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Herald investigates reports involving schools and nurseries as confirmed hospital outbreaks raise wider concerns • p6
shutdown of commercial operations in milford • P4
AMBULANCE DELAYS
improvements but major risk remains • P12
Quay st assualt
SCABIES FEARS GROW
Man still unconscious • P14
“We’re fighting a losing battle,” says Pembroke mother of three
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Former Haverfordwest man jailed for seven years over weapons arsenal Ex-soldier who previously lived in the North Court area kept AK-47, revolvers, shotguns and Samurai swords at Powys home A former Haverfordwest man has been jailed for seven years after police discovered a substantial arsenal of weapons at his home in Powys. Christopher Wright, a former soldier who had previously lived in the North Court area of Haverfordwest, was found with weapons including an AK47, revolvers, shotguns, a rifle and Samurai swords. A number of the weapons had been concealed in ammunition boxes buried in the garden of his home in the Ystradgynlais area. Police also discovered that Wright had installed a homemade tripwire system designed to set off a blankfiring shotgun cartridge. The cache was uncovered following a serious domestic incident in which Wright held a gun to his partner’s head before turning the weapon on himself. The court case also involved allegations of coercive and controlling behaviour towards his partner. Wright, who had served in the Army, was ultimately sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. Dyfed-Powys Police have since released a custody photograph of Wright following the conclusion of the case. The Pembrokeshire Herald can reveal
Rieve Nesbitt-Marr
rieve.nesbitt-marr@herald.email
that Wright had previously lived in the North Court area of Haverfordwest, before later moving to Powys. Court records held by the Herald show a previous Haverfordwest address carrying the SA61 2TE postcode, which covers North Court and neighbouring streets in that part of the town. His later home in Powys contained what police described as a significant collection of weapons, with firearms and other offensive weapons stored both inside the property and concealed outside. Among the items recovered were revolvers, shotguns, a rifle, Samurai swords and an AK-47. Officers also found the homemade tripwire arrangement, which had been constructed to discharge a blank shotgun cartridge if activated. The discovery followed the incident involving Wright and his partner, during which a firearm was held to her head before Wright turned it on himself. The former soldier has now begun serving his seven-year prison sentence.
Two motorists deny racing through Haverfordwest 20mph zone TWO motorists have appeared before magistrates accused of racing each other through a built-up area of Haverfordwest before a collision. Sam Hughes, 32, and Michael Tomlin, 42, are alleged to have been racing along the B4329 at Prendergast on May 28. Hughes is accused of driving a white BMW M1, while Tomlin is alleged to have been behind the wheel of a blue Skoda Octavia. Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court: “Both cars were travelling at speed, overtaking other vehicles in a 20mph speed area. “Michael Tomlin slammed on the brakes due to a parked van and collided with the vehicle, and Mr Hughes then collided with Mr Tomlin.” Hughes, of Esther Lane, Llangwm, and Tomlin, of Coronation Avenue,
Haverfordwest, both denied dangerous driving. Tomlin admitted a number of separate motoring offences arising from the incident. He pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without third-party insurance. He also admitted three drug-driving offences. Tests showed 4.3mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his blood, together with 400mcg of benzoylecgonine and 65mcg of cocaine. An interim driving disqualification was imposed on Tomlin pending the outcome of the case. Hughes and Tomlin are due to stand trial together on December 3. Both were released on conditional bail.
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Impala confirms shutdown of commercial operations at Milford Haven terminal
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COMMERCIAL operations at Milford Haven’s Impala terminal will cease at the end of December 2026, the company has confirmed to The Pembrokeshire Herald. The operator said extensive efforts to secure a new contract had been unsuccessful, leaving it with no economic alternative to ending commercial operations. Formal consultation with affected employees is under way, while the company examines possible future uses for the site. The announcement has prompted calls for support for workers and local contractors, intervention from ministers, and answers about what will happen to the terminal’s land and infrastructure. In a statement supplied to The Herald on Monday (Oct 5), an Impala Terminals spokesperson said: “We have worked hard to avoid this, but sadly there is no economic alternative.” The company said the decision reflected global geopolitical conditions, the economics of fuel markets and customer requirements. Workforce consultation and transition Although commercial operations will end in December, work at the site will continue. Impala has confirmed that it will retain a core workforce during a demobilisation and decommissioning transition expected to last between 18 and 24 months. The company has not specified how many employees will remain for
that work. The final outcome of the redundancy consultation has also not been confirmed. Impala said it was supporting affected employees through the consultation process. Alongside preparations for decommissioning, the operator has begun reviewing longer-term options for the site. It said it recognised the terminal’s history and wanted to preserve its legacy for future generations. The announcement follows an earlier business review. In October 2025, The Herald reported that jobs were at risk after Impala wrote to employees about possible changes. At that stage, the company said it was adapting its business model to current needs, with staff remaining employed during the review and operations continuing as usual. The Herald understands that the terminal employs 43 people, of whom 34 have been placed at risk of redundancy. Consultation is ongoing, and the number of eventual redundancies has not been determined. Calls for government action Reform UK Senedd member Claire Archibald Reform UK Senedd member Claire Archibald said the loss of skilled employment would affect families across Milford Haven and the wider Pembrokeshire economy. She also highlighted potential consequences for local contractors
and businesses maintaining the terminal’s tanks, jetty, pipelines and other infrastructure. “They are good, skilled jobs supporting families in Milford Haven and the wider Pembrokeshire economy,” she said. The Ceredigion Penfro MS called for the UK Government to examine the implications for energy security and consider whether a viable future could be found for the facility. She warned that important infrastructure could not quickly be replaced once decommissioned and said she would raise the matter with Welsh and UK ministers, as well as seeking further answers from Impala. Welsh Conservative MS Paul Davies, who also represents Ceredigion Penfro, called for support for the workforce and efforts to retain workers’ expertise locally. In a written statement to The Herald, he said: “These are highly skilled and valuable jobs, and every effort must be made to retain this expertise within the local economy.” Mr Davies said employees, their families and the wider community needed timely information about the decision and its consequences. He pledged to raise the announcement in the Senedd, seeking answers about the Welsh Government’s involvement so far and the support it would make available to affected workers. Plaid finds news ‘deeply concerning’ The Plaid Cymru Members of Senedd for Ceredigion Penfro, Kerry Ferguson and Anna Nicholl released a joint
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statement on Monday evening. It reads as follows: “We were very disappointed to learn today of the decision to end commercial operations at the Impala Milford Haven Terminal. “This news will be deeply concerning for employees and their families, as well as for the wider local community. The terminal has played an important role in Pembrokeshire’s economy and the closure will inevitably raise questions about the future of jobs, investment and activity within a sector that is of significant importance to the county. “Our thoughts are with all those affected at this difficult time, and we sympathise with everyone facing uncertainty because of this decision. “At this early stage, we have written to the company to seek further information about the reasons behind the closure, the support available to employees, and the potential implications for the wider local economy. “We have also written to the First Minister and the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy to seek assurance that this matter is receiving the highest level of attention across Government and to ascertain the steps being taken by the Welsh Government to coordinate support for affected workers, retain skills within the region, and encourage future investment in Milford Haven.” Council and community concern Pembrokeshire County Council leader Cllr Tessa Hodgson said Impala had informed the authority that some operations would cease later this year. In her initial response to The Herald, she said the council was awaiting a formal statement and further details. Cllr Hodgson expressed concern about potential job losses in an important local industry and said the council stood ready to support the company as appropriate. Hubberston county councillor Vivien Stoddart, whose ward adjoins the site, also called for support for those affected. “This news is deeply disappointing and concerning for the whole of
Pembrokeshire,” she said. Cllr Stoddart praised Impala’s staff for their helpful response to community issues she had raised and said she hoped employees facing redundancy would receive every support. Questions over the site’s future Cllr Stoddart also raised a longerterm question about what should happen to the land if another industrial use cannot be found. She asked whether it would be returned to agricultural use, referring to an agreement she recalled being made in 1971. The Herald has not independently verified the terms of that agreement or established whether it applies to the terminal’s current ownership and proposed decommissioning. Impala’s confirmed position is that it is reviewing future uses while preparing for the transition following the end of commercial operations. No replacement use has been announced in its statements to The Herald. The Herald has also approached Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell and the remaining Ceredigion Penfro Members of the Senedd for their responses. Representatives have been asked when they learned of the situation, what discussions they have held with the operator, and what action they will take to protect employment and support affected workers. Cllr Stoddart, whose ward adjoins the site, praised the company’s relationship with the surrounding community. “Impala has always been supportive of any community issues I have raised with their helpful staff,” she said. “I understand the number of job losses is yet to be confirmed. I hope those affected receive every support.” She also highlighted what she described as a 1971 agreement concerning the restoration of the land. “In the long term, if no industrial use is found for the abandoned site, will it be returned to agricultural use as was agreed in 1971?” she asked. Whether any historic restoration obligations apply to the planned
There was a major fire at the plant in July 2026 during the decommissioning of one of the old oil tanks cessation of commercial operations has not been established. Impala has confirmed that commercial operations will cease at the end of December 2026 and that it is reviewing possible future uses for the site. A spokesperson said: “Whilst we
progress future use options for the longer term, we will also begin a demobilisation and decommissioning transition period over the next 18 to 24 months. We will retain a core number of employees for this work during this period.”
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Scabies fears grow across west Wales as parents report children repeatedly infected at school CONCERNS are growing over the spread of scabies across west Wales after parents reported children repeatedly developing the highly contagious skin condition, while hospitals have already faced outbreaks serious enough to force restrictions on visiting. The Pembrokeshire Herald has launched an investigation into the scale of the problem, contacting five public bodies amid concerns about infections in schools, nurseries, residential care homes and the wider community. One mother of three schoolchildren in Pembroke told the Herald that her children had contracted scabies and were sent home for treatment, only to become infected again after returning to school. “We’re fighting a losing battle,” she said. Her experience raises questions about whether sufficient measures are being taken to prevent recurring infections in educational settings, particularly where several children or families may be affected simultaneously. Although the mother believes her children were reinfected at school, the source of any subsequent infection has not been independently established. The Herald has also received information from parents concerning scabies at Flying Start provision in Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire County Council has been asked to confirm whether cases have been recorded, how many educational and childcare settings have been affected and what guidance has been provided to parents. The reports concerning Flying Start have not yet been independently confirmed. Hospital wards affected The growing concern follows confirmed outbreaks at hospitals across west Wales. At Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, visiting restrictions were introduced on September 27 following an outbreak involving several wards. Patients, staff and close contacts received treatment, while additional cleaning and infection-control measures were introduced. On Wednesday (October 7), Hywel Dda University Health Board announced that general visiting restrictions had been lifted and Wards 4 and 7 had reopened. However, restrictions remained at the Mynydd Mawr Rehabilitation Unit. Significantly, the health board confirmed that patients were continuing to arrive at hospital with scabies acquired in the wider community. The health board has maintained that the risk to the wider public remains low.
2026. It is also seeking information about whether those numbers have increased compared with previous years. Concerns raised in Senedd The issue has also reached the Welsh Parliament. During proceedings on Tuesday (October 6), concerns were raised about scabies outbreaks in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area and the adequacy of infection-control measures. An urgent statement was requested from the Welsh Government amid wider concern about the impact on vulnerable patients and residents. The discussion included reference to a reported death linked to complications associated with scabies, although the circumstances have not been independently established. Five agencies asked for answers Tom Sinclair
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Scabies also caused disruption at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen, where a ward was closed during September as additional precautions were introduced to prevent further transmission. What is scabies? Scabies is caused by microscopic mites which burrow into the skin, producing an intensely itchy rash. The itching is often particularly severe at night and can lead to disturbed sleep, scratched skin and secondary infections. The condition spreads primarily through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, making environments such as households and residential care facilities particularly vulnerable to transmission. Children can also become infected through close physical contact. Symptoms may take several weeks to appear following an initial infection, meaning somebody can spread scabies before realising they have it. Although conventional treatments are normally effective, successful elimination often depends on treating close household contacts together, even when they have no symptoms. A failure to coordinate treatment can result in apparent recurring infections, while itching can persist for weeks after the mites have been eliminated. Care workers also affected The Herald has also heard from a west Wales healthcare worker who described
months of distress associated with suspected recurring scabies despite undergoing prescribed treatment. The account raises questions about the support available to people experiencing prolonged symptoms and the difficulties of managing infections in residential care environments. However, prolonged itching does not necessarily indicate continuing infestation, and clinical reassessment is important where treatment appears unsuccessful. There is currently no verified evidence that a new or unusually resistant strain of scabies is responsible for the cases reported locally. Questions over infection control The concerns are particularly relevant to schools and nurseries, where parents may be instructed to treat affected children before they return. But if other infectious cases remain unidentified, further transmission can occur. Public health guidance emphasises the importance of appropriate treatment, identifying close contacts and following infection-control procedures. The Herald is seeking clarification on how schools and childcare providers are advised to manage multiple cases, when parents should be notified and what arrangements exist for identifying repeated outbreaks. The newspaper has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for figures showing how many schools, nurseries and Flying Start settings have reported infections since January
The Pembrokeshire Herald has now contacted Pembrokeshire County Council, Public Health Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Care Inspectorate Wales and the Welsh Government. The newspaper is seeking confirmed outbreak figures, information about schools and care homes, details of treatment arrangements and clarification about whether health authorities have identified any evidence of resistance to conventional scabies medication. Responses have been requested by 5pm on Monday, October 12. The Herald will report the findings as part of its continuing investigation. In the meantime, anyone who suspects they or a family member may have scabies should seek advice from a pharmacist or GP and follow the full recommended treatment programme. Scabies can affect anyone, regardless of personal hygiene, and it is not ordinarily necessary to destroy household belongings to eradicate the infection. Have your children been affected? The Pembrokeshire Herald would like to hear from parents, teachers, nursery employees and care workers who have experienced scabies outbreaks. Have your children required repeated treatment? Were you informed about cases at their school or nursery? Have you experienced difficulties obtaining appropriate treatment? Readers can contact the Herald confidentially at news@herald.wales
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Jaguar Land Rover servicing set to return to Pembrokeshire OWNERS of Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar vehicles in Pembrokeshire could soon have access to authorised servicing closer to home after Sinclair Group announced plans to establish a new Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Approved Repairer operation in Neyland. The move follows the closure of Greens’ authorised Land Rover servicing operation in Haverfordwest on September 11, 2026, which left motorists needing alternative arrangements for manufacturer-approved servicing, warranty repairs and specialist maintenance. Sinclair Group has now confirmed that it is progressing plans to establish Sinclair JLR Pembrokeshire at its existing Neyland facility, with the ambition of beginning operations during October. However, the company has not yet confirmed an opening date or the full range of services that will be available. Swansea providing temporary support Until the new facility becomes operational, Sinclair has advised customers requiring authorised Jaguar Land Rover aftersales assistance to contact its Swansea operation. The company said additional capacity had been introduced at Sinclair JLR Swansea to accommodate customers during the transition. This includes motorists requiring routine servicing, warranty work, maintenance and technical assistance
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for vehicles within the Jaguar Land Rover range. In a statement issued on Thursday (October 8), Sinclair Group said it was working closely with JLR to maintain continuity of support and minimise disruption to customers. The company confirmed that Greens is no longer operating as a JLR Approved Repairer, meaning owners seeking manufacturer-authorised aftersales services should make alternative arrangements rather than assuming the previous Haverfordwest provision remains available. New operation planned for Neyland
The proposed Neyland operation would restore a local authorised repair option for owners who might otherwise need to travel outside Pembrokeshire for specialist servicing and warranty work. For motorists across the county, particularly those who regularly rely on their vehicles for work or family journeys, the availability of local support could offer a more convenient alternative to travelling to Swansea. Sinclair has not yet announced whether the new operation will create additional jobs, how many technicians will be based at the site, or whether all the services previously offered in Haverfordwest will be available from the outset. Further information about opening arrangements and the services available
is expected once the company’s plans have been finalised. Where customers can go now In the meantime, motorists requiring authorised JLR servicing, warranty repairs or technical support can contact: Sinclair Land Rover Swansea Moorhen Close, Riverside Business Park Swansea Vale, Swansea, SA7 0AP Telephone: 01792 628713 The Pembrokeshire Herald understands from Sinclair’s announcement that the new Neyland operation remains in development, and customers should continue using the Swansea contact point until the company confirms that its Pembrokeshire facility is operational.
Pembrokeshire second-home council tax premium set to remain at 125% PEMBROKESHIRE’S controversial Council Tax premium on second homes is being recommended to remain at 125% for another year. The recommendation means owners of properties classed as second homes would continue paying the normal Council Tax charge plus an additional 125% premium — equivalent to 225% of the standard bill. Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet considered the position at its meeting on Monday (Oct 5), following a public consultation on the premiums to apply during the 2027-28 financial year. The final decision will be made by full Council on Thursday, October 15, with any agreed rate taking effect from April 1, 2027. Figures presented as part of the process indicate that the average additional premium paid by a secondhome owner in Pembrokeshire is now approaching £2,800 a year, on top of their standard Council Tax liability. The 125% rate has been in force since April this year. Pembrokeshire has repeatedly changed the premium in recent years
amid fierce debate over the effect of second homes on housing availability, tourism businesses and coastal communities. The premium was increased to 200% in 2024 before being reduced to 150% and subsequently to the present 125% level. Under the current arrangement, a property with an ordinary Council Tax liability of £2,000 would attract an additional £2,500 second-home premium, producing a total bill of £4,500. The Welsh Government gives local authorities powers to levy additional Council Tax premiums on properties which are substantially furnished but are not used as a person’s sole or main residence. Supporters of the policy argue that it helps address pressure on the local housing market and raises money which can be invested in affordable housing and communities affected by high levels of second-home ownership. Critics have argued that high premiums can place disproportionate pressure on some property owners and
risk damaging Pembrokeshire’s tourism economy. The county currently has one of the higher second-home premiums in Wales. Money raised from the tax has funded a range of housing and community initiatives. The latest round of the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant, which is financed through Second Home Council Tax Premium receipts, opened this month with around £142,000 available for local community projects.
More than 300 organisations have received over £6 million through the scheme since it was established. The Council consulted residents and other interested parties during the summer on what the 2027-28 premium should be and how the proceeds should be spent. Cabinet’s recommendation will now go before all councillors on October 15. If approved, the 125% premium will continue for a further financial year from April 2027.
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Welsh Government rejects calls to scrap NRW as regulator admits Withyhedge damaged confidence
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has rejected demands to abolish Natural Resources Wales, as the environmental watchdog acknowledged that controversy surrounding Withyhedge Landfill had damaged confidence among some Pembrokeshire residents. In responses provided directly to The Pembrokeshire Herald, ministers defended the regulator’s continued existence, while NRW confirmed that its investigation into suspected environmental permit breaches at Withyhedge during 2023 and 2024 remains ongoing. The statements follow renewed calls from Welsh Conservative Shadow Environment Minister Andrew RT Davies MS for the organisation to be scrapped and its responsibilities restructured. The political dispute has intensified following confirmation that a salary range of £185,000 to £195,000 has been approved for the recruitment of NRW’s next chief executive. Welsh Government rejects abolition proposal Responding to questions submitted by the Herald, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We do not support calls to abolish Natural Resources Wales. Creating a new regulator or moving its functions elsewhere, would cause disruption when the focus must be on stronger enforcement and better outcomes for the environment. “Our priority is holding polluters to account. NRW is strengthening how it regulates, and we will continue to support it in its work protecting and enhancing Wales’s environment.” The response establishes a clear difference between the Welsh Government and the Conservatives over how environmental regulation should operate. Mr Davies has argued that NRW is no longer fit for purpose and that bringing regulatory powers under more direct ministerial control would improve accountability.
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He said on Tuesday (October 6): “Natural Resources Wales is unfit for purpose – it must be closed and replaced.” Withyhedge controversy acknowledged For Pembrokeshire residents, the debate comes against the background of the Withyhedge Landfill controversy, which generated widespread complaints about odours and concerns over pollution during 2024. In a statement received by the Herald on Thursday morning (October 8), NRW acknowledged the effect on public confidence. “We recognise that the odour issues and pollution concerns associated with Withyhedge Landfill in 2024 have affected confidence among some local residents, and we understand why people have strong feelings about the site and NRW’s role as the regulator,” the organisation said. It added that regulatory oversight had been increased through enhanced monitoring, regular compliance checks and closer working with partner organisations. NRW also defended its recent decision to approve a variation to the landfill’s environmental permit. According to the regulator, the decision followed a detailed assessment and consideration of extensive stakeholder consultation feedback. The revised permit contains stronger environmental controls, including changes to landfill gas management, leachate management and monitoring requirements. However, the organisation confirmed that its investigation into suspected environmental permit breaches during 2023 and 2024 has still not concluded. “Our investigation into suspected environmental permit breaches at Withyhedge Landfill during 2023 and 2024 remains ongoing, and we will
continue to take appropriate action where regulatory requirements are not met,” NRW said. The continuing investigation leaves an important question for residents: when will the findings be available, and what enforcement action, if any, will follow? The approval of a permit variation does not itself determine whether breaches occurred during the earlier period under investigation. Questions over accountability NRW was established in 2013 through the merger of Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales. Its responsibilities now extend across environmental permitting, pollution regulation, forestry, conservation, water quality and flood risk. Supporters of the integrated model argue that environmental problems frequently cross organisational boundaries and require coordinated responses. Critics question whether combining regulatory, operational and commercial responsibilities within one organisation makes accountability sufficiently clear. Asked whether it accepted the case for structural reform, NRW declined to enter the political debate directly. “As a public body, we remain focused on delivering the responsibilities entrusted to us by Welsh Government and the Senedd,” it said. “Decisions about the structure, governance and accountability of public bodies are matters for elected representatives and government.” The regulator added that it would continue strengthening its approach and directing resources towards areas where it could make the greatest difference. Chief executive salary attracts criticism A separate dispute has developed over the remuneration proposed for NRW’s next chief executive.
A Welsh Government decision report dated October 7 confirms approval of a salary range between £185,000 and £195,000 for the recruitment. Mr Davies criticised the proposal, arguing that higher remuneration would do nothing to address what he considers fundamental problems within the organisation. “This exorbitant salary won’t address longstanding problems at Natural Resources Wales,” he said. “The right way forward is to scrap NRW with its powers brought under direct ministerial control.” The published decision establishes the approved recruitment salary range, rather than confirming that an appointment has been made or that the maximum figure will be paid. What happens next? The disagreement raises two distinct questions: whether Wales should retain a single environmental regulator, and whether the existing organisation is delivering the standards of environmental protection communities expect. For residents affected by Withyhedge, the most immediate concerns are practical rather than constitutional. They include whether strengthened permit conditions are being followed, whether monitoring is sufficiently transparent, and when the investigation into the earlier problems will be completed. NRW insists that stronger monitoring and regulatory controls are now in place. The Welsh Government says reforming and strengthening enforcement offers a better route than abolishing the organisation. The Conservatives maintain that fundamental structural change is necessary. For communities living near Withyhedge, the effectiveness of environmental regulation will ultimately be judged by the conditions they experience and the accountability demonstrated when problems arise.
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Pensioner admits stalking former partner for six months AN 80-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has admitted stalking his former partner over a six-month period after repeatedly calling her and attending her home despite being told she wanted no further contact. Colin Burlow repeatedly visited Linda Willey’s address, sounded his car horn, rang her doorbell and telephoned her following the breakdown of their relationship, Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week. Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson said the relationship ended in April 2024 after Ms Willey began seeing another
man. “The defendant became verbally aggressive and repeatedly attended her address, despite knowing she no longer wanted correspondence with him,” she said. “He would beep his horn, ring her doorbell and call her numerous times. She answered in order to keep the peace.” The court heard that Burlow’s persistent behaviour eventually led Ms Willey to sell her property and move into rented accommodation in an attempt to prevent further contact.
However, in July 2024 Burlow informed her that he had obtained details of her new address. “He then began leaving fresh flowers and strawberries outside her property, at which point she contacted the police and the contact eventually stopped,” Ms Jackson said. Burlow, of Greenfields Close, Templeton, pleaded guilty to stalking Ms Willey between April 1 and September 16, 2024. He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who told the court the relationship had been complicated.
“This has been a difficult relationship, as she was seeing the defendant during the day and another gentleman at night,” he said. Mr Kelleher added that Burlow had had no contact with Ms Willey since May 2025. District Judge Paul Conlon adjourned sentencing for the preparation of a pre-sentence report by the probation service. Burlow was released on conditional bail and must not contact Ms Willey in any way.
Saundersfoot man accused of raping girl under 13 on 11 occasions A 21-year-old Saundersfoot man has appeared in court accused of raping a girl aged under 13 on 11 occasions. Dylan Griffiths-Harris, of Middlehill, Saundersfoot, is alleged to have intentionally penetrated the vagina, anus and mouth of the child with his penis on 11 occasions between September 2020 and September 2021. Griffiths-Harris appeared this week before Deputy District Judge Conlon at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. His solicitor, Michael Kelleher, told the court that the defendant was
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expected to plead not guilty to each of the offences. Because of the seriousness of the allegations, the magistrates’ court declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Swansea Crown Court. Griffiths-Harris is due to make his next appearance on November 6. He was released on conditional bail, with a condition that he must not have any form of contact with the alleged victim.
Council officer admits £6,900 fraud to fund online gambling addiction A PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL officer has admitted defrauding the local authority of almost £7,000 to help fund an online gambling addiction. Karen Deakin, 56, of Fleming Crescent, Haverfordwest, was employed by the council as a purchase card officer when she abused her position to make purchases for her own personal benefit. Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that between March 21 and October 30, 2024, Deakin used council purchase cards to obtain goods without reimbursing the authority. Crown prosecutor Abigail Jackson told the court: “Between March 21 and October 30, she abused that position by using council purchase cards to obtain goods for her own personal benefit without making payment to the council.” The offending came to light in November 2024 after the council’s legal department discovered it had significantly overspent. Council audit uncovered £6,915 loss A
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subsequently carried out by Pembrokeshire County Council. The investigation established that Deakin had used her own purchase card, as well as cards which had been allocated to former council employees, to make numerous purchases for herself. The total loss to the authority was calculated at £6,915.24. When interviewed by police, Deakin fully admitted fraud by abuse of position. The prosecution told the court that Deakin has previous convictions for fraud and theft, the most recent dating from 2012. ‘Online gambling addiction’ Defending, solicitor Fenn Richards said the offending had been committed in an attempt to support Deakin’s online gambling addiction. “She has mental health issues and is now living a pretty isolated existence,” Ms Richards told the court. “She no longer goes out of the house.”
Because of the seriousness of the offence, Deputy District Judge Conlon declined jurisdiction.
Deakin will now be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on October 27. She was released on conditional bail until that hearing.
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Nearly six in ten burglary cases closed without suspect noting that of the 1,440 burglary-classed offences reported to the force in 2025, a large portion of these are attempted burglaries. “There are very few lines of enquiry with such offences, which makes it extremely difficult to progress an investigation.” The force did not say how many of the 1,440 offences involved a completed burglary and how many were attempted break-ins. Neither did it provide the requested breakdown between residential and business premises. DYFED-POWYS POLICE says nearly six in ten burglary-classed offences reported during 2025 were closed without a suspect being identified. The force supplied the figures after the Welsh Liberal Democrats claimed that only 5.3% of burglaries across the Dyfed-Powys area had resulted in a charge or summons. The party’s analysis of Home Office data identified 1,410 recorded burglaries during 2025, with 843 cases said to have been closed without officers identifying a suspect. However, after checking the figures against its own records, Dyfed-Powys Police said it had recorded 1,440 burglary-classed offences, of which 6.88% resulted in a charge. It said 59.93% were closed without a suspect being identified. Based on the percentages supplied, that equates to approximately 99 charge outcomes and 863 cases closed without a named suspect. The force suggested the difference between its figures and the Home Office data used by the Liberal Democrats could be partly explained by the timing
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of the statistics. A police spokesperson said some investigations may still have been active when the Home Office compiled its data but had since reached an outcome. However, the force did not provide a full reconciliation of the two datasets or clarify whether its charge percentage tracks the eventual outcomes of the same offences recorded during 2025. It therefore remains unclear whether the 5.3% and 6.88% figures are directly comparable. Attempted break-ins included in figures Police stressed that the total includes a large number of attempted burglaries where nobody succeeded in entering the property. Examples could include someone trying a door handle or damaging a door or window without gaining access. A force spokesperson said: “It is worth
No Pembrokeshire-specific figures supplied The Pembrokeshire Herald also asked for county-level figures showing how many burglaries were reported in Pembrokeshire and how many led to a charge. No local breakdown was included in the response. The force also did not provide figures showing how many non-charge cases remained under investigation, ended because of evidential difficulties or resulted in another recognised outcome. A case which does not result in a charge is not necessarily one which received no investigation. Possible outcomes can include insufficient evidence, a victim declining to support further action or no suspect being identified. The absence of a Pembrokeshire breakdown means it is not currently possible to establish whether burglary outcomes in the county were better or worse than the force-wide position. Policy requires attendance at home burglaries
Dyfed-Powys Police said forces across England and Wales introduced a policy in March 2023 requiring officers to attend every reported residential dwelling burglary. The force did not provide the Herald with the proportion of reported home burglaries which actually received an attendance during 2025. A spokesperson said: “Burglary is an incredibly invasive crime which we know has a significant impact on victims, and this is why police forces across England and Wales implemented a new attendance policy to ensure police attendance at every reported residential dwelling burglary. “Our officers are committed to investigating these reports, and we urge the public to continue reporting instances to us.” Political criticism The Welsh Liberal Democrats said the figures showed families and businesses were being left to “fend for themselves”. The party called for neighbourhood policing funding to be restored and for a statutory guarantee that domestic burglaries would be attended and investigated. Dyfed-Powys Police acknowledged the effect burglary can have on victims and the anxiety it can cause within the wider community. However, its response did not directly address questions about whether staffing levels, forensic capacity or other resource pressures were affecting investigations. Residents are being urged to continue reporting suspicious activity and attempted break-ins, even where no entry is gained, so that police can identify patterns and target patrols.
Farmer convicted after lifting neighbour’s pickup with tractor A CEREDIGION farmer has been convicted of criminal damage after using a tractor to lift his neighbour’s pickup truck and move it down a country lane during a dispute over access. Cerdin Jones, 53, of Llanarth, used the front loader of a Massey Ferguson tractor to hoist a Fiat Fullback from the ground before moving it around 20 yards — approximately 18 metres — along the lane. The pickup belonged to neighbouring farmer Anwen Hughes and was later written off after sustaining damage estimated at more than £5,000. The incident, which happened on August 9 last year, was captured on video. Footage shows the pickup being lifted in front of a group of sheep before the tractor carries it along the narrow rural lane. Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court
heard that the lane was owned by Ms Hughes, but that Jones had a right of way over it to reach his own farmland. The court was told the pickup was blocking his route when he decided to move it using the tractor. Jones denied criminal damage to property valued at more than £5,000, but was convicted following a trial after magistrates were shown the footage. He was sentenced at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on September 10. Jones was ordered to pay £650 in prosecution costs and a £150 victim surcharge. He was also made subject to a restraining order preventing him from attempting to enter Ms Hughes’s farm or accessing the section of lane where the incident took place. Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed the terms of the restraining order following the conclusion of the case.
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Reform UK councillor to meet Pembrokeshire Pride amid concerns over LGBTQ+ rights Cllr Scott Thorley says he wants to listen to local concerns as Pride organisers invite community members to an open discussion, stressing that the meeting does not represent an endorsement of Reform UK. REFORM UK councillor Scott Thorley is to meet representatives of Pembrokeshire’s LGBTQ+ community next week in an attempt to open dialogue over concerns surrounding his party’s policies and public statements. The meeting, organised in conjunction with New Pembrokeshire Pride, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, and will give members of the community an opportunity to question the councillor directly. Cllr Thorley, who became Pembrokeshire’s first Reform UK county councillor after winning the Milford Hakin by-election in March, said the initiative followed questions raised about his party’s position on LGBTQ+ issues shortly after his election. In a statement on social media, he explained that he had offered to meet the local group to discuss its concerns. New Pembrokeshire Pride has now confirmed plans for the meeting, inviting LGBTQ+ residents and allies to participate in what it hopes will be a constructive exchange of views. The organisation acknowledged that relations between Reform UK and sections of the LGBTQ+ community have been strained by political disagreements in recent months. However, organisers emphasised that engaging with an elected representative should not be confused with supporting that representative’s political party. “We recognise that there have been concerns and difficult conversations surrounding Reform UK and the LGBTQIA+ community in recent
months,” the group said. “Pembrokeshire Pride is not politically affiliated. Cllr Thorley approached us, and we believe it is important to take opportunities to have open and constructive conversations with elected representatives, particularly when we have concerns that we want to raise and voices from our community that deserve to be heard.” Opportunity to challenge and question The meeting could provide an opportunity for local residents to raise questions about Reform UK’s approach to equality, discrimination and the rights of LGBTQ+ people, including transgender residents. Although the discussion has been prompted by concerns about national party positions, it will also offer an opportunity to explore how those policies relate to the responsibilities of
elected councillors at a local level. For Cllr Thorley, the meeting represents an opportunity to hear directly from residents who may feel uneasy about the political movement he represents. For Pembrokeshire Pride, it offers a chance to put concerns to an elected representative rather than allowing political disagreements to prevent dialogue. Organisers have urged participants to approach the discussion respectfully, while making clear that disagreement and challenging questions are entirely legitimate. “We simply ask that anyone attending comes with an open mind and a willingness to engage respectfully,” the group said. “This is an opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, listen and
have a meaningful conversation — it is not an endorsement of any political party or its policies.” Local politics and community representation Cllr Thorley’s election in March marked a political milestone for Reform UK in Pembrokeshire, giving the party its first seat on the county council. He secured 179 votes in the Milford Hakin by-election, defeating Conservative candidate Brian Taylor, who received 144 votes, and six other candidates. The result gave Reform UK a foothold in local government at a time when the party’s national policies and political direction have attracted considerable debate. The forthcoming meeting also raises a wider question about the relationship between elected representatives and community organisations whose members may strongly disagree with their political views. New Pembrokeshire Pride has maintained that its role is to represent and support the LGBTQ+ community, irrespective of party politics. “Our priority remains, as always, supporting and representing our LGBTQIA+ community here in Pembrokeshire,” the organisation said. Further details about the meeting, including arrangements for attendance, will be shared directly with those wishing to take part. The discussion is expected to give both sides an opportunity to exchange views, although no formal commitments or outcomes have yet been announced.
Merlins Bridge man denies causing woman serious injury by dangerous driving A 20-YEAR-OLD Haverfordwest man has denied causing a woman serious injury by dangerous driving after a crash which prosecutors say left her with potentially life-changing injuries. Tony Lovell is accused of causing serious injury to Macy Manche following a collision in Clay Lane, Haverfordwest, on August 3, 2025. Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Lovell was allegedly driving three passengers in a two-seater Peugeot Bipper van when the vehicle collided with a verge. Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told the court the van was being driven at speed at the time of the crash. She said one of the female passengers
suffered serious injuries to her arm. “Her injuries are possibly life changing,” Ms Jackson told the court. “The defendant was driving with too many passengers — there were three people in a two-seater van, and he was travelling at speed.” Lovell, of St Marks Close, Merlins Bridge, Haverfordwest, denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Deputy District Judge Paul Conlon declined jurisdiction, meaning the case will now be dealt with at Swansea Crown Court. Proceedings are due to continue there on November 6. Lovell was released on unconditional bail.
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Ambulance handover delays remain major risk despite improvements DELAYS in handing patients over from ambulances to hospitals remain the most significant challenge facing the Welsh emergency care system despite substantial improvements within the ambulance service, a new watchdog review has found. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) has assessed progress made by Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust since major reviews published in 2020 and 2021 raised concerns over handover delays, patient experience and pressure across urgent and emergency care. The latest assessment examined five areas: patient flow and handovers, the management of operational pressures, communication with patients, leadership and governance, and data quality. HIW found the trust had made “significant progress” and was now in a materially stronger position than at the time of the earlier reviews. Improvements identified by inspectors included stronger leadership, better workforce support, improved clinical decision-making and strengthened digital governance. The watchdog also found progress in the way patient flow and delayed handovers are managed. The ambulance service has developed alternative routes to care so that some patients can be assessed and treated without having to attend an emergency department. HIW said ambulance handover performance had improved, with the number of hours lost to handovers in November 2025 falling to its lowest level in four years. Inspectors also found significant improvements in the way the trust handles periods of high demand.
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Leadership capacity, workforce support, arrangements for staff to raise concerns, and training and development have all strengthened. Sickness absence had also reduced, although HIW said there was not yet enough evidence to demonstrate the long-term impact of workforce and wellbeing initiatives. However, the review makes clear that delayed ambulance handovers continue to pose a serious risk across the health service. HIW said further evidence was needed to show that recent changes were delivering lasting improvements in patient safety and reducing the risks associated with prolonged waits for
care. The inspectorate stressed that handover delays are a whole-system problem which the ambulance trust cannot solve on its own. HIW has issued further recommendations covering patient safety, patient experience, staff development, organisational learning and data quality, and says it will continue to monitor progress. Alun Jones, Chief Executive of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, said: “Our previous reviews of Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust in 2020 and 2021 identified significant concerns relating to delayed handovers, patient experience and pressures across the urgent and emergency care system. “It is encouraging to see that the
Trust has responded positively to many of those findings and has made significant progress in a number of important areas. We found evidence of strengthened clinical decision-making and alternative care pathways, helping some patients access appropriate care without needing to attend an emergency department. “However, delayed ambulance handovers continue to present challenges across the healthcare system. While progress has been made, we want to see stronger evidence that these changes are improving patient safety and delivering lasting benefits for patients.” He said the latest recommendations were intended to support the next phase of improvement and ensure positive changes are sustained.
Vehicle fire causes severe delays on A40 near Wolfscastle A VEHICLE fire on the A40 caused severe disruption between Treffgarne and Wolfscastle on Saturday evening (Oct 3), with dramatic footage of the blaze spreading rapidly across social media. The Pembrokeshire Herald posted video from the scene before fire engines arrived, showing the vehicle well alight beside the main road. The footage quickly went viral on Facebook as emergency crews were making their way to the incident. Traffic Wales formally recorded the incident at 7.46pm, reporting a vehicle fire affecting the A40 in both directions between Treffgarne and Wolfscastle.
The disruption was classified as severe. Drivers faced delays while emergency services dealt with the blaze, on one of the principal routes linking Haverfordwest with Fishguard and north Pembrokeshire. The incident remained listed on Traffic Wales’ live alerts into the early hours of Sunday morning. An initial traffic feed indicated disruption could continue beyond 1am. The circumstances which led to the vehicle catching fire are under investigation. The Herald has approached the fire service for further information.
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Memories shared as Sands nightclub reportedly closes after 55 years FORMER customers have been sharing memories of Sands nightclub following reports that it has closed after nearly 55 years. Pure West Radio reported on Sunday (Oct 4) that it had received information suggesting the club had shut for the final time. The venue is on Milford Street, Saundersfoot. The announcement prompted hundreds of comments, with people remembering nights out that became lasting parts of their lives. Among them was Dave Mitchell, who said he met his wife at Sands 30 years ago and recalled visiting while growing up in Saundersfoot. Rebecca Singh remembered catching the bus from Pembroke to the club and travelling home on the same service. Other contributors recalled coach journeys from Milford Haven, foam parties and birthday celebrations. Christine Mathias shared memories of her 21st birthday and a family hen party.
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Another
former
customer,
Niki
Favorido, wrote: “Goodbye Sands. It’s been fun. The bits I remember anyway!” The reason for the reported closure and the future of the premises have
not been independently established by The Herald. Confirmation from the operators remains outstanding.
Gumfreston flooding: council urged to report on solutions A THREE-MONTH reporting deadline is being sought for council work on tackling flooding at Gumfreston and improving the route motorists use when the B4318 closes. Cllr Rhys Jordan has submitted a notice of motion. He wants Cabinet to consider joint work with Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Government on a long-term solution, alongside improvements to Devonshire Drive. The requested update would be due within three months of referral to Cabinet. The motion seeks consideration and a progress report; it does not announce funded construction work. The campaign has already attracted substantial public support. A Senedd petition submitted by Cllr Jordan gathered 3,454 signatures before being considered by the Petitions Committee on March 2. That petition argued that the problem extends beyond the road itself. It identified surface water runoff, high River Ritec levels and tidal locking at the South Beach outfall as factors contributing to flooding. It called for an assessment of the wider catchment and national coordination, saying local highway measures alone could not resolve the combined pressures. During the committee’s March discussion, Joel James highlighted a gap between flood policy aimed
Archive flooding at Gumfreston. Picture: Stephen Roberts Tom Sinclair
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at homes and businesses and the protection of transport infrastructure. Committee chair Carolyn Thomas also acknowledged the split responsibilities, with NRW responsible for rivers and the council responsible for the local road network.
The committee agreed to forward further questions from the petitioner to the Welsh Government before closing the petition. In an update published in April, Cllr Jordan said a Welsh Government response had confirmed that NRW was preparing a detailed appraisal of flood-management options, with an outline business case expected during summer 2026.
The response said the scheme did not then meet flood and coastal erosion capital-funding criteria. It identified the B4318 as a councilmaintained road and said the authority would need to decide whether to seek additional transport funding. Pembrokeshire’s next full council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 15. Its webcast page does not yet carry an agenda.
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Man remains unconscious after alleged town-centre assault A MAN in his 60s remains unconscious in intensive care after suffering serious head and chest injuries during an alleged assault in the centre of Haverfordwest. Police said on Wednesday (Oct 7) that the injured man’s condition remained stable and unchanged following the incident in Quay Street at around 4.50pm on Friday, October 2. He was treated at the scene before being airlifted to hospital. Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court has since heard that the man suffered a subdural haematoma — a build-up of blood between the skull and the outer covering of the brain — as well as a suspected skull fracture and multiple fractured ribs. The court was also told there were areas of infection in the lower parts of both lungs. He has undergone surgery during which part of his skull was removed, and remains unconscious in intensive care. Two men have been jointly charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act. John Simon, 42, of Princess Royal Way, Haverfordwest, and Mark Hambrook, 41, of no fixed address, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Monday, October 5. Neither defendant entered a plea.
Magistrates declined jurisdiction because of the seriousness of the charge and sent the case to Swansea Crown Court, where it is expected to be heard again in November. During the hearing, magistrates were shown two CCTV clips said to capture the alleged incident outside the William Owen Wetherspoons pub. Shouting and screaming could reportedly be heard in one of the recordings. The court heard that the alleged assault took place in broad daylight, when a
number of members of the public were in the area. Those present were said to have included children as young as five. A 37-year-old woman who was also arrested as part of the police investigation has been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue. The incident led to a major response from the emergency services, with part of the town centre cordoned off while police carried out their initial investigation. Additional patrols were also deployed to reassure residents, businesses and visitors.
Dyfed-Powys Police thanked members of the public for their patience while officers and other emergency services dealt with the incident. Anyone who witnessed what happened in Quay Street, or who has information which may assist the investigation, is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys. police.uk or by calling 101. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Young motorist banned after drink-drive crash A 20-YEAR-OLD motorist has been banned from driving after crashing her mother’s car into a field while over the drink-drive limit. Emily Hackett, of Churchill Farm, Dale Road, Haverfordwest, admitted drinkdriving when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week. The court heard that shortly after 11:00pm on July 25, Hackett contacted police to report that she had been involved in a single-vehicle collision on Dale Road. She told officers she was trapped inside a burgundy Ford Puma together with her dog. When police arrived, they found the vehicle had left the carriageway and entered a field. Hackett told officers she had been attempting to negotiate a bend when she swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, causing her to lose control. A roadside breath test proved positive
and Hackett was taken into custody, where a blood sample was obtained. Analysis returned a reading of 107mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, compared with the legal limit of 80mg. Further police enquiries established that Hackett had also been driving without third-party insurance. Her solicitor told magistrates that Hackett’s decision to drive had been prompted by an overwhelming fear linked to previous trauma. “She’d had a single glass of wine that night but became overwhelmed by her feelings when she believed that a person by whom she had previously suffered significant trauma had come to her property,” the solicitor said. “She needed immediate support from a family member as she was vastly overwhelmed by those feelings.” Hackett was fined £600 and ordered to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs. She was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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Man arrested over alleged threats to kill and dangerous driving A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and dangerous driving following an incident at a park in Pembroke. Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed it is investigating an incident at Common Park which took place at approximately 2.50pm on Saturday, October 3. A 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill towards an individual and driving in a dangerous manner. He has since been released on bail with strict conditions while the investigation continues. The police confirmation follows a first-hand account provided to The Pembrokeshire Herald by a witness who was at the park and later gave a signed statement to officers. The witness, who has asked not to be identified, said the incident began at around 2.15pm when a man entered the park shouting and swearing before leaving. According to the witness, the man returned several minutes later in a vehicle and allegedly drove at speed towards the park, mounted kerbs, scraped the car and came close to crashing. The witness said the man was heard shouting: “I’ll kill you” and: “Wait until I
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get my hands on you because I’ll find you.” The remarks appeared to be directed towards a young woman who was accompanied by a small child, the witness said. Describing what they saw, the witness told the Herald: “First the guy came into the park shouting and swearing, then left, only to come back a few minutes later, speeding towards the park, mounting kerbs, scraping his own car and nearly crashing it.” The witness said they subsequently provided police with a signed account and were given incident reference DP20261003-230. They contacted the Herald because they wanted people to be aware that the incident had taken place in a park used by families and young children. The Herald passed the location, timing, witness account and police reference number to the Dyfed-Powys Police press office. A police spokesperson said: “DyfedPowys Police is investigating an incident which took place in Common Park, Pembroke, at approximately 2.50pm on Saturday, October 3.
Pembroke woman banned after driving with cocaine in her system
A PEMBROKE motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving with cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine in her bloodstream. Rebecca Griffiths, 31, was driving a BMW 3 Series in Haverfordwest on May 22 when police stopped the vehicle following information that its driver may have taken drugs. When officers spoke to Griffiths, she admitted being a drug user. She was subsequently required to provide blood samples for laboratory analysis. Tests showed 37 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood and 146 micrograms of benzoylecgonine. The respective legal limits are 10 and 50 micrograms.
Griffiths, of Devon Drive, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to two drug-driving offences when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week. She was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher. “This has been a complete eyeopener for her,” he told the court. “She was going through a particularly difficult time when the offences took place, following the deaths of some close family members, and she began taking drugs. But she has now stopped completely.” Griffiths was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
“A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill towards an individual and driving in a dangerous manner, in connection with this incident. “He has been released on bail with strict conditions, while an investigation
is carried out.” Police also confirmed that there is no threat to the wider public. The force has not released the identity of the arrested man, and no charge has been announced. The investigation remains ongoing.
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Suspended councillor allowed to submit public questions to Pembrokeshire Council
Monitoring Officer says Alan Dennison can submit questions as a private resident while his four-month suspension remains in force
A suspended Pembrokeshire county councillor will be allowed to submit questions to Full Council as a member of the public after the authority’s Monitoring Officer ruled that doing so does not breach the terms of his suspension. Cllr Alan Dennison, who is currently serving a four-month suspension from his role as a county councillor, has had two questions accepted for the next meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council. The authority has confirmed that the questions have been accepted strictly in his private capacity, rather than as an elected member. A council spokesman told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “The Council has received questions from Cllr Dennison which have been accepted under the Council’s arrangements for
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questions from members of the public. “Cllr Dennison is currently suspended from the office of councillor and, during the period of suspension, cannot undertake duties or participate in Council business in that capacity. The suspension does not, however, prevent him from engaging with the Council in his private capacity on the same basis as any other member of the public.” The Herald understands that the two questions concern sixth-form transport from Milford Haven to Haverfordwest High VC School and grant funding relating to asylum seekers, Afghan refugees and support for Ukrainians. The council said both questions will
be handled in exactly the same way as those submitted by any other member of the public. Under the authority’s public-question procedure, questions are put to the meeting by the Presiding Member on behalf of the person who submitted them. The questioner is not entitled to ask a supplementary question. The spokesman added: “The procedure does not provide for supplementary questions from the questioner. The same arrangements will apply to Cllr Dennison as would apply to any other member of the public.” The council also confirmed that the position had been considered by its Monitoring Officer. It said: “The Monitoring Officer has considered the position and is satisfied that accepting a question from Cllr Dennison in his private capacity does not amount to permitting him to undertake the functions of a councillor during his suspension.” Cllr Dennison’s suspension took
effect on July 29, 2026, following the refusal of permission to appeal by the Adjudication Panel for Wales. He is due to resume his duties as a county councillor on November 29. Until then, the council says he is not entitled to carry out councillor duties, take part in council or committee meetings in that capacity, or represent the authority officially. The questions are expected to appear on the agenda for the next Full Council meeting, due to be held on October 15. The case raises an unusual distinction between a councillor’s elected role and their separate rights as a private citizen. While Cllr Dennison remains barred from taking part in council business as an elected member, the authority’s position is that his suspension does not remove the rights available to him as a Pembrokeshire resident. The full wording of the accepted questions is expected to be published with the council agenda in due course.
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Whitland woman guilty of defrauding elderly mother A PEMBROKESHIRE woman has been found guilty of defrauding her elderly mother after a jury heard allegations that she abused her position of trust to obtain money from her mother’s bank accounts. Shirley Williams, 55, formerly of Oakvale, Tavernspite, Whitland, was convicted of three counts of fraud by abuse of position following a trial at Swansea Crown Court. When the case first came before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court in March 2025, prosecutors alleged that Williams had made a total personal financial gain of £85,948.39 while acting under a power of attorney arrangement for her mother, Margaret Ovenden. The court heard that Williams had access to Mrs Ovenden’s bank accounts and was accused of exploiting that access by transferring money into her own accounts, making personal purchases and paying for services for her own benefit. The allegations concerned financial transactions spanning several years,
with the wider prosecution case covering the period between October 2017 and April 2022. Williams denied five charges of fraud by abuse of position, maintaining that the transactions had been carried out with her mother’s knowledge and consent. At an earlier hearing, her barrister, Jon Tarrant, told the court that the financial transactions were “always with the knowledge and consent” of the complainant. However, following a trial at Swansea Crown Court, jurors rejected her defence in relation to three of the five charges. The jury returned guilty verdicts on three counts but acquitted Williams of the remaining two, including one relating to March 1, 2021, and another concerning the period between January and June 2019. The £85,948.39 figure was the total originally alleged by prosecutors when the case reached the magistrates’ court. The precise amount attributable to the three charges resulting in convictions
Saundersfoot woman banned for 40 months after drink-drive crash A SAUNDERSFOOT woman has breath test and was subsequently taken
been banned from driving for 40 months after crashing into a parked Audi while almost three times over the drink-drive limit. Police were called to Pennant Avenue, Saundersfoot, on April 26 following reports that a Toyota Aygo had collided with a parked Audi. When officers arrived, they found Gayle Mycroft, 59, sitting in the driver’s seat of the Toyota. Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week that the impact had been substantial. “She’d hit the Audi with such force it had been pushed onto the pavement, resulting in a huge dent,” she said. “The defendant was found in the driver’s seat and smelt very strongly of alcohol. She was slurring her words and her eyes were unfocused.” Mycroft provided a positive roadside
into custody, where a blood sample was obtained. Analysis showed a reading of 226mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg. The court heard that Mycroft had a previous drink-driving conviction dating from 2017. Mycroft, of Pennant Avenue, Saundersfoot, pleaded guilty to drinkdriving. As the offence was her second drinkdriving conviction within ten years, magistrates disqualified her from driving for 40 months. She was also placed under probation supervision for 12 months and ordered to complete a nine-month alcohol treatment programme. Mycroft was fined £120 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
has not yet been established. At her initial appearance in March 2025, magistrates declined jurisdiction following a request by the Crown Prosecution Service, sending the case to Swansea Crown Court because of its seriousness. Williams was granted conditional bail at that stage, including a prohibition on contacting prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
Following the jury’s verdicts, Judge Christopher Vosper KC adjourned sentencing for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. Williams was granted bail and is due to return to Swansea Crown Court on Monday, November 2, when she will learn her sentence. Alycia Carpanini appeared for the prosecution, while Jon Tarrant represented Williams.
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Milford Haven carpenter loses licence Landlady left terrified after customer after cannabis drug-drive offence hurled bottles at her head
A SELF-EMPLOYED carpenter has been banned from driving after police stopped his BMW in Milford Haven and discovered he was over the legal cannabis limit. Steven Thomas, 41, was driving along Great North Road when officers noticed that the windows of his BMW 1 Series were heavily tinted. After stopping the vehicle, officers spoke to Thomas, who admitted using cannabis. A subsequent blood test showed 3.2 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol — THC, the principal psychoactive component of cannabis — per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2 micrograms. Thomas, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to drug-
driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week. He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher. “He was having trouble sleeping, so he took some cannabis, with the result that he was over the limit,” Mr Kelleher told the court. “He’s now hoping to find work with someone else, but if that doesn’t happen, then he’ll have to claim benefits.” Thomas, of Woodbine Way, Hakin, Milford Haven, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £120 victim surcharge.
A PEMBROKESHIRE landlady has described the terrifying moment a customer hurled bottles and glasses towards her face during an incident at a Narberth pub. Elin Owen, 31, became aggressive towards landlady Kayleigh Bushell at The Dragon Inn on March 21, Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week. Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson said the incident began after Owen saw Ms Bushell speaking to another person inside the pub. “The defendant became aggressive when she saw the landlady speaking to one of the witnesses,” she told the court. Owen warned the landlady to be careful who she was speaking to before saying: “Do you know who the f*** I am?” She then began verbally abusing Ms Bushell and was asked to leave the premises. But prosecutors said Owen became
increasingly irate and threw a glass bottle directly towards the landlady’s head. “The victim ducked out of the way and the bottle smashed into the wall behind her,” Ms Jackson said. Another person attempted to restrain Owen to prevent the situation escalating, but she then threw a second bottle. In a victim impact statement read to magistrates, Ms Bushell said the attack had seriously affected her confidence and emotional wellbeing. “This was a terrifying incident,” she said. “I live above the pub, so I’m now gripped by high anxiety. It’s impacted my emotional wellbeing.” Owen, of Victoria Close, Narberth, pleaded guilty to common assault. Sentencing was adjourned until October 27 to allow the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report.
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Judge discharges jury after legal representation row in Kershaw trial
A JURY has been discharged in the trial of James Kershaw after a dramatic morning at Swansea Crown Court in which uncertainty over the defendant’s legal representation brought proceedings to a halt. The development came just 24 hours after His Honour Judge Huw Rees criticised what he described as the “sloppiness and disinterest of those previously involved in the case”. Kershaw’s jury had been sworn on Monday (Oct 5), with the prosecution case expected to begin on Tuesday morning. However, the trial was derailed following an apparent breakdown between Kershaw and his legal team. Confusion over representation At the start of Tuesday’s hearing, defence barrister Mr Murphy indicated that Kershaw wished to represent himself. But while counsel was addressing the court, Kershaw could be seen shaking his head from the dock. Judge Rees intervened, saying: “I have the benefit of seeing that the defendant is not confirming he wishes to represent himself.” Kershaw’s solicitor then took further instructions, but the position remained unclear. The judge eventually directed Mr Murphy to speak directly to Kershaw at the dock to establish precisely what he wanted. When counsel returned, he said Kershaw did wish to be legally represented. Mr Murphy then suggested: “Can the defendant please stand and confirm out loud to the court that he does wish to be legally represented, so the court are on notice?” Barrister rebuked by judge The suggestion drew a sharp response from Judge Rees. He said the suggestion should not have been made and referred to a similar type of interaction the previous day. Judge Rees told the barrister: “You have a lot to learn about what you should say to a judge.” Seeking a clear answer, the judge asked whether Kershaw’s final position was that he wished to remain legally represented. He criticised the amount of court time being taken up by the exchanges, describing it as “time wasting with verbosity — all wind”. Judge Rees said this was the second time Kershaw had disengaged with counsel and warned there would not be a third. With the jury having already been kept waiting, the judge concluded that the trial could no longer proceed before them. Jury discharged
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When jurors were brought into court, Judge Rees apologised for the delay. He told them: “Good morning. Bore da. I asked you to come in at 10.30 and you were kept waiting. You were obedient to your jury summons and we are sorry.” The judge explained that a development had occurred which had derailed the trial. He said Kershaw had disengaged from his legal representation and that the court now had to establish whether he could secure fresh representation or whether he would represent himself. Judge Rees added: “These things happen now and again and human nature can be fickle, and it seems to be the case in this case.” He then formally discharged the jury, apologising if they felt their time had been wasted. Earlier criticism of case preparation The collapse of Tuesday’s start followed concerns raised by Judge Rees when the case first came before the jury on Monday. Prosecutor Mr Wright, who had only recently been appointed to the case, told the court that the prosecution was not in a position to begin the substantive trial that day. During those exchanges, Judge Rees acknowledged work which had been carried out since Mr Wright became involved to address problems with the case. His criticism was directed at its earlier handling, referring to the “sloppiness and disinterest of those previously involved in the case”. The judge added: “I know who was involved in the case before. Don’t worry about that. I choose my words with meaning.” Despite those difficulties, a jury was sworn on Monday in anticipation of
the prosecution opening its case the following morning. Tuesday’s dispute over Kershaw’s representation meant that jury ultimately had to be discharged. ‘There will be a trial’ After the jury left court, Judge Rees addressed Kershaw directly and made clear that the prosecution would go
ahead. Mr Wright agreed with the judge’s proposal that the case should be adjourned to allow the representation issue to be resolved. The proceedings were adjourned for seven days, until next Tuesday. Judge Rees told Kershaw: “You are in custody but it’s not impossible to get legal representation. You need to fund a solicitor and barrister before next Tuesday.” He made clear that if Kershaw had not obtained fresh representation by then, the court would have to consider him representing himself. However, the judge stressed that Kershaw would not be permitted personally to cross-examine the complainant, who is now 16 and was aged 13 at the time of the alleged offences. Judge Rees also issued a warning against any attempt to manipulate the proceedings, saying the court would be keeping “an eagle eye” on the situation and making clear that any attempt to frustrate the progress of the trial would not succeed. Kershaw was remanded in custody until the case returns to Swansea Crown Court next Tuesday. He denies the allegations against him.
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The tragedy remembered in the chapel at Picton Castle A STAINED-GLASS memorial in Picton Castle’s chapel preserves the memory of a young life cut short more than 130 years ago. Mabel Jane Philipps was just 17 when she died in November 1893 after being thrown from a carriage near Haverfordwest. Remembered in glass made by Alexander Gibbs of Bloomsbury, she remains part of the history of a room that brings together medieval architecture, Georgian craftsmanship and Victorian remembrance. Picton Castle’s own account dates the chapel’s stainedglass windows to 1894, the year after her death. Mabel was a daughter of Sir Charles Edward Gregg Philipps and his wife, Mary Philippa. Her father served as High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire and later became Mayor of Haverfordwest. A contemporary record of her funeral survives in the National Library of Wales’s collections. Its catalogue lists an account reprinted from the nineteenth-century Pembrokeshire Herald, dated November 17, 1893. That archival entry provides another trace of the young woman commemorated at Picton, linking the chapel’s memorial with local newspaper
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coverage of her death. The chapel itself belongs to a much longer story. Research carried out in 2023 by Neil Ludlow and Phil Poucher, funded by the Castle Studies Trust and published in 2024, identified medieval residential apartments on either side of a chapel.
The arrangement followed patterns associated with royal buildings. The researchers concluded that Picton was most likely built by Sir John Wogan between about 1315 and 1320. Centuries of alterations subsequently changed its appearance, as the Philipps family adapted the medieval castle into a Georgian country home. The chapel’s later character reflects that transformation. Its box pews face
inwards along the sides of the room, while an elliptical arch divides the ceiling into two sections. One section is panelled; the other has stars formed in the plaster. The historic listing also records altar rails with turned balusters and two round-headed east windows containing Gibbs’s stained glass. These fittings place several periods of craftsmanship within the same small space, while the Victorian memorial adds a personal connection to the family who lived there. Picton’s collection also includes a rare Snetzler chamber organ. A visiting organist’s account published in 2012 described the instrument on the gallery at the end of the main reception room, with seven stops and a single keyboard. The Philipps family established a charitable trust in 1987 and gave the castle and its contents for public benefit, allowing visitors to explore a building shaped by generations of domestic life. For those standing in the chapel, Mabel’s memorial offers a particularly direct connection with that past: the name of a teenager whose life ended in 1893, still remembered within the walls of her family’s home.
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Beynon to quit council after months of scrutiny over attendance CLLR JOSHUA BEYNON is to resign from Pembrokeshire County Council at the end of October, following months of public debate over his attendance and questions investigated by The Pembrokeshire Herald. The Labour councillor for Pembroke Dock Central has told constituents he will leave his seat with effect from October 31, 2026, ending more than nine years on the authority. In a two-page letter dated October, Beynon says a new job opportunity comes with terms which mean he cannot continue as a councillor. He also describes the impact of his father’s death and the demands of supporting his family. His announcement follows the Herald’s examination of his published attendance record, allegations about time spent in Portugal, and the council’s rules governing remote participation. Beynon denied the claim that he had spent six months living in Portugal. His resignation letter does not attribute his departure to the Herald’s reporting, and he expressly says hostility towards public figures is not his reason for leaving. New job and family pressures First elected in May 2017 at the age of 19, Beynon tells residents that representing Pembroke Dock has been a privilege, while acknowledging that he has made mistakes during his time in office. He says the past year has tested him more than any other since his election. His father died in November 2025 following a short battle with cancer, and he has since been supporting his mother. “Alongside all of this, I have been awarded a fantastic new job opportunity, the terms of which mean I cannot continue as a councillor,” he writes. “Taken together, it has been an enormous amount to carry, and it has weighed on this decision.” He adds: “It is with regret, though also considerable pride in what has been achieved, that I will be resigning my seat with effect from 31 October 2026.” The letter does not identify his new employer or explain which terms of the job prevent him from continuing in elected office. The questions raised by the Herald The Herald reported in July on claims circulating on social media that Beynon had spent an extended period in Portugal while continuing to represent his ward. Some contributors called for his resignation; others defended his work for residents. Beynon told the newspaper that his partner is Portuguese and that they
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travelled between the two countries to maintain their relationship. He said none of his visits had lasted longer than a standard holiday, that he continued to live in Pembroke Dock, and that he remained available to constituents. The council’s published record examined at the time covered February 2 to July 28. It showed 14 expected meetings, 12 virtual attendances and two absences: an overall attendance rate of 86 per cent. Although the online record appeared to show no physical attendances, Beynon said he had attended the June full-council meeting in person and that the webcast would confirm it. The Herald asked the council to explain that apparent discrepancy and submitted wider questions about overseas attendance, ward availability, allowances, expenses and access to council systems. In its reply on July 31, the council said an updated policy permitting remote attendance in compliance with legislation had been reconfirmed by full council in May. It supplied a link to the meeting papers but did not provide individual answers to the questions. The attendance figures did not establish where Beynon was connecting from. The Herald’s earlier reporting made clear that it had not been provided with evidence showing he had lived in Portugal for six months or stopped carrying out his duties. Remote-meeting rules under
scrutiny A subsequent Herald report examined the council’s May 14 decision to approve a revised Multi-Location Meetings Policy after removing a proposed restriction on where remote votes could be cast. The deleted provision would have required voting from a private indoor location and prevented voting from vehicles, public transport or while otherwise in transit. Beynon was one of 51 members who supported the final policy unanimously. He did not speak during the debate, propose the amendment or have a recorded role in drafting the policy. The Herald found no evidence that the change was made at his request or for his personal benefit. The reporting highlighted a wider limitation in the public record: a virtual attendance entry did not tell residents whether a councillor was in Pembrokeshire, elsewhere in Britain or overseas. Warning over abuse in public life Beynon’s resignation letter also criticises the increasingly hostile climate facing elected representatives, referring to personal attacks, death threats, abusive behaviour and misinformation on social media. He explicitly qualifies those remarks: “While it is not the reason for my leaving, it would be remiss of me not to mention the increasing hostility of being a public figure in today’s climate.”
He argues that this makes it harder to encourage people from different backgrounds to serve their communities and criticises political scapegoating and promises of easy solutions. “Public service should lift people up, not pit neighbour against neighbour,” he writes. Beynon also points to cases in which councillors’ online conduct has led to disqualification, arguing that sanctions alone cannot address the underlying problem. More than office
nine
years
in
His departure from the council follows an earlier decision to leave the Cabinet in 2025, when he stepped back from the corporate finance and efficiencies portfolio while continuing as a ward councillor. In his latest letter, he lists serving as Mayor of Pembroke Dock, work on the county’s net-zero action plan, improvements to the Memorial Park and support for schools, sport and council housebuilding among the contributions he is proud of. He says helping residents through difficult moments has been the most rewarding part of the role and thanks council staff for their work amid pressure on resources. Beynon wishes his successor well and says he will continue following Pembrokeshire politics and speaking out about problems facing the town and county. His letter gives October 31 as his departure date but does not set out a
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Police extend schools programme to colleges and sixth forms
YOUNG people in Pembrokeshire will receive additional support to recognise grooming, exploitation and other risks as Dyfed-Powys Police extends its schools programme into further education. Every further education campus across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys will have a named police officer or PCSO as a point of contact from this term. Four new further education outreach officers will also work with staff and students in colleges and sixth forms across the force area, delivering sessions on issues including violence against women and girls, exploitation and grooming. The expansion builds on the force’s existing work in primary and secondary schools, extending support to young people aged 16 and over. Police say the aim is to identify vulnerability earlier, reduce harm and help prevent children and young people from entering the criminal justice system. The Prevention, Intervention and Engagement programme was launched at Dyfed-Powys Police headquarters in Llangunnor, Carmarthen, on Wednesday (Oct 7). Superintendent Chris Neve, the force’s lead for prevention, said: “There is
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already a well-established schools policing programme in place focussed on children at primary and secondary school, and we are now building on that to ensure we reach young people aged 16-plus.” He said the work followed a commitment made in the force’s 2025 prevention strategy to strengthen its approach to preventing crime. “Fewer victims and fewer offences
ultimately means safer communities, and less demand on policing, which allows us to provide more support to the people who need us most,” he said. “Most importantly, it is about improving people’s opportunities to live positive and successful lives.” The changes also include plans to recruit youth prevention officers to work within local authority youth justice teams, strengthening cooperation between police, councils and other agencies. Alongside this, the force is trialling changes to its custody arrangements,
including additional scrutiny of every decision to arrest someone under 18, to help ensure arrest is the right course of action. Supt Neve said: “The issues that lead children and young people to commit crime and antisocial behaviour are complex – and not for policing alone to solve.” He said working closely with local authorities and other agencies would help provide a sustainable, longer-term approach to supporting young people. Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said improving services for children and young people through a child-centred approach was a commitment in his 2025–29 Police and Crime Plan. “I am pleased that Dyfed-Powys Police is introducing a range of new measures, including extending the current police schools service, so that children and young people in further education have access to important crime prevention information and support from dedicated trained staff,” he said. He also welcomed the joint commitment between the force and local authority youth justice services to strengthen prevention and early intervention. The measures will be rolled out across the Dyfed-Powys area, with further developments planned as the programme progresses.
Health concerns over electronic tag lead to new sentence
A ST FLORENCE man convicted of breaching a restraining order has been resentenced after concerns were raised about the potential health implications of wearing an electronic monitoring tag. Christopher Marsh, 50, of The Grove, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Oct 5), when magistrates revoked his existing community order and imposed a replacement. Marsh had been convicted on August 20 of breaching a restraining order. The offence involved attending Skrinkle Haven on July 30 and approaching a woman in breach of an order imposed by Haverfordwest magistrates on July
23, 2024. The National Probation Service applied for the community order made in August to be revoked and Marsh resentenced, citing potential health implications associated with wearing an electronic tag. Magistrates granted the application. Under the replacement community order, Marsh must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and attend 26 sessions of the accredited Building Choices programme. The new order runs until October 4, 2028. Monday’s hearing concerned resentencing for the existing conviction.
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Welsh fishing first as giant bluefin tuna landed at Milford Haven
A MILFORD HAVEN fishing boat has landed Wales’ first commercially line-caught bluefin tuna, bringing a fish measuring 2.2 metres ashore at Milford Docks. The Safia Rose, registration M53, returned with the 131kg tuna on Sunday evening (October 4), marking a milestone for the port and Welsh commercial fishing. Skipper Anthony Court and his crew were photographed alongside their catch after it was lifted from the distinctive yellow vessel onto the quayside.
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At more than seven feet long and weighing almost 289lb, the tuna made an imposing sight as it was brought ashore. Photographer Martin Cavaney captured the landing and the crew gathered beside the fish. The catch follows changes opening up limited opportunities for commercial bluefin tuna fishing. In August, the Welsh Government announced a commercial and
scientific trial, seeking up to five licensed fishing vessels measuring 12 metres or less to take part during 2026. Under the trial’s conditions, participating crews must use rod and reel, record their catches and land fish at designated Welsh ports — Milford Haven or Holyhead. The scheme uses a separate allocation of the UK’s bluefin tuna quota and is
intended to help develop a sustainable commercial fishery. The scientific element requires participating fishermen to provide detailed information, including where fish are caught, their length and weight, fishing effort and sale details. For Anthony Court and his crew, Sunday’s landing puts the Safia Rose at the centre of a Welsh fishing first.
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Haverfordwest man given restraining order after domestic abuse attacks
A HAVERFORDWEST man has been handed an indefinite restraining order after subjecting a woman to two incidents of domestic abuse in the space of four days. Jay Babbage, 33, was also ordered to pay £500 compensation after admitting two assaults and two offences of criminal damage against Roseanne Ash. Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that the first incident took place
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on November 24, 2025, when Babbage arrived at Ms Ash’s home in Milford Haven and repeatedly accused her of cheating on him. Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson said: “He threw a bottle of alcohol across the room which struck the victim, and then swept his arm across the
table, causing items to fall to the floor.” Ms Ash asked him to leave. However, four nights later, the court heard that Babbage became abusive again after the pair had returned home following a night out. Ms Jackson said: “The victim and the defendant had had a night out together and they returned home and slept. “But when the defendant woke up, he started drinking alcohol. “He threw his breakfast at her and called her a c***. When Ms Ash went into the bathroom, the defendant pushed the door open with force. “He then picked up a chair and threw it, and picked up a bedside table and threw it against a wall.” A number of items belonging to Ms Ash were damaged during the incident, including a projector, chair, bedside table, fridge and door, while a wall was also damaged. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Ash described the effect Babbage’s behaviour had had on her. “This has made me very scared to leave the house, as I feel he might do something to harm me,” she said.
“I’m scared to leave the house alone, so I’ve had to spend more time with friends and relatives. “His behaviour has made me fear for my safety because whenever I’m on my own, I feel so vulnerable and scared.” Babbage, of Prospect Place, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating and two charges of criminal damage. Sentencing him, Deputy District Judge Paul Conlon said alcohol misuse had played a considerable role in Babbage’s offending. “It is having a detrimental effect on how you behave,” he told him. Babbage was sentenced to a twoyear community order and ordered to complete a 26-day Building Choices Programme and 160 hours of unpaid work. He was also prohibited from consuming alcohol for 120 days. An indefinite restraining order was imposed, preventing Babbage from having any direct or indirect contact with Ms Ash. He was also ordered to pay her £500 compensation.
Council approves £80,000 purchase of Cabinet member’s Hakin home
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has agreed to buy a Hakin home owned by one of its Cabinet members for £80,000. Cabinet approved the purchase of the three-bedroom maisonette at 22 Waterloo Square, Milford Haven, from Cllr Aaron Carey at its meeting on Monday (Oct 5). Cllr Carey declared an interest and left before the item was discussed. The seven remaining members unanimously backed the purchase. An independent valuation put the property’s value at £85,000. An inspection identified around £5,000 of improvements needed to meet Welsh Housing Quality Standards. The council already owns the building’s freehold and other apartments within the block. Officers said acquiring the maisonette would increase its housing stock and strengthen its management of the building.
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The existing tenant will remain in the property, which was previously part of the council’s housing portfolio. A report presented by housing Cabinet member Cllr Michelle Bateman explained that a purchase of this value would normally fall within a director’s delegated authority. However, because the seller was a serving councillor and Cabinet member, the decision was brought before Cabinet for transparency and accountability. The report said Cllr Carey had no involvement in the council’s assessment, valuation, negotiation of terms or preparation of the report. Negotiations were handled by officers. Both an internal valuation and an independent external valuation were obtained. Officers said purchases below
market value could reflect savings on estate agency fees and the benefits of a sale without a chain. The purchase and necessary
improvements will be funded through the council’s Housing Revenue Account capital programme.
Haverfordwest man fined for missing probation appointments A HAVERFORDWEST man has been fined after admitting breaching his community order by missing two probation appointments. Paul Roberts, 46, of Gerald Road, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Oct 5). He admitted failing, without reasonable excuse, to attend the probation office on September 4 and September 9.
The appointments formed part of the requirements of a community order imposed by Haverfordwest magistrates on October 29, 2025. Magistrates fined Roberts £120 and ordered him to pay £60 in costs, bringing the total to £180. Payments were set at £24 a month, beginning on November 1.
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Lifeboat crew and Coastguard helicopter rescue casualty from fishing vessel ANGLE RNLI lifeboat was launched on Monday afternoon after a crew member aboard a fishing vessel suffered a suspected cardiac episode off the Pembrokeshire coast. The lifeboat was tasked at 3:03pm to assist the casualty, who was aboard a vessel around 12 miles south-west of St Ann’s Head. As the fishing boat made its best speed back towards Milford Haven, the Angle crew launched and rendezvoused with it around five miles off St Ann’s Head. The casualty was reported to be conscious and breathing, but sea conditions were not suitable for an immediate transfer between the two vessels. A decision was therefore made for both boats to continue towards the more sheltered waters of Mill Bay.
Once there, the casualty was transferred safely onto the lifeboat and assessed by Angle RNLI crew members trained in casualty care. Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R387 from St Athan was also dispatched to the incident and arrived shortly afterwards. Following the lifeboat crew’s initial assessment, it was decided that the helicopter’s winch paramedic was required. The paramedic was winched down onto the lifeboat before the casualty was prepared for transfer and hoisted aboard the helicopter. The casualty was then flown to hospital in Cardiff for further treatment. With no further assistance required, the lifeboat crew was stood down and returned to Angle. The lifeboat was back alongside and ready for further service by 4:45pm.
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Man arrested over 1993 Tooze murders faces no further action partial fingerprint found on a teacup at the farmhouse. Mr Jones had consistently maintained his innocence, and Cheryl Tooze continued to support him. In April 1996, the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions after ruling them unsafe. Mr Jones was released from prison and no one else has ever been convicted of killing Harry and Megan. Cold case review brought new hope AN 87-YEAR-OLD man arrested in connection with one of Wales’ most notorious unsolved double murders is no longer under investigation, police have confirmed. South Wales Police said the man, who was arrested in December 2025 over the killings of Harry and Megan Tooze, has been released with no further action following what detectives described as a thorough review of the evidence. However, the investigation into the couple’s deaths remains active, with the force’s Major Crime Investigation Team continuing a forensic review of the case more than 33 years after Harry and Megan were shot dead at their farmhouse near Llanharry. The Pembrokeshire Herald reported the arrest in December, when police described it as a significant development in the long-running cold case. Couple found dead at farmhouse Harry Tooze, 64, and his wife Megan, 67, were killed at Ty Ar y Waun Farm,
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near Llanharry, on July 26, 1993. The couple had travelled into Llanharry that morning to collect their pensions before returning home. Later that day, concern grew when they could not be contacted. Police attended the isolated property and discovered the couple dead from gunshot wounds. Their bodies had been concealed inside a cowshed beneath carpet and hay bales. The apparently motiveless killings triggered one of the most high-profile murder investigations in Wales and have remained unsolved for more than three decades. Conviction later overturned Attention during the original inquiry eventually focused on Jonathan Jones, the boyfriend of the couple’s daughter Cheryl. Mr Jones was convicted of both murders at Newport Crown Court in April 1995 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The prosecution case included a
South Wales Police began a fresh forensic review of the murders in 2023, marking the 30th anniversary of the killings. Preserved exhibits from the original investigation were re-examined using modern forensic techniques unavailable to detectives in the early 1990s. The review appeared to produce a major breakthrough on December 17, 2025, when officers arrested an 86-year-old man on suspicion of the murders. Detective Superintendent Mark Lewis said at the time that the arrest was a significant development but stressed that enquiries were continuing. The man was later released on police bail. He is now 87. No longer under investigation South Wales Police confirmed on Friday (Oct 2) that the man has now been told he is no longer under investigation and has been released with no further action. The force said the decision followed a thorough review of the evidence by
detectives carrying out the forensic review. Despite that development, police stressed that the wider investigation has not ended. Detective Superintendent Mark O’Shea said: “We remain committed to solving these dreadful murders which happened more than three decades ago. “It is never too late to come forward – even with this passage of time I appeal to anyone who has any information about the murders to come forward and speak to us because information they have may help us get justice for the family.” Police said the next of kin of Harry and Megan Tooze continue to receive support and are regularly updated on the progress of the inquiry. Mystery remains 33 years on The latest decision means the murders remain unresolved despite the renewed forensic investigation and the arrest which, less than a year ago, appeared to offer the possibility of a significant breakthrough. The case has retained particular public interest because of both the brutality of the killings and its extraordinary legal history: a double murder conviction was secured, overturned by the Court of Appeal, and followed by decades without another prosecution. With the man arrested during the modern cold case review now facing no further action, detectives are once again appealing to anyone who may still hold information to come forward. South Wales Police says its forensic review continues under the Major Crime Investigation Team.
Free electric-blanket safety checks coming to Pembrokeshire
PEMBROKESHIRE residents are being offered free electric-blanket safety checks as households prepare for colder weather. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service will hold three sessions across the county during October, with its Community Safety Team checking blankets for faults and signs of wear. The service says many people will be taking electric blankets out of storage as they look for ways to stay warm and manage heating costs. Staff will inspect blankets for frayed or worn fabric, scorch marks, signs of overheating and exposed wiring. Checks will also cover damaged controls, plugs and connectors, along with general wear that could affect safe operation.
The sessions will take place at: Pembrokeshire Command Building, Haverfordwest, SA61 1PE: Friday, October 16, from 10am to noon. Fishguard Town Hall, SA65 9HE: Friday, October 30, from 10.30am to noon. Community Safety Team members will also provide practical advice on preventing fires and improving safety at home. The fire service is encouraging residents to check electric blankets regularly, including those that have been stored away during the warmer months. The free sessions are intended to help identify potential problems and reduce fire risks as blankets come back into use for the winter.
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Fishguard Town Hall transfer backed by county council Cabinet Community asset transfer moves forward after months of debate over running costs and long-term control PLANS for Fishguard Town Hall to pass from Pembrokeshire County Council into the ownership of Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council have moved a major step forward after receiving Cabinet backing. The proposed community asset transfer has been under discussion since 2024, with supporters arguing that local ownership would give the town greater control over the future of the historic building. Fishguard Town Hall, in the town square, houses the market hall, public toilets, offices, the town’s library, a small art gallery and the Last Invasion Tapestry gallery. The tapestry commemorates the 1797 French landing near Fishguard, regarded as the last invasion of mainland Britain, and has become one of the building’s best-known attractions. Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council first expressed interest in a community asset transfer in October 2024, with a working group subsequently set up to explore the proposal alongside outside support organisations and county council
officers. The plan has generated debate over the financial implications for the town council. Earlier this year, town council budget papers showed £20,000 had been allocated towards the proposed transfer, while Pembrokeshire
County Council said average annual utility costs for the building over the previous three years had been between £25,000 and £30,000. Other figures considered during the debate suggested the total annual cost of operating the building could be substantially higher once staffing,
maintenance, utilities and business rates were included. Public consultation has taken place during the process, including meetings, paper questionnaires and online responses, while the future operation of Fishguard Library has also been considered alongside the proposed transfer. At the October 5 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members were asked to consider the transfer of the Town Hall to the town council. The proposal has now been backed, moving the community asset transfer closer to completion. If the transfer is finalised, responsibility for operating and maintaining the building would move from the county council to Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council. Supporters say local ownership could help safeguard the building’s civic role and allow decisions over its future to be taken closer to the community. The detailed transfer arrangements and long-term financial implications will remain key issues as the process moves to its next stage.
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Floating wind capacity surges as Celtic Sea eyes 4.5GW energy opportunity FLOATING offshore wind capacity operating around the world has increased by 38 per cent in just 12 months, according to new industry figures which underline the scale of the opportunity facing Milford Haven and the wider Celtic Sea. RenewableUK’s latest EnergyPulse report says fully operational floating wind capacity has risen from 277MW a year ago to 382MW, with 2026 already becoming the strongest year on record for new floating wind projects entering operation. The figures come at a pivotal moment for Pembrokeshire, where 4.5GW of large-scale floating offshore wind capacity has now been leased in the Celtic Sea and industry, government and local leaders are seeking to establish Milford Haven as a major centre for the emerging sector. The report places the UK third in the world for operating floating wind capacity, with 78MW, behind Norway on 97MW and France on 87MW. China currently has 72MW operating. However, RenewableUK says the UK has what it describes as the world’s most credible floating wind pipeline, with projects backed by leases, planning activity and the Contracts for Difference support mechanism.
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The UK’s total floating wind pipeline stands at 28.4GW. RenewableUK forecasts that 274MW could be operational in UK waters by the end of 2030, rising to 1GW in 2032 and potentially 3GW by 2034. Worldwide, the total pipeline of floating wind projects at every stage of development now stands at 152GW across 300 projects in 26 countries. The report predicts around 1.7GW could be operating globally by the end of 2030, with China expected to account for about two-thirds of that capacity and the UK around 16 per cent. By the middle of the next decade, RenewableUK expects the UK to account for approximately 85 per cent of Europe’s floating offshore wind capacity. The figures are particularly significant for Pembrokeshire because Milford Haven is seeking to position itself as one of the main industrial and logistics centres serving Celtic Sea wind farms. The transition has taken on added importance following confirmation that commercial operations at the Impala Milford Haven terminal are to cease at the end of this year, raising renewed questions about how quickly new energy industries can replace skilled jobs being lost from more traditional sectors. Floating wind advocates argue that fabrication, assembly, port operations, maintenance and supply-chain activity could support substantial employment in west Wales if enough of the economic value from Celtic Sea projects is
retained locally. But concerns have repeatedly been raised about whether ports and manufacturers in Wales will secure that work rather than seeing major components built elsewhere and simply transported through the region. RenewableUK chief executive Tara Singh said the sharp rise in worldwide deployment demonstrated the scale of the opportunity. She said: “The extraordinary surge we’ve seen over the last twelve months in new floating wind projects going live worldwide shows that the UK has a great opportunity to capitalise on our position as a global leader in this innovative technology.” She said consistent deployment would be essential to reduce costs and establish a viable domestic supply chain. The report says 592.5MW of UK floating wind capacity has already secured a Contract for Difference, while another 832MW across five projects is eligible for the latest allocation round. Nearly 14GW of projects, all currently in Scotland, are also progressing through the offshore planning system. For Pembrokeshire, however, the headline figure remains the 4.5GW already leased in the Celtic Sea. The challenge will now be ensuring that the extraordinary scale of planned offshore development translates into investment, industrial activity and longterm employment onshore in places such as Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock.
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WEDDINGS AND EVENTS 2025 & 2026
For information on our wedding packages or to book a meeting at the venue please email: jenna@nelsonmilford.com
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Safeguarding overhaul announced after review finds gaps in accountability Ministers plan new oversight board and intelligence hub as independent review identifies inconsistent practice, fragmented information-sharing and weaknesses in national oversight
WALES’ safeguarding system is to undergo a major overhaul after an independent review identified variation, duplication and gaps in accountability across arrangements designed to protect children and vulnerable adults. The review, led by safeguarding expert Jan Pickles OBE, found considerable commitment and expertise across the system but concluded that arrangements had become structurally complex and were not sufficiently aligned with the safeguarding challenges now facing Wales. Among the concerns identified were inconsistent arrangements between Regional Safeguarding Boards, fragmented intelligence-sharing, limited analytical capacity and a lack of clarity over the responsibilities of some organisations. The review also found that adult safeguarding did not always receive the same level of strategic attention as safeguarding children, while differences in membership and participation between regional boards risked creating an inconsistent
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approach across Wales. In response, the Welsh Government has announced a new national programme called Stronger Safeguarding for a Safer Wales. The programme will introduce a Ministerial Safeguarding Oversight and Assurance Board, giving ministers more direct oversight of safeguarding risks and performance across the country. A dedicated safeguarding function will also be established within the National Social Care Intelligence Hub. Officials say the hub will bring together data and intelligence to identify emerging risks and recurring patterns of harm earlier, allowing agencies to act before concerns escalate. A National Safeguarding Plan and National Risk Register will also be developed in an attempt to establish clearer priorities and greater consistency between different parts
of Wales. One of the issues identified by the review was the way information and learning are currently shared. It found that safeguarding intelligence could be fragmented and that organisations did not always have sufficient analytical capacity to identify patterns or emerging risks. It also raised concerns that a substantial amount of learning within the safeguarding system comes from cases where a child or adult has already suffered serious harm or died. That means comparatively less attention can be given to learning from the much larger number of cases which do not result in the most serious outcomes, including examples where intervention has worked well. The review also highlighted differences in the composition and operation of Wales’ Regional Safeguarding Boards, including varying levels of participation from education, voluntary organisations, sporting bodies and faith organisations. The Welsh Government says its new
programme is intended to create a more consistent national approach while retaining local and regional safeguarding arrangements. Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health Delyth Jewell said every child and adult in Wales should have confidence that concerns about abuse are heard and acted upon. She said: “This programme is about building a stronger safeguarding system for Wales, one that identifies risks earlier, learns from past failings and ensures organisations work together to protect people from harm. “Most importantly, this programme will ensure the voices and experiences of children, young people, adults at risk, victims and survivors help shape the services designed to protect them.” The reforms will be introduced in phases during the current Senedd term. However, the programme could eventually lead to considerably more significant changes. The Welsh Government says it will lay the groundwork for future consultation on the creation of an Adult and Child Protection Authority for Wales. Ministers are also preparing to consult on the possible introduction of mandatory reporting of abuse. No final decision has been taken on either proposal. Depending on how it was designed, mandatory reporting could potentially place a legal duty on specified professionals or organisations to report suspected abuse. A national Adult and Child Protection Authority would meanwhile represent a significant structural change to the way safeguarding is overseen in Wales. Both proposals would be subject to consultation before any final decision. The reforms will apply across Wales, including safeguarding arrangements covering children and adults at risk in Pembrokeshire. The Welsh Government says the aim is to create a system which identifies danger sooner, shares information more effectively and learns not only when safeguarding has failed, but from everyday practice across the country.
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Pembrokeshire residents invited to find out about becoming a councillor PEMBROKESHIRE residents interested in standing for election are being invited to find out what life as a county councillor involves at a special drop-in event next month. The session will take place at County Hall, Haverfordwest, from 2pm to 6pm on Tuesday, November 10, ahead of local elections across Wales in May 2027. It is the first in a series of events planned for potential candidates and will offer an informal introduction to the role of an elected member and the democratic process. Visitors will be able to tour the council’s meeting facilities, speak to existing councillors about their experiences and ask about the responsibilities, opportunities and challenges of representing a community. Staff from the Elections and Democratic Services teams will also be available throughout the afternoon to explain the nomination process, eligibility requirements and the support available to candidates. Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, Cabinet Member for Communities, encouraged people from all backgrounds to consider attending. She said: “Being a Councillor is an interesting and varied role, one where
you can make a real difference in your community. If you’ve ever thought about standing for election this is a great chance to find out more and I’d encourage anyone to come along, regardless of background, experience or political affiliation. “The role is demanding and elected
members deal with all sorts of difficulties on a daily basis, but it is rewarding. Those attending will have the opportunity to find out more about how local government works and the vital role councillors play in shaping services, influencing decisions and championing the interests of
residents.” Further events are planned for early 2027. Anyone who would like to let the council know they plan to attend, or who has questions about the event, can email events@pembrokeshire. gov.uk.
Family who opened their home to children in crisis wins national honour
A PEMBROKESHIRE family who have opened their home to children in crisis have been honoured at the Child of Wales Awards. Claire and Dez Guile and their children received the Courageous Family award at the ceremony in Swansea on Friday (Oct 2), recognising a commitment shared by the whole household. Their nomination describes how the couple left Brighton and moved to Pembrokeshire with their own children to provide a home for young people who
urgently needed safety and stability. They have helped keep siblings together and supported children through the lasting effects of trauma, offering reassurance and a place to belong. Among those whose lives they have helped change is a young man who arrived aged four and, according to the nomination, remains at home with the family fourteen years later. The award also recognises the contribution of Claire and Dez’s own children, who have shared their home and adapted their lives to welcome
others. The nomination describes the patient, everyday work of rebuilding trust, including comforting children through frightening nights and remaining alongside them through difficult periods. “They have opened their door, again and again, to children in crisis when there was nowhere else for them to go,” it says. The Guile family were among winners from across Wales recognised at the fifth anniversary of the Ascona Group Child of Wales Awards, held at
Swansea Building Society Arena. Around 700 guests attended the event, hosted for the fifth consecutive year by BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones. The awards celebrate children, young people and families whose courage, care for others and achievements have made a difference to those around them. Categories also recognise young carers, fundraisers, performers and sporting talent. Blanche Sainsbury, the awards’ founder and chief executive, said: “Their resilience, kindness, courage and determination are an inspiration to us all.” She thanked the young people, their families and the sponsors supporting the event. The evening featured performances by the Child of Wales Awards Choir, former Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Lucciano Mortimore and headline act The Brand New Heavies. Pembrokeshire-based Ascona Group returned as headline sponsor for a second year. Founder and chief executive Darren Briggs said the company’s support reflected its commitment to giving back to the communities in which it operates. This year’s event is raising money for Wales Air Ambulance and mental health charity Big Moose.
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More than 500 Pembrokeshire potholes fall outside repair target Council records show £955,000 in repair costs over three years, alongside hundreds of claims relating to road damage and injuries MORE than 500 potholes in Pembrokeshire were not recorded as repaired within the council’s target time during the last financial year, official figures show. Pembrokeshire County Council listed 1,589 Category 1 potholes in 2025/26, with 1,060 repaired within target. That leaves 529 — approximately one in three — outside the target. The previous year showed a similar position: 1,028 of 1,545 Category 1 potholes were repaired within target. In 2023/24, the figure was 952 out of 956. The disclosure does not explain the change or specify the repair deadline attached to that category. Repair costs rose from £286,000 in 2023/24 to £324,000 in 2024/25 and £345,000 in 2025/26, totalling £955,000. Separate council records show 332 claims relating to pothole incidents across those three financial years. By June 9, 2026, payments had been recorded against 37 claims, totalling
£57,504. Incidents from 2023/24 accounted for £33,677 across 16 paid claims. The following year accounted for £10,096 across six claims, while 15 claims relating to incidents in 2025/26 had attracted payments totalling £13,731.
Those figures are a snapshot of payments recorded by the disclosure’s cut-off date. They do not establish that every other claim was rejected or that all cases had concluded. In another response, the council clarified that its payment figures
combine compensation and legal costs. The authority’s published maintenance guidance says roads and pavements undergo regular inspections, with emergency defects made safe within four hours. Other defects are addressed according to priority and available resources. That general guidance does not establish which deadline applied to the Category 1 potholes listed in the disclosure. The Herald has asked the council to explain the Category 1 deadline, the fall in the proportion repaired within target, and the breakdown of compensation and legal costs. It has also been asked to confirm the scope of its repair spending. Its response will be reported when received. Residents reporting a pothole are asked to provide a precise location and description. Reports can be made through the council’s online services or by contacting Highway Maintenance on 01437 764551.
Dafydd Owain wins £10,000 Welsh Music Prize for Ymarfer Byw DAFYDD OWAIN has won the 2026 Welsh Music Prize for his album Ymarfer Byw, collecting the £10,000 award at a ceremony in Cardiff on Wednesday night. The Caernarfon singer-songwriter took the top honour at the Wales Millennium Centre after being selected from a 15-strong shortlist featuring some of the best-known names in contemporary Welsh music. The win caps a remarkable year for Ymarfer Byw, which was also named Welsh Language Album of the Year at this summer’s National Eisteddfod y Garreg Las in Pembrokeshire. The album grew out of what Dafydd has described as an emotionally intense period in his life. Its songs deal with difficult and deeply personal themes while also finding room for humour, beauty and hope. Speaking after receiving the award, Dafydd said the recognition meant a great deal given the strength of the other artists on the shortlist. He said creating an album was never truly a solo effort, adding that “it takes a village to raise an album” and expressing the hope that the award would allow him to continue making new music. ‘Musical excellence’ Huw Stephens, who co-founded the Welsh Music Prize in 2011, said the
artists including Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Vangelis and Yusuf / Cat Stevens. The award was accepted on her behalf by her daughter, Jessica Lee Morgan, who also performed a medley of her mother’s songs during the ceremony. Hopkin said she was grateful for the recognition, while her daughter said music had always mattered more to her mother than fame or image.
judges had been struck by both the music and the personal nature of the songwriting. He said Ymarfer Byw had generated a huge reaction since its release and described it as an album of musical excellence built around Dafydd’s moving lyrics. The 2026 shortlist included ADJUA, Aleighcia Scott, Ani Glass, Art School Girlfriend, Cerys Hafana, CHROMA, Dewin, Gruff Rhys, Gwenifer Raymond, Local, Mari Mathias, Skindred, The Bug Club and The Royston Club. The Welsh Music Prize was established to celebrate outstanding albums made in Wales or by Welsh artists around the world. This year’s ceremony formed part of Cardiff Music City Festival and featured live performances from several of the shortlisted acts.
Dafydd’s victory follows an already successful year for the record. As well as its National Eisteddfod success in Pembrokeshire, Ymarfer Byw has attracted widespread critical praise and has helped establish him as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Welsh-language music. Mary Hopkin honoured The ceremony also recognised Pontardawe-born singer Mary Hopkin with the Welsh Music Inspiration Award. Hopkin rose to international fame in 1968 with Those Were the Days and became one of the first artists signed to The Beatles’ Apple Records. Her career went on to include major chart success, an appearance for the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest and collaborations with
Emerging artists recognised Three emerging acts — Mwsog, Casual Smart and Betsan — were also presented with the Triskel Award, which is designed to support artists at an early stage of their careers. The event also celebrated recipients of the PPL Momentum Sbardun Accelerator Fund, which supports Welsh artists with recording, touring and marketing costs.Culture and Sport Minister Heledd Fychan congratulated Dafydd and the other winners, saying the awards reflected the breadth of talent across the Welsh music scene. For west Wales audiences, Dafydd’s win has an added connection following his success at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las earlier this year, where Ymarfer Byw was already recognised as one of the standout Welsh-language albums of 2026.
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More than 100,000 sewage spills recorded in Wales, charity warns
Surfers Against Sewage calls for stronger action as swimmers report illness after visiting Welsh rivers, lakes and beaches received seven days of antibiotics for a severe unidentified infection. The charity said the illness was believed to be linked to sewage pollution, although a cause was not confirmed in the information supplied. His experience is among those being used by campaigners to press for greater protection for people swimming, surfing and taking part in other water activities. Calls for stronger Welsh powers
SEWAGE was discharged more than 100,000 times across Wales in 2025, according to new analysis by Surfers Against Sewage. The environmental charity’s 2026 Water Quality Report puts the frequency at roughly one spill every five minutes, with discharges affecting designated Welsh bathing waters lasting a combined 35,669 hours over the year. The findings come alongside reports of illness from people using Welsh waters and renewed calls for stronger regulation. Between January and August 2026, the charity received 187 reports of sickness following visits to rivers, lakes and beaches across Wales. Among those reports associated with designated bathing waters, 90 per cent related to locations classified as having “Good” or “Excellent” water quality. The figures describe illnesses reported directly to the charity. They are not a comprehensive count of cases across Wales and do not, by themselves, establish that sewage caused each illness. Pollution at highly rated waters At Llyn Padarn in Gwynedd, where the designated bathing water is classified as “Excellent”, the charity’s analysis recorded 1,614 hours of
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sewage discharges during 2025. Its findings also indicate that pollution continued into 2026. During the first six months of the year, Welsh Water recorded 1,492 sewage spills affecting bathing waters, lasting a combined 12,323 hours. SAS cautions that its 2026 discharge figures come from raw water company data that has not been verified. They are therefore not directly comparable with the annual returns used for its 2025 analysis. Since 2019, the charity has received 992 sickness reports from locations across Wales, with those reporting illness recording a total of 2,258 days off work. SAS believes the submissions capture only part of the impact because they depend on people reporting their experiences directly to the organisation. Boy spent ten days in hospital Among the cases highlighted by the charity is that of ten-year-old Ollie, who became seriously unwell after swimming in the Taf Fechan during the summer. According to SAS, he developed a temperature above 40°C, vomiting,
severe shivering and delirium. He spent ten days in hospital and
SAS is calling for the forthcoming Clean Water Bill to provide for further devolution of powers over water quality and regulation to the Welsh Government. It is also urging the Senedd to make full use of its existing powers to tackle sewage pollution. Across the UK, the charity received 1,687 sickness reports between January and August 2026, already exceeding the 1,568 submitted during the whole of 2025. The charity says its findings underline the need for stronger safeguards for water users and more effective action against pollution.
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Welsh education project Jett Osprey takes flight at Carmarthenshire launch New learning initiative brings together STEM, careers and inclusive education at British Bird of Prey Centre A NEW Welsh educational media project aimed at connecting young people with learning, future careers and the skills needed for a rapidly changing workplace has been officially launched in Carmarthenshire. Jett Osprey was unveiled on Saturday (Oct 3) at the British Bird of Prey Centre at Idole, near Carmarthen, bringing together education, technology, industry and the natural world for an afternoon of presentations and live bird displays. The project is the creation of experienced educator Jonathan “Yaw” Porter, who has spent more than 40 years teaching academic and vocational skills. Jett Osprey will provide educational material online and in print, with a particular emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while also covering subjects including geography, art, culture, travel, languages and history. A central theme of the project is helping young people understand how what they learn connects with real employment opportunities, while making material accessible to pupils with different learning styles and neurodiverse needs. Guests at Saturday’s launch heard from a number of speakers before being introduced to some of the birds housed at the centre. The event was opened by Tom Sinclair, Editor of The Pembrokeshire Herald, who spoke about the growing gap between the skills employers require and those young people are being encouraged to develop. He said: “One of the big challenges facing young people today is that the world of work is changing incredibly quickly. Employers need people with technical and STEM skills, of course, but also people who can communicate, think creatively, solve problems and adapt as technology changes. “And that creates a challenge for education. It isn’t enough simply to teach young people facts and hope that the jobs will be there at the end of it. We need to help them understand how what they learn connects to the real world, to careers, and to the opportunities that are opening up around them.” He said the phrase “skills gap” ultimately described a relatively simple problem — opportunities were being created, but young people were not always being shown clearly enough what those opportunities were or how to develop the skills needed to
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take them. Mr Sinclair added: “That is one of the things I find interesting about Jett Osprey. It brings together education, careers and imagination, while recognising that young people don’t all learn in exactly the same way. “The aim is to make subjects such as science, technology, engineering and maths engaging and relevant, while also opening the door to a much wider range of subjects and experiences.” Also speaking at the event was Dr Rosie Cane, Cluster Development Manager at Space Wales, who addressed guests on skills, industry and the opportunities emerging through Wales’ developing space and technology sectors. Her contribution reinforced one of the central ideas behind Jett Osprey — that education can be strengthened by showing young people where subjects such as science, engineering and technology can lead in the real world. Guests also heard from Emma Hill, owner of the British Bird of Prey Centre, who spoke about the centre and its work. The venue itself opened just a year ago and provided a particularly fitting setting for the launch of a project whose central character is an osprey.
Live birds formed an important part of the afternoon, giving guests the opportunity to experience birds of prey at close quarters while learning more about the centre’s work. Jonathan Porter then presented the Jett Osprey concept and explained the thinking behind the project. He said: “Jett Osprey is about making learning fun and relevant, for every kind of learner. “After more than 40 years teaching young people both academic and vocational skills, I’ve seen how
much of a difference an inclusive, differentiated approach can make — and I’m excited to bring that experience to a wider audience through this new concept.” Jett Osprey is intended to combine clear educational content with video, online resources and interviews with people working in different industries, helping students connect classroom learning with potential careers. The project is being developed by Dagmyne Publishing, a trading name of Dagmyne Ltd.
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Almost half of monitored pink sea fans disappear at Skomer Conservationists highlight losses of fragile marine wildlife as rare corals go on display at Goodwick’s Ocean Lab ALMOST half of a group of pink sea fans monitored in waters around Skomer have disappeared, conservationists have warned. The losses have been highlighted as four of the delicate corals arrive at Sea Trust’s Ocean Lab in Goodwick, where a new display aims to raise awareness of the threats facing Pembrokeshire’s underwater wildlife. According to a statement issued through the Natur am Byth! conservation programme, long-term diving surveys by Natural Resources Wales show that almost half of 124 sea fans photographed annually in the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone have disappeared. Most of the losses have been recorded since 2015. The figures relate to the sea fans tracked by the monitoring programme, rather than a count of the entire Pembrokeshire population. Pink sea fans are slow-growing soft corals found in rocky seas. Despite their branching, plant-like appearance, they are animals. Pembrokeshire lies near the northern edge of their range, making the county’s waters particularly important for understanding how the species responds to environmental change. Young sea fans may grow by around a centimetre a year, but growth slows considerably as they age. Larger specimens can be decades old, with some potentially exceeding a century.
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The conservation project identifies a range of possible pressures, including rising sea temperatures, water quality, entanglement in marine litter and fishing line, and physical damage from activities such as anchoring and fishing. Natural pressures include entanglement with shark egg cases and predation by
specialist marine animals. The statement does not attribute the recorded losses to a single cause. Sue Burton, from the Marine Conservation Society, said: “Pink sea fans are extraordinary animals, but their decline shows how vulnerable our marine wildlife can be.” The four sea fans now at Ocean Lab were transported from London in a carefully managed six-hour journey involving the Marine Conservation Society, the University of Exeter, the
Horniman Museum and Sea Trust. They were grown from fragments of corals originally collected under licence off the south Devon coast for research into the species’ reproduction and the connections between populations. Researcher Kaila Wheatley Kornblum’s work achieved a UK first by spawning and rearing pink sea fans in captivity. The animals were subsequently cared for at the Horniman Aquarium’s Project Coral laboratory. Staff shared specialist care techniques with Sea Trust aquarist Lloyd Nelmes before the move to Goodwick. Mr Nelmes said: “They are beautiful, fragile animals that most people will never have the chance to see in the wild, so bringing them here gives visitors a rare window into Pembrokeshire’s underwater world. “We hope they will inspire people to value and protect the remarkable marine life found around our coast.” The display forms part of Natur am Byth!, a national species recovery programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with support from the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales. Conservation partners hope that allowing visitors to see the corals close up will help build understanding of the fragile habitats beneath Pembrokeshire’s seas—and the need to protect them.
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Folly Farm plans more holiday accommodation at Begelly
House and workshop would be demolished to make way for three holiday lets beside the attraction’s growing holiday park
FOLLY FARM is seeking permission to expand its holiday accommodation by replacing a house at Begelly with three purpose-built holiday lets. The proposal concerns Highcroft, near the attraction’s existing holiday park, and includes alterations to the road access and biodiversity improvements. Application 26/0381/PA was received by Pembrokeshire County Council on September 3 and validated on September 16. The published planning record lists it as awaiting a decision. Managing director Chris Ebsworth has submitted the scheme through A D Architectural Design Consultants Ltd. Under the proposals, Highcroft and an adjacent workshop would be demolished, with each of the three new holiday units provided with its own parking and private outdoor space. A supporting statement identifies Highcroft as one of three detached bungalows owned by Folly Farm alongside the holiday park. It argues that the existing property occupies a disproportionately large plot, with substantial garden space that could be put to better use. Describing the holiday park as “an ever-growing venture”, the statement
says the additional accommodation would benefit the business while making better use of the land. The application comes as overnight stays have become an established part of Folly Farm’s offering, alongside its zoo, farm animals, vintage fairground and adventure play areas. Its existing accommodation includes luxury lodges, holiday
cottages, safari tents and Showman’s Wagons, together with touring and camping pitches. Several accommodation ranges take their inspiration from the attraction’s animals, including rhinothemed Kifaru Lodges, lion-themed Simba Lodges and giraffe-themed Twiga Tents. Other lodges reflect its farming and fairground attractions.
Guests staying in the existing luxury lodges and holiday cottages receive unlimited entry to the attraction during opening hours, linking family breaks directly with visits to the park. The Highcroft proposals would add three further self-catering units to that accommodation offering, subject to planning permission.
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Câr-y-Môr secures £1.3m loan as sea farming business adds jobs
Community business says backing has helped recruit four workers and increase hourly pay by 15% PEMBROKESHIRE sea farming business Câr-y-Môr has secured a £1.3m loan from NFU Mutual to support its expansion and create more local jobs. The St Davids community business says four new workers have already joined thanks to the funding, with another four posts planned by summer 2027. It has also increased hourly pay for its workers by 15%, and plans to invest in equipment and training. The finance is repayable over ten years. It will refinance borrowing used to establish and grow the business, while providing additional money to develop its commercial operations. Managing director Owen Haines said the agreement would allow the organisation to concentrate on making its seafood and farming businesses commercially viable and returning benefits to the community. He paid tribute to the hundreds of people whose early support had helped the venture get started. “We’re grateful to NFU Mutual for understanding that we’re trying to do something new to create jobs and help the environment,” he said. Founded in 2019, Câr-y-Môr is a community benefit society owned equally by more than 800 members. Its activities include supplying seafood and shellfish, cultivating seaweed and working with farmers
on seaweed products for agricultural use. The business works with 15 fishermen and gatherers, around a dozen local farmers and more than 100 restaurants and retailers across
the UK. Jonathan Priestley, NFU Mutual’s head of finance, actuarial and investment office, said the insurer’s backing reflected its commitment to supporting rural communities
while investing members’ money responsibly. Câr-y-Môr aims to use future surpluses to support coastal employment, local businesses and community activities.
£3,000 grant offered to Pembrokeshire employers hiring young people PEMBROKESHIRE employers are being encouraged to consider a government grant offering up to £3,000 for recruiting an eligible young person. The Youth Jobs Grant supports employers taking on people aged 18 to 24 who have been out of work and receiving Universal Credit for at least six months, subject to the scheme’s eligibility rules. Jobs must offer at least 25 hours a week for a minimum of four months and pay at least the applicable minimum wage. They must be genuine vacancies and must not replace existing workers. The opportunity is being highlighted locally by Alyson Phillips, Disability Employment Lead at Pembroke Dock Jobcentre, who has circulated information encouraging businesses to find out more. She said: “Giving a young person a chance to work with you, gain experience and contribute to your business is a winning combination at any time.”
Who can apply? Employers of any size can apply, including sole traders intending to employ staff. They must operate in Great Britain, have been trading for at least six months, be registered with HMRC and have an active PAYE scheme. DWP checks both employers and vacancies before accepting them onto the programme. Jobcentre work coaches can then refer suitable candidates, with employers making the final recruitment decision. The scheme opened on June 30 and aims to support up to 60,000 job opportunities across Great Britain over three years. How the payments work The grant is paid in two instalments: £1,800 following checks at around six weeks and a further £1,200 following checks at around 18 weeks.
Payments depend on the scheme’s conditions being met, including verification of employment and earnings through HMRC records. Employers should apply to join the scheme and have their vacancies approved before recruiting through it. Local businesses can request
more information from Alyson Phillips at Alyson.Phillips@dwp.gov. uk. General enquiries can also be made through the DWP Employer Services Line on 0800 169 0178. Full eligibility guidance is available on GOV.UK, with applications through the government’s Find a Grant service.
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Free family day to celebrate Pembrokeshire’s hedgerows FAMILIES are invited to discover the wildlife, food and folklore of Pembrokeshire’s hedgerows at a free community day later this month. The Hedges and Edges event takes place at Canolfan Llwynihirion in Brynberian on Saturday, October 24, from 10am to 4pm. Organised by Cwm Arian as part of the Coedwigoedd Bro Preseli project, the day will bring together traditional countryside skills, creative activities and talks about caring for local habitats. Hedgelaying expert Chris Roscoe will explain the history and purpose of the craft, its place in Welsh culture and the techniques used to maintain living field boundaries. His session will also explore how well-managed hedges provide homes for wildlife and help protect soils. Seren Stacey and Kelly Cracknell, the creative collaborators behind Celf yn y Coed, will lead family craft sessions throughout the day. Participants can make small “hedge books” using prints, rubbings and drawings, with natural inks made from berries, acorns and alder cones.
Seren will also introduce Welsh names for native plants, which families can add to their books before looking for examples in the centre’s garden. Following a lunch of locally sourced cawl, ecologist and storyteller Max Henderson and foraging guide Dan Moar, from Hydref Collective, will lead a “Mythic Forager” walk through Tŷ
Canol woods. The walk will combine local stories and mythology with guidance on wild foods and plants that should be left alone. Neil Harnott will discuss how communities and councils can improve roadside verges for biodiversity. Brynberian’s biodiversity group will
also share its work on managing local hedgerows. Visitors can drop in during the day, although places on the foraging walk and hedgelaying session are limited and bookings are being taken. For information and bookings, email emma@cwmarian.org.uk or call 01239 831602.
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Milford Haven cadets invite young people to take on a new challenge YOUNG people in Milford Haven are being invited to try something new as the town’s Royal Marine Cadets mark National Cadets Week. The unit is welcoming enquiries from prospective cadets aged 13 and over, and their families, as the inaugural UK-wide celebration takes place from October 5 to 11. From learning to navigate with a map and compass to tackling an expedition or taking charge of a team, cadet activities offer opportunities to build confidence, make friends and develop practical skills. Training includes fieldcraft, navigation, first aid, leadership and teamwork, alongside camps, adventurous activities and ceremonial events. Cadets can also work towards recognised awards and qualifications, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and BTEC qualifications, depending on their age, training and eligibility. The experience can give young people examples of responsibility, commitment and problem-solving to draw on when applying for college, university, apprenticeships or employment. The Milford Haven unit is keen to emphasise that newcomers do
not need military experience or existing knowledge of marching, navigation or fieldcraft. What matters is a willingness to learn, take part and give unfamiliar activities a go. As cadets progress, they can take on greater responsibility, helping to organise activities and supporting younger members while developing their own leadership and communication skills. Nor do recruits need to have their future mapped out. Although some
may eventually consider a career in the Armed Forces, the unit says the skills gained through cadets can be useful whatever path they choose. For one young person, the achievement might be completing a demanding expedition. For another, it could be learning first aid, leading a group for the first time or finding the confidence to try an activity they would previously have avoided. National Cadets Week celebrates the opportunities, achievements and
contributions of cadets and adult volunteers across the country. Locally, the Milford Haven unit hopes it will encourage more families to discover what is available on their doorstep. Young people aged 13 and over, or parents and carers seeking further information, can visit www. sea-cadets.org/milfordhaven, email recruitment@milfordhavenscc.org.uk or find Milford Haven Sea Cadets on Facebook.
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Water-quality review highlights four Pembrokeshire beaches below their best
Wiseman’s Bridge recorded three consecutive ‘Sufficient’ ratings, while 25 of the county’s 29 designated bathing waters achieved ‘Excellent’ in the 2025 results FOUR Pembrokeshire beaches are below their previous best bathing-water rating, a new analysis of official records has highlighted. The review, published by Pembrokeshire Guide, examines Natural Resources Wales classifications from 2015 to 2025. It identifies Wiseman’s Bridge, Amroth Central, Tenby North and Newport North as the four sites whose latest grades fall below standards they previously achieved. The wider picture remains positive. Of Pembrokeshire’s 29 designated bathing waters, 25 were classified as Excellent in 2025, three were Good and one was Sufficient. None was rated Poor. Wiseman’s Bridge was the county’s only designated bathing water below Good. Official reports show it dropped from Good in 2022 to Sufficient in 2023, retaining that classification in both 2024 and 2025. Sufficient is the lowest classification that meets the required bathing-water standard. It is distinct from Poor, which indicates that the minimum standard has not been met. At neighbouring Amroth Central, the rating fell from Excellent in 2022 to Good in 2023 and remained there for the following two years.
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Tenby North and Newport North were both classified as Excellent in
2024 before dropping to Good in 2025. The Tenby result applies specifically to North Beach: Castle Beach and Tenby South retained Excellent ratings. The longer-term analysis also
highlights improvements elsewhere. Pembrokeshire Guide reports that Sandy Haven and Nolton Haven were both rated Sufficient in 2016 and 2017. Sandy Haven has held Excellent status since 2020, while Nolton Haven has done so since 2022. Little Haven has been Excellent since 2019. Overall, the review found that 21 of the county’s bathing waters maintained Excellent classifications throughout the eleven-year period. Annual classifications assess water quality over time. NRW’s 2025 results generally draw on samples collected between 2022 and 2025, testing for E. coli and intestinal enterococci, bacteria used as indicators of faecal contamination. That means a rating reflects several seasons of monitoring and should not be treated as a live assessment of conditions on a particular day. The classification tables alone do not establish what caused an individual beach’s rating to change. The analysis does not include annual classifications for the 2026 season. The Welsh Government currently lists 2025 as the latest published annual report, with the next report scheduled for December 18, 2026.
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Wales Air Ambulance joins nationwide push to teach lifesaving CPR skills Wales Air Ambulance joined Restart a Heart Live! for the first time this year, helping bring free CPR training and automated external defibrillator (AED) familiarisation directly into schools and communities. The livestreamed event, held on Thursday, October 1, reached more than 100,000 viewers across the UK and forms part of an ambitious drive to train one million people by 2027. As part of the programme, pupils were given a behind-the-scenes look at Wales Air Ambulance’s base in Dafen. A five-minute film featuring Critical Care Practitioner Derwyn Jones showed children how the service operates and explained the role played by its medical crews. Dr Sue Barnes, Chief Executive of Wales Air Ambulance, said: “Restart a Heart Live! is hugely impactful, reaching thousands of young people across the UK every year. “It has been wonderful to be part of this year’s event, and we look forward to developing our partnership in the months and years ahead.” The charity’s mascot, Huw Hems, also travelled to Scotland, which hosted this year’s event, and joined activities throughout the day. Dr Barnes added: “We have received some wonderful feedback from children who joined in with the sessions. “It is important to make learning both engaging and enjoyable. By giving young people an opportunity to see our aircraft and equipment, they can better
understand how our crews deliver lifesaving care across Wales.” Wales Air Ambulance provides consultant-led critical care, taking hospital-standard treatments directly to patients and, where necessary, transferring them to the most appropriate hospital for their condition. The service is delivered through a partnership between the Wales Air Ambulance Charity and the NHS Wales Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service. The charity relies on public donations to raise £13 million each year to keep its helicopters flying and rapid response vehicles on the road.
Its medical teams can provide advanced treatments including anaesthesia, blood transfusions and minor surgical procedures at the scene of serious incidents. Restart a Heart Live! is funded by a number of partners, including Save a Life Cymru, part of the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust. Save a Life Cymru was established to improve survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and is supported by health and emergency service organisations across Wales, including Wales Air Ambulance. Julie Starling, Clinical Out of Hospital
Cardiac Arrest Programme Manager for Save a Life Cymru, travelled to Scotland to co-present the event. She said: “Restart a Heart Live! continues to grow year on year, and it is inspiring to see so many schools, communities and partner organisations coming together to learn lifesaving skills across Wales and the UK. “Every person who learns CPR could one day help save a life. “We are incredibly grateful for the support shown across Wales and look forward to building on this success in 2027 as we continue working towards our goal of creating a nation of lifesavers.” Research shows that early CPR and the rapid use of a defibrillator can at least double a person’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest. Mathew Bowen, Community Coordinator for Save a Life Cymru, helped coordinate live links with Wales and supported schools taking part. He said: “There was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day, with pupils fully engaged in the training and eager to learn. “It was encouraging to see so many young people taking part and gaining confidence in skills that could make a real difference in an emergency. “Events like this show just how enthusiastic the next generation is about helping others and saving lives.” Those who missed the event can still watch the recorded livestream and access CPR training resources through the Restart a Heart Live website.
RNLI urges coastal visitors to stay back as autumn storms bring dangerous seas COASTAL visitors are being urged to keep well away from the water’s edge as autumn storms bring stronger winds, rough seas and unpredictable waves to Pembrokeshire. Little & Broad Haven Lifeboat has issued its latest monthly water safety message, reminding people that while October can produce spectacular scenes along the coastline, no photograph or view is worth putting a life at risk. The lifeboat crew is asking people visiting the coast during stormy or windy weather to remember three simple rules: Stay back. Stay high. Stay dry. People should keep well away from the water’s edge, wet rocks, harbour and pier walls and cliff edges, where sudden waves or powerful gusts can catch people by surprise. Visitors are also advised to remain on safe, higher coastal paths and avoid exposed rocks or low-lying areas where they could become cut
off by waves or a rising tide. The RNLI warning adds that anyone being hit by sea spray is already too close to the water. Strong winds can create additional hazards by knocking people off their
feet, while rough conditions can generate larger and less predictable waves. If severe weather is forecast, people are encouraged to change their plans and choose a sheltered or
inland location instead. The dangers are not confined to the coastline. Heavy rain and strong winds can also make lakes, reservoirs and rivers hazardous, with rising water levels, waves and fast-flowing currents presenting additional risks. Anyone who unexpectedly enters the water should remember the RNLI’s Float to Live advice: resist the instinct to swim hard, lean back, extend the arms and legs and concentrate on controlling breathing until help arrives. If someone else is in difficulty, members of the public should phone, float and throw — call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard, encourage the casualty to float, and throw them something buoyant if possible. People should never enter the water themselves in an attempt to carry out a rescue. The lifeboat’s message is simple: Stay back. Stay high. Stay dry. Stay safe.
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Can you be green and support nuclear power?
MENTION nuclear power at an environmental gathering and you can almost hear the chairs being rearranged for an argument. For decades, reactors have divided people who agree about the need to protect the planet but disagree fiercely about how to keep its lights on. That makes the Green Party of England and Wales’ decision to drop its blanket opposition to nuclear power significant. Wind and solar remain its priorities, but nuclear has been admitted into the discussion about low-carbon electricity. Good. A climate emergency demands that we examine every credible means of cutting emissions. That examination should be demanding. Supporting nuclear’s possible contribution means asking awkward questions about costs, construction times, safety and waste. Being willing to consider a technology is the beginning of scrutiny. Start with the basic climate argument. Nuclear stations generate electricity without burning coal, oil or gas. Building them, mining their fuel and eventually dismantling them produce emissions, but their overall carbon footprint is low compared with fossil fuel generation. A reactor can also supply electricity through a still winter evening. Wind and solar output vary with the weather and daylight; nuclear offers a different pattern of generation. It has outages too, both planned and unexpected, which is why reliable electricity requires a properly designed system. For anyone who has looked nervously at an energy bill, reliability and affordability belong in the same conversation as carbon. People need to know that decarbonisation will deliver a service they can depend upon.
Yet nuclear’s supporters must answer a difficult question: when? Hinkley Point C illustrates the problem. EDF is organising the project around its first reactor becoming operational in 2030. Its earlier timetable anticipated electricity generation by the end of 2025. Those intervening years matter when the task is to cut emissions urgently. Every investment decision therefore needs an honest comparison. How much pollution could the same money prevent through insulation, renewable generation, electricity storage or grid improvements? What contribution could a reactor make over decades of operation? We should examine both timescales. Keeping an existing station running safely is also a different proposition from commissioning a new one. The construction has already happened. Before closing any low-carbon generator, it is reasonable to ask what will replace its output and what that replacement will emit.
Waste deserves equal seriousness. Radioactive material requires careful management long after the electricity has been used. Britain’s plans for geological disposal involve isolating its most hazardous waste deep underground. That creates responsibilities extending far beyond an election cycle, and public confidence must be earned through evidence, competent regulation and openness. Here in Wales, we should recognise how much is at stake in getting these choices right. The Celtic Sea’s floating wind programme offers opportunities for cleaner power, investment and skilled work. Those opportunities deserve sustained attention, including the ports, training and grid connections needed to turn development plans into operating projects. A sensible nuclear debate should strengthen that wider discussion. It should make us ask how different sources fit together, where investment delivers the greatest benefit and how communities share in the rewards.
Pembrokeshire families deserve concrete answers about apprenticeships, supply contracts and lasting employment. An impressive generating capacity on a presentation slide tells us little about whether a local young person will find a career. There is also a danger in letting arguments about power stations crowd out the unglamorous work. Insulating homes, reducing wasted energy and improving the electricity network should remain priorities while major projects are assessed. A household struggling to heat a draughty home needs help on a timetable it can live with. The Greens’ change creates room for a more useful conversation. Environmental convictions should be strong enough to survive a difficult question, and flexible enough to accommodate a well-supported answer. My answer to whether someone can be green and support nuclear power is yes. They can also be green and oppose a particular reactor because its costs, risks or delivery timetable fail to convince them. The obligation is to explain the judgement and apply the same care to the alternatives. Before backing any project, I would want its supporters to show how it cuts emissions, who carries the financial risk, how waste will be managed and what happens if delivery slips. I would want opponents to explain how their preferred system meets the same needs. These are practical tests that every proposal deserves. That is a debate worth having. The measure of success will be cleaner electricity, secure supplies and homes people can afford to keep warm.
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BADGER AND THE RURAL FANTASY
IN A week in which the Green Party managed to turn itself into Oswald Mosley’s muesli-munching wet dream, Badger is tempted to go on an extended riff about how the SWP and its associated hangers-on have managed to capture that party in the same way they did to Labour when Jeremy Corbyn became its leader. However, shooting fish in a barrel is no longer satisfying. That’s especially true when the potential target’s feeblemindedness takes all the sport out of the exercise. When it comes to the Green Party, real fish in a real barrel would be harder to hit. Even at close range, with a bazooka. Enough of the Tommy Robinsons in multi-colour knitwear. Away with them. Let’s leave them to march through their quinoa crops in their vegan leather jackboots. Instead, Badger wants to consider matters far more immediately relevant to Pembrokeshire. Pembrokeshire is a rural county. The M4 ends fifty miles away. The nearest large town is Llanelli, about the same distance away. Pembrokeshire’s resident population is also overwhelmingly pale, anglophone, and getting older. While it’s not God’s waiting room, it is waiting room adjacent. As a rural county, Pembrokeshire has benefits and drawbacks. The benefits are significant, readers. We are surrounded by history reaching back millennia. If you work in the main towns, you are a short drive from the best beaches in Britain, open countryside, and dramatic landscapes. When people say there is nothing to do in Pembrokeshire, it shows a lack of imagination and, likely, too much time glued to electronic devices. The inconveniences also speak for themselves, mostly involving transport infrastructure, a lack of large fourseason private-sector employment, and outdated healthcare facilities. Those are significant deficiencies, and there’s no denying that they take the gilt off the gingerbread, so to speak. Two of those, the first and the last, are the result of decisions made outside Pembrokeshire which were informed by concepts of service delivery based on denser, more populated urban and suburban areas in the South East of Wales and South West of England.
That’s not specific to Pembrokeshire; it’s the same for public services across the UK. Pembrokeshire’s community is so insular that many believe bad things only ever happen here. Amazingly, readers, complaints about councils, councillors, hospital closures, and the whole panoply of things for which the unnamed “they” are to blame are as common as paranoid delusions among armlifters and conspiracists of all political stripes. If Badger had to pick defining characteristics of Pembrokeshire locals, they’d be stubbornness and contrarianism. Badger rather likes being stubborn and contrarian, but then he grew up here. And while he relishes those personality traits, he’s also aware they can be self-limiting. As for generalisations about others, Badger stops there. Certainly, he wouldn’t go as far as suggesting rural life is the same throughout the whole UK. Crikey, readers, it’s not even the same across Pembrokeshire. Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal and (unbelievably) a DEFRA minister, sparked a storm-in-anegg-cup-sized controversy by describing
traditional rural imagery (such as “warm ale, village pubs, and black Labradors”) as a “far-right nostalgic vision of Britain”. Speaking at a Labour Party conference fringe event in Liverpool, Riddell-Carpenter warned against the “weaponisation” of the countryside and argued that an idealised version of rural life is being pushed as a political narrative. Now, she has a point: has sort of got a point, anyway. Badger is a very old mustelid. He remembers the mockery, entirely welldeserved, directed at John Major when he sought to allay fears of greater European integration by saying: “Fifty years on from now, Britain will still be the country of long shadows on county grounds, warm beer, invincible green suburbs, dog lovers, and—as George Orwell said—old maids bicycling to Holy Communion through the morning mist.” John Major came out with that bilge in 1993. The ick of rose-tinted nostalgia for a Britain - let’s face it, readers, an England - was as lunatically misplaced then as it is now. It’s right up there with Rupert Brooke, seven decades earlier, plaintively asking, “stands the Church clock at ten-to-three/and is there honey
still for tea?” Honestly! The imagery Rupert Brooke and John Major used to express themselves is not new. It’s not even uniquely English. Poets of Ancient Greece and Rome pined for imaginary rural idylls and bygone days of innocence and simplicity. Yes, readers, tedious archetypes of country life have been trite for millennia. Even Hesiod banged on about it, and the next stop after him in extant European literature is Homer. That’s the thing with supposed idylls and golden eras: their sheen depends on perspective, class, and bias. For Rupert Brooke, the Old Vicarage, Grantchester, was an agreeable symbol of solidly upper-middle-class respectability, speaking of genteel permanence. A labourer in a field or a millworker would have seen it differently. John Major’s speech was trite, chocolate-box, sentimental tosh drawn from a well of insecurity. Jenny Riddell-Carpenter’s speech speaks to her biases, her (very) English perspective, and her insecurities. Given Ms Riddell-Carpenter’s relatively small parliamentary majority, the nature of her constituency, and its rural component, “insecurity” is an operative word. Like so much of politicians’ talk about rural communities, when it’s not shrouded in cod-romanticism, it’s marked by sneering urban attitudes. There are pubs in Pembrokeshire villages, at least where old inns haven’t been converted to holiday lets. Some of those pubs allow dogs. Some of those dogs might even be black labradors. Many of them probably have warm beer. The idea that those factors, whether collectively or separately, constitute a “far-right” fantasy is demonstrable bollocks. Besides, to drink in some of Pembrokeshire’s more self-consciously olde-worlde hostelries, naming no names, but you know where they are, readers, you’d need to remortgage your house to buy a pie (gluten-free and vegan options available, may contain nuts) and a pint (Olde Fartwangler’s Nadger Whacker, it’s in the CAMRA Guide). However, Badger will make one observation about Pembrokeshire’s pubs no matter where they are: a couple of pints in, it’s not only the views of the landscape that are breathtaking.
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Free AI workshop coming to Fishguard to help tourism businesses save time PEMBROKESHIRE tourism and hospitality businesses can learn how to use artificial intelligence to improve their marketing and cut time spent on routine tasks at a free workshop in Fishguard next month. The session will take place at Tregroes Caravan, Camping and Glamping Park on November 3, as part of an expanded programme funded by the Welsh Government and delivered by MWT Cymru. Additional dates have been announced across Wales following Tom Sinclair strong demand for the AI Made editor@herald.email Practical workshops, which are designed around the needs of small use the technology while keeping their and micro businesses. own voice and expertise. The sessions focus on everyday “Many small tourism businesses jobs such as updating websites, know they need to keep their online improving Google profiles and visitor content up to date, but finding the time listings, and producing social media to do it consistently can be difficult,” content — tasks that can be difficult to she said. fit around running a tourism business. “We have all seen examples of AI Participants will also explore how being used badly, particularly generic online search is changing and how content that does not sound like the to make accurate information about business behind it. These workshops their business easier to find through are about showing businesses how traditional search engines and AIto use it properly, as a tool to support powered tools. what they already do rather than Claire Owen, of MWT Cymru, said replace their own knowledge and the workshops aim to help businesses personality.”
She added: “The level of demand shows there is a real appetite for straightforward, practical help, which is why we are pleased to be able to release these additional dates.” Each workshop includes step-bystep guidance, live demonstrations and practical activities. An optional afternoon Action Lab offers extra support for participants to apply what they have learnt to their own websites and marketing. MWT Cymru says businesses attending earlier sessions have since improved their online content and recorded increases in website and social media traffic. Chief executive Zoë Hawkins said: “For us, the important measure
is what happens after the workshop. We are seeing businesses take what they have learnt, make practical improvements to their marketing and, importantly, attract more traffic directly to their own websites and content.” Adam Price, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, said the programme was helping smaller businesses build confidence in using digital technology. “These workshops are helping businesses use AI in a practical and responsible way, saving time, strengthening their online presence and helping them reach more potential visitors,” he said. Alongside Fishguard, a workshop will be held at Swansea University’s Bay Campus on November 4. Other additional sessions are planned for Ebbw Vale, Hay-on-Wye, Rhayader, Machynlleth, Cardiff, Criccieth and Llangollen during October and November. Places are free but limited. Businesses can book through the Business Wales Events Finder, with reserve lists available for sessions that are already full.
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Pembroke Dock’s 200-year-old market set for fresh relaunch PEMBROKE DOCK’S historic Friday market is preparing for a fresh relaunch this week after new traders helped bring life back to the town’s Market Hall. The full relaunch takes place on Friday (Oct 9), following a soft opening last week which saw shoppers return to browse a wider range of stalls. For years the market had gradually reduced in size as traders retired or left, eventually leaving long-established Carmarthen Deli as the sole regular stallholder. But a recent push to attract new businesses has started to pay off, with a mix of makers, food sellers and independent traders now taking space in the hall. Visitors at the soft launch could browse homemade cakes, handmade and knitted items, jewellery, crystals, holistic therapies, bags, clothing and second-hand books, alongside fresh and cooked meats, eggs, cheese and honey. The Rees family has traded at Pembroke Dock Market for around 75 years, and owners Chris and Ann Rees had appealed for more traders to join them. Chris Rees said the return of more
stalls had created a noticeable change in atmosphere, describing the renewed interest simply as “a buzz”. The revival has also been backed by Market Ward representatives Cllr Jamie Street and Cllr Claire Francis-Boswell, who have been encouraging small businesses and traders to make use of the hall. Cllr Street said the aim was to rebuild the market into a busy and
vibrant space for local businesses and the wider community. Among the new traders is Irene, of Handmade with Love, who offers sewing alterations alongside handmade and knitted items. Another new arrival, Natty G’s Patisserie, came close to selling out during its first day of trading, giving organisers encouragement that there is demand for a broader Friday market.
Stall rents are currently £8 a week, providing a relatively low-cost opportunity for makers, producers and independent businesses to test products and build a local customer base. The market’s history stretches back to the early nineteenth century. An Act of Parliament in 1818 authorised the Navy Board to establish a market in Pembroke Dock, while the present Market Hall was built in 1826-27. The Grade II-listed building later underwent major renovation and conversion work, with a heritage-led project completed in 2011. Today the Market Hall also accommodates other community and employment uses, but the Friday market remains an important link with the building’s original purpose. Organisers are hoping Friday’s relaunch will mark the start of a sustained revival rather than a one-off event. The market is held at the Market Hall in Melville Street, Pembroke Dock. Free parking is available on site and at the nearby Heritage Centre. Traders interested in taking part are being encouraged to contact Cllr Jamie Street.
Cinema returns to Pembroke Dock as Pater Picture House sets opening date A NEW community cinema is set to open in Pembroke Dock next week following a four-year project to bring big-screen films back to the town. The Pater Picture House will officially open at Pater Hall on Friday, October 16, with doors opening at 5.30pm ahead of the first screening at 6pm. Pembroke Dock Mayor Cllr Tony Wilcox is expected to formally open the new facility, which has cost more than £20,000 to create. The project has seen Pater Hall fitted with blackout curtains, a professional cinema projector and a four-metre by four-metre electronically retractable screen, together with the equipment needed to provide a full cinema experience. Organisers say the opening represents the culmination of years of work by trustees and volunteers at the Pater Hall Community Trust. The first film will be Toy Story 5, with tickets deliberately being kept affordable at £4 per person or £15 for a family of four. A free Pater Picture House Cinema Club has also been established, with organisers saying membership has already exceeded expectations. The cinema initially plans to show films around twice a month, with the
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Trust hoping to increase this to weekly screenings from the New Year. Chair of the Pater Hall Community Trust Margaret Hart said the project had involved years of hard work by those connected with the hall. One of the driving forces behind
the original idea was the late Pamela George, a long-serving trustee who was determined to see a cinema return to Pembroke Dock. The Trust said her determination helped give trustees and volunteers the focus to turn the idea into reality. As well as mainstream family screenings, the cinema is intended to be used by a wide range of groups
within the community. Organisers hope to arrange dedicated sessions for people with autism and additional learning needs, older residents, Pembrokeshire Pride, MIND, schools and other community organisations. Special screenings and dates will also be arranged to meet the needs of different groups. The Trust believes having an affordable cinema in Pembroke Dock will be particularly valuable to residents who may struggle with transport to cinemas elsewhere in the county. It says keeping admission and refreshment prices affordable has been central to the project. As a registered charity, any profits generated by the Picture House will be reinvested into Pater Hall to support future projects and help meet the running costs of the historic community building. The cinema project is being overseen by trustees including chair Margaret Hart, vice-chair Jane Phillips, treasurer Don Esmond and secretary and head volunteer Claire Francis-Boswell. The opening night takes place on Friday, October 16, with doors at 5.30pm and the film beginning at 6pm.
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Hywel Dda first in Wales to trial pain-relief inhaler for gynaecology patients
HYWEL DDA University Health Board has become the first in Wales to introduce a fast-acting pain-relief inhaler for patients undergoing outpatient gynaecology procedures. The three-month pilot began this week and will see Penthrox, a patientcontrolled inhaler more commonly used in emergency care, offered to suitable patients during procedures. Health chiefs say the move could make potentially uncomfortable procedures easier to tolerate while reducing anxiety for patients. It could also mean some procedures can be carried out without a general anaesthetic, potentially speeding up diagnostic pathways. The health board estimates that in some cases, including patients on the
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Urgent Suspected Cancer pathway, waits could be reduced by around two to three weeks. Helen Frise Jones, Gynaecology Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Hywel Dda, said: “Many gynaecological procedures can be uncomfortable and can cause anxiety for patients. “This pilot aims to make these experiences more comfortable, more manageable and less stressful by offering effective pain relief during treatment. “Penthrox is already widely and safely used in emergency care settings. By introducing it into gynaecology
outpatient services, we will become the first health board in Wales to offer this innovative option to patients.” Unlike pain relief administered through an injection or intravenous line, Penthrox is inhaled by the patient when required, allowing them a degree of control over their pain relief during the procedure. The health board says the pilot has the potential both to improve patient experience and to make better use of clinical resources. Reducing the need for general anaesthesia in selected cases could avoid theatre bookings and additional hospital appointments while enabling investigations to take place sooner. Ms Frise Jones added: “We are delighted to introduce Penthrox as part
of this pilot. Our priority is always to provide the best possible experience for patients. “Being the first health board in Wales to offer this within gynaecology outpatients is an exciting step forward for our service. “This initiative reflects the team’s commitment to improving patientcentred care and exploring innovative ways to enhance both patient experience and clinical outcomes.” Patients taking part will be asked for feedback during the three-month trial. The health board will then assess the effect of the inhaler on patient experience, treatment pathways and the overall delivery of the service before deciding what role it could play in future gynaecology care.
Pembrokeshire Funding Fair returns as community groups face tougher grant climate PEMBROKESHIRE community groups will have the chance to meet major national and local funders faceto-face when the county’s Funding Fair returns next month. The free event, organised by Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS), will be held at the Queen’s Hall, Narberth, on Thursday, November 12 from 10.30am. Organisers say the event has become increasingly important as charities, voluntary organisations and community projects compete for limited sources of grant funding. Representatives will be able to discuss prospective projects directly with funding officers, identify suitable grant schemes and learn what funders look for in successful applications. Among the Pembrokeshire organisations attending will be the Bluestone Foundation, Port of Milford
Haven and South Hook LNG. National organisations represented will include The National Lottery Community Fund, Arts Council of Wales and WCVA, alongside other funding bodies. PAVS is encouraging groups to bring a short summary of projects for which they are seeking support, allowing funding officers to offer more focused advice about available opportunities. The organisation said the annual event also provides an opportunity for funders to meet the people delivering projects and services described in applications. PAVS’ Third Sector Support Team will be on hand to explain the organisation’s own support services and managed funds, with other members of the PAVS team available to connect organisations with additional services. PAVS members are also invited to
attend the organisation’s annual general meeting from 9am, where they will hear a review of 2025-26 and plans for the year ahead. Those attending the AGM will receive early access to the funding exhibition before the main fair opens. The event is free, with tickets available through Eventbrite or via the
PAVS website. Current Pembrokeshire funding deadlines highlighted by PAVS include the South Hook LNG Community Fund on November 2, the Port of Milford Haven Community Fund on November 16 and the Bluestone Foundation Community Fund on January 25, 2027.
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New workboat joins Milford Haven marine fleet WILLIAMS Shipping has strengthened its Milford Haven operation with the acquisition of a new multi-purpose workboat which will be based predominantly in the Haven. The 2025-built vessel, now named Willtorc, is a Damen Multi Cat 1506 and joins the company’s existing local marine fleet. Williams Shipping says the acquisition forms part of its continued investment in Milford Haven and will broaden the range of services it can offer to port, marine and infrastructure customers. Previously named Torc, the vessel will support a wide range of operations including crane barge work, anchor handling, barge towing, stores deliveries, jetty infrastructure work and assistance to visiting vessels. The company says the addition gives its Milford Haven team greater flexibility for both routine marine work and more complex projects. Willtorc is powered by two Volvo main engines and is capable of delivering close to eight tonnes of bollard pull. The vessel is also equipped with a Caterpillar generator, Heila crane and
a large deck winch. It is certified to Workboat Code 3 standard and holds Bureau Veritas Hull and Machinery Class. Willtorc joins several other
Williams Shipping vessels already based in Milford Haven, including the EuroCarrier 2209 Willchallenge, the 18-metre Willsupport, fast launch and pilot boat Willprospect, and the
company’s Delta RIB. Philip Williams, Managing Director of Williams Shipping Marine, said: “Willtorc is a very capable and versatile addition to our fleet and is particularly well suited to the type of work we undertake in and around Milford Haven. “The combination of bollard pull, deck winch, crane and working deck gives us greater flexibility across a wide range of operations, from towing and anchor handling through to barge and jetty support. “This latest investment further strengthens our capability in Milford Haven and reflects our continued commitment to maintaining a modern and dependable fleet, while continuing to broaden the range of solutions we can offer our customers.” Williams Shipping is a fifthgeneration family-owned marine and logistics business which traces its origins back to 1894. It operates from a number of UK bases, including Milford Haven, Southampton and Aberdeen, providing services to industries including shipping, renewables, defence, construction, oil and gas and marine infrastructure.
£19,800 National Lottery boost keeps early-years outdoor programme running A PEMBROKESHIRE outdoor play programme for very young children and their families has secured £19,800 from The National Lottery Community Fund. The grant will allow the First 1000 Days programme to continue from September 2026 until the end of March 2027. Delivered by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and supported by the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust, the scheme provides structured outdoor play and nature-based sessions for young children and their parents or carers. The programme is designed to give children an inclusive outdoor environment in which they can play, explore and learn at their own pace. Families taking part have reported that the sessions have helped build confidence, reduce isolation and provide opportunities to spend time outdoors together. First 1000 Days began in 2022 and organisers say feedback has consistently highlighted the positive impact on both children’s development and family wellbeing. Kelly Davies, Outdoor Play Worker for First 1000 Days, said: “We’re really excited to be able to continue First 1000 Days and welcome families back
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for another phase of the programme. “The sessions give us the opportunity to spend time outdoors with children and their parents and carers, using nature and play to support children’s development, confidence and wellbeing. “Every session is different, and we follow the children’s interests and needs, giving them the time and space to explore at their own pace.” She said the sessions also give parents and carers the chance to meet other families and share experiences. Ms Davies added: “This funding means we can keep delivering these sessions and continue building on the relationships we’ve developed with families over the years.” The Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust says it is still seeking longer-term funding to secure the programme beyond March 2027. The new grant will provide stability for the coming months while organisers continue working towards a more sustainable long-term future. The Trust says its aim is to ensure children have the opportunity to benefit from nature during their earliest years regardless of their needs, ability or
where they live. The next phase of First 1000 Days will run until March 2027, with
further information about forthcoming sessions and activities to be announced.
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ARIES – March 21 to April 19 You may feel ready to push ahead with something that has been moving too slowly. A direct conversation could clear the air, but choose your words carefully. Financially, avoid an impulse purchase you may regret later. The weekend brings a welcome change of pace. TAURUS – April 20 to May 20 A practical approach works best this week, particularly where work or money is concerned. Someone may look to you for reassurance or advice. At home, a small change could make a surprisingly big difference. Make time for something that helps you properly switch off. GEMINI – May 21 to June 20 Your social life could become busier than expected, with messages, invitations or unfinished conversations returning to the surface. A new idea is worth exploring, but do not rush into promising too much. Midweek brings clarity over an issue that has been bothering you. CANCER – June 21 to July 22 Home and family matters take priority, and you may find yourself sorting out something others have avoided. Trust your instincts, but do not carry everyone else’s problems on your shoulders. A quiet weekend could be just what you need to recharge. LEO – July 23 to August 22 Your confidence is growing and others are likely to notice. This is a strong week for speaking up, making plans and putting yourself forward. Romance also gets a boost, although an old misunderstanding may need clearing up first. Be bold, but not stubborn. VIRGO – August 23 to September 22 Money, organisation and practical matters are in focus. You could finally get on top of something that has been hanging over you for weeks. A friend or colleague may surprise you with useful information. Try not to overanalyse a situation that is simpler than it looks. LIBRA – September 23 to October 22 This is your season, and there is a sense of momentum around you. You may feel ready to make a change, particularly in your personal life. A fresh start is possible, but only if you stop revisiting an old decision. Put your own needs higher up the list. SCORPIO – October 23 to November 21 You may prefer to keep your plans to yourself for now, and that could be the right move. Something is developing behind the scenes and patience will pay off. Watch your energy levels towards the weekend. Rest is not wasted time. SAGITTARIUS – November 22 to December 21 Friends, teamwork and future plans are highlighted. A chance conversation could lead to an interesting opportunity. You may also hear from someone you have not spoken to in a while. Keep an open mind, but do not commit until you know the full picture. CAPRICORN – December 22 to January 19 Work or responsibilities may demand more from you, but your efforts are being noticed. A decision made now could have a longer-term impact than you expect. At home, someone may need your patience rather than your advice. Keep things steady. AQUARIUS – January 20 to February 18 A change of scenery or routine could do you good this week. You may feel restless and keen to try something different. New information could alter your view of a situation. Stay flexible, particularly around travel, appointments or plans made with others. PISCES – February 19 to March 20 Emotions run a little deeper this week, but that can help you understand what you really want. Money shared with others may need attention, so check the details carefully. A heartfelt conversation brings relief. Trust actions more than promises.
NETFLIX’S six-part thriller Below offers a chilling combination of supernatural horror, small-town secrets and family drama, taking a familiar creature-feature premise and giving it a refreshingly atmospheric setting. Set in a remote fishing community in Newfoundland, the series follows Calvin Penney, played by Josh Hartnett, a fisherman haunted by his father’s mysterious death while struggling to hold his family and troubled hometown together. When a terrifying creature begins emerging from the surrounding waters, an unsettling local mystery soon develops into a brutal fight for survival. The greatest strength of Below is undoubtedly its atmosphere. The isolated coastal landscape, unforgiving weather and freezing Atlantic waters create a constant feeling of unease, while the close-knit community provides the perfect setting for secrets and suspicions to flourish. There is something particularly effective about placing a seemingly unstoppable threat in a town where generations have depended on the sea for their livelihoods. The very thing that sustains the community gradually becomes its greatest source of fear. The decision to keep the creature largely hidden during the opening episodes works particularly well. Rather than revealing its monster at every opportunity, the series builds tension through unexplained disappearances, strange incidents and disturbing discoveries. This approach makes the eventual violence considerably more effective,
with some genuinely gruesome sequences that should satisfy viewers looking for something more substantial than a conventional mystery thriller. Josh Hartnett delivers an excellent central performance, giving the series an emotional credibility that elevates it above routine creature horror. His Calvin is a believable, flawed working man rather than an indestructible action hero, convincingly portraying a father desperately trying to protect his children while confronting painful memories of his past. Charlie Heaton is equally effective as his son Wade, while Mackenzie Davis brings intelligence and determination to the role of a marine researcher attempting to understand what lurks beneath the surface. Where Below becomes less convincing is during its latter episodes. The opening chapters establish an intriguing mystery, introducing questions about the creature, the community and Calvin’s family history. However, as the story progresses, some revelations arrive rather too conveniently, with lengthy explanations occasionally replacing the uncertainty that made the early episodes so compelling. There are moments when leaving certain questions unanswered might have made the story considerably more disturbing. Several secondary storylines concerning the town’s economic struggles and uncertain future also threaten to distract from the central horror. Nevertheless, these elements help establish a believable community whose problems extend beyond the mysterious threat emerging from
the water. The Newfoundland setting becomes an essential part of the storytelling, with local traditions, family loyalties and the town’s relationship with the sea adding depth to what might otherwise have been a straightforward monster hunt. Fortunately, the six-episode format works in the programme’s favour. There is little unnecessary padding, the pace remains brisk and each instalment offers enough suspense to encourage viewers to continue. Even when the narrative becomes predictable, the performances and striking coastal atmosphere ensure the series rarely loses its appeal. Ultimately, Below may not reinvent the creaturehorror genre, but it succeeds by combining familiar scares with convincing characters, an unusual location and an underlying sense of dread. The opening half is particularly impressive, creating a mystery that feels genuinely threatening, even if the concluding episodes struggle to maintain the same level of tension. For viewers who enjoy mysterious creatures, isolated communities, buried family secrets and a generous helping of blood and suspense, Below is well worth adding to the Netflix watchlist. It is an entertaining, occasionally disturbing thriller that understands the importance of atmosphere and proves that sometimes the most frightening things are those we cannot quite see. Better still, it is exactly the sort of series where one episode quickly becomes three, leaving you wondering what else might be waiting beneath those dark, freezing waters.
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OTHER MOMMY is shaping up to be one of the more unsettling horror releases of 2026, turning a familiar childhood fear into something altogether more sinister. Directed by Rob Savage, whose previous work includes Host and The Boogeyman, the film follows eight-year-old Bela, who becomes convinced that a disturbing presence has taken up residence in her home. What makes the threat particularly frightening is that the mysterious figure looks exactly like her mother, transforming the safety of family life into a waking nightmare. Jessica Chastain takes on the dual role of Bela’s mother and the terrifying entity known as Other Mommy, bringing an unsettling dimension to a story built around trust, manipulation and family relationships. Rather than relying on a conventional monster lurking in the shadows, the film places its young protagonist in the terrifying position of being unable to distinguish between the person she loves most and something determined to deceive her. It is a simple but effective premise that plays on one of childhood’s most deeply rooted fears: discovering that the people meant to protect you may not be who they appear to be.
Early trailers suggest a horror film driven more by atmosphere and psychological tension than relentless jump scares. The idea of a child being manipulated by something wearing her mother’s face provides a disturbing foundation, while Chastain appears well suited to a role requiring her to shift between maternal warmth and quiet menace. Young Arabella Olivia Clark, who plays Bela, also looks set to carry much of the film’s emotional weight, with the story unfolding largely through the eyes of a frightened child. Her performance could prove crucial in making the increasingly nightmarish events feel believable rather than simply another exercise in supernatural horror. Beneath the supernatural elements lies a more personal story about a family already facing difficulties, raising questions about whether the sinister presence is exploiting existing tensions or deliberately creating new ones. This emotional uncertainty could give the film considerably more depth than its premise initially suggests, particularly if the audience is left questioning the motives and behaviour of those closest to Bela. With James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Blumhouse involved, expectations are
understandably high, although Other Mommy appears to favour creeping psychological dread over the blood and spectacle often associated with mainstream horror. At approximately 93 minutes, the film should have sufficient time to develop its characters and build suspense without overstaying its welcome. Its greatest challenge will be sustaining an undeniably creepy premise throughout, particularly when the central threat is revealed so effectively in the promotional material. There is always a danger that a story built around an evil double could become predictable, but Savage has previously demonstrated an ability to make familiar horror conventions feel fresh and genuinely uncomfortable. Nevertheless, Other Mommy has the ingredients of a memorable psychological horror film. If Savage can maintain the oppressive atmosphere suggested by the trailers, and Chastain delivers the contrasting performances the story demands, this could prove one of the more intriguing releases of the Halloween season. By turning the comfort of a mother’s familiar face into a source of terror, Other Mommy may demonstrate that the most frightening monsters are sometimes those hiding in plain sight.
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GAMING With eddie the game guru
Gears of War: E-Day is the kind of comeback the series has been crying out for, taking the franchise right back to the moment everything began and making a story that fans have heard about for almost two decades feel fresh, brutal and genuinely exciting again. Set during the catastrophic Emergence Day, the game puts Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago at the centre of the Locust invasion, allowing players to experience the event that shaped the entire Gears universe rather than simply hearing about it through flashbacks and conversations. What immediately stands out is the atmosphere. Cities are collapsing around you, civilians are desperately trying to escape, Locust are bursting from beneath the streets and there is a genuine feeling that humanity has absolutely no idea what it is facing. It feels much closer to the gritty horror atmosphere of the original Gears of War than some of the later games, and that is a very welcome return to form. The combat is also fantastic, with the familiar coverbased shooting feeling heavier and more satisfying than ever. The Lancer still feels fantastic, the shotgun remains devastating at close range and active reload keeps every firefight tense because even reloading becomes a tactical decision. Movement has been improved too, allowing Marcus and the other characters to move around environments with greater freedom, vaulting over obstacles, sliding into cover and flanking enemies. E-Day opens up its environments without losing the
carefully designed combat arenas that have always been one of Gears’ strengths, while larger areas, collectibles and optional objectives give the campaign more breathing room than some of the earlier games. Visually, E-Day is absolutely spectacular. Unreal Engine 5 is being pushed hard, with everything from the destruction of buildings and lighting to the character models, explosions and mountains of Locust gore looking remarkably detailed. The ruined streets and devastated environments feel like real places being destroyed around you rather than traditional videogame levels. Buildings crumble, debris fills the battlefield and explosions create some genuinely spectacular set pieces. The sound design is equally impressive, with powerful weapons, distant screams and the constant rumbling of the Locust invasion creating an unsettling sense that the entire city is falling apart. The return of Marcus and Dom is perhaps the biggest emotional selling point, and thankfully it isn’t handled as nothing more than a nostalgia exercise. Seeing these characters before the events fans already know gives their relationship additional weight, particularly as they face the destruction surrounding them. The supporting characters are generally strong, although some receive less development than others. The campaign can also feel slightly too long, with a few sections repeating familiar combat scenarios and occasionally slowing the overall momentum. When E-Day is firing on all cylinders, however, it is spectacular, particularly
when it embraces the horror side of Gears and puts you into darker, more claustrophobic environments where the Locust feel genuinely threatening. Multiplayer adds plenty of longevity, with Horde Siege offering a more dynamic take on the classic Horde formula. Working with other players, completing objectives and attempting to survive increasingly dangerous enemies fits naturally with the Gears formula and provides plenty of reasons to keep coming back after finishing the campaign. Ultimately, Gears of War: E-Day feels like a franchise rediscovering what made people fall in love with Gears in the first place. It doesn’t completely reinvent the formula, but it doesn’t need to. Instead, it takes the brutal combat, memorable characters, horror, destruction and spectacular set pieces that defined the original games and rebuilds them using modern technology. There are moments where the campaign drags and some story development could have been stronger, but those problems are easy to overlook when the game delivers some of the best combat the series has seen and arguably its most impressive presentation to date. For longtime Gears fans, E-Day is a welcome return to the world of Marcus Fenix and the Locust, while newcomers get an excellent introduction to why this franchise became such an important part of Xbox history. Gears of War: E-Day may be looking backwards, but it proves that sometimes the best way to move a franchise forward is to remember exactly what made it special in the first place.
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Anna Rowlands brings playful new paintings to Torch gallery AN ARTIST who returned to painting after years spent working and raising a family is bringing a new direction in her work to the Torch Theatre this month. Anna Rowlands’s exhibition, Playful Exploration, is on show at the Joanna Field Gallery in Milford Haven throughout October, with paintings inspired by flowers, vessels and fish. Her interest in art began at St Davids Secondary School, where she studied the subject at O and A level, before taking a foundation course at Carmarthenshire College of Art and Design. Work and bringing up three children left little time for painting. As her children became more independent, she began making room for it again. “In 2010 I joined St Davids and Solva Art Group and it was during this time that my passion for painting was renewed,” Anna said. Over the following 15 years, she developed a whimsical style, using tiny brushes to create imagined landscapes populated by fairies, dragons and woodland creatures. Last year, she decided to try something different, moving towards
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semi-abstract paintings and a freer, more experimental way of working. “I wanted to let go of control, loosen my hand and rediscover a sense of play,” she said. “‘Playful Exploration’ reflects this shift. It is about trusting intuition, embracing uncertainty and finding joy in not knowing exactly what will happen next.” Her paintings begin with marks made using coloured pencils and wax crayons. She then adds layers of acrylic with large brushes and other tools, before scraping or sanding the surface to reveal what lies beneath. As an image begins to emerge, she develops it through shading and detail, allowing the painting to take shape gradually. “I hope viewers simply enjoy looking, and that each return reveals something new,” she said. Playful Exploration can be viewed during the Torch’s box office opening hours throughout October. For more information, call 01646 695267 or visit the Torch Theatre website.
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Cardigan public drinking controls renewed for another three years CARDIGAN’S town-centre public drinking restrictions will continue for another three years after Ceredigion councillors approved their renewal. The decision also extends the Public Spaces Protection Orders covering designated areas of Aberystwyth and Lampeter. Members unanimously supported the extension at the full council meeting on September 24, following a recommendation from Cabinet earlier that month. The orders give police and authorised officers powers to require people to stop drinking or surrender alcohol. Failing to comply with such a request is an offence. Police question evidence A report presented by Cabinet member Cllr Matthew Vaux said all three town councils and the seven local county councillors supported renewing the restrictions. However, Dyfed-Powys Police said there was no substantial evidence demonstrating an ongoing need for the orders. During the preceding 12 months,
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officers attended seven incidents in which street drinking was identified as a contributing factor. The force’s local commander said the relatively low number of recorded incidents made it difficult to demonstrate that continuing the restrictions remained necessary and
proportionate. Councillors were asked to consider extending the orders for three years or allowing them to expire, with or without a further review. Councillors defend restrictions Council leader Cllr Bryan Davies supported keeping the orders, arguing that their success and the low number
of recorded incidents reflected “good policing”. Cardigan councillor Sian Maehrlein and Lampeter councillor Ann Bowen Morgan also supported their continuation. Aberystwyth Morfa a Glais councillor Alun Williams said every county councillor in Aberystwyth backed extending the restrictions. He described how groups of drunken men had previously dominated the town centre, creating an intimidating atmosphere bordering on the “wild west”, even when they were not necessarily committing an offence. Cllr Williams said the orders allowed officers to intervene early and deal with situations before they escalated. That approach, he suggested, could itself explain the low number of recorded incidents. “Let’s not throw away a policy that is working and has clear support,” he said. The existing orders were due to expire in October. They had previously been extended in 2020 and 2023. Full council unanimously backed a further three-year extension in all three towns.
Cardigan’s £6m Aldi store gets signage approval ahead of Christmas target
CARDIGAN’S new Aldi supermarket has cleared another planning step, with signs approved for the Bath House Road development. The replacement store, representing an investment of more than £6m, is expected to be completed by Christmas. Aldi’s existing branch on Aberystwyth Road will remain open until the new supermarket begins trading, with all staff transferring to the new site. The latest application, submitted to Ceredigion County Council by Aldi Stores Limited through agent Avison Young (UK) Limited, covered signage for the new premises. According to an officer’s report recommending approval, the signs
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include bilingual opening-time stickers on the shopfront, two vinyl Aldi logos, an LED wall sign, a promotional graphic and a totem sign bearing the bilingual name Aberteifi/Cardigan. Planning drawing showing Aldi and Home Bargains logos on a proposed totem sign at Bath House Road, Cardigan Larger store and more parking Councillors approved the main plans in 2025, following a consultation held
between December 2024 and January 2025. The new supermarket will be 53 per cent larger than the existing branch. The scheme includes 82 parking spaces and shared access with a previously approved Home Bargains store at the site. A report to councillors said the existing Aldi, which received consent in 2007, had a gross internal floor area of 1,230 square metres and no longer met the retailer’s operational requirements. The Bath House Road site was described as the only viable opportunity
within Cardigan to provide a larger, modern store while keeping Aldi in the town. The relocation was expected to create 10 jobs, with an alternative use to be found for the Aberystwyth Road premises once the new branch opens. The report said the investment would strengthen the retailer’s presence in a more accessible location near the town centre, improving consumer choice and competition. Image: Signage plans submitted by Aldi Stores Ltd to Ceredigion County Council.
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Templeton School unveils mural celebrating community and Welsh identity
TEMPLETON SCHOOL has unveiled a vibrant new mural celebrating its pupils, community, Welsh identity and connection to the Pembrokeshire countryside. The large-scale artwork now takes pride of place in the school hall and was created by local artists Martina, Saskia and Nia-Anne Morgan. The project began with ideas from members of the School Council, who were asked to consider what makes Templeton School special and which themes they wanted the mural to represent. Templeton School’s new mural celebrating community, Welsh culture and the natural environment Their suggestions were then developed by the artists in collaboration with headteacher Sarah Arthur. The finished work incorporates themes including trees, the natural environment, Welsh culture, belonging and the school’s place within the wider Pembrokeshire community. Pupils were able to watch the artwork take shape during the beginning of the new term, seeing their original ideas gradually transformed into the completed mural. Mrs Arthur said: “The mural depicts so many aspects of our school ethos. It celebrates our children, our environment, our Welsh culture and our sense of belonging within Pembrokeshire. “It has also given our school hall a
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wonderful facelift and has made such a positive improvement to the space.” She thanked Martina, Saskia and Nia-Anne Morgan for their work on the project. Mrs Arthur said the Morgan family had maintained close links with Tavernspite School for around 20 years and welcomed the opportunity to continue that relationship through the Templeton project. She added: “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Martina, Saskia and Nia-Anne Morgan for their creativity, time and enthusiasm.” The school also thanked A1 Services for supplying the scaffolding tower which allowed the artists to safely reach the upper sections of the wall. The mural has already become a talking point among pupils and staff, with children identifying the different elements which originated from their own suggestions. Mrs Arthur said the completed work was intended to provide a lasting representation of the values at the heart of the school. The photograph supplied by the school shows Mr Furneaux, Saskia Morgan, Martina Morgan, Mrs Arthur, Mrs Edwards and Mrs Davies alongside a group of Templeton School pupils.
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COMMENT: Withyhedge has become a test of whether Wales can trust its watchdog
THERE is something profoundly troubling about a situation in which an environmental regulator approves new arrangements for one of Wales’s most controversial landfill sites while its investigation into earlier breaches of environmental rules remains unresolved. That is precisely where we find ourselves with Withyhedge. On October 1, Natural Resources Wales approved substantial changes to the environmental permit governing the landfill near Haverfordwest. The decision includes revised restoration levels, stronger monitoring requirements and permission to bring in up to 50,000 tonnes of suitable soil and stone annually for restoration work. NRW says the changes will strengthen environmental protection. But Pembrokeshire County Council opposed the application and has publicly expressed its disappointment that approval was granted. That is hardly a ringing endorsement from the local authority representing the communities who have lived with the consequences of this deeply unhappy saga. And those communities have every reason to be sceptical. Throughout 2024, residents around Withyhedge described persistent, appalling odours affecting their homes and daily lives. Families complained that they could not enjoy their gardens, open their windows or escape the smell that had become an unwelcome feature of ordinary existence. They organised, protested, attended meetings and demanded action. These were not people objecting to some distant industrial development on principle. They were residents asking for
something most of us take for granted: the ability to live comfortably in our own homes. Their concerns deserved swift and decisive attention. Instead, they found themselves navigating a bewildering landscape of regulatory responsibilities, technical explanations, enforcement notices and official assurances. More than two years after the crisis became a major public controversy, NRW’s investigation into environmental permit breaches remains ongoing. That should concern us all. Nobody should prejudge the outcome of that investigation. Resources Management UK Ltd, the site operator, is entitled to fair treatment, and allegations must be assessed according to evidence rather than emotion. The company has also reported investing more than £10 million in improvements. If those investments are delivering genuine and lasting environmental benefits, that is welcome. But investment is not accountability. Nor is a revised permit an answer to questions about what happened previously. There is a distinction between making a site compliant today and establishing whether the law was broken yesterday. The public is entitled to expect both. NRW argues that the law required it to approve the application once the necessary environmental tests had been satisfied. That may well be correct. Regulators cannot refuse applications simply because they are unpopular, and environmental law must be applied consistently. But there is an uncomfortable contradiction at the heart of this decision.
The authority responsible for investigating what went wrong is also the authority assuring residents that the latest arrangements will provide sufficient protection. When confidence has already been damaged, asking the public to accept another assurance is simply not enough. It is not unreasonable to ask how the new conditions will be enforced, how frequently inspections will take place and whether monitoring information will be readily available to those living nearby. Nor is it unreasonable to ask when the investigation will conclude and what explanation can be given for its duration. These are basic questions of public accountability. The wider political argument about the future of Natural Resources Wales has inevitably resurfaced. The Welsh Conservatives have called for the organisation to be abolished and replaced, while the Welsh Government has defended the existing regulatory structure. But replacing one organisation with another will achieve little unless the culture of environmental enforcement changes. A new name, a different headquarters and another layer of management would offer scant comfort to a family unable to open its windows. What matters is whether the watchdog has the expertise, independence, resources and determination to intervene effectively when things go wrong. And whether those responsible are answerable when intervention falls short. That is the real lesson of Withyhedge. The strength of a regulator should not be measured by the number of
consultations it conducts, reports it produces or reassurances it issues. It should be measured by the protection it delivers. NRW now has an opportunity to begin rebuilding the confidence that has been lost. It should provide regular public updates on the outstanding investigation, publish understandable information about compliance with the revised permit and explain clearly what enforcement action will follow if standards are breached. There should also be meaningful engagement with affected communities, not simply another exercise in asking people for their views before announcing a decision they fear was inevitable. Pembrokeshire County Council, having opposed the variation, must remain equally vigilant in holding the regulator and operator to account. The people who endured the worst of the Withyhedge controversy should not be expected to become amateur environmental lawyers merely to understand whether their homes are being protected. This matters beyond Pembrokeshire. Across Wales, communities are being asked to trust public institutions with decisions affecting their health, environment and quality of life. That trust cannot survive indefinitely if official explanations appear disconnected from people’s lived experiences. Withyhedge has become a symbol of that wider problem. It would be wrong to suggest that approving a permit variation necessarily means NRW has failed in its legal duties. But it would be equally wrong to imagine that satisfying the legal process automatically restores public confidence. It does not. That confidence must be earned through openness, effective enforcement and a willingness to confront uncomfortable questions about past failures. For the people of Pembrokeshire, the test is no longer whether Natural Resources Wales can explain why it approved the latest permit. The test is whether it can demonstrate that the suffering experienced by local communities will not be repeated — and that, when environmental rules are broken, somebody is held accountable.
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Lovely future, butt. Who’s carrying the risk? NOW then, butt. If a man arrived in Haverfordwest selling a revolutionary new boiler and explained that we should accept a few unfortunate incidents because the hot water would be magnificent, you would have questions. You might start with whether he had insurance. You would certainly hesitate before giving him the keys. Yet something rather similar sits beneath the latest argument about artificial intelligence. OpenAI boss Sam Altman has told Politico that the world should accept “some bad things happening” in return for AI’s benefits. His argument favours broad access and tolerating some misuse because he expects the good to outweigh the harm. For fairness, he also draws a line at catastrophic risks, including a serious loss of control. He is not saying every conceivable disaster is acceptable. Still, deciding which harms other people should tolerate is quite a responsibility to put on a business card. I am enthusiastic about AI. Properly used, it can help a small business tackle paperwork, make information more accessible and give someone the confidence to attempt something previously beyond them. There is enormous promise here. But enthusiasm works better with questions attached. Mine include: who benefits, who carries the risk, and who answers the telephone when something goes wrong? That last one matters. Anyone who has spent an afternoon explaining a billing error to an automated helpline will understand why. An assurance that society benefits overall offers limited comfort when you are the individual trying to get your money back. Into this debate has stepped Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England. Central bankers rarely arrive waving glow sticks and promising to disrupt your weekend, so his intervention deserves attention. Writing on September 30, Bailey argued that society must retain the ability to intervene as advanced AI becomes more capable. He
advocated rigorous testing before and after deployment, with credible ways to step in. He also acknowledged substantial benefits. His concern includes the growing cyber threat to financial institutions and the resilience of payment networks. Suddenly this sounds rather less distant from Pembrokeshire. Think of a shop taking card payments, a business paying staff, or a household depending on access to its bank account. These are ordinary lives resting on complicated systems. We should want those systems improved, and demand convincing evidence that the improvements are dependable. Part of the difficulty is that “AI” covers very different arrangements. Asking a chatbot to suggest a birthday message is one thing. Connecting software to systems through which it can send messages, change records or initiate transactions introduces a different set of consequences. An AI agent is software equipped to take steps towards a goal. What it can actually do depends on the tools, permissions and safeguards
provided. Give any assistant greater authority and supervision becomes more important. That applies equally to software and to a professor entrusted with the departmental biscuits. For Welsh organisations considering these tools, useful questions are refreshingly plain. What can it access? Which actions need a person’s approval? Can someone stop it? Are its actions recorded? Who checks that it works properly in the circumstances where we intend to use it? And if it makes a consequential mistake, can the person affected reach somebody with the authority to put things right? Those questions belong in discussions before a contract is signed. Preferably before somebody produces a slideshow containing seventeen uses of the word “transformation”. We should also resist making safety so expensive or complicated that only the largest companies can participate. Smaller businesses need understandable rules and proportionate requirements.
The safeguards for drafting a café menu should reflect that task. So should the safeguards for software entrusted with sensitive records or consequential decisions. Wales has much to gain from useful AI. Small firms, public services and people working across Welsh and English deserve tools that help them, with clear explanations of their limitations. We can welcome innovation while asking those building and buying these systems to demonstrate care. Nobody should have to choose between using new technology and expecting reasonable accountability. My worry is how easily the phrase “acceptable risk” can glide past the people expected to accept it. Let those people into the discussion. Explain the benefits honestly, describe the possible failures plainly, and make responsibility clear. Then perhaps we can build a future worth being enthusiastic about, with more of us sharing the benefits. I would still like to see the boiler man’s insurance, mind. Magnificent hot water is lovely, but so is a roof. Until next week, Taff.
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The bombers have gone. The bluster remains Trump’s explanation for the Fairford withdrawal leaves a gull wondering who is supposed to have won. SWARK! I have defended chips on Milford Haven Docks against dogs, toddlers and a man swinging a copy of this newspaper. Threats are an occupational hazard. Occasionally I retreat to a lamp post. I have yet to announce that abandoning the chips represents a victory over the toddler. Donald Trump appears to be working from a different manual. The president says threats prompted America to remove its bombers from RAF Fairford. He also promises to capture and defeat the enemy. The aircraft have gone back to America, according to the Pentagon. Apparently this is what winning looks like when photographed from behind. Before anybody accuses this bird of demanding that aircrews risk their lives to satisfy a newspaper columnist, let us establish something. Protecting personnel matters. Moving aircraft can be prudent. Nobody needs to leave a bomber somewhere dangerous merely to preserve a president’s reputation for being hard. But a military base facing a threat is hardly an astonishing development. Managing threats is part of the job. The question is what made this one sufficiently serious that the answer was to send the bombers home. That requires more explanation than a presidential promise to beat somebody later. Consider the public account of the original incident. Five men were arrested near Fairford after reports involving three suspicious vehicles. Police subsequently confirmed that petrol had been recovered, but no improvised explosive devices were found. The men were released on bail and remained under investigation.
Those facts establish neither an innocent outing nor a proven terrorist attack. The investigation must establish what happened. Politicians declaring the case solved from across the Atlantic are getting ahead of the people actually investigating it. Meanwhile, the gulf between the visible incident and the grand presidential language is wide enough to fly a bomber through. Are we really being invited to picture American military power being inconvenienced into departure by some vans and a fuel sticker? Has the balance of international power shifted towards the signwriting department? SWARK! Somewhere, a gull guarding a discarded sausage roll is wondering whether he has overinvested in deterrence. There is a serious qualification. US media have reported, citing American officials, that fresh threat information preceded the withdrawal. That could change the assessment considerably. We do not know what intelligence commanders received, and they are under no obligation to publish an operational briefing for every inquisitive seabird. But secrecy cannot answer every question while the president supplies
a running commentary about how tremendously he is handling everything. He has chosen to make this political theatre. He can hardly complain when the audience examines the scenery. His secretary of state, Marco Rubio, discussed routine movements and declined to tie the withdrawal directly to the earlier incident. Vice President JD Vance described caution. Trump explicitly pointed to threats. These explanations might be compatible. Fresh intelligence might reconcile them perfectly. Yet the public presentation resembles three gulls arguing over who ordered the evacuation of a bin. Then there is Trump’s description of moving the aircraft “not very far”. Their home stations are in the United States. From Gloucestershire, that involves an ocean. Even allowing for presidential flexibility with geography, it is further than Cirencester. More troubling is the message his performance risks sending. If threatening a deployment gets it withdrawn, whoever issued the threat may regard that as a result. That does not automatically make withdrawal wrong. It does make the
subsequent victory speech rather difficult to swallow. A sensible leader could explain that precautions had been taken, operations remained possible and investigators needed space. There would be no disgrace in that. An honest acknowledgement of uncertainty would inspire rather more confidence than promising to capture an unspecified enemy while the aircraft disappear westwards. People around the Haven understand that important sites require serious security. We also understand the difference between taking precautions and making a performance of them. You do not reassure a community by insisting everything is perfectly safe while leaving everyone guessing about a conspicuous departure. Britain deserves clarity about the security of a base on British soil. American personnel deserve decisions made on sound intelligence. The public deserves some consistency from the people explaining those decisions. None of that requires publishing secrets. It requires treating people as adults. Perhaps the military judgement was entirely sound. The evidence available publicly cannot settle that. The president’s explanation, however, is available for inspection, and it is flapping about in plain sight. Back on the docks, if I surrender a chip to a threatening Labrador, I accept that the Labrador has acquired the chip. I may have preserved my feathers. I may live to steal another lunch. All perfectly defensible. What I cannot reasonably do is perch on a bollard and announce that the Labrador has been comprehensively defeated. Especially while he is eating. SWARK!
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Loving them means more than simply bringing them home
PETS CORNER
There are few things easier to fall for than an animal that needs a home. One photograph of a pair of enormous brown eyes, a nervous kitten curled into the corner of a rescue pen or a dog whose tail still somehow wags despite everything it has been through, and suddenly all sensible thought disappears. “Could we fit another one in?” For most of us, thankfully, that question ends with a sensible discussion about food bills, vet bills, space and whether the existing cat would ever forgive us. But figures sent to Pets Corner this week show just how badly things can go wrong when the number of animals in a home begins to spiral out of control. RSPCA Cymru says its officers are dealing with an average of around 410 incidents every month across England and Wales involving ten or more animals at a single property. Here in Wales there were 241 such incidents between January and August this year. And rather worryingly for us, Pembrokeshire recorded 20 reports, putting the county behind only Carmarthenshire and Caerphilly in the figures supplied by the charity. Some cases are extraordinary. In one Welsh property almost 150 animals were discovered, including cats and guinea pigs. Another household contained around 50 cats. It is easy to condemn people
when we hear figures like that, but animal hoarding is often far more complicated than somebody simply deciding to collect pets. Sometimes it starts with kindness. An unwanted cat arrives. Then another needs rescuing. A litter is born because an animal has not been neutered. Someone offers to take “just one more”. Before long the food bill is impossible, veterinary treatment is being postponed and one person’s attempt to save animals has unintentionally created a welfare problem. The consequences are then left to rescue organisations and foster carers to unravel. That is why the RSPCA is using its Adoptober campaign to appeal particularly for patient, experienced owners willing to take on animals which may need considerably more time and reassurance than the average family pet. Many animals rescued from overcrowded homes have had little proper contact with people. They may initially hide, hiss, bark, refuse to be touched or appear completely uninterested in their new owner. That does not make them bad pets. It simply means trust has to be earned. And responsible ownership begins long before an animal reaches crisis point. Cats Protection also dropped some interesting Welsh figures into our inbox this week. There are estimated to
be around 460,000 owned cats in Wales, yet the charity believes nearly a quarter are not microchipped.That means if thousands of those cats disappeared tomorrow, there might be no straightforward way of identifying where they belonged. It seems particularly strange because owners quite understandably worry about cats going missing or being stolen. A microchip is tiny, permanent and potentially the difference between a frightened missing animal being reunited with its family and becoming another unidentified stray. Neutering matters too. Cats can reproduce remarkably quickly, and one accidental litter can become several generations surprisingly fast. Cats Protection recommends neutering at or before four months of age. Prevention is considerably easier than finding homes for six unexpected kittens. The same principle applies to our dogs: small, routine things done now can prevent much bigger problems later. Veterinary advice sent to us by Petplan this week highlights the basics — sensible diet, appropriate exercise, keeping dogs at a healthy weight, looking after their teeth and maintaining regular veterinary
checks. None of those suggestions is particularly glamorous. There is no miraculous supplement or magic trick. But perhaps that is the point. Good pet ownership usually isn’t dramatic. It is remembering the vaccinations. Booking the neutering appointment. Updating the microchip details after moving house. Brushing the dog’s teeth even when he behaves as though you are attempting major surgery. It is noticing that the cat is drinking more than usual, or that the elderly Labrador is beginning to struggle on the stairs. And sometimes it is recognising that however much we love animals, we cannot save every one ourselves. Taking one animal home and caring for it properly for the rest of its life will always be better than taking ten and eventually being unable to care properly for any of them. Our pets give us companionship, amusement and extraordinary loyalty. The least we can give them in return is responsible care. And sometimes the kindest words an animal lover can say are not “I’ll take another one.” They are: “I have enough.”
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Pembrokeshire lecturer makes cut for national hairdressing final
A PEMBROKESHIRE salon owner and college lecturer has reached the final of a national hairdressing talentdevelopment programme. Marcus Smith, who teaches at Pembrokeshire College, has been selected as a finalist for the Fellowship Academy of Merit and Excellence, known as the F.A.M.E. Team. He progressed through a
competitive semi-final stage after presenting two looks inspired by glam rock, using bold colours, strong shapes and fashion-led styling. The programme gives developing stylists opportunities to work with established figures in the industry and demonstrate their creativity on a national stage. Marcus said competing at that level was challenging but also
offered valuable opportunities to learn. He wanted his entries to have a distinctive identity while reflecting his own approach to hairdressing. He also thanked the models, make-up artists, sponsors and Fellowship for British Hairdressing team who had supported him through the competition. The final showcase will take
place at Salon International in October. His place in the final follows involvement in Project Wales through the Fellowship for British Hairdressing, which has helped him develop his skills, build professional connections and explore new creative work. Marcus said: “I’m proud to represent Pembrokeshire and take the creativity and skills I’ve developed here onto a much bigger stage.” Alongside running his salon, he teaches the next generation of hairdressers at Pembrokeshire College, sharing the experience and techniques gained through his work in the industry. The college said reaching the final reflected his commitment to developing his craft and continuing his professional development.
Tickets cost £50 per person, including dinner and soft drinks. Guests may bring their own alcohol and should provide details of dietary requirements or allergies when booking. On Saturday, November 14, Marcus Beck will share the story of Big Wood Cabin, its appearance on Grand Designs and his first year living offgrid under Wales’s One Planet Development scheme. The talk will explore practical lessons and unexpected challenges, alongside the role storytelling can play in making unfamiliar ideas more accessible. It takes place at Nant-y-Cwm from 7pm to 9pm, with tickets priced at £12.50. The programme concludes with a Festive Twmpath at Maenclochog Community Hall
on Friday, December 4. The school’s own band, Off the Cliff, will provide the music, with both experienced dancers and complete beginners welcome. The evening runs from 7pm to 10pm. Tickets cost £10 and guests should bring their own drinks. Mike Hargreaves, a trustee of Nant-y-Cwm Steiner School, said: “Our mission is to give children the foundations for a fulfilling life: a love of learning, confidence in themselves and the ability to think independently, work with others and find their own path. “A supportive community is central to that ambition. These evenings give us a chance to extend that welcome beyond the school gates, bringing people together while supporting the
education we offer. “Whether you come for the food, the conversation or the dancing, we hope you will leave feeling part of something special.” The independent SteinerWaldorf school combines academic learning with creative and practical activities, describing its approach as educating the “head, heart and hands”. Its provision includes a family group for children aged up to three, a kindergarten for ages three to six and a main school for ages six to 14. It has also announced plans for an upper school for 14 to 16-year-olds, combining a Waldorf curriculum with core GCSE subjects. For event information and bookings, visit nant-y-cwm. co.uk/evening-events.
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A PEMBROKESHIRE school is inviting the community to share a meal, discover the realities of off-grid living and enjoy an evening of Welsh dancing at three fundraising events. Nant-y-Cwm Steiner School, in Llanycefn near Clynderwen, will host a programme of community evenings during November and December, with all proceeds supporting its work with children and families. The programme opens with Gathering Around the Table on Saturday, November 7, at the Penquoit Centre, a 17th-century Welsh longhouse. Swiss-French chef AnneValerie Cauteruccio will prepare a French and Mediterranean buffet for the evening, which runs from 6pm to 10pm.
EDUCATION
Supper, off-grid living and Welsh dancing to support Nant-y-Cwm school
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Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi opens its doors to prospective pupils and families Year 5 and Year 6 pupils invited to discover school life at St Davids open evening FAMILIES considering the next stage of their child’s education are invited to explore Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA at its upcoming open evening. The school will welcome Year 5 and Year 6 pupils and their families to Dewi Campus in St Davids on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 5pm to 7pm. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the campus, meet staff and speak with current pupils, gaining an insight into the lessons, activities and support available as children prepare for secondary education. A Church in Wales voluntary aided school for pupils aged three to 16, Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi places its Christian ethos at the centre of school life. Its guiding principles — Achieve, Challenge, Belong — reflect an emphasis on helping children build confidence, develop their abilities and feel part of a supportive community. The school’s close relationship with St Davids Cathedral is an important part of that identity, connecting pupils with the history and heritage of their city. Its surroundings also provide opportunities for outdoor learning,
encouraging pupils to explore their local environment and develop a sense of responsibility for the world around them. Alongside academic learning, the school offers sporting and extracurricular opportunities, with an emphasis on participation as well as achievement. Pupils are encouraged to discover new interests, challenge themselves and contribute to school life. Those opportunities include
the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and international links. In summer 2025, senior sports teams travelled to Lesotho and South Africa, strengthening the school’s relationship with its partner school, Mahloenyeng. The open evening will give families the chance to ask questions about the move to secondary school and learn more about how pupils are supported throughout their education. Parents and carers can explore the school’s approach to learning, pastoral
care and personal development, while prospective pupils can hear directly from those already studying there. The open evening takes place at Dewi Campus, Millard Park, St Davids, SA62 6QH, on Thursday, October 15, from 5pm to 7pm. For further information about the event or admissions, contact the school on 01437 809200 or email admin.penrhyndewi@pembrokeshire. gov.uk.
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Ysgol Caer Elen invites families to explore Welsh-medium education FAMILIES considering Welshmedium education are invited to discover what Ysgol Caer Elen has to offer at an open evening on Monday, October 12. The school, on Withybush Road in Haverfordwest, will welcome visitors between 4pm and 6.30pm for tours, conversations with staff and pupils, and a chance to explore its facilities. The evening is aimed at families with children approaching nursery or reception age, as well as pupils currently in Years 4, 5 and 6 who are looking ahead to secondary school. Early years visitors will be able to explore classrooms and meet teaching and support staff. Older pupils and their families can tour the secondary facilities, find out about the curriculum and ask how children are supported as they move into Year 7. As a Welsh-medium school for children aged three to 16, Ysgol Caer Elen offers continuity from nursery through to the end of compulsory education within one school community. Its approach combines academic ambition with an emphasis on wellbeing, confidence and personal development. In its 2023 inspection, Estyn described Ysgol Caer Elen as “a caring, inclusive Welsh community”, highlighting pupils’ progress and their achievements in literacy, numeracy and digital skills. Inspectors also praised pupils’
Road, Haverfordwest, SA62 4BN. For more information, visit ysgolcaerelen.wales, email swyddfa@ ysgolcaerelen.cymru or call 01437 808470. • •
positive attitudes to learning, their polite and respectful behaviour, and the strong relationships between staff and children. Support for pupils with additional learning needs was another strength identified in the report. Headteacher Dafydd Hughes said: “Our aim is to develop an innovative 3–16 school which will provide highquality education in a Welsh-medium setting. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and contribute fully to creating a successful learning community. “Our school is inclusive and our ethos is based on the core values of kindness, fairness, support, respect and perseverance. By working together and supporting each other, we can all
achieve our goals.” Families do not need to speak Welsh at home for their children to benefit from a Welsh-medium education. Estyn’s effective-practice work at Ysgol Caer Elen recorded that 93% of pupils came from homes where Welsh was not spoken. The school’s language immersion provision helps pupils develop their Welsh and participate fully in lessons. The open evening will give parents and carers an opportunity to ask about language support, academic progress, pastoral care and everyday school life. Families who are simply exploring their options are also welcome. Ysgol Caer Elen’s open evening takes place on Monday, October 12, from 4pm to 6.30pm at Withybush
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Excellent GCSE results which place the school amongst the best in Wales each year. Local Authority data and evaluation note that Ysgol Caer Elen is a strong-performing Welsh-medium school with particularly impressive value-added outcomes. Literacy, numeracy and science outcomes consistently exceed Welsh modelled expectations and the school demonstrates strong performance across both Welsh and English language qualifications. During the full Estyn inspection in 2023, it was noted: ‘Ysgol Caer Elen is a caring, inclusive Welsh community in which pupils are given valuable opportunities to develop to become principled individuals and learn about their ‘cynefin’ and local culture. The headteacher and his senior management team are passionate and uphold the highest standards for their staff and pupils. Leaders are hard-working in building continuous progression in effective pedagogy and well-being, which allows Ysgol Caer Elen to operate as a successful all-age school’.
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Strong roots and broad horizons: Ysgol Bro Preseli welcomes families to its open evenings Prospective pupils and their families are being invited to discover the opportunities, community and warm Welsh welcome offered by Ysgol Bro Preseli at two forthcoming open evenings. The school’s Secondary Sector Open Evening will take place on Monday, October 19, from 5pm until 7.30pm, followed by an evening for prospective post-16 pupils and their parents or guardians on Thursday, November 12, 2026. The events will give visitors an opportunity to see the school at work, meet staff, explore its facilities and attend demonstrations and presentations. Situated in Crymych, Ysgol Bro Preseli is Pembrokeshire’s first allage Welsh-medium school, providing education and opportunities for pupils from the age of three through to 19. While many pupils progress through the school’s all-age provision, Ysgol Bro Preseli also warmly welcomes new pupils wishing to join the school at important stages in their education, including Year 7 and Year 12. This means pupils can benefit from the school’s supportive community whether they have attended from an early age or are joining for secondary or post-16 education. A school where everyone belongs Inclusion sits at the heart of Ysgol Bro Preseli. Every pupil is valued as an individual while also being encouraged to recognise their importance as a member of the school community. This creates the strong sense of family and belonging for which the school is known. Pupils are supported to develop confidence, independence and consideration for others within a caring Welsh-speaking environment. That culture was recognised in the school’s recent Estyn inspection report, which described Ysgol Bro Preseli as “a happy, proud and friendly community
opportunities helps pupils discover their interests, develop new skills and grow into confident young people. Sport, creativity and school life
where staff and pupils enjoy learning in each other’s company.” Inspectors also highlighted the close and supportive relationships developed between staff and pupils, together with the safe environment created for learning. Pupil wellbeing is central to school life. Through pastoral support, positive relationships and opportunities to participate in the wider life of the school, pupils are encouraged to feel safe, supported and ready to learn. Opportunities from three to 19 As an all-age school, Ysgol Bro Preseli can provide continuity
throughout a child’s educational journey: from their first experiences in nursery and primary education through to secondary school and sixth form. At the same time, the school offers a welcoming entry point for pupils joining at Year 7, as they begin their secondary education, and at Year 12, when they choose to continue into post-16 study. Younger pupils benefit from a wide variety of creative and educational experiences, while older pupils can continue their education within a close-knit community offering strong academic standards and preparation for their next steps. The school’s broad range of
Sport forms an important part of life at Ysgol Bro Preseli, with pupils able to participate in activities including rugby, football, hockey, netball, athletics and cricket. These opportunities promote teamwork, resilience and physical wellbeing while allowing pupils to represent their school and celebrate success together. The expressive arts are equally important. Pupils are encouraged to explore art, craft, music, orchestra, choir, acting, recitation and performance. School productions and shows bring pupils of different ages together, giving them opportunities to perform, work behind the scenes and build confidence through shared creative experiences. This balance of academic learning, sport, expressive arts and wider activities helps ensure that pupils can identify their strengths and play an active role in school life. The forthcoming open evenings will give families the chance to experience this atmosphere for themselves and discover a school where strong local and Welsh roots open the door to broad horizons. Visitors to the Secondary Sector Open Evening can expect to see the school at work, meet staff, enjoy demonstrations and presentations and receive a warm welcome from the whole school community. Ysgol Bro Preseli’s Secondary Sector Open Evening takes place on Monday, October 19, from 5pm until 7.30pm at the school in Crymych. The post-16 open evening will take place on Thursday, November 12, 2026. For further information, visit www. ysgolbropreseli.cymru or telephone 01239 831000.
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Dairy hygiene key to protecting milk premiums
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FARMING
DAIRY farmers are being urged to check the everyday routines that protect milk quality, amid warnings that simple hygiene mistakes can lead to lost premiums and milk price penalties. Alison Clark, of dairy hygiene company Progiene, says close attention to equipment cleaning, teat hygiene and cow bedding can make a significant difference to farm returns. Clear procedures are particularly important where several people share milking duties or relief staff cover shifts. “It can be easy for complacency to creep in with what is the daily routine, or perhaps errors can occur where relief staff are involved,” she said. “Having clear procedures that are accurately communicated is a good starting point.” Ms Clark says cleaning failures can affect both conventional parlours and robotic milking systems, with problems sometimes only becoming apparent when milk quality results deteriorate. “We see, when going on farm to troubleshoot rising Bactoscans or carry out wash cycle testing, for example, that the simplest errors are costing
money in lost premiums, or even resulting in milk price penalties,” she said. Common problems include wash water that is too cool and incorrect disinfectant concentrations. These can allow organic residues to build up inside equipment, providing places for bacteria to develop. The cause may be faulty equipment or an error in the cleaning routine, but Ms Clark says many problems can be resolved once identified. She advises farmers to check that cleaning products are suitable for their water supply and milking system, and that they are being used at the recommended concentrations. Teat hygiene is another
priority, both for milk quality and for reducing the risk of mastitis. “Firstly, ensure that the milking routine is applied consistently, whoever is milking,” she said, “and that both operator hygiene and cleanliness of cows’ teats before the cluster is applied are top priority.” She says staff should understand the correct application and contact time for teat disinfectants, while dip cups should be thoroughly cleaned between milkings. Consistent routines can help control the spread of bacteria during milking and support efforts to keep somatic cell counts within milk buyers’ premium payment bands. Ms Clark also highlights
housing hygiene, with clean bedding helping to prevent teats becoming contaminated between milkings. “If all cows are coming into the parlour or the robot milker with clean teats, then that will immediately minimise the risks of bacteria being spread, and/ or contaminating the milk,” she said. Maintaining those standards requires attention beyond the parlour. Bedding management, equipment maintenance and clear communication between staff all form part of the same routine. Ms Clark says procedures must also address the risk of antibiotic contamination in the bulk tank and ensure cleaning chemicals are used correctly to minimise the risk of residues. For farmers reviewing performance, her message is to start with the daily tasks: check the wash cycle, review teat preparation and make sure everyone involved understands and follows the agreed procedures. “Ultimately, a best practice approach to dairy hygiene will benefit the cows, the farm’s bottom line, the milk buyer and the consumer,” she said.
Unit 18b, Withybush Ind Est, Withybush, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 4BS
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Farmer warns mast rent cuts could undermine rural mobile coverage
A WELSH farmer whose annual rent for hosting a mobile phone mast has been halved has warned that the treatment of landowners could undermine efforts to improve rural connectivity. Alan Watson, a sheep farmer in Radnorshire, says his annual payment has fallen from £5,000 to £2,500 following changes to the rules governing agreements between telecoms operators and landowners. He says finalising his latest agreement also cost more than £5,000 in professional fees — exceeding two years’ rent at the new rate. Having hosted a mast for more than two decades, Mr Watson fears increasingly difficult negotiations could discourage other farmers from making land available for infrastructure their communities need. “I’ve hosted a mast on my farm for more than 20 years and I’ve always been happy to do my bit to support better mobile connectivity in the local area,” he said. “But changes to the system have seen my rent cut in half, from £5,000 to £2,500, while dealing with the
telecoms companies has become a nightmare. “When I tried to get my agreement finalised, the process ended up costing me more than £5,000. It feels like landowners trying to do their bit are being bullied into accepting worse terms — putting people off hosting the infrastructure the country needs.” The dispute centres on reforms to the Electronic Communications Code introduced in 2017, which changed how payments for hosting telecoms equipment are assessed. The changes were intended to reduce the cost of expanding networks, but landowners argue that lower payments and expensive negotiations have damaged relationships with operators. Further provisions under the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 came into force on April 7 this year, extending the Code’s valuation approach to certain older agreements when they are renewed. The concerns come as mobile coverage remains uneven across Wales. Ofcom’s Connected Nations 2025 report found that 77 per cent of
the Welsh landmass had predicted outdoor 4G coverage from all four networks measured, while 97 per cent had coverage from at least one. That means almost a quarter of Wales lacked coverage from the full range of networks — rather than having no 4G signal at all. The National Infrastructure Commission for Wales has also highlighted tensions over mast payments. In its Wales Infrastructure Assessment 2026, the commission said reduced rents had weakened landlords’ incentives to host mobile operators. Discussing risks to existing rooftop sites, it warned that Cardiff and Swansea could face similar challenges to London, while acknowledging that it did not have equivalent figures for Wales. The Farmers’ Union of Wales says the experiences of mast hosts must be considered alongside the need to improve coverage. Tim Faire, chair of the union’s Land Use and Climate Change Committee, said: “Farmers across Wales have hosted mobile masts in good faith for decades, helping to keep rural
communities connected. “But they cannot be expected to continue doing so while rents are slashed and reaching agreements becomes increasingly costly and difficult. “At a time when too many rural communities still struggle with poor mobile coverage, we need a policy framework that treats farmers fairly and encourages landowners and operators to work together, rather than driving them further apart.” The UK Government has defended the reforms. In its published response to a consultation on the latest changes, it said the 2017 measures were necessary to enable networks to be expanded more quickly and at lower cost. It also pointed to compensation provisions within the valuation framework. Mr Watson believes cooperation should be central to the system. “If we genuinely want to improve mobile connectivity, we need a system that encourages cooperation between landowners and operators, rather than driving them further apart,” he said.
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Farm payment cuts fuel fears for Welsh family farms THOUSANDS of Welsh farmers face a further reduction in support next year if they remain outside the Sustainable Farming Scheme, amid a political row over whether the new system is accessible enough. Welsh Government figures published in June show 8,038 farm businesses claimed the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) this year, including 640 in Pembrokeshire. Another 8,104 businesses across Wales applied for the new Sustainable Farming Scheme’s universal payment. The figures underline the scale of the challenge facing ministers as they replace the longstanding system of agricultural support. Under the published timetable, BPS payments fall from 60% of their 2025 value this year to 40% in 2027. That represents a one-third reduction in the payment a farmer receives compared with 2026, assuming the underlying claim remains unchanged. For example, a farm with a £20,000 baseline payment in 2025 would receive £12,000 this year and £8,000 next year. Support falls to 20% of the baseline in 2028, before BPS ends in 2029. Reform UK’s deputy leader and farming spokesperson, Laura Anne Jones MS, challenged Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability Llŷr Gruffydd over the reductions during
Senedd questions on Wednesday, September 30. She urged him to limit the next reduction to one percentage point and accused him of abandoning earlier calls for a slower transition. In a statement following the exchange, she said: “Pushing ahead with this cut whilst the scheme remains wholly unsuitable, inflexible and unworkable is playing Russian roulette with their livelihoods. “The Minister called for a ‘much more gradual tapering trajectory’ and a ‘just transition’. Now in Government, with the power to act, he is backtracking. “He needs to make the SFS workable, and fast, and put protections in place to
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help those remaining on BPS.” Mr Gruffydd rejected the proposed one-point reduction, while acknowledging the difficulties involved in changing support systems. “I will not entertain dropping the transition by just 1 per cent,” he told the Senedd. He disputed the suggestion that the SFS was wholly inflexible, saying recent decisions demonstrated that changes could be made. His priority, he said, was to make the scheme accessible to more farmers while continuing the transition. The issue has considerable significance across west Wales. Alongside Pembrokeshire’s 640 BPS claims, government figures recorded 1,353 in Carmarthenshire and 848 in Ceredigion. Applications for the SFS universal layer totalled 724, 1,070 and 793 respectively. The breakdown is based on farm business addresses, rather than the location of every parcel of land, and records applications rather than final approved payments. The SFS began this year and combines support for sustainable food production with requirements covering matters such as soil health, habitats and animal welfare. Its universal layer includes 12 actions, where applicable to
the individual farm, and a requirement for at least 10% habitat. Farmers joining the scheme surrender their BPS entitlements and cannot subsequently return to the old payment system. Farming unions have raised concerns about the pace of change while also recognising improvements to the replacement scheme. Before its launch, NFU Cymru warned in December 2025 that the initial BPS reduction would create a “cliff edge”. It argued that some farmers would have legitimate reasons for being unable to enter immediately and called for a more balanced transition. However, the union also supported the scheme’s overall framework while pressing for further changes. The Welsh Government has since committed £340 million annually for three years to March 2030, presenting the settlement as a way to give businesses greater confidence to plan and invest. It has also increased advance payments under BPS and the SFS universal layer from 70% to 80% of each eligible estimated claim following the summer’s drought. That brings more money forward but does not increase the overall annual entitlement. A further change announced last week allows Farm Assured Welsh Livestock members to use their membership to satisfy specified animalhealth planning requirements for the 2026 SFS, reducing duplication. Other applicable animal health and welfare requirements remain. The Farmers’ Union of Wales welcomed the increased advance payments, but said lasting improvements remained necessary. President Ian Rickman said the union wanted changes addressing “key areas that require urgent attention to ensure the universal layer of the Scheme is more accessible and practical in 2027”.
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NFU Cymru meets with politicians and delegates at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool
NFU Cymru held an extensive round of engagement with MSs and MPs, including the Defra Secretary of State and Defra Minister, at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool last week The packed schedule of events and engagements began with a breakfast reception at which NFU Cymru President Abi Reader and Deputy President Paul Williams met with Secretary of State Dame Angela Eagle and Defra Minister Stephen Morgan. The NFU Cymru officeholders took the opportunity to discuss issues around standards of production in imported products and spikes in production costs the sector had seen recently, as fuel and fertiliser prices rocketed in response to global instability. With breakfast over, Abi Reader headed to the main conference venue for a series of back-to-back meetings with
MPs and MSs. She said: “We met with a range of politicians, delivering some key messages to them. Important amongst these has been the need for the UK Government to ensure that standards are upheld in international trade agreements, and that our own producers are not undermined by products coming in from abroad and produced to lower standards; I am referring in particular to imported eggs, as well as beef and poultry from Brazil, which was banned by the EU earlier this month but not yet subject to a similar ban by the UK Government.” Speaking to MSs, Abi Reader also raised issues around TB in cattle and Bluetongue, as well as the unprecedented impact of the summer drought on agricultural production in Wales. She said: “It’s been a challenging few months on a number of fronts for farmers in Wales and I am glad to have been able to talk to raise
these issues with Members of the Senedd. I am pleased that they very much recognise the pressures that the conditions of summer 2026 put on farmers.” Bookending a busy day was an evening reception hosted by the Labour Rural Research Group and supported by the union, at which there was a further final opportunity for NFU Cymru to network with key rural MPs and stakeholders. NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “I was really pleased to be able to join the Labour Party at their conference in Liverpool. It’s been a very busy event where we have managed to have some real worthwhile and positive engagement with politicians and delegates. I hope some of our key messages have cut through. I am most grateful to all those who have made time to meet with us and who have come along to support our events at the conference.”
As autumn sets in, dramatic images of the wild fires of the summer just gone, the hottest on record, will remain bright in the minds of many. Set against the backdrop of an exceptionally demanding summer for Welsh fire and rescue services, the Wales Wildfire Board has launched ‘Burn to Protect’, a campaign that brings together organisations from across Wales to develop a shared understanding of wildfire risk and a coordinated approach to reducing its impact. Its publication is timely as the 1st of October marks the beginning of the period when controlled burns are allowed on upland areas and which runs until 31 March (1st of November until 15 March in other areas). The rules for controlled burning are set out in The Heather and Grass Burning Code for Wales 2008. The Code recognises that carefully planned, periodic, controlled burning can be beneficial for agriculture, game management, wildlife conservation and the wider environment. Readers who are planning to undertake controlled burns will no doubt be familiar with the detailed requirements set out in the Code, and will have prepared ‘burn plans’ in line with those available on the Welsh Government website Burning Management Plan for Wales. The Burn to Protect campaign reinforces the requirements of the
Code and highlights key considerations: No burning between sunset and sunrise. Ensure there are enough resources available to manage the fire effectively and extinguish it if required. Inform neighbours and ensure that livestock is in a safe place away from the fire path. Consider cutting a ‘fire break’ to prevent fire spread. Remembering that fire will travel uphill quicker and will burn more intensely than it does downhill, and it can spread quicker than you can run. If you light it, don’t leave it! It is your responsibility to ensure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving the area. Only burn a small manageable area at a time. In easy burn conditions, it is recommended that 1 person can efficiently manage a 5-meter fire line. Grass fires are extremely unpredictable and can spiral out of control within minutes. Always inform your local Fire and Rescue Service before a Controlled Burn and after a burn is complete. As one of the partners to the Wales Wildfire Board, the Farmers’ Union of Wales welcomes the campaign and its aims to support safer communities, more resilient landscapes and a stronger partnership approach to wildfire prevention across Wales.
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MOTORS
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BYD achieves highest ever UK sales in single month
MOTORS
BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of New Energy Vehicles (fully electric and plug-in hybrid), continues to see the popularity of its products rise with British car buyers, as it posted its best-ever sales month and quarter, finishing second overall in the sales charts in September. Preliminary data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirmed that BYD finished September with a total of 20,140 sales in a single month. The eyecatching figure represents a year-on-year increase of 80% and a market share of 5.76%, finishing as the second most popular manufacturer in the country. What makes this sales story even more remarkable is that BYD only started selling cars in the UK in 2023, and has already created a dealer network of 147 sites. The quarterly sales were boosted by BYD’s growing family of New Energy Vehicle products, with several new models in 2026, particularly across its Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) lineup, already striking a chord
with customers. Among its best-selling cars was the ATTO 2. Following the launch of the fully electric version last autumn, it was joined by the DM-i variant in June this year, and this flexibility in powertrain options saw it become the second most popular model in the BYD line-up in September. The top-selling car in the marque’s portfolio remains the SEAL U DM-i, with the SEALION 7 the
biggest-selling pure electric vehicle in the range. “These figures are an incredible result for BYD, so I’d like to say a big thank you to all of our customers who buy our cars and enjoy them on a daily basis,” said Steve Beattie, Deputy Country Manager of BYD UK. “While it’s a huge result for us, we believe that there is still more to come. We’ve launched several other cars
recently or are about to. The DOLPHIN G takes us into the hugely popular supermini segment, and despite the car only arriving with our retailers in August, we’ve already taken over 500 orders. Pre-orders for the seven-seat Ti 7 SUV are proving extremely strong, and the SHARK pick-up is generating a huge amount of interest too. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.”
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CITROEN BERLINGO- 2018
FIAT 500 - 2015
VAUXHALL CORSA - 2016
SKODA KAROQ - 2018
HONDA HR-V - 2015
1.6 BlueHDi Feel Multispace MPV 5dr Diesel ETG6 Euro 6 (s/s) (100 ps) ** WHEELCHAIR ACCESIBLE .........DIESEL............AUTOMATIC........3 SEATS....... LOW MILEAGE ONLY COVERED 12,631
1.2 Lounge Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (69 bhp) ** PETROL........LOW MILEAGE ONLY COVERED 45,935 MILES ..........SERVICE HISTORY 3 STAMPS...
1.4i ecoFLEX Energy Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (a/c) (90 ps) ** PETROL....... 5 SPEED.......1 PREVIOUS OWNER.........LOW MILEAGE ONLY COVERED 70,530 MILES..
1.0 TSI SE Nav Plus SUV 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (115 ps) ** PETROL.........6 SPEED........LOW MILEAGE ONLY COVERED 41,475 MILES........ SERVICE HISTORY 7 STAMPS.........2 KEYS.......1 PREVIOUS OWNER.
1.5 i-VTEC EX SUV 5dr Petrol CVT Euro 6 (s/s) (130 ps) ** PETROL.......... AUTOMATIC.........LOW MILEAGE ONLY 86,521 MILES...........SERVICE HISTORY 7 STAMPS........... 2 KEYS..........£170 ROAD TAX .....
£9,995
£6,495
£5,495
£11,495
£8,995
l
BMW 1 SERIES - 2015
FORD KA+ - 2019
TOYOTA YARIS - 2016
FORD FIESTA - 2014
MAZDA MAZDA2 - 2010
1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 5dr Diesel Auto Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps) ** AUTOMATIC 8 SPEED.........DIESEL........LOW MILEAGE ONLY COVERED 79,471 MILES..........£20 ROAD TAX........ . 2 KEYS....... 78 MPG.......
1.2 Ti-VCT Active Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (85 ps) ** PETROL........5 SPEED.......LOW MILEAGE ONLY COVERED 50,651 MILES.......... SERVICE HISTORY......... 2 KEYS........ LOW INSURANCE GROUP 6..
1.33 Dual VVT-i Icon Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (99 ps) ** PETROL.......6 SPEED...... 1 PREVIOUS OWNER......YES ONLY COVERED 29,354 MILES........SERVICE HISTORY 4 TOYOTA MAIN DEALER STAMPS.
1.25 Zetec Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (82 ps) ** PETROL......5 SPEED.......LOW MILEAGE ONLY COVERED 84,560 MILES........SERVICE HISTORY........£35 ROAD TAX...... 2 KEYS.......LOW INSURANCE GROUP 7.......... ZETEC EDITION........
1.5 TS2 Hatchback 5dr Petrol Auto Euro 5 (102 ps) ** AUTOMATIC......... VERY LOW MILEAGE ONLY 46,649 MILES..........53 MPG...........LOW INSURANCE GROUP 12 ..........2 KEYS..
MINI CONVERTIBLE - 2016
BMW Z4 - 2011
1.5 Cooper Convertible 2dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps) ** PETROL........CONVERTIBLE......6 SPEED.......£35 ROAD TAX........57 MPG.........2 KEYS.........COOPER EDITION........HALF LEATHER SPORTS SEATS.......MEDIA SCREEN.
2.5 23i M Sport Highline Edition Convertible 2dr Petrol Manual sDrive Euro 5 (204 ps) ** PETROL.......CONVERTIBLE......6 SPEED........MILEAGE 115,991 .........SERVICE HISTORY 8 STAMPS...
£7,495
£6,995
FORD FOCUS - 2011
RENAULT CAPTUR - 2019
1.6 Zetec Estate 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (105 ps) ** ESTATE....... DIESEL........5 SPEED.........LOW MILEAGE ONLY COVERED 52.099 MILES FROM NEW..........BEST ENGINE 1.6 .........58 MPG............LOW INSURANCE GROUP 11.......ZETEC
0.9 TCe ENERGY Iconic SUV 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (90 ps) ** PETROL.......5 SPEED........ 1 PREVIOUS OWNER........98,541 MILES......... SERVICE HISTORY....
£4,695
FORD FOCUS - 2015
1.0 ZETEC 5d 124 BHP ** PETROL......6 SPEED......ONLY COVERED 69,115 MILES FROM NEW.......£20 ROAD TAX.........60 MPG.......ZETEC EDITION.......MEDIA SCREEN........ BLUETOOTH.......AIRCON........STOP START.........ALLOYS.......NICE EXAMPLE
£4,995
£6,395
£7,995
HONDA HR-V - 2017
1.6 i-DTEC EX SUV 5dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (120 ps) ** DIESEL......6 SPEED.... 1 OWNER FROM NEW.......111,320 MILEAGE..... FULL HONDA MAIN DEALER SERVICE HISTORY 11 STAMPS.......2 KEYS.......£200 ROAD TAX.......... 72 MPG.
£7,995
£4,895
£5,995
£4,795
£7,495
DACIA SANDERO 2017
AUDI A1- 2012
DACIA SANDERO STEPWAY 2015
TOYOTA AYGO - 2016
1.0 SCe Ambiance Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (75 ps) ** PETROL........5 SPEED......... 1 OWNER FROM NEW........FULL SERVICE HISTORY......... LOW INSURANCE GROUP 4..........67 MPG.........AMBIANCE EDITION....
1.4 TFSI Sport Hatchback 3dr Petrol Manual Euro 5 (s/s) (122 ps) ** PETROL.......6 SPEED.........1 PREVIOUS OWNER.......SERVICE HISTORY..........2 KEYS....... £170 ROAD TAX...........64 MPG........SPORT EDITION.
0.9 TCe Ambiance Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (90 ps) ** PETROL.......5 SPEED......... 1 OWNER FROM NEW.........LOW MILEAGE YES ONLY COVERED 63,951 MILES........... SERVICE HISTORY 6 STAMPS...
1.0 VVT-i x-cite Hatchback 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (68 ps) ** PETROL........5 SPEED.......86,975 MILES.........SERVICE HISTORY 9 STAMPS........£20 ROAD TAX.........LOW INSURANCE GROUP 7.......
£3,995
.
£4,995
£4,695
£5,795
01792 814 110 after hours 07976 731 199 • BEVANS GARAGE, PENIEL GREEN ROAD, SKEWEN, SWANSEA, SA7 9BU
www.junction44motorcompany.co.uk • junction44motorcompany@gmail.com
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KGM Torres EVX qualifies for Electric Car Grant, joining Musso EV with government grant support
KGM Motors UK, formerly SsangYong, is strengthening its support for customers making the switch to electric, with both of its fully electric models now benefiting from government grant support. The Torres EVX full-size electric SUV has become eligible for the £1,500 Electric Car Grant, reducing its starting price from £35,495, while the all-new Musso EV qualifies for the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant and is available at £39,995 including VAT. The two schemes are designed to help reduce the upfront cost of moving to a zero-emission vehicle. For eligible vehicles, the grant is incorporated into the purchase price by the supplying retailer, making the saving straightforward for customers without the need to make a separate application. For customers looking to make the move to an electric SUV, Torres EVX combines distinctive styling, generous interior space and genuine SUV practicality with a fully electric powertrain. Powered by a 73.4kWh BYD lithium iron phosphate battery using cell-topack technology, Torres EVX delivers up to 287 miles of WLTP range from a single charge. It also offers 207 PS and 339 Nm of torque, a towing capacity of up to 1.5 tonnes and between 703 and 1,662 litres of load space, giving customers the flexibility required for everyday journeys, family life and longer adventures.
Vehicle-to-load technology allows compatible electrical equipment and appliances to be powered directly from the vehicle’s battery, while rapid charging can replenish the battery from 10 to 80% in approximately 28 minutes using a suitable rapid charger. The BYD battery comes with a class-leading 10-year or 1,000,000km battery warranty, providing additional long-term reassurance for customers considering the move to electric. For customers looking for an electric pick-up without compromising on everyday usability, the Musso EV brings together SUV-style comfort, practical load-carrying ability and all-wheel-drive capability. Priced from £39,995 including VAT and the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant, Musso EV is the most affordable electric pick-up currently available in the UK. Its 80.6kWh battery, also sharing the same BYD technology, provides up to 290 miles of WLTP city driving range, while a dual-motor electric drivetrain delivers full-time all-wheel drive, 207 PS and 339 Nm of torque. A 690kg payload, 2.3-tonne braked towing capacity and self-levelling rear suspension give Musso EV genuine versatility for work, leisure and everyday use, while vehicle-toload functionality enables customers to use the battery to power tools, equipment and compatible electrical devices away from the grid. For fleets, businesses and
company car drivers, the financial case extends beyond the £5,000 grant. Musso EV attracts a 4% Benefit-in-Kind rate for the 2026/27 tax year, giving it the lowest Benefitin-Kind charge of any commercial vehicle currently available in the UK, with personal tax costs from around £30 per month for a 20% taxpayer. Combined with the potential for lower energy and maintenance costs associated with an electric powertrain, it gives fleet operators a compelling alternative when assessing whole-life vehicle costs. Kevin Griffin, Managing Director at KGM Motors UK, said “Making the move to electric needs to work for customers financially as well as practically. With Torres EVX now benefiting from the £1,500 Electric Car Grant and Musso EV qualifying for the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant, there is additional support available to help reduce that initial cost of switching. “Just as importantly, both vehicles have been designed around real customer requirements. Torres EVX provides the space, range and versatility expected from an SUV, while Musso EV combines electric power with the practicality, towing capability and all-wheel drive customers expect from a pick-up. “Musso EV is particularly significant because it brings a more accessible entry point to the electric pick-up market. At £39,995 including VAT and the £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant, it offers
strong value for customers looking for the space, versatility and capability of a pick-up with the benefits of an electric powertrain. For fleet and company car users, the 4% Benefitin-Kind rate and tax costs from around £30 per month strengthen that proposition further. “At the same time, we recognise that there is no single powertrain that suits every customer, business or journey. KGM will continue to offer genuine choice across our range, from petrol and diesel to self-charging hybrid and fully electric. Our aim is to give customers the freedom to choose the vehicle and powertrain that best fits the way they live and work.” That breadth of choice remains central to KGM’s UK product strategy. Across its award-winning range of SUVs, 4x4s, pick-ups and commercial vehicles, customers can choose from petrol and diesel powertrains, KGM’s latest Dual Tech self-charging hybrid technology and fully electric vehicles. From Tivoli and the self-charging Torres Hybrid and Actyon Hybrid, through to the seven-seat Rexton and award-winning diesel Musso range, alongside the fully electric Torres EVX and Musso EV, KGM continues to offer customers choice rather than a onesize-fits-all approach to electrification. For more information about the KGM electric vehicle range, current offers and full terms and conditions, visit www.kgm-motors.co.uk or speak to your local KGM dealer partner.
78
BUSINESS
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New owners bring fresh ideas to Saint Brides Inn as Malcolm and Andy retire
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BUSINESS
NEW owners at the Saint Brides Inn in Little Haven have thanked customers for their warm welcome as they settle into running the seaside pub following the retirement of Malcolm and Andy. Tamitha, Kevin and Niamh are introducing new dishes and looking ahead to more events, while reassuring regulars that the pub will retain the friendly atmosphere that has brought generations of customers through its doors. In a message on the pub’s Facebook page, the team said: “Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone for your patience and kindness while we settle in as the new owners. We’ve had such a lovely welcome and really appreciate all the support so far!” They added: “We’ve also been busy trialling some new dishes in the kitchen and we’d love to know what you think. If you’ve already tried something new, let us know your favourites — your feedback really does mean a lot to us.” Alongside the additions, established favourites remain available. Responding to a customer asking about crab thermidor, the pub confirmed it was still being offered on a separate fish specials menu. The team has also encouraged customers to book ahead for Sunday lunch, saying its roasts sell out quickly. A celebration marking the takeover took place on September 26, with Sarah and Jon Sharpe of The Connections advertised to provide live music. Afterwards, the pub described it as an “amazing night” and said
more events would follow. Support has also come from Broad Haven Baptist Church, which sent flowers and a message welcoming the new team. The change follows a farewell tribute to Malcolm and Andy, thanking them for their contribution to the business. “We’d like to wish Malcolm and Andy a very happy retirement and a huge thank you for everything they’ve brought to the pub over the years,” the announcement said. “We hope you both enjoy every minute of what comes next.” Their departure marks another chapter in a family history reaching back decades. Malcolm’s parents-in-law, Eric and Trudy Bradley, ran the Saint Brides between 1963 and 1980, before their daughter Joan and her husband Phil took over. Malcolm and Mary Whitewright entered the village’s pub trade in 2001, running The Castle. In March 2014, Malcolm, Mary, Vivienne and Andrew took over the Saint Brides. The family converted upstairs accommodation into a dining area and improved the beer garden, expanding the space available for customers. Mary helped develop the menu before her death in 2016, with Malcolm and Andrew continuing to run the business. The outgoing team’s contribution to Little Haven also extends to its lifeboat station. At the reopening of Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station following refurbishment in September 2024, Malcolm
Whitewright received a medal recognising his long service, presented by Fishguard lifeboat coxswain Gemma Gill. Andy Grey, the station’s lifeboat operations manager at the time, addressed the gathering of crew, volunteers and supporters. The building itself has an even longer history. CAMRA records that the pub was previously known as the New
Inn, adopting its present name in 1904 after St Brides Bay. Its historic features include an old well. For the incoming team, the emphasis is on welcoming both regular customers and people discovering the pub for the first time. “We look forward to seeing you,” they said. “Familiar faces and new ones are always welcome!”
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Battery trial could ease power bottleneck for Pembrokeshire industry A NEW battery-storage trial could help tackle electricity constraints affecting industrial investment linked to Celtic Freeport. National Grid Electricity Distribution, Net Zero Industry Wales and Celtic Freeport have announced a multi-year programme to explore ways of connecting industrial customers sooner. Its first project will investigate whether batteries controlled by the network operator can help balance electricity supply and demand, freeing up capacity for additional connections while longer-term infrastructure is developed. For Pembrokeshire, the potential significance lies in the energy and industrial developments around the Milford Haven Waterway. Celtic Freeport spans Milford Haven and Port Talbot, with ambitions covering floating offshore wind, hydrogen, sustainable fuels and cleaner industry. However, the announcement does not identify a Pembrokeshire battery location, name businesses that would receive earlier connections, or set out how much additional capacity could become available. A budget and timetable for the first trial have also not been specified. Cathy Hall, interim chief executive of Celtic Freeport, said addressing power constraints would be important as its projects moved into delivery. She said “exploring innovative solutions to known power constraints will be crucial to realising the growth potential of the Freeport”. The partnership would allow the Freeport to test approaches intended to improve electricity access and
support businesses across the wider South West Wales supply chain, she added. Ben Burggraaf, chief executive of Net Zero Industry Wales, described electricity access as “a bottleneck” and said faster connections were critical to attracting investment. He said the programme would examine how projects and industrial customers could work together to make better use of existing capacity and locally generated electricity. Roisin Quinn, president of
National Grid Electricity Distribution, said the initiative responded directly to concerns raised by industrial businesses about obtaining the electricity they need to expand, reduce emissions and invest. The programme follows the South Wales Industrial Dialogue, which brought together more than 30 industrial organisations and identified more than 25 possible solutions. These focused on earlier connections, more flexible use of electricity and better use of the existing network.
The announcement coincided with the EmpowerCymru conference in Cardiff on September 29. Projects showcased included the Milford Haven Waterway and the Marine Energy Test Area. The partners say successful trials could support renewable-energy developments, industrial investment and supply-chain opportunities. For Pembrokeshire businesses, the practical test will be which projects can connect sooner, how much sooner, and at what cost.
Pembrokeshire makers to showcase their work at Llys-y-Frân autumn market LOCAL makers, artists and small businesses will come together at Llys-y-Frân this month for a weekend celebrating Pembrokeshire’s creativity and craftsmanship. The Autumn Market, organised by Edge Furniture, will take place on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18. Visitors will be able to browse handmade products, artwork, crafts, gifts and locally produced goods, with opportunities to meet the people behind the businesses. The organisers say the event is intended to give independent traders a platform and help shoppers discover products made within the county. Karl Hadlow-Davies, of Edge Furniture, said: “We wanted to create an event that puts the focus firmly on local, independent businesses and the
people who make their products.” He said the market would bring together some of Pembrokeshire’s talented makers and give visitors the chance to meet them while shopping locally. The autumn-themed event will also offer an opportunity to start Christmas shopping while supporting independent Welsh businesses. Edge Furniture says it is selecting a varied range of businesses, with an emphasis on the quality of the products on offer. The market will run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, October 17, and 10am to 3pm on Sunday, October 18. The venue is Llys-y-Frân, Clarbeston Road, Pembrokeshire, SA63 4RR. Further information is available from Edge Furniture or its Instagram account, @edge.tables.furniture.
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HEALTH
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£18,000 legacy boost brings heart checks closer to home HEART patients across Pembrokeshire are set to benefit from new diagnostic equipment bought with more than £18,000 in charitable funding. A legacy donation to Hywel Dda Health Charities has paid for three electrocardiogram, or ECG, machines for the county’s Community Heart Failure Team and Cardiac Rehabilitation Team. The equipment is being used during home visits, community clinics and rehabilitation sessions, helping staff assess patients closer to where they live. Two machines have been allocated to the Community Heart Failure Team, supporting its work across north and south Pembrokeshire. The third is being used by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team to assess and monitor people following heart attacks and heart surgery, as well as during rehabilitation programmes. The teams say access to the equipment supports earlier identification of heart rhythm problems and other cardiac conditions, allowing quicker clinical decisions and helping to reduce unnecessary hospital attendances.
More than 480 patients are expected to benefit each year. That includes approximately 131 people currently supported by the Community Heart Failure Team and around 350 patients seen annually by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team. Louise Harries, Community Heart Failure Clinical Nurse Specialist, said having ECG
monitoring available during home visits and clinics would allow staff to assess patients more quickly and accurately, often helping to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. She said: “We are incredibly grateful for the kind legacy donation – it has delivered real benefits for cardiac patients
across Pembrokeshire.” Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, welcomed the difference the donation was making to community care. She said the charity funds equipment and services beyond core NHS provision and thanked those whose donations make that work possible.
Hywel Dda recognises specialist doctors’ role in patient care
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HEALTH
EXPERIENCED doctors working across west Wales are being recognised for their contribution to patient care during national SAS Doctors’ Week. Hywel Dda University Health Board is marking the awareness week, which runs from October 5 to 9, by highlighting the work of its specialty and specialist (SAS) doctors and the career opportunities available to them. SAS doctors provide care across a range of medical specialties, bringing experience and continuity to services. Their roles also include clinical leadership, teaching and supporting the development of other healthcare professionals. Among those sharing their experiences is Dr Dipanjan Haldar, a specialist doctor in haematology at Hywel Dda. He said: “I chose the SAS doctor pathway because of the opportunity to take on a senior, substantive clinical role while developing my experience and working towards the portfolio
pathway. At the same time, it allows me to deliver excellent patient care in my chosen field of expertise, haematology. “It provides a valuable combination of clinical responsibility, professional development and continuity. The SAS role can be a very positive and fulfilling career in its own right.” Dr Haldar also serves as an SAS Clinical Lead Advocate, helping colleagues explore opportunities for career progression, leadership
and further training. He said he took on the position to help ensure SAS doctors’ contribution and potential were recognised, while strengthening connections between doctors, medical staffing and education teams, and senior leaders. The health board is also highlighting the diversity of its SAS workforce, whose members bring a range of backgrounds, experiences and skills to patient care. Mark Henwood, Hywel Dda’s
Executive Medical Director, said: “Our SAS doctors are a highly valued and respected part of our medical workforce and make an outstanding contribution to patient care every day. Their expertise, commitment and leadership are essential to the delivery of highquality healthcare services across Hywel Dda.” He said SAS careers offered long-term opportunities to develop specialist skills, take on leadership responsibilities and contribute to education and innovation. The health board said it was committed to supporting doctors’ development through training, mentoring and opportunities for career progression. Hywel Dda is supporting All-Wales and British Medical Association activities during the awareness week to celebrate SAS doctors’ achievements and raise awareness of the career pathway. For information about SAS careers and current vacancies at Hywel Dda, email medical. recruitment.hdd@wales.nhs.uk.
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Health board acknowledged civil liability in Withybush death case, ruling reveals HYWEL DDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD acknowledged mistakes and civil liability in a letter to the family of a pensioner whose death followed avoidable pressure sores at Withybush Hospital, a coroner’s written ruling reveals. The document, supplied to The Herald on Monday (Oct 5), lists a letter dated November 15, 2024, among the evidence considered in the inquest into the death of Bernard Phillips. Senior coroner Gareth Lewis describes the letter as “acknowledging mistakes and a civil liability”. The Herald has not seen the original letter. The ruling does not reproduce its contents or provide details of any financial settlement. Mr Phillips, 92, died at Withybush General Hospital on April 29, 2024. The ruling, signed on September 30, 2026, records findings that the pressure damage he suffered was avoidable and that, on the balance of probabilities, his death would likely have been avoided without it. He arrived by ambulance following a fall at his care home on March 25, 2024, and waited outside the extremely
busy emergency department for about 12 hours. After being brought inside, he spent a prolonged period on a trolley without a pressure-relieving mattress. The coroner found that insufficient skin checks and inaccurate recording of a developing pressure sore contributed to a substantial suspected deep tissue injury. Problems with checks and recording continued after a senior sister documented the injury on March 27. Mr Phillips subsequently received appropriate care on Ward 12 and
initially improved while receiving antibiotics, but later died from sepsis. The evidence list also records an email his family sent to the health board raising concerns on April 2, 2024 — while he was still alive. The development follows The Herald’s earlier report that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales had identified pressure-damage concerns at Withybush months before his admission. Following an August 2023 inspection, HIW called for sustained action over falls and pressure incidents, including avoidable
cases. Inspectors also found that assessment and monitoring were generally satisfactory in the records they sampled. Their report was published in November 2023. The Herald has asked Hywel Dda what action followed those findings, why Mr Phillips was not provided with a pressure-relieving mattress, and what safeguards have since been introduced. Responding on Saturday, Sharon Daniel, the health board’s director of nursing, quality and patient experience, said: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family who continue to deal with their loss”. She said the board did not discuss individual patients to protect their privacy, acknowledged the coroner’s comments and sought to treat emergency department patients promptly and ensure they received appropriate care. The press office said it needed more time to answer the detailed questions because the enquiry had arrived at the weekend. The Herald is awaiting those answers.
Withybush warned over pressure injuries months before pensioner’s death WITHYBUSH Hospital’s emergency department had been told to tackle pressure-damage incidents months before Bernard Phillips was admitted and developed sores linked to his death. The 92-year-old died on April 29, 2024, after being taken to the Haverfordwest hospital following a fall at his care home. Pembrokeshire Coroner Gareth Lewis concluded that Mr Phillips developed sepsis as a result of avoidable pressure sores sustained during a prolonged delay in A&E. The Herald has examined an earlier Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report which identified numerous falls and pressure-damage incidents in the department, including avoidable incidents. Following an inspection in August 2023, the report was published on November 23 that year. It stated: “The health board must ensure that sustained actions are taken in response to the number of falls and pressure incidents.” The accompanying improvement plan listed monthly scrutiny meetings and displaying incident data to staff, with both actions carrying a November 30, 2023 deadline. Mr Phillips was admitted almost four months later. The published inquest account states that he arrived by ambulance on March 25, 2024, but remained outside
the hospital for approximately 12 hours because the emergency department was extremely busy. After entering A&E, he spent a prolonged period on a trolley without a pressure-relieving mattress. Insufficient skin checks were undertaken and a developing pressure sore on his sacrum was incorrectly recorded. The inquest reportedly heard that problems with checks and recording continued even after a senior sister documented a suspected deep tissue injury on March 27. Mr Phillips subsequently received appropriate care after being transferred to Ward 12. He was treated with antibiotics and initially improved, but later died. A postmortem recorded sepsis, aspiration pneumonia and sacral pressure sores among the causes of death, with frailty and chronic small
vessel cerebrovascular disease also recorded. Mr Lewis concluded, on the balance of probabilities, that the pressure damage was avoidable and that Mr Phillips’s death would likely have been avoided had it not developed. The earlier inspection also found the assessment and monitoring it sampled generally satisfactory and noted that incidents were reviewed. Its findings do not establish whether subsequent improvement measures were completed or effective. The Herald has asked Hywel Dda University Health Board whether the actions were completed on time and how their effectiveness was checked before Mr Phillips’s admission. The board has also been asked why he was not provided with a pressurerelieving mattress, what its investigation established about the assessment and
recording failures, and what safeguards now protect patients facing prolonged waits. Further questions seek figures for pressure injuries acquired in Withybush’s emergency department since April 2024 and confirmation of whether an apology was offered to Mr Phillips’s family. Responding to the Herald, Sharon Daniel, Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We do not comment on individual patients in order that we protect their privacy. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family who continue to deal with their loss and take on board the comments made by the Coroner. We always try to treat patients at our Emergency Department (A&E) as soon as possible and ensure they are on the correct pathway to receiving the care they need.” The health board said it needed more time to respond to the Herald’s detailed questions. Those questions include what action followed the 2023 inspection, why the failures identified at the inquest occurred, and what safeguards now protect patients facing prolonged waits. The Herald has requested the full Record of Inquest from the coroner’s office, together with confirmation of whether a Prevention of Future Deaths report was issued.
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Welsh Conservatives renew call to abolish Natural Resources Wales
decisions over where its existing responsibilities, staff and specialist expertise would be transferred. The Welsh Conservatives have not yet published full details of how a replacement system would operate or precisely how NRW’s functions would be divided. Mr Davies’ comments also raise a wider political question over whether environmental regulators should operate at arm’s length from ministers or be brought under greater direct political control.
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POLITICS
THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have renewed calls for Natural Resources Wales to be abolished and replaced with a different system of environmental regulation. Shadow Environment Minister Andrew RT Davies MS said the organisation was “unfit for purpose” and argued that its regulatory and commercial functions should no longer sit within the same body. His comments follow Conservative proposals in England to abolish Natural England and the Environment Agency and bring their functions under greater ministerial control. Mr Davies said Wales should take a similar approach. He said: “Natural Resources Wales is unfit for purpose – it must be closed and replaced. “Conservative colleagues in England have pledged to improve accountability by scrapping quangos and bringing their powers under direct ministerial control – our plans to replace NRW will follow this approach. “It is time to stop prioritising
the wishes of the third sector and start listening to those who feed our nation.” The intervention is likely to attract particular attention in Pembrokeshire, where NRW has faced sustained criticism over its regulation of the Withyhedge landfill site near Haverfordwest. Residents have repeatedly complained about odours associated with the site, while politicians and campaigners have questioned whether regulatory action has been sufficiently swift or effective. NRW has maintained that it has continued to investigate the site and use its regulatory powers, and recently approved a variation to the landfill’s environmental permit. However, the organisation’s responsibilities extend far beyond waste regulation. NRW is responsible for areas including flood risk management, forestry, pollution control, environmental permitting, protected habitats, water quality and the management of Wales’ natural resources. Supporters of the current model argue that bringing
those functions together allows decisions about land, water, wildlife and pollution to be considered in a more joined-up way. Critics, however, say the breadth of NRW’s remit can make accountability less clear when controversial regulatory decisions are made. Any decision to abolish the organisation would therefore amount to a major restructuring of environmental regulation in Wales and would require
Supporters of greater ministerial oversight argue elected politicians should be more directly accountable for regulatory decisions. Others are likely to argue that environmental enforcement requires a degree of independence from day-today political pressure and that breaking up a national regulator could create fragmentation between areas such as flooding, water quality, conservation and pollution control. The debate comes at a time when NRW is under pressure from several directions, including concerns over river pollution, flooding, agricultural regulation and controversial waste sites. In Pembrokeshire, the handling of Withyhedge is likely to remain central to scrutiny of the regulator’s performance. The Herald has approached Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government for their response to Mr Davies’ proposal and for their assessment of whether changes to NRW’s structure or accountability are needed.
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Tufnell vows to press for workers after Impala Milford Haven closure
MID and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell has said his immediate priority is the workforce and their families following confirmation that commercial operations at the Impala Milford Haven terminal are to end. Mr Tufnell said the terminal had played an important role in Pembrokeshire’s energy sector for many years, supporting skilled employment and contributing to the local economy. Impala has confirmed that commercial operations at its Milford Haven site are due to cease at the end of this year, with a redundancy consultation now under way. Responding to questions from The Pembrokeshire Herald, Mr Tufnell said: “I am very saddened by the news that Impala will be shutting down its commercial operations at its Milford Haven terminal from the end of this year. “For many years, the terminal has played a crucial role in our county’s energy sector, supporting skilled, wellpaid jobs and contributing to our local economy. “I understand that a
redundancy consultation is being carried out, and my immediate priority is the workforce and their families. “I will be following the process closely and engaging with the relevant parties to ensure employees are treated fairly and supported throughout.” The closure comes at a significant moment for Milford Haven, which remains one of the UK’s most important energy hubs but is also undergoing a major transition towards lowercarbon industries. Mr Tufnell said that transition must not come at the expense of existing jobs and energy infrastructure. “At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, it is vital that we protect our existing energy assets and strengthen our country’s energy security,” he said. “I remain focused on protecting the industries that have powered our country for decades, while securing investment, jobs and opportunities for the future.” The MP pointed to recent investment in cleaner energy projects in Pembrokeshire, including floating offshore wind
proposals in the Celtic Sea and work associated with the West Wales Hydrogen Plant at the Impala site. He said: “We have seen exciting developments in our clean energy sector recently, with Pembrokeshire being selected as a site for a major floating offshore wind project and construction beginning on the West Wales Hydrogen Plant on the Impala site in Milford Haven. “I will continue to fight for a just energy transition — one that creates new jobs and industries, while ensuring that communities like ours that have powered this country for generations are protected.” The closure has raised concerns over the future of skilled industrial employment in Milford Haven and the ability of emerging green-energy sectors to replace jobs being lost from more traditional operations. The Herald has asked Impala for further detail on the number of employees affected, the redundancy timetable and what support will be available to staff. Further updates will follow as the consultation progresses.
blue view
Paul Davies MS
Fuel costs: why the UK Government must help households and businesses in its Autumn budget As households and businesses across Wales grapple with mounting costs and are tightening their belts, the rise in fuel prices continues to put even more pressure on people across Wales. Last week in the Senedd, I raised this issue and called for a statement from the Welsh Government to explain what representations it has made to the UK Government on fuel duty ahead of the Autumn Budget. Now, whilst fuel duty falls outside the Senedd’s direct remit, the impact of rising fuel prices is being felt in every corner of Wales and so I felt that it was only right that the public was aware of the discussions taking place between governments and the support being made available to those most affected. Of course, my calls for a statement were ignored but the Welsh Government did acknowledge that rising fuel prices are having an impact across the country and they made it clear that there were live discussions taking place. Now, when I raised this in the Chamber, the average price of diesel had reached around £2 per litre, and the average price of petrol was around £1.74 per litre, according to RAC’s Fuel Watch. I made it clear that in constituencies like my own, many people had no choice but to drive to access essential services and I wanted the Welsh Government to recognise that people living in rural areas were disproportionately hit by
these fuel rises. Some residents have also made it clear to me that it’s not just the cost of petrol or diesel that they’re struggling with; it’s the cost of heating oil too. There are many homes in Ceredigion Penfro that are not connected to the mains gas network and instead rely on heating oil to keep their homes warm and provide hot water throughout the year. For many of these households, there is simply no practical alternative. Unfortunately, unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is not covered by Ofgem’s energy price cap and instead of spreading the cost evenly through monthly bills, households can face having to find hundreds of pounds at once to fill their tank. The people of Ceredigion Penfro want to see both governments working together to address the pressures created by rising fuel and energy costs. Ministers at both ends of the M4 must recognise the distinct challenges facing rural and off-grid households and businesses and ensure that they are not overlooked when developing support measures. In the meantime, I will continue to raise these concerns in the Senedd until we see meaningful action that delivers real support for households and businesses in our rural communities.
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Calls for greater support of Wales’ defence industry backed
With ANDREW LYE
One of my favourite political quotes is “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”, widely attributed to US President, Harry S. Truman, who apparently said it back in 1942. The meaning being that if you cannot handle pressure, stress or criticism, you should step away from the situation. This article was written following last weekend’s announcement that Cllr Joshua Beynon was resigning as a Pembrokeshire County Councillor after almost 10 years representing his Pembroke Dock ward. Cllr Beynon mentioned several reasons for doing so, with effect from 31st October. He seems to have “been awarded a fantastic new opportunity, the terms of which means (he) cannot continue as a councillor”. Sadly, our politics at a national and local level has seen an increase in hate and other forms of abuse, aimed at our politicians. Cllr Beynon commented in his resignation letter “While it is not the reason for my leaving, it would be remiss of me not to mention the increasing hostility of being a public figure in today’s climate. The role comes with personal attacks, death threats, abusive behaviour and a whole host of misinformation which continues to fester on social media. “This makes the job difficult for anyone and if we want people who look and come from backgrounds like us to represent us, we cannot continue down this path.” I have heard similar comments from a nonWelsh Liberal Democrat senior councillor. An active councillor
(non Cabinet member or Chair of a Committee) who does his/her Council duties for 37.5 hours a week is earning £2 an hour less than the Minimum Wage. The abuse on social media from keyboard warriors seems to be unstoppable. Often hiding behind a fictitious handle or a named account without a photo of themselves. They seem to think that gives them the nod to make nasty comments (including personal ones) or just make unsubstantiated claims such as “brown envelopes changing hands”. It’s not just political posts on social media that attracts the keyboard warriors. Uncalled for comments were made about the elderly man whose car got stuck on Tenby beach. In Disney’s film, Bambi, Thumper’s mother teaches him a lesson as a moral guideline for kindness and empathy, saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” The murders of Labour MP, Jo Cox, Tory MP Sir David Amess and Reform UK’s Ann Widdecombe show how toxic our democracy has become, especially since David Cameron announced the Brexit Referendum and how things have panned out since, along with the toxicity we see in the US under Trump. I finish with another quote from Cllr Beynon. “The rise of extremist political parties and the promise of easy solutions are not the answer to the problems we face in Pembrokeshire, Wales or the UK. If solutions were so easy, they would have been done. The reality is that people are being sold a universe that does not exist, with the scapegoating of others.”
If you have any issues or comments, please contact me at andrew.lye@pembslibdems.wales
A CALL from the Welsh Conservatives for greater support of Wales’ defence industry has been backed by Labour and Reform UK Senedd members. Darren Millar, the Tory leader in Wales, said the Welsh Government’s decision to pause investment until its new “ethical framework” was published, was causing “uncertainty” in the sector. He said: “How long are companies going to have to wait before they get a signal from you that Wales is still open for business? “How many projects have been affected by that pause so far? How many millions have been set to one side as a result of this pause?” He added: “Investors need certainty. Workers need certainty. But you’re creating uncertainty, and that’s bad for business.” Reform’s Jason O’Connell branded the ethical framework as “more unnecessary red tape”, and accused Plaid Cymru of putting ideology ahead of jobs. Labour leader Ken Skates told members Wales would be “so much poorer, not just so much weaker” without defence businesses.
Ella Groves
ICNN Senedd reporter
However Mr Skates described defence as “a means of protecting against aggression, against attack, against harm, and, crucially, against invasion”. He added: “We must never, never use our defence capabilities for aggressive intent, nor should we allow those who use what our defence sector produces and provides, whether it be intelligence, weapons, vehicles or kit.” Plaid Cymru MS Sarah Rees told members the ethical framework is about ensuring Wales is “never complicit” in human rights abuses. Ms Rees questioned the type of jobs members want to see in Wales, acknowledging the “consequences” local communities face from being home to military and industrial sites. She said: “Hosting facilities in Welsh communities inevitably ties the safety and everyday lives of civilian towns to international conflict. This is a reality that we can’t ignore. “Is it fair that some of our poorest communities are expected to shoulder those risks while being denied the
investment they need to thrive? “Is it fair that working-class people are presented with a choice between employment in the defence industry or economic insecurity? Is that really a choice at all?” Responding to the debate, enterprise minister Adam Price said the development of the ethical defence framework is because the Welsh Government does not see “economic ambition” and “ethical values” as contrary to one another. Having one would put Wales on an equal footing with the rest of the UK, he argued. He said: “Scotland has an ethical framework for the defence sector. The Northern Ireland Government has an ethical framework for the sector. The UK Government, as we heard from a Reform Member, has a framework.” Mr Price continued: “We can ensure that Welsh companies benefit from the opportunities that exist, but on a firm foundation that is consistent with the values that are so important to our democracy here in Wales.” Gaining cross-party support, from Labour and Reform, the Conservative motion was agreed by 45 votes to 43 on Wednesday September 30.
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Senedd Members reject Reform bid to scrap 20mph speed limits
SENEDD Members have rejected a Reform motion calling for the Welsh Government to scrap default 20mph speed limits. The proposal was defeated by 51 votes to 37 following a debate in the Siambr. Opening the debate, Reform’s shadow transport minister, Jason O’Connell, pointed to rising fatalities across the Welsh road network, noting that 91 people were killed on Welsh roads in 2025. Mr O’Connell accused Plaid Cymru of being “big on independence but silent on road safety” and said: “Plaid has been focused instead on breaking up the
Labour MS Vikki Howells
Ella Groves
ICNN Senedd reporter
United Kingdom, plotting with Sinn Féin and making us weaker as a result.” However, Labour’s Vikki Howells criticised Mr O’Connell’s comments, warning against misleading the Senedd by using total road deaths across all speed limits to judge urban zones. She pointed out that collisions on 20mph and 30mph roads fell by 300 between 2022 and last year. Deputy Transport Minister Mark Hooper defended the policy, stating the lower speed limits where pedestrians,
cyclists, and vehicles mix remain “fundamentally the right policy”. Mr Hooper confirmed there were 19 fatalities on 20mph roads during 2025. He highlighted that total casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads combined have fallen by 23% since the limit was introduced. He said his party is “committed to reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on Welsh roads”. Reform’s Wales leader Helen Jenner argued the policy had wasted public money, pointing to councils having to replace hundreds of signs only to reconsider and restore 30mph limits on specific routes.
Green Party MS Paul Rock
She said her party makes “no apology for standing up for common sense and saving public money” The Bangor Conwy Môn MS said when the default policy was introduced, local authorities were “required to make substantial changes across their road networks before many of those same roads were then reconsidered and, in some cases, changed back again”. She continued: “On Ynys Môn, nearly 700 road signs were replaced ahead of the introduction of the default limit. “The council then had to revisit a number of roads, consider 25 proposals to restore 30mph limits and ultimately approve 22 of them. “Is it any wonder our electors get so frustrated when public money is wasted in this way?” Conservative MS Janet FinchSaunders supported the Reform motion, reminding members her party had opposed the 20mph policy from the start. However, Green Party MS Paul Rock urged members to accept the scientific evidence, noting that a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at 30mph faces a 50% chance of severe injury, compared to 10% at 20mph. Mr Rock said by focusing on cost, “the fact that lower speeds reduce the risk of death and serious injury” is being lost. He concluded: “This debate ultimately comes down to this: whose freedom do we value in society? “Is a car journey that is, on average, less than a minute quicker really more important than the ability of a child to walk safely to school, an older person to cross the road with confidence, or a disabled person to travel independently through their community?”
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LETTERS & NOTICES
send your letters to: The editor, 11 hamilton terrace, milford haven, Pembrokeshire, sa73 3al email us at: editor@herald.email
Picture of the week!
The Pembrokeshire Coast. Pastels by Drew Buckley Photography
Losing the Scarlets would be a betrayal DEAR SIR,
I find it absolutely astonishing that the Welsh Rugby Union is seriously considering a future in which the Scarlets could disappear from professional rugby. For generations, rugby has been part of the fabric of life across West Wales. From the smallest village clubs in Pembrokeshire to the famous rugby fields of Llanelli, it is something that brings communities together and gives young players something to aspire to. Now we are being told that Welsh rugby can only afford three professional teams, with the Scarlets and Ospreys effectively being made to fight for survival. Why should West Wales be forced to sacrifice one of its teams while Cardiff and the Dragons appear to have a much clearer path to safety? I have nothing against the Ospreys or their supporters. They are just as passionate about their rugby as we are. But surely the answer to the financial problems facing Welsh rugby cannot simply be to destroy one of its most
important sporting institutions. The Scarlets represent far more than Llanelli. They have supporters throughout Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. They have developed players who have represented Wales and the British and Irish Lions, and they have given countless youngsters the inspiration to pick up a rugby ball. There is also the question of public money. With Carmarthenshire County Council having millions of pounds tied up in a loan to the Scarlets, taxpayers deserve to know what would happen if the club lost its professional licence. The WRU must explain why this is happening and why supporters should have confidence in its decisions. It seems to me that the people who have managed Welsh rugby into its present difficulties are now asking ordinary supporters and communities to pay the price. Once you destroy something with this much history, you cannot simply rebuild it a few years later when somebody decides they made a mistake. I would urge our local politicians, rugby clubs and supporters across Pembrokeshire to make their voices heard before it is too late. West Wales deserves proper representation in
professional rugby, and the Scarlets deserve a future. Johnny Lee, Milford Haven
Withyhedge residents deserve better DEAR SIR, How many times must the people of Pembrokeshire raise concerns about Withyhedge landfill before somebody in authority finally listens? I was disappointed, although sadly not surprised, to hear that Natural Resources Wales has approved changes to the environmental permit for the site. After everything that happened in 2024, you would think the authorities would understand why so many people have lost confidence in the way this matter has been handled. Residents were expected to put up with appalling smells, disruption to their everyday lives and genuine worries about the possible effects on their health. Families simply wanted to enjoy their homes and gardens without wondering when the next awful smell would arrive. Now we are being told about further changes and
improvements, but where is the accountability for what went wrong in the first place? I am not suggesting that landfill sites can simply disappear overnight. Waste has to go somewhere, and businesses must be allowed to operate within the law. But surely the rights of ordinary residents must count for something too. Natural Resources Wales is supposed to protect our environment, not merely regulate businesses on paper. If public confidence has been damaged, it is up to NRW to rebuild that trust through proper enforcement, openness and results that people can actually see — and smell. What concerns me most is the message this sends. If a community can endure months of problems and still feel that its concerns have not been properly addressed, what incentive is there for people to believe the system works? Pembrokeshire deserves better than another round of reassurances. The people living near Withyhedge are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for something most of us take for granted: clean air, peace of mind and the right to enjoy their own homes. That really should not be too much to ask. Jason Evans Pembrokeshire
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Death Notices
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Bill Billing
David Thomas Jenkins
Peacefully at home, on Friday 25th September 2026, Mr William Billing, affectionately known as Bill, of St. Martin’s Road, Monkton, Pembroke passed away after a long illness, aged 84 years. Loving and devoted husband to Virginia (Ginny). Dearly loved Dad to Gill, Jennie and Step-Dad to Mark and Carl. Respected Father-in-law to Stewy, Callum, Lisa and Louise. Treasured Grandad and Great Grandad Much loved Brother and Uncle. The funeral service will take place on Monday 19th October 2026 at Bethel Baptist Chapel, Pembroke Dock at 11.30am followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth at 1.00pm There will be family flowers only with donations in lieu, for the Paul Sartori Foundation c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH (01834) 831876 and
After a long illness, peacefully on Sunday 13th September 2026 at Ashdale Care Home, Pembroke, Mr. David Thomas Jenkins, affectionately known as ‘Dai’ of Lindsway Park, Haverfordwest and formerly of Fishguard and Goodwick. Dear Husband of Janet and Dad of Martin. The funeral service will take place on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH at 2:00pm Followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth at 3:15pm. There will be family flowers only with donations in lieu if desired for Ashdale Care Home, Pembroke c/o E. C. Thomas and Son, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH (01834) 831876 and 21 Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS (01646) 682680 Or via www. ecthomasandson.co.ukSeptethee lmsfuneraldirectors.co.uk/funeralnotices
Monkton, Pembroke (Formerly of Pembroke Dock)
Haverfordwest
21 Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS (01646) 682680 or via www. ecthomasandson.co.uk
Peggy Doreen Jones (née Davies) Sadly passed away on 16th September 2026, aged 106 years. She will be deeply missed by all her family and friends. Peggy’s funeral service will be
held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium on 10th October 2026 at 12:15pm. Family flowers only, please, but donations in Peggy’s memory to Wales Air Ambulance will be warmly received by The Elms Funeral Directors via www. theelmsfuneraldirectors.co.uk/ funeral-notices All enquiries to The Elms Funeral Directors Limited, 50 Baker Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 3AQ.
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Elfyn Evans finally
does it as Welshman becomes World Rally Champion ELFYN EVANS has finally done it. After years of coming agonisingly close, the man from Dolgellau has been crowned 2026 FIA World Rally Champion, becoming the first Welsh driver in history to claim motorsport’s premier rallying title. Evans and co-driver Scott Martin secured their maiden world crowns at Rally Italia Sardegna on Sunday (Oct 4) — but only after one of the most dramatic conclusions the World Rally Championship has witnessed. The title was decided on the final stage of the final rally, with Evans and Toyota team-mate Oliver Solberg effectively locked in a winner-takes-all shootout. After five previous runner-up finishes, this time the Welshman would not be denied.
SPORT
Years of heartbreak finally end
Few drivers have had to wait so long for a world title. Evans finished runner-up in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025, with his most recent disappointment coming when he missed out to Sébastien Ogier by just four points last season. There was no second-place finish in 2022, but throughout the following years Evans established himself as one of the championship’s most relentlessly consistent performers. Now the nearly-man tag can finally be discarded. Evans becomes the first British driver to win the WRC title since England’s Richard Burns in 2001 and follows Burns and Scotland’s Colin McRae as only the third British driver to lift the crown. For Welsh motorsport, however, he stands alone as the nation’s first World Rally Champion. Evans did not win the championship through outright domination. His success was built on consistency, patience and an ability to ensure difficult weekends never became disastrous ones. He opened the year with second place at MonteCarlo before taking victory on the snow of Rally Sweden, putting him into the early championship lead. After tougher outings in Kenya and Croatia, Evans finished second in the Canary Islands to return to the top of the standings — a position he would not surrender again. A podium in Portugal
was followed by his second victory of the year at Rally Japan, before the championship fight tightened considerably during the summer gravel events. Evans finished fifth in Greece and sixth in Estonia, returned to the podium in Finland and took fourth in Paraguay as Toyota teammates Sami Pajari and Solberg mounted their challenges. Pajari won three rallies in succession in Estonia, Finland and Paraguay, while Solberg’s late-season surge included victory in Chile. Evans nevertheless arrived in Sardinia on 230 points, 17 clear of Pajari and 21 ahead of Solberg. With the planned Saudi Arabia round removed from the calendar, Sardinia had unexpectedly become the season finale.
Title fight goes to the wire Leading the championship brought a major disadvantage on Sardinia’s loose gravel roads. Evans was forced to run first on Friday, sweeping loose gravel from the stages and creating a faster surface for those behind him. By the end of the day he had slipped to sixth, while Solberg sat third. The Swede attacked on Saturday, moved into the rally lead and transformed what had looked like a comfortable championship advantage into a knife-edge contest. Heading into Sunday, Evans remained fifth overall but his virtual championship lead had been cut to just six points. Then came the moment that threatened to undo everything. On the penultimate stage Evans suffered a puncture and was forced to stop and change the tyre, costing him almost two minutes. His hopes of collecting Super Sunday bonus points disappeared and his virtual championship advantage over Solberg was reduced to a single point. After a season stretching from Monte-Carlo in January to Sardinia in October, the World Rally Championship would come down to one final stage. Whoever was quicker — Evans or Solberg — would be world champion. Evans went first and pushed his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 to the limit, but at the finish he was far from convinced he had done enough. Solberg followed and was quicker through the split times. With the title seemingly slipping away from Evans, the 25-year-old appeared to be closing in on one of the most remarkable championship turnarounds in WRC history. Then, with just two
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corners remaining, everything changed. Solberg ran off the road. He recovered and reached the finish — remarkably still doing enough to win Rally Italia Sardegna itself — but the mistake cost crucial seconds. Solberg completed the Power Stage 8.9 seconds slower than Evans. The championship was over. **Elfyn Evans was World Rally Champion.** Evans eventually finished fifth in Sardinia, 4min 48.1sec behind rally winner Solberg, but ended the season on 243 points — five ahead of Solberg on 238 and six clear of Pajari on 237.
‘A championship to be proud of’ Even after years of waiting, Evans appeared almost unable to comprehend what he had achieved. “It’s still not really sinking in yet that we’ve managed to get the championship across the line after such a wild final day.” He admitted his own Power Stage had felt untidy and feared Solberg’s pace would prove enough, but was keen to stress that the championship had not been won simply because his rival made a mistake two corners from the finish. It had been earned across an entire season. “We didn’t only win it there, it was a whole year’s worth of work and I think it’s a championship to be proud of.” For once, after so many years of disappointment, there was no final heartbreak. Only relief. Evans’ triumph ranks among the greatest achievements by a Welsh motorsport competitor. From Dolgellau to the frozen forests of Sweden, the asphalt of Japan and finally the dust of Sardinia, he has spent years chasing a prize that repeatedly seemed determined to escape him. Five times he finished second. In 2020 he travelled to the final round as championship leader, only for his hopes to disappear when he slid off the road in snowy conditions at Monza. In 2025, just four points separated him from the title. Yet Evans kept coming back. And when the 2026 championship ultimately came down to one last stage — after another puncture, another setback and another seemingly impossible moment — he was still there. Elfyn Evans is no longer the man who nearly became World Rally Champion. **He is the World Rally Champion.** And for the first time in the history of the WRC, the world title belongs to Wales.
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Bluebirds pay moving tribute to club legend Kenny Ellis HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY AFC paid an emotional tribute to one of the great characters in the club’s history on Saturday, as players, officials and supporters observed a minute’s silence in memory of Kenny Ellis. The impeccably observed tribute took place at the Dynamite Bridge Meadow before the Bluebirds’ home match on Saturday (Oct 3). Kenny, a Life Member of Haverfordwest County, died at Withybush Hospital on September 23 after an association with the club stretching back more than 40 years. For generations of Bluebirds supporters, however, he was far more than another name on the committee. Kenny became one of the familiar faces of Haverfordwest County, travelling regularly to away matches, serving for many years on the club’s management committee and devoting a huge amount of time to raising money for the club.
across Wales would have fond memories of Kenny because once met, he was never forgotten.
‘A real club legend’
The Bluebirds Tote Perhaps his greatest legacy was the Bluebirds Tote. Kenny designed and managed the fundraising scheme for at least 20 years, spending his weeks walking around Haverfordwest and later travelling a circuit of pubs across Pembrokeshire selling tickets. In a tribute following his death, the club said Kenny probably raised almost £1 million during his time running the Tote. When the scheme finally came to an end in 2024, Haverfordwest County said well over £1 million had been collected over its
lifetime, with close to £700,000 paid back to winning players. The club credited Kenny’s tireless early work with making the Tote a major source of income.
never forgotten Kenny’s close friend and fellow Bluebirds stalwart Barry Vaughan remembered him as a natural comedian who could have an entire supporters’ bus roaring with laughter on away trips. He was also, Barry recalled with
affection, a terrible loser whenever his beloved Bluebirds were beaten — with Kenny’s misery often becoming part of the humour on the journey home. Kenny was also a loyal supporter of his nephew Mickey during his spell managing the club’s Pembrokeshire League side and took particular pride in watching the team win back-to-back promotions from Division Three to Division One, establishing what became a proper reserve side. Paying tribute, Barry said football people
That affection was evident again following Saturday’s minute’s silence. Supporters described Kenny as a “real club legend”, a “true friend and gentleman”, and thanked him for everything he had done for Haverfordwest County over the decades. Kenny’s health deteriorated seriously around a decade ago, bringing to an end much of the tireless work which had made him such a familiar figure around the town and at football grounds across Wales. But his place in the history of Haverfordwest County had long since been secured. For a club where volunteers and supporters have so often been responsible for keeping football alive in the county town, Kenny represented a generation of people prepared to give thousands of hours simply because the Bluebirds mattered to them. More than four decades of service, countless away journeys and a fundraising scheme that became a crucial part of the club’s finances amount to a remarkable legacy. On Saturday afternoon, for one quiet minute at the Bridge Meadow, Haverfordwest County remembered the man who had spent so much of his life supporting them. Rest in peace, Kenny.
Haverfordwest’s Luca named young sporting hero at national awards
PORTUGAL DOMINATE CYMRU
A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD from Haverfordwest whose love of sport has made him a familiar face at local matches has won a national award. Luca Morillo received the Young Sporting Hero award in the under-13 category at the Child of Wales Awards in Swansea on Friday (Oct 2). The honour recognises his enthusiasm for taking part in sport and supporting those around him, whether he is playing boccia, joining cricket sessions or cheering on his rugby favourites. Luca plays boccia with Crymych Panthers and takes part in disability cricket at Haverfordwest Cricket Club during the summer. He is also a mascot for the Pembrokeshire Vikings mixed-ability rugby team and enjoys match days with Fishguard and Goodwick RFC, cheering from the sidelines and joining teammates for sausage and chips afterwards. His award nomination describes the energy he brings to local sporting events and his determination to be involved whenever opportunities are available. “His love of sport, his determination to be involved, and his infectious enthusiasm inspire everyone around him,” it says. Luca was born at 25 weeks and spent the first five months of his life in hospital receiving intensive care. He lives with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and learning disabilities, and uses a wheelchair. His nomination highlights the importance of opportunities to participate, describing how he approaches adapted sports with enthusiasm and enjoys being part of a team. The Herald has previously reported
on Luca’s involvement with the Vikings, including a fixture against Fishguard and Goodwick at Wern Road. Luca was among young people and families honoured at the fifth anniversary of the Ascona Group Child of Wales Awards, held at Swansea Building Society Arena. Around 700 guests attended the
ceremony, hosted by BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones. Blanche Sainsbury, the awards’ founder and chief executive, said of the winners: “Their resilience, kindness, courage and determination are an inspiration to us all.” The Guile family, also from Pembrokeshire, received the Courageous
Family award. Pembrokeshire-based Ascona Group returned as headline sponsor for a second year. This year’s event is raising money for Wales Air Ambulance and mental health charity Big Moose. Main photograph: Luca Morillo at the Child of Wales Awards. Picture: Ross Grieve.
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Goals galore as Vikings prove too strong
Hakin United: 8 Pennar Robins: 1
Champions Hakin United showed they had too much fire power for Pennar Robins to cope with as Vikings’ birthday boy manager Scott Davies must have felt delighted at the final whistle with his team’s impressive eight-goal contribution at the Obs. As the score line suggests The Vikings dominated territory and goal scoring opportunities as they bagged four goals in each half. Skipper Ryan Wilson scored Hakin’s first two goals. He met Jordan Kilby’s pass to finish at the near post, then added a penalty. Pennar pulled one back through Ryan Sture, but for the remainder The Vikings dominated proceedings. The best individual goal of the game saw Craig Nicholson break and beat defenders from deep, before he drilled his effort in the far corner. Just before the break Liam Parks rounded keeper Ben Nunn for his side’s fourth. Shortly after the break Leon Luby’s free-kick sailed over Nunn for the fifth. On the hour mark The Vikings continued to press forward and were rewarded as Matthew Broome added the sixth with a clinical 20 yard finish in the bottom corner. Cameron Brunton struck the seventh with a well measured low finish and teenage substitute Dylan McGuire struck the eighth as he played a lovely one-two which gave him space to easily find the back of the net.
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Kingsbeer inspires Wizards to convincing victory Merlins Bridge: 4 Neyland: 0
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Adam Kingsbeer produced a commanding midfield display as Merlins Bridge swept aside Neyland 4-0 at the Welfare Ground. Kingsbeer scored twice and added an assist as Mike Preddy’s Wizards took full advantage of Goodwick United’s inactivity to move a point clear at the top of the table. The two leading sides are now set for a mouth-watering clash at Phoenix Park next weekend. Merlins Bridge made the perfect start, with Kingsbeer opening the scoring in style. The midfielder met the ball on the edge of the area and sent a sweetly-struck volley beyond Corey Riley and into the far corner. The Wizards doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark when skipper Jordan Thomas rose to head home from a Kingsbeer corner, giving the hosts a deserved 2-0 lead at the break. Gavin Rowlands’ Neyland side continued to battle and created several decent opportunities of their own, but Bridge goalkeeper James Dickson dealt comfortably with everything that came his way. Ten minutes into the second half, the hosts added a third with a moment of quick thinking. Josh Thomas caught the Nomads defence napping with a quickly-taken free-kick, releasing Arran Bacigalupo, who made no mistake from a tight angle. Kingsbeer then completed the scoring midway through the half. He drove at the Neyland defence, skipped beyond a number of challenges and calmly slotted home to round off an impressive afternoon for both himself and the Wizards.
Double sends Milford Athletic into second round Athletic overcome Penllergaer AFC 3–1 after a closely contested first-round tie MILFORD ATHLETIC booked their place in the second round of the West Wales Cup with two extra-time goals to see off Penllergaer AFC. The sides were level at 1–1 after 90 minutes, with a
competitive encounter requiring an additional half-hour to separate them. Athletic continued to push for a breakthrough and were rewarded with the two goals that settled the tie, securing a 3–1 victory and a place in the next round. Celebrating the result, the club praised their players’
persistence while paying tribute to the opposition. “A huge amount of credit to Penllergaer AFC for the game they gave us,” the club said. “It was a proper cup battle from start to finish, and we wish them all the very best for the rest of the season.”
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Pembrokeshire captain leads Cymru towards World Cup dream
ALBANIA v CYMRU Friday, October 9, 5pm.
CYMRU Women turn their attention to the biggest prize in international football on Friday evening as Rhian Wilkinson’s side begin a potentially historic World Cup play-off campaign away to Albania — led by Pembrokeshire’s own Angharad James. The Cymru captain has travelled a remarkable road from playing her early football with Clarbeston Road to leading her country on the international stage. James, who hails from Haverfordwest, became the first woman to captain Cymru at a major tournament at EURO 2025 and will now hope to lead her country to a first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup. A year after Cymru finally broke through to make their first appearance at a major championship, the challenge now is to make history all over again. The journey continues at the Loro Boriçi Stadium in Shkodër on Friday (Oct 9), where Cymru face Albania in the first leg of their opening play-off tie, with the return fixture taking place at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Tuesday (Oct 13). Friday’s match kicks off at 5pm UK time, before the sides meet again in west Wales four days later.
Unbeaten Cymru carry momentum There is every reason for Wilkinson’s side to approach the tie with confidence. Cymru came through the six-match league phase unbeaten, winning four and drawing two to finish top of Group B1 with 14 points, scoring 17 goals along the way and securing first place with an impressive 3-1 victory over Czechia at Cardiff City Stadium. It continued the momentum generated by last summer’s EURO 2025 finals in Switzerland, where Cymru competed at a major women’s tournament for the first time. Although their debut ended at the group stage, simply reaching the finals represented the breaking of a barrier which generations of Cymru players had been unable to overcome. Now Wilkinson’s squad have another piece of history firmly in their sights. There should also be few surprises when Cymru and
Albania meet on Friday. The nations were in the same qualifying group and Cymru won both previous meetings without conceding a goal. A commanding 4-0 victory in Wrexham was followed by a considerably tighter 1-0 success in Albania, when Rhiannon Roberts scored the decisive goal. That second meeting should ensure there is no danger of Cymru underestimating their opponents. Albania proved difficult to break down on home soil and knockout football brings a very different pressure from the six-game group campaign. Over two legs, a mistake or moment of inspiration can completely change a tie, although Cymru travel knowing they have already demonstrated they can beat Albania both home and away.
PembS captain at the heart of it For football supporters in Pembrokeshire, there is an added reason to follow Cymru’s World Cup campaign. Captain Angharad James has never lost her connection with the county where her football story began. James hails from Haverfordwest and started playing with Clarbeston Road FC before leaving Pembrokeshire at a young age to pursue the possibility of a professional career. That journey has since taken her through the English game and across the Atlantic to the United States, while she has become one of Cymru’s most experienced internationals. She was permanently appointed Cymru captain in October 2024 and went on to make history the following summer as the first woman to lead the nation at a major championship. From Clarbeston Road to potentially leading Cymru at a World Cup, it is a remarkable journey — and one which is not finished yet. Preparations for the play-offs have not been completely straightforward, with Wilkinson having to contend with a number of absentees. Hayley Ladd, Ceri Holland, Mia Ross, Ffion Morgan, Laura Hughes, Ella Powell and goalkeeper Olivia Clark are unavailable, meaning Cymru
enter the tie without several established internationals. Six uncapped players have consequently been brought into the squad, creating an opportunity for a younger generation to make its mark at a crucial stage of the campaign. But there is still significant experience around the group, with James joined by the likes of Sophie Ingle, Rhiannon Roberts and Rachel Rowe, all of whom know just how difficult qualification for a major finals can be.
Four matches from history On everything seen during qualifying, Cymru should travel to Albania believing they are capable of taking control of the tie. They finished above Friday’s opponents in the group, defeated them twice and enter the play-offs unbeaten, but Wilkinson will know there is no requirement to settle the contest in the opening 90 minutes. A disciplined performance and positive result in Shkodër would leave Cymru with the opportunity to complete the job at Parc y Scarlets on Tuesday night. The expectation will be for Cymru to negotiate this opening hurdle, but the challenge will become considerably more demanding if they advance. The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil, and Cymru are attempting to reach the tournament for the first time. That opportunity would once have appeared a distant dream. Now it could be just four matches away. Qualification for EURO 2025 changed perceptions of what this Cymru team could achieve. It ended decades of near misses and gave the players experience of performing on one of football’s biggest stages. World Cup qualification would take that progress another enormous step forward. And in Pembrokeshire there will be particular pride if the player eventually leading Cymru out in Brazil is the same one who began her football journey on the pitches of Clarbeston Road.
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SPORT
Pembrokeshire captain leads Cymru towards World Cup dream