The Pembrokeshire Herald 29/05/2026

Police investigate ‘arson’ after vehicle fire spreads

A VEHICLE is believed to have been deliberately set alight during an alleged arson in Pembroke in the early hours of this morning.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the incident happened on the corner of Bridgend Terrace and South Road, near Monkton, on Thursday (May 28).

The fire spread from the vehicle and caused damage to a nearby property, but nobody was injured.

Images from the scene show flames and thick smoke rising from the area outside a garage building. Police were later seen at the junction, where the area had been cordoned off.

Officers are now appealing for information as part of their investigation.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police is investigating an alleged arson that occurred on the corner of Bridgend Terrace and South Road, Pembroke, near Monkton, in the early hours of this morning.

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“A vehicle is believed to have been set alight. The resulting fire spread and caused damage to a nearby property. Nobody was injured during the incident.”

Bulldog left permanently blind after prolonged neglect

A BULLDOG was left permanently blind after suffering prolonged neglect by its owner, a court has heard.

George suffered substantial levels of suffering between July 12 and December 20, 2025, after his owner, Michael McGartland, failed to seek prompt veterinary treatment despite the animal’s significant decline.

McGartland, 70, of The Woodlands, Lower Level, Kilgetty, appeared before

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

District Judge Mark Layton said the seriousness of the offence meant an all-options probation report would be required before sentence.

McGartland will be sentenced on June 23.

He was released on unconditional bail.

Anyone with information that could help officers is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police. uk, or by calling 101.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppersuk.org.

Quote reference: 26*421962.

Event praised after medical emergency

PEMBROKE DOCK Town Council has thanked residents, performers, volunteers, security staff and police after a busy day at Memorial Park, which included a medical emergency.

In a social media post late on Sunday (May 24), the council praised those involved in helping keep the public safe and thanked Dyfed-Powys Police and security staff for their response.

The council also issued a blunt reminder to members of the public to move away from emergency scenes when asked, saying staff had faced difficulties while responding to the incident.

The event featured live music, entertainment and a classic car display, with organisers describing it as a “glorious day” enjoyed by the community.

No details have yet been released about the condition of the person involved in the medical emergency.

Man sent to Crown accused of 33 historic sexual offences

A CARMARTHENSHIRE man has appeared in court accused of 33 historic sexual offences, including rape, sexual assault and child sex offences.

Paul Summerfield, aged 65, of Morfa Maen, Kidwelly, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 28).

The charges include allegations of indecent assault on boys under 14 and under 16, sexual assault on males, engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with boys, and rape of a man aged 16 or over.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 2000 and 2019, with most linked to the Llandysul area. One

allegation of rape relates to an alleged incident in Burry Port between November and December 2019.

The complainants are granted lifelong anonymity under the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992.

The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court, where Summerfield is due to appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Monday, June 29.

He was granted conditional bail. Conditions include that he must live and sleep each night at his home address and must not contact any prosecution witnesses, either directly or indirectly.

Man banned from contacting MP after court appearance

A CARMARTHENSHIRE man has appeared in court accused of harassment offences and has been banned from contacting a Welsh MP as part of strict bail conditions.

Nathan Townsend appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 28).

The court heard allegations relating to communications and online activity.

As part of conditional bail, Townsend was ordered not to contact Labour MP Nia Griffith directly or indirectly and was also prohibited from posting material relating to the case on social media.

The case was adjourned for a future hearing.

Townsend was warned that any breach of his bail conditions could result in his arrest and remand in custody.

Man accused of police station bomb hoax remanded

A MAN has been remanded in custody after appearing in court accused of making a bomb hoax threat involving Llanelli Police Station.

Anthony Mold appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 28) charged with communicating false information with intent to induce a false belief that a bomb was present.

The court heard the allegation relates to an incident in Llanelli on Tuesday (May 26), during which Mold

allegedly contacted the Dyfed-Powys Police Force Control Room claiming a bomb was on his person and that he intended to detonate it at Dafen Police Station.

Mold is also charged with assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty, criminal damage to a police vehicle, and breaching a Community Protection Notice by allegedly drinking alcohol in a public place in breach of restrictions imposed upon him.The assault allegation

relates to PC 1378 Moore, who police say was assaulted in Llanelli on May 26.

A separate charge alleges damage was caused to a Dyfed-Powys Police vehicle.

The court remanded Mold in custody. Magistrates were told concerns included the likelihood of further offending and the seriousness of the allegations.

The case was adjourned to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court for a further hearing on Thursday, June 18, ahead of sentencing proceedings listed for Monday, June 29.

MS patients facing six-hour NHS round trips as Wales care crisis laid bare

PATIENTS living with multiple sclerosis in Wales are facing round trips of up to six hours for specialist care, with some treatment decisions being shaped by travel difficulties rather than clinical need, a major new report has warned.

The report, published ahead of World MS Day on Saturday (May 30), says services across Wales are under growing pressure, with shortages of specialist staff, long waits for mental health support and major differences in access to treatment depending on where patients live.

MS Society Cymru and Merck say urgent action is needed to ensure people with MS can access consistent, timely care closer to home.

Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition affecting the central nervous system. It can cause symptoms including blurred vision, fatigue, pain, mobility problems and difficulties with balance and movement.

More than 6,900 people in Wales are living with MS, with prevalence reported to have risen by 13% since 2019.

RURAL PATIENTS HIT HARDEST

The report found that geography is having a major impact on patient care.

Some people, particularly in rural areas, face round trips of up to six hours to access specialist MS appointments. The report also found that some patients had changed treatment options because of long travel times, rather than choosing treatment based on their individual medical need.

The findings will raise particular concern in west Wales, where patients have long faced concerns over access to specialist NHS services and the distance many people must travel for hospital care.

In Hywel Dda, which covers Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, the report estimates that 749 people are living with MS, while

investigators reported a caseload of 891.

The report says Hywel Dda provision includes 1.3 whole-time equivalent consultants and 2.2 MS nurses, with key workforce gaps identified in neuropsychology, Advanced MS Champion support and MS occupational therapy.

Hywel Dda patients are among those who rely on specialist MS services provided through Swansea Bay, adding to concerns about whether people in rural west Wales can access the same level of care as those living closer to major specialist centres.

In Mid Wales, the report says patients are often split between multiple Welsh and English providers, making coordination, accountability and safety monitoring more difficult.

STAff SHORTAGES

The report warns that the MS workforce in Wales is already stretched.

It found there are 11.1 whole-time equivalent consultant neurologists with a specialist interest in MS and 16.2 wholetime equivalent MS nurses responsible for a reported caseload of 6,643 patients.

MS nurses are handling an average of 410 patients each, around 30% above the recommended sustainable level of 315.

The report also warns of a looming succession problem, with seven consultant neurologists and eight MS nurses across Wales approaching retirement in the next five years.

It says the lack of a replacement pipeline risks worsening an already fragile service.

NORTH WALES WORST AffECTED

According to the report, North Wales

Shelley Elgin, Director for Wales at MS Society Cymru, said: “MS can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable. People with MS in Wales should not have to plan their health around geography, yet this report shows some patients face up to a six-hour round trip just to access the care they need.

“Right now, the neurology workforce in Wales is overstretched and the lack of succession planning is a ticking time bomb. We also have huge concerns about the lack of MS-specific psychological support and home visit services, which are leaving people with MS feeling isolated and unsupported.

“We need urgent, coordinated action to address these inequalities, support the Welsh MS community, and tackle this crisis now.”

Professor Neil Robertson, Professor of Clinical Neurology at Cardiff University, said MS care had advanced dramatically over the last two decades, but access to specialist services remained uneven.

has the lowest MS consultant availability, the highest MS specialist nurse caseloads and the lowest access to the most effective treatments for new patients.

In some parts of Wales, more than 70% of newly diagnosed patients have access to higher-efficacy disease-modifying treatments. In other areas, access falls as low as 16%.

North Wales patients are particularly reliant on services delivered through the Walton Centre in Liverpool, meaning some people must cross the border for specialist care.

The report says this creates further barriers for patients who are already dealing with fatigue, mobility problems and other symptoms linked to MS.

MENTAL HEALTH GAP

The report also raises serious concerns about mental health support.

Patients can face waits of more than 12 months for neuropsychology support, and only patients in Cardiff and Vale and Cwm Taf have access to MS-specific neuropsychologists.

The report says almost all people living with MS in Wales have difficulty accessing MS-specific psychological support.

It warns that depression rates are two to three times higher among people with MS than in the general population, making the lack of specialist support especially concerning.

Home support is also limited. Only three health boards were found to have a functioning home visit service, despite many MS patients experiencing mobility problems or being unable to drive.

The report says limited public transport in rural areas makes access even harder, with some patients unable to attend appointments without a car.

‘TICKING TIME BOMB’

He said: “As a neurologist, I have seen how dramatically MS care has advanced in the last two decades — but I have also seen how uneven access can be to specialist services, and how workforce constraints and geography can get in the way of the care people need.

“This mapping paper gives Wales a clear blueprint: where services are strong, where the gaps are, and how we can work together to build a more equitable, sustainable MS service for patients and families.”

Stuart Nixon MBE, an MS Society ambassador living with MS, said services in Wales needed help now to avoid a worsening crisis.

He said: “With consultant numbers half that of the UK as a whole, and MS nurses with a third more patients than other nations, access to medical specialists is poor.

“Given the present lack of adequate succession planning, this situation could become catastrophic very soon. MS services in Wales need help now to avoid this.”

CALL fOR ACTION

MS Society Cymru and the report authors are calling for stronger specialist MS services in Mid Wales, a betterresourced specialist centre in North Wales, improved workforce planning, better digital systems and more consistent access to care closer to home.

They also want minimum staffing requirements for specialist MS professionals, standardised policies for annual reviews and better planning to replace retiring consultants and nurses.

The report says that without coordinated action, the workforce crisis and service gaps will worsen, potentially compromising care quality and patient outcomes across Wales.

The Herald has asked the Welsh Government and Hywel Dda University Health Board for comment.

Pembroke Dock Market Ward by-election confirmed

A BY-ELECTION is set to be held in Pembroke Dock Market Ward following confirmation that the required requests have been received to fill a vacancy on Pembrokeshire County Council.

The poll, if contested, will take place on Thursday, July 9.

The Notice of Election is due to be published on Thursday, June 4, with nominations open between 10:00am and 4:00pm from June 4 to June 12.

The count will take place on the morning of Friday, July 10.

Pembrokeshire County Council Chief Executive, William Bramble

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CBE, confirmed the timetable in an email to county councillors.

He said further details about the nomination process would be included in the Notice of Election, which will be made available on the council’s website.

Anyone requiring further information has been advised to contact Sian Waters, Electoral Services Manager, by emailing sian. waters@pembrokeshire.gov.uk or calling 01437 775714.

Davies calls for NHS foreign language interpreters to be scrapped

ANDREW RT DAVIES has called for taxpayer-funded foreign language interpreters in the Welsh NHS to be scrapped, claiming the service encourages “health tourism”.

The Conservative Senedd member made the comments after receiving a written answer from Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor, who confirmed the Welsh Government supports providing translation services for patients who need to communicate

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with NHS staff in foreign languages.

Mr ap Gwynfor said the policy was intended to ensure the communication and information needs of patients and service users are met consistently, including for those whose preferred language is not English or Welsh.

But Mr Davies said the position showed “where Plaid Cymru

separatists’ priorities lie”.

He said: “Plaid Cymru separatists should not be funding foreign translation services in our NHS.

“To stamp out health tourism, these interpreters must be scrapped.

“Any other legislation that prevents them from being scrapped has to go too.”

The issue is likely to provoke debate, with supporters of translation services arguing they are essential for patient safety, consent, diagnosis and treatment, while critics say public funds should not be used for non-English or non-Welsh language support in the NHS.

The written question was tabled for answer on Thursday (May 28).

The Welsh Government’s answer referred to the All Wales Communication and Information Standards for Healthcare, which are designed to ensure patients can understand and be understood when accessing care.

Hundreds attend major Diocese of St Davids gathering

HUNDREDS of people gathered at Carmarthenshire Showground for a major Diocese of St Davids event celebrating worship, community and Christian mission.

The Agored i Dduw – Open to God event brought together clergy, church members, families and visitors from across the diocese, which covers Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

The event included worship, music, teaching, prayer, children’s activities and presentations, with a large stage, big screens and a programme designed to bring people together from churches

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across West Wales.

Photographs from the day show a packed venue, with clergy in robes, Bishop Dorrien Davies leading worship, and families taking part in activities throughout the day.

The Diocese said it was grateful to everyone who attended, describing the event as “a joy” and thanking those who helped make the gathering possible.

The event formed part of the Diocese’s continuing focus on mission — spreading the word of God in the

community through worship, outreach, fellowship and service.

Those attending were encouraged to look beyond the walls of their own churches and consider how the Christian message can be shared more widely in local towns, villages and communities.

The bilingual title, Agored i Dduw – Open to God, reflected the Church in Wales’ aim of being open to faith, community and renewal.

The gathering also highlighted the continuing role of churches in rural and coastal communities across West Wales, where congregations often

SUMMER. COOL WARM IN WINTER.

support local events, pastoral care, youth work, foodbanks, community groups and services for families and older people.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of St Davids said: “Our sincere thanks go out to everyone who attended the Agored i Dduw – Open to God event; it was a joy to see so many familiar and new faces there.”

The event follows similar diocesan gatherings in recent years and is part of a wider effort to encourage churches to grow in confidence, welcome new people and take a more active role in community life.

Multi-agency rescue after child falls on rocks while coasteering

A CHILD was rescued from rocks near Lydstep after falling around four metres during an organised coasteering session.

Both Tenby lifeboats were launched shortly before 4:00pm on Thursday (May 28) after the Coastguard received a 999 call reporting that the child had fallen onto rocks at Church Doors.

The volunteer crews made best speed to the scene, around 3.8 miles west of Tenby. Once there, the inshore lifeboat went in close to the rocks while the all-weather lifeboat stood off.

The child was found lying on the rocks with his parents, who had also been taking part in the session. He was conscious but complaining of back pain.

A rescue helicopter was requested, but with the tide coming in quickly and the aircraft travelling from Newquay in Cornwall, crews feared the child could be submerged before it arrived.

A stretcher and additional crew members were transferred from the all-weather lifeboat to the rocks, where they were joined by Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team.

The child was immobilised, placed on the stretcher, and taken with his parents to the safety of the larger lifeboat to await the helicopter.

The Coastguard helicopter arrived a short time later and lowered a paramedic onto the lifeboat to assess him. It was then decided the child would be more comfortable remaining aboard the lifeboat, with the paramedic accompanying him

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back to Tenby.

A Welsh Ambulance Services

University NHS Trust ambulance was waiting at Tenby, and the child was handed over for onward treatment.

The Coastguard paramedic was then taken to Greenhill School, where the helicopter was waiting to return to Newquay.

A Tenby RNLI spokesperson said:

“The child was taking part in a wellorganised coasteering session and was wearing a wetsuit, buoyancy aid

and, crucially, a helmet, which likely saved him from more serious injuries.

“The RNLI recommends that when going coasteering, you always try to use a recognised National Coasteering Charter provider, as these provide all the necessary safety gear and guidance.”

Boy, 13, arrested after child seriously injured in rugby club fire

A 13-YEAR-OLD boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and arson after a fire at a Carmarthenshire rugby club left an 11-year-old boy seriously injured.

The blaze happened at Trimsaran RFC on Saturday afternoon, when a storage container used to keep equipment at the club’s ground was allegedly set alight deliberately.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the younger boy became trapped inside the burning container and had to be rescued by club members.

He was taken to Morriston Hospital with serious injuries, where he remains in a stable condition.

Police have confirmed that a 13-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and arson.

The investigation is ongoing.

Suspended prison sentence for man who left dogs without vet care

CEREDIGION man Rhys Ebenezer has been handed a suspended prison sentence after leaving three dogs without veterinary treatment, including one animal found to have been in chronic pain for at least two weeks.

Ebenezer, 27, of Llangeitho, Tregaron, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21), where he was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also banned from keeping all animals for 10 years and ordered to pay £6,410.92 in costs, along with a £154 victim surcharge.

Ebenezer had previously admitted four offences under the Animal Welfare Act relating to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the needs of three dogs.

The court also imposed a six-month curfew order, 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and a 12-month restriction on travelling abroad.

RSPCA officers were called to a property in Llangeitho on September 29, 2025, following reports that injured dogs were being kept in kennels.

When Animal Rescue Officers Holly Brown and Darryl Thomas arrived, they became concerned about two Patterdale terriers, four-year-old Charlie and two-year-old Twig.

In her witness statement, ARO Brown said: “Twig was curled up in her bed and appeared very lethargic and subdued. I observed a large blue bandage on her front right leg.”

She said she was told Twig had been involved in a fight with another dog, Champ, who was at the vets with Ebenezer, and that the animals had injured each other fighting through the

bars of the kennels.

ARO Brown said Charlie appeared “bright, alert and active” but was underweight, with his ribs easily visible and his waist “very sucked in”.

She added: “I observed that Charlie was covered all over his body in scars and healing wounds in different stages of healing. Some appeared much more recent and others appeared healed.”

A vet who assessed Charlie estimated some of the wounds on his legs were around two weeks old, while others were around a week old. The vet said the injuries were “inconsistent” with Ebenezer’s explanation that the

scarring had been caused by ratting. Ebenezer told officers that Champ had been put to sleep and buried at his property.

ARO Thomas said Ebenezer took officers to a “remote field on the top of a mountain”, where an excavator was used to dig up Champ’s body.

In his witness statement, ARO Thomas said: “Using torches, the officers examined the deceased dog and I could see that this dog had what I would describe as a de-gloving injury to both sides of its lower jaw, and a chunk of its nose was missing.”

A vet who examined Champ’s body

found injuries to his chin, nostril and ear. The severe chin injury was assessed as having happened at least two weeks before the dog was euthanised and would have caused “chronic pain and discomfort”.

The vet added: “It is my expert opinion that clearly all three dogs — Twig, Charlie and Champ — were caused to suffer as a consequence of the injuries that they had sustained.”

In mitigation, the court heard that Ebenezer had worked with animals and was highly thought of by his employer. He was also given credit for his early guilty pleas.

Dennison code breach raises serious questions

Standards Committee finds Milford Haven councillor breached code despite claims he only helped another councillor complete paperwork

A PEMBROKESHIRE councillor has been found to have breached the Members’ Code of Conduct in a case which raises serious questions about proportionality, common sense, and the way standards complaints are pursued at County Hall.

Cllr Alan Dennison was found in breach by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Standards Committee on Tuesday (May 26) following a hearing into his involvement in a planning referral linked to Milford Haven businessman Lee Bridges.

The committee found that Cllr Dennison had no dispensation from the Standards Committee and had made a written representation in relation to the matter.

But the evidence heard during the hearing painted a far more nuanced picture than a simple case of a councillor using his position to influence a planning decision.

The central issue was a planning referral form relating to Mr Bridges’ business at the former Masonic Hall, also known commercially as the Imperial Hall, in Milford Haven.

Cllr Dennison’s case was that he did not act for Mr Bridges at all. He said he signed the document “pp” on behalf of Cllr Terry Davies, the elected local member, who was entitled to request that the matter be referred to committee.

“If Terry Davies had signed it himself, we would not be here today,” Cllr Dennison told the hearing.

He said the document belonged to Cllr Davies, not to him, and repeatedly argued that he should not have been before the committee.

“I rest that the document was signed for Terry Davies, and that I should not be sat here,” he said.

Mr Bridges supported that account. In a statement, he said the matter stemmed entirely from his request for Cllr Terry Davies to submit an appeal in his capacity as the elected member for the ward where the business is located.

He said Cllr Davies had been unable to complete the required paperwork within the allotted timeframe due to family circumstances and had sought assistance from Cllr Dennison, a fellow member of the same democratic group.

Mr Bridges said: “Councillor Dennison simply assisted in completing the paperwork and signed it on behalf of Councillor Davis with his authority.

“At no stage did Councillor Dennison have any involvement whatsoever in the decision-making process relating to the outcome of the matter in question. Consequently, there was no declarable interest requiring disclosure.”

That point goes to the heart of the

Cllr Hugh Murphy also gave evidence supporting Cllr Dennison’s position.

might have adopted that procedure,” he said.

He added that no officer had made him aware of that aspect of the planning delegation policy, which he said “might be a matter of regret.”

That exchange may prove one of the most important of the hearing. If a formal route existed for another councillor to act, why was that route not clearly pointed out at the time? And if officers accepted the form as submitted, is it fair to later treat the method of submission as a standards breach?

Cllr Dennison repeatedly complained that his corrections to the factual account had not been properly taken into account.

“No one is listening to my corrections,” he told the hearing.

controversy.

Cllr Dennison did not vote on the planning application. He did not sit on the committee deciding the outcome. He did not, on the evidence heard, have power to determine the application. His role, according to his case and Mr Bridges’ evidence, was limited to helping another councillor complete paperwork.

The Ombudsman’s case focused on Cllr Dennison’s links to Mr Bridges. The committee heard that he had previously provided a private loan to Mr Bridges’ business during Covid, which was later repaid; had briefly been recorded as a non-executive director; had gone on holiday to Mexico with Mr Bridges and their wives; and that Mr Bridges’ wife is godmother to Cllr Dennison’s grandson.

Mr Bridges accepted he and Cllr Dennison remained friends, but said he had not known him before taking on the lease of the premises.

He also stressed that Cllr Dennison had never been a shareholder, employee, or paid officer of his business.

“For transparency, I want it to be crystal clear,” Mr Bridges said. “I can confirm I am the sole and only shareholder of the business, and always have been.

“Councillor Dennison has never been a shareholder or an employee. He has never received any salary payments, dividends, or any other financial remuneration from the business at any time whatsoever.”

He said Cllr Dennison’s non-executive directorship had been temporary and linked to the Covid-era loan, which was repaid.

Mr Bridges said he felt “very aggrieved” for Cllr Dennison and believed he had been placed in this position for helping a fellow councillor who was unable to complete his responsibilities at the time.

He said: “I hold the belief that Mr Dennison is correct. If you sign a document pp, the owner of that document is in the name of the person, it is not Councillor Dennison.”

Cllr Murphy said his understanding was that only the local member could submit the planning delegation application, and that the local member in this case was Cllr Terry Davies.

He also questioned the circumstances in which Cllr Dennison spoke at a planning meeting, saying it had been “the chair’s decision to ask him to speak” and adding that he believed “the chair acted in error.”

Cllr Murphy also raised concerns about the way the case had been framed, saying the Ombudsman’s report made “great play” of the close personal relationship between Cllr Dennison and Mr Bridges.

He suggested the wider background involved political objections raised by other councillors. Cllr Dennison himself referred during the hearing to objections raised by Cllr Jacob Williams and the late Cllr Mike Stoddart, saying: “This is why we are here.”

Mr Stoddart was no political ally of Mr Bridges, who had stood against him in a recent council election.

Under questioning from David Gardner, appearing for the Ombudsman, Cllr Murphy was referred to a section of council procedure which provides for a deputy local member to be designated where a councillor is prevented from seeking a referral because of a personal and prejudicial interest or prolonged absence.

Cllr Murphy said he had not been advised that such a procedure was available.

“If a legal expert who knows the constitution informed me, then yes, we

At one point, he challenged the way the Ombudsman’s report described the building, saying the historic building was the Masonic Hall and that Imperial Hall was Mr Bridges’ trading name. The chair suggested the distinction was “semantics”, while the barrister said the impact was minimal.

Cllr Dennison responded that not taking his views into account was “not minimal”.

The committee ultimately found a breach on the basis that he had no dispensation and had made a written representation.

That is the formal finding.

But the wider public interest question remains whether this was a proportionate use of the standards regime.

On the evidence heard, this was not a case of a councillor voting in secret, making a planning decision for a friend, or financially benefiting from an outcome. It was a case about a councillor helping another councillor complete a form — a form the council accepted — in circumstances where the final decision would still rest with the proper planning process.

Mr Bridges described the case as “deeply concerning” and said it appeared to be “being used as part of what can only be perceived as a personal campaign against Councillor Dennison, seemingly designed to damage his reputation rather than address any genuine procedural wrongdoing.”

He also criticised the wider handling of the planning issue, saying it had been characterised by “excessive bureaucracy, inconsistency” and concerns about “transparency and fairness within County Hall.”

The committee decided to suspend Cllr Dennison as a councillor for a period of four months.This sanction will not kick in until the end of any potential appeal process.

XL Bully dog allowed home after court case

A WELL-BEHAVED XL Bully type dog has been allowed to return to its owner after being seized by police earlier this year.

Pablo was found inside a property in Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, during an unrelated police visit in November 2025.

Officers believed the dog’s markings and features meant he was an XL Bully type dog. Since February 2024, it has been illegal to possess or have custody of such a dog unless a valid certificate of exemption is in place and the owner complies with its conditions.

A warrant was later obtained under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and Pablo was removed from his owner, Cameron Jeffrey, in January.

Since then, the dog has been kept in police kennels at a cost of £2,693.84.

“The dog is not a danger to the public and is of very good temperament,” an RSPCA representative told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

That was supported by Jeffrey’s solicitor, Tom Lloyd, who said Pablo had never shown any signs of aggression.

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“He went willingly to the police vehicle, he’s friendly and he’s willing to interact,” said Mr Lloyd. “There have been no issues whatsoever whilst the dog has been restrained in kennels.

“This is clearly a well-loved dog and the defendant is keen to get him back as quickly as possible.”

Jeffrey, 27, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to possessing and having custody of a fighting dog.

District Judge Mark Layton said

it could sometimes be difficult to categorise a dog and determine whether it fell within the fighting dog spectrum.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to categorise, but when the dog was examined by the police, there were no issues with Pablo and he was friendly and willing to interact,” said Judge Layton.

Jeffrey was ordered to pay a

£1,500 contribution towards the dog’s kennelling costs. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 surcharge.

Pablo will be allowed to return home, but must be neutered and microchipped. Whenever he is taken to a public place, he must be handled by someone over the age of 16 and must wear a suitable lead and muzzle.

(Photo: Stock image)

Council’s B&B bill for emergency housing tops £7m

SWANSEA COUNCIL spent more than £7.2m placing people in bed and breakfast accommodation last year, as the city continues to face mounting pressure from homelessness and a shortage of affordable homes.

The bill for 2025-26 was almost three times higher than in 2022-23, when temporary accommodation costs stood at £2.5m.

Figures released under freedom of information laws show 1,499 people were placed in B&B accommodation during the year. The most expensive placement lasted 498 nights and cost £34,860, equal to £70 per night.

The council recovered around £3.4m through Welsh Government funding, housing benefit and Home Office funding for released prisoners.

A council spokesman said Swansea, like towns and cities across the UK, was facing both a housing shortage and rising demand.

He said many people needing emergency accommodation were dealing with difficult circumstances,

including family breakdown or domestic abuse.

The authority hopes its reliance on bed and breakfasts will fall following the opening of Llys Glas, the former Swansea Central police station on Orchard Street, which has been converted with Codi Group into temporary supported accommodation.

The building opened in January and provides around 70 rooms for single people and couples, along with kitchen facilities.

Further supported accommodation is also planned at a former office block and student development on St Helen’s Road.

Homelessness charity The Wallich said the costs were high, but warned that the alternative would be leaving vulnerable people without support.

A spokeswoman said Wales had too many older homes and too few properties available, adding that councils were struggling to find enough social housing.

She said private rents could not solve the crisis, with the average onebedroom flat in Swansea now costing around £750 per month, compared with a local housing allowance rate of £525.

She added that rough sleeper teams in Swansea had not seen an increase in people sleeping on the streets since the pandemic, despite the rise in housing demand.

The Welsh Local Government Association said more than 10,500 people were currently in emergency temporary accommodation across Wales, including more than 2,200 children.

A spokesman said building more social rented homes remained a vital part of the response.

The new Welsh Government is expected to set out its homelessness priorities shortly.

Four rescued after dinghy off Pendine

TENBY’S all-weather lifeboat launched at 6:20pm on Wednesday (May 27) after the Coastguard received a 999 call from two men on an inflatable dinghy reporting they were being blown offshore and that the vessel was deflating.

Volunteer crew reached the scene just 12 minutes later and, after a brief search, located the stranded pair drifting offshore. The men and their deflating dinghy were brought aboard the lifeboat and checked over. Apart from being cold, neither required medical treatment.

But the rescue was not over.

As the crew prepared to return the casualties to shore, they spotted a kayaker waving a paddle nearby.

On approaching, lifeboat volunteers discovered another person in the water clinging to a paddleboard.

Both were brought aboard safely and told crew they had been struggling for some time.

With all four casualties accounted for and nobody else in difficulty, the lifeboat returned to Pendine, where the Y-boat was used to ferry them ashore before the crew stood down.

RNLI crews are reminding people heading out on the water to wear lifejackets or buoyancy aids, carry a waterproof means of communication, and remember the “Float to Live” advice if they unexpectedly end up in the sea.

Police issue A477 crash appeal after five taken to hospital

fIVE people were taken to hospital, three with serious injuries, following a collision on the A477 between Llanteg and Red Roses on Sunday (May 24).

Dyfed-Powys Police said the crash happened at around 5:00pm and involved a grey Honda Civic i-VTEC and a white Kia Soul 2.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and remains in police custody.

Officers are appealing for anyone who was driving on the A477 at around the time of the collision, or who may have dash-cam footage of either vehicle before the crash, to come forward.

Police said visitors to Pembrokeshire who may not know the area should check their route in case they were travelling along the A477 at the relevant time.

Anyone with information can

contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys. police.uk, by direct message on social media, or by calling 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference: 326 of May 24.

Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat stands down after surfers reported in difficulty

LITTLE and Broad Haven Lifeboat crew were paged at 12:49pm on Monday (May 25) following reports of surfers in difficulty at Newgale. Volunteers responded quickly and prepared to launch, but were stood down

after receiving an update that the surfers had been safely helped back to shore by members of the public nearby.

The crew then readied the boat for its next service call.

Tree surgeon denies drink-driving charge

A TREE surgeon has appeared before magistrates accused of driving while nearly three times over the drink-drive limit.

Ruan Austin, 49, is accused of driving an Audi along Holyland Road, Pembroke, on May 9 with 100mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

“He was seen towing a caravan in a local petrol station, and a report was made to police by a member of the public who believed he’d been drinking,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“The defendant was then found inside the caravan, so this was a culmination of being seen intoxicated and then seen in the caravan.”

Austin, of Tanlan, Silian, Lampeter, denied the charge when he appeared before the court by live video link.

“I was asleep in my caravan and was taken out and breathalysed,” he told the court.

“I was then taken into custody, so I don’t really understand what’s going on. I’m a tree surgeon and this is all very alien to me.”

District Judge Mark Layton adjourned the case until June 4 to allow Austin time to consider the prosecution evidence ahead of his next appearance at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court.

Austin was released on unconditional bail.

Dock motorist fined £1,600 after four speeding offences

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been handed a four-figure fine after being caught speeding in his Jaguar on four separate occasions.

Leighton Barrass, 55, was recorded driving at speeds of up to 92mph on several stretches of road in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

He appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week and pleaded guilty to all four speeding offences.

The first incident took place on September 5, 2025, when Barrass was clocked driving at 91mph in a 70mph restricted area at Gorsley, Herefordshire.

On November 21, he was caught driving at 92mph on the M50 at Pendock Overbridge, Worcestershire. On December 5, he reached 81mph at Shuthonger, also in Worcestershire.

The fourth offence took place on February 13, 2026, when he drove his Jaguar through Droitwich, Worcestershire, again exceeding the 70mph limit.

Barrass, of Sycamore Street, Pembroke Dock, was fined £1,600 and ordered to pay £170 court costs and a £640 surcharge. His licence was endorsed with 14 penalty points.

Police tip-off leads

to drink-drive ban for Pembrokeshire pensioner

A PEMBROKESHIRE pensioner has been banned from driving for 21 months after police received a tip-off that he was about to leave a pub while over the drink-drive limit.

Officers were contacted at around 12:30am on May 9 by a member of the public who said Peter Wilson, 66, was likely to drive away from a Pembroke Dock pub after drinking alcohol.

CCTV footage showed Wilson’s Ford Focus parked outside a pub near Western Way, Pembroke Dock. When officers arrived, they saw him get into the driver’s seat with two passengers before driving off.

“He was stopped a short while later, turned his engine off and handed the keys over to police,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest Magistrates’

Court this week. “But he seemed to struggle with this. He also admitted that he’d consumed alcohol that evening.”

A breath test showed Wilson had 77mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

The court heard Wilson had two previous drink-driving convictions, dating back to 1998 and 2007.

Wilson, of Croft Court, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“He accepts he was drink-driving, however there was nothing wrong with his standard of driving,” said Mr Kelleher in mitigation.

Magistrates disqualified Wilson from driving for 21 months. He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

Warrant issued for man accused of taking wild goldfinches

A WARRANT without bail has been issued for a Pembrokeshire man accused of capturing goldfinches from the wild.

Colwyn Robert Probert, 38, is accused of intentionally taking wild birds, namely goldfinches, at The Glebe in Tenby on or before October 17, 2025.

He is also charged with having 13 wild goldfinches in his possession or control, attempting to take wild birds on or before October 16, 2025, and failing to take

reasonable steps to ensure the needs of the 13 goldfinches were met.

Probert, of Kingsmoor Caravan Park, Kilgetty, was listed to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (May 26), where he was expected to enter pleas to all four offences.

After he failed to attend court, District Judge Mark Layton issued a warrant without bail for his arrest.

Banking hub to open in Pembroke Dock library within days

A NEW temporary banking hub is expected to open in Pembroke Dock within the next week, offering residents and businesses access to everyday banking services following the closure of traditional high street branches.

The facility, which is being established inside Pembroke Dock Library, was visited this week by county councillor Jonathan Grimes and Preseli Pembrokeshire MS Paul Davies, who received an update on progress from Debbie of Cash Access UK.

According to Cllr Grimes, the temporary hub is now nearing completion and will provide a valuable service to the local community, particularly for residents who still rely on face-to-face banking and cash

services.

At present, it is understood that NatWest, Lloyds and Barclays will each have a dedicated day at the hub during the working week, with staff available to offer advice, support and assistance with account-related queries. Other banks are expected to be confirmed in due course.

Importantly, customers will not be restricted to using services only from their own bank. The hub will allow people from any banking provider to carry out routine transactions such as cash withdrawals, deposits and other day-to-day banking needs.

The temporary facility will operate Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and will be based inside the library while plans continue for a permanent banking hub in the town.

Jonathan Grimes, county councillor for Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said he was pleased with the progress being made.

He said the temporary hub “already looks fantastic” and would be a “really valuable addition for the community.”

The long-term location for the permanent Pembroke Dock Banking Hub is still being finalised by Cash Access UK, with the permanent site expected to open within the next 12 months.

The move comes amid growing concern over the loss of high street bank branches across Pembrokeshire and the impact this has had on elderly residents, cash-reliant businesses and people without easy access to online banking.

Banking hubs have been rolled out across the UK to plug the gap left by branch closures, offering shared facilities where customers from different banks can access essential services under one roof.

Mystery as hundreds of dead dogfish wash up on Saundersfoot beach

HUNDREDS of dead dogfish have washed up on a Pembrokeshire beach in a strange incident that has left locals and visitors searching for answers.

The fish, believed to be dogfish — a small species belonging to the shark family — were discovered scattered along Saundersfoot Harbour Beach on Thursday (May 21), with one witness estimating the carcasses stretched for around 500 yards.

Holidaymaker Colin Hill, who came across the scene, said the scale of the wash-up was shocking, with large numbers of fish appearing to have washed in at roughly the same time.

While the exact cause remains unclear, early indications suggest the fish may have been discarded at sea before drifting ashore on changing tides.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which attended the scene, said there was no sign of a pollution incident.

A spokesperson for NRW told The Herald: “We investigated reports of dead fish at Saundersfoot and found no evidence of a pollution incident.

“The fish appear to be dogfish, and this is likely linked to fishing by-catch being discarded at sea.

“Tides have since cleared the majority from the shoreline and no wider environmental impacts were identified.”

fISHING LINK SUSPECTED

Marine experts say one of the most likely explanations is that the dogfish were unintentionally caught by fishing vessels targeting more commercially valuable species before being thrown back into the sea.

Dogfish, also known as catsharks, are common around the Pembrokeshire

coast but are not generally landed commercially in large numbers.

However, local marine conservationist Cliff Benson of Sea Trust Wales said the scale of the incident appeared unusual.

“We quite often see dogfish or catsharks seemingly intent on suicide and beaching themselves, though nobody seems to know why,” he said.

“However, this is on a different

scale and looks like they might have been caught by some fishing boat that was hoping to catch more commercial species and thrown overboard dead.”

He added that pollution was another possible explanation, although less likely if only one species had been affected.

NOT THE fIRST TIME

Pembrokeshire has seen smaller incidents involving dead dogfish washing ashore before, but similar mass

strandings elsewhere in Wales have previously been linked to fishing activity.

In one case at Burry Port in 2019, fisheries experts suggested dead dogfish found on the shoreline had likely been dumped following the clearing of fishing nets. In Barry in 2021, hundreds more washed up, some still attached to hooks and tackle.

For now, the mystery remains unresolved — although NRW believes discarded fishing by-catch is the most likely explanation.

Milford paddling pool could close after rowdy adults seen throwing glass bottles

MILfORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL has warned that the town’s paddling pool could be drained and closed if anti-social behaviour continues.

The warning follows an incident today in which rowdy adults were reportedly drinking alcohol from glass bottles inside the pool enclosure and throwing a glass bottle around.

The council also said people were seen smoking cannabis just outside the gate.

In a statement, Milford Haven Town Council said the behaviour was “highly dangerous, irresponsible and inconsiderate” and “cannot and will not be tolerated”.

The council warned: “If this sort of behaviour continues we will have no choice but to consider draining and closing the pool.”

The paddling pool is run voluntarily by a dedicated group of councillors for the benefit of local families and visitors.

The council is now urging people to act responsibly so the facility can remain open and be enjoyed safely by everyone.

Traders raise concerns over disruption from Charles Street flats scheme

MILfORD HAVEN businesses say they are concerned that continuing works connected to the former Motor World redevelopment are affecting footfall and trade in Charles Street.

The roadworks and planned closures are linked to the construction of new flats on the site of the old Motor World building, a long-awaited town centre redevelopment being delivered by W.B. Griffiths & Sons Ltd.

Milford Haven Business Circle said traders accepted the need for the works, but many had hoped for clearer communication about when closures would be in place, what the works involved, and how long disruption would last.

For some businesses along Charles Street, there is also concern that the impact is being felt beyond the official closure area, with customers potentially assuming shops and services are not accessible.

The Business Circle said the closures were expected to continue through to mid-July, and called for better support for traders during the disruption.

In a statement, the group said: “With the ongoing works and planned road closures on Charles Street continuing through to mid-July, many

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

local businesses are understandably concerned about the impact this will have on footfall and trade.

“While W.B. Griffiths & Sons Ltd are carrying out the works, many businesses had hoped for clearer communication regarding the timings, nature of the works, and when closures

would be in place.

“For several businesses along Charles Street, it also feels as though they are still suffering the effects of the closures despite being outside the officially closed area.”

The group said improved signage should be considered, including clearer directions, “Businesses Open As Usual” signs, and better promotion of access routes to encourage customers

to continue visiting the street.

The former Motor World site has long been seen as a key regeneration location in Milford Haven town centre. The new flats are intended to bring the vacant site back into use and provide much-needed housing.

However, the Business Circle said more should be done to help existing traders during the construction period.

It added: “We fully appreciate the need for these works to be carried out, but we hope Pembrokeshire County Council may be able to provide additional support for businesses affected during this difficult period.”

The group also suggested that Cllr Paul Miller, who leads on economic development, business support and regeneration strategies, could help advocate for affected businesses.

Planned closure dates listed so far include May 27–29, June 4–5, June 12, June 15–16, June 19, June 22–23, June 29–July 1, July 3, and July 6–10.

Local businesses remain open and are urging residents to continue supporting Charles Street shops and services while the works continue.

The Herald has contacted Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.

Pembroke Fair praised as well-organised community event

fAMILIES, horse owners and visitors turned out in force for Pembroke f air on Saturday (May 23), with many praising the event as one of the best organised in recent years.

Held at the Community Centre Field in Monkton, the annual fair brought together horse owners, traders and local families for a traditional day centred around horses, ponies, stalls and socialising.

Coloured cobs, heavy horses, ponies and horse-drawn traps attracted attention throughout the day, with many visitors gathering around the field to watch the animals being shown and led around the site.

A variety of stalls selling everything from clothing and ornaments to tack and second-hand goods helped create a lively market atmosphere, while food vendors kept visitors fed throughout the day.

Despite overcast conditions at times, the event remained busy, with many attendees staying for several hours to enjoy the traditional fair atmosphere.

Community members later took to social media to praise the smooth running of the event, with several publicly thanking organiser Charlie Price for his efforts in bringing the fair together.

Comments described the day as “well organised” and praised the welcoming atmosphere, with many saying it was encouraging to see a long-standing local tradition continuing to thrive.

Parents urged to rally as final decision looms over Ysgol Clydau Campaigners

call for supporters to attend ‘crucial’ County

Hall meeting in bid to save village school

SUPPORTERS fighting to save Ysgol Clydau are urging parents, children and members of the community to gather at County Hall in Haverfordwest next month as councillors prepare to make a final decision on the school’s future.

The grassroots campaign group Save Ysgol Clydau – Cadw Clydau yn Gadarn has called on as many people as possible to attend an extraordinary

meeting on Monday, June 15, describing it as a “crucial” moment in the battle to keep the school open.

Campaigners are asking supporters to gather outside County Hall from 9:00am ahead of the meeting, which is due to begin at 10:00am.

In a public appeal shared online, organisers said the day would likely be emotional regardless of the outcome, but stressed the importance

Rhwng 28 Mai a 26 Gorffennaf 2026, rydym yn ceisio adborth ar sut y gellid darparu gwasanaethau strôc ar draws ein pedwar prif safle Ysbyty: Bronglais yn Aberystwyth, Glangwili yng Nghaerfyrddin, Ysbyty

Tywysog Phillip yn Llanelli, a Llwynhelyg yn Hwlffordd.

Dyma ail gam yr ymgynghoriad ar gyfer gwasanaethau strôc fel rhan o’n Cynllun Gwasanaethau Clinigol. Rhannwch eich barn ar yr opsiwn a ffefrir yn un o’r digwyddiadau galw heibio anffurfiol.

Dewch draw unrhyw bryd rhwng 2pm a 7pm i gael gwybod mwy a dweud eich dweud.

of showing a united front.

A spokesperson for the campaign said: “We need as many parents, children, and supporters as possible at County Hall, Haverfordwest to help save our school.

“A final decision will be made. Please do your very best to attend and stand with our community.

“It will be an emotional day, whatever the outcome — but together

we can show the county and the country that we are here, united, and determined to be heard.”

The campaign has become a rallying point for local families concerned about the future of education in rural communities, with supporters arguing that closing the school would have a lasting impact on village life and young children.

Promotional material shared by the group encourages families to bring children and “their voices” to the demonstration, with campaigners insisting: “Together we are stronger.”

The Herald understands the meeting is expected to draw strong local interest, with campaigners hoping a large turnout could influence councillors ahead of what may be a decisive vote.

Ysgol Clydau has been at the centre of an ongoing debate about the future of smaller rural schools in Pembrokeshire, with supporters arguing the school plays a vital role at the heart of the community.

The meeting takes place at County Hall, Haverfordwest, on Monday, June 15, with supporters gathering from 9:00am.

Between 28 May and 26 July 2026, we are seeking feedback on how stroke services could be delivered across our four main hospital sites Bronglais in Aberystwyth, Glangwili in Carmarthen, Prince Phillip in Llanelli, and Withybush in Haverfordwest.

This is the second phase of consultation for stroke services as part of our Clinical Services Plan. Please share your views on the preferred option at one of the informal drop-in events.

Come along at any time between 2pm and 7pm to find out more and have your say.

2pm-7pm 15 Mehefin / 15 June Canolfan Selwyn Samuel, Llanelli / Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli

2pm-7pm 16 Mehefin / 16 June

Clwb Rygbi Hwlffordd, Hwlffordd / Haverfordwest Rugby Club, Haverfordwest SA61

2pm-7pm 22 Mehefin / 22 June Neuadd y Ddinas Tˆy Ddewi, Tˆy Ddewi / St Davids City Hall, St Davids

2pm-7pm 24 Mehefin / 24 June

Clwb Rygbi Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth / Aberystwyth Rugby Club, Aberystwyth SY23 1HL 2pm-7pm 30 Mehefin / 30 June Y Plas, Machynlleth / Y Plas, Machynlleth SY20 8ER 2pm-7pm 6 Gorffennaf / 6 July Canolfan Creuddyn, Llanbedr Pont Steffan / Canolfan Creuddyn, Lampeter SA48 7BN 2pm-7pm 8 Gorffennaf / 8 July Neuadd Pater, Doc Penfro / Pater Hall, Pembroke Dock SA72 6DD 2pm-7pm 14 Gorffennaf / 14 July Gwesty Llwyn Iorwg, Caerfyrddin / Ivy Bush Hotel, Carmarthen

Neu ymunwch â ni ar-lein!

Rydym hefyd yn cynnal dau ddigwyddiad ar-lein:  Dydd Iau 18 Mehefin, 6.30pm  Dydd Mawrth 7 Gorffennaf, 6.30pm

Am ragor o wybodaeth ewch i’n gwefan: biphdd.gig.cymru/ymgynghoriad-stroc neu ffoniwch 0300 303 8322

Or join us online!

We are also holding two online events:  Thursday 18 June, 6.30pm  Tuesday 7 July, 6.30pm

For more information please visit our website: hduhb.nhs.wales/stroke-consultation or call 0300 303 8322

SA31 1LG

Kayaker found safe after major lifeboat search

TENBY RNLI launched both its all-weather and inshore lifeboats on Sunday morning (May 24) after concerns were raised for an overdue kayaker in the Llansteffan area.

The volunteer crew were paged at around 9:15am following reports that the kayaker had failed to return after launching the previous evening.

A major multi-agency search operation was launched between Monkstone Point and Ginst Point, involving both Burry Port lifeboats, Ferryside inshore rescue boat, a Coastguard rescue helicopter and coastguard teams from Burry Port and Llansteffan.

However, the search was quickly stood down after the kayaker was found safe and well in the Burry Port area, having reportedly camped overnight.

Tenby RNLI said both boats returned to station by 9:50am after no further assistance was required.

Pictures shared by the crew show the scale of the search area in Carmarthen Bay had the kayaker not been located ashore.

Six launches on busy Sunday for Tenby’s lifeboats

TENBY’S lifeboat crews were called out six times on Sunday (May 24), rounding off a busy day with latenight incidents at Manorbier, Lydstep and Old Castle Head.

Both boats were requested to launch at 9:40pm after reports that several people may have needed assistance on rocks at Manorbier.

The lifeboats were quickly on the water, but police and coastguards at the scene confirmed those involved were safe and well, and no assistance was needed.

As the inshore lifeboat passed Lydstep on its return, the crew was tasked to investigate lights on the cliffs

in Lydstep Bay.

The lights were quickly located and found to be from a climber who had safely reached the top of the cliff and was not in danger.

The final call of the day came shortly before 11:00pm, when the inshore lifeboat was launched to a 7.1-metre RIB which had suffered engine failure off Old Castle Head, near Manorbier.

With the vessel having no propulsion and at risk of drifting towards rocks, the occupants requested a tow back to Freshwater East.

The RIB was safely brought in, and the lifeboat returned to station for the final time shortly after midnight.

Dock man given suspended prison sentence for third drink-drive offence

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after committing his third drink-driving offence in six years.

Neil Edmundson, 51, was reported to police on May 7 after a motorist saw him driving an orange Range Rover “in an erratic manner” along Lamphey Lodge Lane.

“He was driving towards her at an excessive speed and was driving erratically,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Edmundson was then seen entering a local petrol station, where he was said to smell strongly of alcohol.

He was later stopped by police officers but refused to provide a roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to a police

station where he provided a breathalyser reading of 77mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

A police investigation established that Edmundson, of Laws Street, Pembroke Dock, had already been disqualified from driving following two previous drinkdriving convictions in 2020 and 2024.

Appearing before magistrates this week, Edmundson pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without third party insurance.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from driving for five years.

Magistrates also ordered him to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must pay a £154 surcharge and £85 court costs.

Pembrokeshire named among Wales’ green economy hotspots

PEMBROKESHIRE has been named as one of Wales’ leading “net zero economy” hotspots, with new analysis suggesting the sector now supports around 1,600 jobs in the county.

The report, commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit and carried out with CBI Economics and The Data City, found that net zerorelated industries contribute £4bn in Gross Value Added across Wales and support more than 41,300 jobs.

That represents 4.3% of Wales’ total economic output and 3.1% of employment.

Pembrokeshire was listed among the strongest-performing areas, alongside Wrexham, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Newport.

The county’s net zero economy was said to account for 5.3% of local GVA, with its position linked to emerging lowcarbon infrastructure, including the consented 100MW green hydrogen

facility at the Pembroke Net Zero Centre, battery storage projects, and local solar installation businesses.

Wrexham recorded the highest share of local economic activity supported by net zero industries, at 7%, followed by Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Newport.

Across Wales, the report found more than 1,300 businesses are now part of the net zero economy, with 87% of them classed as small or mediumsized firms. Around 15% have started up within the last five years.

The analysis also claims workers in the sector are highly productive, generating an average of £117,500 of value each — around 1.7 times the Welsh average. Average earnings in the sector were put at £39,812, around 11% higher than the Welsh industry average of £35,796.

Jobs identified in the report include energy generation, manufacturing, construction, engineering and professional services, with firms involved in solar panels, electric vehicle charging, renewable heating and lowcarbon technologies.

Russell Greenslade, CBI Wales Director, said Wales had a major commercial opportunity because of its natural assets, advanced manufacturing base and established supply chains.

He said: “This new report underlines just how central the net zero economy is to our future prosperity.

“From onshore and offshore wind to carbon capture and emerging clean technologies, Wales can be at the forefront of the UK’s energy transition, with high-value, highly productive jobs created in every part of the country.

“The UK and Welsh Governments must now work in partnership with business to seize that opportunity. That

means creating a stable, competitive business environment and investing in the skills that will enable Welsh workers to thrive in the energy transition.”

Peter Chalkley, Director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said reaching net zero was not only about tackling climate change, but had become a major part of the Welsh economy.

He said Wales was part of a global race to build competitive clean industries, warning that jobs and livelihoods could be at risk if policy shifted and Wales fell behind.

The report also identifies a potential £13.1bn renewable energy generation infrastructure pipeline in Wales, representing 10.9GW of capacity, although it warns that not all of that pipeline is guaranteed to be built.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the UK Government was putting Wales “at the heart” of its clean energy plans.

She said: “The UK Government is putting Wales at the heart of our clean energy mission, with £2.5 billion invested in new nuclear in Wylfa, and up to £64 million to support floating offshore wind in Port Talbot.

“We’re determined to go even further, including by speeding up the delivery of major clean energy infrastructure projects by protecting them from legal challenges and delays.

“That’s because the UK Government recognises the key role that the Welsh clean energy industry plays in boosting the country’s economic growth, securing our energy independence, bringing down household bills, and supporting over 40,000 jobs in Wales.”

The findings are likely to be closely watched in Pembrokeshire, where the future of heavy industry, the Haven Waterway, floating offshore wind, hydrogen and grid infrastructure are all central to long-term economic plans.

While supporters say the transition could bring skilled jobs and major investment, questions remain over planning, infrastructure, local benefit, and whether promised projects will be delivered at scale.

Port safety warning after trespass concerns at Milford Haven and Pembroke

THE PORT of Milford Haven has renewed its warning for people to stay away from two dangerous waterfront sites.

The authority said Ward’s Yard in Milford Haven and Criterion Quay, also known as the offshore jetty, in Pembroke Dock are private property and are not safe for public access. Both sites are close to deep water and contain serious hazards.

The Port said anyone entering without permission is trespassing and could face prosecution.

Members of the public are being urged to report any suspicious activity to Dyfed-Powys Police on 101.

Dock

Treasury plans tariff cuts on more than 100 everyday essentials

WORKING people could see lower food and travel costs under new Treasury plans to suspend tariffs on more than 100 everyday items and increase tax-free mileage rates for the first time in 15 years.

HM Treasury said a consultation will open on Wednesday (May 27) on a second package of tariff suspensions covering 125 products, including garlic, avocados, mangoes, nectarines, vegetable oil, olive oil, baked beans, biscuits, chocolate, sauces and soft drinks.

The move follows earlier tariff cuts announced in April and forms part of the Government’s wider cost-of-living response to price pressures linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

The Treasury is also seeking views on whether tariffs should be suspended on certain fertilisers, amid concerns about rising costs for farmers.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “The war in Iran isn’t our war, but one we will need to respond to, and my priority is keeping prices down for households and businesses.

“That’s why we’re freezing fuel duty, increasing the mileage rate for the first time in 15 years and slashed VAT temporarily this summer to help reduce the cost of days out.”

per mile, with officials saying this could save about £120 for a worker travelling 6,000 business miles a year.

The Treasury said around three million people who use their own vehicle for work will benefit from a 10p per mile increase in tax-free mileage rates, backdated to April 2026.

The rate for the first 10,000 business miles will rise from 45p to

The Government has also extended the fuel duty freeze until the end of the year, cut red diesel duty by more than a third for farmers and other users, and announced a oneyear road tax holiday for hauliers from July 1.

Transport Secretary Heidi

Alexander said the measures would help carers, tradespeople and public sector workers who rely on their own vehicles for work.

UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan welcomed the mileage change, saying frontline workers had been left “thousands of pounds out of pocket” after years of frozen rates.

The consultation on tariff suspensions runs until June 24.

Muslims across Pembrokeshire celebrate Eid al-Adha

MUSLIM families across Pembrokeshire are today celebrating Eid al-Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar.

Known as the Festival of Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha remembers the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to obey God and is also linked to the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah.

The festival is marked with special prayers, visits to family and friends, shared meals, charity, and the giving of meat or food to those in need.

Many Muslims dress in their best clothes, exchange greetings of “Eid Mubarak”, and use the occasion to bring families, neighbours and communities together.

In Pembrokeshire, as across Wales and around the world, the celebration is a time of faith, generosity and reflection.

For many Christians in Wales, the importance of Eid al-Adha in the Muslim calendar can be loosely compared to the significance of Easter or Christmas — a major religious festival centred on faith, family and reflection. However, unlike Easter, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Eid al-Adha remembers the Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion and willingness to obey God.

Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating.

Steynton motorist banned after drink-drive collision

A STEYNTON motorist has lost his licence after being caught driving through Milford Haven while over the drink-drive limit.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that at around 2:00am on Saturday (May 10), police received a call from ambulance staff who were concerned about the manner in which a white Kia was being driven in the Milford Haven area.

The vehicle had been seen swerving across the road.

Officers located the Kia as it entered Milford Haven and watched it turn right into Thornton Road, where it collided with a traffic barrier.

The driver identified himself as Jordan Wootton. As officers approached the vehicle, they could smell intoxicants. Wootton was also heard slurring his words, while an open bottle of alcohol was seen inside the vehicle.

Wootton, 28, of Conway Drive, Steynton, was arrested. Subsequent breath tests gave a lowest reading of 59mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Wootton was fined £430 and ordered to pay a £180 surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Securing Pembrokeshire’s future

IN AN INDUSTRY where reliability, professionalism, and experience are paramount, RM Training and Security Solutions Ltd has emerged as a leading provider of security services and training across Wales. founded in November 2021 by Company Director Ryan Mayne and Kerry Mcreynolds, they were joined by General Manager Mathew Davies in 2022, the company has grown into a trusted name in the security sector, offering high-quality training programs, security staffing, and event protection.

Now, with a team of around 300 employees, RM Training is poised to expand its operations in Pembrokeshire and beyond, ensuring businesses, event organisers, and hospitality venues have access to qualified security personnel in a sector where demand is at an all-time high.

fROM HIGH-RISK SECURITY TO BUILDING A fUTURE IN PEMBROKESHIRE

For Ryan Mayne, the security industry is not just a business—it’s a lifelong career shaped by real-world experience in high-risk environments. With over two decades in top-tier security roles, Ryan has worked in some of the UK’s largest clubs, corporate settings, and high-profile protection services, dealing with situations that were often tense, unpredictable, and dangerous.

“When I think back to some of the things I saw and some of the incidents I had to deal with, it scares me,” Ryan reflects.

But his life changed during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Home Office deployed him to Pembrokeshire to help manage refugee and asylum seeker security operations. It was here that he fell in love with the county, leading to a decision that would shape both his personal and professional future.

“I was deployed to a site near Tenby, and it didn’t take me long to realise just how fantastic Pembrokeshire is,” Ryan explains. “I knew this was the place where I wanted to build something new.”

That decision was cemented by his relationship with Tenby native Kerry McReynolds, who he is due to marry in September.

“We knew Pembrokeshire was the place where we wanted to bring up our children,” Ryan says. “So it made sense to set up the company here too.”

While Ryan handles the strategic direction and business growth, Kerry plays a pivotal role in the company’s success, managing client relations, staff retention, and back-office operations, all while raising their two-year-old son, Archie.

“She’s the driving force,” Ryan says. “None of this would be possible without her.”

When it comes to ensuring the smooth operation of a security business, General Manager Mathew Davies is the man who makes it happen. With a background in both military and civilian security, Mathew brings a wealth of experience, discipline, and leadership to RM Training and Security Solutions Ltd, making him a key figure in its rapid growth and ongoing success.

Since joining forces with Company Director Ryan Mayne, Mathew has played a pivotal role in overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations, staff training, and client relationships, helping RM Training establish itself as one of the leading security providers in Pembrokeshire and South Wales.

Mathew’s journey into the security industry was forged through years of hands-on experience in demanding environments. His military background instilled a strong sense of discipline, leadership, and strategic thinking, all of which have proven invaluable in his role at RM Training.

After transitioning into civilian

security, Mathew quickly climbed the ranks, demonstrating a deep understanding of risk management, personnel coordination, and highpressure decision-making. These skills now form the backbone of RM Training’s success, ensuring that every security operation runs seamlessly.

EMPOWERING PEMBROKESHIRE’S WORKfORCE WITH SECURITY TRAINING

One of RM Training and Security Solutions Ltd’s primary objectives is to provide local people with a structured pathway into the security industry.

The company offers over 140 online and practical courses, covering a wide spectrum of security roles including:

• Door supervision for pubs, clubs, and licensed venues

• Corporate security for offices and commercial spaces

• Retail security for shopping centres and stores

• Event and festival security

• Site and property security

A core focus is Security Industry Authority (SIA) accredited training, ensuring trainees receive recognised qualifications required to work in the sector.

Their newly established office in Port Talbot is also playing a key role in retraining workers affected by the Tata Steel job losses, helping individuals transition into security careers following redundancy.

“Our goal is not just to train people but to give them career progression opportunities,” Ryan explains. “This industry is about keeping people safe, and that starts with having well-trained professionals.”

EXPANDING SECURITY SERVICES ACROSS WALES

Beyond training, RM Training and Security Solutions Ltd provides security services for a wide range of businesses. The company currently supports:

• Bars, pubs, and nightclubs struggling to find licensed and reliable door staff

• Retail and corporate businesses in need of on-site security operatives

• Festivals and major events requiring crowd management teams

• Close protection and private security clients

With over 200 events already booked for 2024, RM Training is becoming the go-to security provider for major gatherings across South Wales.

But for General Manager Mathew Davies, ensuring quality and reliability is just as important as expansion.

“He’s the one who makes sure the staff are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, while offering them all the support they need,” says Ryan. “Mathew works 24/7 to ensure our high standards never slip.”

The company now aims to secure additional security contracts across Pembrokeshire, addressing a major shortage of trained security personnel in the region.

“The reality is that there simply aren’t enough trained security professionals in Pembrokeshire,” Ryan explains. “Businesses struggle to find reliable door staff and event security. We’re here to fix that.”

THE fUTURE fOR RM TRAINING & SECURITY SOLUTIONS LTD

As RM Training and Security Solutions Ltd continues its growth trajectory, the company remains committed to:

• Expanding its presence in Pembrokeshire and South Wales

• Training the next generation of security professionals

• Providing reliable security solutions to businesses and event organisers

• Raising awareness of the industry’s importance in safeguarding communities

With a dedicated team, strong leadership, and a clear vision, RM Training is not just building a security business— it’s building a safer Pembrokeshire.

UWTSD Summer Degree Shows celebrate emerging creative talent

THE UNIVERSITY Of WALES Trinity Saint David has celebrated the work of emerging artists, designers and performers through its annual Summer Degree Shows.

The exhibitions and performances, held during May and continuing into the summer, showcase final-year projects from students across a wide range of creative disciplines, including Fine Art, Graphic Design, Surface Pattern and Textiles, Photography, Illustration, Automotive and Transport Design, Acting and Adventure Filmmaking.

Events have taken place across Swansea, Carmarthen, Cardiff and London, with major showcases held at Swansea College of Art’s Dynevor and Alex buildings. Performances have also been staged at Yr Egin in Carmarthen, with further exhibitions planned at national venues.

A key part of the celebrations was the annual prize-giving ceremony at Dynevor in Swansea, where students were recognised for outstanding achievement.

Aimiee Brown and Branwen Jones received the Elysium Sculpture Award, with two £500 prizes presented for excellence in sculptural practice.

The Hayden John James Prize awarded £1,000 prizes to undergraduate student Tilly Lewis and postgraduate student Andrew T Gardiner.

Surface Pattern student Samantha McGrath received the Elizabeth Jeffries Prize, while Cel Hopkins was awarded the Josef Herman Carolyn Davies Prize, presented by the Josef Herman Foundation.

Illustration student Morgan Stevens received the Rhys Bevan Jones Illustration Prize, while Seren Trodden was recognised twice, receiving both an

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Old Dyvorians Association President Prize and the Mission Gallery Makers Award in collaboration with the Jane Phillips Award.

Other Old Dyvorians Association President Prizes went to Bella Watkins, Rhiannon Hughes, Adam Mayhew, Emi Joy and Becca May.

Jewellery student Jessica Theobald received the ACJ College Jewellery Prize, which includes membership of the

Association for Contemporary Jewellery, while Photography student Carys Bristowe-Davies received the Sarah Tierney Award, offering mentoring and access to workshops at Swansea College of Art.

Dr Mark Cocks, Dean of UWTSD’s Wales Institute for Science and Art, said: “The Summer Degree exhibitions celebrate the inspirational creative talents of our students.

“The innovation and diversity of the student work is testament to their dedication

and creative application of their personal practice. These shows are the culmination of academic study, but also the beginning of professional creative journeys.”

Caroline Thraves, Academic Director for Art and Media at UWTSD’s Swansea College of Art, said the shows provided students with an important professional platform.

She added: “Hosting the Summer Shows is a vital part of our mission at UWTSD. It gives our students a professional platform to share their creativity with the world, celebrates their hard work, and connects them with the industries they are about to enter.”

Lynne Seymour, Academic Director for Design and Performing Industries, said this year’s programme was particularly significant as the university marks 25 years since the first graduates from its Set Design and Production course.

She said: “These exhibitions and performances represent not only the culmination of years of hard work, collaboration and artistic exploration, but also the beginning of many professional creative journeys.”

The Summer Shows continue throughout the season, including Architecture, Engineering and Computing exhibitions at UWTSD’s Swansea Waterfront campus, performances from WAVDA students at Yr Egin and in Cardiff, exhibitions at New Designers and Copeland Gallery in London, and Automotive and Transport Design showcases at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

Woodhouse Barn:

The beautiful Pembrokeshire wedding venue where every celebration feels personal

SET within six acres of private meadows near Rosemarket, Woodhouse Barn offers couples a relaxed, exclusive and unforgettable setting for their wedding day.

For couples planning a wedding in Pembrokeshire, finding a venue is about far more than choosing a beautiful backdrop. It is about finding somewhere that feels right from the moment you arrive: somewhere your family can relax, your guests can celebrate, and your wedding day can feel genuinely personal.

Hidden along a secluded country lane just outside Rosemarket, Woodhouse Barn has become one of Pembrokeshire’s most distinctive wedding and event venues – a handcrafted wooden barn surrounded by countryside, open skies and beautiful outdoor space.

With its rustic character, flexible interiors and warm, personal approach, Woodhouse Barn offers couples the opportunity to create a wedding day that reflects them, rather than following a set formula.

A BEAUTIfUL SETTING fOR A DAY TO REMEMBER

The barn sits among six acres of private meadows, with southfacing views stretching across the Pembrokeshire countryside towards the Cleddau Bridge and beyond.

From drinks on the lawn and garden games in the sunshine, to photographs surrounded by fields, woodland and open skies, the venue gives couples and photographers a wealth of beautiful settings throughout the day.

Inside, Woodhouse Barn combines

rustic charm with elegant, adaptable space. Couples can decorate the barn in their own style or theme, creating a celebration that feels personal from the moment their guests arrive.

The venue includes a spacious main banqueting hall and dance floor, an intimate loft seating area with its own bar, and a striking viewing gallery overlooking the heart of the celebration.

Whether a couple is planning

an intimate wedding breakfast or a larger evening party, the barn can accommodate up to 160 guests for a seated wedding breakfast and up to 250 guests for a more informal evening celebration.

EXCHANGE VOWS IN THE HEN HOUSE

For couples who would like to hold

their entire wedding day in one special location, Woodhouse Barn is licensed for civil ceremonies in The Hen House.

Just a short walk from the main barn, The Hen House is a secluded, eleven-sided wooden structure offering an intimate and memorable setting in which to exchange vows.

Its natural, hand-crafted character makes it a particularly special space for ceremonies: calm, romantic and full

of atmosphere before guests move on to celebrate in the main barn.

MORE THAN A VENUE A COMPLETE WEDDING EXPERIENCE

One of the qualities guests and newlyweds repeatedly praise about Woodhouse Barn is the welcoming, relaxed experience created by Pat, Martin and their team.

Recent bride Ceri described Woodhouse Barn as an “absolutely stunning venue” and said: “Pat was incredible. Staff were brilliant. We loved our wedding day from start to finish.”

Another bride, Becky, praised the friendly family team, the outdoor space, the many beautiful photography opportunities and the unforgettable staircase, describing the venue as “priceless, amazing and quirky.”

For Carolynne, the appeal was in both the setting and the service. She described Woodhouse Barn as “the most relaxed and beautiful venue,” adding that Pat, Martin and their team went “above and beyond” to make the day exactly what the couple wanted.

That personal approach is part of what makes the venue so special. Rather than feeling like one wedding among many, couples are given the space, support and flexibility to create a day that is truly their own.

STAY, CELEBRATE AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT

Woodhouse Barn also offers accommodation through its log cabins and bell tents in Woodhouse Village, allowing guests to stay close to the celebration and make more of the wedding experience.

For families travelling to

Pembrokeshire, guests with children, or couples wanting to enjoy the morning after their wedding without rushing away, the opportunity to stay on site adds another special dimension to the occasion.

Previous wedding guests have praised the accommodation, the outdoor space for children and the relaxed feeling of being able to celebrate together across the whole wedding weekend.

A VENUE COUPLES fALL IN LOVE WITH

From the moment couples first visit Woodhouse Barn, the venue offers something very different: privacy, personality and a countryside setting that feels both impressive and welcoming.

It is a place where ceremonies feel intimate, receptions feel joyful, photographs feel effortless and the people behind the venue are personally invested in making each celebration memorable.

For couples looking for a beautiful Pembrokeshire wedding venue where their day can feel relaxed, exclusive and entirely their own, Woodhouse Barn is well worth discovering.

ARRANGE A PRIVATE VIEWING

Couples planning their wedding or special celebration can arrange a private viewing of Woodhouse Barn and discover the venue, The Hen House ceremony space and surrounding grounds for themselves.

For more information call 07870 353287, email info@woodhousebarn. com or visit their website and social media.

Energy price rise sparks warning for older people in Wales

AGE CYMRU has warned that older people on low incomes are already fearing next winter after Ofgem confirmed a rise in the energy price cap.

Older people face fresh anxiety over winter heating bills after the regulator said the typical annual household bill will rise to £1,862 from July.

The increase, of around 13%, means average bills will rise by about £221 compared with the current cap of £1,641.

Age Cymru said the announcement was a sign of “worse to come”, with the charity warning that higher energy costs linked to global instability could hit hardest when pensioners need heating most.

Victoria Lloyd, Chief Executive at Age Cymru said: “Even during this unprecedented hot weather for May, older people on low incomes are already worrying about how they will afford to stay warm next winter.

“We know that today’s price cap increase is the shape of worse to come when the next price cap is announced, because by then the impact of the war in the Middle East will really be feeding through into prices.

“Unfortunately, these elevated energy costs due to the war will hit just at the time when pensioners will need their heating the most, as we head into winter.”

CALL fOR SUPPORT

Age Cymru is urging both the UK and Welsh Governments to draw up a clear plan to support older people on low incomes before winter.

and is insufficient for the scale of the financial challenge that significant numbers of people will face this winter.

“Early analysis from our upcoming annual survey shows that 52.4% of respondents used less energy or heating over the last year due to the cost of living, which is an increase from last year’s survey.

and peace of mind, not with anxiety about having to choose between heating or eating, feeling cold or going into debt.”

The charity said the Welsh Government should increase investment in schemes such as Nest, which helps improve home energy efficiency, and expand crisis support so older people are not left without working heating.

Ms Lloyd added: “Support has failed to keep pace with rising energy costs

“Older people should be able to look forward to their later years with comfort

The price cap limits the amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity, as well as standing charges. It does not cap a household’s total bill, meaning people who use more energy will pay more.

Go-ahead for gym and cafe at Pembroke Dock Ferry Terminal

PLANS for a gymnasium and café occupying the majority of Pembroke Dock’s ferry terminal building have been given the goahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Lee Brookes of Westside Fitness Ltd, through agent William Beynon, sought permission for a change of use of part of the existing ferry terminal building, Pembroke

Dock to a gymnasium and café. A supporting statement dealing with a flood consequence assessment, by Francis Saint Ltd, said: “It is proposed to convert part of the existing Pembroke Dock Ferry Terminal Building (75 per cent) into a Gymnasium and café area while

retaining the remainder of the building for its current use (25 per cent).”

It added: “The building, however, lies in a Zone 3 flood area, as shown on the Flood Maps For Planning, and shown to be potentially at risk of tidal flooding during a one-in200-year event, with 100 years of climate change. Francis Sant were, therefore, asked to undertake a Flood Consequence Assessment to evaluate the risk. Even with 100 years of climate change the site is not at risk of flooding from a river or from surface water, during a 1-in-1000-year event.

“In addition, the site is also not expected to be at risk from reservoir failure and the risk of ground water flooding is considered to be low.”

It went on to say: “Located within the Haven, the site is protected from the more severe wave action. In addition, the plateaux to the north of the site would provide additional protection causing the waves to break onto the plateaux before reaching the

building. Any water or spray reaching the building or the surrounding area is likely to flow back into the Haven posing a minimal risk to the development.

“As the building already exists there will be no loss of flood storage capacity, even if the building was at risk of flooding, and, as a surface water drain is already in place, there will be no increase in the rainfall runoff rate.”

The application was supported by Pembroke Dock Town Council.

An officer report recommending approval said: “The proposal represents the sustainable reuse of an existing building within a defined settlement and would provide a beneficial community leisure facility. No significant impacts are identified in respect of design, amenity, highways, flood risk or ecology, subject to conditions.”

The application was conditionally approved.

Old Chemist Inn, Saundersfoot, revamp plans get green light

A fORMER Pembrokeshire county councillor who owns many hostelries in the county has been given the thumbs-up for plans to rejuvenate a “tired” seaside village pub.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Mike Evans of Harbwr Brewery, a former county councillor and national park authority member, sought a partly retrospective permission for works at the Old Chemist Inn, The Strand, Saundersfoot.

The works include proposed internal alterations to the basement and ground floor, a new rear balcony area to replace the existing one, improvements to the front facade, a change of use of shop space to food/drink, and installation of seating booths in the rear garden.

It says the changes proposed will increase the number of staff employed to 15 full time and 10 part-time.

No objections to the proposal were raised by local community council Saundersfoot.

A supporting statement through agent David J P Morgan RIBA Architect, says the 19th Century pub “has endured many alterations during its lifetime and at present it needs improvements to echo the recent upgrading of the village, both in the general tourism support facilities, as well as the new innovative harbour development,” with the appearance and interior facilities “tired” and needing “works both inside and outside to enable the inn to achieve and provide the high levels of cuisine and facilities now expected”.

It added: “The Inn has been purchased by a local company who have a number of establishments within Saundersfoot and Tenby. The company is owned by local people, they use local produce, they employ local labour and work actively with local communities to achieve the high standards expected.”

Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter

It went on to say: “The rear ‘beer garden’ will be improved to allow more space and comfortable seating areas. The applicant is well known for the extensive use of external plotted plants in open areas at their establishments and the garden area will give the opportunity of using such to soften the garden area whilst giving greater habitat opportunities for birds and insects.”

There were initial objections from the Park’s buildings conservation officer who considered the proposed front elevation of the building “out of character and inappropriately

grandiose,” and by four members of the public to some of the parts of the design, a 2025 application being withdrawn early that year.

Since then, amended and simplified plans were later submitted, with no subsequent objections by the officer or members of the public received.

An officer report recommending approval said: “The existing shopfront exhibits traditional and appropriate architectural detail and the proposed scheme replicates this character for all three door openings in the front elevation.

“This removes the less favourable 20th century elements and enhances the appearance and character of the

building overall. The proposed scheme for the rear of the building alters the window design and enlarges the openings to enable sliding doors, in addition to an enlarged terrace, new balustrading and steps. This aspect of the proposal is considered to improve the appearance of the building when viewed from the Wales Coast Path or wider beach.”

It finished: “The revised design approach is considered to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of Saundersfoot Conservation Area and will improve elements of the existing building, whilst respecting the special qualities of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.”

Holiday lets development at Second World War airfield approved

PLANS for an office and bedding and linen storage facility for holiday lets at a former WW2 Pembrokeshire airfield have been given the go-ahead. In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Sophie Davies, through agent Sureline Design Services Ltd, sought permission for the Erection of two modular office units at the former runway at Carew Airfield, Carew.

A supporting statement said the goal of the developer was to “create simple, efficient office space,” the developer “committed to reducing the environmental impact of the project,” with “material wastage on site is to be minimised by use of a modular prefabricated system”.

The application was supported by local community council Carew

An officer report recommending approval said: “The proposed development is located to the south of an existing cluster of buildings and is

the surrounding area characterised by existing commercial and employmentrelated uses.”

bedding, towels, cleaning etc).

“The agent has confirmed that no washing or drying facilities will be provided on site and no foul drain connections water or kitchen facilities will be installed. With staff numbers being no more than five (3.5 full-time equivalents), with operating hours as 8am-5pm daily and an out-of-hours drop off until 10pm. Toilet facilities would be available within the exiting pavilion building, to the northwest of the proposed buildings, for the staff to use.”

accessed via the shared access road through the former airfield, leading directly from the roundabout off the A477T. The site is located on the former runway, and is a flat surface area, with

It added: “The buildings would be used as storage for linen units, with ancillary office use, as the business manages bookings for holiday lets, and deals with changeovers (replacing

It went on to say the business park “currently accommodates a broad range of employment-type operations including vehicle dismantling, caravan sales, selfstorage and weekly market functions, demonstrating its established role as a rural employment area”.

The application was conditionally approved.

Big Green Week to bring wildlife walks and community events to St Davids

NATURE-LOVERS in west Wales are being invited to take part in a week of wildlife, gardening and climate-focused activities next month.

The Big Green Week on the St Davids Peninsula will run from Saturday, June 6, to Sunday, June 14, with events led locally by volunteer group EcoDewi.

The programme includes nature walks, moth watching, willow weaving, community gardening, wildlife workshops, a cathedral service and a garden trail.

Events begin with a “Moth breakfast” in Trefin, including a talk by Dr William Wint on British moths, followed by a family activity day at the new Community Green at Maes Glasfryn.

St Davids Cathedral will host a Big Green Service at 4:00pm on Sunday, June 7, while a willow weaving workshop will take place the following day in the community garden.

Other highlights include a Rebel Botanists Walk at St Davids airfield, a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing, gardening sessions at Erw Dewi and Caeriad, and a Wildlife Day at Oriel y Parc.

The week will close with a walking trail giving visitors the chance to explore more than 25 private gardens in St Davids.

The Great Big Green Week is organised nationally by The Climate Coalition and led in Wales by Climate Cymru. It aims to celebrate local

action on climate change and nature recovery.

Most events are free, although donations are welcomed.

EcoDewi is run by volunteers and

KGM Welding named best welding service in Pembrokeshire

A MILFORD HAVEN firm specialising in glass balconies has been named the best welding service in Pembrokeshire.

KGM Welding Ltd, based at Priory Park Industrial Estate in Thornton, received the 2026 Quality Business Award after achieving an overall quality rating of 95% or higher.

The company, run by director Kyle Morris, provides welding, fabrication, bespoke metalwork, balustrades and glass balcony systems from its base near Milford Haven.

KGM Welding says it has become

one of Pembrokeshire’s most-used glass balcony companies, offering competitive pricing, warranties and maintenance checks, alongside general welding services.

The award recognises customer satisfaction, quality of service, reputation and overall standards.

Mr Morris said he was pleased to receive the recognition and thanked customers for their continued support.

The business, which has been active since 2020, is also known locally for supporting sport and community activities, including local football and motorsport.

Pembrokeshire’s best areas for access to parks

A NEW report has revealed the best and worst neighbourhoods in Pembrokeshire for access to parks and green spaces, with fishguard topping the list as the county’s most accessible area for outdoor recreation.

The Park Access Report, created by MG Timber and Online Marketing Surgery, analysed neighbourhoods across Pembrokeshire based on the number of postcodes located within 900 metres of a park, public garden, or playing field.

According to the findings, Fishguard ranked first overall, with 262 postcodes falling within walking distance of a green space. Pembroke Dock followed closely behind with 252 postcodes, while Tenby & Caldey secured third place with 228.

Haverfordwest North and Milford Haven West completed the top five, highlighting strong access to parks in some of Pembrokeshire’s busiest residential communities.

Top five Pembrokeshire areas for park access (postcodes within 900m of a park):

• Fishguard – 262

• Pembroke Dock – 252

• Tenby & Caldey – 228

• Haverfordwest North – 225

• Milford Haven West – 183

At the other end of the rankings, Crundale, Clynderwen & Maenclochog

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recorded the lowest level of park accessibility in the county, with just 83 postcodes located within 900 metres of a park or playing field.

Neyland and Cilgerran & Crymych also ranked among the least accessible areas, suggesting that residents in more

rural parts of Pembrokeshire may face longer journeys to reach public green spaces.

Areas with the least access to parks (postcodes within 900m of a park):

• Crundale, Clynderwen & Maenclochog – 83

• Neyland – 101

• Cilgerran & Crymych – 104

• Narberth – 114

• Johnston, Broad Haven & St Ishmaels – 118

They used data from the Office for National Statistics around access to gardens and public green spaces in UK, where they found the access to public park and playing fields data for all MSOAs (Middle Layer Super Output Areas) and LSOAs (Lower Layer Super Output Areas) in Pembrokeshire.

Free screening to focus on climate and nature crisis

A fREE public screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing is to be held at Letterston Memorial Hall on friday, May 29.

The event, hosted by Transition Bro Gwaun, starts at 7:00pm, with doors opening at 6:30pm.

The screening will be introduced by Dr Sarah Beynon, of The Bug Farm, St Davids, and will be followed by a structured discussion on climate and nature risks and what they may mean for local communities.

The 50-minute film has been adapted from the National Emergency Briefing, held at Westminster Central Hall in November 2025, where more than 1,200 MPs, peers, business leaders, cultural figures, faith representatives, sports figures and media leaders gathered to hear from experts on climate and nature risks.

The briefing, introduced by Chris Packham CBE, examines the potential impact of climate and nature breakdown on food security, public health, infrastructure, the economy and national security.

Dr Beynon said: “We are in a biodiversity and climate emergency. We have destroyed over half of our wildlife. In my late father’s lifetime, we have destroyed 97% of our wildflower

meadows.

“Over 80% of our habitats are in poor condition. Over 60% of our rivers are not in good health and one in five species is at risk of extinction.

“How do we want to leave this planet for future generations? Then ask yourself if you are prepared to act. If you are, the first step is to understand the issues facing us, and this film is a vital part of understanding the situation

we are in so we can all step up and do something together.”

The People’s Emergency Briefing was launched nationwide in April and is now being screened in communities across the UK. Organisers say more than 300 showings have already taken place, with around 1,000 scheduled over the summer.

Further local screenings are also planned for Solva and Cardigan in June.

Transition Bro Gwaun said the Letterston event comes at a time when communities in Pembrokeshire are facing increasing pressure from severe weather, flooding, dry spells and wildfire risks.

November and December 2025 saw flooding affect many areas, with the Met Office confirming rainfall was more than 50% above average during that period.

The group said the event was not intended to be “doom and gloom”, but would also focus on practical and hopeful responses.

Henry Tufnell MP, Pembrokeshire county councillors and town and community councillors have been invited to attend.

Tom Latter, trustee at Transition Bro Gwaun, said: “TBG welcomes the opportunity to host one of many Emergency Briefing events around the UK, addressing the climate and nature crisis.

“Co-ordinated restorative action is urgently needed, and understanding of the urgency for honest commitment to resilience planning from all branches of society.”

Free tickets are available through Transition Bro Gwaun, and refreshments will be provided.

New Foal at Dyfed Shire Horse Farm

Dyfed Shire Horse farm has announced the arrival of its third foal of 2026.

The colt was born on May 7 — election day — but the announcement was delayed after a worrying start.

The farm said his mother, Morgana, had no milk or colostrum, meaning the foal has had to be bottle-fed every two

hours since birth.

Staff say he is now getting stronger every day, has a surrogate mare for company, and is becoming a “cheeky chappie” who loves seeing the milk bottle.

Visitors can meet the new arrival and the farm’s other foals this week at Dyfed Shire Horse Farm.

Red Line draws hundreds to Cradigan

AROUND 500 people took part in a peaceful pro-Palestine Red Line event in Cardigan on Saturday (May 23), with campaigners gathering on the banks of the River Teifi before carrying a long red fabric banner across the bridge and through the town.

The Red Line, which organisers say is the same fabric used at previous demonstrations outside the Houses of Parliament, the Senedd, Carmarthen and Aberystwyth, was described as a peaceful symbol of opposition to the war in Gaza.

Palestinian flags were carried through the streets, with singing and chanting as the march made its way through Cardigan.

One of the most moving moments came outside Cardigan Library, where the names and ages of Palestinian children and babies killed in Gaza were read out to a silent crowd.

The event ended with speakers at Cambrian Quay.

The Red Line was later taken on

A welsh flavour at the Llandeilo Antiques and Vintage Fair

THE next Antiques and Vintage fair to be held at the Civic Hall Llandeilo, will be on Saturday 6 th June and will definitely have all the variety that we come to expect from this quality fair.It provides visitors with inspiration and a choice of antiques and vintage on offer , at affordable prices.

The Llandeilo Antiques fair can be located in the heart of Llandeilo, close to the main car park.Here you will find a bustling, vibrant Fair with lots of antiques and vintage to whet your appetite. The fair now includes a vintage element with a touch of retro and some impressive outside stands.

Being a Welsh Fair it is understandable that there should be a good selection of Welsh items on offer. Whether it’s an original Welsh watercolour or oil painting or a piece of Welsh pottery or examples of Welsh textiles, visitors will be surprised by the variety on offer.The Welsh Sampler , a hand made embroidered picture ,stitched in colourful yarns,is a typical example of Welsh folk art and has become highly collected.

The next Antiques and Vintage fair to be held at the Civic Hall Llandeilo, will be on Saturday 4 th April and will definitely have an Easter flavour. The fair provides visitors with inspiration and a choice of antiques and vintage at affordable prices.

The Antiques fair can be located in the heart of Llandeilo, close to the main car park.Here you will find a bustling, vibrant Fair with lots of antiques and vintage to whet your appetite. The fair now includes a vintage element with a touch of retro and some impressive outside stands.

Being a Welsh Fair it is understandable that there should be a good selection of Welsh items on offer. Whether it’s an original Welsh

watercolour or oil painting or a piece of Welsh pottery or examples of Welsh textiles, visitors will be surprised by the variety on offer

While embroidery is a craft going back thousands of years, the history of Embroidery Stitch Samplers starts in Europe during the Renaissance.

The word “sampler” derives from the Latin exemplum via the French essamplaire –meaning “example.” These samplers functioned as practice pieces, a way for stitchers to learn stitches and, once completed, served as a reference guide for future projects.

Before the introduction of printed designs, embroiderers and lacemakers needed a way to record and reference different designs, stitches and effects.

The answer was to create a sampler – a personal reference work featuring patterns and elements that the owner may have learned or copied from others, to recreate again in new pieces.

Such stitch and pattern collections may have been assembled in a number of cultures where decorative needlework was widely practised. Early examples rarely survive, but the quality of the oldest surviving samplers suggests they were made by experienced hands, as well as children, (in many cultures learning needlework was an important part of a young girl’s education). The earliest were found in Egyptian burial grounds, and probably date from the 14th or 15th centuries.

Samplers date back to the 15th

century and were used as a way of practising the needlework necessary to decorate items such as clothing, tapestries, fire-screens and bed linens in the home.

A needlework sampler is essentially a piece of embroidery or cross-stitching that demonstrates a person’s needlework skill. They often include the alphabet, figures, motifs, decorative borders or sometimes text.

Seen today as antique folk art, samplers are very unique and very personal. They are often dated and include the name of the person who did the stitching, giving a fascinating snapshot of a young person in an era that we rarely see

The earliest dated cross stitch sampler currently known is held at the

Victoria and Albert Museum. It was made by an English girl, Jane Bosticke with the date 1598 embroidered onto the piece.

Silk thread was used to stitch onto linen. In her work, Jane depicts floral and animal motifs as well as an alphabet, suggesting that she had access to a very early pattern book. In addition to demonstrating cross stitch and backstitch, she included satin, chain, ladder, buttonhole, two-sided Italian crosses and bullion, as well as french knots.

In the sampler below, there’s a square of letters and geometrics and then several motifs. It served as a record of patterns and elements the original stitcher learned or copied–and can now restitch in new pieces.

Spot samplers are filled with randomly placed motifs as on this piece with its assorted geometric and floral motifs.

In the 18th century, English sampler formats evolved to be something for display rather than pieces to be rolled

up and kept for reference.

Alphabets and repeating patterns were still included with verses added along with favorite themes of a house and garden.

In a band sampler, the embroidery is done in rows of different stitches and motifs. Each row (or band) gives the stitcher a spot to experiment with a variety of techniques, from basic to complex.

The sampler above is a 19 th century band sampler on natural linen stitched in three sections or bands. The first is filled with alphabets. Alphabets were practiced by a stitcher often for the marking of linens to be returned after washing.

Welsh samplers, particularly those from the 19th century, are cherished as unique folk art, often featuring vibrant wool thread on canvas known as “Welsh Woollies”. Distinctive for their bright colors, large-meshed canvas, and motifs like churches, birds, and stylized plants, they often highlight Welsh language, culture, and local

landmarks.

19th Century “Woollies”: Unlike earlier, more delicate silk samplers, Welsh samplers from the latter half of the 19th century commonly used colored wools on coarse canvas. This made them accessible and reflective of local materials.Distinctive Regional Styles such as those from the Carmarthen Area which were known Known for depicting large bird motifs, paired figures (shepherds), leafy borders (often acorns), and red ruins. Anglesey were known for their Welsh language inscriptions (e.g., dated 1806) and motifs like houses, animals, and flowers.

Carmarthen, is an area in South West Wales which has a rich textile history and thousands of samplers were sewn there in the 19th century.

Many of its samplers have a pair of very large birds, sometimes the predominant motif but also accompanied by other major elements. I am not sure where the pattern originated or what sort of birds they are

but they are certainly distinctive.

By the 19th century the sampler in England had become mostly a schoolroom exercise worked almost exclusively in cross stitch.

Today, you can find hundreds of sampler-styled embroidery patterns and kits in crossstitch and still remains an enjoyable pastime

There will be a selection of samplers on display at the Llandeilo fair with Glynda Speed , one of our exhibitors ,having a fine collection on display

The Llandeilo fair has a rich cross section of antiques and vintage on display, from jewellery,watches, books, ephemera, militaria and vintage clothes and accessories. There will also be collections of glass and up cycled and pre loved furniture, plus interior design pieces. I’m sure visitors will not be disappointed with the selection on offer at this popular fair.

Homemade refreshments will be available and doors open at 10 am until 4pm.Admission is just £2 and dogs are welcome.

Why Wales could be the next energy P o W erhouse

EVERY time oil and gas prices surge, the cost lands on our doorsteps: in household bills, manufacturing costs, and government budgets thinned overnight. The recent surge, driven by tensions between the US and Iran, is just the latest reminder of how exposed we remain to energy markets that others control.

Oil prices have risen by over 50% since the start of March, with global forecasts expecting further increases. Each shock triggers the same reaction: repeated calls for investment in renewables, followed by slow progress once prices stabilise due to short-term political solutions.

But in Wales, the transition to a more energy-secure future is already well underway, making the most of its natural resources.

In 2024, Wales generated enough renewable power to meet 54% of the country’s electricity use. Just this month, it launched an even more ambitious new deal, recommitting to generating 70% of its electricity by 2030 and 100% by 2035, working in

partnership with the private sector to help deliver much of this ambition.

Wales’s unique landscape will drive this progress. Its mountains, coastlines and open land make it ideal for onshore and offshore wind, hydropower, and emerging tidal technologies, helping to reduce dependence on imported oil and gas. The latter still meets roughly 90% of Wales’s total energy demand.

However, natural advantage alone does not create a sustainable energy system capable of powering an entire nation. What matters is transferring this energy from wind farms to the Welsh businesses, homes and schools that need it.

Renewable energy can be produced in abundance in Wales, but without the infrastructure to transport it efficiently across the country, much of that potential will be wasted.

This is where Green GEN Cymru comes in. The business is tackling the most critical part of the green transition: energy distribution. It captures renewable energy generated in rural, wind-swept Wales and transports it to the communities that need it by

building resilient grid infrastructure across the country. These carefully engineered energy pathways not only reduce pressure on the existing electricity grid but also enable the future rollout of green heating and electric vehicles.

Grid infrastructure is currently a major bottleneck for Wales’s 2035 target of 100% renewable electricity, as well as meeting its wider legally binding decarbonisation goals. The real risk now is underinvestment in these critical systems. Green GEN Cymru has joined the Net Zero AllParty Parliamentary Group (APPG) to offer its expertise for the UK’s clean energy mission, but this alone will not be enough. Without serious investment in grid and other low-carbon energy infrastructure (such as carbon capture and storage and hydrogen), we will remain vulnerable when the next oil crisis arrives.

The Middle East became the international energy powerhouse we rely on today largely through geography. Wales now has a similar opportunity: to build a more

secure and independent economy through the decisions made today — through infrastructure, investment, collaboration and intent.

Wales’s success in this area would also be a success story for democracies across the globe. It could offer a model for smaller nations to drive the transition to a more energysecure future by building systems that deliver control and independence, rather than remaining at the whim of decisions made thousands of miles away in an increasingly unstable world.

Ben Burggraaf, CEO of Net Zero Industry Wales, told The Herald: “Wales has the potential to become a UK-leading clean energy transition hub, while remaining a cornerstone of the UK industrial base, producing highvalue goods and services. To fulfil this potential and secure the necessary investment, it needs home-grown, affordable energy, as well as faster and fairer access to grid capacity so industry can grow and decarbonise — protecting jobs, powering our economy and empowering Wales.”

BADGER FIRES THE STARTING PISTOL

THERE are acute staff shortages in certain clinical fields. In many areas of Wales, the viability of the social care system is being put at risk by shortages of domiciliary and residential care staff. This is largely due to pay and conditions that are often less competitive than those in low-skilled jobs in other industries, which offer a more comfortable working environment.

The scale of these challenges means the system is becoming unstable, and incremental changes to current models of care cannot resolve them. This creates an urgent need to reform services, including not only where care is delivered but also how and by whom it is delivered.

An increasing number of frail elderly people are hospital inpatients, and there are problems in discharging patients back into the community because of a lack of primary, community, and social care capacity.

Health and care are not always organised effectively around the service user’s needs. Not ‘joining up’ care can lead to numerous assessments and visits to different providers, delays in service provision, poorer outcomes, and lower patient satisfaction. It has long been recognised that separating health and social care services at the point of delivery creates problems.

Apologies for the long introduction, readers. Badger knows that none of the above will be new to you. However, it came as a horrible surprise to Labour at May’s election.

It shouldn’t have. The opening four paragraphs are culled from a Welsh Government report published in 2017 and presented to the thenWelsh Assembly by then-Health Minister Vaughan Gething. The closer integration of health and social care and their reorganisation into a single system of seamless care were promised, endorsed by all parties in the Assembly, and then reduced to a policy document called “A Healthier Wales”, produced in 2018.

The document proposed solutions to staffing problems, methods for handling increased demand for clinical and social services by an ageing population, the provision of enough beds in hospitals, and a host of other initiatives to help the Welsh NHS continue its inexorable rate of improvements in services, of

which Vaughan Gething (whatever happened to him?) and a troupe of Welsh Government ministers spoke ceaselessly when given the chance.

And, of course, having delivered unending improvements (on their own account since time immemorial), Labour had every expectation that a grateful Welsh public, overcome with joy at visible, tangible, and not at all imaginary improvements in Wales’s health and social care services.

Ho ho ho.

Badger mentions all of this in light of the ongoing crises in the Welsh NHS and the haphazard, underfunded delivery of social care in Wales. Oh, and demands that Plaid get on with clearing and de-odourising the shitheap Labour left behind.

If the above sounds like kicking Labour while it’s down, good.

Badger says that because of one tiny fact. The document “A Healthier Wales” was updated regularly. At the top of the list of priorities in the last update is unrelated to the direct care of NHS patients or solving the problems in delivering social care. No, readers. It’s decarbonising the NHS.

Badger feels justified in deploying an abbreviation: FFS!

Badger regards major reform

of health and social care as both desperately needed and long overdue. However, change will take time. The question is not necessarily where one ends up but where one starts.

Badger’s solution is both radical and commonsensical. If NHS care and social care are to be truly integrated, you don’t need seven local health boards, three NHS trusts, four special bodies, and an NHS Executive combined with twenty-two local authorities to deliver them. The duplication of effort, the added complexity with multiple bodies, and the waste of money and manpower suggest a solution.

Firstly, remove responsibility for the provision of adult social care services from local authorities. Secondly, introduce a single national body responsible for all NHS and social care. Rationalise the provision of primary healthcare by forgetting county borders (a misbegotten way of arranging services if ever there was one) and focusing on physical and human geography.

South East Wales no more needs four health boards in such a confined area than this paper’s editor requires a further hole in his head. Similarly, rural Wales needs services designed specifically to address the challenges

of rural life and infrastructure, rather than wishful thinking about technological solutions or centralising services located miles from where they’re needed.

Labour forgot that over threequarters of Wales is rural, and is home to around a quarter of its population. That’s a population spread thinly over a large area, much of it consisting of small, remote settlements. Solutions that work for Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, or Wrexham do not translate across such a sparsely populated hinterland.

Using 22 local authorities to deliver social care creates a ridiculous situation in which the cost of delivering the same care under more or less identical circumstances varies from council to council.

That is ludicrous.

Some local authorities in North Wales pay more than forty per cent less for care than those in South Wales. Care delivered on the cheap drives care and nursing homes out of business in places where demand is high. The upshot is that people who need social care and are fit to be discharged from a hospital cannot leave because there is nowhere safe for them to go - even if that’s to their own homes.

One minimum wage for care staff has a corollary: one standard price paid to their employers for delivering care. That is such a basic financial point that even Mark Drakeford should grasp it. Although Badger suspects a few former Health Ministers would need it explained to them with matchsticks.

Plaid knows what the issues are. Rhun ap Iorweth certainly should, as he was the Plaid health spokesperson who questioned Vaughan Gething about the Healthier Wales strategy. If he wasn’t posing while he did so, he knows where to focus. Mabon ap Gwynfor, the current Health Minister, certainly must know. Otherwise, everything he said in opposition was just noise for the sake of it.

The 2017 report and subsequent policy document set out what the current Welsh Government must do: implement them and make them work. No more deep dives, inquiries, or consultations. The time for action is now, and the need for action is urgent. Get on with it.

Concern as business confidence falls sharply in Wales

BUSINESS confidence in Wales fell sharply in May, despite an improvement in sentiment across the UK as a whole, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds.

The survey found that confidence among Welsh firms dropped by 15 points during the month to 23%, down

from 38% in April.

Companies reported weaker confidence in their own trading prospects, which fell by 11 points to 35%. Optimism in the wider economy also declined, dropping by 19 points to 11%.

The figures contrast with the UKwide picture, where overall business

confidence rose by three points in May to 47%.

Lloyds said Wales has recorded an average confidence reading of 42% over the past year. Its highest figure during that period was 76% in July 2025, while the lowest was 17% in November.

Despite the fall, Welsh businesses are still looking to invest over the next six months. The most common priority was investing in staff, including training, cited by 45% of firms. This was followed by sustainability measures at 38%, and new technology such as AI and automation at 33%.

Nathan Morgan, Area Director for Wales at Lloyds, said: “Confidence may have fallen this month, but with summer drawing near, many businesses across Wales will be about to enter their peak season.

“They’re doing so with clear priorities to invest in their teams, new technology or sustainability measures, and we’ll be there to support their ambitions.”

Across the UK, firms’ trading outlook rose by four points to 58%, while optimism in the economy increased by two points to 35%.

Lloyds said 66% of UK businesses

expect stronger output over the year ahead, while 8% expect activity to weaken. The main concerns for firms expecting a fall in activity were economic uncertainty, higher cost pressures and weaker customer demand.

Business confidence rose in seven of the twelve UK regions and nations in May, while falling in four. Northern Ireland recorded notable gains, while the North East and West Midlands were among the most confident regions.

Amanda Murphy, CEO for Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking, said: “Business confidence edged up modestly in May, suggesting firms are beginning to steady after April’s decline.

“This month, confidence levels from businesses in the North East particularly stand out. It’s also reassuring to see that increased confidence from the construction sector has brought them more in line with their retail, services and manufacturing counterparts.”

The Lloyds Business Barometer surveys 1,200 businesses each month and has been running since 2002. The May survey was carried out by Ipsos between April 30 and May 18, and included 48 businesses in Wales.

Summer coastal bus services return to Pembrokeshire

DAILY coastal bus services have returned to Pembrokeshire for the summer, giving residents and visitors an easier way to explore the county’s coastline without relying on cars.

The seasonal services began operating on Friday (May 23) and will run daily until Saturday, September 27.

The Puffin Shuttle, service 400, operated by Richards Bros, links St Davids and Marloes, taking in Broad Haven, Little Haven, St Brides, Marloes and Martins Haven, the departure point for boat trips to Skomer Island.

The Strumble Shuttle, service 404, also operated by Richards Bros, follows the coast road between St Davids and Fishguard, with stops including Abereiddy, Porthgain and Strumble Head.

The Coastal Cruiser, services 387 and 388, operated by Pembrokeshire County Council around the Angle Peninsula, has also moved to its summer timetable.

The Celtic Coaster, service 403, operated by Sarah Bell, is running an enhanced half-hourly timetable around the St Davids Peninsula during half term, from May 23 to May 31, and again throughout July and August.

The services are delivered through the Pembrokeshire Greenways Partnership, with funding from Pembrokeshire County Council, the Welsh Government and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Tom Sinclair

editor@herald.email

Councillor Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents Services, said:

“Our coastal bus services are a key part of our local bus network, making it easy for both locals and visitors to get around the Pembrokeshire coast without having to use a car.”

Extra services will also be available in the Tenby area this summer.

The Tenby Coaster, operated by First Cymru, will return daily from Saturday, May 30, to Sunday, August 30, running between Tenby and Saundersfoot. Service 351, operated by Taf Valley, will provide additional journeys between Kilgetty and Tenby from Saturday, July 18, to Monday, August 31, including a return journey on Sundays. More information about these and other bus services serving the Pembrokeshire Coast will be available

in the new 2026 Coastal Bus timetable booklet, which will be distributed through local libraries and information centres.

Copies can also be requested by emailing public.transport@ pembrokeshire.gov.uk or calling 01437 764551.

Timetables can be downloaded from Pembrokeshire County Council’s website.

gaming

fEW games from the early CD-ROM era carry the same strange aura as The 7th Guest, and the remake manages to capture that eerie identity while modernising just enough of the experience to make it feel relevant again. Rather than trying to completely reinvent the original, the remake leans heavily into its gothic atmosphere, bizarre dream logic, and theatrical horror, creating an experience that feels like stepping into an interactive haunted house where every room hides another unsettling mystery. The mansion itself remains the true star of the game, dripping with oppressive ambience, creaking corridors, flickering shadows, and an ever-present sense that something terrible happened long before the player arrived. The remake’s visuals elevate that feeling dramatically, replacing the limitations of the original fMV presentation with richly detailed environments and far more immersive cinematic sequences that still retain the campy charm fans remember.

What makes the game stand out most is how confidently it embraces its old-school identity. Modern horror games often rely on jump scares, relentless chase sequences, or excessive violence, but this remake builds tension through mood and curiosity instead. Exploring the mansion becomes genuinely absorbing because every puzzle solved reveals another fragment of the twisted history surrounding Henry Stauf and his unfortunate guests. The storytelling is melodramatic and occasionally overacted, but that theatrical style becomes

part of the appeal rather than a weakness. The game understands that it is supposed to feel uncanny and slightly surreal, almost like an interactive ghost story told around a candlelit table.

The puzzles are where opinions will likely divide the most. Some are brilliantly creative and deeply satisfying, demanding careful observation and lateral thinking, while others drift dangerously close to frustration. Still, the remake does a far better job balancing challenge and accessibility than many classic puzzle adventures ever managed. There is a strong sense of accomplishment when solutions finally click into place, and the variety keeps the pacing fresh throughout the experience. One moment you are deciphering visual clues hidden within paintings, the next you are manipulating strange mechanisms or piecing together abstract logic problems. The best puzzles feel naturally connected to the mansion and its inhabitants, strengthening immersion instead of interrupting it.

The sound design deserves enormous praise as well. The mansion constantly groans and whispers around the player, while the soundtrack carefully

blends nostalgia with modern horror sensibilities. Music rises and fades at exactly the right moments, adding unease without overwhelming the quieter scenes. Combined with the atmospheric lighting and haunting environmental effects, the remake often feels genuinely hypnotic. Even when little is happening, simply wandering the halls can feel tense because the game maintains such a thick sense of dread.

What ultimately makes the remake successful is that it respects the spirit of the original without becoming trapped by nostalgia. It understands why people loved the original game in the first place: not because it was flawless, but because it felt unique, experimental, and deeply atmospheric. The remake preserves that identity while smoothing away many of the rough edges that made older adventure games difficult for modern audiences to revisit. It is not perfect, and a handful of puzzles and technical hiccups can interrupt the flow, but when the game is at its best it delivers a wonderfully creepy blend of mystery, horror, and puzzle-solving that very few games attempt anymore.

THERE is something wonderfully unapologetic about Masters of the Universe.

In an era where so many legacy franchises try to sand away their stranger edges in pursuit of gritty realism, this film charges in with a giant broadsword, a thunderous synth-rock score and enough cosmic fantasy spectacle to remind audiences why He-Man became such an icon in the first place. Director Travis Knight understands exactly what made the original property endure across generations and, rather than mocking its pulpy fantasy roots, embraces them with absolute conviction. The result is a gloriously oversized adventure that feels like an ‘80s Saturday morning cartoon given blockbuster scale without losing its sense of fun.

Nicholas Galitzine proves to be a surprisingly effective Prince Adam, balancing self-doubt, humour and heroic charisma in a performance that sells both the reluctant outsider and the mythic warrior he becomes. Physically he looks the part, but more importantly he gives the character an emotional core that keeps the film grounded even when giant beasts, glowing swords and interdimensional battles take over the screen. Opposite him, Jared Leto leans fully into the theatrical madness of Skeletor, delivering a villain performance that is flamboyant,

sinister and knowingly overthe-top in exactly the right way. Every scene involving Skeletor crackles with chaotic energy, and the film is smart enough to let him be both genuinely threatening and wildly entertaining.

Visually, the movie embraces colour and imagination in a way modern fantasy films often avoid. Eternia feels alive, packed with towering castles, volcanic wastelands and glowing ancient technology that creates a world with real personality. The action sequences are fast, inventive and satisfyingly grand, especially whenever the Sword of Power comes into play. Rather than drowning everything in darkness and CGI noise, the film keeps its imagery bold and readable, allowing the audience to enjoy the sheer spectacle. There is also an infectious sincerity running throughout the story; the movie believes in heroism, destiny and friendship without irony, which makes the emotional moments land more effectively than expected.What truly elevates the film, though, is its tone. It never becomes embarrassed by its own mythology. Battle cries, ridiculous fantasy names and massive musclebound warriors are treated with complete confidence, and that confidence becomes contagious. The humour works because it grows naturally out of the characters rather than constantly undercutting the drama, and the pacing rarely lets

the energy drop. Even viewers with little attachment to the original franchise will likely find themselves swept along by the sheer enthusiasm of it all.

Not every element works perfectly. Some supporting characters are underused, and a few story beats follow familiar fantasy blockbuster formulas. There are moments where the film threatens to become too crowded with lore and sequel setup, but it usually recovers quickly by returning focus to Adam’s journey and the central battle against Skeletor. Fortunately, the movie’s sense of momentum and spectacle carries it through any rough patches.

Ultimately, Masters of the Universe succeeds because it understands the assignment better than many modern franchise revivals. It is loud, colourful, heroic and gloriously ridiculous in the best possible way. Rather than trying to reinvent He-Man for cynical modern tastes, it celebrates everything that made the character memorable while giving him enough emotional depth and cinematic scale to feel relevant again. For longtime fans, it feels like seeing a childhood imagination fully realised on the big screen. For newcomers, it is simply a wildly entertaining fantasy adventure with enough heart, action and personality to stand proudly on its own.

Tech and Taff

AI is cracking old secrets - history may never be the same again

FROM the dusty back rooms of the Vatican library to the love letters of longdead Germans, artificial intelligence has now started poking its digital nose into places where, frankly, no laptop from Currys had any business going.

And I must say, butt, it is absolutely marvellous.

For years, historians have known that libraries and archives around the world contain thousands of mysterious old documents written in secret codes, strange symbols, invented alphabets and, in some cases, handwriting so terrible it makes a doctor’s prescription look like calligraphy.

These were not just doodles from bored monks, either. They include diplomatic secrets, medical recipes, love letters, military plots, occult rituals, secret society rules and private messages from people who very much did not want Dai Public reading them over breakfast.

Now AI is helping to crack them open.

One remarkable example is the Borg cipher, a 408-page manuscript kept in the Vatican archives. It had sat unread for more than 400 years, covered in odd symbols and a few Roman letters, with no known key to unlock it.

Researchers using machine learning have now decoded it and discovered that it contained medical remedies, including some rather questionable treatments involving red wine, nutmeg and other things which would probably have Hywel Dda issuing a stern warning before lunchtime.

But this is not just about finding out that someone in the 1600s thought the answer to dysentery was a nice glass of Merlot and a lump of fermented spice. It is about something much bigger. For centuries, history has been shaped by what we can read. If a document was written clearly, preserved properly and understandable to modern

libraries and archives may be fully or partly encrypted. That might not sound like much, but when you consider the sheer size of global archives, it is an enormous hidden mountain of information.

Some of it may be dull, of course. There is every chance AI will spend six weeks cracking a mysterious medieval code only to discover it says: “Please send more turnips. Brother Gerald has eaten the last ones.”

scholars, it could become part of the historical record. If it was encrypted, damaged, written in a forgotten script or hidden behind a cipher, it often remained silent.

AI is now giving those silent documents a voice.

This is where the computer scientist in me gets very excited and the historian in me starts spilling tea down his cardigan.

Traditional codebreaking relies on patience, expertise and pattern spotting.

A human cryptologist might spend months comparing symbols, counting how often they appear, guessing whether one sign represents an “e”, another a “t”, and whether the person who wrote the thing was being clever, careless, drunk, or all three.

AI can do some of that work at speed. It can scan vast amounts of text, detect recurring symbols, compare patterns and suggest likely matches. It can help transcribe old handwriting into machinereadable text. It can even, in some cases, combine transcription and decryption in one process.

That does not mean the machine is suddenly Indiana Jones with a graphics card.

Human experts are still essential. AI can spot patterns, but historians understand context. Linguists understand old grammar. Cryptologists understand tricks, decoys and deliberate misdirection. A machine may suggest a solution, but a human still has to ask: does this make sense, or has the computer just produced confident nonsense?

And that, butt, is the great danger with AI in almost every field. It is brilliant at sounding certain. It is not always brilliant at being right.

Still, used properly, this technology could be revolutionary.

One estimate suggests that around one per cent of the material in the world’s

But some of it could change history.

Coded letters from Mary Queen of Scots have already shown how encrypted material can reshape our understanding of famous figures and political plots. Other documents may reveal forgotten alliances, private betrayals, medical knowledge, religious disputes, love affairs or scandals that were deliberately hidden from public view.

In Wales, we should be especially interested in this.

Our own history is full of manuscripts, marginal notes, local records, chapel documents, estate papers and letters that have not always received the attention they deserve. Not all are encrypted, of course, but many are difficult to read, badly catalogued, fragile or written in forms of Welsh, Latin or English that modern readers struggle with.

Imagine AI tools trained not just on standard English, but on Welsh manuscripts, old legal records, chapel minutes and local newspaper archives. Imagine being able to search forgotten documents from Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire or Pembrokeshire and uncover details about ordinary people whose lives never made it into grand national histories.

That is the bit I find most exciting.

Technology is often sold to us as something shiny and future-facing: faster phones, smarter fridges, cars that beep at you because you dared reverse near a hedge. But sometimes the best use of new technology is not to look forward, but to look backwards more clearly.

AI could help us understand who we were.

It could help small communities recover lost stories. It could help museums and archives make hidden collections accessible. It could help students explore local history without needing a PhD in paleography, Latin and “what on earth does that squiggle

mean?”

But we must be careful. History is not a puzzle game. These documents belonged to real people. Some contained secrets for a reason. Love letters, private confessions, medical records and political plots all raise ethical questions. Just because AI can decode something does not automatically mean we should splash it across the internet with a laughing emoji.

There is also the risk of treating AI as magic. It is not. It needs training data. It needs experts. It needs checking, correction and caution. If the original manuscript is damaged, ambiguous or written in a language the system does not understand, the result may be partial or wrong.

A bad AI translation of a medieval letter could be worse than no translation at all, especially if it leads people to publish wild claims. Before you know it, Facebook will be full of posts saying: “AI proves Owain Glyndŵr invented Wi-Fi.”

He did not, butt. Though I have no doubt he would have demanded better rural broadband.

The real promise here is partnership. Human expertise plus machine speed. Historians, archivists, linguists and computer scientists working together. The machine does the heavy lifting; the human asks the intelligent questions.

That is when AI is at its best.

Not replacing people. Not pretending to be cleverer than everyone. Not churning out fake essays or customer service apologies beginning “We’re sorry you feel that way.”

But helping us do work that was previously too slow, too difficult or too vast.

Somewhere in an archive, perhaps in Rome, Stockholm, Paris, Aberystwyth or even a forgotten box in a county record office, there may be a letter nobody has read for 400 years. It may contain a royal plot, a medical cure, a confession, a joke, a recipe, or simply a lonely person telling someone they were loved.

For centuries, that voice has been locked behind symbols.

Now, for the first time, a machine may help us hear it.

And that, butt, is not just clever computing.

That is time travel with a keyboard.

CliCk to

THERE is something undeniably refreshing about Spider-Noir because it never tries to behave like the polished, interconnected superhero machine audiences have become used to over the last decade. Instead, it embraces smoky noir storytelling, pulp detective fiction and Nicolas Cage’s wonderfully unpredictable screen presence, creating a series that feels less like another carefully manufactured comic-book adaptation and more like a forgotten 1940s crime serial dragged into the modern streaming era. From its opening moments, the show establishes a world drenched in rain, corruption and moral decay, where every alleyway seems to hide another secret and every character appears to be carrying some form of personal regret. Set in a grim version of 1930s New York, the story follows Ben Reilly, a weary private investigator haunted by both his failures and his former life as a masked vigilante, and it quickly becomes clear that atmosphere matters just as much as the plot itself. The show is less interested in nonstop action than it is in mood, character and tension, which gives it a far more distinctive identity than many recent superhero television projects. Nicolas Cage delivers exactly the kind of performance audiences would expect from him, swinging wildly between restrained emotional

vulnerability and moments of complete theatrical intensity. In lesser hands the character could easily have become parody, but Cage somehow manages to keep Spider-Noir compelling even during the show’s most eccentric scenes. His gravelly narration, exhausted expressions and sudden bursts of manic energy fit perfectly within the heightened noir tone, making him feel like a tragic detective from a classic hard-boiled novel rather than a conventional superhero. There are moments where the dialogue borders on melodrama, yet the series leans into that exaggerated style so confidently that it becomes part of its appeal.

Cage’s performance is strange, unpredictable and occasionally excessive, but it is never dull, and that unpredictability gives the series an energy that many safer Marvel projects lack.

Visually, Spider-Noir is arguably one of the most striking comic-book television series released in years. The black-andwhite presentation is more than a gimmick; it becomes essential to the storytelling. Heavy shadows, cigarette smoke, flickering neon signs and expressionistic lighting combine to create imagery that often feels closer to classic noir cinema than modern superhero entertainment. Every rooftop chase, interrogation scene and dimly lit office conversation is framed with genuine stylistic

HOROSCOPES

ambition. Even viewers who choose the colour version are treated to a hyper-saturated comic-book aesthetic that still feels unique compared to the flatter, more artificial visual style dominating many streaming productions. The cinematography constantly reinforces the sense of isolation and paranoia hanging over the city, while the jazz-infused soundtrack gives the series an almost hypnotic rhythm that suits its slower, more deliberate pacing.

Supporting performances from Lamorne Morris and Brendan Gleeson help ground the series emotionally and prevent it from becoming entirely consumed by Cage’s larger-than-life presence. Their characters add depth to the world and provide some of the show’s strongest dramatic moments, particularly when the story explores themes of loyalty, corruption and personal compromise. One of the series’ greatest strengths is that it avoids drowning itself in endless multiverse references, forced cameos or franchise setup. Instead, it focuses on telling a contained story about guilt, redemption and the psychological toll of living behind a mask. That decision gives Spider-Noir a far more mature emotional core than many of its Marvel contemporaries, allowing quieter scenes to carry as much weight as the action sequences.

talk in order to smooth over a sensitive topic. To counteract potential problems or conflicts, try to avoid whatever makes you uncomfortable or puts you in a negative state of mind.

VIRGO

Most of your opinions have been formed over the years by life experiences and true passion, but that doesn’t mean that they are never due for revision. Changing your mind (for the right reasons) is never a sign of weakness. In fact, it is a sign of maturity and intelligence. So keep your mind open today and be willing to reevaluate some long-held beliefs. Things have been shifting in your life, and your perspectives need to adapt to those changes.

LIBRA

From dawn to dusk today, you will have all the energy you need to stay focused and in control. This is a day when any collaborations you make will have the greatest chance of being successful. Working with others will involve a real, respectful exchange of ideas. You won’t have to worry about any power grabs. You’re gaining a growing understanding of your situation, and that is giving you more confidence and a better strategy for figuring out what to do next.

SCORPIO

Someone close to you needs you to give them something, and it could be a gesture or commitment you are not ready to give. So instead of simply giving them what they want, you need to teach them how to find it for themselves. Over the years you have learned a lot about getting what you want, so why not share that with them? You may be telling them something that they don’t want to hear, but in the end, it will be better for both of you if you put yourself first, at least for now.

SAGITTARIUS

Where’s the fire? There is no reason to rush through this day. Whether you’re egged on by your own expectations or by annoying peer pressure, there’s no good reason not to take things slowly. If you have some exciting plans for this evening that’s fine, but that doesn’t mean you should forget about what is going on during the day. Everything and everyone you encounter is worth your full attention. You’re sure to learn something in the course of your day that will enrich you.

CAPRICORN

Be careful with what you say today, and keep in mind that eavesdropping is a popular pastime for the folks around you. They’re all hungry for information and gossip. Not only do you need to be conservative in what you say, but you have to be thorough as well, which is a tricky proposition. Organize your thoughts and say what needs to be said and nothing more. If you make sure you cover all your bases, you’ll

Choir to sing at ten bandstands in one day for Alzheimer’s charity

A WELSH male voice choir will sing at ten bandstands in one day as part of an ambitious charity challenge across South Wales.

Côr Meibion De Cymru, the South Wales Male Choir, will begin its Ten Bandstands Challenge at The Rath in Milford Haven at 7:00am on Sunday, May 31.

The choir will then travel east, performing short concerts at Tenby, Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Llandeilo, Neath, Barry Island, Penarth and Newport before finishing at Victoria Park in Cardiff at around 8:00pm.

The event is being held in aid of Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, with organisers aiming to raise £5,000.

The choir says the challenge is intended to create a “red wave of singing” across South Wales, while celebrating the Welsh male voice choir tradition and showing that it remains a powerful part of Welsh cultural life.

The full schedule is:

• Milford Haven, The Rath: 7:00am to 7:20am

• Tenby, Castle Hill: 8:25am to

8:45am

• Carmarthen, Carmarthen Park: 9:55am to 10:15am

• Kidwelly, Parc Y Bocs: 11:00am to 11:20am

• Llandeilo, Penlan Park: 12:30pm to 1:00pm

• Neath, Victoria Gardens: 2:00pm to 2:20pm

• Barry Island, Friars Road: 3:55pm to 4:20pm

• Penarth, Windsor Gardens: 5:10pm to 5:30pm

• Newport, Belle Vue Park: 6:35pm to 6:55pm

• Cardiff, Victoria Park: 7:50pm to 8:10pm

Organisers say timings may vary slightly depending on traffic on the day.

The challenge is being promoted as a celebration of music, community and Welsh identity, while raising money for a cause that affects families across Wales.

More information and donations are available through the choir’s JustGiving campaign.

a Process meant to Protect Public trust has instead exPosed hoW Procedure can be WeaPonised

against common sense

THERE are moments in local government when procedure becomes so detached from common sense that the public is entitled to ask what on earth is going on.

The standards case against Cllr Alan Dennison is one of them.

After hours of submissions, bundle references, disputed facts, arguments over “pp” signatures, and discussion of whether a councillor sat in a public gallery or took part in a meeting, the committee reached its conclusion: Cllr Dennison breached the Code because he had no dispensation and made a written representation.

Technically, perhaps.

But practically? Politically? In the real world?

This whole affair looks like a ridiculous waste of time.

Let us remember what this was actually about. It was not about Cllr Dennison sitting on a planning committee and voting to benefit a friend. It was not about him secretly pushing through a planning application. It was not about him making money, taking a payment, or deciding the outcome.

It was about a form.

Lee Bridges wanted a planning matter concerning the former Masonic Hall, also known commercially as the Imperial Hall, in Milford Haven, to go before councillors rather than be decided by officers. The application

concerned retrospective works for an external dining area at a GradeII-listed building in Hamilton Terrace — a long-running dispute which had already become bogged down in enforcement issues, conservation arguments, officer reports and bureaucracy.

The Herald has previously reported how the call for the matter to be considered by councillors was narrowly defeated at the Planning Delegation Panel, with the chair using a casting vote. The application was later refused by officers, with concerns raised over the listed building, conservation area, design, and the lack of a Green Infrastructure Statement.

Whatever view anyone takes of the planning merits, this was not a trivial issue for the business. Mr Bridges said it affected jobs, money, and the future of a venue in Milford Haven.

His elected local member was Cllr Terry Davies. Mr Bridges says he dealt with Cllr Davies, not Cllr Dennison. Cllr Davies, because of family circumstances, was struggling to complete the required paperwork. So he asked Cllr Dennison, a fellow councillor, to help.

Cllr Dennison signed the form “pp” on behalf of Cllr Davies.

That is the heart of it.

Cllr Dennison’s argument was simple: if Terry Davies had signed the same document himself, nobody

The committee was told there was another constitutional route available if a local member could not act. But if that route existed, why was it not clearly pointed out at the time? Why did officers accept the form as submitted? Why is the councillor now being punished for a process County Hall itself allowed to proceed?

That is the part that sticks in the throat.

Standards processes exist to protect public trust. They are supposed to deal with serious misconduct, abuse of office, bullying, corruption, dishonesty, or behaviour that brings public life into disrepute.

They should not be used to turn technical procedural disputes into courtroom dramas.

would be here. The council accepted the form. The matter, if successful, would still only have gone before the proper planning process. Dennison would not have decided the application.

That should have been the end of it.

Instead, a standards process was allowed to grind on.

The Ombudsman and the committee focused on Dennison’s relationship with Mr Bridges. Yes, they knew each other. Yes, Dennison had loaned money during Covid, which was repaid. Yes, he was briefly recorded as a non-executive director. Yes, there were social and family links.

Those facts explain why caution was needed. They do not, by themselves, prove a corrupt or improper outcome.

Mr Bridges was clear. Dennison was never a shareholder, never an employee, received no salary, no dividends, and had no operational role in the business. Bridges said Dennison had not represented him in the planning process and had only helped because Cllr Davies asked him to complete paperwork.

Cllr Hugh Murphy made an important point too: a document signed “pp” belongs to the person on whose behalf it is signed. His evidence was that the referral was Terry Davies’ referral, not Dennison’s.

There was no evidence that Dennison decided the planning application. No evidence he voted on it. No evidence he stood to benefit financially from the outcome. No evidence he was hiding his relationship with Bridges.

What there was, instead, was a councillor helping another councillor complete a form, in a case where the applicant was entitled to seek democratic scrutiny.

If this is what now counts as a standards scandal, then County Hall has lost sight of proportion.

The public will not look at this and think confidence in democracy has been restored. Many will look at it and think the opposite: that the standards system has become another weapon in the endless trench warfare of Pembrokeshire politics.

Mr Bridges called it a personal campaign against Cllr Dennison. Those are his words. But after sitting through the evidence, it is not difficult to understand why he feels that way.

The tragedy is that all this time, public money, legal argument and officer effort has been spent not on improving services, fixing planning delays, helping struggling businesses, or making decisions clearer - but on dissecting who signed a form and whether “pp” really means what everyone knows it means.

County Hall may have got its technical breach.

But common sense lost.

Humiliated abroad, America eyes Cuba for an easy scrap

SQUAWK! Pull up a bollard, butt, because there’s trouble brewing again — and not the sort caused by Barry from Hakin trying to reverse his van after six pints of bitter.

Down Milford Docks, us gulls know a thing or two about bullies.

You see it every day. Big gull gets embarrassed after losing a scrap over a dropped chip. Next thing, instead of facing the bird that gave him a hiding, he flaps off looking for some smaller, weaker gull to throw his weight around with. Makes him feel important again, see. Puffs his chest out, does the angry squawk, pretends he’s king of the harbour.

That, dear readers, is what America looks like to this old dockside seagull right now.

After getting a bloody nose in the Middle East and looking far less mighty than it likes to pretend, Washington suddenly seems to have rediscovered Cuba — as if the little Caribbean island has spent the last few months plotting world domination instead of trying to keep the lights on.

Now, I’m no fancy foreign affairs expert. I’m a Milford Haven seagull who lives down by the docks, pinches the odd chip, and keeps one eye on the fishing boats and the other on humanity making a glorious mess of itself. But even I can smell when something fishy is going on — and this stinks worse than forgotten mackerel left in the sun behind the fish market.

Suddenly, America is charging Cuba’s former leader, Raúl Castro, over events that happened thirty years ago. Suddenly, there are whispers about military drones and supposed threats to the American naval base at Guantánamo Bay. Suddenly, aircraft carriers are bobbing around the Caribbean like oversized floating shopping centres.

Funny timing, that.

Whenever politicians start muttering about “threats” and “security”, old Stephen starts fluffing his feathers nervously. Because history tells us that usually means somebody, somewhere, is about to get flattened.

We’ve seen this play before.

Remember Iraq? “Weapons of mass destruction,” they said. Turned out there weren’t any. But by then the bombs had already fallen, lives had been destroyed, and entire cities left in ruins.

Then came Afghanistan — twenty years of war ending with everyone packing up and quietly pretending it had all gone brilliantly.

Libya? Chaos.

Venezuela? Constant threats and failed

plots.

And now Cuba again.

You’ve got to admire the persistence, mind. America seems incapable of accepting that a small island ninety miles from Florida has spent decades politely refusing to do what it’s told.

For years, Washington has tried to squeeze Cuba into submission with sanctions, embargoes and economic pressure. The idea seems simple enough: make life hard enough for ordinary people until they eventually turn on their own government.

Problem is, ordinary folk are the ones who suffer.

Not the politicians.

Not the military chiefs.

Not the billionaires.

The people.

Taxi drivers paying ridiculous fuel prices. Families struggling to find food. Hospitals short of medicine. Doctors unable to travel to work because petrol costs more than wages.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking.

“Stephen, Cuba’s no paradise either.”

No, butt — course it isn’t.

Cuba has serious problems. Its government has plenty to answer for, and there are Cubans themselves who are fed up, frustrated, angry, and desperate for change. You don’t need a seagull columnist to tell you that.

But here’s the thing that rattles my feathers: starving a country, choking its

economy, and then pointing at the misery saying, “Look how terrible they are!” feels a bit like smashing someone’s car windows and then mocking them for walking to work.

It’s dirty business.

And when Donald Trump starts talking about “taking Cuba”, well — squawk! — forgive me if I get twitchy.

Taking Cuba?

What is it — a holiday apartment? A golf course? One of those giant cruise ships that occasionally turns up near Milford and disgorges thousands of tourists searching desperately for an overpriced Welsh dragon fridge magnet?

That language tells you everything.

This isn’t really about freedom.

It isn’t about democracy.

And it certainly isn’t about helping ordinary Cubans.

No, this smells more like humiliation and pride.

When big powers get embarrassed, they often become dangerous. They want a quick win. An easy victory. Something to remind the world they’re still boss.

And Cuba probably looks tempting.

Smaller military.

Struggling economy.

Politically isolated.

A country already weakened by decades of punishment.

Easy pickings, eh?

Except history says otherwise.

Cubans have spent generations resisting bigger powers. Spanish colonisers, American influence, invasion

attempts, economic strangulation — the lot. Whatever anyone thinks of Cuba’s politics, there is a fierce streak of independence running through that island.

People fight hard when they think outsiders are trying to tell them how to live.

Us gulls understand that instinct. Try nicking another gull’s nesting spot and see what happens. Even the scruffiest bird on the docks suddenly becomes a feathered gladiator.

And what happens if America really did try something dramatic?

Well, nobody wins.

Not Cuban families.

Not American soldiers.

Not ordinary people dragged into another geopolitical mess cooked up by politicians who’ll never have to dodge a bullet themselves.

The winners? Probably the corporations.

The investors.

The people eyeing up land, business opportunities, healthcare systems and resources like gulls circling a dropped bag of chips.

Funny, isn’t it, how war always seems to make somebody rich?

Down here in Milford, we’ve had enough experience of powerful people making grand promises while ordinary folk pick up the pieces. We know what happens when decisions are made far away by people who never have to live with the consequences.

That’s why this old gull gets nervous.

Because when politicians start talking about honour, threats, enemies and strength, it’s usually ordinary people who end up frightened, hungry or dead.

And because humiliated empires are often the most reckless of all.

They flap louder.

Squawk harder.

Throw their weight about.

And desperately search for somebody weaker to remind themselves they’re still in charge.

So keep your eye on Cuba, butt.

Because if the world has taught old Stephen anything, it’s this:

When a superpower starts acting tough after a public embarrassment, somebody somewhere is about to have a very bad day.

And once the bombs start dropping, it’s a bit late to ask whether the reasons ever stacked up in the first place.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a tourist near the marina eating chips with absolutely shocking situational awareness.

SQUAWK!

Pet owners warned as heatstroke searches soar during hot weather

RSPCA says heatstroke can be a ‘silent killer’ for animals as temperatures rise

PET owners are being urged to take extra care during the hot weather after searches for RSPCA advice on heatstroke soared by more than 4,800%.

The animal welfare charity said its online advice page on pet heatstroke recorded more than 4,200 visits on Tuesday (May 26), compared with a usual daily average of just 85.

Visits to the RSPCA’s “dogs die in hot cars” campaign page also rose sharply, increasing by 678% to 428 sessions in a single

The charity said heatstroke can quickly become fatal, particularly for dogs, when an animal becomes too hot and is unable to bring its temperature down by panting.

With much of England and Wales experiencing very warm weather, and further hot spells expected in the weeks ahead, the RSPCA is urging owners to make sure pets, farm animals and wildlife have access to shade and fresh water.

Lauren Bennett, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA said: “We’re in the midst of a heatwave

here in the UK, with some areas experiencing temperatures well above 30°C, which many of us are finding very uncomfortable, let alone our pets.

“Heatstroke can be a silent killer. It’s hugely serious in dogs and immediate care is vital.

“But preventing it is the best way we can keep our pets safe, so it’s really brilliant that so many people have visited the RSPCA’s website to clue up on heatstroke advice.

“As part of the RSPCA’s Summer of Kindness, we’re asking pet owners and animal lovers to do a kind act for pets by

supporting them during summer heatwaves.

“It’s also a really helpful idea to support local wildlife too, by popping out some bowls of water to help birds, foxes and other wildlife.”

The RSPCA is advising owners to keep animals out of direct sun, provide constant access to fresh drinking water, use pet-safe sun cream where needed, and avoid walking dogs during the hottest parts of the day.

Owners can also help keep animals cool by using damp towels, wrapped ice packs, frozen treats, ice cubes in water bowls, paddling pools, or shaded areas in gardens and outdoor spaces.

Small animals, poultry and other pets should be checked twice a day for flystrike, while fish tanks should be kept away from direct sunlight.

The charity is also reminding people to take care when mowing or strimming long grass, as hedgehogs, toads and other wildlife may be hiding there.

People are also being urged to leave bowls of fresh water outside for birds and other wildlife, top up ponds, check bonfires before lighting them, and use non-toxic alternatives to pesticides where possible.

The RSPCA said anyone who believes an animal may be suffering from heatstroke should seek veterinary advice immediately.

Welsh language report says students face mixed experiences across colleges and universities

A NEW report has found that Welsh-speaking students face inconsistent access to Welsh language services across Wales’ colleges and universities.

The research, published by the Welsh Language Commissioner on Monday (May 25), gathered responses from more than 1,500 further and higher education students.

It examined four key areas: whether students can submit written work in Welsh, choose accommodation with Welshspeaking students, access a Welsh-speaking personal tutor, and receive wellbeing support through the medium of Welsh.

The report also looked at the wider language culture on campuses, including how institutions promote Welsh language services and support students to use Welsh naturally in academic and social settings.

Osian Llywelyn, Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner, said colleges and universities had a vital role in helping students use Welsh as part of everyday life.

He said: “Given the

importance of sustaining and developing the continued use of the Welsh language, it is essential to recognise the key role that further education colleges and higher education institutions play in ensuring that students have the opportunity to use Welsh naturally as part of their academic and social lives.

“While it is encouraging to see strong examples of good practice, that experience is not consistent across the sector. As

a result, we have identified clear improvement actions, and we will be asking the relevant institutions to address them.”

Five improvement actions have been identified. These include standardising Welsh-medium assessment arrangements, proactively offering Welsh language services rather than simply making them available on request, addressing gaps in workforce Welsh-language skills, strengthening students’ sense of

belonging through Welsh, and improving self-assessment and monitoring.

James Owen, Chief Executive of Medr, the body responsible for funding and regulating tertiary education in Wales, said the findings showed the need for more support across the sector.

He said Medr’s new Welsh Language Condition would place a clearer focus on providers promoting and supporting the use of Cymraeg, and on creating formal and informal opportunities for staff and learners to develop their Welsh-language skills.

Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said students’ experiences of Welsh at college or university could influence their willingness and ability to use the language later in the workplace.

He said the report showed the need for the Welsh-language experience to extend “well beyond the classroom”.

The report will be officially launched at the Welsh Language Commissioner’s stand at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Anglesey at 11:00am on Monday (May 25).

Pembrokeshire adventurer Tori James named National Learn Welsh Ambassador

AS THE NATIONAL Centre for Learning Welsh celebrates its highest ever number of learners – over 20,000 in 2024–2025 – it has announced a new ambassadors scheme with the aim of inspiring even more people to learn, use and enjoy the Welsh language.

The Learn Welsh Ambassadors Scheme will be launched today (May 23) at the Urdd Eisteddfod on Anglesey, as part of the Eisteddfod’s ‘Learners’ Day’ celebrations.

Four high-profile ambassadors have been appointed to the new scheme:

• Aleighcia Scott – singer and DJ, and one of the mentors on S4C’s talent show Y Llais, who will also be honoured

with the Green robe at Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Garreg Las in August.

• Tori James – adventurer and the first Welsh woman to climb Mount Everest.

• Katie Owen – DJ and social media influencer.

• Ian Gwyn Hughes – Head of Public Relations at the Football Association of Wales.

The four ambassadors will represent the Centre, sharing their personal experiences of the Welsh language, and promoting the work of the Learn Welsh sector. They will also support recruitment campaigns, encouraging people from all backgrounds to begin learning Welsh, or to continue their language journey.

The scheme reflects the Centre’s vision to attract and support a wide range of audiences to learn and use Welsh, including workforces, communities, key sectors such as Health and Social Care, the Education Workforce and Sport, young people and families.

The Centre is launching the scheme at the Urdd Eisteddfod. It works in partnership with the Urdd to provide a range of opportunities for the organisation’s staff,

and the young people using its services, to strengthen their Welsh language skills or to begin learning the language.

The Centre is also pleased to support the Urdd’s medals for young Welsh learners, the Bobi Jones Medal for learners aged 19 years’ old and above, and the Learners’ Medal for learners aged under 19 years.

Dona Lewis, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said: “Creating new Welsh speakers is the Centre’s main aim, supporting them to use and enjoy the language with confidence in their everyday lives.

“I’m pleased to say the Learn Welsh sector is going from strength to strength, with more people than ever completing our courses.

“We’re delighted to welcome a group of passionate ambassadors who will share their experiences of the Welsh language and help promote and celebrate our work. We’re proud to launch this new scheme at the Urdd Eisteddfod, one of our partners.

“The Centre works creatively and in partnership across different sectors, providing one, single learning pathway to becoming a Welsh speaker. We are all here to welcome and support our learners

and new speakers at every stage of their language journey.”

Aleighcia Scott said: “I’m delighted to take part in this scheme. Learning Welsh has been an important personal journey for me, and it has opened new doors – both creatively and socially.”

Tori James said: “Learning a new skill can be a bit like climbing a mountain – it can be a challenge, but every small step is a success!

“I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to support people to take their first step into learning Welsh, and to keep going – it’s a journey well worth taking.”

Katie Owen said: “I’d always wanted to learn Welsh, and it has been the best thing I’ve done.

The Welsh-speaking community is so welcoming, and the National Centre for Learning Welsh offers so many opportunities to learn and use the language.”

Ian Gwyn Hughes said: “Welsh belongs to all of us, and it has been fantastic to see the positive response to our use of the language at the Football Association of Wales. I look forward to supporting the Centre’s work to extend the use of Welsh in all kinds of contexts.”

Welsh dairy farmers face ‘perfect storm’ as costs surge

WELSH dairy farmers are being warned that rising fuel and fertiliser costs are threatening the viability of family farms already under pressure from weak milk prices.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales says the sector is being squeezed by a combination of global instability, higher input prices and returns that are failing to keep pace with the cost of production.

The union said recent tensions in the Gulf, together with fears over disruption to energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, had contributed to sharp rises in costs facing farmers.

Fertiliser prices are reported to have increased by up to 53% compared with levels before the latest conflict, while red diesel costs have effectively doubled in recent months.

The pressure comes at a difficult time for dairy producers, many of whom the FUW says are still receiving milk prices below the cost of production.

The situation could worsen as the spring flush brings higher milk volumes, which can place further downward pressure on farmgate prices and add to cashflow difficulties.

The Central Association

of Agricultural Valuers has also warned that tightening oil markets could reach a tipping point in early June, with higher energy costs already feeding through into agriculture.

In response, the FUW has met major lenders, including HSBC and NatWest, to discuss support for farming businesses. The talks focused on flexibility over lending, overdrafts and cashflow arrangements.

The union is urging farmers who are worried about their finances to speak to banks, accountants and advisers at the earliest opportunity.

FUW President Ian Rickman said Welsh farmers were facing a “perfect storm” of international instability and soaring input costs.

He said: “The sharp increases we are seeing in fertiliser and fuel costs are placing enormous pressure on farm businesses at a time when many dairy farmers are already producing milk below the cost of production.

“These challenges are completely outside farmers’ control, yet they are having a direct and immediate impact on the viability of family farms

and rural communities across Wales.

“It is therefore vital that farmers speak openly and early with their banks and professional advisers if they are facing difficulties.

“Our recent discussions with major lenders have been constructive. It is encouraging that banks recognise the exceptional circumstances currently affecting the agricultural sector. Flexibility and understanding will be crucial in helping viable farm businesses navigate this period of uncertainty.”

Plaid urged to move faster on farming reforms amid subsidy concerns

CONCERNS over the pace of farming reforms in Wales have intensified after the Welsh Conservatives accused the Welsh Government of failing to act quickly enough on promised changes to agricultural subsidy schemes.

The criticism comes after Welsh Government Rural Resilience and Sustainability Minister, Llyr Gruffydd, urged farmers to be patient as major changes to support payments continue to be developed.

Speaking to ITV Wales, Mr Gruffydd acknowledged that “change is difficult” as the government seeks to reshape agricultural support across rural Wales. The comments come at a time of growing unease among parts of the farming community over the future of post-Brexit subsidy arrangements and concerns about financial pressures facing farms.

The reforms centre on replacing previous support systems with a new approach intended to balance food production, environmental sustainability and rural resilience. However, some farmers and unions have warned that uncertainty over payments and policy changes risks damaging confidence in the sector.

Reacting to the minister’s remarks, Welsh Conservative Shadow Farming Minister, Andrew RT Davies, said Plaid Cymru was not moving quickly enough to deliver on commitments made to Welsh farmers.

Mr Davies said: “Change is not difficult – contrary to Plaid Cymru separatists’ claims.

“If the will is there, there’s no reason reforms can’t be implemented immediately.

“Plaid Cymru separatists must fulfil their promises to Welsh farmers now.”

The comments reflect wider political tensions over the direction of farming policy in Wales, with opposition parties arguing that delays and uncertainty are creating anxiety for agricultural businesses already facing rising costs and economic pressures.

Farming remains a major part of

the Welsh economy, particularly in rural counties such as Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, where many communities rely heavily on agriculture and associated industries.

The Welsh Government has previously said changes to support schemes are aimed at creating a more sustainable long-term future for farming, though ministers have acknowledged

the transition period will take time and may prove challenging for some in the industry.

The debate over subsidy reform is likely to remain a key political battleground as the government finalises details of its future support model and seeks to reassure farmers concerned about their livelihoods.

Paul Davies backs young farmers at Pembrokeshire YFC Rally

S ENEDD Member Paul Davies joined hundreds of visitors at the Pembrokeshire Y f C County Rally on Saturday (May 23), praising the county’s young farmers after attending the annual event.

Posting on social media, the Preseli Pembrokeshire MS said he and his wife Julie had “a wonderful time” at the rally, describing it as “a pleasure to support our young farmers and see them competing and enjoying the day”.

The rally, organised by Pembrokeshire YFC, brought together clubs from across the county for a day of competitions, displays and community spirit.

The event, held at the County Showground in Haverfordwest, marked the organisation’s 90th anniversary year and included a special “Golden Oldies” theme celebrating former members.

Surging costs sparks banking talks

in milk prices since September 2025, leaving many producers operating well below the cost of production.

The situation is expected to intensify further as the spring flush approaches, bringing with it increased milk production volumes that traditionally place additional downward pressure on prices with a subsequent impact upon farm cashflow. For many Welsh dairy farms, the combination of volatile global markets, rising operating costs and weak returns is creating growing uncertainty around their financial viability in the months ahead.

In response to these challenges, the FUW has recently convened a series of discussions with major banking institutions to address the pressures currently facing the agricultural sector and to explore what support mechanisms may be available to help farm businesses. Meetings have already taken place with representatives from HSBC and NatWest, with discussions focusing on the importance of maintaining open communication with farmers and ensuring flexibility around lending arrangements, overdrafts and cashflow support during this exceptionally difficult period.

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Gulf and a prolonged downturn in dairy markets, Welsh farmers are facing an increasingly severe financial squeeze, with rising production costs and depressed farmgate prices placing significant strain on agricultural businesses across the country.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in the Gulf, concerns surrounding the security of the Strait of Hormuz - a vital global shipping route for energy supplies - have triggered substantial increases in the cost of key farm inputs. Fertiliser prices have risen by as much as 53% compared with pre-conflict levels whilst fuel prices have surged sharply, with the cost of red diesel effectively doubling over recent months.

Adding to these concerns, recent analysis from the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) warns that tightening global oil markets could reach a tipping point in early June, with input cost pressures already visible through sharp rises in fuel and fertiliser prices. This would reinforce wider industry concerns about the vulnerability of farming systems to energy market shocks.

These mounting pressures come at a time when many dairy farmers are already struggling with persistently low milk prices. Previous research conducted by the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) showed a drastic reduction

The union is urging farmers who may be experiencing financial pressure to engage proactively with their banks, accountants and advisers at the earliest opportunity, stressing that many lenders understand the extraordinary external factors affecting the industry and remain willing to work constructively with farm businesses.

Commenting on the current situation, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “Welsh farmers are currently facing a perfect storm of international instability and soaring input costs. The sharp increases we are seeing in fertiliser and fuel costs are placing enormous pressure on farm businesses at a time when many dairy farmers are already producing milk below the cost of production.

“These challenges are completely outside farmers’ control, yet they are having a direct and immediate impact on the viability of family farms and rural communities across Wales. It is therefore vital that farmers speak openly and early with their banks and professional advisers if they are facing difficulties.

“Our recent discussions with major lenders have been constructive. It is encouraging that banks recognise the exceptional circumstances currently affecting the agricultural sector. Flexibility and understanding will be crucial in helping viable farm businesses navigate this period of uncertainty.”

Badger Trust urges new Welsh Government to reject cull

BADGER Trust is calling on Wales’ incoming government to rule out badger culling, after new polling suggested widespread public opposition to killing badgers as part of efforts to tackle bovine TB.

The call comes as a newly expanded Senedd begins its work and a new Welsh Government prepares to set out its priorities.

Badger Trust said ministers and political parties should reject calls for culling and instead focus on “evidence-led cattle measures” to control the disease.

Polling carried out by RSPCA Cymru found that only 27% of people in Wales support badger culling, while 46% are opposed. The survey also found that 63% of respondents were uncomfortable with killing badgers, and 68% opposed the use of public money to fund culling.

The organisation said the figures showed bovine TB was likely to remain one of the most significant animal welfare issues facing Wales in the coming years.

As Plaid Cymru prepares to form a minority government, with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS expected to become Wales’ new First Minister, Badger

Trust is urging all parties to take note of public feeling on the issue.

More than half of those surveyed, 51.8%, said they would be less likely to support a political party that backs badger culling, compared with just 7.2% who said they would be more likely to do so.

The poll also found strong support for wildlife protection, with 98% of respondents describing it as important and 69% saying it was “very important”. Around 73% said they were concerned about badger welfare, while 53.8% described badgers as iconic British mammals and 43.5% said they were heavily misunderstood.

Nigel Palmer, chief executive of Badger Trust, said: “The people of Wales have spoken loud and clear: badger culling is a vote loser for the new government.

“It’s clear how much the people of Wales value their badgers as an integral part of their landscape. This underlines the fact that badgers belong here.”

Mr Palmer said Wales should learn from what he described as “politically driven mistakes” in England, where more than 250,000 badgers

On 1st June, countries across the world will once again celebrate World Milk Day - a global campaign recognising milk as one of the most accessible and nutrient-rich foods available. from supporting childhood development to helping athletes perform at the highest level, dairy products continue to play a vital role in diets across the globe.

farmers have endured a particularly difficult period in recent months, battling rising production costs, market instability and ongoing uncertainty surrounding agricultural policy and environmental regulations. More recently, concerns have intensified as milk prices have fallen sharply, in many cases dropping well below the cost of production.

have been culled over the past 13 years.

He said: “Farmers need support to tackle bovine TB where the infections arise — within the national cattle population, particularly in the larger herds.

“The answer lies in evidencebased cattle measures, delivered in partnership with vets and farmers, not in the unnecessary killing of wildlife.”

Badger Trust said Wales had already shown that bovine TB could be reduced in cattle without killing badgers, through science-led cattle measures aimed at tackling the disease more effectively and humanely.

The charity said the message from the Welsh public was clear, and that Wales should not follow England “down the path of badger culling”.

Badger Trust said: “It’s time to end the badger blame game. The science is solid, and the public has voiced its opinion; now it is time for the new government to listen and act accordingly.”

Badger Trust is the leading voice for badgers across England and Wales and works with local badger groups through its Badgers Belong Here campaign.

Milk provides an important source of protein, calcium, iodine, vitamin B12 and other essential nutrients that contribute to healthy growth, strong bones and overall wellbeing. At a time when global malnutrition continues to affect billions of people - whether through undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies or poor-quality diets - dairy remains an affordable and effective way of delivering essential nutrition to people of all ages.

World Milk Day is therefore not only a celebration of a product, but also of the farmers and families who work tirelessly every day to produce it. Here in Wales, dairy farming is at the heart of rural life and remains one of the nation’s most important agricultural sectors. Welsh farmers produce billions of litres of high-quality milk every year, supporting local economies, sustaining rural communities and contributing to the country’s food security.

However, behind every glass of milk lies an industry facing increasing pressure. Welsh dairy

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has repeatedly highlighted the immense strain this is placing on family-run dairy farms. Many businesses have invested heavily in infrastructure and environmental improvements, only to find themselves facing significant financial pressure as returns decline.

These pressures are not only affecting individual farms, but also the wider rural communities that depend upon them. Dairy farming supports thousands of jobs across Wales and plays a key role in maintaining the social, economic and cultural fabric of the countryside. As we therefore look forward to World Milk Day, it is important to recognise both the nutritional value of milk and the resilience of the people who produce it. Welsh dairy farmers continue to deliver worldclass produce despite enormous challenges, and they deserve continued support to ensure the future of this vital industry.

New BYD DOLPHIN G DM-i arrives to revolutionise Europe’s B-segment

BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of new-energy vehicles, presents the DOLPHIN G DM-i, a revolutionary entry into Europe’s B-segment. Powered by BYD’s game-changing Super Hybrid with DM technology, the DOLPHIN G DM-i mixes compact dimensions, familycar practicality and the ability to tackle daily commutes on electricity alone, making it a unique proposition in the supermini class.

The DOLPHIN G DM-i is designed for customers seeking an accessible compact car that

combines the zero-emissions ability of a pure EV with the longdistance flexibility of a hybrid. BYD’s Super Hybrid with DM technology delivers an EV driving experience, with strong, smooth acceleration from its frontmounted electric motor.

When it’s required to tackle longer journeys, the DOLPHIN G DM-i intelligently manages its hybrid system to achieve flexibility beyond the capabilities of conventional ICE-powered superminis, achieving more than 621 miles (1000km) of range on a full charge and a full tank of

petrol. The first car developed by BYD specifically for overseas markets including Europe, the DOLPHIN G DM-i represents a breakthrough in the accessibility of sustainable new-energy mobility – and its dimensions (4.16m long, 1.825m wide) place it squarely into the heartland of European superminis, the B-segment.

BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li commented: “The European B-segment is one of the most important parts of the market, and with DOLPHIN G DM-i, we want to redefine what customers can expect from a

compact car in the electric era. By bringing long electric range, intelligent hybrid technology and advanced digital features into an accessible compact vehicle, we are making sustainable mobility smarter, more practical and available to many more people across Europe.”

The DOLPHIN G DM-i will go on sale across European markets in the coming weeks, with the first deliveries expected to reach customers by the end of the summer. Full equipment levels and technical specifications will be issued in due course.

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All-new Mazda6e offered with half-price Pod-Charger in UK

THE all-new Mazda6e arrives in the UK this summer and customers purchasing through retail or Mazda Contract Hire will qualify for a tethered or untethered Pod Home Charger for only £499 when placing an order by 30th June^.

On sale in Europe since last Autumn, the updated Mazda6e will arrive in the UK this summer with a new 78kWh single battery specification - priced at £38,995 for the Takumi and £39,995 for Takumi Plus. With stylish premium saloon proportions combined with hatchback functionality - the Mazda6e reinvents the Mazda6 for the electric age.

Commenting on the Pod Home Charger offer, Mazda UK Sales Director, Laura Brailey, said: “we recognise that many prospective Mazda6e customers may be new to electric vehicles and the simplicity, convenience and the well-established end-to-end installation process associated with this offer is designed to deliver a seamless and stress-free move to electric car ownership.”

As an additional benefit all retail and fleet customers will also be eligible for a £500 public charging credit when opening an account via the Mazda Public Charging App<. This benefit provides customers with a £500 charging credit that’s redeemable via the app across participating public charging networks.

Bringing a fresh take to the wellregarded Mazda6, which across three generations from 2002 to 2023 was a popular model with UK customers in both retail and fleet markets. The Mazda6e represents a fresh take on its predecessors, featuring a modern flowing exterior, sleek cabin design and Mazda’s famed focus on the experience from behind the wheel.

Launched in Europe with two powertrain options – a 68.8kWh LFP or 80kWh NCM battery, the UK specification Mazda6e simplifies the offering with a single 78kWh LFP battery that combines the best of both in terms of range, performance and charging times. The new 78kWh battery delivers a combined WLTP range of 348 miles, while 10 to 80 per cent charging on a 195kW DC charger takes just 24 minutes. With a 258ps power output the rear-wheel drive Mazda6e will reach 62mph in 7.9 seconds and with 290Nm of torque delivers great real-world performance.

Designed under the concept of ‘Electrifying Design Crafted to Perfection’ the Mazda6e introduces the next evolution of Mazda’s ‘Kodo Soul of Motion’ design philosophy. Its smooth flowing lines and bold features give the car a strong yet refined presence. The low roofline and short-deck coupe silhouette offer a sporty and stylish look while at the same time keeping the

and sense of space. Designed to deliver sophisticated simplicity, the spacious interior is inspired by the Japanese concept of ‘Ma’ which emphasises the beauty of space and the floating centre console and instrument panel enhance this sense of lightness. Premium materials feature throughout both the available trim levels: Takumi and Takumi Plus. Takumi models will feature black or stone Maztex^ artificial leather, while Takumi Plus offers premium tan Nappa leather with Artificial Suede Cloth woven fabric seat trim.

Together, the exterior and interior elements create a cohesive blend of style, comfort and functionality.

The smart driver-focused cockpit features a 14.6-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch instrument set, complemented by an augmented reality head-up display. Blending craftmanship, thoughtful design and cutting-edge technology the Mazda6e is the perfect car for the return of the Mazda6 as a BEV in the age of electrification, while a 336-litre boot, excellent passenger space and 72-litre front boot ensure strong practicality.

functionality of a five-door hatchback. Standout design details include frameless doors and a bold lighting signature - all of which create a seamless and modern appearance. At the front the new glowing signature wing illuminates round the grille to give a unique face to the Mazda6e. It features dynamic illumination which makes the wings appear to flutter when the car is charging, while the lighting also indicates charge status.

In profile, the parallel lines running down the sides emphasise the sleekness of the Mazda6e’s silhouette, while the light catching effect of the lower door shapes, is another example of how the surfacing of Kodo design uniquely creates the expression of movement.

The Mazda6e’s 19-inch wheels have a range-boosting aerodynamic design that features a sporty five-spoke design with flat black surfaces.

At the rear the Mazda6e’s stylish rear lamp design and horizontal taillight bar ensure a light signature as distinctive as the front, while newly designed Mazda lettering replaces the brand logo badge at the rear of the car. Another unique for Mazda feature is the electronically extendable rear spoiler that’s both aesthetically pleasing and enhances stability at speed.

Inside, the Mazda6e’s cabin is flooded with natural light thanks to a panoramic roof that contributes to an airy ambiance

Commenting on the Mazda6e, Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director, Mazda Motors UK, said: “the Mazda6e is the car our dealers have been waiting for, with a nod to the popularity of the Mazda6 it’s a real statement of intent for the future and illustrates how Mazda can bring great design, technology and style to battery electric vehicles. And with the suspension, power steering and braking carefully calibrated by the team at Mazda Research Europe in Frankfurt to match UK preferences, I’m sure the Mazda6e will be an electric car that delivers the engaging driver experience you’d expect from Mazda”.

Adding, “In the UK we are facing some unique and complex challenges in the balance between EV legislation and consumer demand but at Mazda we will introduce new models and ensure our product range fits the pace of actual consumer demand in the UK with technologies that are amongst the best in the market. The arrival of the Mazda6e in UK showrooms this summer is perfect, it’s a fantastic and timely addition to our multi-solution approach that includes mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric offerings”.

“With a UK price that sees both models under £40,000, this value proposition is even more tempting when you see the huge tally of equipment and technology fitted as standard across both the Takumi and Takumi Plus. The Mazda6e is also a car that positions Mazda strongly in the expanding D segment BEV fleet market, where the cars blend of style, value, practicality and desirability will I’m sure win over business users”.

Available to configure and order now, the first Mazda6e will arrive in UK dealers this summer, while later in the year the next chapter in Mazda’s BEV story will arrive in the UK – with the debut of the all-new Mazda CX-6e SUV.

WestJet’s first Toronto flight lands at Cardiff Airport

CARDIff AIRPORT has welcomed the first WestJet flight from Toronto, marking the return of a direct air link between Wales and Canada for the first time in almost 20 years.

The inaugural service from Toronto Pearson International Airport landed at Cardiff on Saturday (May 23), officially launching a new transatlantic route between South Wales and North America.

Passengers on the first arrival were greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, while Penarth choir Criw Canu welcomed the crew and customers with Welsh songs at the aircraft steps.

The new route will operate four times a week using WestJet’s Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. Cardiff Airport said the service would open up new opportunities for tourism, business, investment and cultural links between Wales and Canada.

Toronto Pearson is also a major hub, offering onward connections to more than 100 destinations across Canada and the United States, including Calgary, Halifax, Vancouver and Florida.

Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price MS, attended the launch alongside guests including Vale of Glamorgan Council leader Cllr Lis Burnett, Lord-Lieutenant

of South Glamorgan Morfudd Meredith, Ontario’s AgentGeneral in London Sophia Arvanitis, Visit Wales and aviation industry partners.

Mr Price said: “WestJet’s inaugural flight from Cardiff to Toronto is a powerful signal to the world that our nation is open for business.

“Direct transatlantic connectivity like this is exactly what Welsh businesses need to reach new markets, attract

investment and grow and it reinforces our ambition to make Wales one of the bestconnected economies in the UK.

“Cardiff Airport is a vital piece of our economic infrastructure, and today’s milestone is something to celebrate.”

Jon Bridge, Chief Executive Officer of Cardiff Airport, described the launch as a landmark moment for the airport and for Wales.

He said: “The arrival of WestJet’s direct service gives customers easier access to Toronto and onward destinations across North America. It firmly strengthens Cardiff Airport’s position as the international gateway for Wales.

“We are proud to welcome WestJet and excited about the long-term potential of this partnership.”

Chris White-DeVries, WestJet Senior Manager Hub Strategy and Airport Affairs, said the route was an important addition to the airline’s transatlantic network.

He said: “WestJet’s new seasonal offering makes it easier for more people to discover everything South Wales and Canada have to offer, while staying closely connected to friends, family and business opportunities.

“Cardiff plays an important role in our growing transatlantic network, and we are proud to offer our guests from Wales more convenient access to Canada.”

The Cardiff to Toronto service departs Cardiff at 11:35am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Toronto to Cardiff flights depart at 10:10pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Maenclochog care home turned down after community concerns

A CARE HOME scheme for a Pembrokeshire village, which saw objections from the local community council after youngsters had ‘absconded’ from similar sites locally, will need a formal application, planners have said.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Future Nest Care Ltd, through agent Evans Banks Planning Limited, sought a certificate of lawfulness to allow the use of dwelling house Brynawel, Maenclochog as a care home for two youngsters between the ages of five and 16 with specific needs.

A supporting statement said the youngsters would be supported by three qualified and experienced staff members during the day and two at night; the certificate of lawfulness application made to establish that formal planning permission is not required to use an existing two-storey detached dwellinghouse into a residential care facility to accommodate two children, supervised 24/7 by staff.

It added: “The proposed use is designed to provide a safe, nurturing, and family-style environment to help the young residents develop essential life skills and prepare for independent living. The residing youngsters will attend local schools or colleges and participate in community life, in the same manner as any young person living in a traditional family home.

“The qualified and experienced staff will prepare those children for their re-introduction back into a life without supervised care. The residing youngsters would attend the local school or further education college, as would any youngster under 18 living in a family home.”

However, Maenclochog Community

local anxiety regarding the introduction of further such provision within the village.”

Council objected to the proposals after residents expressed their concerns.

In its objection, it said: “This proposal has raised significant concern within the village, particularly as there are already multiple provisions for similar accommodation on the outskirts of Maenclochog.

“In the past, young people accommodated at these facilities have frequently absconded, leading to repeated searches across the surrounding area. This history heightens

It added: “Neighbouring residents have not been consulted regarding the proposed change of use, which has led to unease and a lack of confidence in the applicants’ intentions and in the suitability of the site for this form of development.”

It went on to say: “Before any decision is made, Maenclochog Community Council strongly believes that local residents should be afforded the opportunity of a public consultation. While the proposal may represent an economic decision for the property owners, it has wider implications for the village and its residents.”

An officer report recommended refusal of the certificate of lawfulness, concluding that “a material change of use would occur in relation to the proposed use of the site and as a result a certificate of proposed lawful use cannot be granted”.

In refusing the lawfulness call, planners said “the frequency of staff changes and the number of vehicle movements associated with the proposed use of the property would be materially different to those associated with its lawful use as a dwelling,” the material change of use to a care home requiring a formal planning application.

New facilities at Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club agreed

A CALL by a Pembrokeshire shooting club for more disabilityfriendly facilities has been given the go-ahead by county planners. In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club, through agent Andrew Sutton Architecture, sought permission for an extension to existing target shooting club building at The Firing Range, Withybush Road, Haverfordwest to improve accessibility and internal facilities, together with associated landscaping works.

A supporting statement said: “The club’s own published history states it was founded in 1968, moved from the Drill Hall to the old wartime airfield butts at Withybush by the early 1970s, and had developed facilities over time, including the clubhouse by 1999. The established leisure/community use has existed on the site for a number of years and the proposal does not seek

to intensify the core activity beyond that already authorised/established.”

It added: “The primary objective of the scheme is to improve inclusive access to the club’s facilities for disabled users and those with reduced mobility. The internal arrangement will provide adequate entrance and lobby space, clear accessible routes and appropriately designed sanitary accommodation, including an accessible wetroom/shower and separate WC.”

It also said accessible parking and surfacing designed to provide a firm, even, slip-resistant route from parking to the principal entrance.

It added: “The Equality Act 2010 places duties on service providers to make reasonable adjustments so that people with additional access

needs are not placed at a substantial disadvantage.

“The proposal is therefore a positive enhancement to a community/leisure facility and supports wider policy objectives for inclusive environments.”

It went on to say: “The club operates within a highly controlled environment, and the proposed works will maintain and enhance safety and security measures.”

The application was conditionally approved by planners.

Watchdog criticises health board over £10m GP contract checks

A HEALTH board has been criticised by Audit Wales after GP contracts worth more than £10m were awarded without sufficient due diligence checks.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board allowed a GP partnership associated with eHarley Street Primary Care Solutions to take on eight GP contracts in south-east Wales, with a combined annual value of around £10.1m.

Audit Wales said the board should have carried out greater scrutiny before approving the arrangements, including checks on financial resilience, workforce plans, business risks and the partnership’s ability to manage several practices at once.

However, the watchdog found no evidence of fraud and noted the board was dealing with significant pressure in general practice, including vacant contracts and limited interest from other bidders.

The report said weaknesses in governance and scrutiny contributed to later disruption and uncertainty for patients and staff when problems emerged.

Concerns included financial and workforce pressures,

unpaid invoices, and issues relating to tax and pension payments. Some contracts were later handed back, requiring the health board to step in to protect services.

Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Minister for Health and Social Care, said the findings were “deeply concerning”.

She said: “Patients and staff

were left facing disruption and uncertainty because proper scrutiny was not carried out before these contracts were awarded.

“The Welsh Conservatives believe lessons must be learned to ensure robust checks are in place, protect frontline services and restore confidence in primary care across Wales.”

Aneurin Bevan University

Health Board accepted the recommendations and said it had already strengthened its processes.

Audit Wales said the case highlighted the need for stronger checks before GP contracts are transferred, particularly when a single partnership is taking on multiple practices in a short period.

St Davids GP surgery plans lodged with national park

PLANS to convert a former GP surgery in Pembrokeshire’s only city to a home and holiday let have been lodged with the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Alice and Danjal Joensen, through agent Oochitecture, seek permission for a change of use of the ground floor of the former GP surgery, Eryl Mor, 36, New Street, St Davids, merging with the existing firstfloor apartment to create a larger single dwelling house, along with the creation of an attached short-term holiday let.

The GP surgery is currently vacant, following its closure in October 2024 after new partners could not be secured.

A supporting statement says, prior to being a GP surgery, the two storey element was a single dwelling house.

It adds: “The house would consist of an open plan kitchen-living space to the ground floor, along with a study, lounge and utility room. The first floor includes four double bedrooms with ensuite and main bathroom.

“The new unit of accommodation would form a holiday-let with two double bedrooms, shower room, and an open plan kitchen-living space.

“The GP surgery is currently vacant, following its closure in October 2024 after new partners could not be secured, therefore the proposed change of use will provide a viable long-term future use for the property.”

It says minimal external alterations are proposed to the property with

existing entrances utilised for both the main house and holiday-let, adding:

“The existing concrete ramp to the front elevation will be retained with proposed

Cold weather deaths report sparks

OLDER people in Wales are still paying a heavy price for cold, damp homes and fuel poverty, the Older People’s Commissioner has warned.

Rhian Bowen-Davies was responding to the publication of Public Health Wales’ first annual surveillance reports into the impact of cold weather on mortality and illness in Wales.

She said the reports were an important step forward in understanding how cold weather affects health and wellbeing, but warned that the figures revealed a deeply concerning reality for many older people.

The Commissioner said cold weather continued to have a “profound impact” on older people’s health, independence and quality of life, with poor housing, fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis making the situation worse.

She said: “Addressing these issues must remain a national priority, including taking sustained action to improve the quality and energy efficiency of homes across Wales, ensuring that older people can live in

works including extending the upper level and steps to provide a connection to the front door, allowing for accessible entrance to the property.

“There will be no changes to vehicular or pedestrian access, with the site continuing to be accessed via

the existing entrance from New Street. Parking will be provided for the main house and holiday-let on the existing tarmac driveway off New Street.”

The application will be considered by Park planners at a later date.

call for action to protect older people

warmth and safety.”

Ms Bowen-Davies said consistent data would be vital to track trends and measure whether interventions were working.

But she also called for stronger financial support for older people

facing hardship, warning that too many were still being forced to choose between “heating and eating”.

She is continuing to urge the Welsh Government to introduce a dedicated Resilience Fund for older people in severe financial difficulty who are not eligible for Pension Credit or other support.

She added that while public attention may currently be focused on record-breaking temperatures, the report was a reminder that action was needed now to tackle the “unacceptable costs” of cold homes and fuel poverty.

Nation of Sanctuary to stay under new Welsh Government, confirms Deputy First Minister

THE Welsh Government has confirmed it will continue its controversial “Nation of Sanctuary” programme under the new administration, prompting criticism from Conservative Senedd Member Andrew RT Davies.

The issue became a major point of contention during the recent Senedd election campaign, with parties on the political right – most notably Reform UK –repeatedly attacking Wales’ approach to asylum and refugee support. Critics argued the policy risked placing additional strain on public services and acted as a “pull factor” for migration, while supporters said it reflected Welsh values of compassion and practical support.

In a written question to the Welsh Government, Mr Davies, who represents Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg, asked whether ministers intended to scrap the Nation of Sanctuary programme.

Responding on Thursday (May 21), Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Equality Sioned Williams confirmed the policy would remain in place.

She said: “While Wales does not currently have the power to decide who seeks asylum here, we can treat those who arrive with decency, provide support and opportunities to contribute to their communities, and ensure they can rebuild their lives safely and with dignity.

“We are committed to protecting the Nation of Sanctuary vision and ensuring the principles underpinning this vision are embedded across government policy and practice.”

The Nation of Sanctuary plan was introduced by the Welsh Government to support refugees and asylum seekers living in Wales, helping provide access to healthcare, housing, education and community support.

Although politically controversial, much of the scheme in recent years has focused on supporting people fleeing the war in Ukraine through UK Government visa routes. Councils and support organisations across Wales have helped Ukrainian families with accommodation, school places, healthcare access and settling into communities.

However, the programme is not limited to Ukrainians and also applies more broadly to refugees and asylum seekers

already placed in Wales under UK immigration arrangements.

Mr Davies criticised the decision to retain the policy, saying it was the wrong priority for the new administration.

He said: “This is completely irresponsible from Plaid Cymru separatists.

“The Nation of Sanctuary is a pull factor that encourages more people to come to Britain illegally.

“The separatists’ commitment to embed the policy across government will take resources away from public services and distract from their administration’s day-to-day functions.”

Supporters of the scheme argue that asylum and immigration policy itself remains controlled by Westminster, with the Welsh Government instead focusing on how people already living in Wales are supported while their cases are processed.

With immigration remaining a politically charged issue across the UK, the future of Wales’ Nation of Sanctuary programme looks set to remain a battleground in Senedd politics.

Welsh Conservative Senedd Leader Darren Millar MS said the flag remains an important symbol of solidarity with Ukraine and opposition to Russia’s illegal invasion.

Meanwhile, Welsh Conservative Senedd Leader

Darren Millar MS said: “I support the flying of the Ukrainian flag outside our parliament.

“It’s a visible sign of the Senedd’s resolute opposition to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“Having visited Ukraine last year with one of Reform’s MSs I am surprised and disappointed by their position.”

Laura Anne Jones says ‘no more excuses’ after gender guidance published

REfORM MS Laura Anne Jones has said public bodies must now act urgently after updated equality guidance was laid before Parliament.

The Sir Fynwy Torfaen MS welcomed the new draft Code of Practice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which follows last year’s Supreme Court ruling that “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex.

The guidance, published on Wednesday (May 21), sets out how organisations should approach single-sex spaces, services and associations, including changing rooms, hospital wards, sports and domestic abuse services.

Ms Jones said women and

girls had been “left in limbo” while public bodies waited for clarification.

She said: “For over a year, women and girls across Wales have been left in limbo while politicians, public bodies and organisations hid behind excuses instead of following the law and protecting women’s spaces, dignity, fairness in sport and safety.

“I have consistently stood in the Senedd and fought to maintain these basic rights for women and girls. I was mocked and jeered for it, but this guidance shows that common sense has now prevailed and biological fact cannot simply be ignored.

“I will now be pressing the Welsh Government and public bodies to adapt their policies and practices as a matter of urgency. There is now nowhere left to hide. There are no more excuses for not complying with the law.”

The draft code is now subject to a 40-day parliamentary scrutiny period before it can come into force.

Ms Jones added that women’s rights and single-sex protections “must never again be sacrificed on the altar of gender ideology”, and said Reform MSs would press for the guidance to be reflected in public policy across Wales.

Welsh Conservatives demand clarity over EHRC guidance in schools

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have called on the Welsh Government to clarify whether new Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance will be implemented in schools across Wales.

Shadow education minister Sam Rowlands MS has written to Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language Anna Brychan MS following the UK Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act.

Mr Rowlands said schools, teachers, governors and parents needed clear answers on how the guidance would apply in practice, including on single-sex spaces, safeguarding, changing facilities and sports participation.

He said: “Parents, teachers and pupils deserve clarity from the Welsh Government.

“Schools cannot be left in limbo while ministers avoid making a decision on such an important

safeguarding and legal issue.

“The Equality Act applies in Wales, and schools now need clear guidance on what this means in practice.”

In his letter, Mr Rowlands asks whether updated guidance will be issued to schools in Wales, whether schools will be expected to amend existing policies, and what advice will be given to headteachers on safeguarding

BLuE VIEW

With Cllr David Howlett

AT the time of writing, it is remarkable to think that the Senedd elections took place less than three weeks ago. Now that the dust is beginning to settle on what is a very different political landscape in Wales, it will be interesting to see how the new Welsh Government establishes itself in the months ahead.

As a proud Unionist, I remain concerned that Plaid Cymru continues to promote Welsh independence and wishes to spend taxpayers’ money exploring the prospect further. In particular, Plaid Cymru proposed establishing a commission to prepare an Independence White Paper — a detailed policy document examining how independence could work in practice. Reports during the 2026 Senedd election campaign suggested this work could cost around £500,000.

I firmly believe that Wales is stronger as part of the United Kingdom and that independence would be deeply damaging for Wales economically and socially.

While Plaid Cymru increased its number of Members of the Senedd in May, it is important to note that parties supporting the Union still outnumber those advocating for independence.

wasteful spending decisions.

Although council elections do not always receive the same level of attention as Senedd or General Elections, they play a hugely important role in both our democratic process and people’s everyday lives. Councils are responsible for vital services including refuse and recycling collection, schools, social services, and road maintenance, to name just a few. These are services that residents rely on day in and day out, and both their quality and cost have a direct impact on local people.

At the most recent meeting of Full Council, it was confirmed that since 2017 the Council Tax for a Band D property has increased by 95.7%. I am sure many residents will be asking whether they are receiving value for their hard-earned money.

If you are interested in making a difference in your community by standing for election under the Welsh Conservative banner, please do get in touch — we would be very pleased to speak with you.

and compliance with the Equality Act.

He also asks whether the Welsh Government intends to diverge from the approach set out by the EHRC.

The letter says schools and parents require “clear and consistent guidance” to ensure the rights, dignity and safety of all pupils are respected.

Looking ahead, elections for Pembrokeshire County Council — along with all local authorities across Wales — will take place in May 2027. The period since the last local elections in 2022 seems to have passed very quickly. I am proud to be part of an eleven-strong Welsh Conservative Group on Pembrokeshire County Council, committed to holding the administration to account and challenging what we believe to be

W ITH ANDREW LYE

If you follow politics, one of the main stories that received much publicity was the newly elected Reform UK councillor on Kirklees Council admitting she “doesn’t understand” how the Council works.

On 20th May at the Council’s annual meeting, Cllr Sarah Wood nominated herself for Council Leader, and said “I do not understand the constitution. I have not had sufficient time to read that yet”. She also said of her fellow Reform councillors “We do not necessarily know what we are voting for.”

A shame she had not used the 12 days since her election, to read the most important documents about being a Kirklees councillor and how the Council runs.

Local government is about competence, stability and delivering reliable public services — not simply making headlines shouting “Stop the Boats” or winning protest votes.

The growing instability surrounding Reform UK councillors should concern voters across Wales as what we have seen in England since May 2025, could be coming to us next May, when the next County and Community/Town Council elections, take place.

Reform UK’s success raises serious questions about whether Reform was prepared for the responsibilities of local government.

Liberal Democrat political analyst and former President, Lord Mark Pack, produced evidence that by April 2026, Reform had already lost 27 councillors elected just 12 months earlier, through suspensions, expulsions, resignations, defections or criminal proceedings. This includes councillors suspended over racist comments, criminal convictions, harassment allegations and others leaving the party, altogether.

Now, 12 months later after the May 2026 elections, further newly elected Reform councillors were quickly suspended or condemned over allegations involving

racist and extremist content, including Holocaust denial and Islamophobic social media posts.

It’s not simply the number of councillors lost. It is the speed with which serious controversies keep emerging.

The Liberal Democrats introduced vetting, years ago. Every serious political party should ensure candidates meet high standards before standing for election.

Reform is only now building a professional vetting system after winning hundreds of council seats and taking control of local authorities across England. Proper vetting is not a simple exercise. It requires reviewing years of social media activity, identifying extremist associations, checking reputational risks and ensuring candidates are suitable to represent the public.

Local councils are responsible for some of the most important services people rely upon every day: adult social care, safeguarding vulnerable children, waste collection, housing, roads and public health. These are not areas where instability and poor preparation can simply be brushed aside.

Local government works best when councillors focus on community service, competence and accountability, not constant controversy and internal crisis management. A resignation then costs the Council at least £20,000 for a by-election.

Winning elections is one thing. Demonstrating the discipline, professionalism and organisational stability required to run councils effectively is something very different.

Reform’s finance spokesman, Cai ParryJones, backed by Leader Dan Thomas has called for the removal of the Ukraine flag outside the Senedd, calling it “virtue signalling”.

I am proud we support Ukraine and wholeheartedly oppose Russia’s illegal invasion.

If you have any issues or comments, please contact me at andrew.lye@pembslibdems.wales

M4 relief road row reignites after First Minister comments

THE LONG-RUNNING row over the future of the M4 around Newport has erupted again after Labour and the Conservatives challenged first Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth over his comments on finding a solution to congestion.

Welsh Labour accused the First Minister of failing to provide a clear plan, while the Welsh Conservatives renewed calls for an M4 relief road to be built.

Reacting to the First Minister’s comments, a Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “The First Minister has already admitted that they don’t have a plan for the M4. So is this just another plan to have a plan? People in Newport deserve clarity, not unfunded transport promises.

“Welsh Labour is focused on delivering the funded improvements already on the table, including the Burns stations and wider rail investment supported by the UK Labour Government’s £14bn commitment, alongside practical measures to reduce pressure on the M4.”

Welsh Conservative Shadow Environment Minister Andrew RT Davies also responded to Mr ap Iorwerth’s comments, repeating his call for an M4 relief road to be built.

He said Plaid Cymru’s longstanding opposition to the road had allowed congestion around Newport to worsen, and pointed to a public inquiry which found the scheme would “alleviate congestion and eradicate excessive emissions from stop-start traffic” and would be “beneficial” for the environment.

Mr Davies said: “The only way to reduce congestion around Newport is to build an M4 Relief Road, which for separatist reasons Plaid Cymru have long opposed.

“Plaid do not want stronger economic links with England, so

they ignored an inquiry which confirmed the relief road would bring environmental benefits by reducing emissions caused by congestion.

“Unless and until Plaid Cymru separatists back a relief road, Rhun ap Iorwerth’s comments are just empty words.”

The proposed M4 relief road was designed to ease pressure on the heavily congested stretch around Newport and the Brynglas Tunnels, long regarded as one of the worst bottlenecks on the strategic route between South Wales and England.

Supporters argue that congestion damages the Welsh economy, causes daily frustration for commuters and weakens transport links for freight and business.

Opponents say a new motorway would be hugely expensive, environmentally damaging and would encourage more car use rather than solving congestion in the long term.

However, Labour’s criticism comes with its own political baggage.

It was a Welsh Labour government, under former First Minister Mark Drakeford, that scrapped the original relief road plan in 2019, despite an inspector finding there was a compelling case for the project.

Mr Drakeford rejected the scheme on the grounds of cost, environmental impact and wider spending priorities, saying the money required would affect investment in other areas such as health, education and public transport.

That decision was welcomed by environmental campaigners but criticised by business leaders and opposition politicians, who argued Wales had lost a major opportunity to solve a longstanding transport problem.

Instead of a new road, the Welsh Government backed the

Burns Commission’s “network of alternatives”, including new railway stations, better bus links, active travel routes and wider public transport improvements around Newport.

Those proposals included so-called Burns stations, which Labour now says remain the realistic and funded way to reduce pressure on the M4.

But critics say progress has been too slow and that the motorway remains under severe strain.

The cost of reviving a relief road is also likely to be central to the argument.

The cancelled scheme was estimated at around £1.4bn in 2019, and any new version would almost certainly cost significantly more today.

Environmental concerns are also likely to remain a major barrier, with previous proposals involving land around the Gwent Levels, an area of significant ecological importance.

Supporters of a road-based solution argue that the existing M4 is no longer fit for modern traffic levels and that South Wales needs a resilient route capable of supporting economic growth.

Opponents say the answer lies in reducing car dependency, improving public transport and making better use of rail investment.

The issue has returned to the centre of Welsh politics following the Senedd election, with parties under pressure to set out how they would deal with one of the country’s most persistent transport problems.

For Labour, the line is clear: invest in rail, deliver the Burns proposals and avoid what it sees as unfunded road promises.

For the Conservatives, the answer is equally clear: build the relief road and end years of delay.

For Plaid Cymru, now facing direct pressure in government, the challenge is to explain what “finding a solution” means in practice.

After more than three decades of debate, Newport motorists are still waiting for an answer.

But opponents say a new motorway would be hugely expensive, environmentally damaging and would encourage more car use rather than solving congestion in the long term.

Paul Davies warns health board over Withybush and Bronglais services

PAUL DAVIES MS has said he will continue to oppose any attempt to centralise key hospital services away from Withybush and Bronglais, following a meeting with Hywel Dda University Health Board.

The Ceredigion Penfro Senedd Member said he met health board representatives to discuss the delivery of services across west Wales, amid continuing concern over the future of emergency general surgery at Withybush Hospital and stroke services at Bronglais Hospital.

Mr Davies said he made it “very clear” that he opposed any centralisation of services from the two hospitals.

He said: “I’ve met with Hywel Dda University Health Board to discuss the delivery of services across the health board area.

“I made it very clear that I oppose any centralisation of services from Withybush Hospital and Bronglais Hospital — in particular emergency general surgery services at Withybush and the stroke unit at Bronglais.

“I also told the health board that it needs a change of mindset when it comes to delivering services and that I will continue to stand up for my constituents and oppose them on any plans to remove services from hospitals in Ceredigion Penfro.”

The comments come after months of concern over Hywel Dda’s Clinical Services Plan, which has considered changes to a number of hospital services including emergency general surgery, stroke, critical care, radiology,

orthopaedics, urology, endoscopy, dermatology and ophthalmology.

In February, the health board backed a future model for emergency general surgery which would see the service delivered from Bronglais and Glangwili, with Withybush no longer providing that function in the same way.

That decision sparked anger in Pembrokeshire, where campaigners and politicians warned that removing emergency general surgery from

Withybush could weaken the longterm position of the hospital’s A&E department and force patients to travel further for urgent treatment.

There is also concern in mid and west Wales over the future of stroke services, with Bronglais Hospital’s stroke unit repeatedly highlighted by local representatives as a vital service for patients in rural Ceredigion and surrounding areas.

Hywel Dda has previously said its clinical services work is aimed at

addressing fragile services, improving standards and making care more sustainable across the region.

But Mr Davies said the health board must stop viewing centralisation as the answer.

He added that hospitals in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion serve large rural communities, where journey times, public transport and access to urgent care must be central to any decision about service changes.

Reform UK under fire after former candidate returns in senior Wales role

REfORM UK in Wales is facing fresh criticism after a former Senedd candidate who stood aside during an election controversy was reportedly appointed to a senior advisory role close to the party’s Welsh leadership.

Corey Edwards, who had been selected as Reform UK’s lead candidate for Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg during the Senedd election campaign, stepped back earlier this year after images circulated online appearing to show him making a Nazi salute.

At the time, Edwards denied wrongdoing and said the image had been taken out of context. He claimed it was intended either as a reference to a scene from the comedy series Fawlty Towers or to a well-publicised incident involving Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

He later withdrew from the campaign, citing concerns over his mental health.

However, reports from BBC Wales and political news outlet Nation.Cymru now suggest Edwards has returned to frontline politics after being appointed as a senior adviser to Reform Wales leader

Dan Thomas.

According to reports, Edwards has been seen inside the Senedd estate and is understood to be working in Thomas’s office in an advisory capacity.

The appointment has sparked criticism from Welsh Labour, which questioned Reform UK’s judgment in handing a senior role to a figure who stepped back during a major public controversy.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “Reform UK didn’t have the decency to deem Corey Edwards unfit to be a candidate. He stepped back himself after the truth came out.

“Now they think he is fit to advise their leader in Wales.

“Reform have shown yet again they haven’t learned their lesson and their values do not align with the people of Wales.”

The development is likely to reignite debate around Reform UK’s vetting procedures in Wales, which came under scrutiny during the Senedd election campaign following several candidate controversies. Reform UK made major gains in Wales at the Senedd election, becoming

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Pic TUre oF The week!

“Milford Crew” at In It Together Festival over the Bank Holiday Weekend

VOLuNTEERS’ WEEk WILL BE MARKED ACROSS THE UK

DEAR SIR,

As Volunteers’ Week is marked across the UK from June 1 to 7, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the outstanding volunteers whose dedication and commitment are so vital to the work of RNID.

Their time, skills and compassion make a real difference to the 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.

Across the country, around 600 RNID volunteers support a wide range of community activities, helping us work towards a society that is fully inclusive for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Our volunteers provide hearing aid maintenance, offer information and support on hearing loss and tinnitus at RNID Near You drop-in sessions, and act as ambassadors by speaking to local groups and organisations to raise awareness of our work.

Over the past year alone, RNID volunteers have given more than 18,000 hours of their time, helping us reach more than 47,000 people across the UK. That is a truly remarkable achievement, and

we are deeply grateful for their invaluable contribution.

This Volunteers’ Week, we are also inviting anyone who would like to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus to consider volunteering with RNID.

More information is available at rnid.org.uk/volunteer.

Victoria Owen Head of Development and Volunteering R NID

and cut off the money flowing into Putin’s war machine. Yet Russian oil can apparently be shipped to another country, refined into diesel or aviation fuel, and then sold on to the UK.

That is not a serious sanctions regime. It is a back door.

The timing is especially troubling. Ukraine is still under attack, civilians are still dying, and Britain has repeatedly claimed to be one of Kyiv’s strongest allies. What message does it send when we say one thing in public, then quietly allow fuel linked to Russian crude back into the country?

Ministers argue that the wider sanctions package is tougher overall, and that the exemption will be reviewed. But the public deserves more than technical notices and reassurances. If money from these fuel sales can still reach Russia, then the policy risks weakening the very pressure sanctions were supposed to create.

People in this country have already endured high energy prices. Ukrainian families have endured far worse. It is morally wrong for Britain to import fuel derived from Russian oil while claiming to oppose Russian aggression.

The Government should close this loophole immediately and make clear that diesel and jet fuel made from Russian crude have no place in the UK market.

David Spencer

DEAR SIR,

I am appalled that Britain is now preparing to allow imports of diesel and jet fuel made from Russian crude oil.

The Government says this is only a temporary, targeted measure, brought in because of pressure on fuel supplies and prices. But to most ordinary people it looks like a sanctions loophole dressed up as pragmatism.

We were told that Britain would stand firm with Ukraine

SWYDD ASESWR FFERM

De-orllewin Cymru

Mae Ardystiad Bwyd Cymreig o Ansawdd Cyf (QWFC Ltd) yn recriwtio Aseswr Fferm i gynnal asesiadau fferm ar gyfer:

• Cynllun Gwarant Fferm (FAWL) a

• Chynllun Llaeth y Tractor Coch

Mae hwn yn gyfle ardderchog i unigolyn sydd â phrofiad amaethyddol ymarferol a dealltwriaeth gref o sectorau da byw a llaeth Cymru.

Bydd y rôl yn cynnwys cynnal asesiadau ledled De-orllewin Cymru, gan gynnwys: Sir Benfro, Sir Gaerfyrddin a Cheredigion.

Hanfodol

 Addysg i Lefel NVQ 3 neu’n uwch mewn

Amaethyddiaeth, neu bwnc cysylltiedig

 Wedi cael profiad ar y fferm yn rheoli Uned biff a defaid neu Llaeth

 Dal trwydded yrru lawn yn y DU

Dymunol

 Bod yn hyddysg mewn cyfrifiadura ac yn hyderus wrth ddefnyddio systemau digidol

 Gallu cyfathrebu’n effeithiol yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg

 Dangos sgiliau trefnu a rhyngbersonol cryf

Rhoddir ystyriaeth i ymgeiswyr ar sail hunan gyflogedig a chyflogedig. Yn llawn amser neu ran amser.

Dyddiad cau: 12 Mehefin 2026

Am fanylion pellach a ffurflen gais: 01970 636 688

info@wlbp.co.uk

www.wlbp.co.uk

www.fawl.co.uk

FARM ASSESSOR

South West Wales

Quality Welsh Food Certification (QWFC) is seeking to recruit a Farm Assessor to undertake farm assessments for:

• Farm Assured Welsh Livestock Scheme (FAWL) &

• Red Tractor Dairy Assurance Scheme.

This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with practical agricultural experience and a strong understanding of livestock and dairy sectors.

The role will involve carrying out assessments across South-West Wales, including: Pembrokeshire Carmarthenshire & Ceredigion.

Essential

 Hold an NVQ Level 3 qualification in Agriculture or a related subject (or higher)

 Have practical experience in the management of Beef and Sheep enterprises, and/or Dairy units

 Hold a full UK driving licence

Desirable

 Be computer literate and confident using digital systems

 Be able to communicate effectively in both Welsh and English

 Demonstrate strong organisational and interpersonal skills

Applications are welcomed from candidates seeking either: Self-employed contract work, or employed positions. Full or part time.

Closing date: 12 June 2026

For further details and application form: 01970 636 688 info@wlbp.co.uk www.wlbp.co.uk www.fawl.co.uk

death notices

DAVID W YNDHAM L EWIS

OBE

B ELOVED husband to Penny, father of Paul, Ceri and Ben and Grandfather to Louie, Isobel, Jani, Amelie and Mina, quietly passed away at home on May 11th surrounded by his family in his much loved village of Solva, Pembrokeshire.

The family would like to thank David’s network of close friends as well as the staff at Withybush Hospital A&E, the Acute Frailty Unit, ACDU and paramedics. Thanks also to the staff at Care in Hand and especially Priscilla, Isobel, Linnie and Rhian.

In lieu of flowers please donate to yvfoundation.org.uk to continue to David’s legacy.

Service will be held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth SA67 8UD on June 13th at 11.30am.

Followed by a wake at Hats and Barrels, Solva from 1.30pm.

Enquiries to W.G. Bernard Mathias & Daughter 01437 720537

D

AVID ‘”G EOFF

THE V ET ”’ G EOFFREY L EWIS

PASSED away suddenly on 13th of May, Geoff of Panteg, f ishguard.

Beloved husband to the late Pam, a much-loved father and father-inlaw to Rachel, Phillip, Rhiannon and Jonathan, and a devoted grandfather to Ella, Phoebe and Lennie. Dear

brother to Rob and Janet, Jon and Sue and families.

He will be deeply missed by all his family, his close companion Rachel and all who were fortunate enough to have known such a kind caring gentleman and loyal friend.

Funeral service on Wednesday 10th June at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth at 12:15pm.

Family flowers only.

Donations in lieu if desired made payable to ‘DPJ Foundation’ c/o Paul Jenkins & Sons Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB. Tel 01348 873250.

G RIFFITH J OHN B YRON DAVIES

P EACE f ULLY on Monday 11th of May 2026.

Beloved Husband of the late Pauline, loving father to Joanne

and the late Angela, father-in-law to Richard and Robert, devoted Grandfather to Jordon, Jasmin, James and the late Louis and great grandfather to Cruz.

Funeral Thursday 11th June service 2.00 pm at Middle Hill Chapel Freystrop, followed by internment at Freystrop Cemetery.

Family flowers only.

Donations if desired can be made payable to Paul Satori Foundation and sent c/o The Treasurer, Paul Sartori House, Winch Lane, Haverfordwest, SA61 1RP.

All enquiries to Roy Folland & Son Funeral Directors (01437 763821)

T HOMAS ‘T OMMY ’ Luk E

P EACE f ULLY A t home with his family on Wednesday 20th May, Tommy, Talar Ni, Maenclochog.

Beloved husband of Alison, loving father of Nia and Alan, respected father in law of Mick and Sarah. Adored dacu of Joey and Indie and a cherished brother of Margaret, David, Doreen and the late Raymond.

Funeral arrangements later.

Enquiries to Dennis Jones Funeral Director, Efailwen. T EL 01994 419561.

CAMERAS & PHOTOGRAPHY

ELECTRICAL

RECLAIMED BUILDING MATERIAL

RuBBISH AND WASTE REMOVAL

PROFESSIONAL CAR WASH

PODIATRY

SCRAP METAL

SCAFFOLDING

SOUND LIGHT AND STAGE

TECHNOLOGY AND COMPuTERS

TRAILERS

VEHICLE RECOVERY

WINDOWS

Castrol MEM Rally Team celebrates double podium on Jim Clark Rally

CASTROL MEM Rally Team secured its second double podium finish in as many rounds of the 2026 British Rally Championship, with Welsh crews Meirion Evans/Dale furniss and Osian Pryce/James Morgan finishing second and third on the Jim Clark Rally.

The Borders event, held on Friday and Saturday (May 22 and 23), covered 100 stage miles and

proved another strong outing for the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 team. Lampeter driver Meirion Evans delivered a fast and consistent performance, setting the quickest time on stage two and recording six second-fastest stage times. He was third overnight, just 18.7 seconds off the lead, despite starting one night-time stage with his Toyota’s lamp pod disconnected.

Evans moved into second place after Saturday’s opening daylight stage and held the position to the finish, collecting another valuable haul of championship points.

Osian Pryce, from Machynlleth, made a flying start by setting the fastest time on the opening stage and led the rally early on. He was second at the overnight halt, but his hopes

of victory were hit on stage five after a delay at the start left him launching into the Polwarth test on cold Michelin tyres.

The 2022 British Rally Champion overshot, then lost around 25 seconds when he was unable to select reverse, leaving him stranded up an escape road.

Pryce then focused on securing third place and ended the event on a high by setting the fastest time on the tenth and final stage.

A win and a third place from the opening two rounds keeps Pryce at the top of the BRC drivers’ standings, while Evans is just four points behind after two second-place finishes.

Evans said: “We were really strong on the Jim Clark Rally last year, so we came here with hopes that we could fight for the win. We were close, but no cigar.

“Two second place finishes in the BRC so far this year is good. I just need to start winning now.”

Pryce said: “We were fighting for the win but ended up having to consolidate the points available, and I’m not too disappointed with third given how things unfolded.

“We’re still leading the championship, so now the focus shifts to the next round and coming back fighting on the Grampian.”

Milford Athletic FC youngsters to tackle Preseli mountain in fundraiser for new equipment

YOUTH players, families and volunteers from Milford Athletic FC are set to take on a sponsored mountain trek next month in a bid to raise funds for new football equipment and improvements at the growing community club.

The club will host its “Team Trek” fundraiser on June 28, with participants climbing the 1.2-mile route to the trig point at Foel Eryr in the Preseli Mountains.

Organisers hope to raise £800 to help improve training sessions and ensure matches can continue to be delivered in line with Football Association of Wales guidelines.

Funds raised will go towards purchasing new footballs, cones, posts and other training materials, as well as maintaining and replacing existing equipment.

Club representatives said even essential items such as the club’s lawnmower are in need of upgrading.

A spokesperson for the club said Milford Athletic FC is committed to providing “fun grassroots football” for children and families in the community, adding that the fundraiser

would help create a sustainable future for the club as it continues to grow.

They said the aim is to ensure children from “all walks of life” feel

Haverfordwest Eagles

HAVER f ORDWEST EAGLES

U12s girls rugby team have capped off an incredible first season together by winning not one, but two major titles.

More than half the squad had never picked up a rugby ball before joining the team, but the group quickly formed a strong bond and worked tirelessly throughout the season.

The young Eagles travelled to the Leicester Tigers Challenge at Butlin’s, Bognor Regis, in April and returned home as champions after an impressive rugby tour.

Then, on Friday (May 22), the team secured a second major success, defeating Merched Mynydd Mawr 26-17 in the Scarlets Cup Final at Parc y Scarlets to be crowned champions once again.

Coaches Josh Campbell and Trigger Brazell, alongside team manager Kelly Ellis, were praised for helping build a strong team spirit and inspiring a new generation of girls’ rugby players in Pembrokeshire.

Captain Cyra Ellis and vicecaptain Alaya Maghie led the team through a memorable debut season.

u12’s

welcomed and supported, with access to high-quality training sessions and matchday experiences.

Players, friends and supporters

are all expected to take part in the trek through the Preseli hills later this summer.

Crowned Double Champions after standout first season

Three days of world-class motorsport set to return to Mid Wales this September

THE ROAR of rally engines will return to Mid Wales this autumn as the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion makes its much-anticipated comeback from friday, September 4 to Sunday, September 6.

Now firmly established as one of the biggest events on the UK motorsport calendar, the rally will once again bring world-class competition to the roads of Ceredigion and Powys, with drivers competing across three major championships.

The event will host rounds of the FIA European Rally Championship, the British Rally Championship and the European Historic Rally Championship, the latter making its first appearance at the Welsh event.Organisers say the addition of historic rally cars will add a new attraction for spectators, with iconic vehicles from previous generations expected to take part alongside today’s top competitors.

Building on the success of previous years, the 2026 event will begin with a ceremonial start and rally showcase on Aberystwyth promenade on Thursday evening (Sept 3), before competitive stages get underway across Mid Wales throughout the weekend.

The rally has grown into a major tourism and economic boost for the region, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and putting local communities, businesses and landscapes in front of an international audience.

Figures from last year’s event showed a total economic impact of £11.6 million, including an estimated £5.59 million in direct spending, with businesses across the region reporting increased visitor numbers, overnight stays and higher spending.

BACKS RETURN Of EVENT

The Leader of Ceredigion County Council, Cllr Bryan Davies said: “We’re proud to welcome Rali Ceredigion back to the county for 2026. The event continues to grow year on year, bringing significant benefits to our communities, local businesses and the wider economy.

“With an expanded programme and the addition of the European Historic Rally Championship, this year’s event promises to attract even more visitors to the region.

“As a council, our focus is on working closely with organisers and partners to ensure residents are well informed and that the event is delivered safely and successfully for everyone.”

Organisers are working alongside Ceredigion County Council, Powys County Council and emergency services to ensure the event is delivered safely,

with details of road closures, timings and routes expected to be released in the coming months.

Historic rally cars to join line-up Rali Ceredigion Director Charlie Jukes said organisers were excited to expand the event once again.

He said: “The addition of the European Historic Rally Championship is a fantastic development, adding even more variety and appeal for fans, with a wider range of iconic rally cars expected to take part.

“Rali Ceredigion continues to grow in scale and reputation and we’re proud to work alongside local authorities, partners and communities to deliver an event that showcases the very best of the region and generates a significant positive impact.”

Residents and businesses are being encouraged to plan ahead, with community engagement activity expected to begin before the summer.

Thomas c arroll Pembrokeshire league Table

Fixtures 30th May

Divison 1

Burton v Whitland

Cresselly v Carew

Neyland v Lawrenny

Saundersfoot v Narberth

St Ishmaels v Herbrandston

Divison

2

Haverfordwest v Cresselly II

Hook v Llanrhian

Johnston v Llechryd

Llangwm v Pembroke Dock

Pembroke v Fishguard

Divison

3

Carew II v Lamphey

Hundleton v Pembroke II

Kilgetty v Burton II

Laugharne v Saundersfoot II

Stackpole v Haverfordwest II

Divison

4

Crymych v Carew III

Herbrandston II v St Ishmaels II

Lawrenny II v Neyland II

Llechryd II v Haverfordwest III

Narberth II v Hook II

Divison

5

Cresselly III v Llechryd III

Llanrhian II v Hundleton II

Pembroke Dock II v Llangwm II

Pembroke III v Whitland III

Divison

6

Haverfordwest IV v kilgetty II

Lamphey II v Whitland III

Neyland III v Laugharne II

Castrol MEM Rally Team celebrates double podium on Jim Clark Rally • p78