Latest news with #WELSH
Pembrokeshire Herald
06-06-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Sex offender built patio illegally on ancient priory ruins
David Chadwick calls for rail powers to be devolved to Wales after confirmation East-West Rail brings no funding uplift WELSH Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick has criticised the UK Government after it confirmed that Wales will receive no additional funding from the £6.6 billion East-West Rail scheme, which runs entirely between Oxford and Cambridge in England. Mr Chadwick uncovered the detail through a written parliamentary question answered by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Simon Lightwood. The project has been classified as an 'England and Wales' scheme, despite not including any infrastructure in Wales — a classification that prevents Wales from receiving a proportional share of funding through the Barnett formula. Not happy over rail funding: Liberal Democrat, David Chadwick MP The issue mirrors the controversy over HS2, which was also designated as benefiting both England and Wales, even though the line does not extend into Welsh territory. Independent estimates suggest Wales could have received over £360 million in consequential funding from East-West Rail if it had been classified as 'England only.' Broader estimates indicate that similar misclassifications over the past decade may have cost Wales more than £4 billion in potential funding. In the House of Commons, Mr Chadwick described the decision as 'shocking,' and renewed calls for the devolution of full rail infrastructure powers to the Senedd. He argued that only through devolution can Wales prevent future misallocations and ensure investment in local lines such as the Heart of Wales Line. Speaking after the exchange, Mr Chadwick said: 'It is simply indefensible that Wales continues to be frozen out of hundreds of millions in rail funding for projects that do not lay a single centimetre of track in our country. We saw this with HS2, with Northern Powerhouse Rail, and now again with East-West Rail. Time after time, Wales is left behind.' He added: 'Wales must be able to invest properly in its own rail network. That includes delivering serious improvements to the Heart of Wales Line, which has been neglected for decades. This line is a lifeline for rural communities, supporting jobs, education and tourism, and it deserves the same level of ambition and investment as rail services elsewhere in the UK.' While critics point to a pattern of funding disparities, the UK Government maintains that major rail projects often bring broader economic benefits across the UK, including Wales — for example, through supply chains or job creation. However, Welsh politicians and transport experts have repeatedly argued that these indirect benefits do not match the level of direct investment seen in other parts of the union. The Welsh Government has long advocated for the devolution of rail infrastructure powers, which are currently reserved to Westminster. It has argued that devolution would enable more targeted investment in Wales's underfunded network — a view backed by a growing number of transport economists. Mr Chadwick and the Welsh Liberal Democrats continue to campaign for East-West Rail to be reclassified as an 'England only' scheme and for a fair funding settlement that reflects actual geographic delivery. They are also pressing for urgent investment in rural rail services, particularly the Heart of Wales Line, which connects Swansea to Shrewsbury via mid Wales.
Pembrokeshire Herald
05-06-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
MP accuses government of rail funding bias as £6.6bn project excludes Wales
David Chadwick calls for rail powers to be devolved to Wales after confirmation East-West Rail brings no funding uplift WELSH Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick has criticised the UK Government after it confirmed that Wales will receive no additional funding from the £6.6 billion East-West Rail scheme, which runs entirely between Oxford and Cambridge in England. Mr Chadwick uncovered the detail through a written parliamentary question answered by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Simon Lightwood. The project has been classified as an 'England and Wales' scheme, despite not including any infrastructure in Wales — a classification that prevents Wales from receiving a proportional share of funding through the Barnett formula. Not happy over rail funding: Liberal Democrat, David Chadwick MP The issue mirrors the controversy over HS2, which was also designated as benefiting both England and Wales, even though the line does not extend into Welsh territory. Independent estimates suggest Wales could have received over £360 million in consequential funding from East-West Rail if it had been classified as 'England only.' Broader estimates indicate that similar misclassifications over the past decade may have cost Wales more than £4 billion in potential funding. In the House of Commons, Mr Chadwick described the decision as 'shocking,' and renewed calls for the devolution of full rail infrastructure powers to the Senedd. He argued that only through devolution can Wales prevent future misallocations and ensure investment in local lines such as the Heart of Wales Line. Speaking after the exchange, Mr Chadwick said: 'It is simply indefensible that Wales continues to be frozen out of hundreds of millions in rail funding for projects that do not lay a single centimetre of track in our country. We saw this with HS2, with Northern Powerhouse Rail, and now again with East-West Rail. Time after time, Wales is left behind.' He added: 'Wales must be able to invest properly in its own rail network. That includes delivering serious improvements to the Heart of Wales Line, which has been neglected for decades. This line is a lifeline for rural communities, supporting jobs, education and tourism, and it deserves the same level of ambition and investment as rail services elsewhere in the UK.' While critics point to a pattern of funding disparities, the UK Government maintains that major rail projects often bring broader economic benefits across the UK, including Wales — for example, through supply chains or job creation. However, Welsh politicians and transport experts have repeatedly argued that these indirect benefits do not match the level of direct investment seen in other parts of the union. The Welsh Government has long advocated for the devolution of rail infrastructure powers, which are currently reserved to Westminster. It has argued that devolution would enable more targeted investment in Wales's underfunded network — a view backed by a growing number of transport economists. Mr Chadwick and the Welsh Liberal Democrats continue to campaign for East-West Rail to be reclassified as an 'England only' scheme and for a fair funding settlement that reflects actual geographic delivery. They are also pressing for urgent investment in rural rail services, particularly the Heart of Wales Line, which connects Swansea to Shrewsbury via mid Wales.
Pembrokeshire Herald
04-06-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Tories accuse Welsh Labour of silence over rail funding ‘shortchange'
Conservatives demand fair share from £6.6bn Oxford-Cambridge line as HS2 dispute continues THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have accused the Labour-run Welsh Government of failing to stand up for Wales over rail infrastructure funding, criticising what they call a 'deafening silence' on the long-running HS2 consequentials dispute and a lack of action over a newly announced £6.6 billion rail project in England. The Oxford-Cambridge rail corridor project, confirmed by Westminster as part of wider infrastructure investment plans, will not deliver any direct funding for Wales, reigniting debate over how major transport schemes in England are classified for funding purposes. Although transport is devolved, UK Government does not provide Barnett formula consequential funding to Wales for rail projects it deems to benefit England and Wales jointly—despite HS2 not passing through Welsh territory. Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Sam Rowlands MS, said the current system is 'clearly unfair' and accused Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay of failing to push back. 'We've not heard a peep from the Welsh Labour Government on HS2 consequentials since the election,' he said. 'Now, with this rail project highlighting further unfairness in funding, it is clear that the Welsh Labour Government has no sway with their counterparts in Westminster.' Mr Rowlands added: 'We were promised two governments working in partnership to deliver what is best for Wales. Instead, we've had broken promise after broken promise, leaving Wales shortchanged on critical infrastructure investment.' The Conservatives reiterated their call for Wales to receive its fair share of HS2-linked funding, and argued that any new funding arising from major projects in England should be distributed transparently and fairly. 'To ensure transparency and effective use of resources, this funding must be allocated directly to Network Rail to deliver for the needs of people in Wales,' Mr Rowlands said. The Welsh Government has previously argued that HS2 should be classed as an 'England-only' project for the purposes of funding allocation, potentially unlocking billions in additional investment for Wales. However, no change in classification has been agreed. The Herald has approached the Welsh Government for comment.
Pembrokeshire Herald
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Welsh language housing plan ‘risks division,' says Tory MS
Government proposals under fire amid concerns over bureaucracy and exclusion THE WELSH Labour Government's response to a key report on the future of Welsh-speaking communities has come under fire from the Conservatives, who claim its new language-based planning proposals risk fostering division and exclusion. Plans published in response to the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities include stronger restrictions on second home ownership, measures to prioritise housing for Welsh speakers in heartland areas, and changes to the planning system that would incorporate linguistic impact assessments into applications. While ministers say the approach is vital to protect and strengthen the Welsh language in areas where it is most at risk, critics argue the proposals are vague, heavy-handed, and likely to cause bureaucratic delays and resentment. Speaking on Thursday (May 29), Tom Giffard MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Welsh Language, said: 'While we welcome efforts to promote the Welsh language, the Welsh Labour Government must take a balanced approach, ensuring the needs of all Welsh residents are met. 'Policies prioritising specific areas or communities based on linguistic criteria could unintentionally exclude or disadvantage others, add bureaucracy, and create unintended consequences for residents and businesses. Such an approach risks fostering division instead of cohesion.' The Labour Government's plans follow recommendations made by the Commission earlier this year to prevent the ongoing erosion of Welsh as a community language, particularly in rural and coastal areas where house prices have surged and the number of fluent Welsh speakers has fallen. But the Conservative Party says the response fails to address underlying issues such as poor housing supply, limited economic opportunity, and a lack of transparency in the planning system. 'Labour's track record on housing is weak,' said Mr Giffard. 'They've missed house-building targets repeatedly and left thousands on waiting lists. We have serious doubts about their ability to deliver these new policies effectively.' Welsh Labour has defended its stance, saying the Welsh language is part of the nation's shared cultural inheritance and that urgent action is needed to secure its future. A government spokesperson said the policies would be subject to consultation and that local authorities would retain flexibility in implementation. The Welsh Conservatives have called for a full impact assessment and greater clarity on how the measures would affect residents, developers, and small businesses. A public consultation is expected to launch later this year, with draft guidance and legislative changes potentially following in 2026. Background The Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities, chaired by academic Dr Simon Brooks, was tasked with identifying strategies to strengthen the use of the language in everyday life. Its final report warned that Welsh may 'disappear as a community language' from parts of Wales unless targeted intervention takes place. Key recommendations included linguistic impact assessments for housing developments, expanded language requirements for public services, and greater community control over land use. While supported by Plaid Cymru and Welsh language campaigners, the proposals have been labelled 'discriminatory' by some opposition politicians and property groups.
Pembrokeshire Herald
30-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Extra funding to help plug National Insurance shortfall in Wales
Welsh Government steps in to protect vital services WELSH public services are set to receive additional funding to help meet rising employer National Insurance (NI) costs—after a shortfall in support from the UK Government left a significant funding gap. The increase in employer NI contributions has added an estimated £257 million in annual costs to the Welsh public sector. Of that, the UK Government has committed £185 million, leaving a £72 million deficit. To help cover this shortfall, the Welsh Government has announced it will allocate £36 million from its reserves. This brings the total support package to £220 million, which will cover approximately 85% of the increased costs. Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said: 'We're protecting our vital public services by using £36 million from our reserves to help address the National Insurance shortfall left by the UK Government. 'While the UK Government has provided some funding, it does not match the actual financial burden now facing Welsh services. This leaves a multi-million-pound gap year after year. 'We've stepped in to support our services as much as we can, but we cannot afford to plug the entire shortfall. The UK Government should treat public services equally across the UK and honour its commitment to fully fund these extra costs.' The Welsh Government warned that continued shortfalls could place pressure on frontline services if the funding gap is not fully addressed. The Welsh Lib Dems responded to what they say was Mark Drakeford's National Insurance Bombshell. Leader Jane Dodds MS said: 'The Welsh Lib Dems have opposed this disastrous jobs tax from day one. Not only is it hammering our small businesses with unemployment in Wales rising, but it is now clear it will leave Wales with a gaping hole in its public finances and our public services worse off. 'The fact that the First Minister cannot even convince the UK government that the increased cost to the public sector should be covered by the Treasury shows how little influence Welsh Labour have in London. 'The Liberal Democrats will continue to argue for a reversal of the national insurance hike and fair funding for Wales.'
