when you compare it to other areas. At the moment it pretty much just includes the church in the centre, Llanelly House and a couple of other buildings including the library.

“However, that misses out on a vast built heritage and a lot of very attractive heritage buildings that aren’t protected including our civic centre, the town hall, the Halifax building and YMCA.”

Cllr Darkin added: “There’s quite a lot of really fantastic architectural heritage that could be lost and I would like to see the Conservation Area extended to preserve the fantastic architecture we’ve got in our town centre.”

Figures published showed that in the first six weeks since Carmarthenshire Council introduced changes to its kerbside waste collections, the county saw a significant improvement in its recycling performance.

When comparing January and February this year to last year, the council said there has been an 886-tonne reduction in black bag waste collected at the kerbside.

While the amount of waste destined for disposal has reduced drastically, an extra 148 tonnes of nappy waste, 282 tonnes of blue bags - for dry recycling - and 93 tonnes of food waste have been collected for recycling by the authority.

The council has also collected 388 tonnes of glass from the kerbside.

On January 23, Carmarthenshire Council changed the way its waste recycling and service works.

In Llanelli the first phase of a £200m-plus healthcare, leisure and research project formally got under way.

Pentre Awel, Llanelli, led by Carmarthenshire Council, and whose leader Cllr Darren Price described it as a key regeneration project linking business, healthcare, academia and the people of the town.

“We believe it can make a lasting impact on the community – a lasting impact on the social, economic and health profile of the area,” he said.

Zone one of Pentre Awel, will cost around £93m and comprise a new leisure centre, clinical units such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy run by Hywel Dda University Health Board, plus education, clinical research and business innovation space. There will also be a cafe, and walking and cycling paths outside.

By August, the first steel structure for the landmark project was in place.

The steel structure will form the first of five buildings and will house education and business development at the site.

Leaders from the council joined representatives from Bouygues UK and local contractors Shufflebottom and Dyfed Steels to view the steel structure, which marked a significant milestone in the project.  

Our review of stories that made the headlines for the remaining months will continue over the coming days.