The Pembrokeshire Herald 02/02/2024

CCRC to review Pembrokeshire murders

THE CRIMINAL CASES REVIEW COMMISSION (CCRC) has confirmed to The Pembrokeshire Herald that it has started its review of the convictions of John Cooper, known for the infamous Pembrokeshire double murders.

Last year, cooper submitted an application to the ccrc, prompting the commission to reassess his case, with substantive filings questioning the safety of his convictions. those applications are now being worked on by case officers.

cooper is currently serving a life sentence for the brutal killings of siblings richard and helen thomas in December 1985, and Peter and gwenda Dixon, an Oxfordshire couple, in June 1989.

Despite an unsuccessful appeal, cooper maintains his innocence in the crimes.

the ccrc’s role is pivotal. If it finds anomalies in cooper’s conviction or sentence, the case will be referred back to the court of Appeal. the case, which gained national attention partly due to its dramatisation in the itV series “the Pembrokeshire Murders,” includes cooper’s appearance on the tV game show “Bullseye” as a crucial yet circumstantial piece of evidence.

Justice John Griffith Williams, in the 2011 trial, sentenced cooper to life imprisonment, labelling him a “very dangerous man” whose conviction relied heavily on advances in forensic science.

As readers will remember, the Pembrokeshire herald uncovered procedural issues related to the

handling of key evidence in cooper’s case, after gaining access to previously unseen material.

The findings revealed incomplete exhibit logs, mixing of evidence samples, and an unreported flood in the storage area where they were kept. these issues raise questions about the integrity of the evidence handling process, which is a crucial aspect of police procedure.

Despite these concerns, the crown’s forensic evidence against cooper was substantial and was not contested during his unsuccessful appeal in 2012.

h owever, with significant advancements in DnA evidence since cooper’s trial, this aspect might influence the CCRC’s decision.

Businessman denies dealing

A PEMBROKE DOCK businessman has appeared before magistrates charged with possessing 16 wraps of cocaine outside a nightclub in Pembroke, with intent to supply it to others.

James Balkwill, 32, of coppins, Pembroke Dock is further accused of possessing criminal property, amounting to over £1,500 in cash.

this week Balkwill appeared before haverfordwest magistrates where he submitted not guilty pleas to both offences. he admitted a third charge of possessing 441 testosterone tablets, which is a class c drug.

“A person approached the [car] window and officers asked if they could search the Mercedes, but Balkwill was unwilling and took off on foot.”

the crown alleges that when the Mercedes was subsequently searched by officers, they discovered 16 wraps of cocaine together with £800 in cash which they found clipped inside the sun visor.

the crown claims that further search of his home revealed 441 testosterone tablets and an additional £700 in cash.

Ms rivers said that during a police interview Balkwill, who owns a local fishing shop, claimed the drugs were for his own personal use.

Of the 791 cases heard, just 557 resulted in overturned verdicts, suggesting cooper’s chances of success are relatively slim. if the ccrc is convinced that cooper’s conviction warrants a re-examination, the likelihood of a successful appeal stands at about 70%.

yet, reaching the appeal court remains a substantial hurdle, with only a fraction of applications resulting in referral.

chloe handling, from the CCRC’s press office told the Pembrokeshire Herald: “I can confirm we have received two applications for John cooper.

“however we won’t be able to comment any further while the review is underway.”

the statistics, however, indicate a challenging path ahead for cooper. Between April 1997 and February 2023, the ccrc received 29,845 applications but referred only 811 to an appeal court.

crown Prosecutor Kelly rivers informed magistrates that officers were on duty outside the One nightclub Pembroke on the night of September 24 where they allege that Balkwill got out of a Mercedes car.

“cctV footage then showed him getting inside a black BMW,” she said.

After considering the facts, magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the matter to Swansea crown court.

trial proceedings against Balkwill will commence on March 1. the defendant was released on unconditional bail.

Drink-driving through town centre

A PEMBROKE oil rig worker has appeared before magistrates after being caught driving through the town centre when he was over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Police received a call from a member of the public in the early hours of December 11 that a Ford Focus was parked in the middle of grove Street.

When officers attended, they saw Joseph Whitbread sitting in the driver’s seat.

“it was approximately 4.05am when the officers arrived, and they discovered that the defendant was slurring his words and he made comments about a breathalyser,” crown Prosecutor Kelly rivers told haverfordwest magistrates this week.

A roadside breath

test proved positive and Whitbread, 38, of grove Way, Pembroke, was taken to a police custody suite where further tests were carried out. these confirmed he had 75 mcg of alcohol in his system. the legal limit is 35. Whitbread, a father of three, was legally represented in court by Mr tom Lloyd who informed magistrates that his client is employed as an oil rig worker.

“he works abroad and only arrived back from Africa yesterday,” he said. “The first thing he did was surrender himself to custody when he found out about the offence.”

Whitbread was disqualified from driving for 17 months. he was fined £350 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £140 court surcharge.

Postal strike led to £300,000+ rents loss

A POSTAL strike was responsible for a rents fiasco where Pembrokeshire County Council lost more than £300,000 in lost revenue rather than its contracted distributor, members of a special council committee heard.

that revenue was lost last year after council tenants’ annual rent rise was not correctly publicised by mail in the appropriate time.

tenants have a statutory two-month period of notice before rent rises, which were due to take place from April 1, can come into effect.

however, statutory rent increase notices were only delivered to tenants in late March, delaying the time of rent increases to July 1, costing more than £300,000 in lost revenue.

concerns had been raised that the council contracted company – Dsi Billing – which provides the printing and distribution of specialist documentation such as council tax billing, rents and debts may have had a responsibility for the late delivery, which have since been refuted.

earlier this month, cabinet member for corporate Finance cllr Alec cormack backed a recommendation to award a new £370,000 two-year contract to Dsi Billing, which is used by other local authorities including carmarthenshire.

A report recommending approval said: “the council had an issue with the nondelivery of rent letters earlier this year and, while an investigation

around £370,000.

found that Dsi Billing could not be held liable as the royal Mail deliver the ‘final mile,’ processes have since been improved to lessen the risk of such an event happening again.”

Following the award of the contract, all 10 tory county councillors submitted a ‘call-in’ on that decision, which was considered at a February extraordinary meeting of the council’s corporate overview and scrutiny committee.

Options before the committee were to either uphold it, refer it back to the cabinet member for reconsideration, or refer it to full council.

As well as raising the issue of the lost revenue, the ‘call-in’ included: “the Welsh conservative group believe that this decision deserves full and proper scrutiny at committee level – given its sizeable cost estimation at

“it is of the upmost importance that in these times of unprecedented financial challenges, with a £27.1 million funding gap to be found, and expectations that the administration will ask for a council tax increase between 15-25 per cent in the forthcoming months, that we ratify every pound spent of their money.”

Speaking at the meeting, cllr cormack said he had publicly signed the contract, recommended for approval by officers, to avoid any perceptions “of anything underhand”.

“As far as the officers are concerned, and i fully support the position they came to, Dsi had no liability in the issue that happened last year, Dsi and the council all thought these letters had been delivered.”

he later added: “the company didn’t fail, that is what officers’ investigations told us;

they did everything they needed to get it to the royal Mail, it was during a royal Mail strike that it didn’t happen.

“if we felt they were liable we wouldn’t have awarded them this contract, i’m sure.”

the council’s interim Director of resources Paul Ashley-Jones said: “Whoever we use, the final delivery will continue to be in the hands of royal Mail, it is my belief the royal Mail failed us last year.”

A call by conservative councillor Aled thomas for the matter to be referred to full council, with sight of the actual contract, saw five votes in favour and five against. committee chair cllr Mike John – who had earlier said he was not in favour of it going to full council – cast a second casting vote against, stressing he was in favour of the decision being scrutinised but not the call for it to be herd again at full council.

Estyn Report highlights long hangover from Covid

A NEW report from Estyn says school attendance has fallen, and pupils are still behind where they were before Covid.

Although Wales’s chief inspector, Owen evans, says there is much to be proud of, learners’ knowledge and skills remain weaker than before the pandemic.

Schools and other providers face particular challenges in delivering literacy, numeracy and Welsh in english-medium schools.

Wider issues such as learner absenteeism and the recruitment of teachers and support staff across critical specialisms pose additional challenges for education leaders.

Owen evans said: “the strong commitment of educators across Wales is a source of pride. however, the shadow of the pandemic remains apparent on learners’ wellbeing and the progress they make.

“Weaker aspects of practice are holding back progress for too many learners.

“Self-evaluation in schools and other providers must improve to strengthen the system.”

the annual report looks back at findings from inspection and thematic reports over the last academic year.

Following the publication of estyn’s sector summaries in October, January’s full report offers detailed context. it provides a much deeper insight into what’s working well and what needs improvement across Wales’s seventeen education and training sectors.

Among the sectors featured are schools, non-maintained nursery settings, colleges, work-based learning apprenticeships, adult learning in the community, and initial teacher education.

the annual report also summarises each national thematic report estyn produced this year. it also includes signposts to inspection reports and case studies from providers inspected

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and found to be doing particularly well to support improvement further.

Owen evans continued: “educators across Wales continue to work diligently and respond to the challenges involved in supporting our children, and learners of all ages, to learn and to flourish.

“My report highlights the successes and outlines some of the challenges that continue to face education and training; i hope it prompts constructive reflection and discussion about how we can collectively improve.”

the Welsh conservative response to the estyn response focussed on england’s use of attendance hubs to tackle pupil absence.

Attendance hubs aim to enable schools with strong attendance practices to share their approaches with senior leaders in similar schools to help them improve.

A total of 32 hubs provide support to help drive down absence at 2,000 schools across england. however, this still equates to fewer than one in ten schools.

in england, the problem of nonattendance is greater than in Wales.

in england, 22.3 per cent of pupils missed more than one in 10 sessions in the 2022-23 academic year.

That figure has barely improved from the 22.5 per cent rate in 2021-22, despite huge focus from schools and politicians.

Almost two in five disadvantaged pupils were persistently absent.

Before the pandemic, the persistent absence rate in england was between 10 and 13 per cent.

A scheme run by Barnardo’s to place mentors in schools with low attendance recently expanded.

Suggesting that attendance hubs have solved non-attendance problems is a big overreach.

Causing serious injury in Solva crash

BRIAN ANDERSON, 39, from Coppins Park in Pentlepoir, has admitted to causing serious injury by inconsiderate driving in a collision that occurred in Solva last May.

A long way to go: Miles aims to improve school attendance but challenges remain

Just because a scheme exists does not mean it is effective.

nevertheless, Laura Anne Jones, the Shadow education Minister, said: “With soaring absenteeism across schools in Wales, i think the Minister would take all appropriate measures to address the issue. however, that does not seem to be the case.

“the Minister’s response [to a question about attendance hubs] implies he has had no conversations with the uK government about attendance hubs in england and has no intention of initiating that discussion.

“the Welsh conservatives would collaborate with the uK government and proactively seek information and insight on the hubs to learn best practice, in order to tackle absenteeism across Wales.”

On tuesday, January 30, Wales’s education Minister Jeremy Miles said that collaboration and tackling issues around attendance are national priorities for the government. the previous thursday, Mr Miles announced £6.5m is being provided for family engagement officers whom schools employ, part of their role being improving pupil attendance.

A trial of communityFocused Schools Managers supports engagement between schools and communities.

however, nAht cymru criticised the Welsh government health and Social Wellbeing ministers

for pulling £2m funding from a Police in Schools scheme that helps reduce non-attendance.

Laura Doel of nAht cymru said: “it is unbelievable that the Welsh government has made tackling attendance a national priority while pulling funding from a programme that is making a difference. if it’s a priority for this administration, then all government departments must pull in the same direction.”

the case, heard at Swansea crown court this week (Jan 26), has brought to light a grave incident on the A487 Main Street in Solva on the morning of May 18. the collision involved a Volkswagen caddy van, driven by Anderson, a parked car, and a pedestrian. emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 9.30am following reports of the accident. the severity of the incident was highlighted by the fact that the pedestrian victim was airlifted to hospital due to the injuries sustained. in addition to the charge of causing serious injury by inconsiderate driving, Anderson faced accusations of drug driving. it was alleged that at the time of the crash, he had benzoylecgonine – a metabolite of cocaine –in his system. Anderson pleaded guilty to both the offences of causing serious injury by inconsiderate driving and drug driving. Following his plea, the court adjourned the case for the preparation of a presentence report. the defendant was granted bail and is due to be sentenced on February 16. the case has drawn attention to the risks of drug driving and its severe consequences on road safety.

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Man with ‘profound fear of needles’ refused blood test

A MOTORIST who suffers from a profound fear of needles has been sentenced by magistrates for refusing to provide a blood sample following a positive roadside drugs swipe.

Jamie christopher was arrested by officers on the A477 Kilgetty roundabout on October 23 after providing a positive drugs swipe for cocaine. the swipe was carried out during a routine police stop check.

christopher, of Dewing Avenue, Manorbier, was subsequently taken to a police custody suite where he was asked to give two samples of blood

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for further analysis. But crown Prosecutor Kelly rivers told magistrates that he declined.

christopher, 47, was represented in court by Mr tom Lloyd who informed magistrates.

that his client had previously denied the charge.

“he has issues with a fear of needles and an expert report states this explicitly,” he said.

“But that expert report wasn’t available on the day of the prosecution [January 25] and so the trial proceeded. this means

that that expert evidence still wasn’t heard.”

christopher, a father of three, was found guilty of failing to provide a specimen for analysis and re-appeared before magistrates this week for sentencing.

After considering the facts, magistrates sentenced christopher to a 12-month community order during which he must carry out ten rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay a total of £620 in costs, as the case had gone to trial. he was also ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge. he was disqualified from driving for 17 months.

Rumours of sale to Birmingham City Council dismissed

SPECULATION

that a new social housing estate in Fishguard has been sold to Birmingham City Council has been categorically dismissed as baseless. The development, currently underway on a 1.7 hectares site off Maesgwynne Lane, is being overseen by Wales and West Housing in partnership with Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd.

Local gossip had suggested that the estate, poised to feature a mix of one-bedroom flats and bungalows, as well as two, three, and four-bedroom houses, was destined to serve as overflow housing for Birmingham. however, these claims have been firmly refuted by the housing association.

A spokesperson for Wales & West housing stated, “there is no truth whatsoever in this rumour. We are very

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much continuing our development of the site off Maesgwynne Lane.” they further emphasised the commitment to the project, detailing the plans to build 50 new homes for affordable rent, in line with the approval granted by Pembrokeshire county council’s planning committee.

the development represents a significant investment in local affordable housing, funded by Wales & West housing in partnership with Pembrokeshire council and the Welsh government. the spokesperson added, “When it’s finished, we’ll be working with Pembrokeshire county council to let them to local people who are most in need of homes they can afford to rent.”

Birmingham city council also weighed

in on the matter, with a representative stating, “this is not something we are aware of here, so it appears to be an inaccurate rumour.”

the dismissal of these rumours underscores the ongoing commitment to providing much-needed affordable housing in

Fishguard, focusing on local community needs. the development, once completed, promises to offer a significant boost to the housing availability in Pembrokeshire, addressing the urgent demand for accessible and affordable homes in the region.

Police appeal after windows damaged in Neyland

DYFED-POWYS

POLICE has said it is investigating an offence of criminal damage that occurred at an address in James Street, Neyland on Monday, January 29.

Officers said that sometime between

6:00am-6:30am two windows were damaged at the property. Any information in relation to this offence, please contact Pc hope 1015, either online at: https://bit.ly/ DPPcontactOnline, by emailing 101@dyfed-

powys.police.uk, or by calling 101. if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the nonemergency number on 07811 311 908. Quoting reference 24000126896.’

Crabb welcomes Strength Academy Wales to Number 10

PRESELI

Pembrokeshire

MP, Stephen Crabb nominated an influential community figure, Simon Roach, director and head coach at Strength Academy Wales (SAW) to attend a prestigious event at Number 10 Downing Street this week (Jan 30).

the reception, hosted by the rt hon Lucy Frazer Kc MP, Secretary of State for culture, Media and Sport provided the opportunity to celebrate the important role that sport plays in communities across the uK.

SAW is an inclusive health, fitness and wellbeing community venture open to all ages and abilities offering a wide variety of weightbased programmes and classes based in haverfordwest. the notfor-profit organisation promotes wellbeing and social interaction, seeking to tackle

loneliness and build high levels of self-esteem.

SAW work in Partnership with Pembrokeshire Leisure, and are also recognised as a Weightlifting Academy and a Disability Sport Wales ‘in Sport’ club.

Mr roach has a wealth of experience in the sporting field, having spent 16 years teaching P.e, working as a strength consultant for the Scarlets rugby squad, as well as working as a Sports Manager for weightlifting Wales, and leading team Wales in several commonwealth games and the Special Olympics. he is also an ex-international weightlifter.

Mr roach was accompanied by fellow SAW colleague and volunteer helen carrington who, in her spare time leads several SAW classes encouraging more women into the sport.

Last year Ms carrington represented Wales in the British Masters championships.

Prior to visiting 10 Downing Street, Simon and helen enjoyed a personal tour of the houses of Parliament, and had the opportunity to watch both the house of commons and the house of Lords chamber in session.

commenting after the reception at number 10, Stephen crabb MP added:

“i was delighted to have the opportunity to nominate SAW for this special event in Downing Street. Simon has done a tremendous job heading this up, with his enthusiasm and positive spirit he has encouraged people from all walks of life to get into fitness.”

“SAW has been transformational for a large number of people in Pembrokeshire and it is great to see it continue to have a big positive impact on the local community.”

“the event at no.10 was a wonderful way

to celebrate the vital positive contribution that SAW has made to general health and wellbeing in Pembrokeshire. i am so pleased that Simon and his teams efforts have been recognised.”

Simon roach also

added: “it was a great honour to be nominated and recognised for the important role that SAW plays in the community of Pembrokeshire.”

“it was a privilege to attend Parliament and 10 Downing Street, meeting inspiring Sport

champions from across the uK. An extremely memorable day which we thoroughly enjoyed. thank you to Stephen for his continued support of our health and wellbeing community based Social enterprise.”

Port Talbot changes put UK at risk

THE LOSS of capacity to produce high-quality virgin steel at Port Talbot will harm British industry, leave the country reliant on imports from overseas, and increase Britain’s effective contribution to carbon emissions.

those are the claims made by unions, businesses, and politicians following tata Steel’s announcement of cuts and modernisation at its Port talbot Steelworks.

tata argues that global commercial pressures and raging losses associated with production in Port talbot mean there is no alternative.

tata’s proposed electric arc furnaces cannot produce the highgrade virgin steel needed by industries as diverse as car manufacturing and making the tins for heinz’s Baked Beans.

that high-quality steel is produced at Port talbot and used at downstream finishing plants in Llanelli and Llanwern.

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their future is at risk.

IMPORTING STEEL MAKES UK WEAKER

if Port talbot stops producing virgin steel, the uK must import it. chinese plants and tata’s more profitable steelworks in india are likely sources of much of it. that leaves the uK more vulnerable to economic shocks, market upheaval, and global crises.

For example, imports of virgin steel to the uK must pass through the red Sea and Suez canal. you only have to recall the trading chaos caused when the ever given blocked the Suez canal in 2021 to recall the consequences of disruption. those with longer memories will remember the closure and mining of the canal in the late 1960s and early

1970s when Arab states tried to overrun israel and held the West to ransom.

the West’s current economic problems arise from a series of economic assumptions made at or near the turn of the 21st century.

Western liberal democracies were guilty of assuming that growth would continue, the world would remain relatively stable, and that global trade would reduce the risk of economic contraction.

the cold War was over; capitalism had won; the sunlit economic and global security uplands were in sight.

Much like the British government’s before 1937, that optimism was misplaced.

instead, the geopolitical situation has become more uncertain and Western industries’ reliance on imports from Asia and russia has increased instability.

Off-shoring its primary production has left the

West vulnerable. the uK is particularly vulnerable because its manufacturing and primary industry base is minuscule compared to the size of its economy and population. in addition, raising trade barriers with our nearest

trading partner makes uK exports more expensive and uK businesses less competitive.

the utopian assumption that the economic benefits of trade were so obvious and so great that they negated either nationalism or

national self-interest has been exposed as wishful thinking.

NOT A GREENER FUTURE

Manufacturing is a dirty process. it doesn’t matter what you manufacture.

the impact of extraction, refining, making, and selling is huge.

even so-called “green industries” depend on minerals extracted from the ground by human graft and heavy machinery.

Suppose one accepts the conveniences and technological benefits of modern life. in that case, no matter how you choose to live your life, the cumulative impact of living in the modern world has a cost to the environment.

Although producing second-rate steel at Port talbot will reduce carbon emissions, doing so will have a negligible impact on the uK’s global carbon profile. That is because we do not live in a closed economic system. Although the last fifteen years of recession, austerity, and increased economic inequality have been hard, the economy has grown and continues to grow.

the chinese economy, alongside the economies of india, Brazil, indonesia, and South east Asia, has been buoyant. While the West has pursued the economic benefits of a supposedly ordered world made in its image, the dynamic and lessregulated economies elsewhere have increased in size, influence and importance.

china has produced more steel in the last

two years than the uK has since the industrial revolution. When Western leaders express concern or joy that the chinese economy’s growth rate is slowing, it is important to note that it still far outstrips other nations.

Among the reasons russia is economically interested in warring against ukraine are the huge natural resources of eastern ukraine and the need for a warm water port on the Black Sea.

And, as long as middle-class Western eco-warriors want their soy lattes and almond milk, Brazil and other countries will meet their demands. More of the Amazon rainforest is now being uprooted to plant soya than for any other purpose.

While Western leaders have wrung their hands about saving the planet, fast-growing economies have moved into the gap they’ve left behind. Western governments’ drive to decarbonise places their economies on an unequal footing with the nations whose resources they previously exploited. it’s like trying to block a one-inch pipe with a matchstick.

THE HARD CHOICE

the Welsh government has pressed

the need for “a just transition”. it wants tata Steel to retain jobs and the capacity to produce steel to meet the uK’s strategic needs. in practice, that means subsidising tata Steel to keep workers doing jobs it says are unviable. As the uK government already plans to subsidise tata to make around 2800 workers redundant, the Welsh government argues the benefits of giving the company a few more hundred million pounds outweigh its costs.

Accused of taking the cheapest option, tata says other proposed options are unrealistic. the company says alternatives will not secure Port talbot’s future, put further jobs at risk, postpone the inevitable, and otherwise be unworkable. the company adds that following the plan proposed by unions would derail its obligations to decarbonise its steel production.

During a house of commons Welsh Affairs committee session, Local MP Stephen crabb recalled his experiences dealing with tata while in David cameron’s cabinet.

he suggested that tata Steel had contrived to get everything it had wanted. Subsidies to keep the blast

Drug-driver caught flouting ban

A 66-YEAR-OLD motorist who was banned from driving following a drugdrive conviction has re-appeared before magistrates after being caught driving despite his disqualification.

Philp O’connell was spotted by officers as he drove his Audi A4 along the A40 in cartlett, haverfordwest, on January 12.

“Police checks showed that the vehicle had no insurance,” crown Prosecutor Kelly rivers told haverfordwest magistrates this week.

consuming illegal drugs.

But his solicitor, Mr tom Lloyd, informed magistrates that O’connell believed his disqualification had terminated in november.

“But he accepts now that he should not have been driving that day,” he said.

Mr Lloyd went on to describe his client as ‘an extremely vulnerable individual’.

O’connell, of Abbots close, haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified and of using a motor vehicle without third party insurance.

furnaces going. Subsidies to reduce job cuts’ number and severity. And now, subsidies to close the blast furnaces. Subsidies to make more job cuts.

tata’s chief executive did not disagree with Mr crabb’s assessment. his company has the uK government - and the uK’s industrial capacityover a barrel.

“A just transition”, as tata knows, relies on technology’s availability and cost-effectiveness.

“A just transition” hopes that jobs lost from carbonintensive production to lower-impact processes can be replaced without causing economic harm. however, asking a multinational company with all the aces to “hang on a minute” won’t work. hoping for new commercially viable manufacturing technology

Further checks confirmed that O’Connell had been disqualified by magistrates in March, 2023 for a total of 12 months after being convicted of driving after

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge. he was also disqualified from driving for an additional five months.

‘Unnecessary suffering’ to 30 dogs

A 67-year-old woman has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to 30 poodles at her home address in Camrose, near Haverfordwest, Alison Denise Silk is accused of:

• failing to accommodate the dogs in a suitable environment;

• failing to provide them with adequate drinking water and nutrition;

• failing to seek veterinary treatment and parasitic control;

• failing to enable the animals to exhibit normal behaviour and

• failing to protect them from pain, injury, suffering or disease.

She is further charged with causing unnecessary suffering to 20 poodles by providing adequate nutrition for their needs; failing to seek veterinary treatment for what the crown has described as ‘severe dental disease’ which affected five poodles and of causing unnecessary suffering to 29 poodles by providing them with adequate grooming. each of the four offences are alleged to have been committed at Silk’s home address between August 4, 2023 and September 4, 2023. Alison Denise Silk is listed to appear before haverfordwest magistrates on February 20.

Pylon rush creates acid test for devolution

Man admits to stealing wallet and tobacco tin

A COURT case at Swansea Crown Court has brought to light a burglary incident in Pembroke Dock, where a man admitted to stealing a tobacco tin and a wallet from a local residence.

31-year-old Alexander gooding, residing at Deer Park View in Stackpole, faced charges for his involvement in a burglary that occurred between February 20 and 23, 2022. the incident, which took place at a ground-floor flat on Commercial Row in Pembroke Dock, resulted in the theft of a tobacco tin along with a wallet and its contents.

gooding’s admission of guilt came during the court proceedings in Swansea. Judge Paul thomas Kc, presiding over the case, has ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared. this report is a routine part of the sentencing process, providing the court with detailed information about the defendant’s background and the circumstances of the offence. it aims to assist the court in determining an appropriate sentence. the sentencing for gooding has been scheduled for February 15. in the interim, he has been granted bail under conditions set by the court. this case has garnered attention in the local community, especially among residents concerned about crime and safety in West Wales. For those interested in following the latest crime and court news in the area, there is a dedicated Facebook group available. the conclusion of this case is awaited, with the upcoming sentencing set to determine the repercussions of gooding’s admitted actions. the court’s decision will be a point of interest for the local community, reflecting the ongoing efforts to address and mitigate criminal activities in the region.

THE news that Green Gen Cymru, a subsidiary company of the Bute Energy Group, intend to develop a new electricity distribution line linking their proposed Lan Fawr Energy Park north of Lampeter and Llandyfaelog near Carmarthen has been met with the expected fierce resistance by communities across the affected route.

Before we go into the details of the practical policy surrounding electricity transmission/ distribution infrastructure, let me be clear that we must decarbonise our energy systems, writes Jonathan edwards MP.

We must urgently improve electricity infrastructure to enable our rural communities to cope with the challenges of transition that are upon us. We must also create as much clean electricity as possible.

Wales is a net exporter of electricity, a superpower in relative terms. We should build on that strength.

the political challenge is how we derive monetary value for our people in Wales, especially considering a third of the population lives in fuel poverty.

At the moment, apart from community handouts, the people of Wales cannot get maximum benefit from exploiting our own resources.

Failure lies with national policy, which the Welsh government is trying to rectify with the creation of ynni cymru.

however, having said

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that, the policy must be mindful of taking communities with us. the uncomfortable reality for developers and politicians is that pylons that scar the landscape are far more controversial than the wind energy parks they serve.

As things stand, we face four developments that i am aware of in carmarthenshire. the well-documented 132KV green gen towy usk development; a proposal by ngeD, a subsidiary of national grid and the former Western Power Distribution, to develop 132KV infrastructure along the cothi Valley; this new 132KV proposal along the teifi Valley; and lastly, the 400KV north – South transmission proposal by national grid.

All routes lead to a new national grid substation in Llandyfaelog, south of carmarthenshire. these developments are on top of the existing 132KV line that links the Brechfa tan 8 Area and Llandyfaelog. the situation is complicated somewhat with the division of powers between the uK and Welsh governments.

400KV developments are the uK government’s responsibility.

132KV is a matter for the Welsh government.

the three 132KV developments are of more immediate concern as these applications are on the verge of becoming live planning

issues.

having campaigned on the existing 132KV line from Brechfa, in those days, matters were the responsibility of the uK government and its agency, the uK infrastructure commission. the community successfully managed to reduce the visual impact of the development as metal towers were replaced with wooden poles, and critical sections of the route were undergrounded. in particular, the tywi Valley floor near Abergwili was undergrounded via cable ploughing.

When considering the proposed teifi Valley and ngeD routes, they serve developments and pass near the existing line serving the Brechfa tan 8 Area. it seems obvious, therefore, that the Welsh government needs to look at all these proposals in a coordinated manner as opposed to each proposed development in isolation. the Welsh government and Senedd have a positive policy preferring undergrounding even in non-designated areas. to be fair, they have also shown far more interest in cable ploughing technology, which allows undergrounding at comparable costs to pylon development, than the uK government following my representations. however, the Welsh and uK governments have recently stated that they will not

compel developers to choose a particular technology for building electricity distribution/ transmission infrastructure. this flies in the face of other european countries, who are undergrounding new electricity distribution and transmission infrastructure, even in some instances, a long-term plan to underground existing infrastructure.

Modern Welsh nationalism exploded on the political scene in our country as a result of the drowning of the village of capel celyn to create the tryweryn reservoir, serving Liverpool in the 1960s. there wouldn’t be a Welsh government or Senedd without tryweryn. campaigners in the tywi Valley have cleverly latched on to the significance of this by branding their campaign as ‘cofiwch Ddyffryn tywi’ based on the famous ‘cofiwch Dryweryn’ mural near Aberystwyth, which calls on the people of Wales to remember the exploitation of our land for the gain of others. the Welsh government and Senedd were set up to protect our communities from resource exploitation developments they don’t support. the legitimacy of the Welsh government and Senedd in one of the most traditionally strongest nationalist communities in our country now rests on how Welsh democratic institutions and its agencies deal with the pylon rush that we face in carmarthenshire.

Pembrokeshire animal cruelty trial delayed

THE TRIAL of a man and his daughter accused of causing unnecessary suffering to various farm animals in Pembrokeshire has been postponed.

richard Scarfe, 42, from Park Street in Pembroke Dock, and Brogan Scarfe, 24, of Woodbine terrace in Pembroke, are facing charges related to the treatment of dogs, pigs, and sheep kept on land at the ridgeway in Lamphey.

the alleged offences span from January 25, 2022, to April 19 of the same year.

however, at Swansea

crown court both defendants have denied these accusations

Brogan Scarfe’s defence barrister, Alycia carpanini, stated that her client refutes claims that the animals were suffering, citing a vet’s visit to the farm a day before the animals were seized, during which no issues were reported.

richard Scarfe, on the other hand, has informed the court that he was not responsible for the care of the animals, as he had been previously banned from keeping animals. the trial, initially scheduled for February

12, has faced delays due to issues in appointing a defence expert and complications with the legal aid funding application.

the court was informed that the expert’s report would not be available for another two to three months.

Prosecutor christian Jowett highlighted the ongoing costs associated with the case, including the housing, care, and treatment of the seized animals. he emphasised that these costs would be sought in full.

Judge huw rees has vacated the original

trial date in light of these developments. the case is now set to return to court for a pretrial review on February 9, where a new trial date is expected to be established.

Both defendants have been re-admitted to bail as they await the rescheduling of their trial. this case continues to draw attention to animal welfare issues in West Wales.

For those interested in the latest crime and court news in West Wales, a dedicated Facebook group provides updates and information.

Five members of drugs gang jailed for more than 30 years

MeMBerS of an organised crime group (Ocg) who supplied class A and class B drugs across gwent, South Wales and gloucestershire have received prison sentences totalling more than 30 years.

Between February and October 2021, we carried out enforcement activities throughout the south of Monmouthshire which led to the seizure of drugs, cash and mobile phones.

the phones seized not only showed their owners’ significant involvement in the supply of drugs, it also showed all those who worked with them. Over the two-year long investigation, we carried out eight warrants and more than £50,000 worth of class A and B drugs were seized, along with over £40,000 of cash. in one warrant alone, £38,000 was found in a money safe disguised as a book.

the below people were sentenced at cardiff crown court on Friday 26 January for conspiracy to supply a class A drug – cocaine and class B drugs including ketamine, cannabis and amphetamines:

• 49-year-old Andrew harris from

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cinderford received five years and seven months

• 47-year-old helga Boehm from cinderford received four years and ten months

• 35-year-old Matthew nicholas from newport received

eight years and two months

• 33-year-old Ashley Bollen from caldicot received eight years and one month

• 32-year-old Peter Wright from chepstow received five years for the drug related offences – in addition to this –Wright received an additional six years and nine months

for an assault, not connected to this case. these sentences will run consecutively, meaning, his final sentence is 11 years and ten months imprisonment.

All defendants plead guilty at an earlier hearing.

the senior investigating officer,

Detective chief inspector Steven thomas said:

“We have successfully dismantled a major drugs gang who are now behind bars for their parts in peddling misery across South Wales and gloucestershire. these men and women were not simply dealing drugs to feed their own addiction, they had made the decision to become involved in the

supply of large quantities of harmful drugs to make money for themselves at the expense of others.

“We are committed to creating a hostile environment for serious and organised crime in gwent. illegal drugs have no place in society – they cause harm to those that become addicted to them and to their families, friends and the wider communities.

“these sentences send a strong reminder to those involved in drug supply in and around the gwent area that we will leave no stone unturned when it comes to targeting those who involve themselves in these illegal activities.”

We’re encouraging members of the public to be our eyes and ears – help us disrupt serious organised crime. if something doesn’t feel right, it might not be. Don’t wait, report it. if you or someone else is in immediate danger or it feels a situation could escalate call 999.

For general information you can call 101, or direct message us on social media.

Alternatively, crimestoppers can be contacted –anonymously – online or via the phone, on 0800 555 111.

Review ordered into Haverfordwest-linked killer’s case

THE Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) approach to the Nottingham stabbing case has come under scrutiny as Attorney General Victoria Prentis orders an independent review, following assurances from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to the victims’ families that they will receive the answers they seek.

the focus of the investigation, announced on tuesday, is the cPS’s acceptance of Valdo calocane’s guilty pleas to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. calocane, 32, was responsible for the fatal stabbings of students Barnaby Webber and grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and 65-yearold school caretaker ian coates in nottingham on June 13 last year. the review will also assess whether the cPS adequately consulted the victims’ families during the process.

Last week, calocane, who was brought up in haverfordwest, and whose family is believed to still reside in Pembrokeshire, was sentenced to a hospital order for manslaughter by diminished responsibility. this decision followed a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, as heard in nottingham’s crown court. the sentence was met with dismay from Mr. Webber’s family, who described it as a “huge insult” and called for a public inquiry.

emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, voiced her frustration after the sentencing, stating that the families were presented with a “fait accompli” regarding the manslaughter charges when they met the cPS in november, with no prior indication that the charges could be anything other than murder.

the urgent review, led by his Majesty’s crown Prosecution Service inspectorate, was ordered by Ms. Prentis to investigate the concerns raised by the families.

Prime Minister Sunak, in an interview with itV’s ‘this Morning’, outlined the

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government’s response, including independent investigations into the roles of various nottingham institutions and potential missed opportunities to prevent calocane’s actions.

Mr. Sunak maintained that an inquiry might still be considered necessary after the conclusion of these investigations. he emphasised the government’s commitment to thoroughly and promptly addressing the families’ questions regarding the operations of the nhS, police, and the cPS.

the Prime Minister’s official spokesman indicated Mr. Sunak’s openness to an inquiry. notably, Leicestershire and nottinghamshire police have self-referred to the Independent Office for Police conduct, and the nottinghamshire Police and crime commissioner has initiated a comprehensive review by the college of Policing. this scrutiny follows revelations that police failed to arrest calocane for an alleged attack on two individuals weeks before the stabbings. Additionally, a special review has been ordered into the mental health trust involved in his treatment prior to the killings. in a statement, Ms. Prentis expressed her horror at the deaths of Webber, O’MalleyKumar, and coates, acknowledging the families’ need for clarity. She assured a prompt and comprehensive review of cPS actions to address the concerns raised in this tragic case. The findings are expected by easter, with the Attorney general’s Office committed to implementing any recommendations swiftly. A cPS spokesperson confirmed their full cooperation with the review. Furthermore, Ms. Prentis is considering a judicial review of calocane’s sentence following a submission that it may be unduly lenient.

RNLI responds to Mayday call from fishing vessel on fire

AT 8:05am on

Tuesday morning (Jan 30) Angle All-Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch following a direct page from the Coastguard. A fishing vessel with three persons onboard had issued a Mayday call stating that they were on fire, in a position west of Skokholm Island.

the Lifeboat launched and began making best speed to the casualty vessel. St David’s Lifeboat was also in the process of launching and coastguard rescue helicopter r187 from St Athan had also been tasked. A local range safety vessel and guard vessels working nearby were also proceeding having responded to the Mayday broadcast.

Around 20 minutes later, the lifeboat arrived on scene, with the helicopter now also

overhead and ready to carry out an immediate evacuation if required. the lifeboat and her crew began to assess the situation, and following a discussion with the skipper it transpired that the vessel had suffered an engine fire due to a burst oil pipe and fortunately the crew had managed to get it under control.

An update was passed to the coastguard and a plan made to transfer two of the lifeboats own fire extinguishers to the fishing vessel as a precaution, before then proceeding to escort the vessel towards Milford haven. however, not long after beginning the escort the fishing vessel reported that its remaining functioning engine was now experiencing issues and they requested a tow. the lifeboat crew prepared a tow and shortly after a line

was passed and a tow established. At this point, both the coastguard helicopter and St David’s Lifeboat were stood down with thanks.

With the tow set, the crew began the 2.5hr tow back towards Milford haven, where regular welfare checks were undertaken with the vessels crew.

Arriving off the entrance of Milford Docks just after 11am, the fishing vessel was placed into an alongside tow and taken into the lock pits. Following a lock in, the fishing vessel was then manoeuvred into the docks and placed alongside the wall and secured.

With no further assistance required, the lifeboat and her crew were stood down to return to station where she was readied for further service by 12:30pm.

MMR vaccination urged to protect against a rise in measles cases

AS CASES of measles increase across the UK, Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) is encouraging children, teenagers and adults who have not had two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine to arrange vaccination with their GP as soon as possible.

the MMr vaccine is safe and effective, and protects against measles, mumps and rubella (german measles). these diseases are highly infectious and can very easily spread between people who are not vaccinated.

The NHS offers the first MMr dose at 12 months old, and the second dose at 3 years and 4 months, ensuring children are fully protected before starting school. children, teenagers and adults born after 1970 who have not been vaccinated, or who have had only one dose of MMr, are considered unprotected.

the number of people having the MMr vaccine has dropped since the start of the cOViD-19 pandemic. the population of hywel Dda has a

lower average uptake of vaccination than other areas in Wales. Low rates of vaccination leave our communities at risk of measles outbreaks.

Measles can make children and adults very unwell, and some people who are infected will suffer life-changing complications. People in certain at-risk groups, including babies and young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immunity, are at increased risk of complications from measles.

if you or your child are not vaccinated and you come into contact with someone with measles, you may be advised to stay home (quarantine) and away from work, school, and public places for 21 days to ensure you or your child do not pass measles to others if you become infected. teachers, health and care workers, and other staff may also be asked to stay at home if they are unvaccinated and come into contact with someone with measles.

Dr Ardiana gjini, executive Director of Public health at hywel

Dda uhB, said: “Measles is one of the most infectious diseases and nearly everyone who catches it will develop a high fever and a rash. One in every 15 people will get severe complications, including infection of the lungs (pneumonia) or brain (encephalitis).

“it has only been 10 years since a measles outbreak in Wales over 1,200 people infected,

88 needing hospital treatment and one person sadly died.

“the fall in the take up of the MMr vaccine in the recent years means we have many children and people in our communities vulnerable and unprotected against measles, which causes a serious illness for many people.

“the MMr vaccine is a safe and highly effective

in protecting you against measles, mumps and rubella. With an increase in cases reported in the Midlands, i want to urge parents and carers to think of the safety of their children and ensure our communities here in West Wales are protected.”

the MMr vaccine is available through your gP, free on the nhS. contact your gP to arrange vaccination, or if you are

not sure if your child or you have had two doses of MMr you can also contact hywel Dda uhB’s communication hub by calling 0300 303 8322 option 1 or emailing ask. hdd@wales.nhs.uk. You can find out more about the MMr vaccine by visiting phw.nhs.wales/ topics/immunisation-andvaccines/vaccinationinformation1/mmr

Extra drop-in event to discuss application for GP surgery closure

An additional public drop-in event will be held in Laugharne next week (Tuesday, February 6) to provide residents with a further opportunity to discuss the application from the Coach and Horses GP Surgery in St. Clears, to close their Laugharne Branch Surgery.

hywel Dda university health Board is organising the event, which will take place between 3.00pm and 6.00pm at Laugharne Memorial hall.

the health Board received the application from the coach and horses gP Surgery in St. clears, to close their Laugharne Branch Surgery in carmarthenshire last year.

hywel Dda university health Board’s Director of Primary care, Jill Paterson said: “in

response to the number of patients who have expressed a wish to participate in the public engagement event but did not feel that they were able to raise all of their concerns at the session in november 2023 a further engagement event will be held for those who have not had the opportunity to share their views so far.

“What we have heard from patients and stakeholders in the engagement programme to date will be compiled with the views from a second, and final event to be held on tuesday, 6 February 2024. A recommendation on the way forward will be considered by the health Board in March 2024.” the main reasons provided by the Practice for the application to close the Laugharne branch surgery are:

• The Practice has faced major problems in sustaining its core workforce and has been unable to provide GP sessions at the Laugharne Branch Surgery since April 2020.

• In order to protect the provision of general medical services, the GP Partners. feel that

this will allow them to centralise their staff and services, which will in turn support the future sustainability of the GP Practice.

• There are challenges across the UK in the recruitment and retention of general medical practitioners (GPs).

New Bishop of St Davids consecrated in a ceremonial service in Bangor

IN a ceremony steeped in tradition and religious significance, Bishop Dorrien Davies was consecrated as the 130th Bishop of St Davids in a special service at St Deiniol’s Cathedral in Bangor today. The event marked a significant milestone in the history of the diocese, which encompasses Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Ceredigion in West Wales.

hundreds of congregants from across Wales gathered in the cathedral, with many more joining online, to witness Bishop Dorrien’s anointment and reception of the symbols of a bishop’s office. these symbols – an episcopal ring, a pectoral cross, a mitre, a Bible, and a pastoral staff – were presented to the new bishop in a solemn ceremony.

the choice of Bangor for the consecration service was significant, as it is the seat of the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, who also serves as the Bishop of Bangor. Archbishop

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Andrew played a key role in the service, anointing Bishop Dorrien with holy oil as part of the consecration ritual. in a poignant address, Archbishop Andrew called upon Bishop Dorrien to embody “an extravagant love” for Jesus, the church, and the world. he drew an intriguing comparison between the responsibilities of bishops and the popular BBc reality show, the traitors, urging the bishop to captivate the nation and the church with a similar fervor.

Archbishop Andrew’s message was clear: to lead with a vision that inspires and excites, just as the dramatic twists of the reality show have gripped viewers across the nation.

Bishop Dorrien expressed his honor and acknowledged the challenges ahead in his new role as the Bishop of St Davids. h e emphasized his gratitude for the support he has received and

called for continued prayers as he embarks on this new journey in his ministry, buoyed by a sense of hope and joy.

Adding to the ceremonial grandeur, a new musical composition by Joe c ooper, the c athedral music director, was performed. t his piece,

set to a 16th-century Welsh poem by Dafydd trefor, commemorated the consecration of Deiniol, the first Bishop of Bangor, and his retreat in Pembrokeshire. t he service was also attended by bishops from other Anglican churches in the u K, including the

c hurch of e ngland, the c hurch of i reland, and the Scottish e piscopal c hurch, showcasing the unity and shared heritage of these religious institutions. Looking ahead, Bishop Dorrien is set to be enthroned as the Bishop of St Davids at St Davids c athedral next weekend. t he

enthronement service, scheduled for February 3 at 2:30 pm, will see him officially installed in the Bishop’s chair. r epresentatives from across the St Davids Diocese will welcome him in a ceremony that promises to be another significant religious event, open to reporters and the public alike.

One Planet Policy creates a twin-track Wales

A CONTROVERSIAL

Welsh Government policy is responsible for creating community problems and resentment in rural Wales.

An academic paper on One Planet Developments (OPDs) that supports the policy and its aims concedes they are behind anger, frustration and perceptions of unfairness in communities across West Wales, especially in Pembrokeshire and carmarthenshire.

Although the paper suggests that the problem is one of communication and understanding, its author suggests the benefits of OPDs are so significant that hostility is due to ignorance and insularity.

in a four-part series starting this week; the herald will look at One Planet Developments, how they operate in practice, their shortcomings, their benefits, and their impacts on rural communities. We will take a close look at how planning authorities deal with OPDs and how the system can be - and is gamed - by those claiming OPD status.

We begin with a general introduction to OPDs, their political background, and some reasons rural residents dislike them.

WHAT IS AN OPD?

the Welsh government introduced OPDs in 2011 as part of its One Wales: One Planet scheme.

the policy claimed OPDs would apply lowimpact development principles in Wales and exemplify sustainable development. it has stringent restrictions requiring applicants to prove they can live within defined environmental limits. there are four requirements to qualify for the scheme.

First, each household must use only a limited area of land.

Second, applicants must show that within five years, this land can meet 65 per cent of their basic needs, including food,

ambitions.

water, energy and waste. third, they must develop a zero-carbon house design using locally sourced and sustainable materials.

Finally, they must set up a land-based enterprise to pay the sort of bills — internet, clothes, council tax — that can’t be met with a subsistence lifestyle.f existing eco-villages, for example, the Lammas community in north Pembrokeshire, are not OPDs. While residents might share many OPD aims and objectives, they do not fall within the policy’s ambit.

OPDs in Pembrokeshire aremostly - single dwelling units erected in open countryside outside normal development boundaries.

MONITORING: FAILURE AND FOLLY

When the Welsh government pushed its OPD policy through the then-national Assembly for Wales, it formed part of a far wider set of aspirational policies and

reviewing the One Planet: One Wales prospectus almost fifteen years later - and considering the Assembly business that touched upon it - shows how little successive Welsh governments have achieved. they have fiddled around the edges of issues identified before the 2007 Assembly election and addressed them in a half-baked and unfunded way.

OPDs were among the proposed initiatives to create a more sustainable Wales. For the initiatives to be coherent and transformative, they needed to interlock with other Welsh government policies and legislative work.

however, although OPDs were brought in through amendments to planning legislation, the wider framework remained either wholly or partially incomplete. that left OPDs sticking out like a sore thumb: an unsupported policy dangling on its own.

that they’ve become a lightning rod rural issue is scarcely surprising in those circumstances.

NO GOOD DEED

working-class Welsh families buying a small plot of land and setting up a sustainable dwelling on it is risible. those embarking on OPDs often have the cushion of wellpaid jobs (sometimes outside Wales) or capital resources beyond the reach of residents in their target areas. in short, living sustainably in an OPD is possible, provided you can afford it.

WHAT ECONOMIC BENEFITS?

the idea that OPD rural enterprises enhance rural Wales’s economy is bunk.

it must be exceedingly pleasant for Welsh ministers to spend a week or two in rural Wales and congratulate themselves on the plethora of farmers’ and crafters’ markets. they might even kid themselves that they demonstrate Wales’s rural economy is full of local enterprise and people as comfortably off as they are. however, those markets are windowdressing for visitors and those with enough disposable income to enjoy them. they hide rural deprivation, lack of opportunity, and housing shortages.

OPDs must have seemed an obvious extension of the third Assembly’s wish to encourage sustainable development. their well-meaning objectives are superficially attractive: zero-carbon, virtual self-sufficiency, rural enterprise, sustainable dwellings. however, the devil is in the detail.

One Planet Development is a nationally-imposed planning policy for which the responsibility was foisted onto local planning authorities with neither the funding nor expertise to assess or scrutinise them. that was the case in 2011. it is still the case now. Local authority planning services have been pared beyond the bone and into the marrow. Meanwhile, the Welsh government - now and in the past - continues to heap ever-increasing responsibilities on councils and local planning authorities without any extra resources or funding.

As the writer tess Delaney painfully illustrates, OPDs have become a middle-class racket. the idea of

Micro-enterprises are singularly inefficient at growing economic activity. Subsistence productionor marginal subsistenceplus - generates few tangible purely economic benefits for communities. its broad effect resembles Lyndon Johnson’s observations about wetting yourself: the only person who gets a warm feeling of accomplishment is the person doing it. there might be less measurable benefits to OPDs. nobody would seriously object to their capacity to encourage others to consider sustainability or reduce their environmental impact. educating children about the environment through practical examples is important. But OPDs are not the only - or even the best - mechanism to achieve that. those uncountable positive outcomes do not translate into benefits for rural populations. they can have the reverse effect.

green tourism can use up scarce public resources, take existing rural homes off the market for holiday use, and indirectly diminish communities’ resilience. it can encourage the creation of middle-class arriviste enclaves in the heart of rural Wales. the sort of place to which people move to live the good life while getting their groceries delivered by Amazon.

ONE PLANET: TWO WALES

Labour in Wales is an urban party. its heartland is the former industrial areas in the Valleys and the urban and suburban sprawl stretching south of the M4 from newport to Llanelli. Alongside that, Labour is also strong in those parts of northeast Wales bordering england’s north-western conurbation. the division between urban and rural Wales, the idea that OPD is a middle-class metropolitan policy, has inevitably caused tension. A cause of additional tension is the Welsh government’s outright - and admittedhostility to allowing farmers to extend their dwellings or create new dwellings for their families on land they already own.

One potential counterargument - that farmers can always build their own OPDs and exploit the planning system to their advantage - ignores that OPDs must provide new economic development and not merely extend existing economic activity. the perceived unfairness of the planning system - favouring the incomer over the resident - is something the Welsh government could remedy but chooses not to. And, as we shall see next week, the attitude of a few OPD practitioners alienates the rural communities into which they transplant themselves.

HSBC fined £57m for ‘serious failings’

HSBC has been fined £57m by the Bank of England’s financial stability arm for failing to protect customer deposits in the event of a banking collapse. it is the secondhighest fine imposed by the Bank’s Prudential regulation Authority (PRA) and reflects the seriousness of the failings, the watchdog said. The highest fine was £87m, imposed on credit Suisse last July. hSBc – which shut down 12 of its branches in Wales last year –failed for many years to properly implement the requirements set out in the depositor protection rules, the PrA said. the failings occurred

between 2015 and 2022.

The fine was imposed on two uK subsidiaries of hSBc holdings, which are deemed to have the “capacity to cause significant disruption to the UK financial system if they were to fail”. the bank failed to accurately identify deposits that were eligible for Financial Services compensation Scheme (FScS) protection, which insures deposits if a bank collapses.

hSBc lacked “adequate systems and controls, and governance” necessary to enable FScS to make prompt payments to depositors in the case of a banking collapse, the PrA said. it added

that the failings had “materially undermined the firm’s readiness for resolution”.

the PrA said the bank failed to alert the regulator about problems identified in the incorrect marking of accounts as eligible for FScS protection over 15 months.

hSBc also breached other rules that state that lenders must prepare for resolution with a minimum disruption of critical services in the event of a banking collapse.

Sam Woods, the PrA chief executive and deputy governor for prudential regulation at the Bank of england, said: “the serious failings in this case go to the heart of the PrA’s

safety and soundness objective. it is vital that all banks comply fully with our requirements around preparedness for resolution.

“hSBc Bank plc fell far short of its obligations in this area, and failed to disclose its failings to us in a timely manner. these failures led to today’s action, including the significant fine.”

the bank cooperated with the regulator throughout the investigation and agreed to resolve the matter, which meant the fine was reduced; otherwise it would have been £96.5m.

the PrA said hSBc failed to assign a senior manager to the resolution processes required in the event of a banking failure. hSBc Bank plc, the nonringfenced part, also incorrectly marked 99% of its eligible deposits as “ineligible” for FScS protection.

hSBc said it was “pleased to have resolved this historic matter, which relates to the bank’s compliance with certain parts of the PrA’s depositor protection rules.

“The PRA’s final notice recognises the bank’s cooperation with the investigation, as well as our efforts to fully resolve these issues. We continue to remain focused on serving our customers.”

Local Politicians meet ‘Pantosaurus’

SENEDD Members

Paul Davies and Samuel Kurtz joined the NSPCC and their mascot Pantosaurus, on a recent visit to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. Pantosaurus was meeting politicians to highlight Talk Pants Day Cymru following the delivery of a children’s book to nurseries, primary schools and libraries aimed at helping to keep children safe from sexual abuse. the Pantosaurus and the power of PAntS book is fully bilingual and aims to encourage debate between children and parents. the talk PAntS

campaign, recognises that simple conversations can make a big difference. to help mark talk PAntS Day, a competition has been launched for primary aged school children and below, where schools can get creative, use talk PAntS resources, create a talk PAntS display, to win a goodie bag and a visit from Pantosaurus to their school.

commenting after the meeting, Samuel Kurtz MS said: “the talk PAntS initiative has really captured people’s imagination and enabled an important yet

uncomfortable subject to be discussed in a sensitive and supportive way.

“it is up to every one of us to become alert to signs of sexual abuse and, by normalising conversations on the subject by using tools such as the Pantosaurus book and mascot, this task will have been made easier.”

Paul Davies MS added:

“i am pleased to support the talk PAntS campaign and encourage parents and guardians to make use of the resources that have been made available by the nSPcc.

i hope that all primary

MIKE EDWARDS

THIS week, my message comes from the shed, where I am shivering next to a small camping stove while the rain pelts down outside.

the radio is stuck on BBc radio Wales. that means i am stuck listening to Wynne evans: him off that advert that doesn’t feature meerkats.

Just before Wynne plays selected songs by roxette and David Alexander, he plays a little jingle: “BBc radio Wales - the Sound of today’s Wales”. then there’s the chat.

“Mavis in hengoed, what’s your hilarious experience with piles?” in the uSA, they have a phrase, “cruel and unusual punishment”.

Although my suffering is cruel, it is not unusual.

i’m an old lag.

My beloved has deemed me guilty of a crime so hideous that exile is the only penalty. i can live with selfimposed exile, even embrace it. But the radio is stuck on radio Wales, which means a recipe for laver bread and lard on toast is coming up. things could be worse, though. greatest hits radio has misplaced a consonant in the second word of its name, for instance.

i don’t object to listening to the radio. i often laugh along with Woman’s hour on radio Four.

My particular favourite is gardeners Question time.

happened to my shallots when i got my japonica tangled on the downpipe.”

All those po-faced questions and ridiculously over-the-top answers about incorporating grit and organic matter into your soil.

Last week, the panel was asked about gardening doubleentendres. the members declined to offer any for fear of offending those of the listening public who wouldn’t get a single intender. they were, of course, right not to rise to the bait. When you have a problem with your purple-headed morning glory, i assure you it’s no laughing matter. So, as you can see, i am in favour of the aural pleasures that a radio offers.

i do take exception to being exiled to radio Wales-land just because Mitzi the Mutt is of such a delicate and nervous disposition.

Please let me explain: i was watching england play india in hyderabad. unexpectedly, england won.

At the moment of victory, i leapt from my armchair and, with the restraint becoming a good sport, mumbled something like, “gosh, well played, chaps”. Something like that, anyway. in response, Mitzi barked and then shat on the living room rug.

schools across the area enter the competition and i look forward to meeting Pantosaurus if a school in my constituency is lucky enough to win.”

“My incomprehensible-Latinname-that-nobody-usesplant is suffering from sooty mould. What would the panel do?” then they produce a plastic bag with a manky piece of leaf in it, and the chirpy northern one says:

“eee! it’s like what

And so, i am in the shed with only radio Wales for companionship while my beloved missus soothes the hound’s fevered brow and whispers reassurance into its floppy ears. i fear Stockholm Syndrome. “the Sound of Wales now” has turned out to be Shakin’ Stevens. And i found myself humming along.

Anti-strike proposals ‘an attack on devolution’

THE GOVERNMENT’S proposed minimum service levels for schools are ‘draconian, unnecessary, and an attack on devolution’, school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru says.

in its response to the government consultation, which closes today, nAht cymru says the legislation cuts across devolved powers by the Welsh government and would effectively remove the right to strike from most school staff – and especially head teachers given that most schools only have one such role. the new laws would make it legal to sack striking education workers who have been issued with ‘work notices’ and will allow hefty fines to be imposed on unions.

nAht cymru says the proposals fail to recognise legislation in Wales, such as the Well-being of Future generations (Wales) Act 2015; the trade union (Wales) Act 2017 and Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 – all of which look to strengthen workers and employers’ rights and promote working together to resolve disputes where possible.

Far from ensuring a ‘minimum’ service, the union says requiring all vulnerable, critical worker and exam groups to be in school would mean a majority of pupils attending and all schools being required to open on strike days.

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nAht cymru national Secretary Laura Doel has condemned the legislation, saying: “the proposals by the uK government aim to undermine the principles of social partnership and are a direct attack on the devolution settlement.

“the Department for education (Dfe) has no idea of the systems in place that manage and maintain Welsh schools and the uK government has no right to involve itself in matters that do not concern it.

“School leaders across Wales face significant challenges, particularly when it comes to pay, workload and funding and we are

currently working with the Welsh government to address those issues.

“having said that, we will not hesitate to take further industrial action if it is the will of our members and we will do everything in our power to protect those rights.”

nAht cymru says there was no clear evidence of detriment to pupils during last year’s industrial action by education unions, which included a strike by teachers – but that cuts to education and chronic underfunding have farreaching implications for the delivery of education.

referring to last year’s action in Wales, during which nAht cymru took action short of strike, the response continues: ‘teachers, school leaders and

support staff have taken part in industrial action to defend their pay and working conditions, to prevent a worsening of the staffing shortage and to restore the quality of our education services. the introduction of minimum levels of service will not resolve these issues, but they will impact workers ability to do something about them.’

in its response, nAht cymru also highlights the principle that union members need the freedom to withdraw their labour if their workplace is for any reason considered unsafe.

it points out that the proposals do not allow workplace notices requiring staff to work to be appealed or for any independent oversight

of disputes that arise. there is no provision for meaningful consultation with unions and no obligation to consult individuals identified in a work notice as being required to work during a strike and is completely lacking in reference to the devolved governments at all.

nAht cymru has welcomed education minister Jeremey Miles’ response to the legislation, after he wrote to the Dfe stating the Welsh government will continue to work with employers and unions under social partnership to resolve disputes.

Paul Whiteman, nAht’s general secretary, said: “the government’s proposals are a hostile attack on the basic democratic right of workers to withdraw their labour.

“Strike action will always be a last resort for dedicated education professionals. Sadly, however, it is sometimes the only way to engage tin-eared governments and employers in serious talks about issues which may not only affect their working conditions, safety and livelihoods –but also their ability to offer the education all children deserve.

“these proposals will not help to prevent industrial disputes but will make it even harder to resolve them and for dedicated school staff to act when they fear education is being devalued. if that happens, ultimately it is

children who will suffer.”

nAht cymru is calling for the uK government to retract the proposals and enter meaningful negotiations with education unions after it abandoned talks last year. it urges ministers to ‘learn from other nations and create a culture of social dialogue and balanced cooperation through the introduction of sector-wide collective bargaining, together with the clear legal recognition of a positive right to strike.’ the union says the proposals are ‘highly likely to fall foul of equality law’, arguing that school leaders who are more likely to be required to work are often older. it points out that a majority of the workforce are female, and that the approach taken was ‘effectively discriminating against’ staff at schools with a higher proportion of pupils with additional learning needs (ALn), vulnerable and critical worker children.

nAht cymru adds the legislation would ‘make the uK an outlier among comparable nations’, undermining a host of international human rights and labour law commitments. these include the united nations’ 1948 universal Declaration of human rights, the european convention on human rights, european Social charter and commitments through the international Labour Organisation.

Funding decision ‘could undermine pupil attendance’

SCHOOL leaders’ union NAHT Cymru has urged the Welsh Government to rethink a decision to pull the plug on its funding for the Wales Police Schools Programme. the programme, which is match-funded by the Welsh government and the four police forces in Wales, sees police officers deliver lessons in schools around everything from safety and behaviour, to substance misuse – and nAht cymru says they have helped to support pupil attendance, which has suffered in the wake of the pandemic.

The officers have also supported the development of the health and wellbeing

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curriculum, and they help schools in dealing with incidents on-site.

however, nAht cymru has learned that from April the Welsh government is to cut its £1.98m funding, which came from the health and social services budget.

national secretary, Laura Doel, has written to deputy minister for mental health and wellbeing, Lynne neagle, and education minister Jeremy Miles, to express the union’s concerns. the union’s call follows a Welsh government press conference this

morning, where Jeremy Miles reiterated that collaboration and tackling issues around attendance is a national priority for the government.

Ms Doel said: “it is unbelievable that the Welsh government has made tackling attendance a national priority while pulling funding from a programme that is making a difference. if it’s a priority for this administration then all government departments need to be pulling in the same direction.

“the police liaison officers play a vital role in helping schools tackle pupil absence. they have also been a valuable resource

in supporting the new curriculum for Wales, promoting positive wellbeing and mental health, and breaking down barriers between police and communities.

“if the Welsh government does not reconsider this decision – or find a way of working with the police for the programme to continue on the same scale – it will need to hold talks with schools about the impact of this decision, including on its national priority of improving school attendance.”

Ms Doel has also written to the four police commissioners and chief constables pledging nAht cymru’s support for the continuation of the service.

Celtic saint monument could scupper Preselis polytunnel plans

PLANS for a north Pembrokeshire organic food producer to expand its business could be scuppered by concerns about the impact it would have on an ancient monument associated with a Celtic saint.

the application, by cilgerran-based Southern roots Organics, made through agent Llyr evans Planning Ltd, seeks permission for three polytunnels for agricultural use at land near Penrallt, Felindre Farchog.

the application for one single-sized and one double-sized polytunnel would increase the number on site from an existing five to support the growing business, but concerns have been raised on the impact on the Scheduled Ancient Monument of carningli, some three kilometres away.

rocky summited carningli features the remains of one of the largest hillforts in west Wales, generally dated to the iron Age, and is associated with the celtic saint Brynach, said to have talked with animals and birds.

the plans, to be heard at the January 31 meeting

of the Pembrokeshire coast national Park’s development management committee, are recommended for refusal despite no objections from local community council nevern.

The additional floor area created by the proposed polytunnels would be 460m², an increase in floor area of over 50 per cent.

A report for planners states: “Whilst the site is well screened from the public highway running to the south of the site (B4582), the site is visible from the wider landscape.

“An objection has been received from the authority’s policy team based upon the cumulative impact that the existing five and additional three polytunnels would have on this part of the newport and carningli Special historic Landscape and the Scheduled Ancient Monument (carningli).

“Based upon this, a recommendation to refuse permission is made.”

three letters raised concerns about the proposal, raising

concerns on the existing impact on views from carningli “and various other viewpoints in this otherwise beautiful part of north Pembrokeshire”.

A fear it would lead to “a proliferation of polycarbonate farms in the national Park” was also raised.

the application has seen 12 letters of support of the proposal, praising the quality of Southern roots Organics’ operation in growing local and sustainable food.

comments included: “Southern roots Organics are operating a well-run successful business of the kind which meets Welsh government’s strategic aims for land use and climate objectives,” and “the business offers a huge number of positives for our area such as shortening supply chains, creating rural employment, supporting existing businesses, developing local resilience and farming in a truly sustainable way which works with nature and not against it”.

Adam Payne of Southern roots Organics, in a letter submitted with the application says the business supplies around 20 well-known

restaurants, cafes, farm shops, caterers and a local organic wholesaler in the Fishguard -cardigan-crymych area, and more recently started supplying a national wholesaler, and has “developed a reputation for reliable high-quality fresh produce,” with demand continuing to rise.

“We receive frequent requests for a box scheme for local households and there is clearly more demand locally. in 2024 we plan to expand by developing a box scheme to supply local households and consolidating our existing markets. Polytunnel space has become a

limiting factor to our development.”

‘Brooding presence’ the national park, in promotional literature on walks in the area, has described the importance of carningli on the landscape: “One of the most striking hills in Pembrokeshire, rocky carningli is a brooding presence over the town of newport.

“When the sun is setting, Carningli’s profile against the red sky makes the hill look rather like the volcano it once was. its hard dolerite rock is the solid core of cooled magma that was once the volcano’s heart.” it adds: “carningli

translates as the Mountain of Angels. it may have been a holy site long before christian times but since the Age of the Saints the hilltop has been associated with the celtic St Brynach.

“not a great deal is known about Brynach, who was a 6th century missionary. One of the few references to him describes him as a ‘Son of israel’ and he is also said to have talked with animals and birds.

“Legend has it Brynach communed with angels, possibly at the top of carningli. Listen out for the song of skylarks and you may also hear the harsh nasal call of ravens.”

Pembroke Castle Pond link to close for upgrades

THE CASTLE POND link will be closed on its North side from the end of the month while new railings are installed by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Work is due to start on 29th January for 21 days initially. the route is due to be closed for the safety of the public from the South end of the barrage to the rocky Park entrance

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and the corn Store whilst works are in progress. the quayside opposite Pembroke castle will remain open for businesses to continue as normal.

cabinet Member for Planning and housing Delivery and Local Member cllr Jon

harvey said: “it’s great to see these railings being installed but we are aware that this is a popular and heavily used route so the closure will cause some disruption.

“We believe that the closure for safety will be worth it once the new railings are installed for the benefit of all users and we thank residents for their patience.”

Police and Crime Commissioner announces policing precept level

POLICE and Crime

Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has today (26 January 2024) confirmed the police precept for 2024/25 following a meeting of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel.

The Police and Cri me commissioner is responsible for setting the budget for the police, which includes setting the precept which is the element of council tax that goes to the police.

After a process of extensive scrutiny, Dyfed-Powys Police and crime Panel unanimously supported the commissioner’s precept proposal for 2024/25, which will increase the average band D property by 6.2%, or £19.38 per annum which is approximately £1.62 per month.

in setting the precept, Mr Llywelyn considers an array of factors, including inflation and cost pressures, the level of reserves, service demands, future investment requirements for critical infrastructure, efficiency and productivity plans, in addition to feedback from residents and businesses of the Dyfed-Powys area. in november 2023 and, as a consequence of severe financial challenges, Welsh government announced that their manifesto pledge to fund 600 Police community Support (PcSOs) across Wales, was no longer possible. All Forces were requested

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to immediately pause recruitment. this will mean significant reductions in future grant funding. clearly, PcSOs are an integral and important part of neighbourhood policing and much valued resource by communities. the cuts raise a number of operational risks and financial concerns. Furthermore, Welsh government also notified policing in midDecember 2023, that the totality of funding for the All-Wales Schools programme (£0.3m) would be withdrawn from 1st April 2024.

the decision to cease funding for this program, as well as significant reductions to PcSO funding would leave an exceptional void that should be addressed locally to ensure the safety of our communities, ensuring positive engagement of our children and young people.

this decision to raise the precept level by 6.2% aims to address the pressing need to safeguard vital aspects of community policing initiatives and to counteract the impact of withdrawn government funding.

As part of the last hMic PeeL inspection, a number of observations were made in relation

to the Force’s call handling arrangements which also reflected community concerns. the precept increase will allow the Force to address some of the concerns, by investing in staff and technology within the Force control centre, so that DyfedPowys Police are able to respond effectively and efficiently to growing demands. this area of business, which for many is the first point of contact, is assessed as being the priority of the Force, and is critical to ensure the accessibility of services for the public.

Police and crime commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn told the Pembrokeshire herald: “We understand the

burden that any increase in precept places on taxpayers.

“however, this decision is driven by the critical need to sustain essential services, ensure accessibility and visibility, particularly in the face of reduced government support.

“Our commitment to community safety remains to be the priority, and we are confident that this increase is a necessary investment, safeguarding the safety and well-being of our neighbourhoods.

“it will allow for essential investments in our Force control centre, addressing the urgent need for increased staffing and upgraded technology

systems, ensuring that the Force has the ability to respond promptly and effectively to the needs of our communities.” to inform his considerations for 2024/25 and in order to fulfil his responsibilities as commissioner, Mr Llywelyn consulted with the public to obtain their views on the level of Police Precept increase. Of the 627 respondents, 67.3% noted that they would support either an enhanced or increased level of funding. the 6.2% increase announced today by the Police and crime commissioner, will set a precept of £332.03 per Band D property for 2024/25. this increase will raise a total precept of £79.364m and will provide a total funding of £143.902m, representing a £8.150m (6.0%) increase for 2024/25 from the revised position

Mr Llywelyn added: “the operational and financial landscape continues to be both unpredictable and challenging. this level of funding will enable the Force to focus on the delivery of my Police and c rime Plan for 2021-2025 and the objectives that i have outlined for the c hief c onstable to improve performance and outcomes.

“ i would like to thank the public for providing their views through the consultation, and to the Police and c rime Panel members for their continued support.”

Many 16-25 year olds in Wales worried mental health

THE Prince’s Trust NatWest Youth Index 2024 highlights the threat of poor mental health on young people’s employment and aspirations for the future

Over the report’s 15year history, happiness and confidence in young people’s mental health shows biggest decline compared to other factors happiness in work, education and money at all time low2, with almost one fifth (17 per cent) of young people in Wales stating a mental health issue has stopped them applying for a job research suggests cost of living crisis is exacerbating these issues, with over one third (37 per cent) of young people in Wales reporting that worrying about money has made their mental health much worse

the Prince’s trust natWest youth index 2024, released today, finds that almost one third (32 per cent) of 16–25-year-olds in Wales are worried their mental health will stop them achieving their career goals.

the youth index is an annual research report based on a yougov survey of 2,239 16- to 25-year-olds across the uK 3, gauging young people’s confidence and happiness across a range of areas, from their physical and mental health to money and working life.

this year’s research shows the overall wellbeing of young people remains low, with happiness and confidence in mental health seeing the

biggest decrease compared to other factors over the 15-year history of the research. happiness in work, education, qualifications and money are at alltime lows.

in Wales almost one fifth (17 per cent) of young people report a mental health issue has stopped them applying for a job or attending an interview (10 per cent) during the last 12 months, with over a quarter (26 per cent) missing school or work in the past year due to their mental health. The report finds that over half (52 per cent) of 16 to 25-year-olds in Wales have experienced a mental health problem, while (23 per cent) report their mental health has got worse in the last year.

The findings suggest that the rising cost of liv-

ing and economic uncertainty is exacerbating mental health issues and its impacts, as over one third (37 percent) of young people say that worrying about money has made their mental health much worse. Over half (51 per cent) in Wales state the cost of living crisis has had a worse impact on their life than the pandemic. Over two fifths (43 per cent) of young people say thinking about money depresses or stresses them, with over half (58 per cent) worrying that the crisis means they’ll never be financially secure.

Sarah Jones, Director of Delivery at the Prince’s trust said: “this year’s report shows that rising rates of poor mental health are significantly impacting young people’s education and early careers in Wales.

“With unemployed 16 –

25-year-olds consistently reporting the worst overall wellbeing, it also shows us – and young people tell us – that being in employment is good for their mental health, gives their lives stability and financial security, and enables them to feel positive about their future.

“unless we take immediate action, this trap of poor mental health and employment struggles exacerbating each other, threatens to close in on a generation. urgent support is needed from partners, government and employers, to support young people to break this cycle.” in Wales, over half (50 per cent) worry about not having the right skills and qualifications, or the right experience (60 per cent) to get a job in the future. Over one third (34 per cent) of young people don’t feel in control of their

future. they also report not feeling confident they will achieve their goals in life (22 per cent) and (25 per cent) say they will fail in life.

Sandi royden, head of youth and Families, natWest, said: “these findings show that we should not underestimate the impact the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have had on the daily lives of our young people, their financial confidence and their future aspirations. they also highlight the resilience of the next generation with so many feeling determined to achieve their goals in the face of these challenges.

“through our partnership with the Prince’s trust, we are able to better understand the needs of young people and take the right action through initiatives like natWest thrive, to help them to improve

both their financial wellbeing and future confidence, to better equip them to achieve their goals.” in Wales young people report that having a job is good for their mental health (63 per cent), enables them to feel confident about their future (68 per cent) and gives them a sense of purpose in life (60 per cent). Almost three quarters (73 per cent) report that having a job gives them the financial stability they need and will help get them through the cost of living crisis (70 per cent).

Over two thirds (69 per cent) of young people in Wales feel determined to achieve their goals in life. One third (33 per cent) report help with securing work experience or training would help them achieve their career ambitions. this is followed by help to build confidence (32 per cent) cV and interview skills (29 per cent), skills for work (21 per cent) and improve their qualifications (26 percent). the Prince’s trust helps tens of thousands of young people in each year to build the confidence and skills they need to realise their potential. three in four young people on Prince’s trust programmes move into work, education or training. natWest have worked in partnership with the Prince’s trust for over 20 years, helping thousands of young people to start their own businesses, develop skills for employment and supported hundreds of staff to volunteer with young people across the uK.

House prices in Pembrokeshire dropped by 5.2% last year, says report

PRINCIPALITY

Building Society’s House Price Index for the fourth quarter of 2023 has laid bare the shifting landscape of the Welsh housing market.

According to the comprehensive report, covering the period from October to December 2023, a significant downturn in house prices has been noted across Wales, painting a concerning picture for homeowners and investors alike.

At the forefront of this decline is Pembrokeshire, which has seen a sharp decrease of 4.2% quarterly and 5.2% annually, bringing the average house price in the region down to £246,329. this downturn is not isolated to Pembrokeshire, as the average house price across Wales has fallen to £234,086 by the end of 2023.

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this figure represents a 6% – or £15,000 –decrease compared to the same period the previous year, when the peak price stood at £249,076.

this decline marks the largest year-on-year drop in Wales’ average house price since the aftermath of the global Financial crisis in 2009. however, it’s worth noting that despite this downturn, house prices are still 25% higher than they were five years ago. the report further highlights that out of the 22 local authorities in Wales, property prices in 18 have seen a decline compared to the previous year. the transaction volume in the housing market also reflects this downward trend. there were just under 9,700 transactions in Q4 of

2023, which, while only slightly lower than the previous quarter, represents a significant 20% decrease compared to the same period a year ago. this data from the

Principality Building Society’s house Price index provides a crucial insight into the current state of the housing market in Wales. it underscores the volatility and the

changing dynamics in the real estate sector, which continues to be an area of concern and interest for homeowners, buyers, and investors across the region.

As the Welsh housing market navigates through these turbulent times, the impact of these changes will be closely monitored by all stakeholders involved.

Saundersfoot houses with £140,000 contribution set for go-ahead

PLANS to build two large houses in the centre of Saundersfoot, with an affordable housing contribution of more than £140,000, are expected to be approved despite concerns from the community council.

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the site current has planning permission for two new dwellings, with the demolition of a single property; the new scheme proposing to retain that property, adding two additional dwellings.

Affordable housing provision is proposed as an off-site contribution, to the tune of £140,360, and a signed unilateral undertaking to secure this has been received, a report for members states.

it adds that the design and scheme as a whole is considered acceptable, and the proposal is recommended for approval.

Seven letters of objection to the plans have been received, raising concerns which include visual intrusion,

Pembrokeshire coast national Park planners, meeting on January 31, are recommended to approve the scheme, submitted by an unnamed applicant through Bristolbased agent Pegasus Planning group Ltd, for two four-bedroom detached dwellings at “a particularly large plot” at Mountain Ash cottage, Sandy hill road. this application has been reported to the Development Management committee at committee chair Dr Madeleine havard’s request, as Saundersfoot community council has objected to the application, contrary to an officer recommendation for approval.

overdevelopment, and the danger of setting a precedent for allowing dwellings to be built in the gardens.

Saundersfoot community council considers the proposed development is potentially overpowering to neighbouring properties, neighbours will have their amenities

greatly affected in a negative way and the proposed dwellings will cause major overdevelopment of the site, and does not support the application. the community council had asked the national park to arrange a site visit following public concerns. the park was unable

to do this, but has advised the council that, if members wished to visit the site, they were able to contact the applicant’s agent to arrange access. the report for members, recommending conditional approval, concludes: “the proposed development is considered acceptable in terms of the principle of the proposed new dwellings and will not have a detrimental impact on the character of the surrounding area or the residential amenity of any neighbouring properties in accordance with the policies of the Local Development Plan.”

Llechryd Cricket Club gets £115,724 Government funding

STEPHEN CRABB

MP has said that he welcomes the £115,724 investment in a Preseli Pembrokeshire sports facility – thanks to UK Government

Stephen crabb has welcomed the news that Llechryd cricket club in Preseli Pembrokeshire will benefit from new funding as a result of the uK conservative government’s long-term investment in grassroots sports.

exercising more is the most common new year’s resolution. that is why the conservative government is helping hundreds of thousands of people across the country stick to their resolution by delivering highquality grassroots sports facilities.

Over 1,100 projects across the uK are receiving funding towards facilities such as changing rooms, pavilions, state of the art 3g football turf, goalposts, and floodlights, improving access to sport and physical activity for local communities.

importantly, the uK government’s multisport grassroots fund is investing in areas that

are most in need, with at least 50 per cent spent in the most deprived and inactive local authorities.

As part of this investment, local communities across Scotland, Wales and northern ireland will benefit from an unprecedented £12 million in 2023-24, delivering in partnership with the Scottish FA, the irish FA, cymru Football Foundation and Football Association of Wales. A further £9 million is also being committed across these regions for projects to be delivered through 2024-25.

this builds on historic investment in grassroots sport. Since 2021, the uK government has helped deliver new facilities or improvements at almost 2,400 sites across the uK, getting more than 120,000 people active. the uK government is sticking to its plan to improve the mental and physical health of the nation and provide highquality sports facilities across the country, ensuring a brighter future for this generation and generations to come. c ommenting,

Stephen crabb MP said:

“i am delighted that Llechryd cricket club has secured £115,724 from uK government to help with their ambitious plans to redevelop Llechryd’s cricket club and grounds. When i met with the committee online last February, i was impressed by the

commitment and vision of the group to modernise the sports facility. i heard that the club was home to 440 members, and it had outgrown its existing capacity. We were shown some fantastic plans to construct a new modern club house to accommodate cricket, tennis and football teams.

this money will be a great boost to the club and will no doubt help them to achieve their vision faster.”

“ grassroots sports in Pembrokeshire is so important, not just for children, but for every resident. We are lucky to have so many clubs right on our doorstep and

the backing of so many volunteers and parents that devote a lot of time and energy in to coaching and admin needed to make these clubs run.”

“i am thrilled that more money has been secured for Pembrokeshire from uK government and they recognise the value of vibrant and active sports clubs in our community.”

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: “Sport and physical activity are vital to our mental health and wellbeing, and each year thousands of people make a new year’s resolution to exercise more.

“We know that one of the major barriers in getting active is having access to high-quality sports facilities, which is why we are upgrading 1,100 more pitches, backed by investing £93 million.

“this government has delivered thousands of new projects across the uK with the aim of getting over 120,000 more people to get active, helping us to make big strides towards meeting our ambitious target of 3.5 million more people active by 2030.”

MS raises concerns about draft UK guidance on abortion clinic protests

DRAFT UK guidance which allows protestors to approach women attending abortion clinics shows why policing and justice needs to be devolved to Wales, the Senedd heard.

Jenny rathbone, a Labour backbencher, raised concerns about the uK government issuing watered down draft guidance on safe zones around abortion clinics.

Ms rathbone, who represents cardiff central, told MSs that most people in Wales support a woman’s right to choose to take on the difficult lifelong commitment of having a child.

“Women who attend these clinics are at their most vulnerable making that difficult decision,” she

said during first minister’s questions on tuesday January 23.

“And it is quite appalling that we are winding back the clock to enable people to be harassed at that most difficult moment.”

Last year, MPs backed proposals to enforce 150-metre buffer zones around abortion clinics to stop women being harassed as they enter.

Ms rathbone said: “it is seriously disappointing that this draft guidance has already been given to police forces and local authorities despite this vote in the uK Parliament….

“how on earth can we trust the uK government to obey the wishes of its own Parliament? is this

not a prime example of why policing and justice need to be devolved to Wales?”

Mark Drakeford told the Senedd that home Secretary James cleverly has said the guidance was drafted before he came into post following Suella Braverman’s sacking.

The first minister said Mr cleverly has agreed to meet MPs to discuss their concerns ahead of publishing the final version of the guidance.

Prof Drakeford highlighted that Sir Bernard Jenkin, a conservative MP, wrote to the home secretary saying the guidance discounts the experiences of women accessing services.

Sir Bernard, along with a Labour MP, raised concerns that women are

being instructed not to feel harassed, alarmed or distressed by behaviour which has exactly that effect.

Prof Drakeford agreed with their assessment that the draft guidance would

do nothing to address the ongoing issue of anti-abortion harassment outside clinics. he said: ”if these decisions were in the hands of this Senedd, we would have acted differently and acted already to put an end to that harassment.

“it’s not too late for the uK government to listen to Sir Bernard Jenkin and others – and i really hope that they do.”

Antarctic Fire Angels Complete Their Extraordinary Expedition

F IREFIGHTERS

Rebecca OpenshawRowe from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Georgina Gilbert from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have completed their extraordinary Antarctic expedition.

rebecca and georgina – otherwise known as the Antarctic Fire Angels – embarked on their expedition at the

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beginning of november 2023 and reached their final destination on January 12th 2024. they have walked and skied over 1,200km in 52 days, from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole - the equivalent of 29 marathons! the Antarctic Fire

Angels are the first people ever to complete their chosen route and their expedition was entirely unguided and unassisted, whilst pulling their own supply and equipment sleds – each weighing over 100kg. in addition to covering this incredible distance, they have had to endure the extreme conditions of the coldest place on earth - with temperatures reaching

as low as -30°c and wind speeds of up to 60mph. their expedition took over four years of careful planning and training, and one of the principal aims was to challenge gender stereotypes and to inspire future generations of women.

rebecca and georgina are fantastic role models for women and girls to pursue a career in whichever

field they choose and have provided advice and support to women undergoing the firefighter recruitment process.

the Antarctic Fire Angels have also been raising important funds for the Fire Fighters charity - which provides lifelong support for serving and retired members of the UK’s fire and rescue services - and their Justgiving page is still

accepting donations. you can look back at the Antarctic Fire Angels’ journey via their tracking page, which gives an overview of their route to the South Pole along with video blogs they recorded along the way. everyone at Mid and West Wales Fire and rescue Service congratulates rebecca and georgina on their incredible achievement.

Pembs community mobilises against Cleddau Pollution

A GROUNDSWELL of community concern over the deteriorating water quality of the Cleddau estuary was palpable at a packed public meeting in Haverfordwest Rugby Club on Friday evening (Jan 16).

the meeting, spearheaded by the newly formed cleddau Project, marked a significant step in local efforts to combat pollution and restore the river to its pristine state. the cleddau Project aims to reverse what many see as an “irreversible decline” of the river,

attributed to persistent issues of pollution and sewage discharge. the high turnout at the meeting underscored the community’s commitment, with local resident ruth Joy noting the overwhelming support: “We were amongst the people who couldn’t find parking… You could have filled a much bigger hall.” natural resources

Wales (nrW), the regulatory body overseeing environmental concerns in the region, has been approached for a statement on the matter.

gus Stott, chairing the meeting, shared his personal connection to the cleddau, expressing a heartfelt desire to “aid it back to some kind of recovery.” Similarly, lifelong local resident and project member Simon Walters lamented the current state of the river system, including its wildlife, claiming a “downward spiral” due to “pollution on an industrial scale.” Walters accused nrW of failing in its protective duty.

the cleddau rivers, both eastern and western

branches,

forming the Daugleddau estuary. this vital waterway, stretching 16 miles to St Anne’s head, is now the focus of the cleddau Project’s ambitious environmental initiative.

A key strategy of the group is the launch of several citizens’ Science projects, designed to closely monitor the river’s health. these projects will involve recruiting volunteers to collect regular water samples and utilizing a portal on the group’s website

for the public to report pollution, aiding in holding offenders accountable.

the urgency of the situation was highlighted by Jayne etherington, whose daughter caitlin suffered serious health consequences after swimming in contaminated waters near Amroth. caitlin’s harrowing experience with e-coli and subsequent kidney failure has galvanized etherington’s advocacy for increased awareness and action against water pollution.

She emphasized the importance of community

efforts in effecting systemic change and protecting the environment for future generations. As the cleddau Project gains momentum, it represents not just a local environmental campaign but a rallying cry for broader societal awareness and action against water pollution. The meeting, reflecting a collective determination, sets the stage for what could be a significant environmental turnaround for Pembrokeshire’s treasured river system.

Pembrokeshire County Hall commemoration of the Holocaust

HOLOCAUST

Memorial Day will once again be recognised with the lighting up of County Hall in Haverfordwest on Saturday, January 27. h olocaust Memorial Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and remembers the six million Jews murdered during the holocaust and everyone killed in the more recent genocides that followed in cambodia, rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. the theme of this year’s commemoration is Fragility of Freedom; in every genocide that has taken place, those who are targeted for persecution have had

their freedom restricted and removed, before many of them are murdered, often a subtle, slow process. there is always a set of circumstances which occur, or which are created, to build the climate in which genocide can take place and in which perpetrator regimes can remove the freedoms of those they are targeting. h averfordwest’s county hall will once again be lit purple in a simple act of remembrance, at the request of neyland council, historian, and presiding member of the council cllr Dr Simon

hancock.

“holocaust Memorial Day is a solemn remembrance of the millions murdered by the nazis during the Second World War and the date was chosen being the date of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945,” said cllr hancock.

“it is essential the awful lessons of history are never forgotten especially given the more recent genocides like rwanda. i am pleased Pembrokeshire county council are marking this extremely important commemoration in this display of solidarity and respect.”

A special event is also taking place at Pembrokeshire college on Saturday, organised

by cleddau community Arts, which runs from 12-3pm.

the organisers have stressed the event at Pembrokeshire college is non-political, with all religions welcome.

Organisers are also asking people to light a candle and put it in their window on Saturday, January 27, to mark the occasion.

the run-up to the holocaust has been the subject of a recent film, One Life, in which British stockbroker Sir nicholas Winton –played by Oscar winner Sir Anthony hopkins – saved hundreds of, mainly Jewish, czech children from the nazis following a visit to Prague at the end of

1938. London-born humanitarian Sir nicholas worked alongside volunteers as well as his mother, played in the film by helena Bonham carter, to bring 669 children to the uK as part of the Kindertransport efforts. the story of Sir nicholas, who died in 2015 at the age of 106, was brought to the wider

public’s attention by Dame esther rantzen in 1988 during a screening of the programme that’s Life. the Pembrokeshire herald has previously joined pupils from Pembrokeshire in visiting Auschwitz, as part of the holocaust educational trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz project.

Stephen Seagull squawks on Council Tax reform

Caw! Caw! Gather ‘round, feathered friends and humans alike, for today, Stephen Seagull’s got a beakful to say about the winds of change rustling through the valleys of Wales. It’s about council tax reform, a topic as dry as a biscuit left in the sun, but stick with me; it’s important, it is.

First off, let’s agree that council tax, as it stands, is a bit of a dog’s dinner. the institute for Fiscal Studies calls it “indefensible” - and they’re not wrong. it’s like taking bread crumbs from those with hardly a crust to spare while

the fat cats in their mansions pay hardly a peep. it’s not just unfair; it’s like flying in the face of common sense! now, here’s where things get interesting. the Welsh government, bold as brass, is swooping in with plans to shake things up. not in england, mind you - they’re still flapping about - but in Wales, where they’re not afraid to ruffle a few feathers. this proposed reform? it’s what real ‘levelling up’ looks like. Picture this: more council tax bands, which means those posh nests in Monmouth and Vale of glamorgan might have

to fork out a bit more. Meanwhile, places like Blaenau gwent could see a drop in their bills. And the best part? it’s not about pecking more from the pie; it’s about sharing it more fairly. But let’s not forget the history of this tax. concocted in haste by John Major as a stopgap after thatcher’s poll tax debacle, it’s been as wobbly as a one-legged seagull since day one. the values haven’t been updated since 1991 in england and Scotland - talk about living in the past! And the difference in what people pay across the country is as stark as

the difference between a seagull’s squawk and a nightingale’s song. the situation’s been dire, with folks struggling under council tax debts. citizens Advice cymru’s report paints a grim picture, but there’s hope that these changes could lighten the load for many.

yet, why has it taken so long to address this?

Fear of the wealthy and powerful, that’s why. it’s always the same old story: those with the loudest squawks get the attention. But, let’s tip our wings to rebecca evans and the Welsh government for daring to take on the challenge.

evans isn’t just stopping at council tax, though. She’s got her eyes on the sky with ideas like a land value tax and a vacant land tax. And why not a visitors’ levy too? it’s about time the uK caught up with the rest of the flock on that one. So, what’s the takeaway from this seagull’s squawking? Wales is showing the rest of the uK how it’s done. From plastic bag charges to paying care workers a fair wage, they’ve been leading the way. And now, with this council tax reform, they’re set to show Westminster a thing or

two about fairness and courage. As for Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, he’s a pioneer, making waves in that modern, polite Senedd of theirs. it’s a world away from the raucous squabbles of Westminster. So, there you have it. council tax reform in Wales might just be the start of something big. it’s about fairness, courage, and looking out for each othersomething we seagulls know a thing or two about. until next time, keep your wings spread and your eyes on the horizon. caw! caw!

Crabb selected as Conservative candidate in new seat

STEPHEN CRABB

the current MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire has been selected in a meeting held on Friday (26 Jan) by Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion Conservative Federation to stand as the local Welsh Conservative candidate at the next general election.

With major changes to existing parliamentary seat boundaries taking effect at the next general election, crabb will now enter the contest hoping to secure a majority in the new Mid and South Pembrokeshire seat.

Stephen is an influential local and national political figure and has served his home constituency since winning in 2005. he increased his majority at the last election in 2019 securing a majority of 5,062. he has served as Secretary of State for Wales, and is currently chair of the Welsh Affairs Select committee which cross-examines

Tom

Sinclair Editor@herald.email

ministers on the impact of government spending and policies on Wales. he has recently led inquiries into the scandal of sewage pollution in Wales and the problems at Welsh broadcaster S4c. Stephen has a reputation at Westminster for being able to work across party lines and build effective teams. growing up in haverfordwest, Stephen benefitted from being part of a close-knit community, received an excellent education at tasker Milward School, and had the security of living in good quality council housing in Portfield Avenue. A keen sportsman, Stephen captained tasker Milward 1st XV and represented the county at every age group until he left school. Stephen went on to achieve a first class degree at Bristol university. Stephen has always been grateful to have grown up in

Pembrokeshire and has brought his passion for his home county to his work over the past 18 years.

Stephen crabb MP said: “i am delighted to be selected as the Welsh conservative candidate for the new Mid and South Pembrokeshire seat. it’s been a huge privilege to represent my home constituency of Preseli Pembrokeshire at Westminster since 2005, and i am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to seek reelection. i have a strong record of action and delivery for residents in Preseli Pembrokeshire and i look forward to continuing this work and building on it in South Pembrokeshire.”

“Pembrokeshire is a fabulous place to live and grow up, and i want it to stay that way. We face some big challenges that require real knowledge, local experience and a ‘team Pembrokeshire’ approach. that is what motivates me.”

“i will continue to

work closely with both our local MS’s Paul Davies and Sam Kurtz, and, of course, my good friend Simon hart who continues to be the MP for carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire as well as our fantastic group of conservative councillors to keep delivering results as we build towards a general election.”

Paul Davies MS for Preseli Pembrokeshire said: “i am delighted that Stephen has been adopted as the Welsh conservative candidate for the upcoming general election. i’ve had the privilege of working with Stephen for many years now and his commitment to the people of Pembrokeshire is second to none.”

“he’s a man of Pembrokeshire, who fights for Pembrokeshire – and he has worked tirelessly over the years to support local people, businesses, and organisations. he has a record of delivery in supporting constituents

on their personal journeys, showing leadership throughout the covid pandemic by bringing together organisations through roundtable discussions, and advocating for Pembrokeshire businesses – whether that’s championing our fantastic farmers, anchoring support for the celtic Freeport or working with our small businesses.”

“Stephen has my full support and i look forward to campaigning with him.”

Mike Bryan, chair of Pembrokeshire conservatives said: “i am pleased that Stephen has been selected to fight the new Mid and South Pembrokeshire seat having campaigned with Stephen at every election since 2001, i know what an excellent servant he has been to Pembrokeshire. he is local, understands local issues and is a part of our community. We have a challenging campaign ahead, but i am

convinced that we have right person to continue to put Pembrokeshire first.”

Sam Kurtz, MS for carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire said: “having worked closely with Stephen for nearly 8 years, i know of his dedicated commitment to Pembrokeshire and its people.”

“As a Member of Parliament, Stephen has long championed our local industries, from farming to tourism and those on the haven Waterway.”

“Stephen has also stood shoulder to shoulder with constituents and communities who needed his support and has a track record to be proud of.”

“i’m thrilled that Stephen is our candidate for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, and i look forward working alongside him in championing Pembrokeshire in a positive general election campaign.”

Welsh beer and spirits planning for a robust future

PRODUCERS from across the Welsh beer and spirits sectors have gathered to launch their respective strategies to improve sector collaboration and drive growth moving forward.

held at the norwegian church in cardiff Bay, the Welsh Beer Strategy and Welsh Spirits Strategy will help the drinks industry meet current challenges, including the cost of living crisis and spiralling energy, supply chain and raw material costs.

the drinks industry remains integral to the Welsh economy, with a turnover last year of just over £820m. Beer and cider accounted for £212m of this, with spirits being £241m. this makes drinks the fourth biggest food sector in Wales behind red meat, dairy and bakery. Furthermore, over 1,200 people are employed in the industry, with many of them based in rural locations.

the two strategies were developed by leading industry figures from the brewing and distilling sectors, facilitated by the Food & Drink Wales Drinks cluster. Support and input was also received from Welsh government officials at Food & Drink Wales, along with wider partners.

Themes identified as being critical for the future success of both industries include increasing the level of Welsh product in the on and off-trade, boosting their tourism offer, through brewery and distillery tours, increasing exports, upskilling the workforce to help drive knowledge transfer and innovation, along with closer collaborations across the supply chain to help with efficiencies and cost savings.

Following the publication of the strategies, a timeline has been in put in place to monitor progress, with an evaluation of their impact slated for the summer of 2026. commenting on the two strategies, Minister for rural Affairs and north Wales, and trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, said, “I was pleased to attend the

launch of the Welsh Beer Strategy and the Welsh Spirits Strategy, and see first-hand the ambition and willingness to collaborate that exists amongst our brewers and distillers.

“the strategies will help drive wider benefits, such as boosting tourism across the country.

“Both beer and spirit production are highly valuable to the Welsh economy, and a thriving drinks sector is vital to a successful food and drink industry, and will help raise its profile overseas.”

the Welsh beer industry has experienced unprecedented disruption and economic shocks in recent years, with the covid pandemic proving to be particularly damaging amidst continuing pub closures.

however, there remains over 60 established brewers in Wales employing 600 people, with a further 63 smaller enterprises.

richard Lever of Magic Dragon Brewing said, “the Welsh Beer Strategy offers us a clear vision of where we want to take the industry, and the areas we need to focus on to create a profitable and sustainable brewing

industry.

“We can see that people are prepared to pay a premium for a quality product, and we are blessed in Wales to have so many breweries who take pride in their product and are prepared to work collaboratively with each other to help drive the industry forward.”

the Welsh spirits sector is a relatively small, but a thriving sector with huge potential. With 53 companies employing over 300 people, it plays a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage, promoting local economies, and celebrating the unique flavours and traditions of Wales.

In a significant milestone, Single Malt Welsh Whisky was recently awarded Pgi (Protected geographical indication) status, joining the likes of Scotch Whisky by being recognised for its unique flavour and tradition.

Speaking of his hopes for the Welsh spirits industry, chris Leeke of hensol castle Distillery said, “We want to be at the forefront of a thriving industry, and the Welsh Spirits Strategy will help us achieve this.

“Our vision is to be recognised for the quality of our product, which will help us compete in both local and global markets. Many of us want to capitalise on export opportunities, which can only help raise the profile

of our food and drink industry overseas. We hope we can continue to build our profile and show consumers that by choosing Welsh, they are getting a product full to the brim with quality and provenance.”

if you require further details on the Welsh Beer Strategy and the Welsh Spirits Strategy, please contact the Welsh government Drinks cluster team via hello@ levercliff.co.uk

GWR passengers advised to check before travelling due to rail strikes

INDUSTRIAL action

by members of train drivers’ union, Aslef, will significantly affect train services this coming Sunday 4 and Monday 5 February.

On Sunday and Monday, many parts of the great Western railway network will have no train services, and where trains are able to operate, a reduced timetable will be in place.

the action is part of a rolling programme of strikes by Aslef and is also affecting other train operators this week.

What should i do?

On Sunday 4 February, and Monday 5 February there will be significant disruption to services and customers should travel on alternative days. A reduced timetable will operate and many parts of the gWr network will have no service at all. trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.

if you intend to travel on Sunday and Monday, please check before you travel. trains that are operating will be busier than usual because gWr will not be able to offer the normal service frequency. Other train operators are also affected by strike action, so onward travel could also be affected.

Where gWr can run services, they are expected to be extremely busy and bus replacement services are not able to be

provided.

On tuesday 6 February there will be some changes to the first services of the day including some planned cancellations. Please check before you travel.

Limited disruption continues this week which could see some

short-notice alterations and cancellations.

if you are travelling this week, up to Saturday 3 February, check both outward and return journeys before travelling. gWr plans to operate a near normal level of service, however, there will be

some, limited shortnotice changes and cancellations.

Online journey planners have been updated, please check www.gwr.com/strike for the latest information.

What about my ticket?

customers who have

bought tickets but do not travel can claim a full refund or amend their ticket. those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to Delay repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 minutes or more.

to help customers, tickets for strike days

are valid for travel on alternative days on gWr services, as per below: tickets for tuesday 30 January to Monday 5 February can be used to travel from Monday 29 January up to and including Wednesday 7 February

Bluetits team to compete in Winter Swimming World Championships

IN a true “Eddie the Eagle” effort, 60 members of The Bluetits Chill Swimmers are travelling to Tallinn in Estonia to compete in the Winter Swimming World Championship 2024 from March 4-10. it will be the second year running that a Bluetits team has entered the event, following their trip to last year’s championship in Slovenia, where the excellent turnout from the Bluetits meant they accounted for 16 percent of the entrants. the Winter Swimming World championship is a relatively new invention. Organised by

the international Winter Swimming Association, the event draws people from all over the world. everyone who takes part in the competition gets a position in the world rankings. While the Bluetits chill Swimmers are all amateur swimmers, the championship is the ideal challenge for them because of their focus on cold water swimming. the Bluetits chill Swimmers is a worldwide movement that began in St Davids, Pembrokeshire in 2014 and now has over 100,000 members all over the world.

Bluetits founder Sian richardson was among

the men and women who swam in last year’s championship and will be competing this year too. Bluetits swimmers will take part in races ranging from 25 to 450m, swimming in just swimsuits in two to three degrees centigrade water.

“two to three degrees centigrade is really cold, and the way your body reacts to the temperatures below five degrees centigrade is literally shocking,” says Sian. “When you go into 15-degree water, you feel a little chill, and then you can feel your body getting colder. But go into anything between

under five and your body just goes cold instantly –there doesn’t seem to be that process where you start feeling colder, and the cold really hits your brain like a brick.”

With that in mind, she and her teammates are making use of the cold weather in the uK to get their bodies and minds used to swimming in cold water without insulation such as gloves, boots or a wetsuit.

“the biggest challenge our members have is going to be swimming in very cold water, predicted to be around 2 degrees –especially if they have to swim with their heads

down,” says Sian. “i’m advising them to do away with their boots, gloves, rash vests and shortie wetsuits now; get your bodies and brains used to swimming in cold water without that armour. Many team members are also dipping three times a week in an ice bath at home.”

Besides the participating Bluetits, an estimated 30 supporters – fellow Bluetits, friends and family, are flying to estonia to support the swimmers.

“i don’t know what the organisers will make of us – there’s a lot of us, and we’re going to make a big impression!”

says Sian. “We’re really looking forward to the adrenaline on the day, and we know from last year that this competition is run beautifully. there will be the build-up as you walk to your swim spot, the thrill of hearing your name called out, and then the additional thrill of hearing 70 or 80 Bluetits screaming your name!

“it really gets your pulse racing – and then there’s the incredible feeling when you reach the other end, get out, and everyone says you were amazing. however cold it is, i guarantee it makes you wish you could do it again.”

Urdd to improve Eisteddfod’s accessibility ensuring ‘a festival for all’

URDD Gobaith Cymru is committed to ensuring that the National Urdd Eisteddfod will be a more accessible festival for competitors and visitors in future.

As a result of a new partnership with Disability Arts cymru and theatre company taking Flight, the urdd strives to improve the accessibility of its artistic events, including the urdd eisteddfod festival’s site, which attracts 76,000 competitors every year. to help put improvements in place, the urdd is searching for young members to join its new Accessibility Forum, with support from the Arts council of Wales. the aim is to attract individuals between 16 and 25 who can share experiences or expertise in the field of disability and accessibility to the arts, to work with urdd eisteddfod Organisers, gain work experience in organising events, and ensure that the festival’s site and activities are accessible and inclusive, in line with the ‘urdd for All’ strategy.

to kickstart the partnership, the urdd eisteddfod’s staff have received disability access and inclusion training by DAc and will receive BSL and inclusion training from taking Flight. in collaboration with partners, the urdd will create resources and information packs for blind and D/deaf visitors. the urdd will also be working closely with ‘Attitude is everything’, an organisation that helps improve disabled people’s access to live music events.

Llio Maddocks, the urdd’s Director of the Arts says: “As a part of our partnership with Disability Arts cymru and taking Flight, we are committed to improving accessibility and access to our arts events, including the urdd eisteddfod site.

“the urdd eisteddfod is a cultural highlight of our Welsh calendar, and festivals deserve

to be enjoyed by all. As well as developing and adapting the eisteddfod Maes, we also want to ensure opportunities for disabled, D/deaf, and neurodiverse artists to perform and lead in our arts provision.

“We encourage everyone who wants to be part of the Accessibility Forum to join us and look forward to working together to ensure the urdd’s arts experiences continue to evolve and grow.”

Owain gwilym, Disability Arts cymru’s executive Director: “We are very proud to be part of this important partnership and look forward to seeing one of Wales’ most important cultural organisations

and events work with young disabled and/or Deaf voices to develop accessibility and inclusion.”

Steph BaileyScott, taking Flight’s Access, inclusion and Participation Manager:

“At taking Flight access and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re very much looking forward to working with the urdd to engrain access into its eisteddfod. it’s vital for young people, whether Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent or non-disabled, to start expecting access as the norm, to be prioritised, and to have those equal opportunities without any barriers.” information about the new Accessibility Forum can be found on the urdd eisteddfod’s website, where there’s also a form for individuals aged 1625 to fill to be a member of the Forum.

the 2024 urdd national eisteddfod will be held in Maldwyn (Montgomeryshire) between 27 May and 1 June. It will be the first time since 1988 that the urdd eisteddfod has visited the area, and it will be held on the fields of Mathrafal Farm by Meifod.

Enjoy pirates, dragons and dark sky spectacles this half term

PEMBROKESHIRE

Coast National Park Authority’s three visitor attractions will all be hosting a variety of half term fun this February, offering family-friendly experiences and a flavour of the area’s culture and heritage.

At carew castle and tidal Mill, pirates of the high seas will be coming ashore just in time for the school holidays. younger visitors will be able take part in the Pirate trail around the castle between Saturday 10 February and Sunday 25 February for a small fee. those successful in locating the pillaged treasure hidden by Pembrokeshire’s most notorious pirate can expect a hearty reward for their efforts.

there will also be an opportunity to join captain Jan Sparrow for a fun free pirate session, featuring songs, silliness, games and the chance to develop swashbuckling sword skills. Pirates Ahoy! will take place on Monday 12 February, thursday 15 February and Monday 19 February. Sessions last roughly 30 minutes and are scheduled for 11am, 12noon and 2pm. normal admission fees apply and there is no need to book.

carew castle, which was named Visitor Attraction of the year in Visit Pembrokeshire’s croeso Awards, will be open between 10.30am and 3.30pm during the english and Welsh half-term holidays, with nest tearoom serving a delectable range of homemade cakes and light refreshments during opening hours.

As the countdown begins for Oriel y Parc’s iconic Dragon Parade on Saturday 2 March, there will be plenty of opportunities this half term to fire up your creative side and join in with the fun.

A Dragon hunt trail will run in the grounds of the gallery and visitor centre between Saturday 10 February and Friday 1 March. For a small fee, children will be invited to brave the dragon’s lair and complete the challenges to find the dragon’s egg and

collect a medal for their efforts.

Free drop-in Art and craft Days will take place every day at Oriel y Parc between Saturday 10 February and Sunday 18 February (excluding Wednesday 14), offering the chance to use the centre’s art materials and space to explore your artistic talents – and perhaps even make your own dragon for the Dragon Parade.

the Wednesday club! cariad craft Workshop on Wednesday 14 February presents an opportunity for younger visitors to join in with the Valentine’s Day festivities and create a felt heart to give to a loved one. the drop-in workshop will take place between 11am-3pm and costs £4 per child.

As part of the Welsh Dark Skies Week, the Park Authority has organised two events to celebrate the beauty of Pembrokeshire’s dark skies and explore their relationship with the natural world.

An unforgettable Biofluorescent Night Walk will take place at Pengelli Wood nature reserve on Monday 12 February between 6pm-7.30pm. Led by reveal nature, the walk offers an insight into the secret world of communication taking place right under our noses

and the opportunity to see a variety of biofluorescent organisms. if you’ve ever wondered what our ancestors might have thought when they gazed up at the cosmos, the Wonders of the night Sky at castell henllys on Wednesday 14 February might provide you with some answers. gather around the warmth of a roundhouse fire, while storyteller Alice courvoisier explores various constellations and their associated tales, myths and legends from different cultural traditions. the event will take place on Wednesday 14 February, between 6.15pm-7.45pm. Booking is essential

for both Dark Skies Week events. Further information about these and events taking place at carew castle, castell henllys and Oriel y Parc can be found at https:// pembrokeshirecoast. bookinglive.com/. in addition to all this, you can also explore the national Park’s great outdoors for free on foot. For inspiration on which routes to follow, visit www. pembrokeshirecoast. wales/web-walks.

Pembrokeshire coast national Park Authority is also trialling an e-bike rental scheme in St Davids. e-bikes can now be hired from Oriel y Parc and used to explore the

local area with the aid of an electric motor. Perfect for conquering steep hills, or cycling a little bit further than you usually would, more information about the e-bikes can be found at www. pembrokeshirecoast. wales/oriel-y-parc/e-bikehire. For those in need of additional mobility support, a range of equipment is also available to help you on your way, including mobility scooters and beach wheelchairs, some of which are available to hire now for free. For further details visit www. pembrokeshirecoast. wales/beach-wheelchairs.

Wales’ Comedy Stars of Tomorrow

TICKETS are selling like hot cakes for Little Wander’s comedy show New Welsh Wave here at the Torch Theatre this March. Since founding the Machynlleth comedy festival in 2010 Little Wander has gone on to work with the biggest names in stand up. the company now tours the likes of James Acaster, Bridget christie, nish Kumar, Jen Brister, Kiri Pritchard-McLean. they have created the Aberystwyth comedy festival, continue to curate the Last Laugh Stage at green Man and have produced several tv and radio projects for the BBc now working in conjunction with creative Wales, the new Welsh Wave tour will be making 15 stops across the country

bringing you the freshest voices in Welsh comedy alongside some of the nation’s favourite comics and will visit the torch theatre on Saturday 16 March. each date will showcase four acts with one of regular hosts Kiri Pritchard-McLean, robin Morgan and Leroy Brito at the helm. new Welsh Wave at the torch, hosted by robin Morgan, will welcome Siân Docksey, Anna thomas, Bella humphries and Matt rees.

robin, a Welsh stand-up comedian, writer and actor, has appeared on Mock the Week (BBc two), the news Quiz, the now Show (BBc radio 4) and co-created ellie taylor’s Safe Space (BBc radio 4).

Following an edinburgh Fringe Festival spent making

pole dancing funny to rave reviews“honestly breathtaking” - the Wee review), Siân Docksey returns to her unique brand of cheerfully weird stand-up with political zing.

Originally hailing from Burry Port in south Wales, Anna won the BBc new comedy Award in 2021 and was nominated for channel 4’s inaugural Sean Lock Award last year. Since then, she’s supported the likes of Joe Lycett, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, hal cruttenden, Lauren Pattison, and Max Fosh.

Bella is a comedian, actor and dungaree wearer. come watch her “ooze charm in a cheeky sort of way” as she recounts tales of moving to Wales and asking the age old question…who exactly am i? As heard on BBc radio Wales and BBc Sounds.

comedian Matt rees has generated a huge buzz on the standup comedy circuit over the past few years. With his unique brand of well-crafted jokes and acerbic delivery, he has earned high praise from audiences and critics alike.

get ready for a snapshot of Wales’ emerging talent as they share the stage with household names in a night that promises laughs from the left-field all personally picked by Little Wander. the new Welsh Wave will appear on the torch theatre stage on Saturday 16 March at 7.30pm. Suitable for ages 16+. ticket prices: £14. For tickets phone the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.

An evening with the Thomas Marsh Jazz Quintet

THOMAS Marsh will be bringing his international Jazz Quintet to Twr y Felin Hotel in St Davids on Friday evening, 2nd February entertaining guests between 7pm and 9pm.

Originally from St Davids, now based in Birmingham, up-andcoming bassist thomas Marsh is influenced by a wide range of music from folk, rock and blues to all forms of jazz, including musicians such as charles Mingus and John Martyn.

Joining him for the evening will be Ben carter (alto saxophone), Luca gianassi (guitar), Ben Shankland (piano) and reece Downton (drums).

thomas Marsh has recently graduated from the royal Birmingham

conservatoire and released his debut album ‘What’s Wrong With rain?’ on 8th July last year. During his time at the conservatoire he was co-host of Jazz at the ruin, Digbeth. he also had the opportunity to play with many

greats from the uK and international jazz scene, such as clark tracey, Dick Oatts, Kevin hayes, giacomo Smith, Maria grapsa, Matt holmes and Aidan Pope, among others. tickets priced at £14 per person are

available online via the hotel’s website www. twryfelinhotel.com where you can also book a night‘s stay from around £180 B&B for two sharing, or for more details call 01437 725 555. there is ample free parking at the hotel.

Andrew Scott stuns in this one-man retelling of Uncle Vanya

Hopes, dreams, and regrets are thrust into sharp focus in this one-man adaptation which explores the complexities of human emotions in National Theatre Live’s broadcast of Vanya. Adapted by Simon Stephens, after Anton Chekhov, and directed by Sam Yates, Andrew Scott (Fleabag and Sherlock) brings multiple characters to life in this radical new version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.

captured live from the Duke of york’s theatre during its soldout run in London’s West end, Vanya will be playing exclusively in cinemas in 2024, and will be broadcast at the torch theatre on tuesday 27 February. to date, it has received rave reviews.

Described by inews as “the performance of the year” and “this is a beautiful, heartbreaking response to chekhov’s tragicomedy. Scott is superb-brilliantly subtle, witty and precise. tremendous,” by the Financial times, it’s a one-man show you don’t want to miss.

With Andrew Scott, well-known for his television roles in Sherlock and Fleabag, his fans will be delighted with this one-man drama.

Vanya will be broadcast at the torch theatre on tuesday 27 February at 7pm. Suitable for ages 15+. ticket prices: £15. concessions: £13. under 16: £8.50. For tickets phone the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre. co.uk.

The Vibe, Milford Haven: A culinary gem

LAST Sunday, my family and I embarked on a culinary adventure at The Vibe in Milford Haven, and it was nothing short of delightful. The inviting ambiance and warm hospitality set the stage for a memorable dining experience.

From the moment we stepped inside, the welcoming atmosphere instantly put us at ease. the interior exuded a cozy charm, making it the perfect backdrop for a family Sunday dinner. the staff were friendly and attentive, adding to the overall positive vibe of the place. As an extra special touch, we were celebrating my stepson

Leon’s birthday, and the staff took extra care to make him feel special. they crafted a plate of very special pancakes and cream just for him, which he absolutely loved.

now, let’s talk about the star of the show – the food. the menu offered a variety of meats, but our choices centered around the poultry and beef selections. i opted for the chicken, a decision i certainly didn’t regret. the chicken was expertly prepared, tender, and bursting with flavor. The seasoning was spot-on, creating a harmonious

blend of spices that left my taste buds craving more.

My wife, on the other hand, went for the beef, and she was equally impressed. the beef was cooked to perfection, maintaining its juiciness and tenderness. the accompanying sides were a delightful addition, complementing the main courses perfectly. it was evident that the chefs at the Vibe take pride in their craft, as each dish showcased a commitment to quality and taste.

What truly stood out during our dining experience was the affordability of the meal. Despite the exceptional

quality of the food, the prices were reasonable, making it an excellent choice for families looking for a satisfying meal without breaking the bank. in conclusion, our Sunday dinner at the Vibe was a resounding success. the combination of delicious food, welcoming ambiance, and wallet-friendly prices make this establishment a standout choice in Milford haven. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, i highly recommend giving the Vibe a try – you won’t be disappointed, and you’ll be supporting a gem that adds vibrancy to the heart of Milford haven.

ABBA Revival to grace the Hangar in May

PREPARE to step into the enchanting world of ABBA as the renowned UK tribute band, ABBA Revival, takes centre stage at Hangar Milford Haven on Saturday, 11th May. the event promises an electrifying night filled with timeless hits, dazzling costumes, and pure entertainment, transporting attendees to an ABBA paradise. this is a golden opportunity to relive the classics brought to life by the premier tribute band in the country. tickets are now on sale, and eager fans are encouraged to secure their spots swiftly to ensure an unforgettable night of music and memories.

The first release ticket price is a reasonable £15, offering excellent value for an evening of fun and nostalgia.

For those seeking an enhanced experience, table reservations are available. to secure a spot for your group, simply send a direct message. hangar Milford haven, recognised as Pembrokeshire’s top event space, sets the perfect stage for this ABBA extravaganza.

Mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get ready to dance the night away with ABBA revival. this promises to be an event that unites fans of all ages for a night of joy, laughter, and fantastic

music.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of this ABBAtastic takeover at hangar Milford haven, where the magic of ABBA comes alive! grab your tickets, reserve your table, and let the “Dancing Queens” and “Super troupers” unite for a night of “gimme! gimme! gimme!” and pure ABBA-mania. it’s time to say “thank you for the Music” and create memories that will have you saying, “Mamma Mia, what a night!”

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, 11th May

Venue: hangar, Milford haven, uK

Ahoy there

me hearties!

,

gather ‘round as i spill the beans on ubisoft’s Skull & Bones – a seafaring spectacle that’s been tossed in the tumultuous tides of development since 2017. Aye, the game started as a mere expansion to Assassin’s creed iV: Black Flag, danced with the idea of becoming an MMO spinoff, and finally charted its course as an independent project, weathering delays aplenty. now, with the wind in me sails and a closed beta under me belt, i can boldly declare that Skull & Bones might just be the treasure we’ve been waiting for.

Picture this: you, a swashbuckling captain, navigating the treacherous waters of the golden age of piracy. My journey, from being marooned on driftwood to commanding a ship with enough cannons to make Blackbeard blush, was nothing short of a pirate’s dream. the story unfolded in the indian Ocean, where i joined forces with the legendary

pirate, John Spurlock. expecting a tale as thin as a plank, i was pleasantly surprised by a crew of memorable characters and dialogue as rich as a chest brimming with loot.

But let’s not dilly-dally in the shallows; plunge into the deep rPg waters. Aye, there be survival elements, with me gathering raw materials to build me ship –from a dinghy to a leviathan of destruction. customization runs wild, me hearties, from cannons to cosmetics, and let’s not forget the crucial decision of appointing me very own lemur co-captain. Arrr, aye, the sea be full of surprises!

Sink me! the crown jewel of Skull & Bones lies in its naval combat – a spectacle that’d make even ol’ Davy Jones raise an eyebrow. Maneuverability is the key, with cannons blazing and ships sinking in fiery explosions. customizing me ship became an obsession, unlocking schematics, cannons, and accessories to turn

it into the ultimate pirate’s tool. As for me pirate captain’s appearance, fear not – i’ve learned from Sea of thieves that a fearsome visage is as important as a well-loaded cannon.

But let’s set sail into the heart of the matter – naval combat. Like Black Flag, Skull & Bones nails it, and in this beta phase, it’s a sight to behold. Strategizing the placement of cannons, rotating to unleash fury from different ends of the ship – it’s a ballet of destruction. Voyages into the unknown pose risks, with different areas boasting different difficulties and thunderstorms that could spell doom. Playing with me mates in co-op added an extra layer of chaos, especially during the thrilling “Plundering” escapades.

So, me hearties, after a hearty chunk of time aboard Skull & Bones’ beta, i’m more excited than a pirate finding a chest of doubloons. Let’s raise a toast and hope this game makes it safely to shore in the months to come – aye, may it be a pirate’s paradise!

6.00

Six Nations Live ITV, 7.15pm

This year’s tournament starts with what should be a real humdinger, as the two pre-tournament favourites lock horns at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Andy Farrell was unveiled as the British & Irish Lions head coach for the 2025 tour to Australia last month, but as his Men in Green begin the defence of their Six Nations crown away in France.

to the Country. (R) 3.45 The Repair Shop. (R) 4.30 The Travelling Auctioneers. 5.15 Pointless.

6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather.

6.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

7.00 Six Nations Sin Bin. New series. Gabby Logan and Gareth Thomas take a look at this year’s Six Nations.

7.30 Celebrity Mastermind. Lee Latchford-Evans, Rachel Parris, Harry Pinero and Lauren Layfield compete.

8.00 Here We Go. New series. Paul decides to take the family out on the water in his old boat.

8.30 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. Amanda Holden and Alan Carr renovate two wildly different bathrooms.

9.00 Would I Lie to You? Craig Charles, Amy Gledhill, Shazia Mirza and Jeremy Vine join the regulars.

9.30 Not Going Out. Lee and Lucy suspect Anna is having an affair. (R)

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 The Graham Norton Show.

11.30 Scrum V Classics. (R) 1.10 Six Nations Sin Bin. (R) 1.40 BBC News.

Denver

One-Hit Wonders at the BBC: Volume 2

BBC2, 9.10pm

The BBC’s latest music night kicks off with One Hit Wonders at the BBC: Volume 2, which may sound fairly selfexplanatory, but turns out to contain some surprises. As well as archive performances from the La’s, the Mock Turtles, Joan Jett and Kim Carnes, it also features Patti Smith, Curtis Mayfield and John Denver.

7.10 Gladiators. Bradley and Barney Walsh host the physical challenge in which four contenders face five events – with the super-fit Gladiators standing in their way.

8.10 Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. Alison Hammond is given a rude awakening in the Midnight Game Show, Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson becomes the Unexpected Star and Anne Marie gives up her phone in Send to All.

9.10 Casualty. Iain is devastated when Faith ends their relationship. Rida feels guilty that her friendship with Rash is on rocky ground and Teddy has doubts over his engagement to Paige.

10.00 BBC News; Weather.

10.20 Match of the Day. Highlights of the latest matches.

11.30 Film: A Fish Called Wanda. (1988) Crime comedy, starring John Cleese.

1.15 Weather for the Week Ahead.

1.20 BBC News.

6.45 The Travelling Auctioneers. (R) 7.30 David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed. (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Inside the Factory. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 12.15 Politics UK. 1.00 Impossible. (R) 1.45 Lightning. (R) 2.15 All That Glitters: Britain’s Next Jewellery Star. (R) 4.15 Madagascar. (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Babatunde Aléshé, Sophie Duker, Gaby Roslin and Jeff Stelling take part.

6.30 David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed. A model helicopter pilot puts the duo to the test.

7.00 The One Show.

7.30 The Hairy Bikers’ Asian Adventure. (R)

8.00 Gardeners’ World. In the second of four compilations, Monty Don looks at different types of roses.

9.00 Amityville: An Origin Story. New series. Docudrama examining the true story that inspired The Amityville Horror films.

9.50 Live at the Apollo Bites. (R)

10.00 Mock the Week. (R)

10.30 Newsnight.

11.00 Weather.

11.05 Film: Relic. (2020) Mystery horror, with Emily Mortimer.

12.30 Sign Zone: Midwives Under Pressure – Panorama. (R) 1.00 Nuclear Armageddon: How Close Are We? (R) 2.00 Gladiators. (R) 3.00 Great British Menu. (R) 4.00 This Is BBC

6.15 Hey Duggee. (R) 6.25 Supertato. (R) 6.30 Grizzy and the Lemmings. (R) 6.45 Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed! (R) 7.00 Danger Mouse. (R) 7.10 Shaun the Sheep. (R) 7.20 Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese. (R) 7.30 Pokemon: Sun and Moon – Ultra Legends. (R) 7.55 The Football Academy. (R) 8.20 Blue Peter. (R) 8.50 Newsround. 9.00 Gardeners’ World. (R) 10.00 12 Puppies and Us. (R) 11.00 Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom. (R) 12.00 Film: How the West Was Won. (1962) 2.25 The Great Food Guys. (R) 2.55 Marcus Wareing’s Tales from a Kitchen Garden. 4.00 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. (R) 4.30 Final Score. 5.15 Jaguars – Born Free: A Natural World Special. (R)

6.00 Wilderness with Simon Reeve. Simon heads to Patagonia. (R) 7.00 Blue Planet II. (R)

7.10 Weatherman Walking. (R) 7.40 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. Jo Brand and Kerry Godliman hunt for antiques in Kent. (R)

8.40 Porridge. (R) 9.10 One-Hit Wonders at the BBC: Volume 2. Hits by artists who barely troubled the charts again.

10.10 Hits That Missed at the BBC.

11.40 One-Hit Wonders at the BBC. (R) 12.40 Film: Northern Soul. (2014)

2.15 Film: Good Morning Karachi. (2013) 3.35 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00

Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather. 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal. 3.00 Riddiculous. 4.00 Tipping Point.

5.00 The Chase.

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.20 ITV Evening News; Weather. 6.45 Emmerdale. Wendy is worried that Bob has lost hope, Lydia fears that Sam doesn’t want her any more, and Chas leaves for her holiday.

7.15 Six Nations Live. France v Ireland (Kick-off 8.00pm). Jill Douglas presents coverage of the opening match of the championship, held at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

10.20 ITV News; Weather.

10.50 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

11.10 Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes in 12 Hours. The rapper takes Patrice Evra on a culinary tour of London. (R) 11.45 The NFL Show. Host Craig Doyle, former NFL defensive back Jason Bell, and twotime Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora review the Conference Championships and look ahead to the Super Bowl.

12.35 Shop on TV. 3.00 Wheel of Fortune. (R) 3.50 Unwind. 5.05 Dickinson’s Real Deal. (R)

6.00 Love Your Garden. (R) 7.30

Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. (R) 9.25 ITV News.

9.30 James Martin’s Saturday Morning. 11.40 John and Lisa’s Food Trip Down Under. 12.40 James Martin’s French Adventure. (R) 1.15 ITV News; Weather. 1.30 Six Nations Live. Italy v England (Kick-off 2.15pm). 4.30 ITV News; Weather. 4.45 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather. 5.00 Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals. (R) 5.25 Wheel of Fortune.

6.25 The Masked Singer. The seven remaining singers do their best to remain anonymous.

8.00 Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win. Best friends Terri and Jess take on the money ladder, then it's husband-and-wife team Paul and Ellie's turn to try for a truly life-changing cash prize.

9.00 It’ll Be Alright on the Night. The biggest TV shows of 2023 share their funniest mistakes.

10.00 Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes in 12 Hours. The rapper takes Oti Mabuse on a culinary tour of Marseille.

10.35 ITV News; Weather.

10.55 The Playboy Bunny Murder. The investigation takes an unexpected turn. (R)

11.55 English Football League Highlights.

1.10 Shop on TV. 3.00 Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win. (R) 3.50 Unwind.

5.05 Jason Atherton’s Dubai Dishes. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Cymry ar Gynfas. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Ar Werth. (R) 1.30 Y Fets. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Noson Lawen. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R) 6.00 Cynefin. (R) Newyddion S4C. 6.15 Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol. Wales Under-20s v Scotland Under-20s. 8.45 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.15 Sgwrs Dan y Lloer. (R) 10.20 Bwyd Epic Chris. 10.30 Bariau. (R) 11.05 Jonathan. (R) 12.10 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.15 Countdown. (R) 6.55 Cheers. (R) 7.45 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.35 The King of Queens. (R) 10.05 Frasier. (R) 11.35 Channel 4 News Summary. 11.40 Four in a Bed. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. 5.00 Chateau DIY. 6.00 Come Dine with Me. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News. 8.00 Extraordinary Extensions. 9.00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 10.00 I Literally Just Told You with Jimmy Carr. 11.05 Joe Lycett: More, More, More! How Do You Lycett? How Do You Lycett? (R) 12.05 Film: Thoroughbreds. (2017) 1.40 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA. (R) 2.30 Come Dine with Me. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 8.00 Stwnsh Sadwrn: Stwnsh Sadwrn Byw. 8.30 Oi! Osgar. (R) 9.10 Larfa. (R) 9.25 Prys A’r Pryfed. (R) 9.35 Prosiect Z. (R) 10.00 Teulu’r Castell. (R) 11.00 Trefi Gwyllt Iolo. (R) 11.30 Bois y Pizza: Chwe’ Gwlad. (R) 12.00 Ffermio. (R) 12.30 Nôl i’r Gwersyll. (R) 1.30 Sain Ffagan. (R) 2.00 Ffasiwn Drefn. (R) 2.30 Yn y Ffram. (R) 3.30 Colleen Ramsey: Bywyd a Bwyd. (R) 4.00 Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol. Wales v Scotland (Kick-off 4.45pm). 7.15 Newyddion a Chwaraeon. Weekend news and sport. 7.30 Sgorio. Falkirk v The New Saints (Kick-off 7.40pm). 9.45 Stryd i’r Sgrym. Scott Quinnell turns individuals into a winning rugby team. (R) 10.30 Canu gyda Fy Arwr. (R) 11.35 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.20 Cheers. (R) 7.10 The King of Queens. (R) 8.00 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.25 The Simpsons. (R) 10.55 Film: Zoo. (2017) 12.55 The Secret Life of the Zoo. (R) 1.55 Secret Life of the Safari Park. (R) 2.55 Four in a Bed. (R) 5.30 Location, Location, Location. (R) 6.30 Channel 4 News. 7.00

Film: Mission: Impossible. (1996) 9.10 Film: Nobody. (2021) 11.00 Film: War for the Planet of the Apes. (2017) 1.35 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA. (R) 2.25 Couples Come Dine with Me. (R) 3.20 Know Your S**t: Inside Our Guts. (R) 4.15-6.20 Hollyoaks Omnibus. (R)

6.00 Milkshake! 9.50 SpongeBob SquarePants. 10.15 Entertainment News. 10.30 Friends. (R) 12.25 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly. (R) 1.25 Film: Agatha Christie’s Crooked House. (2017) (R) 3.45 Film: Appointment with Death. (1988) 5.50 Smart Meters: Should You Get One? (R) 6.40 5 News Weekend. 6.45 Secrets of Buckingham Palace with Alexander Armstrong. The actor reveals surprising stories about the royal residence. (R) 7.40 The Day The Queen Died: Minute by Minute. Recounting the events of September 8, 2022, from early signs of concern to the interruption of Parliament and the royal family converging on Scotland. (R) 9.10 Fawlty Towers: Funniest Moments and More. Celebrating John Cleese and Connie Booth’s sitcom. (R) 10.35 1972: Most Shocking Moments. Controversies, scandals and shocks in TV, film, music and politics. 12.30 Criminals: Caught on Camera. (R) 1.00 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.00 Egypt’s Great Mummies: Unwrapped with Bettany Hughes. (R) 4.40 Divine Designs. (R) 5.05 House Doctor. (R) 5.30 Entertainment News. 5.40 Milkshake! Monkey’s Amazing Adventures. (R) 5.45 Paw Patrol. (R)

SUNDAY’S TV 4.2.24

Ralf Little

Death in Paradise

BBC1, 9pm Commissioner Selwyn Patterson Selwyn is celebrating 50 years of service, but sadly the anniversary party takes a shocking turn when he’s targeted by a mystery assassin and left fighting for his life. As a result, the investigation is definitely personal, but will that cloud Neville and the team’s judgement as they try to find out who is responsible?

Our Flag Means Death

BBC2, 10pm ‘Gentleman Pirate’ Stede Bonnet and the fearsome Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Teach are all at sea, so to speak, with Stede and his men working for Spanish Jackie in the hopes of raising funds for a new ship, while Ed and the Revenge crew cut a swathe through the shipping lanes. Ed is feeling his apparent rejection by Stede keenly, as his behaviour becomes ever more erratic and dangerous.

6.00 Breakfast. 7.45 Match of the Day. (R) 9.00 Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. 10.00 Politics Wales. 10.30 Sunday Morning Live. 11.30 Pilgrimage: The Road to Rome. (R) 12.30 Bargain Hunt. (R) 1.00 BBC News. 1.10 Weather for the Week Ahead. 1.15 Songs of Praise. 1.50 Escape to the Country. (R) 2.45 Reunion Hotel. (R) 3.45 Film: AntMan. (2015) 5.35 BBC News. 5.50 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

6.00 Countryfile. Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith learn how Bodmin Moor, a windswept terrain scarred by its industrial past, is gearing up to welcome back wildlife. Including weather for the week ahead.

7.00 Antiques Roadshow. The team are in Roundhay Park, Leeds, where they see treasures including a psychedelic chair and an original script for Dad's Army.

8.00 Call the Midwife. A day at the seaside proves memorable.

9.00 Death in Paradise. New series. Commissioner Patterson is targeted by an assassin.

10.00 BBC News; Weather.

10.25 BBC Wales Today; Weather. 10.30 Match of the Day 2. The day’s Premier League action.

11.45 The Women’s Football Show. Highlights of the weekend’s games.

12.30 MOTD Top Ten: Assists. 1.00 Weather for the Week Ahead. 1.05 BBC News.

6.45 Countryfile. (R) 7.45 Breakfast. 9.00 Wild About Your Garden. (R) 9.45 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites. 11.15 Young MasterChef. (R) 12.15 MOTD Live: Women’s Super League. West Ham United v Arsenal (Kick-off 12.30pm). 2.45 Film: The Hundred-Foot Journey. (2014) 4.40 The Best Dishes Ever. (R) 4.45 Weatherman Walking. (R) 5.15 Ski Sunday.

6.00 Scrum V Six Nations Special. Including action from Wales v Scotland.

7.00 Slammed: The Eighties. Wales prepare for the Grand Slam after third place at the World Cup. Last in the series. (R)

8.00 Inside the Factory. Gregg Wallace explores the Axminster factory in Devon to follow the processes involved in producing 46,000 square metres of carpet at the facility every year.

9.00 Wilderness with Simon Reeve. Simon voyages across the Coral Triangle, an area of tropical seas and jungle-clad islands in the south-western Pacific.

10.00 Film: The Monuments Men. (2014) Fact-based Second World War drama, starring George Clooney.

11.50 Film: When Eight Bells Toll. (1971) Thriller, starring Anthony Hopkins.

1.20 Sign Zone: Question Time. (R)

2.20 Waterloo Road. (R) 3.20 This Is BBC Two.

6.45 I Escaped to the Country. (R)

7.30 David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed. (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Celebrity Race Across the World. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 12.15 Politics Live. 1.00 Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Tournament. (R) 2.30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown. (R) 3.15 The Great British Sewing Bee. (R) 4.15 Madagascar. (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. With Michael Buerk, Kate Humble, Glenn Moore and Thanyia Moore.

mountain.

7.30 EastEnders. A leak at the cafe threatens to reveal the truth about Christmas Day.

8.00 Wynne’s Welsh 80s. New series. Wynne Evans explores the BBC Wales archive of the 1980s.

8.30 Weatherman Walking. Derek Brockway is in Dinas Powys to walk the Salmon Leaps circular trail. (R)

9.00 Silent Witness. A Burmese man is found dead on a deserted beach.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Sudden Child Deaths: The Search for Answers –Panorama.

11.10 Have I Got News for You. Bill Bailey hosts. (R)

11.40 Domino Day. (R)

12.30 The Graham Norton Show. (R) 1.20 Celebrity Mastermind. (R) 1.50 BBC News.

6.30 David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed. David Jason and Jay Blades visit the Midlands Air Festival at Ragley Hall.

7.00 The One Show. Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas present topical stories.

7.30 Mastermind. Specialist subjects include the comedies of Oscar Wilde.

8.00 Only Connect Specials: Education. (R)

8.30 University Challenge.

9.00 Putin vs the West: At War. A look at how the impact of the war in Ukraine was felt across the globe.

10.00 Our Flag Means Death. New series. Stede meets a powerful new foe.

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 Film: Vice. (2018) Biographical comedy drama, starring Christian Bale.

1.20 Sign Zone: Countryfile. (R)

2.15 Great British Menu. (R) 3.15 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 James Martin’s American Adventure. (R) 6.30 James Martin’s Spanish Adventure. (R)

7.30 James Martin’s Saturday Morning. (R) 9.25 ITV News. 9.30 Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. 11.30 John and Lisa’s Food Trip Down Under. (R) 12.35 ITV News; Weather. 12.50 ITV Racing Live: Dublin Festival. Coverage from Leopardstown and Musselburgh. 4.00 Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win. (R) 5.00 Wheel of Fortune. (R)

6.00 ITV News; Weather.

6.10 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

6.20 Dancing on Ice. The 10 remaining couples take to the ice once more.

8.00 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Jeremy Clarkson hosts the bigmoney quiz.

9.00 Trigger Point. The team pursues a man spotted running from a high-rise in Docklands.

10.00 ITV News; Weather.

10.15 The Dry.

10.45 Joanna Lumley’s Spice Trail Adventure. The actress visits important places in the spice trade. (R) 11.45 English Football League Highlights. Action from Saturday’s matches. (R) 1.00 Shop on TV. 3.00 Grand Slam Years: Ireland 2018. (R) 3.50 Unwind. 5.05 Karen Carney’s Leaders of the Pack. (R) 5.35 Made in Britain. (R)

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00 Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55

ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

2.00 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta. 3.00 Lingo. (R) 4.00 Tipping Point. 5.00

The Chase.

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. Nate is given a shock. Angelica prepares to return to school. Rhona is filled with dread.

8.00 Coronation Street. Steve’s early return catches Tracy and Tommy on the hop, Daniel’s discretion intrigues Bethany, and Adam seeks Dee-Dee.

9.00 Born from the Same Stranger. A woman discovers the gynaecologist organising her conception in 1959 used a small number of donors to produce over 300 children, meaning she could be one of multiple halfsiblings.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 Sharp End. 11.45 All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite. Hard-hitting action from the world of All Elite Wrestling. (R) 1.25 Shop on TV. 3.00 Martin Clunes: A Dog Called Laura. (R)

3.50 Unwind. 5.05 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 8.50 Penblwyddi Cyw. 9.00 Cynefin. (R) 10.00 Y Fets. (R) 10.30 Iaith ar Daith. (R) 11.30 Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol. (R) 12.00 Ceffylau, Sheikhs a Chowbois. (R) 12.30 Rygbi Pawb Uchafbwyntiau. (R) 1.15 Prosiect Pum Mil. (R) 2.15 Ty am Ddim. (R) 3.20 Dudley: Cymru ar Blât. (R) 3.50 Ffermio. (R) 4.25 Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol. 6.10 Pobol y Cwm Omnibws. Extended edition of the soap. (R) 7.15 Newyddion a Chwaraeon. 7.30 Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol. 8.00 Am Dro! 9.00 Taith Bywyd. 10.00 Y Parchedig Emyr Ddrwg. (R) 11.15 Ffasiwn Drefn. (R) 11.50 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.20 Cheers. (R) 7.10 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 8.30 The Simpsons. (R) 9.30 Sunday Brunch. 12.30 The Simpsons. (R) 2.30 Film: Babe: Pig in the City. (1998) 4.20 Film: Sister Act. (1992) 6.15 Channel 4 News. 6.45 World’s Greatest Train Journeys from Above. (R) 7.45 The Great Pottery Throw Down. 9.00 Grand Designs. (R) 10.00 Big Boys. 10.30 Gogglebox. (R) 11.30 Sex, Me And Disability. 12.30 Film: The Girl in the Spider’s Web. (2018) 2.30 The Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle for Britain. (R) 3.25 Come Dine with Me. (R) 5.35 Sunday Brunch Best Bits. (R) 5.50-6.15 Food Unwrapped. (R) 6.00 Milkshake!: 9.45 SpongeBob SquarePants. 10.15 Entertainment News. 10.20 Friends. (R) 12.20 Inside the Tower of London. (R) 2.20

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.05 Ffasiwn Drefn. (R) 12.30 Ralïo+. (R) 1.00 Caeau Cymru. (R) 1.30 Dan Do. (R) 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.05 Stryd i’r Sgrym. (R) 3.50 Bwyd Epic Chris. 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. 6.00 Cegin Bryn. (R) 6.30 Rownd a Rownd. (R) 7.00 Heno.

7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Y Byd ar Bedwar. 8.25 Y Fets. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Cefn Gwlad. 9.30 Sgorio. (R) 10.00 Gwesty Aduniad. (R) 11.00 Ar Werth. (R) 11.35 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.15 Countdown. (R) 6.55 Cheers. (R) 7.45 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.35 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 10.05 Frasier. (R) 11.00 The Great House Giveaway. (R) 12.00 News. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. 5.00 Chateau DIY. 6.00 Come Dine with Me. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 News. 8.00 Adventures in Americana. 9.00 To Catch a Copper. 10.00 Night Coppers. (R) 11.05 First Dates. (R) 12.05 Obsessed with My Muscles. (R) 12.35 24 Hours in A&E. (R) 1.30 Kitchen Nightmares USA. (R) 2.20 Come Dine with Me. (R) 3.15 Know Your S**t: Inside Our Guts. (R) 4.10 Love It or List It: Brilliant Builds. (R) 5.05 Sunday Brunch Best Bits. (R) 5.20-6.15 Grand Designs. (R) 6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Alexis Conran & Friends. 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15 Film: My Nightmare Office Affair. (2022) 4.00 BargainLoving Brits in the Sun. (R) 5.00 5 News at 5. 6.00 Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out. The comedian explores Devon and Cornwall in her vintage camper van. (R) 6.55 5 News Update. 7.00 Police Interceptors. Officers hunt for two suspects allegedly armed with a gun. (R) 7.55 5 News Update. 8.00 Traffic Cops. Officers deal with incident over a bank holiday weekend. 9.00 Police: Suspect No 1. Detectives try to bringing down the Norfolk-based Lewis drugs gang. 10.30 Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts. A high number of call-outs results in paramedics queuing with patients. (R) 11.30 999: Critical Condition. A woman suffers a bleed

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6.00

The Hairy Bikers Go West BBC2, 7pm

Dave and Si explore Britain’s west coast, taking in Dumfries & Galloway, Lancashire, Merseyside and the Isle of Man, North Wales, the Severn Estuary and Somerset before ending their adventure in Devon. They begin on the Isle of Bute; after landing on Rothesay, Myers and King visit a local deli, a patisserie run by a Syrian family, and a six-acre market garden.

Finders Keepers

Channel 5, 9pm

Three weeks ago, when metal detectorists Martin and Ashley unearthed a hoard of Saxon treasure, they were elated - but one reckless decision sent them spiralling on a treacherous path of deceit and deadly consequences. Now, as the four-parter concludes, Martin is reeling from his fatal confrontation with Denys, and decides the time has come to come clean to his wife Anne.

5.15 Pointless.

6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather.

6.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

7.00 The One Show. With Lauren Laverne and Jermaine Jenas.

7.30 EastEnders. Kathy and Stacey try to convince Karen of their version of events.

8.00 Waterloo Road. After coming head-to-head with Schuey, the school is up in arms and Amy is left regretting her actions. Dean and Noel make an exciting discovery and Samia’s plan backfires.

9.00 Silent Witness. Nikki makes a breakthrough that leaves the team questioning who they can and can't trust. The Lyell is compromised in an unexpected way as the team strive to find the truth.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Tell Me Lies. Lucy is forced to confront her past.

11.25 Tell Me Lies. Lucy and Stephen go to the final party of the semester.

12.20 Ambulance. (R) 1.20 BBC News.

6.00

6.55 Party Political Broadcast. By the Welsh Conservative Party. (R)

7.00 The One Show. With Alex Jones and Ronan Keating.

7.30 EastEnders. Lauren grows suspicious of Linda's behaviour and Kat decides it's time to meet with Phil.

8.00 The Repair Shop. Restoring a rocking motorbike, a toy monkey and a record of the suffragettes. (R)

9.00 Ambulance. Jodie and Tom are dispatched to a category one emergency for a dangerous patient.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 BBC Wales Live. Weekly show featuring hard-hitting stories and in-depth interviews.

11.10 Film: Atonement. (2007) Romantic period drama, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy.

1.05 Would I Lie to You? (R) 1.35 BBC News.

6.45 I Escaped to the Country. (R)

7.30 David & Jay’s Touring

Toolshed. (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Winterwatch. (R) 9.00 BBC News.

12.15 Politics Live. 1.00

Impossible. (R) 1.45 First Minister’s Questions. 2.45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown. (R)

3.30 The Great British Sewing Bee. (R) 4.30 Madagascar. (R) 5.30

Nadiya’s British Food Adventure. (R) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games.

6.30 David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed.

7.00 The Hairy Bikers Go West. New series. The Hairy Bikers visit the Isle of Bute, taking a trip down memory lane.

8.00 Great British Menu. Four chefs from Kent and London compete with canapes, starters and fish dishes.

9.00 QI XL. With guests Jordan Gray, Jason Manford and Sara Pascoe.

9.45 David Mitchell’s Outsiders. The teams compete for three new badges. (R)

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 What We Do in the Shadows. Nandor and Laszlo confront their differences on a hunting trip.

11.40 What We Do in the Shadows. Colin is caught punching holes in his walls.

12.10 Film: Stronger. (2017) 2.00 Sign Zone: Garden Rescue. (R) 2.45 Great British Menu. (R)

6.45 The Travelling Auctioneers. (R) 7.30 David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed. (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: See Hear. 8.30 Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 11.15 Politics Live. 1.00 Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Tournament. (R) 2.30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown. (R) 3.00 The Great British Sewing Bee. (R) 4.00 The Wonder of Animals. (R) 4.30 Match of the Day Live: Africa Cup of Nations. The first semi-final (Kickoff 5.00pm).

7.00 Marcus Wareing’s Tales from a Kitchen Garden. Marcus makes smoked chilli butter and a fish dish, with Samphire and shellfish.

8.00 Great British Menu. Chefs from London and the South East compete with mains and desserts.

9.00 Murder in Mayfair. The murder of Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen in 2008. (R)

10.00 Inside No 9. Friday the 13th may cause problems for a wary worker. (R)

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 Unspun World with John Simpson.

11.45 Putin vs the West: At War. A look at how the impact of the war in Ukraine was felt across the globe. (R)

12.45 Sign Zone: See Hear. (R)

1.15 Animal Park. (R) 2.00 Great British Menu. (R) 3.00 Antiques Roadshow. (R) 4.00 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00

Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning. 12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather. 2.00 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta. 3.00 Lingo. (R) 4.00 Tipping Point. 5.00 The Chase. 6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather. 6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather. 7.30 Emmerdale. Charles upsets Nicola.

8.00 The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live. The cash expert answers the financial questions that matter most, gives a topical Big Briefing and offers tips and tricks for making finances go further in News You Can Use.

9.00 Boris Becker: The Rise and Fall. Inside the story of the highly

Who Wants to

a

Jeremy Clarkson hosts the big-prize quiz. (R)

11.40 After the Flood. The investigation escalates. (R)

12.30 Shop on TV. 3.00 On Assignment. (R) 3.30 Love Your Garden. (R) 3.55 Unwind. 5.10 Ainsley’s

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00 Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather. 2.00 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta. 3.00 Lingo. (R) 4.00 Tipping Point. 5.00 The Chase.

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.20 Party Political Broadcast. By the Welsh Conservative Party.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. Tom and Belle cut back on wedding plans.

8.00 Coronation Street. Harvey provides Adam with a fall guy for his murder conviction, Bethany targets Lauren in her quest for a scoop, and Toyah spots an angry exchange between Joel and a mystery woman.

9.00 After the Flood. Jo and Tasha follow a fresh lead.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 Peston. Political magazine show, hosted by Robert Peston.

11.40 Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes in 12 Hours. The rapper takes Oti Mabuse on a culinary tour of Marseille. (R)

12.10 Shop on TV. 3.00 Lindsey Burrow: Who Cares for Our Carers? Tonight. (R) 3.25 Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes in 12 Hours. (R) 4.00 Unwind. 5.10 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion. 12.05 Trefi Gwyllt Iolo. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Cymru, Dad a Fi. (R) 1.30 Cefn Gwlad. (R) 2.00 Newyddion. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion. 3.05 Am Dro! (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. 6.00 Bois y Pizza. (R) 6.30 Sgorio. (R) 7.00 Heno. 7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Pobol y Cwm. 8.25 Rownd a Rownd. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Stryd i’r Sgrym. 9.45 Taith Bywyd. (R) 10.45 Astrid: Murder in Paris. 11.50 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.15 Countdown. (R) 6.55 Cheers. (R) 7.45 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.35 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 10.05 Frasier. (R) 11.00 The Great House Giveaway. (R) 12.00 News. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. 5.00 Chateau DIY. 6.00 Come Dine with Me. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 News. 8.00 999: On the Front Line. 9.00 Around the World in 80 Weighs. 10.00 First Dates. 11.05 Brits Down Under. 12.10 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA. (R) 1.00 The Simpsons. (R) 1.25 Couples Come Dine with Me. (R) 2.20 Film:

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.05 Bois y Pizza. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Gwlad Beirdd. (R) 1.30 Cegin Bryn. (R) 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.05 Taith Bywyd. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R) 6.00 Cefn Gwlad. (R) 6.25 Darllediad Gwleidyddol Gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig. 6.30 Rownd a Rownd. (R) 7.00 Heno. 7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Pobol y Cwm. 8.25 Dan Do. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Bariau. 9.40 Bois y Pizza: Chwe’ Gwlad. 10.10 Y Byd ar Bedwar. (R) 10.40 Dim Byd i’w Wisgo. (R) 11.10 Rycia o ’Ma. (R) 11.40 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.15 Countdown. (R) 6.55 Cheers. (R) 7.45 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.35 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 10.05 Frasier. (R) 11.00 Great House Giveaway. (R) 12.00 News. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. 5.00 Chateau DIY. 6.00 Come Dine with Me. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 News. 8.00 Love It or List It. 9.00 Johnny Vegas: Carry on Glamping. 10.00 Gogglebox. (R) 12.05 Open House: The Great Sex Experiment. (R) 1.05 Sex, Me And Disability. (R) 2.00 Film: February. (2015) 3.35 Undercover Boss USA. (R) 4.25 Come Dine with Me. (R) 5.20-6.15 Love It or List It. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Alexis Conran & Friends. 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15 Film: Mystery of the Dead Nanny. (2022) 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. (R) 5.00 5 News at 5. 6.00 Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out in Yorkshire. The comedian ventures east of the Pennines. (R) 6.55 5 News Update.

7.00 Shoplifters: Caught Red Handed. Officers find heroin syringes in a thief’s bag. 7.55 5 News Update. 8.00 M&S: How They Got Back on Top. Exploring the story behind Marks and Spencer’s return to fashion relevance; 5 News Update. 9.00 Finders Keepers. Martin confesses all to Anne, who hatches a plan to save her family. Last in the series. 10.00 Discovering Tutankhamun’s Tomb with Dan Snow. The history of the exploration of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. (R) 11.30 Police: Suspect No 1. Detectives are tasked with bringing down the Lewis drugs gang. (R) 1.00 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.00 Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts. (R) 3.50 OMG: Rise of the Insta-Babes. (R) 4.40

every view even if you don’t enjoy every

Opt for exercising and enjoying the views without having to wear glasses or contact lenses Visit one of our state-of-the-art clinics where you’ll find our world-class surgeons, who have successfully treated over 1 million eyes And with a range of vision correction options to best suit your needs, soon you’ll be able to enjoy a life free from glasses, contact lenses, and even cataracts

The Madame Blanc Mysteries C5, 9pm

The final episode of the cosy crime series begins by taking viewers back to La Couronne in 1995, as Patrick becomes involved in a card game with local gangster Sonny Montario. Under pressure, Patrick eventually folds, but that’s not the only dramatic event to take place that night - he witnesses Sonny push over local glamour girl Gabriella, who then falls and hits her head.

Sue Perkins: Lost in Alaska Channel 5, 9pm Alaska is sparsely populated - with a population lower than Leeds spread over an area twice the size of France. Sue Perkins starts in Anchorage, Alaska’s biggest city, and its climate is not too dissimilar to our own. However the farther north one travels, the more wild it becomes. With this in mind, Sue begins with a trip to a survival school, to learn how to protect herself from bears - with mixed results.

Six; Weather.

6.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

7.00 The One Show. Alex Jones and Lauren Laverne host the live magazine show featuring a mixture of celebrity chat and stories of interest.

7.30 EastEnders. Lauren catches Linda out in a lie.

8.00 Dragons’ Den. Multimillionaires Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett consider more investment opportunities.

9.00 The Apprentice. The budding entrepreneurs are tasked by Lord Sugar to manufacture miniature cheesecakes to sell to the public and to a corporate client.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Question Time. Fiona Bruce hosts the political debate from Nottingham.

11.40 Newscast. A weekly roundup from Westminster.

12.10 BBC News.

6.45 Dr Xand’s Con or Cure. (R)

7.15 Escape to the Country. (R)

8.00 Sign Zone: Gardeners’ World. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 12.15 Politics Live. 1.00 Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Tournament. (R) 2.30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown. (R) 3.15 The Great British Sewing Bee. (R) 4.15 Humpback Whales: A Detective Story. (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Michael Buerk, Kate Humble, Glenn Moore and Thanyia Moore take part.

6.30 David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed. The duo are at the Royal Three Counties Show.

7.00 Marcus Wareing’s Tales from a Kitchen Garden. The chef invites neighbour Phil Beale over for a master class in curing meat.

8.00 Great British Menu. Judges’ Day, and only one chef can go through to represent London and South East.

9.00 Fake or Fortune? A sketch believed to be by 20thcentury artist Amedeo Modigliani. (R)

10.00 The Apprentice: You’re Fired. Tom Allen meets the second fired candidate and shares behind-the-scenes content .

10.30 Newsnight. 11.10 Weather. 11.15 Black Music Wales. (R) 12.15 Coast.

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00 Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather. 2.00 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta. 3.00 Lingo. (R) 4.00 Tipping Point. 5.00

The Chase.

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. It is the stag and hen do, and while Rhona acts rashly, Nicola dreads the Youth Justice visit.

8.30 Rishi Sunak: Up Close –Tonight. In the second of two programmes about the leaders of the UK's largest political parties, Anushka Asthana follows Prime Minister and Conservative leader Rishi Sunak.

9.00 Grantchester. When two men are poisoned and one dies, Elliot hands the case to Larry while Geordie is placed on desk duty. Drama, starring Robson Green.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 It’ll Be Alright on the Night. The biggest TV shows of 2023 share their funniest mistakes. (R)

11.40 Born from the Same Stranger. (R)

12.30 All Elite Wrestling: Rampage. (R) 1.25 Shop on TV. 3.00 Grantchester. (R) 3.50 Unwind. 5.05 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta. (R)

6.45 Escape to the Country. (R)

7.30 David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed. (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Inside the Factory. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 12.15 Politics UK. 1.00 Impossible. (R) 1.45 The Tournament. (R) 2.30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown. (R) 3.15 The Great British Sewing Bee. (R) 4.15 Super Fast Falcon. (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games.

6.30 David & Jay’s Touring Toolshed.

a look at this year’s Six Nations.

7.30 Celebrity Mastermind. Michelle Heaton, Nihal Arthanayake, Aaron Evans and Maisie Adam compete.

8.00 Here We Go. Sue organises a street fayre.

8.30 Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. Amanda Holden turns the dark second bedroom into a country chic boudoir.

9.00 Would I Lie to You? Sinitta, Jo Brand, Ivo Graham and Johnny Marr join the regulars.

9.30 Not Going Out. Lee is in hospital for routine surgery, but has to wait until his blood pressure goes down. (R)

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 The Graham Norton Show. With Ian McKellen.

11.30 Scrum V Classics. (R)

1.00 Six Nations Sin Bin. (R) 1.30 BBC News.

7.00 The One Show. (R)

7.30 Epic: Wales v England ’99. A look back at the Five Nations match at Wembley Stadium. (R)

8.00 Gardeners’ World. Monty Don plants up some pots with shade-loving plants for a summer display.

9.00 Amityville: An Origin Story. Ronnie DeFeo Jr. is accused of murder after his family is found shot to death.

9.55 Laugh Lessons. (R)

10.00 Rewind: 60 Years of Welsh Pop. (R)

10.30 Newsnight.

11.00 Weather.

11.05 QI.

11.35 26th Annual MOBO Awards: Access All Areas.

12.35 The Best Dishes Ever. (R)

12.50 Sign Zone: Sudden Child Deaths: The Search for Answers –Panorama. (R) 1.20 Gladiators. (R)

2.20 Putin vs the West: At War. (R) 3.20 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.05 Sgwrs Dan y Lloer. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Ffasiwn Drefn. (R) 1.30 Y Byd ar Bedwar. (R) 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.05 Cynefin. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. 6.00 Y Fets. (R) 6.30 Bois y Rhondda. (R) 7.00 Heno. 7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Pobol y Cwm. 8.25 Rownd a Rownd. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Jonathan. 10.00 Y Gic Fawr. 10.35 Rygbi Pawb Uchafbwyntiau. 11.20 Noson Lawen. (R) 12.25 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.15 Countdown. (R) 6.55 Cheers. (R) 7.45 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.35 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 10.05 Frasier. (R) 11.00 The Great House Giveaway. (R) 12.00 News. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. 5.00 Chateau DIY. 6.00 Come Dine with Me. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 News. 8.00 Secret Life of the Safari Park. 9.00 The Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle for Britain. 10.00 Catching a Killer. (R)

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00

Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV News; Weather. 1.55 ITV News Cymru Wales. 2.00 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta. 3.00 Lingo. (R) 4.00

Tipping Point. 5.00 The Chase.

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.00 Vanished Wales. Cameras focus on a country park and its wartime secrets.

7.30 Emmerdale. Rhona's absence causes chaos. Marlon suspects something wrong with Charity. It's the twins' birthday and there is concern for Cathy.

8.00 Coronation Street. Simon crashes Leanne’s car while under the influence of alcohol, Damon’s implied threat unnerves Dee-Dee, and Bethany is forced to admit her deception to a stunned Daniel.

9.00 Beat The Chasers –Celebrity Special. Bradley Walsh hosts as Stephen Mangan, Grace Dent, Sam Quek and Nile Wilson hope to win big for their charities.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 Film: Safe House. (2012) Thriller, with Denzel Washington.

12.40 Shop on TV. 3.00 Wheel of Fortune. (R) 3.50 Unwind. 5.05 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Cymry ar Gynfas. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Ar Werth. (R) 1.30 Y Fets. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Lorient 2023. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R) 6.00 Cymru, Dad a Fi. (R) 6.30 Colleen Ramsey: Bywyd a Bwyd. (R) 7.00 Rygbi: Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol – Dan 20: Lloegr v Cymru. England Under-20s v Wales Under20s (Kick-off 7.15pm). 9.20 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.55 Curadur. 10.30 Bariau. (R) 11.10 Jonathan. (R) 12.15 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.15 Countdown. (R) 6.55 Cheers. (R) 7.45 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.35 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 10.05 Frasier. (R) 11.00 The Great House Giveaway. (R) 12.00 News. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. 5.00 Chateau DIY. 6.00 Come Dine with Me. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 News. 8.00 Extraordinary Extensions. 9.00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. 10.00 I Literally Just Told You with Jimmy Carr. 11.05 Film: Meet the Parents. (2000) 1.10 Film: White Boy Rick. (2018) 3.00 Come Dine with Me. (R) 5.05-6.05 Kirstie and Phil’s Love It or List It: Brilliant Builds. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Alexis Conran & Friends. 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15 Film: Betrayed Within. (2022) 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. (R) 5.00 5 News at 5. 6.00 Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out. The comedian ventures along the Pembroke coast. (R) 6.55 Entertainment News. Showbiz news and gossip. 7.00 Coastal Devon & Cornwall with Michael Portillo. Michael heads for his final stretch in Cornwall. (R) 8.00 Cruising with Susan Calman. The comedian embarks on an epic cruise to Antarctica. 9.00 Sue Perkins: Lost in Alaska. New series. The presenter discovers the state of Alaska, America’s last frontier. 10.00 Captain Tom: What Happened Next? A look at what happened to the money raised by Captain Tom Moore. (R) 11.25 When TV Goes Horribly Wrong. A compilation of onair disasters featuring animals. (R) 1.20 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.20 Susan Calman’s Grand

Nofel newydd Llwyd Owen yn ‘gampwaith’

DISGRIFIR y nofel

olaf yn nhrioleg Llwyd

Owen fel “campwaith”

gan Manon Steffan Ros. Dywedodd yr awdur “darllenais drwy fy mysedd.

O’n i methu rhoi hi lawr”. Mae helfa (y Lolfa), yn nofel ddirgelwch garlamus sy’n dod â stori’r Ditectif Sally Morris i ben mewn ffordd ddramatig iawn. gan ddychwelyd am y seithfed tro i dref ddychmygol gerddi hwyan, mae helfa yn dilyn hanes Ditectif

Sarjant Sally Morris a’i phartner gwaith, tej Williams, wrth iddynt fynd ar drywydd lladron cŵn sydd wedi bod yn codi cywilydd ar heddlu gerddi hwyan ers misoedd lawer.

Mae bywyd cartref

Sally yn ddedwydd, tra bod tej wedi cwympo mewn cariad â gyrrwr tacsi lleol o’r enw hels.

Ond, yn ddiarwybod i bawb, mae bwystfil yn llech-hela’r ardal, gyda’i frîd ar anhrefn dialgar… ac mae Sally a hels ar ei gach-restr.

Meddai Llwyd Owen: “hon yw’r nofel olaf yn y drioleg a gyda stori Sally Morris yn dirwyn i ben, rwy’n mawr obeithio bod fy narllenwyr wedi mwynhau’r daith gymaint â fi.

“Fy nod gyda’r gyfres hon oedd peidio ag ailadrodd fy hun, gan gyflwyno tair nofel drosedd oedd yn rhannu’r un DnA ond oedd hefyd yn hollol wahanol i’w gilydd.”

“Dyma ei drydedd nofel ar ddeg yn y

gymraeg. enillodd yr awdur Llyfr y Flwyddyn gyda Ffydd, gobaith,

“cariad yn 2007 a chyrraedd y rhestr fer gyda’i nofel fer iaith y nefoedd, yn 2020, a oedd yn brosiect ar y cyd gyda band yr Ods.

“cefais fy herio i ysgrifennu cymeriadau benywaidd cryfach, a gyda Sally a hels rwy’n gobeithio’n arw fy mod i wedi llwyddo i wneud hynny.

“rwy’n bwriadu dychwelyd at gerddi hwyan unwaith eto gyda fy nofel nesaf, ond nid nofel ‘dditectif’ fydd hi. yn hytrach, caper am deulu sy’n berchen ar fwyty a’r pethau mae’n rhaid iddyn nhw eu gwneud er mwyn goroesi.”

Adroddiadau pwyllgor am ddirywiad canolfannau tref

MAE cysylltiadau

trafnidiaeth gwael a’r parcio sydd ar gael yn effeithio ar nifer yr ymwelwyr â chanol trefi, er anfantais i fusnesau lleol, yn ôl un o bwyllgorau’r Senedd. yn ystod ymchwiliad sy’n edrych ar sut mae Adfywio Canol Trefi yn gweithio ledled cymru, clywodd Pwyllgor cyfrifon cyhoeddus a gweinyddiaeth gyhoeddus y Senedd fod diffyg systemau trafnidiaeth syml ac integredig yn atal pobl rhag ymweld â chanol trefi yn amlach gan fod yn well ganddynt ddefnyddio lleoliadau y tu allan i’r dref. clywodd hefyd sut mae’r gyfundrefn ardrethi annomestig bresennol yn rhwystro buddsoddiad mewn trefi, gan atal ailddatblygu eiddo gwag, ac yn rhoi pwysau ychwanegol ar fusnesau bach sydd eisoes yn cael trafferth gyda chostau ynni cynyddol. Mae adroddiad y Pwyllgor a gyhoeddwyd heddiw, dydd iau 25 ionawr 2024, yn cynnwys 8 argymhelliad i Lywodraeth cymru, gan alw arni i wneud mwy i gyflymu adfywio a chefnogi rhanddeiliaid lleol i wneud penderfyniadau mawr sy’n

briodol i’w hardaloedd.

Dywedodd Mark isherwood AS, cadeirydd Pwyllgor cyfrifon cyhoeddus a gweinyddiaeth gyhoeddus y Senedd: “Mae angen i Lywodraeth cymru sbarduno a chyflawni gweledigaeth newydd ar gyfer ein strydoedd mawr. Mae hynny’n golygu darparu system drafnidiaeth sy’n syml ac yn hawdd ei defnyddio; system drethu fwy synhwyrol ar gyfer busnesau; cymhellion ariannol i annog busnesau newydd; a dull newydd o fynd i’r afael ag eiddo gwag sy’n difetha canol ein trefi.

“Fel gwledydd eraill, mae trefi Cymru wedi newid yn syfrdanol yn sgil y pandemig a’r cynnydd

mewn siopa ar-lein.

“Mae’n amlwg nad yw rôl draddodiadol y stryd fawr fel canolbwynt manwerthu bellach yn gynaliadwy ac yn ystod ein hymchwiliad clywsom am sawl prosiect arloesol, ar lefel leol, sy’n rhoi pwrpas newydd i ganol trefi.

“Ond dim ond os yw’r holl randdeiliaid wedi’u grymuso i wneud penderfyniadau mawr sy’n briodol i’w hardal y bydd y datblygiadau arloesol hyn yn llwyddiannus, gyda sicrwydd yn genedlaethol y bydd adnoddau ac arbenigedd digonol ar bob lefel.

“Mae angen i Lywodraeth cymru ddarparu’r atebion cenedlaethol i’r problemau lleol a chefnogi ein

cymunedau i gyflawni’r adfywio sydd ei angen mor fawr ar ein trefi.” yn ystod yr ymchwiliad, ymwelodd y Pwyllgor â’r Wyddgrug, Wrecsam, treforys a chaerfyrddin i gyfarfod â chynrychiolwyr lleol a dysgu am y ffyrdd arloesol y maent yn ceisio trawsnewid ar eu strydoedd mawr.

“roedd yn hynod braf ymweld â’r Wyddgrug, Wrecsam, treforys a chaerfyrddin. roedd yn bleser clywed am y gwaith cadarnhaol sy’n cael ei wneud, ond roedd yn sobr clywed am yr heriau yr oedd pob lleoliad hefyd yn eu hwynebu. Mae ein hadroddiad heddiw yn amlygu’r rhwystrau hyn,” ychwanegodd Mark isherwood AS.

yng nghaerfyrddin, gwnaethant ddysgu sut y bydd hen siop

Debenhams yn dod yn hyb hamdden newydd sy’n dod â gwasanaethau iechyd, llesiant, dysgu a diwylliannol i gyd o dan yr un to.

“Ar ôl mynd am dro ar hyd stryd fawr treforys, gwnaethant ymweld â chapel tabernacl treforys a chanolfan y galon gysegredig, y mae’r ddau ohonynt yn cael eu defnyddio fel adnodd cymunedol ar gyfer grwpiau lleol.

Bydd Llywodraeth cymru yn ymateb i adroddiad y Pwyllgor, a bydd yn cael ei drafod gan y Senedd gyfan maes o law.

Meat on menu despite economic squeeze

HUGE numbers of PGI Welsh Lamb and PGI Welsh Beef lovers are sticking with their favourite meat cuts despite the squeeze on domestic food budgets, top consumer research specialists Kantar reports.

Avneet chana, Kantar’s Strategic insight Director, told hybu cig cymru-Meat Promotion Wales’ (hcc) conference back in november 2023 that some 97 per cent of all households were still buying red meat despite the pressures on the family purse.

Ms chana, the head of Kantar’s Meat, Fish and Poultry team, said almost 85 per cent of all red meat was consumed “for enjoyment” and that this was the motivating force behind sustained sales at a time when most were feeling the economic pinch. “One thing that does come up in every piece of research that we do is that we do things because we enjoy them - and we won’t eat something if we don’t like the taste of itand red meat ranks really high on consumption for enjoyment.”

hcc’s head of Strategic Marketing and connections Laura Pickup said the very high figure commended the hard work of Welsh farmers. It also confirmed the findings of HCC’s red Meat Development Programme consumer taste trials and validated the extensive work carried out on the Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef brands in recent years.

“in our taste tests, nearly 2,000 consumers endorsed Welsh Lamb’s tenderness, juiciness, flavour and aroma and this survey’s findings show there are thousands who agree with them,” said Ms Pickup.

Kantar’s continuous survey covers some 30,000 uK homes that includes a consumer base that is demographically representative in terms of age, lifestyle and region.

“Our continuous survey shows that only around 28,000 uK households stopped buying red meat in 2023 - but that is a drop in the ocean when you consider we are 60 million people,” said Ms chana.

She said red meat

had increased in price by 11.5 per cent in 2023 which also saw spend increase by 8.9 per cent but volume reduce by 2.4 per cent. She said some red meat categories were increasing in sales, including pork ribs (up 9.5 per cent), mince (up 3.1 per cent) and sausages (2.2 up per cent).

“to contextualise the price increase, let’s compare it to dairy, for instance, with an increase of 20.8 per cent; meat-

free, at around the same - 10.4 per cent - and fresh produce at 8.5 per cent,” she said.

Ms chana said it was encouraging that price inflation was coming down. “With our survey we were able to get a picture of what people are doing, their shopping trends and how they felt about the economy and whether they were struggling, managing or comfortable.

“We saw more and more say they were

struggling and less felt they were comfortable and naturally that had impacts on behaviour - we saw change and people starting to make economies right across the market.

“however, there is now some evidence that behaviour is starting to level off a bit. For the first time in a year, inflation is coming down and that is a landmark moment,” she said.

NSA concerned about WG rural plans

THE NATIONAL Sheep Association (NSA) has joined a rising chorus of disquiet about the impacts of Welsh Government policies on Wales’s agriculture sector (see last week’s Herald).

the Association’s concerns follow the release of findings from a Welsh government impact assessment into the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) affecting Wales’s agricultural sector.

nSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “nSA is alarmed by results from the Welsh government’s impact assessment that paints a bleak picture for Welsh Agriculture.

“it is incredibly damaging for an industry already under immense strain to have proposals that now seem flimsy and lacking in genuine support for a critical infrastructure sector and could threaten the future

of the sector in Wales.” the modelling, undertaken on the 2022 SFS proposals as part of the impact assessment, indicates the scheme would result in a 122,200 reduction in Welsh livestock units and an 11% reduction across the national flock. that would lead to an 11% cut in labour on Welsh farms, the equivalent of losing a staggering 5,500 jobs based on current employment levels on

Mr Stocker continued: “the magnitude of the reductions, with or without a top-up payment, highlights the significant difficulties for businesses in finding alternative income sources.

“With 12 months until the SFS introduction, it feels like the Welsh government is wandering blindly towards a disaster for the industry. Furthermore, any adjustment or diversification will

be limited by policy constraints.

“there must be action now to ensure meaningful capacity to maintain livelihoods of those working in agriculture.”

nSA cymru/Wales Development Officer helen roberts added: “the agricultural sector is operating on a knife edge with increasing pressures on the bottom line.

“it is concerning that the Welsh government is only giving businesses 12 months to consider the

implications of entering the SFS, with little pilot process planned or dynamic implementation process.

“Modelling suggests a £125.3m hit to output from the sector and a loss of £199 million to farm business income.

“nSA is concerned that if the Welsh government doesn’t take action, it will devastate farming businesses and those that rely on them.”

While there has

been media and political outcry about the loss of 2,500 jobs from Port talbot Steelworks, Wales’s national media are surprisingly relaxed about losing twice as many jobs in rural Wales.

Plaid cymru’s silence has been equally deafening, with requests for comments from members of its frontbench made last week unanswered, while the party bloviates about constitutional change.

Data tools help productivity grow

USING Agrovista’s weather station services, growers can now access a suite of new and updated on-screen features to help optimise crop management following an extensive overhaul of the company’s data platform.

Several hundred weather stations provided by Agrovista are in use across the uK. they take measurements, including rainfall, air temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, relative humidity, leaf wetness, solar radiation and wind speed, depending on which option growers choose.

each station provides location-specific data transmitted to a central server for processing. the data provide a range of high-quality weather-based information that individual growers can access via an online dashboard on a range of devices.

the information includes live weather data, weather forecasts, crop disease predictions and irrigation management (in combination with soil moisture sensors).

the most obvious change is the new dashboard design, which presents a wide range of data in a cleaner, more accessible format via an app that works across different devices, says James Martin from Agrovista Weather.

“the modernised

dashboard display will be especially useful for smartphone users, helping them to easily access all the information they need,” he explains.

Weather and disease forecasting for all crops, including arable, potatoes, vegetables and fruit, and a spraying condition forecast are now included on the same platform.

“Before they were on a separate system – no,w we’ve embedded them, improving access,” says James.

u p-to-the-minute information helps growers make immediate decisions, while detailed short- and medium-term weather forecasts aid planning. the forecasts and additional measurements, such as leaf wetness, are also used to model accurate disease forecasts for precise integrated pest management planning.

in addition, access to rainfall measurements in the local area for the past 24 hours and the previous seven days provides a valuable overview for irrigating growers.

“this is particularly useful for crops further away that are covered by a weather station,” says James. “growers with moisture probes can also determine which areas require irrigation and how much.”

the update also includes an irrigation probe dashboard with a soil forecast, indicating where moisture might be after seven days without rain. the dashboard also shows rain amounts, soil moisture levels, temperature measurements, and ec measurements for soft fruit growers.

“We are also working on water monitoring for irrigation pumps so that growers can record water usage and pressures within the dashboard,” says James. “We also provide a similar feature for polytunnel systems.”

new crop development indicators have also been introduced: growing

degree days for crops, growing degree hours for soft fruit crops and cooling degree hours for crops like blackcurrants that need a certain amount of chill over the winter.

“using these, growers can obtain thresholds for key management decisions and inputs,” says James. the overall result is a more comprehensive tool that enables growers to connect swiftly and easily to their data, says James.

“it pools relevant data from different sources and delivers a lot more value for money, putting realtime weather insights into growers’ hands.”

HCC webinar to update red meat sector stakeholders

Red meat levy body

Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) continues to make a concerted effort to reach out to its stakeholders with a series of ‘Farmer Forum’ open meetings. two meetings have been held lately, one in glynllifon near caernarfon and another at Bridgend college. the next opportunity to engage with hcc staff will be an online webinar next Monday, 5 February at 7pm. to register for the webinar on 5 February, click here.

hcc’s head of Strategic Marketing and connections, Laura Pickup said: “the Farmer Forum meetings are a great opportunity to explain what hcc is doing to promote and defend the ‘Welsh Way’ of producing red meat. they are also a two-way

discussion – a chance for producers to ask questions and express their views and opinions with us.

“it’s important that we communicate with our stakeholders, and share insight and intelligence on the red meat sector. Providing the people that work within the industry with a platform to air their views is equally important.”

Laura Pickup is encouraging stakeholders to join next week’s webinar. “So far in this latest round of meetings we have held face-to-face events at two Welsh agricultural colleges and plan to visit others across the country during 2024. they have been combined with workshops for college students during the day led by members of hcc’s

FOLLOWING the devastating news that TATA steel intends closing blast furnaces at Port Talbot, Welsh Economy Minister Vaughan Gething told Radio 4’s Today Programme that “Whilst change is required, this is … about jobs ...about steel being a sovereign asset …about whether this really will reduce emissions if you’ve still got to have blast furnace steel produced in another part of the world…my worry is that we could have a plan today that transfers Welsh workers’ jobs and Welsh emissions to another part of the world…[UK Government] need to recognise that if Levelling Up ever meant anything, it surely cannot mean the loss of 2,500 direct well paid jobs, many more within the wider economy.”

the FuW fully supports these sentiments, and agrees that a better transition must be found for an industry that is of such importance to Port talbot, Wales and the uK.

But those who have read the Welsh government’s “Potential economic effects of the Sustainable Farming Scheme” paper will have noticed alarming similarities between the impacts of tAtA steel’s proposals and those outlined by the Welsh government in their latest Sustainable Farming Scheme consultation.

industry and sustainability staff. those workshops focus on topics such as eating quality and carcase grading and provide an opportunity to obtain opinions from young farmers.

“the webinar is the next meeting in our series of engagement events, and offers a chance for more people to hear from hcc

“Attendees will be able to listen to three short presentations on our recent marketing activity for Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef, hear about the sustainability of the Welsh red meat industry and receive the latest market data. they will also be able to share thoughts on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and arm themselves with up-todate information.”

the paper suggests that the Welsh government’s proposals will result in a reduction in Standard Labour requirements on farms equivalent to 2,564 jobs. This is a figure which does not include further job losses in the wider economy, which are likely to add significantly to the figure, given that the model only considers around half of the recipients of Welsh farm support, but nevertheless estimates an 11% reduction in livestock numbersmeaning far less need for services such as farm vets and feed merchants.

the report suggests their plans would result in a devastating fall in what are already low average Welsh Farm Business incomes of between £6,800 and £9,300. For lowland livestock farms, which had the lowest incomes in 202122, the modelling suggests this would mean a fall from an average family farm income of £26,500 to just over £20,000.

the report also acknowledges that farm incomes may be reduced even further by the scheme and other Welsh government rules, stating: “Future elective elements of the SFS will incur further

compliance costs, meaning that even if payments match [current payments] the net effect on Farm Business income will be less. As modelled, farmers are being asked to deliver more (e.g. in terms of environmental delivery) for approximately the same level of support funding…, the scope for dynamic adjustments may be constrained by other policy constraints, such as pollution control regulations.” given the predicted reduction in livestock numbers, those keen on increasing arable and vegetable production in Wales might see a way forward, at least for some - but the current Welsh government proposals scupper any such plans by locking hundreds of thousands of acres of land once used for arable and vegetable production into unploughable ‘habitat’ land. yet food - whether vegetable or animal - like steel production, should be treated as what Mr gething describes as a ‘sovereign asset’. We already import around 50% of the food we consume, and our exposure to food insecurity has become more obvious than ever as a result of the war in ukraine and the resulting increase in food prices. Mr gething rightly highlighted how unacceptable it would be to transfer “…Welsh workers’ jobs and Welsh emissions to another part of the world”. But the current Welsh government proposals would lead to precisely that. Welsh food production has one of the lowest carbon and environmental footprints in the world, so the Welsh government’s modelling suggests their proposals will simply transfer jobs and emissions to outside the uK. the FuW have always taken as read the fact that our government in Wales will work for the benefit of the entire population, but some of our members are feeling that the sound principles so well expressed by Mr gething are not applied to rural areas because they tend to have very few Welsh Labour representatives - but surely no one would allow such considerations to influence their decisions when the jobs of working people are in the balance. the FuW is currently considering the Welsh government’s latest Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals and how they might be improved to prevent the severe economic damage to rural communities that Mr gething is rightly concerned about in the context of Port talbot.

Keeping primates as a home pet: Why it’s not a monkey business

IN recent years, the allure of owning exotic pets has grown, with primates often topping the list. These intelligent and social creatures, known for their playful antics and expressive faces, might seem like the perfect addition to any animal-loving household. However, contrary to this rosy picture, the reality of keeping primates as pets is fraught with challenges and ethical dilemmas. The RSPCA strongly advises against this practice and is actively calling for a ban on buying, selling, and keeping primates as pets.

One of the most significant considerations for wouldbe primate owners is the sheer length of their lifespans. Some species can live for 20-40 years, making them a longterm commitment, akin to adopting a child. Moreover, while young primates might look endearing and harmless, they can become unexpectedly aggressive as they mature. there are numerous instances where pet primates have bitten and attacked their owners, leading to severe injuries.

A typical home environment fails to provide the necessary conditions for a primate’s well-being. these animals need ample space, social interaction with their species, and constant mental stimulation – something far beyond what a

regular living room can offer. Furthermore, certain monkeys, like marmosets, are known to scent mark their territory, leaving a musky odor that can be overwhelming. the complexity of a primate’s diet is often underestimated. Many pet primates suffer from metabolic bone disease, a painful condition resulting from poor diet and lack of uV light exposure. even with the best intentions, most owners are not equipped to provide the specialized diet that these animals

require. Additionally, finding a vet who specializes in primate care can be challenging and expensive.

Primates can transmit diseases to humans, including measles and herpes, posing a public health risk. this zoonotic potential adds another layer of complexity to primate ownership and can have severe implications for both the animal and human members of the household.

Primates are inherently social

creatures that thrive in groups. isolating them from their kind can lead to significant psychological distress. the practice of removing baby primates from their mothers, often done to ‘tame’ them, causes extreme suffering and longlasting behavioral issues. human interaction is no substitute for the companionship and social dynamics they experience with their species.

While the idea of keeping a primate as a pet might seem exciting,

it is important to consider the animal’s welfare and the practical implications. these are wild animals with complex needs that are almost impossible to meet in a domestic setting. the rSPcA’s stance against the practice is based on a deep understanding of these animals’ needs and the numerous welfare issues that arise when they are kept as pets. We strongly urge our readers to consider these factors and support the call for a ban on primate pet ownership.

Swansea prof highlights healthcare IT risks

IN the wake of the Post Office Horizon scandal highlighting the unreliability of computer evidence, a new booklet warns of potentially damaging IT issues in healthcare.

harold thimbleby, professor emeritus of computer science at Swansea university, and his wife, Prue thimbleby, have just published Patient Safety — Stories for a Digital World, a booklet based on Professor thimbleby’s award-winning book Fix it (Oxford university Press).

Praising the book at the time, the British Medical Book Awards judges said it should be read by all staff in healthcare.

“however, healthcare staff are busy, so we have written this powerful, quick-read version that we hope will be widely read and impact how we think about computers and help avoid future scenarios like the horizon scandal,” said Professor thimbleby.

“years ago, quack doctors were a danger to everybody.

“the government responded by passing the Medical Act of 1858 because, in the Act’s opening words, “’it is expedient that persons requiring medical aid should be enabled to distinguish qualified from unqualified practitioners”.

“We now think the idea of registering qualified doctors is self-evident.

“it is time the

government legislated so that everyone can avoid being the victims of quack computer systems.”

he added: “currently when an anaesthetist presses a button to put you to sleep, they have to be competent and will have up-to-date qualifications backed up by years of training. yet what that button does to you is anyone’s guess because it was programmed by somebody who may never have passed any

relevant qualifications.

“there are no regulations governing the qualification of people programming any system, whether for accounting (as in horizon) or delivering anaesthetics, or anything else.” the authors want urgent action by the government so that patients can be sure future systems are built by properly qualified developers and certified to meet safety and quality

standards.

Patient SafetyStories for a Digital World examines the Post Office horizon problems and parallel stories across the nhS and internationally. the booklet describes safety ratings and essential regulatory improvements. it also contains advice for anyone facing disciplinary proceedings or caught up in or investigating computer problems

Mature UWTSD Advocacy Graduate works with Age Cymru

Dennis joined the BA Advocacy programme in 2020 and had a varied career prior to retirement, working as an Independent Professional Advocate in the Children’s sector.

he said: “it was a job i thoroughly enjoyed, especially the privilege of watching young people in care take charge of their lives and become selfadvocates and speak up for themselves.”

During his time at uWtSD, Dennis undertook voluntary work as a befriender for Age cymru, and through this connection after graduating, he now leads on their hOPe Project in carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire recruiting volunteer advocates and clients.

the hOPe (helping others participate and engage) project delivers advocacy support for older people and carers across Wales through a range of advocacy

models by recruiting and training and supporting project volunteers. the project aims to support people at an early stage in their issues or concerns preventing them slipping into crisis.

Dennis said: “hOPe project with Age cymru, gives me the chance to learn about helping those over 55 years of age in the community. engaging with those in need before they get to a crisis stage and require fully professional advocacy. i am an expert on children’s advocacy but am learning about advocacy for older people.

“My role is to recruit, guide, train, coach and encourage volunteers, to become independent, volunteer advocates. i work with them, helping clients or their carers who have a need for advocacy assistance. So that they achieve the best possible outcomes. everything is client led in respect of their views, wishes and

feelings.”

Prior to joining uWtSD, Dennis had an NVQ qualification, but he wanted to continue his learning journey and enrolled on the Advocacy degree course at the university’s carmarthen campus.

he said: “i thoroughly enjoyed the whole course, especially the open, transparent discussions and range of opinions from the outstanding lecturers and colleagues on the course. the arguments, discussions and points of view were excellent.

“All the lecturers were very patient with someone who was not academic and who had last written an essay 55 years ago. there were no barriers for me at all. the humanities team went out of their way to make us all welcome. it was hard work but well worth the effort. i was undoubtedly the oldest on the course.”

uWtSD Advocacy Programme Manager Ken Dicks said:

“As a mature student, Dennis brought a wealth of experience to his studies on the BA Advocacy course and continued to develop his

skills and understanding by volunteering alongside his academic studies. his post with Age cymru allows him to utilise the knowledge gained during his studies to support other members of his community.”

Limited edition Modena Sport joins Maserati’s UK Grecale line-up

ITALIAN luxury brand Maserati has introduced a new limited edition, Modena Sport, to its Grecale line-up, adding a further enticing style and technology option for discerning SUV buyers in the UK. the new version slots in between the mid-range Modena and flagship Trofeo, with the 50 examples destined for our shores available to order now. Powered by the two-litre 330hp mild hybrid engine, it is allied to an eight-speed ZF transmission and offers the promise of swift performance, with zero to 62 mph dispatched in just 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph. Underneath it benefits from a mechanical limited slip differential and Maserati’s adaptive Skyhook suspension with electronically variable active damping.

Befitting its name, the grecale Modena Sport is distinguished through striking 21-inch crio gloss Black forged alloy wheels, matching its exterior black details such as front splitter, side skirt inserts, daylight opening and badge

finishes. Complementing its stealth look are red brake callipers and rear privacy glass. the new addition also comes with an electric panoramic sunroof and is available in a choice of four shades, Bianco Astro, Blu intenso, grigio Lava and nero tempesta.

On the inside, its upmarket cabin features full premium leather upholstery in black or red, with chevron stitching design, offset by high gloss piano black wood trim. the new Modena Sport is comprehensively specified, with a

plethora of comfort and technology features. included as standard are Apple carPlaytM and Android AutotM, Sonus Faber premium sound system, active cruise control, front and rear parking sensors with rear active braking, full LeD headlights,

hill descent control, rear view camera, wireless charger, 12.3inch touchscreen and 8.8-inch multi-function comfort screen. See www.maserati. com/uk for more information or contact your nearest Maserati retailer.

Welsh Government to ban disposable vapes

Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Lynne Neagle has confirmed the Welsh Government will press ahead with plans to ban disposable vapes and support UK Government legislation to increase the smoking age and restrict sales of vapes.

it follows today’s (Monday 29 January) publication of the outcome of the four nations consultation ‘creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping’. the consultation closed on 6 December and received 27,921 responses, 1,018 from Wales.

the uK government will now bring forward a tobacco and Vapes Bill at the earliest opportunity that will take measures to: change the age of sale for all tobacco products, cigarette papers and herbal smoking products whereby anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never legally be sold (and also in Scotland never legally purchase)

Increased

I NCREASED availability of community pharmacy services has meant hundreds of thousands of people haven’t needed GP consultations, Health Minister Eluned Morgan has announced.

Substantial reforms introduced in April 2022, mean a wider than ever range of clinical services are being offered by community pharmacists in Wales.

today, a new report – ‘Presgripsiwn newydd – A new Prescription – One year on’ – has highlighted the beneficial impact of those services for people needing to access primary care.

tobacco products alongside prohibiting proxy sales, and changing warning notices introduce regulation making powers to restrict flavours, point of sale and packaging for vaping products (nicotine and non-nicotine) as well as other consumer nicotine products introduce new enforcement powers for england and Wales for breaches of age of sale legislation for tobacco and vapes (nicotine and non-nicotine) and other consumer nicotine products.

the Welsh government, along with the uK and Scottish governments intend to introduce legislation to implement a ban on disposable vapes, including both nicotine and non-nicotine containing products due to their significant environmental impacts.

Deputy Minister for Mental health and Wellbeing, Lyne neagle said:

“Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in

Wales. it causes a quarter of all cancer deaths in the uK and is responsible for 80,000 preventable deaths in the uK of which around 5,600 are in Wales, each year. Whilst vapes can be useful to some smokers in supporting smoking cessation, data shows the number of children using vapes has tripled in the past 3 years. Due to their nicotine content and the unknown long-term harms, vaping carries a risk of harm and addiction

for children.

the use of singleuse vapes has also grown in recent years to the point that almost 5 million are either littered or thrown away each week. not only is this extremely wasteful because of their hard to recycle components, but disposable vapes are known to be used by children and when littered they can release toxic chemicals into the environment.

We want to take

all actions possible to stop young people from starting smoking in the first place, to prevent youth vaping and to tackle the effects singleuse vapes are having on our environment. i am grateful to all those from Wales who contributed to this consultation. We will now work jointly with the other nations and take collective action to tackle the harms caused by smoking and youth vaping across the uK.”

availability of community pharmacy services

of medicines, and influenza vaccinations, through the new clinical community Pharmacy Service (ccPS). the report shows more than half a million consultations took place across all ccPS services in the first year following its launch. this included nearly 240,000 consultations for a range of common ailments such as sore throats, allergic reactions and back pain - an increase of 73.9% on the year before and more than a fivefold increase from five years ago, and more than 160,000 nhS seasonal flu vaccinations.

HAlmost all pharmacies across Wales now provide free advice and treatment for common ailments, access to the morning after pill and oral contraception, emergency supplies

Almost 80% of people who visited a pharmacy and used the ccPS reported they would have visited a gP or out of hours service if it was not available, freeing up over 400K appointments for others to see their gP.

For many people this means access to care closer to where they live and work, usually without the need for an appointment. More than 2,800 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have completed the additional training which allows them to provide these services.

A further 46,000 consultations took place in 119 pharmacies, with a pharmacist prescriber who had undertaken additional training enabling them to treat a wider range of illnesses such as urinary tract, ear and skin infections which otherwise could only be treated by a gP.

Minister for health and Social Services, eluned Morgan said:

“In the first year following our reforms, significant progress has been made to utilise the skills, expertise and accessibility of pharmacists in our

communities more effectively.”

“this is providing a stronger focus on clinical service provision, on workforce development, and on promoting integration of pharmacies within primary care, all alongside our largest ever investment in the sector.”

“i am delighted to see it is helping to ensure more people in Wales have access to the nhS care they need from appropriately skilled professionals, closer to home, whenever they need it.”

chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Andrew Evans said:

“Pharmacists are experts in medicines and undergo extensive training to provide clinical care including giving advice and treatment for common conditions, contraception and vaccinations.”

“Our community pharmacy reforms are not only improving access to care but also ensuring we fully utilise the clinical skills and expertise of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in every part of Wales. the support we are providing means more pharmacists than ever are completing additional training so they can prescribe medicines for people reducing further still the number of people who need to visit their gP.”

“For most people, their community pharmacy will be the most accessible source of trusted advice and treatment when they feel unwell. enabling pharmacists to provide an extended range of nhS clinical services means more people in Wales can access the care they need, from their pharmacy, when they need it.”

Love of art brings generations together at Gwynedd care home

Two generations came together at a Gwynedd care home to celebrate the Welsh patron saint of love.

School children and residents at Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont newydd in caernarfon worked hand in hand to produce a special artwork featuring Santes Dwynwen.

youngsters from ysgol yr hendre, in the town, have been visiting the care home since early January in an innovative programme designed to bridge the gap between generations.

the seven and eightyear olds have interacting with residents via various arts and crafts activities and firm friendships are being built up between the two age groups.

Bryn Seiont newydd enrichment co-ordinator elliw Jones led the activity, asking the children and residents to create a collage to celebrate Santes Dwynwen using small pieces of coloured tissue paper, paint, glitter and glue on a paper plate.

“i’m asking them to create lots of colourful patterns and to help each other as much as they can. it’s a very special experience for the children and the older residents are helping them as much as they can.

“having the pupils from ysgol yr hendre visit Bryn Seiont newydd is a real joy. the residents have become great friends with the pupils in a very short time and it’s lovely to see the children talking so freely to the residents and working alongside each other, chatting and helping each other,” she said.

the tale of Dwynwen is steeped in Welsh folklore. Forbidden by her father, Brychan, to marry her sweetheart, Maelon because she had already promised her to someone else, Dwynwen retreated to ynys Llanddwyn off the Anglesey coast to live the life of a recluse until her death, in about 460AD.

Dwynwen is said to have studied the healing properties of local herbs and thus was able to

cure many illnesses and people from all over Wales visited her holy well at which the movement of fish within its waters was believed to indicate lovers’ destinies.

ysgol yr hendre classroom assistant Libby thomas said the children looked forward to the visits to Bryn Seiont newydd.

“they are from year 3 and there are 50 children in the group split into two classes so we bring them to Bryn Seiont newydd in groups of about 10 at a time so they all have an opportunity to meet the residents and take part in art and craft work.

“the children have reacted magnificently to the challenge of meeting people they did not know previously and have certainly developed new skills and have done so carefully and with empathy. coming here these past few weeks have certainly been an eye opener for them.”

the visit brought back many happy memories for one Bryn Seiont newydd resident in particular.

huw Williams attended ysgol yr hendre, which is situated near to Segontium, the old roman fort in caernarfon, as a young boy.

“that was many years ago now and the school has changed a lot. it’s moved to a new building of course and there are lots more children at the school as well these days.

“When i was there in the late 1960s we didn’t have a school uniform either, we just wore our ordinary, everyday clothes. But we did painting and craft work just like this so that hasn’t changed,” he said.

Fellow resident Marie hughes, originally from holyhead, helped the youngsters sitting with her to make tightly folded paper flowers to glue onto their collages.

“it has been just lovely working with the children, they’ve been a breath of fresh air,” she said.

Pupils Frankie Jones, eight, and her friend, Awel Jones, seven, said they had enjoyed working with the residents at Bryn

Seiont newydd.

“it’s been cool making the collages and meeting and working with the residents. i worked with eve who was funny because she had a pink feather in her hair,” said Frankie.

Pendine’s musicianin-residence, nia

Davies Williams, said:

“groups of children from ysgol yr hendre have been visiting Bryn Seiont newydd since the start of term and it is so lovely to see them interact with the residents.

“Some of the residents and the

children might be a little reticent at the start but the barriers are soon broken down and it is wonderful to see the relationship between them blossom as the initial shyness gives way to hugs as the children head off back to their school.”

Shared-spaces.co.uk

SSH@businessinfocus.co.uk

ness

New CBI Wales Chair announced

LEADING business

figure Alison Orrells is the new Chair of CBI Wales.

As chief executive Officer of Neath-based the Safety Letterbox company, Alison has overseen the company’s rise to become the uK’s leading manufacturer of mailboxes and parcel boxes with products sold worldwide.

Alison has also worked in senior management roles for major uK retail groups, is a founding board member of Manufacturing Wales and chairs Sketty hall Business School’s advisory board.

She succeeded Lance Burn in the role.

Alison Orrells said: “i’m excited to chair cBi Wales. i am acutely

aware of the challenges experienced by businesses, in particular SMes, and how lack of resources can often stifle their growth.

“My experience running a business through Brexit, cOViD-19, a recession and a cost of living crisis will help firms through uncertain times.

“As one of the few female ceOs in the uK manufacturing sector, i want to challenge the barriers that prevent women from succeeding in business.

“equality and diversity are paramount, and i look forward to supporting diversity initiatives such as cBi Wales’s Women in Leadership network.”

ian Price, Director, cBi Wales, said: “i’ve

worked with Alison for a long time on the cBi Wales council and SMe national council.

“her extensive knowledge of SMes, the manufacturing sector and import exports is second to none and will help

businesses navigate their current challenges.

“With a new First Minister and a general election in 2024, Alison will build consensus between business and politicians on the need to tackle skills shortages, support funding for

apprenticeships and help the local economy transition to net zero and guarantee sustainable growth.

“i thank Lance for his work as cBi Wales chair and wish him well for the future.”

FSB hits out at energy companies

THE FEDERATION of Small Businesses (FSB) says some energy suppliers are using rocketing standing charges to inflate bills for small firms.

in response to Ofgem’s recent consultation on the standing charges system, FSB flagged fresh complaints from members of staggering rises – up to 12-fold increases – in the fixed fee set by energy suppliers regardless of energy usage.

While standing charges are capped for household customers, they are now on a second year of hikes for business customers of the same energy suppliers providing the same electricity.

Small businesses are often left with no explanation and have no means to change these stealth charges that drive up their energy bills. in one case, an independent auto parts business in Dorset paid 70p standing charges per day in July 2021. After multiple increases in the following two years, the charges have increased 12 times to £9.69 per day.

Similarly, a small tech firm in the Highlands saw

its standing charges jump from 32p to £7.50 per day, adding £2,500 to its annual energy bills.

currently, “operational costs” of energy suppliers make up around half of standing charges costs.

While operation costs are relevant to SMe business operations and upkeep - including metering, customer support and billing collection - others directly relate to the suppliers’ operational costs, such as advertising, branding and office costs.

Standing charges also incorporate costs related to energy supplier failure and acquisition from suppliers taking on failed businesses under the Supplier of Last resort (SOLr) procedure.

FSB wants:

• greater transparency on suppliers’ calculations of standing charges, including disclosing any third-Party i ntermediary commission

• exclusion of SOLr acquisition costs that will only directly benefit the profits of larger

energy suppliers

• Ofgem and energy suppliers work together to narrow the discrepancy of standing charges between rural and urban areas.

FSB’s latest Small Business index shows utilities were once again the most commonlycited cause of rising cost pressures, chosen by over three in five small firms (62.5%), a position they have held since Q1 2022.

the business group urges Ofgem to work to ensure that standing charges do not continue to rise at a time when small firms are squeezed under

rising business costs.

FSB national chair Martin Mctague said:

“energy suppliers have some explaining to do on the sudden and dramatic hikes in standing charges, which become a regressive form of billing that hamper small business growth, confidence, and investment.

“even now that the wholesale energy prices have come down from the peak we saw in 2022, small businesses are still scratching their head over skyrocketing bills.

“While parts of the standing charges are being reinvested into green and energy efficiency measures, there’s little to

no clarity on the cost makeup, and small businesses are forced to pay the increases with no options and explanations from their energy suppliers.

“Small firms do not have the same protection as household customers regarding energy price hikes. Business energy bills could stay sky-high if the standing charges system remains as it is now.

“A more transparent standing charges system is needed to ensure market competition and, most importantly, to enable small business customers to understand clearly what they are paying for.”

Chambers of Commerce demand customs clarity

THE BRITISH Chamber of Commerce has urged the UK Government to clarify plans around new customs processes that started on Wednesday, January 31, as firms remain in the dark about crucial aspects of their operation.

The first phase of the uK’s Border target Operating Model began on January 31, with imports of plant and animal products now requiring export health certificates.

It will be the first time in decades that EU firms will have to provide this documentation for goods they are sending to great Britain, and it is unclear how prepared they are for the change.

But of more concern is a lack of clarity around physical checks of consignments, due to start in April, and the cost of new charges for overseas imports to help

pay for the system.

Government figures show the uK imports just under 30% of all the food it consumes from the eu

William Bain, head of trade Policy at the Bcc, said: “the government is finally implementing major changes to great Britain’s inbound border controls and customs checks stemming from Brexit.

“ h owever, unanswered questions about its plans still exist. especially as businesses are already facing a tough start to the year, with container shipping prices quadrupling as the red Sea disruption continues.

“the initial changes this week should not cause many noticeable hold-ups for inbound goods, although EU firms will face new charges to get export health certificates and need to find vets to sign them.

“the bigger issue is physical checks on

a proportion of these imports, which are due to start in April.

“the government still hasn’t said what will happen if goods coming into the uK don’t have the necessary paperwork.

“Will they be stopped from entering or followed up afterwards? this could lead to hold-ups with deliveries if they’re not handled properly.

“there is also the common usage charge that will be made for consignments.

“the government has estimated the new border system will cost uK businesses £330m a year, but we still don’t know how much eu exporters will be charged to send goods.

“And there is a real fear that these extra costs will be passed on to the u K importer and their customers, putting upward pressure on inflation.

“Many smaller businesses in the eu

may also look at the new paperwork and costs and decide selling products to Britain is just not worth it.

“ t here’s clearly a communication challenge, and we think

the u K g overnment and the eu need to do more. u ntil businesses on both sides of the c hannel have all the information, it’s very difficult for them to plan ahead.

“With interest rates still high, inflation double its 2% target and supply chain disruption continuing to build, this uncertainty is the last thing firms need.”

W ITH ALISTAIRCAMERON

Medical Centres

Anyone who uses our local surgeries and medical centres will know how much pressure they are under. For many patients it is simply hard enough to get through on the phone to arrange an appointment.

nhS funding is clearly an issue and it is an unfortunate fact that we have seen the percentage of nhS funding in Wales spent on gP practice fall by 30% since 2005 from 8.7% to 6.1%. At the same time, the services by local practices have increased.

BMA cymru recently launched a Save Our Surgeries campaign with an online petition to the Welsh Senedd asking the Welsh government to commit to a rescue package for general Practice to provide gPs and their patients with the support which they need.

the petition, which closes on 2 February, states:-

“general Practice in Wales is under significant and growing strain. gP numbers are declining, demand is

struggling to recruit and retain staff.

“general practice is being forced to try and cope with inadequate resources, an unsustainable workload, and a workforce under pressure across the whole of Wales, with some areas in crisis.

“current inadequate capacity is a product of longstanding workload, workforce, and wellbeing issues, which correlate to the chronic underfunding of general medical services.”

Over 20,000 have signed the petition which means it will now be considered by the Senedd’s Petitions committee for debate in the Senedd.

For many of us, our gP surgery is the part of the nhS which we come into contact with the most in order to stay in good health. We therefore know how important it is to ensure that our surgeries and medical centres are properly funded. i have serious worries that if we they do not get this extra funding then there will be cuts to services.

i know from my meetings with Saundersfoot Medical entre alongside other councillors how much pressure the medical centre is facing, particularly in terms of staff recruitment, and i do not want to see any service cuts.

t may now be too late to sign the petition. however, i strongly urge readers to contact their local Senedd Members about this issue and get their support if this is debated in the Senedd.

If you wish to discuss these issues, please contact me at Facebook: AlistairCameronPembs Twitter: AlistairPembs Email: alistairc@traseweb.co.uk

Long-term sickness

AREAS with existing high levels of ill health and disability, like West Wales, are seeing the biggest rises in long-term sickness, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Monday (January 26).

the Foundation’s latest Labour Market Outlook examines recent changes to employment and economic inactivity due to ill-health in different parts of the country.

Although some areas of low employment are experiencing job growth, overall employment levels still haven’t yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.

the headline rate of unemployment is moreor-less steady at 4.2%. the rate of economic inactivity, those who have not looked for work in four weeks or are unavailable to start work in a fortnight, is 21%.

On the other hand, official labour market statistics for October to December show a continuing decline in job vacancies. the number of vacancies has now fallen for eighteen consecutive quarters.

the industry in which vacancies decreased the most was human health and social work, where the estimated number of vacancies fell by 37,000 (17.6%). however, over 34,000 vacancies still exist in that sector.

MINDING THE GAP

regional labour market gaps emerged during the deindustrialisation of the 1980s, followed by a fall during the 2000s and 2010s. recent headlines have focused on rising economic inactivity due to ill-health and the fall in employment.

n evertheless, many traditionally low employment areas of the country, such as tees Valley and Durham (+1.6 percentage points) and

West central Scotland, including glasgow (+1.5 percentage points), have experienced positive employment growth between March 2020 and September 2023. high employment areas such as cheshire (-2.2 percentage points), Surrey, and Sussex (-1.9 percentage points) have seen the biggest falls.

As a result, Britain’s pre-pandemic trend of falling regional employment gaps has continued in recent years.

the most troubling post-pandemic labour market change is the rise in economic inactivity due to ill health.

the number of economically inactive working-age people has risen from 5.1 to 5.8 per cent between March 2020 and September 2023. that rise equates to 300,000 people. the issue is particularly concerning as people who are inactive due to ill health tend to have extended periods of worklessness.

For example, over twice the share of working-age people who are inactive due to sickness are workless for at least two years compared to those who are unemployed.

Worryingly, the areas with the biggest rises in long-term sickness are those with existing high levels of ill-health.

Places like West Wales and Merseyside have seen levels of inactivity due to ill-health rise twice as fast as the national average (1.5 to 1.6 vs 0.7 percentage points), with levels now at 9.1 and 8.7 per cent, respectively. As a result, long-term sickness gaps across Britain are widening.

Looking at the types of places that have experienced sharp rises in long-term sickness, the research finds those areas tend to have particularly high shares of people with a disability and a low share of graduates.

THE WELSH STATISTICS

the OnS data covers Wales’s travel to work areas. they show concerningly low levels of employment in its former industrial heartlands.

in the Merthyr tydfil travel-to-work area, the level of economic inactivity is 26.6%. in Llanelli, it’s 25.4%. in Bridgend, the level is 30.7%.

those percentages equate to 39,000, 28,000, and 29,000 individuals, respectively. Although economic inactivity is lower than the uK average in Swansea, the number of economically inactive people in its travel-towork area is 59,000.

Further west, inactivity levels are more variable. the percentage of the economically inactive working-age population in the cardigan area is 24.3%. in Pembroke and tenby, it’s 22.2%. the percentage of economically inactive working-age people in the haverfordwest and Milford area is 23%.

Although those figures are better than the uK national average, they still show over a fifth of all working-age adults as neither looking for nor available for work.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for each West Wales area listed above is significantly lower than the uK average.

LONG-TERM SICKNESS

the worrying rise in long-term sickness has blunted Britain’s postpandemic employment recovery.

Lancashire and north West London have seen big rises in long-term sickness and employment, creating challenges for local labour markets. however, there are also important nuances.

embeds economic inactivity

Areas like the tees Valley and Durham have experienced rising employment levels and increased inactivity due to ill health. this shows that the challenges and opportunities of Britain’s post-pandemic labour market – rising illhealth and a tight labour market – can co-exist in the same local areas.

charlie Mccurdy, economist at the resolution Foundation, said: “the uK’s employment rate is slowly returning to its pre-pandemic level, a

journey prolonged by a worrying rise in longterm sickness. But some parts of the country have fared far better than others.

“While Britain’s employment gaps have continued to fall, its sickness gaps have

widened.

“it’s vital that national, regional and local policy makers understand these regional differences as they face up to the challenges and opportunities of local labour markets up and down the country.”

Senedd Committee concerned about electoral reform

THE WELSH Government’s proposals to change the voting system by the next Senedd election could see voter choice being trumped by political party influence, according to a Senedd Committee.

A majority of the reform Bill committee, which is scrutinising the plans put forward by the Welsh government, agrees with the general principles of the Bill. Still, the committee is united in concerns that the closed-list voting system could reduce voter choice. the current closedlist proposals would mean voters could only choose between specific candidates standing for a political party or between parties and independent candidates.

the committee heard evidence from numerous experts that this would reduce the choice available to voters and risk voter dissatisfaction.

While the committee stopped short of recommending an alternative voting system, it did see merits in open or flexible lists or the Single transferable Vote (StV) system.

Open or flexible lists allow political parties to prioritise their candidates, but voters can still choose which candidate they want to support on a party’s list. in contrast, StV allows voters to rank candidates in their preferred order.

the committee’s report urges all Members of the Senedd to work together to

agree on amendments to the proposed voting system.

David rees, MS, chair of the reform Bill committee, said, “the reform Bill committee has spent the last few months carefully scrutinising proposals for some of the most significant changes to Welsh democracy since devolution.

“We are united in our concerns about the

impact of the voting system being put forward by the Welsh government on the level of voters’ ability to choose who represents them.

“getting the electoral system right is fundamental to the health of democracy in Wales, and we have significant reservations about whether closedlist elections represent a positive step forward.”

MY GREATGRANDFATHER was a member of the Pembrokeshire Constabulary, lastly in Milford Haven when he served as Personal Officer to the Chief Constable whose official residence was Bunker’s Hill. I hope he would be proud to know his great-granddaughter is Labour & Co-operative Party candidate for Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner. i returned to Pembrokeshire with my family after serving thirty years in hM Diplomatic Service. My last work at the Foreign Office was in the council of europe team and in the human rights and Democracy Department. I have a specific interest in the rule of law and security from a human rights perspective.

My road to politics and the Labour Party was through the trade union movement. i represented the interests of several thousand members of staff when i was elected to chair the Foreign Office trade unions in negotiations with management.

One election we already have the date for is the Police and crime commissioner elections on thursday 2 May 2024. if elected by you, i pledge to use my experience to support our police force and to make sure our communities can have trust and confidence in our police. there’s a huge crisis in funding for our public services, including policing. the conservative Westminster government has so much to answer for having destroyed our country’s economy. Labour believes security is the bedrock on which opportunities

are built, communities can thrive, and local economies can prosper. instead of standing up for security, the tories have done the opposite. criminals today are less than half as likely to be caught as they were under the last Labour government. that is the scale of collapse in law and order under the conservative government. this wasn’t an accident – it was the result of deliberate tory choices. A choice to cut police from our streets, a choice to undermine respect for the rule of law. Our communities cannot afford more of the same. things have got to change. Labour will be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. We need to overhaul the way public services and community organisations work with young people, restoring hope, but also stronger early intervention. We need action across society to tackle violence against women and girls, and we need policing rooted in our communities. the Welsh Labour government stepped up and provided the money for Police community Support Officers whilst the Welsh budget allowed. What will make the most difference, however, is a Labour government at Westminster again, making better, fairer choices so that we get Britain’s future back.

in AuguSt of last year, the uK government set out proposals to ensure long-term access to cash. treasury Ministers spoke of taking “action” to protect access to cash in law, and of protecting fee-free withdrawals and the availability of cash facilities “within a reasonable distance.” recent announcements will put these measures to the test.

Late last week, Barclays announced that its remaining ceredigion branches (in Aberystwyth and cardigan), as well as its branch in haverfordwest, will close before the end of May. We have sadly seen a steady decline in banking services in our towns as part of a broader trend of branch closures. Since May 2022, over 1,100 branches have closed across the uK. in rural areas such as west Wales, the consequences of these closures are compounded by the cumulative impact of a decade of closures. Last week’s announcement will leave ceredigion and Pembrokeshire without a single Barclays branch. the bank will no doubt point to the support available at their popup advice centres, and refer customers to the banking services available at the Post Office, as they have done so when justifying previous branch closures.

Such arguments may have held some water when it was still possible to visit a branch in the next town, but they offer a pitiful excuse when there are no longer any branches in the two

westernmost counties of south Wales! it is a fact that many people now use online banking, and that these services will cater for the needs of many. however, for others, such as the self-employed or small business seeking to deposit cash takings, or the small local charity looking for help to change a mandate or account signatory, access to physical banking services remain important. A mere 3 days before I was notified of Barclays’ decision, i published a survey aimed at charitable and community organisations to gather their experiences of banking in ceredigion. Little could i have imagined how timely it would become. this deteriorating situation calls for a long-term solution, and Barclays’s decision has reinforced my belief that banking hubs should be established in rural areas so that access to physical banking advice and services is retained. it is a concept that i have been championing since i introduced a ten Minute rule Bill in Parliament back in 2018 calling on the uK government to make provision for community banking hubs. Such hubs, whereby different banks agree to colocate services in a single building is one that commands widespread support, and although i welcome the efforts so far to establish banking hubs across the uK, the pace at which the roll out is taking place needs to accelerate so that areas in ceredigion and Pembrokeshire can benefit.

Green Man farm purchase backfires on Gething

A CONTROVERSIAL pie-in-the-sky piece of spending by the Welsh Government has spectacularly backfired.

the Welsh government already faced accusations that its purchase of gilestone Farm near talybonton-usk was a waste of public money. now, vague plans to use the land to support the commercial activities of the green Man Festival are in tatters.

the land now homes a pair of nesting ospreys. As a result, the planned development can’t take place.

A DECISION MADE IN HASTE

in any event, the idea the land purchase was essential to secure the green Man Festival’s future had already been torpedoed. the Festival was never going to relocate to gilestone Farm.

instead, a company headed by one of the Festival’s organisers would have taken a tenancy and redeveloped it to accommodate training facilities.

Or, at least, that’s

what emerged after the company concerned finally devised a business plan - with Welsh government help - over twelve months after the Farm’s acquisition.

in a report published last year, Audit Wales criticised the conduct of the Welsh government’s purchase of gilestone Farm over the open market price. the report and subsequent examination of the acquisition by a Senedd committee revealed that the economy Minister, Vaughan gething, ignored protocols regarding the Farm’s purchase and was either kept in the dark by Welsh government civil servants or blind to the lack of a workable business plan and the reality of the green Man Festival’s intentions for the land.

Audit Wales also ridiculed suggestions that there was any pressure to spend the money used to buy the Farm, which emerged from an underspend during the financial year. it said the idea that the money had to be spent in short order or be lost was wrong and that

undue haste was used to circumvent commercial considerations or an assessment of risk. claims about the positive economic impacts the development would have are contested, as is the size of the green Man Festival’s beneficial impact on its locality.

An estimate produced for an industry survey suggests economic activity generated by the green Man Festival is short-term around its dates and confers few lasting benefits or more than seasonal jobs.

SECRET

NEGOTIATIONS AND THE SOCIAL NETWORK

the Welsh government’s purchase followed a series of secret negotiations between it and the green Man Festival stretching back several years.

the Festival gets subsidies from the Welsh government directly and a host of Welsh government agencies and arm’s length bodies. however, it is also partly owned by a multi-millionpound ticketing agency.

Welsh government

civil servants - and ministers - met with the Festival organisers, planning to give it even more public money and subsidies to boost Labour’s rural policies and polish its green credentials. however, Welsh government civil servants and Labour ministers ignored issues about the land, including its situation on a large flood plain, environmental issues, and pre-existing rights over the land. under Mr gething’s less than vigorous scrutiny, the Welsh government paid way more than the asking price for land on the market at a much lower price for a protracted period without being sold.

two Welsh government Ministers, Julie James and Jeremy Miles, subsequently had to recuse themselves from further roles in the decision-making process after it emerged they’d attended a dinner party at the home of a director of the Pr company working for the Festiva, which a Festival director also attended. the Pr company

in question, Deryn consulting, has wellknown - not to say notorious - links to Labour ministers.

GETHING CLAIMS BULLYING OVER SWEETHEART DEAL

After blowing £4.25m on little more than a back-of-a-fag-packet calculation, Mr gething found himself engulfed in the transaction’s fallout.

in a statement today, Mr gething tried to deflect from criticism of the Welsh government’s folly by criticising and smearing those who objected to the Welsh government putting money in the hands of a private business with corporate links to one of europe’s largest ticket agencies.

in a remarkably tetchy statement, Mr gething said: “We are always willing to listen, but Welsh Ministers do not change decisions based on threats issued by third parties, including where attempts are made to raise matters entirely

unrelated to the policy objectives in question.

“it is a matter of regret that discussions about gilestone Farm have sometimes fallen into this category.

“it is equally disappointing that elected officials and business partners have been subject to sustained and personal attacks regarding this matter.

“As the First Minister has stated in the Senedd, the Welsh government takes these matters very seriously, and it is concerning that women, in particular, have borne the brunt of personal and abusive criticism that has no place in our society.” in short, objectors were abusive, misogynistic sexists who did not have genuine concerns about public money being splurged on a credential-polishing vanity project for Labour Ministers’ connections and allies or Welsh g overnment-backed businesses already in receipt of large public subsidies.

A FIASCO AND A WASTE OF MONEY

Others saw things differently from Mr gething.

Cefin Campbell, Plaid cymru Member of the Senedd for Mid and West Wales, said: “this sorry tale has been a fiasco from the beginning - from questions over the purchase to a lack of meaningful local engagement.

“it is outrageous that Labour has spent £4.25 million of public money on a site now of no economic importance.

“So much could have been done with this money. For example, this £4.25 million could have funded Bwcabws, a vital transport service in West Wales, for around nine years. the service has now been scrapped.

“the money could have been used to expand free school meals to secondary school pupils who face poverty throughout Wales, but Labour decided not to do this.

“But what’s really concerning is that in the

aftermath of this fiasco the Labour party in Wales are pointing fingers at each other. they must all take responsibility and learn lessons from this debacle. the people of Wales are waiting for a government with ambition and a vision to change lives for the better.”

the area’s local MS, James evans, the Welsh conservative Shadow Minister for Mid Wales, said: “the purchase of gilestone Farm should never have happened in the first place.

“ c onservation concerns were raised early on in this process, as were concerns about the purchase of the Farm itself. now, the Labour Government finds itself holding an expensive asset for a purpose completely alien to their initial plan.

“the next time the Labour government plans to get the cheque book out, they should listen to local concerns and conduct themselves with far greater transparency.”

Tata and budgetary concerns top topics

WALES’ Finance

Minister Rebecca Evans has met the UK Government’s Chief Secretary to the Treasury, with the devastating job losses threatened at Tata and continued budgetary concerns at the fore of discussions.

[Thursday 25 January] the meeting with the chief Secretary took place in edinburgh as part of a series of crossgovernment finance meetings hosted by the Scottish government. rebecca evans raised concerns in relation to the potential closure of the blast furnaces at tata’s Port talbot site, and the importance of support for those impacted at the steel works and within the wider community.

She said: “the speed and scale of the threatened job losses are a serious concern. it is crucial that the uK government, working with tata steel, takes

steps to ease the transition to greener steel and preserve more jobs.

“it is extremely important that the funds promised by the uK government impact across all communities and individuals affected by redundancy and closures – the ramifications of this situation are farreaching.”

the Minister also raised concerns that the uK government is willing to grant additional budget flexibilities to both Scottish government and northern ireland, but not to Wales. She said: “We are simply seeking parity with Scotland to hold the budget flexibilities we should, rightly, hold here. the current limits on our flexibility makes it harder to respond quickly to emerging needs which in turn hampers our ability to maximise value for money.”

Prior to the meeting with the chief Secretary, Ministers and representatives from all four uK nations convened for their quarterly Finance: interministerial Standing committee (F:iSc).

here the Finance Minister made the case for more funding for public services.

She said: “i urge the uK government to use any emerging fiscal headroom to provide critical resources for public services in the Spring Budget. A choice to cut taxes is effectively a choice to cut spending, and the chancellor needs to recognise the

THIS week, Guto Owen, Director of Ynni Glan (Clean Energy) concludes his fourpart series on energy independence for Wales.

Across europe, governments have longestablished energy development companies, with pension funds behind them, to create wealth which in turn funds their public services. And that includes profiting from energy projects in Wales.

But it begs the question, when our public services are on their knees, why do we accommodate such developments while settling for so little in return? Mature countries take the responsibility to fund and maintain their high standards of public services. Some of those countries use our energy towards such ends. And some of those energy resources are found in parts of Wales which are amongst the most deprived in the whole of europe. With us being so rich in resources, why are our expectations so low?

Wales’ natural resources are an incredible asset. Assets which should be the foundation for business and enterprise; and which in turn fund excellent public services. We need the means to affect change; or else we’ll just continue our slide to being a means-tested nation.

significant pressures faced by the already hard-pressed services upon which the public depends.”

Both Wales and Scotland’s Ministers reiterated how the costof-living crisis should be a priority within the upcoming Spring Budget, signalling support for the Joseph rowntree Foundation and trussell trust’s calls for the uK government to fundamentally reform how benefit rates are determined and implement an essentials guarantee to ensure people are at least able to meet their basic costs.

We are in a deep costof-living crisis. the current orthodoxy presents no vision for the improvement of economic conditions in Wales. Some look east to London for salvation, yet again, but a quick glance to the west reveals that ireland’s corporate tax receipts alone will, this year, match the Welsh government’s entire budget. ireland’s economic model is a matter of debate but there are other economic models to also assess amongst europe’s small, high-achieving nations. they are all sovereign states who can determine what’s best for them. Worth thinking about if you’re a Welsh citizen waiting for treatment or a bus.

can the people of Wales be

persuaded to take their economic well-being into their own hands? At the moment, this is overwhelmingly dictated by factors over which Wales has no control. And the most important factor in controlling the cost of everythingwhether it’s buying food, clothes or goods; and running schools, hospitals, businesses or a farm - is the cost of energy. it’s the bottom-line. the rise in energy costs being the main driver behind the rise in inflation to control energy is to control inflation and so the economy. that is the reason why President Biden has named his signature policy of providing a massive boost to clean energy as the Inflation Reduction Act. An Act which invests many tens of billions of dollars into American clean energy, industry and manufacturing. it is Biden’s response to the 21st century’s inflection point on energy. But in order to control energy, you need to control a country. yes, the uSA is 100 times the size of Wales. Look, therefore, to norway, with a population of 5.5 million. in just the few minutes it has taken you to read these articles, norway’s energy-derived Sovereign Wealth Fund will have likely grown by a few £ million. Or, since the turn of 2023, grown by over £20,000 for every individual norwegian. Accumulated, over the years, the total will have reached £200,000, give or take, per person. that’s some perspective on energy’s wealth. the Fund will continue to grow as norway pivots to clean energy. there is huge wealth to be derived from natural resources and energy. And from co-operating with partners. energy is a short and long-term investment for any country.

Wales, therefore, to gain ownership of its resources and to develop energy wealth, on our terms. energy-based independence for Wales, as any country worth its salt would do.

death notices

RONALD FREDERICK

ELLIott B.A., B.SC. (HoNS)

L AMPHEy

eLLiOtt ronald Frederick B.A., B.Sc. (hons) Lamphey the death occurred peacefully at South Pembrokeshire hospital, Pembroke Dock on Sunday 21st January of Mr ronald Frederick elliott, affectionately known as ‘ron’ aged 85 years of Flemish court, Lamphey. Beloved husband of Joan. cherished Father of Susan. treasured grandfather of hayley, rebecca and nicholas and greatgrandfather of evie. Much loved Brother of trevor and Dianne. A private Funeral ceremony will take place at Bargoed Burials, Saron, Llandyssul. there will be immediate family flowers only. Donations in memory of ron can be forwarded direct to West Wales Biodiversity information centre (W.W.B.i c Whitland). the funeral arrangements are being conducted by e c thomas & Son Funeral Directors, 21, Main Street, Pembroke (01646) 682680 & Zoar chapel Funeral home, Llanteg, (01834) 831876.

VERA GRACE PRITCHARD

PritchArD Vera grace PeMBrOKe the death occurred peacefully at Withybush hospital on tuesday 16th January of Mrs Vera grace Pritchard, aged 95 years of Freemans Walk, Pembroke. Devoted Wife of 75 years to eric. Dearly loved Mum of Lynne and Andrew. cherished nan of James, Alex, Jessica and Lucy. treasured great nan of Kaito and riley Funeral service will take place on Monday 12th February at

Parc gwyn crematorium, narberth at 12.15pm. There will be family flowers only, with donations, if so desired for the British heart Foundation c/o e c thomas & Son Funeral Directors, 21, Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS (01646) 682680 & Zoar chapel Funeral home, Llanteg, narberth SA67 8Qh (01834) 831876 or via www.ecthomasandson. co.uk

MyRA JEAN MORGAN

MOrgAn Myra Jean Peacefully on Sunday, 21st January, with the family, Jean, northmead, narberth. Beloved wife of the late John, dear mother of Lynne and Pat, respected son-in-law of Davey loving grandmother of rhiannon, Bethan, Sion and Llinos, proud, greatgrandmother of Maia, Lola, harper, Millie, harry and Dougie. Funeral Service on thursday, 1st February at Bethesda chapel, high Street, narberth, at 11.15. Followed by cremation at Parc gwyn crematorium, at 12.15p.m. immediate family flowers only. Donations if so desired towards ty hafan, childrens hospice. c/o Ken Davies & Sons, Funeral Directors, Blaenwern, Bro Waldo, clunderwen. SA66 7nQ

PATRICIA CADD

cADD Patricia Pembroke the death occurred peacefully on thursday 18th January 2024 of Mrs Patricia Joanna cadd, affectionally known as ‘hope’ aged 98 years of hollyland care home, Pembroke. Devoted wife of the late Douglas cadd. Dearly loved Mum of nine

children. treasured nan and great-nan. hope will be sadly missed by her family and friends. the funeral service will take place on Saturday 17th February 2024 at St. Joseph’s roman catholic church, Monkton at 11:00am followed by a private interment. there will be family flowers only, with donations, if so desired to the royal British Legion, c/o e c thomas & Son Funeral Directors, 21, Main Street, Pembroke (01646) 682680 & Zoar chapel Funeral home, Llanteg, narberth (01834) 831876.

DAVID DOORBAR

DOOrBAr David A Quaker Meeting to celebrate the life of David Doorbar (d.26th August 2023) of Broad haven, will be held on Saturday 10th February 2024 at Milford haven Meeting house, Priory road, SA73 2DS at 2 pm. A bring and share lunch at 12:30pm will precede the Memorial Meeting. if you are planning to attend or need more details, please text Stephanie Mcgrath on 07518 159 040 or email stephymcgrath@ btinternet.com

MyFANWy DWyNWEN DAVIES

DAVieS Myfanwy Dwynwen the grange, Princes gate the death occurred peacefully at home on Monday 22nd January 2024 of Mrs Myfanwy Dwynwen Davies, aged 75 years of the grange, Princes gate. Devoted wife of the late elvet Davies. Dearly loved Mother of Selwyn, Annwen, Lynwen and carwyn. Much loved Mother-in-law of Allison,

Jason, Scott and Laura. treasured grandmother of iestyn, trystan, Joshua, Ffion, Bella, Jacob and Dion. the funeral service will take place on Friday 9th February 2024 at Parc gwyn crematorium, narberth at 2:30pm. there will be family flowers only, with donations, in lieu if so desired for the Paul Sartori Foundation may be sent c/o e c thomas & Son Funeral Directors, Zoar chapel Funeral home, Llanteg, narberth (01834) 831876 & 21, Main Street, Pembroke (01646) 682680 or via www. ecthomasandson.co.uk

MICHAEL GEOFFREy GOODRIDGE gOODriDge Michael geoffrey Johnston Suddenly on Friday, 19th January, at Withybush hospital, haverfordwest, geoff, of St Peters road, Johnston, haverfordwest. Beloved husband of eirlys, dear father of Michelle and Aled, loving grandad of Morgan and Menna, cherished brother-in-law, uncle and great-uncle. Funeral Service at Parc gwyn crematorium, narberth on Monday, 5th February at 11.30a.m. Family flowers only. enquiries to Ken Davies & Sons, Funeral Directors, clunderwen. tel: 01437 563319.

MICHAEL GEOFFREy

GOODRIDGE

hAcKett Shirley Lloyd of new road, hook Shirley passed away peacefully at Withybush general hospital on January 23rd aged 87 years. Much loved, she will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all her family and many friends. Funeral Monday

February 5th service 12.15 pm at hook gospel Mission, hook followed by cremation 1.45 pm at Parc gwyn crematorium, narberth. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made payable to Wales Air Ambulance and sent c/o Mrs. Ann Welham, Beran, Pill road, hook, haverfordwest, SA62 4nA. All enquiries to roy Folland & Son Funeral Directors (01437) 763821.

IVy ELSIE SKEATE

SKeAte ivy elsie newport Peacefully on Saturday 13th January at hillside home, goodwick, ivy aged 109 years. Beloved wife of the late Jim, loving mother of Margaret & irene and a much loved grandmother and great grandmother. Funeral service on tuesday 6th February at St Mary’s church newport at 2pm. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, made payable to ‘Paul Sartori Foundation’ c/o Paul Jenkins & Sons Funeral Directors, Feidr castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB. tel01348 873250.

TRUDy WILLIAMS WiLLiAMS trudy Birmingham Suddenly on tuesday 26th December 2023 at her home, trudy of tysley, Birmingham, formerly of clunderwen. Loving partner of John, dear mother of ethan, Aeron, cerys, Zak, Zane and Levi, beloved daughter of Marilyn and the late John and a dear sister of Leighton, edward, Peter and Simon. Public funeral service at Maenclochog cemetery on thursday 1st February at 11.00am. enquiries to Dennis Jones Funeral Director, efailwen.

tel 01994 419561.

TRUDy WILLIAMS FieLD John Lawton crundale (formerly of Milford haven) the death occurred peacefully at Withybush hospital, haverfordwest, on Sunday 21st January of Mr. John Lawton Field, aged 83 years of greenwell close, crundale and formerly of Milford haven. Devoted husband of Margaret, dearly loved father and father in law of Virginia and John, adored grandfather to Kathryn and her husband Matthew and cherished great grandfather of Florence. John will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. the funeral service will take place on thursday 8th February at 2.30pm at Parc gwyn crematorium, Narberth. Family flowers only, donations if desired may be sent to greenacres Animal rescue, ebbs Acres Farm, talbenny, haverfordwest, SA62 3XA. All enquiries to tom newing & Sons Ltd., hamilton court Funeral home, Dartmouth Street, Milford haven. telephone 01646 693180.

MAUREEN WHITE

White Maureen of haverfordwest Maureen passed away peacefully at Blaenmarlais residential home, narberth on 21st January, 2024 aged 91 years. Dearly loved, she will be missed by all who knew her. Funeral service, Friday 2nd February, 2.00pm at St. ismael’s church, uzmaston, haverfordwest. Family flowers only. All enquiries to roy Folland & Son Funeral Directors (01437)3821

THE EDITOR, 11 HAMILTON TERRACE, MILFORD HAVEN, PEMBROKESHIRE, SA73 3AL

EMAIL US AT: editor@herald.email

PIc Ture oF THe week!

THE

POST OFFICE

SCANDAL AND THE CHURCH’S CRISIS

DEAR SIR,

the recent revelations in the BBc Panorama programme “The Post Office Scandal” (aired on 25.4.22) should resonate deeply and distressingly with the Anglican community, especially in light of Paula Vennells’ near appointment as the Bishop of London. the programme, particularly in its segment from 35 to 42 minutes, highlights a profound moral paradox. it exposes how the Post Office concealed a suicide linked to the horizon computer system errors, while Paula Vennells, a key figure in this debacle, ironically cites Biblical morals. this scandal bears an uncanny resemblance to a crisis within the church, where numerous ministry trainees and children have suffered harm under the shadow of prominent

names such as canon Mike Pilavachi, John Smyth Qc, and rev Jonathan Fletcher. the severity of these issues hit close to home for me.

In 2017, as part of a fivemember ministry trainee group, two of us were unjustly accused of sexual misconduct, described in disturbingly coarse language. As a retired nhS gP, i am particularly concerned about the mental well-being of one of the accused, whose state is alarming.

More troubling is the church’s apparent inaction. Despite submitting a detailed witness report to an Archbishop, no formal inquiry was initiated. this raises a critical question: is such neglect and the systemic cover-up of bullying a standard practice in the church?

the parallel between the Post Office scandal and the church’s crisis is not only striking but deeply concerning. it calls for a serious introspection and action within the church to

address these ingrained issues of misconduct and cover-up.

James Hardy by email

RECENT DISCOVERy OF AN ANCIENT BURIAL GROUND IN WALES

DEAR SIR,

your article entitled ‘Ancient burial ground discovered in Wales’ identifies it as Mediaeval, while simultaneously mentioning that (roman) glassware imported from France (probably shipped from Brittany to caerleon) and (roman) pottery imported from north Africa (probably shipped from carthage to caerleon) have been found in some of the graves; many of which were irregularly interred.

your article estimates that the burial site “dates back to the 6th or 7th century” (on what basis?) but i have proved conclusively that roman civilization survived

in Wales until at least 700 A.D., i.e., when the 8th century A.D. commenced, following the Saxon destruction of caerleon on that date.

So, 1 or 2 centuries earlier is obviously wrong, yet it follows the conventional but erroneous view that Roman civilization finished shortly after circa 400 A.D., rather like ‘switching off the lights’. What utter nonsense! common sense indicates that some roman artefacts - similar to those found in the graveyard - would indeed still have been in common use after 700 A.D. , i.e., during the post-roman period (which, by the way, many historians trendily yet absurdly enjoy calling the ‘sub-roman’ period!).

therefore, it is logical to conclude that the interments spanned several centuries during and after the roman period, which explains why some of the bodies were buried in unconventional positions because that was done only after the roman civilization had ceased to

exist in Wales. John H Griffith-Davies

RECENT DISCOVERy OF AN ANCIENT BURIAL GROUND IN WALES

DEAR SIR, recent crime data for 2022/23 for Dyfed Powys Police caps off an 8-year trend of increasing crime levels across the board during the current Police and crime commissioner’s term of Office. Crime is now at almost three times the level it was when he took office in 2016. Shoplifting, farm thefts, county lines, domestic abuse, anti-social behaviour, violence. Our residents pay the commissioner to keep us safe through his everincreasing precept. his failed policies are on display now for everyone to see, while we, the residents, farmers and businesses, pay the price. Ian Harrison Conservative Candidate for Dyfed Police and Crime Commissioner

serVIces CARAVANS

CAR PARTS

CARPENTRy

CAMERAS & PHOTOGRAPHy

CLEARANCES

ELECTRICAL

FENCING, DRIVEWAyS AND LANDSCAPING

FABRICATION

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING

HAIRDRESSING

RECLAIMED BUILDING MATERIAL

RUBBISH AND WASTE REMOVAL

PROFESSIONAL CAR WASH

PODIATRy

SCRAP METAL

SHUTTERS & BLINDS

STORAGE TANKS

SOUND LIGHT AND STAGE

TECHNOLOGy AND COMPUTERS

TRAILERS

VAN CONVERSIONS WINDOWS

cardiff to intimidate scotland SIX NATIONS 2024

WALES is gearing up to create an intimidating atmosphere for Scotland in the upcoming Six Nations clash. Jonathan Humphreys, Wales’ forwards coach and former Scotland coach from 2013 to 2017, believes that the redhot ambiance of the Cardiff venue could play a pivotal role in setting the tone for a successful campaign.

Despite Scotland’s recent victory over Wales at Parc y Scarlets in 2020 and a decisive win at Murrayfield last season, their record in cardiff has been less than stellar. the last Scottish triumph in the Welsh capital dates back to 2002, leaving them with a formidable challenge to overcome the historical odds.

humphreys, with his unique insight into the Scottish team, emphasises the impact that playing in cardiff has on the opposition. he notes that the Principality Stadium’s atmosphere is often underestimated, describing it as noisy and intimidating, especially when the Welsh team is on the front foot and the crowd is rallying behind them.

Fresh faces ready to challenge Scotland

WELSH rugby stalwart Ryan Elias has commended the infusion of fresh talent into the Wales Six Nations squad as they gear up for their tournament opener against Scotland in Cardiff this Saturday.

the absence of key players such as Louis rees-Zammit, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, gareth Anscombe, tomas Francis, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan, and taulupe Faletau has paved the way for a younger generation to step up.

highlighting the distinctive design of the stadium, humphreys points out its enclosed nature, reminiscent of the old Arms Park. this architectural feature contributes to the uniqueness of the venue and amplifies the intimidating atmosphere, making it a challenging experience for visiting teams.

“Wales wanted the ability to still be enclosed like the old Arms Park was. it’s unusual compared to other stadiums how impressive that can be. Being the other side of it, it’s noisy. you try and enjoy the atmosphere, but it’s a bit difficult to do that,” he adds.

As the muchanticipated showdown approaches, Wales recognises that containing Scotland’s mercurial cocaptain, Finn russell, will be key to securing victory. having coached russell during his time up north, humphreys is familiar

“People underestimate the stadium, how noisy and intimidating it is,” states humphreys. “When you are the other side of that, it hits you. it is not a nice place to come, especially if Wales are on the front foot and going well, and the crowd is behind them.”

with the player’s ability to dismantle any defence in the world.

“i have worked with Finn for a while,” humphreys acknowledges. “he wants to play the game how he wants to play it. he wants to play what is in front of him. he doesn’t want to get too bogged down in how the opposition defend. that’s their DnA and what they hang their hat on.”

While russell’s dynamic style of play poses a formidable challenge, humphreys expresses confidence in Wales’ ability to counteract it. he points out that russell’s preference for playing instinctively and adapting to the unfolding game may provide Wales with an opportunity to exploit potential vulnerabilities in the Scottish defence.

As Wales prepares to face Scotland in this crucial Six nations encounter, the historical context, coupled with the intimidating atmosphere of the Principality Stadium, adds an extra layer of complexity to the competition. the cardiff crowd, known for its fervour, is poised to play a crucial role in supporting Wales in their quest for a triumphant start to the tournament.

Dafydd Jenkins, a 21-year-old exeter lock, takes on the captaincy, marking the youngest skipper for Wales since 1968. Additionally, cardiff quartet cam Winnett, evan Lloyd, Alex Mann, and Mackenzie Martin are among the five uncapped players injecting a sense of rejuvenation into the squad.

this notable overhaul signals a substantial reset on the road to the 2027 World cup in Australia, but elias, is optimistic about the team’s preparations for the upcoming clash with Scotland at the Principality Stadium.

In reflecting on the absence of familiar faces, Elias noted, “you are so used to seeing the old boys and experienced heads that have been there for years. i remember watching them growing up, people like Dan Biggar, who have been stalwarts for the country.” he emphasizes the competitiveness in training, acknowledging the necessity for the new, young talents to step up to the challenge, bringing a heightened level of sharpness and intensity to the team.

Despite the skepticism surrounding Wales due to the significant changes, Elias remains focused on the team’s internal goals, stating, “People might not be giving us much of a chance because there have been so many changes, but we are just concentrating on ourselves to put a performance in we can be proud of.”

Looking ahead, Wales faces consecutive challenges with trips to twickenham and Dublin following the Scotland match, underscoring the significance of a strong start. recent history is in Wales’ favor, with Scotland enduring 11 successive defeats in cardiff. if Wales can maintain this trend, it would not only send a strong message to their rivals but also defy predictions of a fifth-place finish, with only Italy expected to fare worse, according to bookmakers.

Wales assistant coach neil Jenkins acknowledges the prevailing skepticism but remains confident in the team’s ability to prove themselves. “We always believe we can prove ourselves. i think most people have written us off already, there is no doubting that. it is not something we tend to worry about,” says Jenkins. Stressing the importance of momentum in the Six Nations, he adds, “The first two games are always massive for us,” especially given the presence of several new players in the squad.

Parks’ men impress again

THE weather was good and Marble Hall was in great condition to hold a game with two teams who have the ability to play some good football.

Milford went into this fixture with confidence after winning last week and were a few players short with four of last weeks team either injured or not available. From the off Milford dominated and played some great football using the wide men who both work tirelessly to get up and down.

On the 16th Minute Scott Reid fired home from a ieuan rutherford pass to put the home side one up. Milford enjoyed a good period of play and were rewarded when Liam Parr played a sharp one two with tyler Sheil who bombed down the left wing driving into the bridge’s box to smash one into the top of the goal to put Milford 2-0 up.

Bridge pushed hard and had some good possession but Milford’s back 3 remained strong. After 30 minutes Alex thomas pulled one back for the Bridge with a header at the back post to pull the score back to 2-1. Shortly after the 2nd half kicked off both teams were forced into substitutions when there was a clash of heads with both players attending hospital for stitches. the hosts scored a third as rutherford released reid who volleyed home into the top corner. Both teams pushed and it was the bridge who scored in the 88th minute to make it 3-2. Both teams had further chances but Parks’ men got the win and another 3 precious points towards safety and are now only 4 points off 3rd place.

Clarby bounce back with 3-2 win against Swifts

ON the back of two disappointing defeats, Matthew Fox’ team hosted in form Monkton Swifts. The visitors have started 2024 really well and would have been full of confidence going into this fixture.

Visitors Monkton made better start and could have got an early goal a Ben Steele free kick was well saved by rhys Mansell. then on 15 minutes Dylan Davies hit outside of the post from tight angle with the hosts under the cosh.

Clarby’s first chance came after 19 minutes, Laurie howarth went one on one with keeper taylor gullam who kept it out. the hosts then took the lead after 23 minutes, as a result of deep cross looped back into the area by Matthew Davies and Laurie howarth was

at the far post to header home, putting clarby 1-0 up.

With half time around the corner it was 2-0 after good play down clarby’s left, a rifled cross by travis Jones was met with a from in form Ben John to double the lead. early in the second half connor hay charged down a back pass and blocked Mansells clearance to roll into an empty net to make it 2-1.

Swifts kept pushing and after 81 minutes Steele’s header from a corner made it all level with not much time left. however step up rob Morgan who’s brilliant free kick in the 89th minute all but sealed the win for the hosts. it ended 3-2. A much needed victory for the hosts after two disappointing defeats on the bounce. A first loss in 2024, for the Swifts.

manderwood PembrokesHIre league

Fixtures 3rd february 2024

Division

Letterston II

Exciting Afternoon of Rugby with Port Talbot Panthers and Pembrokeshire Vikings the Pembrokeshire Vikings had a fantastic afternoon playing mixed ability rugby with the Port talbot Panthers. After a late pitch inspection caused by frost, the teams traveled up through the valley to glyncorrwg rFc the winding roads almost prevented the team from making it to the game, but they made it just in time. the game was a

hard-fought battle, with both teams evenly matched in the first half. however, the Panthers proved to be too strong in the second half, earning a well-deserved victory over the Vikings with a score of 32-12. the Vikings’ gethin Bateman and Ben couceiro both scored, while the Panthers’ ryan (Boom) Davies, Josh Lynn, Benny Griffiths (2x), Jonathan Steggs, and Dai (Bampi) Stephen’s all contributed with impressive try scores.

Blues dominate Wasps

IT WAS derby day with Haverfordwest taking on Llangwm which is always a spirted clash.

The Blues scored first with a sweeping move up in the top corner before pacy young winger george hopkins crossed the line, converted by Archie thomas. the Blues continued to move the ball about with a combination of forward drives and their now trademark off loading this resulted in a try for Scott candler in bottom car park corner, conversion missed.

young harry Makepeace reduced the deficit with a well taken penalty shortly after. The first half ended 19-3 after Paul Dungey scored from a dominant scrum drive which was converted by thomas. the second half continued in the same vein as the first with both sides looking to move the ball at every opportunity. With the Blues forwards now taking control in the close exchanges and their scrum becoming more dominant there was a close range try

for the outstanding clancy and another from Dungey from a scrum drive and pick up, which Liam eaton converted.

haverfordwest were in control at this stage they took their foot off the gas allowing the Llangwm forwards to gain momentum with a few forward drives which resulted in Jack roberts coming in from the blindside and scoring under the posts, which Makepeace converted. this stirred the Blues into action again and after some good handling and punishing carries Matty Phillips crossed the line the conversion was missed. there was one last effort from the Wasps following a loose kick from the Blues 22 and the now baying Llangwm crowd in the stand. the outstanding Ashley James fielded the kick ran back into the heart of the midfield, some nice inter passing between the forwards including the impressive Sam rickwood resulted in a good finish for Jack roberts in the bottom corner much to the delight of the

home support. it was a typically passionate and competitive derby with the Blues controlling most aspects of the

game and running out comfortable winners against a young spirted Llangwm side. there were some stand out performances

for the Blues with the two second rows clancy and Watkins putting a shift in, Matty Phillips as always, young Dylan Williamson but the

out the eighty minutes.

Ex-Rugby Star Confesses to St Clears drink-drive incident

FOMER Welsh

rugby international Dafydd Jones has pleaded guilty to drinkdriving following a collision with a tractor in Pembrokeshire. the ex-Scarlets and Llanelli player was found to be over twice the legal alcohol limit after the accident on the A40 between St clears and carmarthen. the incident, which occurred at approximately 18:30 gMt on 11 January, led to Jones being banned from driving for 18 months by the Llanelli

Magistrates’ court this tuesday.

the 44-year-old, hailing from Porthyrhyd in carmarthenshire, expressed remorse in court, acknowledging that he had made “an error of judgement.” he admitted to consuming beer prior to the crash and not eating any food before getting behind the wheel.

Jones’s vehicle reportedly collided into the back of a tractor and trailer, which were said to have had “no illumination”. upon testing, he was found

with 71mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, significantly over the legal limit of 35mg.

having pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, Jones has been ordered to pay a total of £1,054, inclusive of a fine and court costs, alongside the driving ban. however, the court noted that if he successfully completes a drink-drive awareness course before the next January, the duration of his ban could be reduced.