Welsh Headlines — 13 Sep 2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Welsh News Headlines — 13 September 2026

Sunday morning roundup · Wales-only · compiled from BBC Wales, BBC Cymru Fyw, Nation.Cymru, GOV.WALES, The Guardian

🔴 Top Story: "We're a nation, not a region of England" — FM's message to Burnham

Rhun ap Iorwerth has told Andy Burnham to get serious about devolution and understand that Wales is a nation and "not a region of England".

Speaking to the Guardian after meetings with UK government officials in London, the first minister said he had had "really positive, constructive discussions" with the prime minister — but was wary of Burnham being captured by a Westminster consensus against handing over more powers.

"He clearly understands the benefits of getting devolution right for Manchester," ap Iorwerth said. "He now needs to know what devolution means for Wales, and it's very, very different. We're a nation. We're not a region of England. There are different needs… it's really important that Andy Burnham doesn't confuse the two."

• Policing and justice is the flashpoint. Wales is the only UK nation without control of them. "Andy Burnham had more control over policing as the mayor of Manchester than I do as first minister of Wales, and it's just not right," ap Iorwerth said — adding that he believes Burnham is ready to take a different approach, but that forces around him are "probably equally as averse to devolving policing and justice as they have been under previous Labour leaders".
• Stephen Kinnock, Burnham's Welsh secretary, said in July he was not "entirely convinced" by devolving powers such as policing.
• Plaid would cooperate with Labour to block Reform — in Cardiff or Westminster. "It's not about keeping a political party out, it's about keeping a kind of politics out, the negative influence that it has, and of course we do and will cooperate with Labour."
• Ap Iorwerth called Reform's May result "very significant" — from two members (both Conservative defectors) to 34 seats — and said he would stand against its "kind of politics that runs contrary to my core beliefs of cooperation and tolerance and support for the weak".
• On Keir Starmer: "I think a mistake Keir Starmer made was that the government almost gave up on its values, gave up on its beliefs under that administration, because things were difficult. We've taken a completely different approach."
• On Monday's summit — ap Iorwerth meets John Swinney and Michelle O'Neill in Cardiff — he shrugged off a Telegraph columnist's description of a "sinister cabal… plotting nothing less than the end of the United Kingdom". "It's just not the way that I see it. I don't come from the base of working, either ourselves or with any other partners, to break up the UK. I want to build up my nation."
• On independence: Wales is on a "constitutional journey" whose destination he sees as independence — but with no timetable and no rush. "That's in the hands of the people of Wales."

Ap Iorwerth became first minister in May, days after leading Plaid to victory in the Senedd elections — ending a century of Labour dominance. Plaid has 43 seats in the enlarged 96-member chamber. (Guardian, Peter Walker — 13 Sep, 06:00)

🏛️ Politics & Senedd

🚧 Rail testing centre: the Welsh Government will now decide its future

Ministers are to decide what happens to the £70m-unbuilt Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) at the old Nant Helen opencast coal site near Ystradgynlais.

GCRE's boss says the site has not found the private-sector funding it needs because the risk is "too great" for potential investors. The project was launched five years ago on the site, about the same size as Gibraltar or Gatwick Airport, with two electrified test loops and hopes of more than 1,000 jobs.

• Ministers are now being asked to approve plans for a data centre at Nant Helen, in the hope that will help GCRE attract more funding for the rail project.
• The Welsh Government — which owns GCRE — said the company had been "exploring a number of projects to regenerate the Nant Helen site" and that it was working with GCRE "to assess next steps in light of our productivity mission".
• The Welsh Government has put £50m into GCRE since it was established in 2021, on top of the £70m of taxpayer money already spent. (Cymru Fyw, Daniel Davies — 13 Sep; follow-up to today's BBC story on the £70m spent and nothing built)

🏥 Health

🏥 Plaid calls for Powys NHS consultation to be paused

Eight of Plaid Cymru's elected representatives in Powys have written to Powys Teaching Health Board ahead of a meeting on Wednesday 16 September, when members will decide whether its "Better Together" proposals go out to formal public consultation.

The letter warns that communities are being offered "different models of centralisation" rather than meaningful choices. Under the proposals, community hospital inpatient beds could be concentrated on either two or three sites, while urgent care would be reorganised around two Urgent Care Centres open 8am–8pm, seven days a week.

The signatories — MSs Elwyn Vaughan, Beca Brown and Becca Phillips plus five Plaid councillors — say all options would strip Ystradgynlais of its community inpatient beds, Minor Injury Unit and X-ray provision, with hospital activity moved to Brecon. They say:

• Machynlleth would lose community inpatient beds and its limited X-ray provision.
• Welshpool would lose its Minor Injury Unit and X-ray provision to Newtown under either urgent-care option.
• Llanidloes residents needing community inpatient care and enhanced urgent care would be directed to Newtown.
• Physical-health inpatient services at Bronllys would transfer to community provision or Brecon, and Panpwnton Ward at Knighton would not reopen.

The group says it recognises the workforce and financial pressures on rural services and supports more care closer to home — but argues the options do not give many communities a genuine choice. (Nation.Cymru, Mark Mansfield — 12 Sep)

🌍 Environment

🔥 Wildfire damage "goes far beyond what the eye can see"

Scientists from Bangor University carrying out an urgent investigation into this summer's wildfires have warned the effect on soil health and biodiversity will shape the recovery of some of the UK's most fragile habitats for years.

At Bwlch Sychnant in Conwy, one of the most recent fires covered around 200 acres of protected coastal heath and forced 36 people to leave their homes. Extreme heat, prolonged drought and tinder-dry ground left moorland, upland and grassland highly vulnerable to fast-spreading fire.

• Prof Davey Jones, who leads the Bangor project, says the damage is far worse than what is visible: "We've probably lost about 10cm of soil here… 4,000 years of carbon gone in one event. It's catastrophic. Once the topsoil has gone, it cannot be recovered."
• The team has been sampling soil at several sites across Wales before heavy winter rain washes away what is left — comparing burnt ground with undamaged land nearby, measuring changes in soil carbon, nutrients, microbial activity, water infiltration and erosion risk.
• They used NASA satellite data to find new sites quickly after fires. Dr Kara Marsden, a soil scientist on the project, said speed was essential: "It was crucial to get to the site immediately after the fire went out. The soil and vegetation properties can change very quickly."
• She also warned that green shoots are misleading. "Bracken grows straight back because its rhizomes sit deep in the soil. But the heather and gorse that define this habitat root far less deeply. They have gone completely, and the soil they depend on can take thousands of years to form."
• Prof Jones added that the impact stretches well beyond biodiversity loss: fires release carbon, nitrogen and sulphur back into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. (Cymru Fyw, Gareth Wyn Williams — 13 Sep; BBC Wales carried the same story at 07:12 BST)

⚖️ Crime & Justice

🚨 Incendiary device left in machinery at Coedpoeth waste site

North Wales Police have launched an investigation after a "small, flammable device" was reportedly placed inside machinery at the controversial waste site on Talwrn Road, Coedpoeth, Wrexham.

The device was placed on Thursday 10 September. No injuries were reported and patrols have been increased in the area.

• Chief Inspector Caroline Mullen-Hurst: "We are aware of community concerns in the Coedpoeth area relating to environmental incidents at a site on Talwrn Road. However, we are urging members of the public not to take matters into their own hands."
• NRW says it first attended the site in June, made further visits, and served a notice in August requiring all waste to be removed by the end of October. "We have not issued any permission or licence allowing waste to be deposited at the site," a spokesperson said.

❌ Council rejects claims the dump site has been licensed

Wrexham Council has flatly rejected claims that the illegal dump site off Castle Road and Talwrn Road has now been licensed.

A post to a Coedpoeth community Facebook group claimed a resident had been told by North Wales Police that the operator held valid paperwork from Wrexham Council and NRW to dispose of building rubble — with instructions to grass the site over afterwards.

• The council confirmed the use of the site remains unauthorised and that legal notices remain in force, adding: "Natural Resources Wales has served a notice under Section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act to require the waste to be removed… we are actively considering planning enforcement action of our own."
• Cllr Anthony Wedlake, who represents Coedpoeth, said: "I can confirm that the section 59 notice served by NRW for the Talwrn site is still in place and requires the removal of all dumped waste. I'm grateful to North Wales Police for confirming that there has been no change in the situation and the statement made by an officer yesterday was erroneous."

(Alec Doyle, Local Democracy Reporter — 13 Sep. Ongoing saga: Plaid MSs' intervention 30-08; Wrexham's stop and enforcement notices and SOS Aggregates row 04-09; the north Wales planning enforcement task force 10-09.)

🎭 Culture & Heritage

🎬 Owen Martell's novel reaches the big screen

The author Owen Martell has spoken of his surprise at seeing his novel Intermission turned into a film — Everybody Digs Bill Evans — which is in cinemas across Britain from 11 September.

"I was astounded, because although the original novel has plenty of cinematic scenes perhaps, it's a fairly quiet novel in its own way," he told BBC Cymru Fyw. "So I was surprised there was interest in making a film of it."

🖼️ Where is home for the artist Dewi Tudur?

The Mold-born artist Dewi Tudur — who moved to Tonnini in Tuscany with his wife Linda in 2011 — has moved again, this time to France, and says he is no longer sure where "home" is.

He told Manon Steffan Ros on the programme Llwyfan how the buildings around him shape his work, and described Italy and the move closer to home near Chester before the latest relocation. (Cymru Fyw, Iwan Arwel — 13 Sep)

🔥 Mabon festival confirms its full line-up

Mabon — the live-fire cooking, folklore and music festival created by Hang Fire BBQ's Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn with Street Food Circus — has announced its full line-up for its return to Caldicot Castle from 25 to 27 September, over the autumn equinox.

Eight Fire Kitchens will operate across the weekend, alongside cooking demonstrations, talks, a producers' market and music, opening with a four-course fire feast on the Friday evening. Comedian Jayde Adams hosts the Smoke & Fire demonstration stage with Shauna Guinn.

Among those taking part: Cai Ap Bryn's Game & Flames, Pembrokeshire-based Feast with its "Beast of Feast" smoker, James Peck of Cardiff's Ember with smoker maker Leviathan Pits, Reclaimed Fire (South American-style asado), Smokey Rebel, The Dough Thrower and Drizzle Desserts. Chefs appearing include Anthony "Murph" Murphy of The Beefy Boys, Owen Morgan of Asador 44 and Bar 44, Jonathan Woolway of The Shed in Swansea, Shropshire Lad's Adam Purnell, Russ Jacques, community chef Steve Guy and Matty O'Brien of Matty's Chop Shop in Penarth. (Nation.Cymru — 12 Sep; dates and first details carried 19-08)

🚗 Two Welsh road trips named among the UK's most popular

The Cambrian Way has been ranked the fourth most popular road trip in the UK and Ireland in new research by the holiday provider Away Resorts.

The 185-mile route runs from Cardiff to Llandudno, tracing Wales through its mountainous middle — through Bannau Brycheiniog, past the Elan Valley near Rhayader and on past Dolgellau into Eryri, through Betws-y-Coed and down to the north coast. Cadw recommends five days, around 50 miles a day, sticking close to the A470.

The research found 46% of people would choose a UK staycation as their ideal trip, with social media searches for road trips up 200% in August. (Nation.Cymru Staff — 13 Sep)

🏉 Sport

🏊♀️ Ironman Wales: "I want to prove diabetes doesn't hold me back"

Alaw Haf Davies, 23, is competing in Ironman Wales in Tenby today — a 2.4-mile sea swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon — while managing type 1 diabetes throughout.

"I want to prove that type 1 diabetes doesn't have to hold me back," she said. Alaw has had to plan her training far more carefully than usual, watching her sugar levels and making sure she has enough food and equipment. "Diabetes means I have to think a lot further ahead when I'm training… there are times when my sugar levels don't do what I want them to, and that can be frustrating."

She added: "I've learned that not everything can be perfect every time. I have to work around the problems and keep going." (Cymru Fyw, Gwen Aeron — 13 Sep)

⚽ Sorba Thomas serenaded at Stamford Bridge

Hull supporters sang "Sorba Thomas, he parks where he wants" during their 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Saturday — days after the Wales international's car flipped onto its roof near the club's training ground.

Thomas, who was unhurt in the Friday incident in which his grey Land Rover Defender ended up upside down with broken windows, began the game on the bench but came on in the second half with Hull defending a 2-1 lead given to them by two goals from Mohamed Belloumi after Morgan Rogers had opened the scoring for Chelsea. Joao Pedro equalised midway through the second half. (Nation.Cymru / PA, Robert O'Connor — 12 Sep)

🏉 Wales forward's memorable year

Wales forward Georgia Evans says she will not forget 2026 — a year in which she won a league title, got engaged, bought a house and began the process of starting a family — and has spoken about feeling supported on her fertility journey. (BBC Sport Wales — 12 Sep)

🩹 Wrexham blow as Cleworth ruled out

Wrexham defender Max Cleworth has been ruled out for two months with a hamstring injury, in a setback to their Championship campaign. (BBC Sport Wales)

⚽ Newport held at Rodney Parade

Newport County drew 1-1 at home with Fleetwood Town, with Christian Doidge — a Newport-born summer signing — tapping in his first goal for his hometown club in the 38th minute. Substitute Aaron Loupalo-Bi equalised at the near post after 68 minutes to keep Fleetwood's unbeaten league start intact. (Nation.Cymru / PA — 12 Sep)

🌦️ Weather

Cardiff — Sunday 13 September: light rain and a gentle breeze, high 22°C, low 16°C. Monday warmer at 23°C, then a cooler week: Tuesday 20°C, Wednesday 19°C, Thursday 19°C, low teens overnight. (BBC Weather, updated 09:00)

📊 Quick Summary

Compiled Sunday 13 September 2026, ~09:30 BST by Emrys (Hermes cron) · Sources: BBC Wales, BBC Wales Politics, BBC Sport Wales, BBC Cymru Fyw, Nation.Cymru, The Guardian, GOV.WALES, BBC Weather.

Method note: SearXNG was in garbage mode again (Wikipedia/travel pages for the Wales query; Diablo IV forum spam for the Senedd query; Welsh-language reference pages for the third — zero usable news links), and the Hermes browser is unavailable because its Chromium shim points at a Google Chrome.app that no longer exists. All sources were therefore swept through the Playwright fetch service (192.168.178.100:8090), with the Guardian's Wales RSS feed used to resolve article URLs. GOV.WALES had nothing newer than 11 September; the BBC Wales Politics index was stale (nothing newer than 9 September except the 07:12 rail-centre story carried in today's UK file). Guardian Wales had one fresh item only — the first minister interview. Skipped as already covered: the free Cadw castle entry for Owain Glyndŵr Day (08-09), the Ray Gravell 75th-birthday piece (12-09 top story), Reform's £72m donations and the assisted dying vote (today's UK file), and the Coedpoeth dumping background (30-08/04-09/10-09) — only the new developments are reported above.