#dameniagriffithmp — Public Fediverse posts

LLANELLI: MP pleads with Plaid government to honour £27m promise for new special school

Llanelli’s MP has urged the new Plaid-led Welsh Government to “honour” a £27m commitment for a long-promised new special school in the town.

Dame Nia Griffith says repeated delays to the £35m Ysgol Heol Goffa project have caused “huge consternation and anxiety” for current pupils, parents and families still waiting for a place.

She has written to Anna Brychan MS, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Welsh Language, calling on her to give “early and full support” by committing to match-funding of 75 per cent for the school.

That figure matters. The usual Welsh Government contribution for a project like this is 65 per cent.

The previous Labour education minister, Lynn Neagle, had confirmed the new school would be eligible for the higher 75 per cent rate — subject to a satisfactory business case.

Dame Nia is now pressing the new Plaid administration to commit to that figure in full, rather than let it slip back to the standard rate.

Her intervention raises the stakes in a funding row that erupted at County Hall last week.

At a full meeting of Carmarthenshire County Council, Labour group leader councillor Deryk Cundy asked whether the authority’s 25 per cent share — roughly £9m — had been “ring-fenced” for the new school.

Plaid’s cabinet member for education, councillor Glynog Davies, replied: “It hasn’t been, well not yet.”

That answer angered Labour councillors, who pointed out that in December councillor Davies had told the same chamber the money “has been ring-fenced”.

“Which version of Glynog Davies’s answers are we, and the school community, to believe?” councillor Cundy said after the meeting.

He accused the administration of “dragging its heels”, asking why a business case would take 15 months when an independent report had already set out that the school needed to be expanded to meet legal requirements.

Lliedi councillor Shaun Greaney, a prominent campaigner for the school, said it was “disgraceful” that councillor Davies was now casting himself as its champion.

He said more than 9,000 people had signed a petition for a new school after what campaigners called Plaid’s “broken promises”, and accused the party of trying to “pull the wool over people’s eyes”.

Councillor Davies has firmly rejected that account. He has accused Labour of causing “unnecessary distress” and misrepresenting the process “for cheap political purposes”, insisting there is “no intention to pull out now”.

He has said the funding depends on a business case that has yet to be completed, and that the council is pressing ahead with plans for a larger school near Ysgol Penrhos.

A formal consultation on the £35m rebuild opened earlier this month, with responses running until 21 July, and the school earmarked to open in 2029.

The Welsh Government has been asked to confirm whether it will commit to the 75 per cent funding rate.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

HEOL GOFFA ROW: Plaid accuses Labour of causing ‘unnecessary distress’ over special school claims
Carmarthenshire’s education cabinet member hit back at Labour’s “£35m black hole” claims, calling them unfounded.

LLANELLI: ‘£35m black hole’ row erupts over Ysgol Heol Goffa funding
A council meeting revealed the money behind the £35m plans is not yet signed off.

LLANELLI: Consultation opens on £35m Ysgol Heol Goffa rebuild
The formal process is under way at last, with responses open until 21 July.

LLANELLI: £35m new Ysgol Heol Goffa to open in 2029 — but funding question hangs over Plaid government
The project cleared a major hurdle, but councillors want Welsh Government funding protected.

https://www.europesays.com/3052931/ STRADEY PARK HOTEL: Llanelli landmark in hands of receivers as minister confirms it will not house asylum seekers #asylum #AsylumAccommodation #AsylumSeekers #DameNiaGriffithMP #HomeOffice #Llanelli #NiaGriffithMP #StradeyParkHotel

STRADEY PARK HOTEL: Llanelli landmark in hands of receivers as minister confirms it will not house asylum seekers

The empty Stradey Park Hotel will not be used to house asylum seekers, a Home Office minister has confirmed — as Llanelli‘s MP told the House of Commons the landmark has gone into receivership.

Dame Nia Griffith, Labour MP for Llanelli, raised the hotel’s future during Home Office questions in Parliament on Monday, sharing a clip of the exchange on Wednesday.

“With the news that the Stradey Park hotel has now gone into receivership, what assurances can the Minister give my constituents in Llanelli that his Department has no plans to use the premises for asylum seeker accommodation?” she asked.

The Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, replied: “I assure my honourable Friend and colleagues across the House that we are closing hotels, not opening them.”

Posting the clip afterwards, Ms Griffith said there was now “official confirmation” that the hotel will not house asylum seekers — and that the building is “currently in the hands of the receivers”, with updates on its future to be announced by them in due course.

The Furnace hotel closed with immediate effect in early March, and weeks later HM Revenue and Customs filed a High Court winding-up petition against its operating company, Gryphon Leisure Limited, with other creditors backing the action.

Companies House records show Gryphon Leisure is still listed as an active company, with no winding-up order or liquidation recorded against it — suggesting the receivership relates to the hotel property itself, a step typically taken by a lender owed money against a building.

The company has been busy at Companies House in recent months: overdue accounts were filed in March, a compulsory strike-off action over late paperwork was discontinued in February, and last month its registered office moved from Hounslow to an address on Cowbridge Road East in Cardiff.

Investors who bought individual rooms in the hotel under its previous fundraising schemes are among those owed money — a group campaigners wrote to directly during the asylum row.

The receivership is the latest turn in a saga that began in summer 2023, when plans to house hundreds of asylum seekers at the hotel saw nearly 100 workers lose their jobs.

Months of protests followed at the Furnace site, with police making 17 arrests in the early weeks of demonstrations. The hotel’s owners later won a court injunction limiting the protests.

Carmarthenshire Council launched legal action against the hotel’s owners in a bid to block the plan. The council lost its case in the High Court, and later decided against an appeal.

The Home Office withdrew the plan in October 2023. The county’s police and crime commissioner said the department should be held accountable for the failed scheme.

The hotel’s owners later said they wanted to rehire staff and reopen, and the venue returned to trading — even being announced as a commercial partner of the Scarlets before shutting its doors without warning in March.

Last week, urban explorers filmed inside the closed hotel, finding the power on and beds still made, prompting a police warning to stay out of the building.

Local representatives — including Hengoed councillors Martyn Palfreman and Ed Skinner, Elli ward councillor Steve Williams and Ms Griffith — have been working to address security concerns at the site, arranging fencing through the county council and making contact with the receiver.

Ms Griffith first secured that commitment from the minister in the days after the hotel closed in March — Monday’s exchange puts it on the Commons record.

What happens to the building now rests with the receivers, who are expected to set out the next steps for the site in due course.

There has been local interest in the landmark’s future before: a community group previously launched a bid to buy back the hotel. The council, meanwhile, has ruled out purchasing it itself.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Stradey Park Hotel ‘closes with immediate effect’ just weeks after Scarlets partnership announced
The sudden shutdown shocked the town weeks after a major partnership launch.

Shock claims as Stradey Park Hotel boss reveals abuse and threats amid closure crisis
A turbulent week erupted into allegations of intimidation behind the scenes.

‘We are not walking away’ — Stradey Park Hotel boss makes emotional video plea to Llanelli
Ahsan Ullah addressed the town directly amid the closure crisis.

Llanelli rallies around as businesses offer lifeline to Stradey Park Hotel staff and customers
Local venues stepped in to help staff and couples caught in the fallout.

LLANELLI: ‘A bombshell for all concerned’ — community rallies to save the Sandpiper as calls grow for Whitbread to think again

Calls are growing to save the Sandpiper Brewers Fayre in Llanelli after Whitbread confirmed it is among nearly 200 restaurants facing closure – with the local MP, ward councillors and hundreds of customers all urging the company to reconsider.

The Sandpiper sits at the Sandy Water Park end of Sandy Road, on the roundabout junction with the Millennium Coastal Path – making it one of the most scenically positioned restaurants in the area. It has become a firm favourite with local families, dog walkers and visitors, particularly well known for its beer garden overlooking the lake, its outdoor play area and its soft play facilities.

Swansea Bay News revealed on Thursday 30 April that the Sandpiper was among four local restaurants facing closure as part of Whitbread’s plan to exit the restaurant sector entirely and focus on its Premier Inn hotel brand. Staff were informed of the decision on Thursday, with one regular customer reporting that the restaurant was still full that evening – and that staff carried on serving customers professionally despite the shock news. The Sandpiper is understood to be due to close by the end of August.

Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith said the announcement was devastating for staff and visitors alike. “This is such a special location with the lake and the Millennium Coastal Park, and is much enjoyed by locals and visitors, very young and not so young alike,” she said. “I will be doing everything I can to keep a pub open here.”

Councillors Martyn Palfreman and Edward Skinner, who represent the Hengoed ward covering Sandy Water Park, described the closure as a blow the town could ill afford. “Llanelli can ill-afford another blow to its hospitality sector and this announcement will come as a huge disappointment to all those who value everything the Sandpiper has to offer,” said Cllr Skinner. “We call upon Whitbread to think again.”

Cllr Palfreman described the news as a shock. “This news is a bombshell for all concerned, including staff and the vast numbers of customers that visit the Sandpiper throughout the year, both those living locally and people visiting Llanelli,” he said. “To take away such a cherished amenity would be a huge loss to the town and surrounding area.”

The reaction from customers on social media has been overwhelming. Readers described the Sandpiper as always busy and impossible to understand as a closure candidate – with many saying they hoped a buyer would come forward to keep it open. Several highlighted the venue’s importance for families with young children, noting it was one of the few local options with outdoor play facilities and a safe lakeside setting. Long-standing members of staff, described by many as professional and welcoming, were a particular source of concern. One customer noted they had been turned away on Saturday afternoon due to a staff meeting taking place – unaware at the time that staff were being told about the closure.

There is some hope that the site could survive under new ownership. Whitbread has indicated that around 110 of the nearly 200 restaurants being closed will be sold as going concerns rather than converted to additional hotel rooms. However, the Sandpiper sits alongside a Premier Inn hotel – and the fate of a similar adjoining restaurant at Parc Pemberton in Llanelli serves as a cautionary note. The former Beefeater there, which also adjoined a Premier Inn, was demolished to make way for additional hotel bedrooms rather than being sold on as a food and drink venue.

Whitbread announced on Thursday 30 April that it planned to become a “pure-play hotel business,” closing all of its remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre branded restaurants. The company said the proposed changes remained subject to employee consultation, and that it hoped to retain a significant proportion of those affected through redeployment across its 15,000 annual vacancies.

Baglan councillors have also written to Whitbread CEO Dominic Paul demanding answers over the planned closure of the Bagle Brook Beefeater in Port Talbot. Whitbread has not yet responded publicly to any of the calls for a rethink.

Our Whitbread coverage

Four local restaurants face closure as Whitbread axes up to 3,800 jobs across UK estate
Our original report on the four local closures including the Sandpiper.

Baglan councillors demand answers from Whitbread CEO over Bagle Brook closure
How Baglan’s councillors are fighting back against the closure of the Bagle Brook Beefeater.

Council rules out BUYING Stradey Park Hotel as staff offered lifeline

The local authority has confirmed it has no plans to procure the building, nor has it received any approaches from the Home Office or other organisations regarding its future use.

This comes as the council moves swiftly to offer a lifeline to hotel staff, who were left reeling by the sudden announcement that the four-star venue had ceased trading.

Officers have made direct contact with employees to provide crucial employability support during what has been described as a “very difficult and worrying time.”

The council’s statement follows a personal video plea from Stradey Park Hotel CEO Ahsan Ullah, who vowed “we are not walking away” and pledged to return the hotel to normal operations.

Crucially, the council has also gained assurance from Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith, following her discussions with the Home Office, that the building is not being considered for any temporary housing plans.

This echoes the earlier “no asylum hotel” pledge secured by the MP, which aimed to reassure the community amid widespread speculation.

Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Cllr Linda Evans, expressed her “extreme disappointment” at the owners’ decision to close the hotel “in such sudden fashion.”

Cllr Evans emphasised that the council’s “priority is to the staff of the hotel,” highlighting the immediate support being offered to those directly affected.

Local councillors Martyn Palfreman and Edward Skinner, representing the Hengoed Ward, welcomed the council’s measures to help staff.

They also reiterated their relief at the UK Government’s assurance regarding the hotel not being used to house asylum seekers, encouraging residents with concerns to contact them directly.

The shock closure of the Stradey Park Hotel has prompted a wave of community support from other local businesses, offering jobs and alternative venues for cancelled events.

https://www.europesays.com/2821908/ ‘Operational reasons’ blamed for Stradey Park closure as MP secures ‘no asylum hotel’ pledge #AhsanUllah #asylum #AsylumSeekers #business #CarmarthenshireCountyCouncil #DameNiaGriffithMP #Featured #HomeOffice #jobs #Llanelli #NiaGriffithMP #StradeyParkHotel #UllcomGroup

‘Operational reasons’ blamed for Stradey Park closure as MP secures ‘no asylum hotel’ pledge

Ahsan Ullah, CEO of the hotel’s owner Ullcom Group, has confirmed that the “difficult decision” to cease operations was taken on Monday afternoon and has not been made lightly.

In a statement released via social media, Mr Ullah has said that the company is “working urgently and diligently to resolve the matters underlying this decision” in a bid to return the hotel to normal service.

The move has triggered widespread disruption for staff and guests, with the CEO admitting that he “recognises and regrets” the significant impact on those with upcoming events and bookings.

The company has pledged to support those affected, stating: “We will do everything within our capacity to assist customers with alternative arrangements where possible.”

However, the closure has drawn a sharp response from Nia Griffith MP, who has described the events of the week as a “devastating blow” for the hardworking staff in Llanelli.

Dame Nia has confirmed she has been in direct contact with the Immigration Minister, Alex Morris MP, within the last 24 hours to seek urgent assurances about the hotel’s future.

In a move that will bring relief to many in the Llanelli community, she has revealed that the Home Office has given “immediate, firm assurances” that the site will NOT be used for asylum seekers.

“This Labour Government is closing asylum hotels, not opening them,” Dame Nia has stated, seeking to reassure residents after the site’s controversial history under previous plans.

The MP has now called on the current owners to provide “more clarity on its future intentions” as a matter of urgency to protect the hotel as a community asset.

She has also confirmed that her top priority is ensuring that staff receive all necessary support from Carmarthenshire County Council and the Welsh Government during this difficult time.

Customers with upcoming bookings are being urged by the hotel to contact them directly via email with their booking references to begin the process of seeking alternative arrangements or refunds.

Should under-16s be banned from social media? Llanelli MP’s urgent plea as parents warned of kids’ secret online lives

The UK Government has launched a major consultation to gather views on how to protect children from the ever-growing risks of social media, AI chatbots, and gaming platforms.

It comes as the debate rages over whether to introduce an Australia-style ban on under-16s using the platforms, a move already backed by a cross-party group of more than 60 MPs, including Gower’s Tonia Antoniazzi and Mid and South Pembrokeshire’s Henry Tufnell.

The consultation will explore a number of significant potential changes, including whether platforms should be forced to switch off addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay, and whether mandatory overnight curfews for social media use would help children sleep better.

The move follows stark warnings on Safer Internet Day that half of parents in Britain have never had a single conversation with their child about harmful online content — even though most 11-year-olds now own a smartphone.

Experts have also warned that many parents are completely unaware of the hidden meanings behind popular emojis, which are increasingly used by young people to discuss everything from drugs and sex to self-harm and bullying.

Now, Dame Nia Griffith has issued a direct plea to families in Llanelli to make their voices heard, saying keeping children safe online is one of the major challenges of our time.

“Parents across Llanelli worry about what social media is doing to their children’s sleep, concentration and mental health. They are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having. They worry about AI, and about their children talking to chatbots as if they’re real people.

“I very much want to see us do much more to protect under-16s from social media, with its very powerful algorithms and increasingly disturbing content, and I would certainly support a ban on under-16s using social media. But, like any legislation, it needs to be carefully thought through, and enforceable.

“The UK Labour Government is determined to act, and I want people in Llanelli to help shape what that looks like.”

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who met with Dame Nia to discuss the consultation, said the Government was determined to act on the evidence gathered.

“The path to a good life is a great childhood, one full of love, learning and play. That applies just as much to the online world as it does to the real one.

“We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having.”

The three-month consultation is open to everyone, with dedicated versions available for young people and for parents and carers. It can be found at gov.uk and will close on 26 May.

Llanelli groups urged to bid for Armed Forces Day funding as UK Government opens £500k pot

Dame Nia Griffith MP — a former Shadow Defence Secretary during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership — says she will support local organisations applying for a share of the funding, which is designed to help towns and communities celebrate serving personnel, veterans and military families.

Up to £10,000 available for local events

The UK Labour Government says the grants, worth up to £10,000 per event, are aimed at strengthening links between the public and the armed forces. According to the Government, Armed Forces Week is part of its wider plan to “deepen connection between society and our forces”.

Events can include community picnics, barbecues, musical performances, parades, stands run by local military units and veterans’ charities, hands‑on activities and talks from serving personnel. Applications close on 30 March 2026.

Dame Nia said she wants to see Llanelli groups take full advantage.

Dame Nia Griffith MP said:

“The people of Llanelli proudly back our armed forces community. I’m delighted this government is helping to fund these important events and I will do whatever I can to support local bids so our whole community can come together.”

She added that she regularly attends Armed Forces Day, Remembrance and other military events, and looks forward to celebrating again in June.

Government says funding is part of wider commitment

The Government says the grants form part of a broader package of support, including a £9bn programme to repair and renew forces’ housing, the biggest pay rise in two decades, and extending the armed forces covenant.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

“Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe. In June we look forward to coming together as a proud nation to celebrate Armed Forces Day, and I want this funding to help make this year the best yet.”

He urged groups to apply and register their events so the Government can help promote them.

Armed Forces Day returns after being halted in 2023

This year’s Armed Forces Day takes place on 27 June, following a week of celebrations starting on 22 June. It is only the second national event since 2023.

The Government says Armed Forces Day events bring tourism, investment and opportunities for people to learn more about military careers.

Local groups can find full details and apply for funding at: https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/get-involved/organise-your-own-event/apply-for-funding/

Llanelli handed £20m lifeline as decade‑long regeneration drive targets town’s most deprived communities

Tyisha, Glanymor and Llanelli town centre will share the cash over the next decade in what ministers say is a bid to “rebuild community pride” and help neighbourhoods that have been left behind.

The area — home to nearly 14,000 people — ranks among the 20% most deprived in Wales, with Tyisha 1 listed as the sixth most deprived neighbourhood in Wales for community safety. Deprivation is also high across income, employment, health and education.

‘People here have been ignored for too long’

Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said: “I am pleased to have been able to secure this additional £20m of long‑term investment for Llanelli which these communities can now use to address issues that they raise with me day‑in, day‑out.

“It will be for the people who live there to decide how this money will be spent, based on what they feel is most important — whether it be improving the places that their families live, work and grow up in, supporting better local facilities and community organisations, helping people access skills and training or making our streets safer, cleaner and more welcoming.”

She said residents had been “overlooked for far too long” and needed a fair deal that reflected their priorities, not someone else’s.

New Neighbourhood Board to take control

A new Neighbourhood Board will now be created to oversee the project. It will include Carmarthenshire Council representatives, Dame Nia Griffith, local residents, community leaders and businesses.

Griffith urged people to get involved. “I can’t stress enough how important it will be for everyone living and working in these areas — as well as the wider Llanelli community who want to help revive our town centre — to make their voices heard over the next few months,” she said.

“I will be insisting residents are involved in the decision‑making process throughout so that it properly reflects their needs and delivers the improvements and the fair deal they rightfully deserve.”

Crime, deprivation and a town centre in decline

The targeted area includes Tyisha, the core of Glanymor and Llanelli town centre — a stretch long associated with anti‑social behaviour, empty units and stalled regeneration schemes.

Officials say the town centre remains the “functional economic area” for the wider community, linking key regeneration sites including the route to Pentre Awel via Llanelli railway station.

The funding is expected to focus on community safety, cleaner streets, better facilities, skills and training, and support for local organisations — but the final priorities will be set by residents.

Part of a wider regional funding battle

The £20m for Llanelli comes from the UK Government’s Pride in Place scheme — a nationwide programme aimed at reviving struggling neighbourhoods and restoring pride in local communities. But across South West Wales, the rollout has already sparked fierce debate over how the money should be carved up and who gets to decide where it goes.

In Neath Port Talbot, councillors have backed a decade‑long regeneration plan for the Upper Afan Valley, while Carmarthenshire’s allocation has triggered political clashes over transparency and control. Swansea MPs have also warned that Pride in Place funding must be shaped by residents, not handed down from above, with calls for open decision‑making and clear priorities.

Against that backdrop, Llanelli’s £20m package becomes the latest test of whether the decade‑long programme can deliver real change — and whether local people will genuinely be put in charge.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Upper Afan Valley lined up for £20m boost
Neath Port Talbot backs a decade-long regeneration plan under Pride in Place.

How Swansea should spend its Pride in Place funding
Swansea West MP Torsten Bell sets out his priorities for the city’s allocation.

South West Wales to share in £214m Pride in Place investment
Communities across the region set for major long-term funding.

‘Transformational for our communities’ say MPs
Regional MPs welcome the scale of the Pride in Place programme.

Clash over £20m Carmarthenshire Pride in Place funding
Political tensions rise over how the county’s allocation will be used.

‘Constitutional outrage’ as Senedd members revolt
MSs challenge the UK Government’s approach to distributing regeneration funds.