Proposals to once again merge Pembrokeshire with Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion have been criticised by local Assembly Member Paul Davies. Speaking during a Welsh Conservatives debate Mr Davies said that the Welsh Government’s plans did not carry the will of the people of west Wales and called on the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services to engage in a meaningful discussion about the competence of local authorities before deciding on their structures.

He said, “The Welsh Government seem to be absolutely determined to recreate the old Dyfed model in west Wales, despite no appetite whatsoever from the people that live in the area. Rather than having a mature discussion with local authorities over what services we want to see delivered locally, the Welsh Government are pushing yet another consultation on these outdated and unwanted proposals. It’s time the Welsh Government drop these proposals and look at ways of modernising our public services in Wales, not recreating unpopular models from the past.”