The Pembrokeshire Herald 06/12/2024

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MS raises ambulance handover crisis

LOCAL MS Sam Kurtz raised the dire state of local ambulance services at First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday, December 3.

Although ambulance response times improved in the Hywel Dda UHB area in the last set of Welsh Government data, they remain far from their target. The target that 65% of all red (most serious) emergency calls should see an ambulance arrive within eight minutes has never been met since the Welsh Government set it.

Now, the Welsh Government is considering changing the target to account for physical reality. While ambulances might be able to zip hither, thither and yon along motorways and A roads, 80% of Wales is rural, and thanks to the centralisation of critical health services, connecting ambulance services to remote destinations is difficult. Even then, ambulance connections in Wales’s conurbations are still hopelessly adrift from the national target.

DIVERSIONS AND DELAYS HIT LOCAL SERVICES

Sam Kurtz highlighted the issues that arise in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, which he represents in the Welsh Parliament.

The Shadow Economy Minister told First Minister Eluned Morgan, a former Health Minister, about an incident in his constituency.

“Just recently, a Pembrokeshirebased emergency medical technician wrote to me expressing his frustration

Jon Coles jon.coles@herald.email

that Pembrokeshire-based ambulances often leave the Hywel Dda health board area. In this case, he was called to Waunarlwydd from Tenby, then to another emergency sixty miles away. He was delayed by being unable to offload patients outside Morriston Hospital. That left Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire without adequate ambulance cover, which is sadly a common occurrence.”

As Mr Kurtz’s Pembrokeshire colleague Paul Davies pointed out this year, Pembrokeshire already has a reduced ambulance service to tackle demand elsewhere in the Board area.

HANDOVER WASTES THOUSANDS OF HOURS A MONTH

Last year, we reported on ambulances “stacking” like container trucks waiting to unload their cargo at Withybush, Glangwili, and Morriston hospitals because A&E Departments could not process the number of admissions fast enough.

Examining more detailed data for the Hywel Dda UHB area demonstrates the pressure on emergency hospital admissions and the knock-on effect on the ambulance service.

When an ambulance takes a patient to hospital, admission is supposed to take place within 15 minutes of arrival, with the ambulance returning to service 15 minutes after that.

In the Hywel Dda UHB area, ambulances are routinely tied up beyond those markers for almost 4,000 hours beyond expected admission and return to on-call.

Fewer than 18% of patients conveyed to a Major Injury Department were admitted within 15 minutes. For Major Acute Units, that turnaround was even worse.

However, Sam Kurtz’s question avoided the obvious point about emergency responses.

AMBER GAMBLING

Mr Kurtz said: “Since 2015, amber response times have gone from 11 minutes to over 113 minutes.

That’s a damning indictment of the Labour Government’s failure and its mishandling of the health services here in Wales.

“Now, because you can’t meet your targets, you’re looking to move the goalposts and change the targets in the new year. So, will you just admit it, Prif Weinidog: the Welsh Labour Government hasn’t got a clue how to improve health services in Wales?”

You’d scarcely expect the First Minister to agree with the question’s content, even if the context about amber calls is inarguable.

However, at least Eluned Morgan didn’t say “no”.

Instead, the First Minister said: “We have to make sure that all parts of this system work, but, actually, that focus, that increase, and that increase in performance in relation to the red calls—which, of course, is the most critical one to respond to—has improved.

“When it comes to reforming the way we look at this, this, of course, was a recommendation from the health committee to review how it was done, something that was done quite a long time ago in England. We’ve kept to this for a long time.

“We are following the recommendations of the committee. There does need to be a recognition of that huge increase in demand, and make sure that we respond to the most urgent patients.”

The First Minister said nothing about the amber calls that were the subject of Sam Kurtz’s question. She said less than that about tackling the delays in patient handover, which Mr Kurtz’s question initially raised.

The systemic problems run far deeper than a collection of targets for different services the NHS delivers. Reforming the NHS, instead of tinkering at the edges by manipulating targets and launching new initiatives every month, has never been more urgent.

Police bundle away sex offender after large protest in Hubberston

AROUND 70 residents of Wentworth Close and surrounding streets protested last night (Tuesday, December 3) against a man released on bail after pleading guilty to possessing child abuse images.

Jamie Hughes, 34, who admitted in court earlier that day to possessing over 400 Category A images — the most severe type — remained on bail in their neighbourhood, prompting outrage among the community. Hughes also admitted to possessing 236 Category B and 886 Category C images.

The protest saw residents expressing their anger and demanding action. Police intervened to maintain order, eventually placing Hughes in a van and removing him from the area.

Earlier yesterday, Hughes appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to offences involving indecent images of children. The offences occurred over a five-year period, between May 1, 2018, and November 29, 2023, and were uncovered at his home on Wentworth Close.

Due to the seriousness of the offences, the magistrates declined jurisdiction, referring the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on Christmas Eve.

Hughes was released on unconditional bail and will be placed on the sex offender’s register.

The decision to release Hughes on bail sparked immediate anger among

residents, who voiced concerns about safety. Protesters gathered outside his home, calling for stricter measures to protect the community.

One resident said: “It’s horrifying to know someone like this was allowed back into our street after

admitting such serious crimes.” Police have confirmed they moved Hughes to another location baut declined to provide further details, citing operational reasons.

Hughes will face sentencing on December 24 at Swansea Crown Court, where a judge is expected to determine the appropriate punishment for the offences.

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

Armed response officers on standby in Wentworth Close on Tuesday night (Pic: Herald)

Former police officer appears in court over paddleboarding deaths

NERYS BETHAN LLOYD, 39, a former police officer, has appeared before magistrates charged with the manslaughter of four people who died during a paddleboarding incident in Haverfordwest.

Lloyd, of Jersey Quay, Aberavon, is accused of unlawfully killing Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers, Nicola Wheatley, and Paul O’Dwyer. The four victims were part of a standup paddleboard tour on the River Cleddau on October 30, 2021, which ended in tragedy.

In addition to the manslaughter charges, Lloyd faces a fifth charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Prosecutors allege that she failed to discharge her general health and safety duties, exposing the victims and others in the group to risks to their health or safety. The alleged failure, which contravenes Section 3(2) of the Act, relates to her role as the sole director of the nowdefunct outdoor activity company, Salty Dog Co., which organised the tour.

Lloyd appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Dec 3. During the hearing, she submitted no pleas to the charges.

Given the seriousness of the case, Judge Layton declined jurisdiction, and the matter was committed to Swansea Crown Court. Lloyd is set to appear there on January 3. She was released on unconditional bail.

The charges stem from Britain’s worst paddleboarding accident, which claimed the lives of four people after they were caught in a flooded weir on the River Cleddau. A report by the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch found that the group had been trapped by hydraulic towback at the weir, with no means of escape.

Lloyd, who left her position with South Wales Police three months after the tragedy, now works for a community charity. The investigation into the incident, conducted by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch, spanned two years and highlighted safety shortcomings in the organisation of the paddleboarding excursion.

The deaths of the four paddleboarders — Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, and Paul O’Dwyer,

Tributes poured in following the tragedy, with the victims remembered as devoted family members, friends, and outdoor enthusiasts. Today’s court appearance marks

the start of a legal process that has already drawn significant attention and raised questions about safety standards in outdoor water sports.

The River Cleddau in Haverfordwest (Image: Herald)

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

Mother-of-three to stand trial over taxi driver robbery

A 35-YEAR-OLD mother-of-three is set to stand trial in connection with a knifepoint robbery of a taxi driver in Milford Haven.

Kelly Rees, of Summers Villas, Milton, appeared at Swansea Crown Court earlier this week alongside her co-defendant, Ashlee Rees, 23, of Flemish Court, Lamphey. Both pleaded guilty to robbery, admitting they stole a bag containing £50 to £80 from the driver in October.

The court heard that during the incident, Ashlee Rees was armed with a knife, while Kelly Rees allegedly wielded a needle. Although Ashlee

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Rees pleaded guilty to possessing a blade, Kelly Rees denied having an offensive weapon.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that the taxi driver sought medical treatment at the hospital following the robbery.

The case was adjourned until today, Friday, November 29, to allow the Crown Prosecution Service to review Kelly Rees’s not guilty plea to the weapons charge.

Court hearing to force resident clear up excess waste

FAILURE to remove excess waste from a garden in Pembroke Dock resulted in a Court fine for a Council tenant.

A Community Protection Warning Notice was issued to Sheena Deacon to remove accumulated waste at her home at Wavell Crescent but it was not cleaned up.

The accumulation of waste in the property’s garden was causing rodent infestation and presented a health hazard.

Engagement with the tenant, and investigations by the Council’s Public Health and Public Protection division were carried out prior to the issuing of the notice.

This resulted in Pembrokeshire County Council serving a Community Protection Notice which was also not complied with, leading to a Court hearing.

Tenant Sheena Deacon did not attend the hearing at Haverfordwest

Tom

Sinclair editor@herald.email

Magistrates Court and was fined £200 for each offence, with five breaches of the CPN charges put and was ordered to pay £1,000 towards costs.

If the waste is not removed, a Criminal Behaviour Order can be applied for under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act, breaches of which could lead to further penalties being issued by the Court.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services Cllr Jacob Williams said: “The Public Protection teams work hard to ensure Council tenants are not put a risk form health hazards caused by anti-social behaviour of this nature. We will always seek to work with tenants to resolve these issues but will use further powers to improve residential environments when required.”

Pembroke motorist three times over drink limit

A MOTORIST who was nearly three times over the drink-drive limit has been sentenced following a crash on the B4314 in Pendine.

Stuart Rickford, 43, was driving his Audi at 1:30pm on November 15 when he collided with another vehicle.

“There were no injuries, but when officers spoke to the defendant they had a strong smell of intoxicants,”

Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told the court.

A roadside breath test proved positive, and Rickford, of Beach Hotel, Marsh Road, Pendine, later gave a reading of 93 mcg of alcohol at the police station. The legal limit is 35. Rickford pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order with 80 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 23 months and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Police appeal for information after Carmarthenshire fire

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for information following a fire at a property in Carmarthenshire.

A report was received at 2:00am on Thursday (Nov 28) that a door to a

house on Dillwyn Street in Llanelli was on fire. The property was empty at the time of the incident.

A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted arson and

released on conditional bail as further investigations continue.

Officers are urging anyone with information that could assist their enquiries to come forward. They are

particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the area around Dillwyn Street between 1:00am and 3:00am and may have witnessed the incident or seen anything suspicious.

Man jailed for threats at Withybush Hospital

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sentenced to seven days in custody after threatening to harm members of the public at Withybush Hospital.

Wayne Tydeman, 42, made threats while speaking to a community practice nurse following his release from a 24week custodial sentence.

“He was on post-sentence supervision, and this is the first breach,” probation officer Julie Norman told the court.

Tydeman, of Dew Street, Haverfordwest, was remanded in custody and appeared via video link from Park Prison. His solicitor said his mental health had improved during his time in custody.

Judge Layton sentenced him to seven days in custody, warning: “If you fail to engage in the future, the sentence will be considerably longer.”

Steynton woman fined for breaching protection order

A DECISION to name a serving police officer in a Facebook post has resulted in a court conviction for Steynton’s Lisa Thomas.

On August 28, Thomas, 34, posted the officer’s name on Facebook, breaching a community protection notice.

Painter and decorator fined for drink-driving

A PEMBROKESHIRE painter and decorator has been dealt a fourfigure court payment after being caught driving over the drink-drive limit.

Darren O’Leary, 45, was stopped by officers just before midnight on November 12 as he drove his Peugeot Partner van through Freemans Way, Haverfordwest.

After smelling alcohol inside the vehicle, officers carried out a roadside breath test which proved positive. Further breath tests at the police station revealed that O’Leary, of Castleton Grove, Haverfordwest, had 45 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

O’Leary pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before a District Judge sitting at Haverfordwest

magistrates court this week. His solicitor, David Williams, said: “He’d had a few drinks but then an argument started so he decided the best course of action would be to go for a drive to let things settle down.”

Williams added that O’Leary, a painter and decorator, regularly drives considerable distances to carry out contracts and is distressed about losing his licence.

After considering the mitigation, District Judge Mark Layton fined O’Leary £800 and ordered him to pay a £320 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

“When you drink, you put lives at risk,” said Judge Layton when imposing the sentence.

Thomas, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, told the court she didn’t understand her actions breached the order. “I’m not a criminal, and I don’t understand how the police can

access my private Facebook page,” she said.

Thomas pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined £80, with a £42 court surcharge imposed

‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’ hailed as one of the best true crime dramas

NETFLIX viewers are buzzing with excitement over the addition of The Pembrokeshire Murders, a gripping three-part ITV drama now available on the streaming platform. Described as “one of the best true crime series ever,” the show boasts an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 82% and has reignited interest in one of Wales’ most chilling criminal cases.

BASED ON REAL EVENTS

Adapted from the 2012 book by Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins, the series chronicles his determined efforts to solve two cold cases—the double murders of siblings Richard and Helen Thomas in 1985 and Peter and Gwenda Dixon in 1989. Luke Evans leads the cast as Wilkins, who re-opened the investigations in 2006, utilizing advancements in forensic science and DNA testing to build an unshakable case.

HOW A GAME SHOW HELPED CRACK THE CASE

One of the series’ most talked-about moments involves footage from a 1989 episode of Bullseye, a popular game show, where suspect John Cooper’s

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

appearance uncannily matched a police sketch. This discovery became a crucial piece of evidence in connecting Cooper to the crimes.

CRUCIAL EVIDENCE AND A LIFE SENTENCE

Detectives uncovered a wealth of damning evidence against Cooper, leading to his 2011 conviction for the murders. Key findings included:

Victim’s blood concealed in the hem of Cooper’s shorts.

Personal items belonging to the victims in Cooper’s possession.

Ballistic evidence linking Cooper’s firearm from prior robberies to the murders. Cooper was also convicted of rape, sexual assault, and attempted robbery during the trial. Diagnosed as a psychopath, he is now serving a life sentence.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR A CHILLING DRAMA

Directed by Marc Evans, The

Pembrokeshire Murders has been lauded for its gripping storytelling and attention to detail. Alongside Luke Evans, the stellar cast includes Charles Dale (Coronation Street), Owen Teale (Line of Duty), and Steven Meo (Gavin and Stacey).

A DARK CHAPTER IN WELSH HISTORY

The murders sent shockwaves through the quiet Pembrokeshire community. The Thomases were killed execution-style at their Scoveston

Manor home, which was then set ablaze in a bid to destroy evidence. Four years later, the Dixons were gunned down during their summer holiday, with their bodies hidden along a coastal path.

Netflix’s re-release of The Pembrokeshire Murders has brought this harrowing true crime story to a global audience, offering a stark reminder of the tireless work of detectives who fought for justice and the devastating toll these murders took on the community.

Racing stables worker admits to drug-driving

A PEMBROKESHIRE racing stables employee has admitted driving with the cocaine derivative benzoylecgonine in his system.

Luke Jones, 33, was stopped by officers at 8:20pm on June 3 while driving his Fiat Punto along Dredgemans Hill, Haverfordwest.

“They spoke to the defendant, and as a result of his appearance and demeanour, the officers suspected he was under the influence of drugs,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.

“Not long ago, the defendant secured a job that’s very important to him,” said Williams. “He is employed as a yardman at a racing stables with responsibility for 17 horses. Public transport isn’t available for his working hours.”

Jones was disqualified from driving for 17 months and sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, including 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

A roadside drugs wipe proved positive, and further blood tests revealed 174 mcg of benzoylecgonine in Jones’ system. The legal limit is 50. Jones, of Maes Morfa, Newport, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented by solicitor David Williams.

Independents call for fair Council Tax rises

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT must recognise its failure to provide enough support for Welsh local authorities to enable them to discharge their duties.

So says Cllr Huw Murphy, the Leader of the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council.

Huw Murphy continues by saying that failure to provide additional support will “inevitably result in reserves being drained” and many councils facing bankruptcy.

The big takeaway from the meeting was that: “The Independent Group will not push for an unrealistically low CT rise to the detriment of providing essential services.

“We will support a CT rise that might be politically uncomfortable but necessary to protect services if fully costed.”

LACK OF WG FUNDING BEHIND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS

According to Cllr Murphy, Pembrokeshire’s difficult financial circumstances arise from a combination of social care pressures and an unfunded Home Office directive to look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The cost of out-of-county childcare packages is also responsible for a drain on scarce Council resources.

Cllr Murphy told The Pembrokeshire Herald that he welcomes the fact that both the Council Leader, Cllr Jon Harvey, and its Chief Executive, Will Bramble, have written to the Welsh Government expressing those concerns.

At the recent meeting of unaffiliated and Independent Group councillors at the Plough Inn, Sageston, councillors also discussed the issue of Council Tax and made radical proposals to address it.

Cllr Murphy told us: “Those present felt that the presence of thousands of holiday properties in Pembrokeshire paying zero tax because they are registered for non-domestic rates (NDR) as businesses is unfair and frankly wrong.

“Nearly all properties subject to NDR qualify for 100% Small Business Rates Relief as they have a rateable value of under £6,000. That means those who own those properties duck Council Tax and business rates.”

Councillors debated that issue alongside Second Homes Council Tax. Many agreed that every house in Pembrokeshire should pay the standard rate of Council Tax, with those used as holiday rentals or as exclusive second homes paying an additional levy. According to Cllr Murphy, this will solve the problem of second home and holiday home owners avoiding tax by placing their properties on the market as notionally for sale.

Huw Murphy continued: “If ALL properties were under the same taxation umbrella, it would raise far in excess of

200% or 150% as an additional levy on second homes, be fairer, and effectively resolve the Welsh Government’s 182day rule that many have concerns over.

“There are at least 5,500 such properties in Pembrokeshire. The Welsh Government has pushed back its Council Tax reforms until after the next Senedd elections. As a local authority, we need to push on this issue to deliver a fairer taxation system that could raise more revenue than we do through Second Homes Council Tax.”

On Council Tax, Cllr Murphy pointed out “a sobering statistic”.

“Pembrokeshire County Council has issued 14,000 letters for late payment of Council Tax and 4,000 summonses. That shows a need to appreciate many residents’ struggles.”

COUNCIL TAX RISE MUST BE FAIR AND PROPORTIONATE

He continued: “The setting of Council Tax is a Full Council decision. The Independent Group has not delivered a budget since 2017. Cllr David Simpson, the previous Leader, bears responsibility for all budgets between 2018 and 2023.

“If anyone feels that PCC has kept Council Tax rises too low, meaning we no longer deliver the services many people expect, then Councillor Simpson had six budgets to address the matter and, arithmetically, had the majority to pass whatever budget he wanted.”

That said, Huw Murphy offered an olive branch to the current administration.

“The Independent Group will ensure critical public services are protected alongside supporting the efficiency savings to ensure any Council Tax rise is fair and proportionate. We will work cross-chamber to achieve this.

“While the new Labour Government in Westminster has not yet addressed the concerns of many Pembrokeshire residents, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Although it appears more gruel than pudding at present, they still have four-and-a-half years to come good.”

TACKLING LONG TERM EMPTY PROPERTIES

One element of the budget on which the Independent Group is prepared to go further and faster than the current administration is the question of LongTerm Empty Property (LTE) Council Tax. Independent Group councillor Alan Dennison surprised the administration in October by suggesting a large hike in the Council Tax paid on empty homes. The Council voted to kick the proposition down the road, but the Independent Group has returned to the subject.

“ We will suggest that Pembrokeshire moves to one LTE band from April 1, 2025. That will be 250% at the start of year 3. Doing this will raise almost £2m, increasing the Council’s revenue from LTE by just under £300,000.

“The Independent Group will accept the credit and criticism for this tougher approach on empty properties. The money raised must go towards supporting essential services.

“Our approach would be balanced with a more sympathetic approach to applications for exemption, ensuring fairness and proportionality.”

The County Council has received considerable criticism for spending on capital projects, such as the Riverside development in Haverfordwest, the “transport interchange” (aka new bus station), and the much-derided (and now much-reduced) plans for an “Instagrammable bridge.”

Huw Murphy made it clear that the Independent Group wanted a full

review of capital projects with a view to identifying savings that could be passed on Council Tax payers.

A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES

He observed: “The Welsh Government claims they have had the best settlement from the UK Treasury in fourteen years. They must deliver on this claim and provide an adequate settlement for Welsh local authorities. That settlement must take into account unprecedented costs, especially regarding Social Care.

Cllr Murphy drew attention to Cllr Jamie Adams’ comments at Full Council in 2023.

“Cllr Adams commented that if significant savings in the public sector are required in Wales, then do we need 22 LA’s with 22 Chief Executives? Do we need 4 Police Forces with 4 Chief Constables when Scotland went to Police Scotland years ago? In Pembrokeshire, is there no argument that PCC and PCNPA planning departments could be amalgamated to save money and collaborate on other matters to drive down costs?”

Huw Murphy concluded by saying: “The Welsh Government voted to expand the Senedd to 96 members. The Welsh Government voted to give itself a 16% increase, to the tune of an additional £11.6m, to pay for it.

“I’m not alone in expecting that figure to rise and rise again. We should be under no illusions: this is money that cannot then be spent on Social Care, Education, Swimming Pools, Libraries, and filling in potholes. When we, as councils and households, feel the squeeze and face difficult choices, the Welsh Government’s priorities are funding what they deem ‘important’. As Cllr Adams remarked: ‘Turkeys rarely vote for Christmas’.”

Jon Coles jon.coles@herald.email

WG rejects council’s tourism tax plea

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has rejected a request from Pembrokeshire County Council to reconsider its 182-night rule on holiday letting.

In a letter to the local authority from Wales’s Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford, the Welsh Government said it would not reconsider its approach until it had two years’ data on its effects.

The Labour government introduced the 182-night rule to target property owners who casually rent properties and pay neither the increased Council Tax premium on second homes nor Small Business Rates. By encouraging owners to release properties onto the for-sale market, the government wants to increase the availability of homes in Wales’s holiday hotspots. It’s a blunt tool, and there have been predictable but unforeseen consequences (at least by the Welsh Government). The rule’s introduction has reduced the number of properties upon which owners pay either the enhanced rate of Council Tax for second homes or pay business rates.

A LETTER TO MARK

On October 17, Pembrokeshire’s county councillors instructed the Council leader to write to the Welsh Government asking for a reduction in the 182-night rule.

Although councillors agreed an increase in the previous threshold was welcome, many felt the letting target was too high for many viable businesses.

The letter to the Welsh Government said: “Whilst 182 days is certainly achievable in some of our main tourist towns such as Tenby, Saundersfoot, and Newport, it was very difficult to achieve this in other parts of the county, particularly away from the sea.”

The letter said the rule is having a detrimental effect on Pembrokeshire’s vital tourism industry.

Council Leader Jon Harvey’s letter also said: “We do not wish to implement any local policy decisions that would conflict with Welsh Government, and, as such, I am formally writing to you to ask the Welsh Government to consider reducing the 182 days let threshold for self-catering properties to qualify for Non-Domestic Rates.”

DRAKEFORD SAYS “NO”

In a reply from Mark Drakeford, which was circulated to all Council members, the Welsh Government refused to reconsider its position ahead of the next tourism season.

Jon Coles jon.coles@herald.email

Mr Drakeford said: “The primary aims of our changes to local taxes are to ensure property owners are making a fair contribution and to maximise the use of property to the benefit of local communities. This could include benefits arising from increased occupancy for short-term letting or the release of some properties for sale or rent as permanent homes for local people.

“As a consequence of the changes, self-catering properties are classed as non-domestic only if they are being used for business purposes for the majority of the year. This provides a clearer demonstration that the properties concerned are being let regularly and are making a substantial contribution to the local economy.”

Mr Drakeford claimed that information from businesses engaged in holiday letting showed the Welsh Government’s approach was having the effects Cardiff Bay desired. That seems contrary to data provided by the Wales Tourism Alliance and the figures produced for Pembrokeshire County Council’s budget.

Confirming the Welsh Government has no plans to reconsider its position, Mark Drakeford said: “We understand that there may be a period of adjustment, as some property owners consider their options and determine

how to respond. It will be important to allow time for the changes to embed before drawing any firm conclusions.

“The initial impact on the number of self-catering properties classified as non-domestic will be known after April 2025, when two years will have elapsed since the changes took effect. This is when the Valuation Office Agency is expected to have completed a full round of routine compliance checks.”

Claiming that reconsidering the position would cause “uncertainty” in the private letting sector, Mr Drakeford wrote: “There are no plans to undertake a formal review in the short-term, nor in isolation from the broader package of measures within our three-pronged approach to tackling the impact that large numbers of second homes and holiday lets can have on communities and the Welsh language.”

That’s not only a “no”, it’s a “no” with knobs on.

YOU ALREADY HAVE ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED

Mark Drakeford doubled down on his “no” by claiming Pembrokeshire County Council already had all the tools it needed to address the problems caused by the tourism tax.

He said: “We have extended the exceptions to council tax premiums to include properties with a planning condition which specifies that the property may only be used as a

holiday let or prevents its permanent occupation as a person’s sole or main residence. We have also provided guidance for local authorities on the use of discretion to tailor their arrangements to reflect local circumstances.”

Quite how designating a property for a holiday let allows its release onto the local housing market where homes for local families are in short supply is unaddressed.

The Finance Secretary continues: “Where a self-catering property does not meet the letting criteria and is not subject to a planning condition, the Welsh Government has provided local authorities with as much discretion as possible to consider the approach to take for the benefit of your communities.

“We consider our local taxation regime will help local authorities to incentivise the right balance between capacity within the self-catering tourism sector, and [its[ economic benefits and supporting viable communities of local residents to live and work in these areas.”

If, as Mark Drakeford claims, Pembrokeshire County Council has all the powers and options it needs to address the issue, there will, no doubt, be a flood of information coming from the Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Joshua Beynon, to show members precisely where the rabbit that should be in the hat is hidden.

A “no” with knobs on: Drakeford claims PCC already has enough leeway to tackle problems caused by tourism tax

Illegal workers fine of £120,000 for car wash

DRIVE & SHINE Hand Car Wash in Haverfordwest has been fined £120,000 for employing illegal workers, following a Home Office investigation into their practices.

The business, located in Cartlett, was named in the government’s latest quarterly report on employers penalised for illegal working. The report, covering penalties issued between April 1 and June 30, 2024, was released on October 31.

During the summer, the Daily Mail reported that Drive & Shine employed workers from Bulgaria, Romania, and Kurdistan. On busy days, as many as ten employees were observed pressurewashing, polishing, and valeting cars at the site.

Manager Aras Karam, a Kurd, defended the business, claiming it adhered to health and safety regulations while paying staff at least the minimum wage, “sometimes more.” He stated that the company conducted employee checks to ensure they had the legal right to work in the UK, adding:

“That isn’t happening here. There are so many car washes in the country now, some will be operating illegally, I know that. But this is a legitimate business, we have been here for many years. I’m not saying it doesn’t go on, but it depends on the place and who is running it.”

COMMUNITY TRUST SHAKEN

Long-time customer Sue Williams, 57, a furniture restorer, shared mixed feelings about the allegations. While expressing support for the workers, she said she trusted authorities to ensure compliance.

“They work hard and do a good job. I’ve been coming here for years. I’d think again if the place was being used for money laundering and was staffed

by slave labour. But I put my trust in the police and immigration authorities to make sure it’s a properly run business.”

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

The Home Office emphasised the severe consequences for businesses employing workers without the legal right to work in the UK. A spokesperson said:

“You can also be penalised if you

employ someone who does not have the right to work and you did not do the correct checks, or you did not do them properly. If this happens, you might get a ‘referral notice’ to let you know your case is being considered and that you might have to pay a civil penalty (fine) of up to £60,000 for each illegal worker.”

Publishing the names of offending businesses is part of the government’s strategy to deter others from engaging in illegal employment practices.

EMPLOYERS URGED TO COMPLY

The £120,000 fine highlights the importance of compliance with rightto-work laws. Businesses must verify employees’ legal status through checks such as reviewing passports, visas, or work permits.

The Home Office provides a free online service to assist employers, helping them avoid fines and reputational damage.

The penalty against Drive & Shine has raised serious questions about employment practices in the car wash industry, sparking concerns about oversight and compliance nationwide.

Drug addict found unconscious at industrial estate

A court has heard how a 22-yearold man, described by his solicitor as drug dependent, was found unconscious at a Pembrokeshire industrial estate following an alcohol and ketamine binge in Milford Haven.

Officers were called to the industrial estate in Johnston just after 8 pm on November 5, following reports that Jamie Wilkinson was lapsing in and out of consciousness as he lay on the ground.

“By the time the officers got there, he’d passed out,” Crown Prosecutor Derek Davies told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The officers decided to take him home to the safety of his mother, but when the officers removed the handcuffs, he became very agitated.

“He started remonstrating with his mother, the police tried to calm him down, but he pushed one of the officers backwards.”

In a subsequent interview at the police station, Wilkinson said he had no memory of the incident.

This week Wilkinson, of North Court, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

Probation officer Julie Norman told magistrates that the incident took place after Wilkinson had visited Milford Haven with friends, where he consumed alcohol, ketamine and other ‘unprescribed drugs’.

“He went to the train station in Milford Haven to get the train home, but from then onwards, he can’t remember anything,” she said.

“The defendant was found unconscious in Johnston, and the next thing he remembers was waking up in a police cell.”

Meanwhile Wilkinson’s solicitor, Tom Lloyd, said the defendant is a daily cannabis user as a result of his ADHD

and post traumatic stress disorder.

“He’s a very vulnerable young man,” he said. “He’s severely autistic and when the incident took place he didn’t know where he was nor what he was doing.”

Wilkinson was sentenced to a 12

month community order during which he must carry out ten rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was fined £40 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the police officer, a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

New chair for Celtic Freeport as project moves from development to delivery

THE UK and Welsh Governments welcomed Ed Tomp as the newly appointed permanent Chair of the Celtic Freeport, marking the project’s transition from the development to the delivery phase.

Ed Tomp assumed his role on 1 December 2024 and will lead this vital re-industrialisation and regeneration project. The Celtic Freeport is set to attract £8.4bn of private and public investment, deliver 11,500 new jobs and add £8.1bn of economic value (GVA). This vision is underpinned by investment incentives for businesses setting up new operations in designated development zones –tax sites – in Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire.

From 26 November 2024 until 30 September 2034, businesses investing in Celtic Freeport’s tax sites can access a suite of incentives.

These include no Business Rates for the first five years, significant reductions in national insurance contributions and enhanced capital allowances including extended full capital expensing, to support their investment decisions.

The Celtic Freeport is a publicprivate consortium including Associated British Ports, Neath Port Talbot Council, Pembrokeshire County Council and the Port of Milford Haven, alongside renewables developers, energy companies, industrial complexes, innovation assets, academic institutions and education providers. The Celtic Freeport covers the ports of Milford Haven and Port Talbot and spans

clean energy developments and innovation assets, fuel terminals, a power station and heavy engineering across South-West Wales.

Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller, cabinet member for Place, the Region and Climate Change, said: “The Celtic Freeport opening for business is tremendous news for our region.

“The scale of the opportunity ahead for the Milford Haven Waterway and for Pembrokeshire is enormous and we are determined to ensure we maximise the opportunity this coming energy revolution offers to grow the Pembrokeshire economy, to secure investment and to create and sustain good jobs.

“We want to ensure that the incentives from the Celtic Freeport benefits the people from the communities within the waterway and across Pembrokeshire. I am confident

that it will play a significant role in driving inclusive economic prosperity across the county.

“Together, with our partners, we can start the work to create meaningful investment for the people of Pembrokeshire, which will be transformational for our communities and businesses.”

Ed Tomp, Chair of the Celtic Freeport, added: “This week marks an important moment as we move from the development to delivery phase. Boosted by a suite of investment incentives, Celtic Freeport’s development plan will march forward to support existing industry to decarbonise, while creating an ecosystem between Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot where green industries like sustainable fuels, hydrogen and floating offshore wind can prosper.”

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

Teenager killed herself after ten months of hell, says heartbroken mum

MEGAN EVANS was just 14-yearsold when she tragically ended her life on February 7, 2017, after enduring ten harrowing months of relentless bullying—both online and in person. That day, she received a devastating message on Snapchat that read: “Go kill yourself.” Hours later, her family discovered her lifeless in their bathroom.

Last week, Pembrokeshire Coroner Paul Bennett ruled Megan’s death a suicide, attributing it to personal struggles, including her boyfriend’s infidelity and her father’s illness. He dismissed the extensive bullying Megan endured as ‘banter,’ stating that phrases like “go kill yourself” were, in his view, “regular use” online. “What may be bullying to one could be banter to another,” he remarked.

Megan’s mother, Nicola Harteveld, has voiced her deep disappointment at the coroner’s findings, questioning his understanding of the destructive power of social media and the pervasive dangers it poses to vulnerable young people. “At the time of her death, Meg didn’t know where to turn,” Nicola told The Herald. “She was like a caged animal.”

“At the time of her death, Meg didn’t know where to turn,” she said. “She was like a caged animal.

“And the people around her – her friends – could see the detrimental effect it was having on her.

“She was wise beyond her years, to the extent that if she was going to do something, she would do it to the best of her ability. If she didn’t give it 110%, then she wouldn’t do it.

“When I found out that she had killed herself, I knew categorically that this was what she wanted to do. And it was the result of ten months of hell. Ten months of being bullied and ten months of gradually losing trust in everything around her. As a result of what was

Sarah Jane Absalom sarah.jane.absalom@herald.email

happening, Megan lost trust in her school, and this was the catalyst of her not being able to trust in me.”

Nicola began to notice that things were not right with her daughter in May 2016, which was nine months before her death.

“It was the Monday of half term, she’d gone out with her friends but she phoned me, crying. She said, ‘Come and get me, I’m scared’.

“The girls had collared her down Milford Beach and Meg was hysterical. She later told me that they’d done the same thing to her the previous Saturday…they’d hammered her, and now they were doing the same thing to her again.”

Nicola Hartefeld collected Megan from the beach and immediately rang the police. Following a police interview, the girls responsible for the assault were given a police caution.

Matters continued to deteriorate throughout the autumn term when the bullying to which Megan was being subjected began affecting her conduct and her concentration in the classroom. Between September and February, there were nine recorded incidents, including C1 and C2 warnings and detentions. This, alleges Nicola, was because Megan was being ‘picked on’ by staff for her incorrect school uniform as well as other pupils.

“Before this, Meg had never been in trouble, yet the coroner failed to see this.

“In January, I noticed she wasn’t eating properly…she was just eating junk food and I heard from her friends that even when she was eating something small, like a sandwich, she’d always share it. She was losing weight.

“So I decided that Megan should come home for lunch every day.”

But on January 13, Megan failed to

appear.

“I texted her to find out what had happened, and she said that she had been put in detention. But it was lunchtime so this should never have been allowed to happen. I was furious.

“Megan was being prevented from coming home to eat her lunch.”

Following a verbal altercation between Megan’s father, Sean Evans, and school staff, Megan was finally allowed to leave the school premises to eat her lunch.

Four days later, Megan once again rang her mother in tears after being told she couldn’t attend a careers trip to Pembrokeshire College with the rest of her Year 9 pupils.

“Megan didn’t have the permission slip signed so I went straight up to the school, at around 9.20am, to sign it.

“But one of the teachers told me that Megan was unable to go as she didn’t have parental permission. They were adamant about this. And yet there I was, her mother, giving her full permission. Megan really wanted to go on that trip with everyone else but she couldn’t.

“For the rest of that week she was off school with chest pains and anxiety.

“Megan was always a bright, clever girl, but by now she hated being in that school environment.

“I discovered that she was walking out of virtually every single lesson, in tears. There had been this massive decline and yet the school did nothing to find out why this was happening. Instead they were chipping away at her, constantly.”

Finally on February 7, 2017, Megan received a Snapchat message from a pupil in another school. The message

read ‘Go kill yourself’. Later that evening 14-year-old Megan was found hanging in her parents’ bathroom.

“The day Meg died was the day that our relationship with her school ended,” continued Nicola. “The first we heard from them following her death was a solicitor’s letter, so they had closed ranks.

“Since her death, I’ve spent the last seven years doing my utmost to raise awareness that it’s not ok to use social media to bully, to condemn or to antagonise others. I

“I’ve tried to show how important it is to look out for warning signs that things may be going wrong, I’ve tried to break the stigma and encourage young people to speak out and express the ways in which they are being bullied.

“But with one fell swoop, the coroner stood on all those efforts and quashed them. He said that those words sent to Megan and all the bullying she’d had to endure amounted to banter and nothing more.

“But I know wholeheartedly that words can kill, because all those words killed my daughter. And by describing them as banter undermines their power.”

Nicola’s sentiments are endorsed in an extract found in Megan’s diary.

“People say it was a joke, but sometimes it goes too far,” she wrote during the last weeks of her life.

“In my opinion, the findings of Megan’s inquest are an injustice to every young person who’s suffering from mental health as they imply that if someone tells you to go kill yourself, then as long as you can stand up for yourself, then you won’t be emotionally affected by it.

Nicola Harteveld, mother of Megan Evans

St Davids Cathedral marks start of festive season

A DEEPLY moving Advent Procession took place at St Davids Cathedral this evening (Dec 1), marking the start of the festive season with a celebration of light amidst darkness and a reflection on the longing for Christ’s return.

The service began in solemnity at the West Door, with the congregation gathered in darkness. As the procession made its way through the Quire and toward the High Altar at the East, light was carried forward, symbolizing the arrival of hope and illumination in the season of Advent.

The event was enriched by a combination of hymns, carols, and Scripture readings, creating an atmosphere of reverence and spiritual anticipation. Each moment of the service invited attendees to reflect on the Advent themes of waiting, hope, and preparation for the coming of Christ.

St Davids Cathedral, renowned for its historical and architectural significance, provided a fitting backdrop for this ancient tradition, with its stone arches and candlelit spaces adding to the profound sense of occasion.

The Advent Procession is a cornerstone of the cathedral’s seasonal offerings, drawing worshippers from across Pembrokeshire and beyond to prepare their hearts and minds for Christmas.

New councillor appointed for Garth Ward,

HAVERFORDWEST Town Council has welcomed a new member following its meeting on Thursday (Nov 21).

Mr Kishore Manikonda was coopted onto the council and will represent The Garth Ward.

County Councillor for Castle Ward, Thomas Tudor, expressed his enthusiasm for the appointment.

Speaking to The Herald, Cllr Tudor said: “I look forward to working closely with Councillor Manikonda on Haverfordwest issues and offer my support and congratulations to him on his appointment.”

Councillor Manikonda joins the council at a time when collaboration across wards is seen as crucial for addressing local matters effectively.

Pembroke lantern parade lights up the town

PEMBROKE’S Lantern Parade lit up the night on the Commons this evening, bringing the community together for a magical celebration of creativity and togetherness. Hosted by the Pembroke Town Team, the event showcased the vibrant spirit of the town, with lanterns crafted by locals under the expert guidance of Sand Palace Arts.

Leading the way was Brig Y Don, setting the tone for a parade filled with glowing woodland creatures and majestic swans, enchanting all who joined. Attendees were invited to the Tanyard Project to begin their illuminated journey around Pembroke, culminating at The Foundry House, where a spectacular fire display awaited.

Hot food, drinks, and festive music added to the warm atmosphere, as residents gathered to chase away the winter blues. The wishing tree, a highlight of the evening, offered a moment of reflection and hope, as attendees hung their Christmas wishes before heading home.

Thanks to funding from the MHPA Community Fund, UK Government, and Pembrokeshire Pride, the muchloved Lantern Parade was brought to life once more. This year’s event built on the success of previous parades, showcasing the continued dedication of the Pembroke Town Team, who also organised the popular Pembroke Festival earlier this year.

The team expressed gratitude to all contributors, sponsors, and volunteers who helped make the evening a success, ensuring the tradition continues to light up the hearts of Pembroke residents.

Festive fun as Santa Run takes over Tenby streets

A TOWN full of Santas brought holiday cheer to Tenby today (Nov 30) as the annual Santa Run brightened the streets and seafront walkways.

The festive 3k fun run, organised by Tenby Round Table, welcomed adults, children—and even dogs—decked out in Santa suits to raise money for local charities and worthy causes.

Starting outside St Mary’s Church on High Street, participants received a Santa suit and a medal as part of their entry. Despite wet and windy weather, the rain failed to dampen spirits as Santas jogged through the harbour, down High Street, and along North Walk.

The Santa Run, organised by the Round Table remains a festive highlight in Tenby’s calendar, bringing the community together while supporting local causes.

Christmas event cancelled

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL

has cancelled this Saturday’s (Dec 7) planned visit by Father Christmas following an amber weather warning, which includes a “threat to life.”

In a statement on social media, the council expressed disappointment but emphasized the need to prioritise public safety.

“Absolutely everything has been considered to try and get the event to go ahead,” the council said. “But safety is and must always be paramount.”

Despite the cancellation, the town’s Christmas lights will be switched on as planned. The council has pledged to explore options for organising another community event at a later date.

The decision comes as strong winds and heavy rain are forecast to hit the area on Saturday, posing risks for outdoor gatherings.

Milford Haven Town Council will provide further updates as plans for a rescheduled event develop.

Councils festive info hub

WITH the festive season fast approaching, Pembrokeshire County Council has made it easier than ever to access essential service updates for Christmas and New Year.

The council’s website now features an updated ‘Christmas in Pembrokeshire’ page, providing answers to key holiday queries such as bin collection schedules and free parking availability.

Residents can also find information

about leisure centre and library opening times, winter driving tips, bus timetables, salting routes, and a guide to Christmas markets across the county.

The page includes reminders about recycling rules, including what can and cannot be recycled, as well as details on Christmas tree recycling services. For everything you need to know this festive season, visit https://www. pembrokeshire.gov.uk/christmas-inpembrokeshire.

Bringing smiles: Santas on the move through Tenby today (Pics: Gareth Davies/Herald)

Henry Tufnell MP advocates for bell restoration project

LAST weekend, Henry Tufnell MP visited St David’s Cathedral, where he had the opportunity to witness the tradition of bell ringing and meet with members of the St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project. The meeting underscored the vital importance of preserving Pembroke’s unique heritage while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by the

restoration team.

St Mary’s Church, located in the heart of Pembroke, is home to a set of historic bells that have been a cherished part of the town’s life for over 260 years. However, due to structural and safety concerns, these bells have been silent, putting a pause on their role in significant civic and cultural events, including Remembrance Sunday and local celebrations.

A significant £150,000 from the £10.5 million UK Government funding pot has been allocated to this restoration project, but delays in finalising the grant have hindered progress. Henry pledged his

commitment to ensuring that the project receives the attention it deserves to move forward without further obstacles.

Following his visit, Mr Tufnell said: “Speaking with members of the St Mary’s Bell Restoration Project at St David’s Cathedral highlighted how much this initiative means to the people of Pembroke. Restoring these historic bells is about more than just tradition; it’s about community pride and keeping our heritage alive for future generations. I’m determined to help ensure this project gets the green light it needs and I will be doing everything in my power to ensure it happens.”

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

Castle Ward’s councillor addresses leaf hazard

AS County Councillor for the Castle Ward, Cllr Thomas Tudor has responded swiftly to concerns raised by residents of Oakwood Grove about the build-up of fallen leaves on the pavements. The leaves, described as a potential hazard for pedestrians, were flagged as a danger, especially in wet conditions.

Following Cllr Tudor’s report to Pembrokeshire County Council’s maintenance team, the pavements have now been cleared, restoring safety for residents.

Cllr Tudor expressed his gratitude, saying: “Many thanks to all involved; it’s very much appreciated.”

Before and after photos provided by Cllr Tudor illustrate the improvement made for the community.

World-famous King’s College choirmen to perform in St Davids

FOR many, Christmas begins with the magical sound of carols from King’s College, Cambridge. This year, a week before their globally broadcast performance on BBC TV and radio, the lower voices of King’s Choir—known as The King’s Men—will make their firstever appearance in Pembrokeshire.

Their performance, titled Sing Christmas!, promises an enchanting evening of traditional carols and nostalgic Christmas classics delivered in stunning close harmonies.

A special connection to Pembrokeshire

This extraordinary event is hosted by Pembrokeshire-based professional musician Quentin Poole. A former Head Chorister of King’s College Choir, Quentin gained national recognition as a guest on Desert Island Discs on Boxing Day 1970. Now, he brings the renowned choir to St Davids Tabernacle, Cross Square, for a one-night-only performance on Wednesday, December 18, at 7:30pm—just six days before their iconic live Christmas Eve broadcast. Reserve your seats early

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

Tickets for this unique festive performance are £25 each, payable in cash at the door, which opens at 7:00pm. Seating is unallocated, so early arrival is recommended.

MIKE EDWARDS

DECEMBER has arrived.

By golly, it’s time to be jolly and put up holly.

Forgive me for not cheering. For me, Christmas is about as welcome as Gregg Wallace in a nunnery.

When my beloved and I were younger, we used to look at our shrinking bank balances and tell each other it was “all for the children”. Now the little sods are half a world away with their own sproglets, and we look at our shrinking bank balances and tell each other Christmas is special for families.

Special. Like scented candles, bath bombs, and chocolate. Yep. We never have them any other time of year.

I don’t want to seem unnecessarily churlish, but there comes a time in a man’s life when you start to think that maybe Ebenezer Scrooge had a point. All this forced happiness and fake cheer. Let’s be honest; nobody can really think that being a nice person one day a year lets you off from being a horrible bastard for the other 364.

Then there’s all the Seasons’s Greetings and Yuletide Joy. If it were up to me, we’d go back to the very old days and start sacrificing things at the Winter Solstice. We could start with Ant and Dec. I don’t know about you, but watching two chirpy and middle-aged Geordie poppets get the sickle treatment in a sacred grove would make my Christmas very merry indeed.

Then, there’s the snow.

What the bloody hell do programmemakers and card designers think they are doing?

This is Pembrokeshire, people! The chances of snow in one of the warmest and wettest parts of the UK are remote. The nearest we get to a white Christmas is a hard frost and a dusting of snow high on the Preselis a couple of times a year. Yet, every year, ruddyfaced urchins throwing snowballs appear on Christmas TV adverts, and a sodding carrot in a Santa hat extols the virtues of doing your shopping at Lidl’s.

That leads me neatly to the telly. Christmas specials. I have one word for Christmas telly. That word is AAARRRGGGHHH!

Christmas Bake Off. Christmas Sewing Bee. Christmas episodes of much-loathed dramas. This year, it’ll be topped off with a Christmas Special of Gavin and Stacey. I’ve been to Barry. It’s about as Christmassy as a dose of the clap. The best gift you can give to someone from Barry is the chance of getting away from it. And turkey! The most flavourless fowl ever to grace a plate. The only things that make turkey bearable are turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce rolls on Boxing Day. And pigs in blankets. And crispy roast potatoes.

Okay. We’ll park the turkey. I can see its merits - as an accompaniment for yumminess.

Due to anticipated high demand, advance booking is strongly advised to avoid disappointment. To reserve your seats, email davidsonsmusic2020@ gmail.com.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the magic of King’s College Choir in the heart of Pembrokeshire!

That said, my beloved and I have something to look forward to on Christmas Day. There’s always the remote chance that there’ll be snow outside and, as church bells ring, there’ll be peace on earth. And Santa will have been shot down by an ICBM somewhere over Minsk.

£4,000 metal Christmas tree divides opinion

A £4,000 metal Christmas tree in Cardigan has sparked heated debate among residents, with opinions ranging from admiration to outrage over the cost and design.

The tree, leased by the council for one month, is described by officials as a “modern festive centrepiece,” intended to enhance the town’s holiday charm. At night, its illuminated frame has been praised as a striking addition to Cardigan’s streetscape. However, critics argue the daytime view reveals a less appealing “builders’ yard aesthetic.”

On social media, opinions are sharply divided. Some residents, like Francesca Loveday, appreciated the tree, saying it had attracted children and added to the festive atmosphere. “The whole town looks lovely at night with the lights and lanterns,” commented Wendy Yates.

However, others criticized the expenditure, especially during tough economic times. “It’s basically scaffolding poles with lights draped over it,” remarked Michelle Hughes, adding that it’s an “absolute eyesore” during the day.

Value for money questioned

Several residents expressed concern about the cost. “£4,000 for this? It’s outrageous!” said one local. Others suggested alternative ways the money could have been spent, such as funding

community projects or supporting vulnerable groups.

Councillor Mal Evans defended the decision, stating that the tree aligns with efforts to modernize the town’s decorations and draw more visitors during the festive season. “Shops and businesses have worked hard to bring a fabulous Christmas display to the town,” he said. “This tree is part of that vision.”

In addition to debates over aesthetics and cost, safety concerns have been raised. Resident Anthony Probert warned of potential hazards, describing the tree as a “health and safety nightmare” due to its exposed electric components and climbable frame.

Mixed reviews on festive efforts

Despite the controversy surrounding the tree, many agree that Cardigan’s overall Christmas display is impressive. The decorated shopfronts, lanterns, and lights have been widely praised, even by those who dislike the tree.

The council has yet to comment on whether the £4,000 investment will result in savings or additional benefits in future years, but for now, the metal tree remains the focal point of festive—and fiery— debate in Cardigan.

Care home with no planning permission for 15 years can stay open

A PEMBROKE DOCK care home which has been operating without planning permission for some 15 years has been approved by county planners.

Care home specialist Orbis Ltd sought a retrospective change of use for the former house on Stockwell Road to a residential care home for up

to five adults, plus staff; the change of use having started in September 2009.

A supporting statement accompanying the application, by agent C2J Architects & Town Planners, said: “The applicant, Orbis Ltd is a

sector-leading provider of specialist services for children and adults with complex needs associated with autism.

“Their integrated model of learning and living, combined with a holistic therapeutic approach, ensures that they can offer unique homes for life with continuous community-based learning for adults.

“The applicant’s primary aim is to provide a safe environment that encourages individuality, selfconfidence, self-esteem and lifelong learning. It is a person-centred approach, encouraging adults to learn and develop skills that will enable them to play an active role in their community, supporting them to make their own informed decisions. The applicants work closely with families and carers to support individuals to develop and maintain relationships.”

It went on to say: “Up to five adults would remain at the property as their principal residence. Adults who are in the guardianship of Orbis have been taken into care for a variety of reasons, including fears for their physical wellbeing, learning disabilities or because of emotional or behavioural difficulties.

“The existing dwelling has been in use as a care home and registered with Care Inspectorate Wales for over 15 years, despite not formally having planning permission. It is key to note

that given the use (C2) has been in operation for a continuous period in excess of 10 years, in accordance with Section 171B (3) of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, the current use is immune from any enforcement action.”

A report by planning officers, recommending approval, noted the retrospective nature, but added: “The scale and design of the property would remain acceptable within its setting and the surrounding area. There would be no impact on the residential amenity of the property or neighbouring properties.”

The application was conditionally approved by planning officers.

Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

35 council homes to be built at Cleddau Bridge hotel site

35 COUNCIL houses are to be built on the fire-ravaged site of the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel, Pembroke Dock after being given the go-ahead today, December 3.

In a prime location at one of the entrances to Pembroke Dock the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel has been a derelict site since a fire in March 2019, which brought emergency services from as far afield as Ammanford, Aberystwyth and Swansea.

The site has been purchased by Castell Group Property Specialists who specialise in delivering affordable housing in South Wales and have undertaken a joint development deal with Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) and that deal was agreed back in April.

Castell Group Property Specialists, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, sought permission from the council’s December 3 planning committee to demolish what is left of the hotel, with a development of affordable housing units, with landscaping and ecological enhancements, the housing being 100 per cent affordable, in a mix of a mix of social rent and affordable housing.

Initial discussions with the council were for 38 affordable units, which has been lowered to 35 in a mix of 16 one-bed units, 11 two-bed units, six three-bed units and two four- bed units.

The applicants have said: “The application offers an opportunity to find a solution to the redevelopment of the site,

Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter

which has now been vacant and derelict now for some five years, and to make a significant contribution towards meeting the affordable housing needs of the area. The proposal is unique in that the scheme would be in the form of 100 per cent affordable housing.”

Speaking at the meeting, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries, responding to a question from Cllr Rhys Jordan on the ‘affordable’ make-up of the houses, said: “It’s going to be a new site of council houses, a private

package to develop these 35 houses; if and when these houses are built they will be acquired by Pembrokeshire County Council as the next phase of housing stock. It will be your council houses for Pembroke Dock.”

The recommendation of approval was moved by Pembroke Dock councillor Tony Wilcox, seconded by fellow ‘Dock councillor Brian Hall, who said: “I can remember it being built, probably the same as Tony, it was the hotel to go to for events and dances, especially New Year’s Eve; I remember the fire and services being called.

“When people are crossing the [Cleddau] bridge they say: ‘What’s that mess?’ It’s going to be an asset for the town, I’m glad it’s coming to us today.”

The application was unanimously approved by members.

A previous planning application for the demolition of the hotel and siting of a residential care home

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has previously said the 2019 fire was started by a deliberate act.

Following a fire investigation, DyfedPowys Police said they found there to be insufficient evidence to identify a suspect.

Welsh universities fully divest from fossil fuels

ALL eight Welsh universities have now cut ties with the fossil fuel industry, following a landmark decision by the University of South Wales (USW). This move cements Wales as a leader in the global push for ethical investment in education.

USW’s announcement to exclude fossil fuel companies from its investment portfolio makes it the final Welsh institution to join the initiative. The university has also pledged to divest from companies involved in border security, detention, surveillance, and migrant deportation, setting a benchmark for ethical practices.

A MAjOR MILESTONE

This development is part of a wider trend, with over 75% of UK universities now divesting from fossil fuels, according to student-led environmental justice network People & Planet.

Laura Clayson, Campaign Manager for Climate Justice at People & Planet, praised the decision:

“This news is incredibly significant, particularly for a nation where fossil fuels have played a major role in shaping its history and landscape. It stands as an act of solidarity with frontline communities globally and in Wales, such as those affected by the now-closed Ffos-y-Fran open cast coal mine.”

STUDENT-LED CHANGE

Students have been at the forefront of this shift, securing 116 victories through the Fossil Free campaign and

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six in the Divest Borders campaign. These successes underscore the link between climate justice, social justice, and institutional responsibility.

André Dallas, Co-Director of Migrant Justice at People & Planet, applauded Welsh universities’ leadership:

“Students are clear that universities must stand for justice and progress, not only in their prospectuses but in their policies. Wales has turned its back on the fossil fuel industry—an extraordinary achievement.”

SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT

Rachel Elias-Lee, Chief Finance

Officer at USW, emphasized the university’s commitment to a sustainable future:

“Our Ethical Investment Policy ensures we avoid investments in fossil fuels, arms, tobacco, and unethical industries. We are dedicated to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040, supporting renewable energy, and driving a lowcarbon, sustainable future for all.”

This move reflects growing societal pressure for institutions to align their investments with principles of sustainability and justice.

A UK-WIDE SHIFT

The divestment aligns with a broader UK movement, as universities increasingly take responsibility for tackling climate change and social

injustice. Navid Sharif, Vice-President Activities at USW Students’ Union, highlighted the significance of the announcement:

“This milestone showcases what can be achieved when institutions listen to their communities. USW is leading the way, and we hope this inspires further progress across Wales and beyond.”

ETHICAL INVESTMENT: THE FUTURE

With campaigns like Fossil Free and Divest Borders achieving success, the focus now shifts to sustaining momentum and encouraging other sectors to adopt similar measures. Welsh universities have shown that ethical investment is both achievable and crucial in addressing global challenges.

Support local shops This Small Business Saturday

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, is calling on residents to champion local businesses as Small Business Saturday approaches on 7 December.

The annual event, now in its twelfth year, celebrates the vital role of small and independent businesses in communities. Since its UK launch in 2012, Small Business Saturday has become a highlight of the retail calendar, encouraging shoppers to explore and support their local high streets, particularly during the festive season.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr. Kurtz emphasized the importance of shopping locally, not jus at Christmas but year-round.

A call to shop local

“Small Business Saturday is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible independent shops and businesses that make our towns and villages so special,” he said. “In West Wales, we’re fortunate to have an abundance of unique, high-quality local businesses that deserve our support,

especially as they face challenges such as Labour’s budget pressures and rising National Insurance.

“Shopping locally keeps money within our communities, helping small businesses survive and thrive. This benefits us all and ensures that our hard-earned money supports local livelihoods instead of enriching distant shareholders.”

The backbone of the local economy

Mr. Kurtz also highlighted the wider benefits of backing small businesses.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. They create jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and bring character to our high streets. By supporting them, we’re investing in the future of our communities. Let’s ensure their success not just for a day, but all year round.”

The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MS is encouraging everyone to take part in Small Business Saturday by visiting local shops, cafes, and service providers. He stressed that collective support can help sustain the vibrant and diverse economy that defines the region.

Tom

57% of Welsh people expect food prices to rise

NEW RESEARCH SPARKS CONCERNS OVER FOOD AFFORDABILITY

SHOCKING new research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reveals that 58% of people in Wales anticipate food prices will rise due to the Family Farm Tax introduced in the recent Budget.

In response, the Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to reject the government’s Finance Bill, citing its damaging impact on family farms and wider rural communities.

WORRYING CHANGES IN FOOD HABITS

The research highlights alarming trends in how Welsh residents plan to cope with rising food costs. Nearly half (47%) of those expecting increases said they would switch to cheaper alternatives, while 32% revealed they would cut back on the amount of food they buy.

These changes could have significant health implications, with 19% of respondents admitting they are likely to buy less fresh fruit and vegetables if prices go up. The knock-on effect on small businesses is also evident, with 16% of respondents saying they would turn

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to larger supermarkets, posing further challenges for independent retailers already grappling with the rise in employers’ NIC contributions and the potential impact of the bus fare cap on foot traffic.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS PUSH FOR ACTION

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to scrap the Family

Farm Tax, arguing that its effects extend far beyond the farming sector. They warn of serious consequences for families and pensioners struggling to manage rising costs, urging support for their manifesto pledge to boost farming budgets by £1 billion, including £50 million annually for Wales.

“A TAX THAT HITS EVERY FAMILY”

Welsh Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader David Chadwick MP said: “I will fight this disastrous tax hike every step of the way and ensure Wales’

voices are heard in Westminster. The impact of this tax hike goes beyond farming communities—families and pensioners across Wales will be hit if food prices go up.

“The Budget has proven that the new Labour government does not understand rural communities or farmers and their vital role in food security, environmental protection, and the Welsh economy.

“We are urging the Labour government to axe the tax now. If not, the impact on already struggling communities will be catastrophic.”

Torch artistic director Chelsey Gillard shares her love of the power of panto

SOMEWHERE in the depths of rural Pembrokeshire lurks a lady in yellow with turquoise hair, lips like cochineal slugs on steroids and a penchant for rolling in the grass with pigs.

ENTER THE WORLD OF PANTO

“Lloyd Grayshon is in his absolute element,” laughs Chelsey Gillard who is the artistic director of the Torch Theatre at Milford Haven.

“Last year he was a huge favourite with the audiences when he played the dad in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ so this year we decided that he should play the dame in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. And he’s loving every minute – he’s even shaved his legs and painted his toenails to help him get into the role!”

No one can deny that staging a pantomime is one of the greatest challenges in the theatrical calendar, but when your task is to write it, cast it and direct your critical eye over every single aspect of its production, the job is mighty. Once again this year, the task is being carried out by Chelsey.

“Yes, it involves a tremendous amount of work and a lot of pressure, as the pantomime is the main focal point of the entire year,” she said.

“And you can rehearse a panto as many times as you want, but when the curtain opens, you just never know what to expect from your audience. This is why I often behave like an angry child when I’m directing, and the number of times I’ve heard our cast say, “And that child in Row C sounded exactly like you do in rehearsals” speaks for itself.”

This will be the second Torch pantomime written and directed by Chelsey, following last year’s hugely successful ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

“The wonderful thing about our audiences here in Pembrokeshire is that they really let us know what they think about a production,” she continues.

“Our box office staff have built up a strong relationship with our audiences, with the result that they hear first-hand

Sarah

sarah.jane.absalom@herald.email

what people think. And obviously the audience’s participation is extremely important because it helps us to understand what people are enjoying as well as the things they don’t like. You can just sense it.”

One of the requests from last year’s audience was for more ‘cheeky humour’.

“So needless to say, we’ve made sure that this year they’ll be getting plenty of it,” chuckled Chelsey. “It’s almost as if the Torch is putting on a bespoke production, tailor-made for the Pembrokeshire audience.”

But it’s that instinctive understanding of an audience’s reaction that makes the panto challenge so invigorating for the entire production team.

“Obviously there are certain sections which rely on audience participation, and if the audience is a bit quiet, then the characters will have to work very hard to get them on board.

“Similarly, our dame occasionally homes in on an individual in the audience, but her job is then to try and gauge how far that individual can be

pushed. Can they go just that little bit further or should they hold back?”

In charge of the set and costume design is Kevin Jenkins and every costume has been handmade by Louise Sturley and maintained throughout the production by wardrobe mistress Wendy Haslam.

Even though the opening night isn’t until December 13, productions are already well underway for local primary schools throughout Pembrokeshire as well as a few schools in south Ceredigion and west Carmarthenshire.

“Approximately 4,000 children will have attended this year’s pantomime by opening night which is fantastic, when you consider that this could possibly be the very first live performance that many of them will have seen,” continues Chelsey.

“I can remember one of my very first visits to the pantomime when I was a child and even though I can’t remember which pantomime it was, I vividly remember the baddie – who I’m convinced was Jeremy Irons – and he made me cry my eyes out. But I absolutely loved it and it opened up for me the absolute magic of the pantomime and the theatre.”

‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ is being

played by a professional company, although many of its actors have strong links with Pembrokeshire including Milford Haven’s Sam Freeman, Lloyd Grayshon who lives in Haverfordwest and professional dancer, performer and choreographer, Freya Dare. Also taking part will be members of the Torch’s Youth Theatre (Years 5 and 6), who will be providing the voices of the Spirit of the Beans via recorded media.

“When you consider how hard the team has worked and how much they’ve achieved in such a relatively short space of time, you realise just how incredible they are,” Chelsey concluded.

“We had two and a half weeks in the rehearsal room, four days on the stage when we started putting everything together such as how to make the beanstalk work, how to set up the lights and the sound, ensure that the mics were all at the right level and throughout all this the cast are learning the songs, the dances, the words as well as getting to know each other as a company.

“They truly are a magnificent team to work with, and what they have created will hopefully show our audiences, both children and adults alike, the real magic of pantomime.”

Elena Carys-Thomas, Cari Munn, Gareth Elis and Lloyd Grayshon

Chelsey Gillard

Jane Absalom

Tenby council office move could see new banking services

A CALL to relocate Tenby Town Council’s office to a vacant café to improve access and allow a community hub and banking service to be created has been lodged with national park planners.

In an application submitted to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the town council seeks permission for a change of use of the café, empty since late 2022, to allow for the relocation of the town council office from its current location off the entrance corridor of the main De Valence Pavilion building, Upper Frog Street, to the vacant area at the front of the Pavilion to increase service provision through a community information hub.

The application also seeks permission to install a One Banx machine in association with an – as yet unnamed – national building society to provide access to cash deposit and withdrawal services across all banks who are part of the Open Banking Network.

In a supporting statement, Tenby Town Council says the new offices “will enable Tenby Town Council to provide office space that is more inclusive; it will be spacious, well-lit and step free, with wide access doors, ensuring people with mobility issues, visual impairment, cognitive challenges and other disabilities find the premises physically accessible,” as well as being visible and directly accessed from Upper Frog Street, in Tenby’s town centre; people with visual impairment no longer needing to navigate through the De

Valence Pavilion’s corridor in order to locate the office.

It adds: “The present location of the office space, along a corridor inside the building with no natural light, a narrow door and very little space, makes it

likely that most local residents and other potential visitors would avoid making an in-person visit unless they have good reason or are already regular visitors. There is no satisfactory way of addressing these barriers to accessibility in the present office location.

“Tenby Town Council is committed to providing an accessible, welcoming and equitable space for everyone as far as

we can, and our new office is designed, and will be run, with this intention. While we appreciate there will always be space for improvements, we will continue to learn, adapt and improve the accessibility and quality of our office and public interactions in the future.” The application will be considered by national park planners at a later date.

Welsh Government urged to keep rural landscapes pylon-free

Underground cabling technology from Carmarthen firm hailed as alternative to pylon eyesores

A LOCAL politician has called on the Welsh Government to preserve Wales’ iconic landscapes by adopting underground cabling as an alternative to overhead pylons.

Speaking at the Senedd on Tuesday, Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds urged First Minister Eluned Morgan to prioritise underground cabling over the construction of pylons, which she described as damaging to rural scenery and communities.

Dodds praised the work of ATP Cable Ploughing, a Pencader-based Carmarthenshire company, which uses an innovative “spiderplow” machine to install cables underground with minimal environmental impact. The company is already laying over a kilometre of highvoltage cable daily in sensitive areas across the UK.

Highlighting the benefits of underground cabling, Dodds explained that it not only protects the landscape but also improves the resilience of the power grid. She noted that underground cables are far less susceptible to damage from extreme weather events, such as high

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winds, which are becoming increasingly common.

Dodds told the Senedd: “There is a real chance for Wales to become a world leader in a technology that will revolutionise our energy grid. Underground cabling allows us to save our iconic landscapes and natural habitats while ensuring rural communities stay connected to the rest of Wales.

“But placing our power infrastructure underground isn’t just about appearance—it’s about resilience. With more extreme weather events becoming the norm, having a weather-proof grid has never been more important.

“Despite this, developers continue to default to pylons, scarring vast areas of our countryside. We cannot afford to sideline concerns about environmental and community impacts in favour of what is perceived to be the cheapest option.”

Dodds called on the Welsh Government to take bold steps to protect Wales’ rural beauty and modernise the nation’s power infrastructure.

Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter

Panels highlight Father Paul Sartori’s legacy and impact

PANELS installed at Paul Sartori Foundation’s Head Office highlight and celebrate Father Paul Sartori’s legacy and community impact.

Known as Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, the Pembrokeshire-based charity is proud to highlight the installation of a series of information panels at Paul Sartori House, its Head Office. These panels are dedicated to the memory and work of Father Paul Sartori, the inspiration for the charity.

They offer visitors a visual and educational journey through the life of Father Sartori and the extraordinary legacy he left in Pembrokeshire. The installation is part of the charity’s commitment of preserving and sharing the history of Father Sartori’s inspiring work. They were part of the ‘Voices from the Community: Father Paul Sartori’s story from Priest to Hospice Care’ project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This project recorded personal memories and stories from those who knew him, ensuring that his vision and impact on the community were preserved for future generations.

Sandra Dade, the Charity Manager at Paul Sartori, commented, “We are thrilled to have these panels in place at Paul Sartori House. They serve as a powerful reminder of Father Sartori’s enduring influence, and they beautifully complement the work of the project. We hope that both the panels, the resources on The People’s Collection Wales website and the documentation safeguarded at Pembrokeshire Archives allow visitors to have a deeper understanding of Father Sartori’s life and the profound impact he had in Pembrokeshire.”

The panels showcase key moments in Father Sartori’s life, from his early life, education, his ministry background and time as a Parish Priest in Haverfordwest. They mention

compassion and leadership was loved by many in the community.

Father Sartori’s untimely death on 16th April 1980. The legacy he left and also explain his recognition of how Pembrokeshire lacked any form of hospice care and his vision for hospice care in Pembrokeshire. A vision that led to the creation of the charity, Paul Sartori Foundation. The panels also highlight his character, and how his

The ‘Voices from the Community…’ project, recorded 64 interviews with people who knew Father Sartori, and was a remarkable success. The interviews are accessible via The People’s Collection Wales website (https://www.peoplescollection.wales/ users/108536). Photographs and other materials are available to view at Pembrokeshire Archives. This and the panels all ensure that the rich history of Father Sartori’s work is preserved for future generations to explore.

David Evans, Chair of Trustees for Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, said, “Father Sartori’s dream of providing hospice care in Pembrokeshire lives on in the incredible work our charity continues to do today. These panels at Paul Sartori House are an important way of honouring that legacy, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to the success of this project.”

Father Sartori’s vision has inspired many thousands of people over the years, with the charity currently supporting around 400 people annually in Pembrokeshire. The new panels, along with the ongoing preservation of Father Sartori’s personal possessions

and documents, will ensure that his story remains a source of inspiration for generations to come.

The panels are now on permanent display at Paul Sartori House, and the charity invites the public to visit and learn more about the life and legacy of Father Paul Sartori.

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home provide a range of services to Pembrokeshire people living in the final stages of any life-limiting illness, including home nursing care, equipment loan, complementary therapy, bereavement and counselling support, physiotherapy, future care planning and training.

The services provided by the charity enable people in the later stages of any life-limiting illness to be cared for and to die at home with dignity, independence, pain free and surrounded by those they hold most dear, if that is their wish.

All of the services are free of charge and are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, thanks to the generosity of the Pembrokeshire Community.

Further information on the charity and its services can be obtained by visiting their website www.paulsartori. org, or by phoning 01437 763223.

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

National spotlight on Tufnell tax row intensifies

THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD’S recent report on Labour MP Henry Tufnell’s family financial dealings has ignited national media interest. GB News and the Daily Mail have expanded on the story, raising fresh questions about the potential implications of Labour’s proposed inheritance tax changes.

TIMING OF LAND TRANSFER

The controversy centres on the timing of the Tufnell family’s land transfer. On October 10, just 20 days before Labour unveiled new inheritance tax rules affecting farmers, Mark and Jane Tufnell transferred ownership of Upper Colne Farm and Stud to their son, Albermarle. Critics suggest the move could shield the family from millions in future tax liabilities.

Both GB News and the Daily Mail have highlighted the proximity of these transactions to the Budget announcement, questioning whether the Pembrokeshire MP’s family had foreknowledge of the tax changes. While Henry Tufnell’s spokesperson denies any wrongdoing, opponents have branded the actions as “hypocrisy of the highest order.”

UNVEILING FAMILY WEALTH

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The latest press coverage has also laid bare – to a national audience – the scale of the Tufnell family’s wealth.

GB News detailed their ownership of the 2,200-acre Calmsden Estate in the Cotswolds, complete with an arboretum, spring-fed swimming pool, and luxury gardens. In addition, the family reportedly owns multiple residential properties on the estate and a £4.4 million Belgravia mews house in London.

The Daily Mail added that Upper Colne Farm controls assets worth over £2 million, including £1.9 million in agricultural land, with Albermarle Tufnell gaining “significant control” over the business.

NEW TRUST RAISES QUESTIONS

Further scrutiny surrounds the creation of the “Tufnell 2024 Settlement” trust on October 24, a week before the Budget announcement. While details of the trust remain unclear, a family source claimed it was established to support future generations. Critics, however, argue the timing casts doubt on its intent.

Young athletes give back to Milford Community

MILFORD ATHLETIC’S under-11 football team traded their boots for litter pickers on Saturday (Dec 2) to give back to the community that has supported them throughout the year.

Despite the wet and windy weather, the young footballers took to the streets of Milford Haven for a litter-picking event, cleaning up the town and setting a great example for their peers. In addition to the cleanup, the team delivered a food hamper to the residents of Canterbury House, a care home on Priory Road, as part of their Christmas giving initiative.

Team coach Liam Duffield said: “We didn’t have a game this weekend, so we decided to do something worthwhile for the community. The kids had fun while

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doing something meaningful, and we hope it brightened someone’s day.”

The initiative highlights the team’s values of teamwork and community spirit, demonstrating that sports go beyond the field. The boys were thrilled to be involved in an activity that gave back to the town that has shown them unwavering support.

The team invites local businesses and individuals to reach out if they would like assistance or to partner with them in future community projects. For more information, you can contact Liam Duffield at 07971 979 546

The national debate sparked by this case has reignited concerns over Labour’s inheritance tax policy and its impact on the farming community. With

Welsh farmers facing increasing financial strain, the disparity between the Tufnell family’s affluence and the average family farm has not gone unnoticed.

As the story develops, the Herald will continue to monitor the unfolding political and public reaction to the Tufnell family’s financial dealings.

POLITICAL FALLOUT

Police cadets recognised on International Volunteer Day

DYFED-POWYS Police has celebrated International Volunteer Day by shining a spotlight on its dedicated Police Cadets, who are making a real difference in their communities.

The cadet programme, open to young people aged between 13 and 17, provides opportunities to engage in meaningful community work while developing essential skills. The cadets volunteer their time to support various police initiatives, from organising events to promoting safety campaigns and offering reassurance in the wake of high-profile incidents, such as drugs warrants.

One cadet, Sarah, shared her experience: “Volunteering with the police has taught me valuable skills and allowed me to give back to my community. It’s improved my confidence and it’s rewarding to see the positive impact we can make together.”

The police expressed their gratitude to the cadets for their hard work, dedication, and commitment. A spokesperson said:

“You are the future of community policing, and we appreciate everything you do.”

Join the team

The Police Cadet programme is open for applications. Young people aged 1317 who are interested in developing their skills, making new friends, and contributing to their community are encouraged to apply via this link.

For those over 17, Dyfed-Powys Police is also recruiting Volunteer Police Cadet Leaders to mentor and inspire the next generation of community policing.

More details canbe found here.

The programme continues to foster a spirit of service, leadership, and community engagement, ensuring that Dyfed-Powys remains a safer place for all.

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

Volunteering Awards celebrating helpers across the county

VOLUNTEERS across Pembrokeshire were honoured at a gala dinner and awards ceremony held on November 28 at The Queen’s Hall, Narberth. The event, organised by PAVS (Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services) and supported by South Hook LNG, showcased the extraordinary efforts of local volunteers.

The Queen’s Hall provided a stunning setting for the evening, with decorations prepared by the venue’s team alongside

PAVS staff. Around 80 volunteers and their guests enjoyed a meal by Block and Barrel, followed by a captivating performance by the Preseli Voices Community Choir.

SEVEN AWARDS CATEGORIES CELEBRATED

The ceremony featured seven award categories, each highlighting the

dedication of Pembrokeshire’s volunteers. Jessica Bickerton, Chief Officer of PAVS, introduced the finalists, praising their outstanding contributions to their communities.

Winner: Paul Guisbourne-Hilton –Various charities

Highly Commended: Julie Fulton –Pembrokeshire People First Commended: Kathleen Llewellyn –Paul Sartori Foundation

Presented by: Cllr Marc Tierney

INDIVIDUAL OVER 25

Winner: Sue Canham – Royal Voluntary Service

Mariam Dalziel, South Hook LNG’s PR Manager, said: “Congratulations to all nominees. To be a part of these awards is to be part of something incredibly special, celebrating the tremendous effort of volunteers across our county. At South Hook, we are proud to continue our support for these awards, working with PAVS to highlight the positive impact volunteering brings to our community.”

Special guest presenters handed out each award, with winners later sharing their inspiring stories in interviews with Toby Ellis of Pure West Radio. These stories are available on the radio station’s website.

WINNERS AND FINALISTS

YOUNG VOLUNTEER (UNDER 25)

Winner: Zoe Jones – POINT Youth Centre

Highly Commended: Charlie Evans –Milford Youth Matters

Presented by: Anna Mullarkey, Stakeholder Engagement & Communications Manager, Port of Milford Haven

MIKE BECKETT AWARD (YOUTH GROUP AGED UNDER 25)

Winners: POINT Youth Forum

Highly Commended: Youth Ambassador Team – Sandy Bear Bereavement Charity

Presented by: Gwen Beckett

TRUSTEE/BOARD AWARD

Winners: Andrea Farmer and Isobel Hall – Sandy Bear Bereavement Charity

Highly Commended: Julie Fulton –Pembrokeshire People First Presented by: Claire Incledon, Chair of Trustees, PAVS

LONG SERVICE AWARD

Highly Commended: Nadine Farmer – Sandy Bear Bereavement Charity; Neil Houghton – Redberth Croft CIC Commended: Cerian Goodbourn – Sea Trust Wales; Valerie Harrold –Paul Sartori Foundation

Presented by: Neil Wooding, Chair, Hywel Dda University Health Board and WCVA

MARY SIGLEY AWARD

Winner: David Bundock –Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority

Highly Commended: Paul Guisbourne-Hilton – Various charities

Presented by: Tom Dyer, Pure West Radio

GROUP OVER 25

Winner: ‘Found it @ Frame’ Volunteers

Highly Commended: Esteam Volunteers Commended: West Wales Walking for Wellbeing

Presented by: Mariam Dalziel, South Hook LNG

For more information about volunteering in Pembrokeshire, contact volunteering@pavs.org.uk or call PAVS at 01437 769722. Details are also available at www.pavs.org.uk.

Uplifting performances, heartwarming stories, and the celebration of remarkable individuals made this year’s event a memorable tribute to Pembrokeshire’s volunteers.

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

A wizardy Christmas adventure with Milford Travel

ON a chilly and damp Sunday morning, we set off at 6am for a festive day out to the Harry Potter Studio Tour - Hogwarts in the Snow, organised by Milford Travel. Despite the early start, excitement was in the air as we boarded the coach, ready to embark on a magical adventure.

The coach journey, while comfortable, could have been made even better with a few extra touches, such as plug sockets for charging our muggle devices and perhaps a screening of Harry Potter films on the onboard TV. Nonetheless, the Christmas decorations on the bus added a cheerful sparkle to the trip, setting the festive tone.

A well-timed comfort stop in Newport allowed us to stretch our legs before continuing on our way. The Milford Travel staff and drivers were warm, friendly, and impressively knowledgeable about every detail of the trip, ensuring we felt well looked after throughout.

What is the Harry Potter Studio Tour?

Located in Leavesden, just outside London, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter offers an immersive journey into the world of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time. Opened in 2012, the studio tour is based at the location where all eight Harry Potter films were made, giving fans the rare opportunity to step behind the scenes and explore

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the magic of filmmaking.

The tour features original sets, costumes, props, and special effects that were used in the movies. Visitors can walk through iconic locations like the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and the Forbidden Forest, all while learning about the craftsmanship, technology, and creativity that brought J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world to life on screen.

In addition to the permanent exhibits, the studio regularly hosts seasonal events such as Hogwarts After Dark at Halloween and Hogwarts in the Snow at Christmas, each adding a unique twist to the experience.

Arrival at Hogwarts in the Snow

We arrived at the studio around 11:30am and were inside by midday, thanks to the efficiency of the Milford Travel team who handled tickets and entry seamlessly. There was little queuing, and before we knew it, we were stepping into the enchanting world of Harry Potter, transformed for the festive season.

If you’re a fan of the series, especially the iconic Christmas scenes like the Yule Ball, visiting Hogwarts in the Snow is a must. The studios are transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with snowy sets, twinkling lights, and lavish decorations.

OuR HIGHlIGHTS:

1. Festive decorations galore

The magic began in the Great Hall, where towering Christmas trees adorned with blue and silver sparkles greeted us. Tables were laden with a Christmas feast, complete with flaming puddings.

The festive touch extended across the studios, from tinsel-wrapped dormitory beds in the Gryffindor Common Room to Molly Weasley’s enchanted knitting in the Burrow. Even the Slytherin Common Room featured garlands of dark green around its fireplace.

2. Snowy spectacles

Diagon Alley was blanketed in snow, creating a picturesque scene straight out of the wizarding world. Hagrid’s Hut, complete with snow-dusted pumpkins, and the Hogwarts Bridge were also transformed with a wintry touch.

The pièce de résistance, however, was the Hogwarts Castle model. The intricate details of the miniature castle were enhanced by snow effects, shifting lighting, and a cosy atmosphere that left us in awe.

3. Interactive experiences and festive treats

Visitors could learn how snow was made for the films using materials like soap and glitter, and even touch different types of snow. In the Backlot Café, we enjoyed seasonal delights, including

Butterbeer ice cream – a unique treat that paired surprisingly well with the frosty December weather.

4. Harry Potter-themed shopping

The studio shops were a treasure trove of festive Harry Potter merchandise. From intricate Christmas decorations to Weasley jumpers, there was something for everyone. Be sure to pick up your items as you go, as some shops are not accessible after leaving their specific sections.

A day to remember

After a day filled with magic and wonder, we boarded the coach for the journey home. Despite the rain, the return trip was smooth, and we arrived safely by 11pm. It had been a long day but one that left us feeling warm, festive, and filled with the Christmas spirit.

Final thoughts

Visiting Hogwarts in the Snow is an unforgettable experience, whether you’re a die-hard Potterhead or simply looking for a unique way to celebrate the festive season. The meticulous attention to detail in the decorations and the immersive atmosphere make this event truly special. Milford Travel provided a reliable and enjoyable service, making the day stress-free and magical from start to finish. If you’re planning a Christmas outing, this trip should be at the top of your list.

Sky XMAS Special ‘Bad Tidings’

Sky’s upcoming festive comedy, Bad Tidings, promises a hilarious and heartwarming addition to this year’s Christmas line-up. Starring comedians Chris McCausland and Lee Mack alongside Rebekah Staton, the one-off special airs this December on Sky and streaming platform NOW.

Set in Stockport, the story follows Neil (Lee Mack), a grumpy home security expert, and his neighbour Scott (Chris McCausland), whose quirky habits—like swapping bins and keeping his Christmas lights up all year—have made him a local favourite despite Neil’s frustrations. Their ongoing feud escalates when Scott is

unexpectedly appointed head of the Neighbourhood Watch. Neil’s objections lead to a mishap that plunges the entire street into darkness on Christmas Eve.

As the other residents evacuate, the bickering duo are left to guard their deserted neighbourhood. The arrival of the Brennan crime family, aiming to rob every house on the street in one night, forces the rivals to team up. With no power, security, or alarms, the pair must rely on quick thinking—and Scott’s unique perspective as a blind man—to save Christmas.

Written by McCausland with Laurence Rickard and Martha Howe-Douglas (of Ghosts and Horrible Histories fame), Bad

Tidings blends sharp humour with touching moments. The cast also includes Sarah Alexander, Ben Crompton, and Donna Preston, adding depth to this festive adventure. Directed by Tim Kirkby, the production comes from Sky Studios, with NBCUniversal handling international distribution.

This special follows Sky’s tradition of festive hits and is expected to resonate with viewers, offering laughs and a reminder of the power of community—even between the most unlikely allies.

Bad Tidings debuts this December on Sky and NOW. Don’t miss this modern Christmas caper!

MUFASA - THE LION KING RETurNS in CINEMAS 20th DEC

DISNEY’S highly anticipated Mufasa: The Lion King is set to roar into cinemas on 20 December 2024, offering audiences an evocative prequel to the iconic 1994 film.

Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins, the movie delves into the origin story of Mufasa, exploring how a lion cub with humble beginnings rises to become one of the Pride Lands’ most celebrated leaders.

The narrative unfolds through a series of flashbacks, guided by Rafiki, who recounts Mufasa’s life to young Kiara, Simba and Nala’s daughter. Joining the story are familiar characters Timon and Pumbaa, injecting their signature humour. The tale introduces

a young, orphaned Mufasa navigating a world of challenges before encountering Taka—a lion destined to play a pivotal role in shaping Mufasa’s journey. This rich backstory reveals themes of friendship, perseverance, and the quest for identity.

The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, and Beyoncé reprising her role as Nala. Other notable additions include Blue Ivy Carter voicing Kiara and Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, a formidable adversary. Combining live-action techniques with photorealistic CGI, the film promises a visually immersive experience.

The musical legacy of The Lion

King continues with contributions from Lin-Manuel Miranda, who collaborates with Mark Mancina and Lebo M., blending new compositions with the series’ celebrated soundscape. Miranda expressed his admiration for the franchise’s musical heritage, calling it a privilege to contribute to the legacy.

Mufasa: The Lion King is set to captivate audiences with its powerful storytelling and stunning visuals, reaffirming Disney’s mastery in blending heartfelt narratives with innovative technology. For more details, fans can explore trailers and additional updates via Disney’s official platforms

GAMING

wITH EDDIE THE GAME GURU

Ah, Mario Party! That most curious of digital phenomena—a confection of colours, chaos, and crushing betrayals wrapped in a family-friendly veneer. And now, Super Mario Party Jamboree pirouettes onto the scene, a carnival of revelry and mischief designed to ruin friendships and resurrect them moments later. It’s like a cosmic joke played by Nintendo, but instead of a punchline, you get a star. Or you don’t. Or you do, and then someone steals it. Let’s dive into the madness.

Imagine life condensed into a board game. It’s all there: the brief highs, the devastating lows, the moments of triumph followed immediately by catastrophe. This is Mario Party. The sheer audacity of its existence is magnificent. Here is a game that doesn’t just entertain but dares to mock you while it does.

In Super Mario Party Jamboree, you’ll find yourself soaring on the wings of fortune, only to have them clipped by Bowser or a well-timed betrayal from a so-called mate. Picture it: one minute you’re king of the board, rolling high, winning minigames, coins spilling from your digital pockets. The next, a random bonus star hands victory to

Koopa Troopa. It’s like capitalism in miniature—a glittering promise followed by a kick in the proverbial mushrooms.

The heart of the experience lies in the minigames, more than 110 of them, a smorgasbord of tasks that range from the sublime to the ridiculous. You’ll mash buttons, dodge obstacles, and holler at the screen as your virtual avatar stumbles or soars.

Take Domination, for example—a finger-breaking frenzy returning from Mario Party 4. It’s simple, brutal, effective. Or Mario’s Threepeat, a trifecta of challenges that demands both skill and the patience of a saint. It’s like a Zen koan in game form: How do you win at randomness?

There are seven boards, each more treacherous and delightful than the last. Five are brand new, but two are reimagined classics, including Mario’s Rainbow Castle. A rainbow castle! It sounds whimsical, doesn’t it? But don’t be fooled. These boards are traps— gauntlets of glee and despair that will chew up your hopes and spit out your digital bones.

Enter Pro Mode, the cruel older sibling of the standard game. It trims the fat of luck-based shenanigans, adding a sheen of

HOROSCOPES

strategy. Limited items, fixed turns, and other constraints force you to rely on wit rather than whimsy. It’s like Monopoly for masochists.

Then there are the Jamboree Buddies—oh, the Buddies. They’re a revelation, or perhaps a curse. These little allies pop onto the board offering perks: extra coins, bonus dice rolls, and the ability to buy two stars at once. But beware, for they can be stolen by anyone who dares to stroll past. They’re like friendships in real life—brilliant when they work, infuriating when they turn against you.

Take my mate’s son, who discovered the dark side of Jamboree Buddies the hard way. The poor lad landed on a Bowser space not once but twice in quick succession, thanks to his Buddy. He lost his coins, his star, and, momentarily, his will to live. But did he ragequit? No. He pressed on, a true warrior of Mario mayhem.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is a game that defies logic, decorum, and occasionally the laws of probability. It’s unfair, capricious, maddening—and utterly brilliant. It’s life distilled into a game, with all its absurdity intact. You’ll rage, you’ll laugh, you’ll plot revenge, and then you’ll play another round.

the things you need to get what you want or to send you where you want to go. Your purchases will be noted, and your investments will have far-reaching effects on those around you. Be optimistic, but don’t throw common sense out the window.

lIBRA

You begin to live your dreams. What others only imagine, you dare to do. The usual barriers in business and romance open for you like swinging doors. In fact, mixing business with pleasure may be a very real possibility. Throughout the day you have the delicious feeling that approving eyes are watching every move you make. Enjoy the attention while it lasts! Tonight is the perfect time to impress someone who has been aloof in the past.

SCORPIO

Your train of smooth and steady progress gets derailed by indecision. It may be difficult to make a choice when you consider how much is at stake. Not to worry. You have time to find the answer. Reassess the situation on your own, since advice from others may only cloud the situation. Only you have the patience and understanding to figure out what you need. Try taking walks alone or spending time at home. Some solitary thinking will help make your decision easier.

SAGITTARIuS

You could receive a delightful complication via an archer named Cupid. New romances blossom or old ones heat up again, or maybe both. Someone special finds you irresistible. With this new excitement may come hard decisions. Be honest and kind about what you want and what you are feeling, and you will be rewarded. Clear communication will bring serious passion into your life. A fun evening lies ahead.

CAPRICORN

It’s in your best interests to finish old business before starting new. Accept help as it is offered and use it as needed. Sharing the reward is a small price to pay for closure. Compromise will bring much-needed peace and harmony into your life. Conflicts with those in authority may leave you unsatisfied, but you can find balance through staying focused on what you need. Getting it done is more important than getting all the glory.

AQuARIuS

Be intellectual and explore

Badger and the Big Casino

RECENTLY, Badger has been banging on about the Council’s budget-setting problems.

Not this week; you will be relieved to read, dear readers.

When you read this, your local county councillor will have seized the opportunity to attend an important budget seminar. While it is fair to say that many of them will go in with mouths ready to open and ears closed, Badger is not going to bang on about them using their powers of selective deafness to reach conclusions at right angles with reality.

Next week, the Welsh Government will announce its settlement for local government in Wales. Before the Welsh Government peels the Elastoplast off the wound, councillors’ engagement in the budget-setting process is based on guesswork. Educated guesswork, but guesswork nevertheless. Councillors know what the pressures are and know the problem areas within the budget. They know because those pressures are the same every year. After the Welsh Government announces Pembrokeshire’s financial settlement, they’ll know how little money they’ll have to tackle them.

Without knowing the final figure, Badger can safely forecast it won’t be enough. It won’t be enough because, despite the soothing sound of Welsh Ministers cooing softly about how they know all about the terrible state of affairs in child and adult social care, Welsh ministers lack the political will and financial acumen to do anything about it.

The need for a National Care Service has never been more pressing, but the Welsh Government has booted the idea of creating one into the long grass so far that you’d struggle to find it with a treasure map.

As Badger has said before, it’s important to have a conversation about what services the Council should supply. While the Welsh Government’s inability to make tough decisions about local government limits that conversation, it must take place.

Badger will start the ball rolling with a simple proposition. Councils do (or try to do) too much with too little to provide all of the services demanded of them by statute and the Welsh Government.

The discussion begins, as it must, with two basic points.

Firstly, local authorities are constrained by the Welsh Government’s. The resulting financial straitjacket means councils do not have control over how they spend the money allocated to them. Councils must be set free of the Welsh Government and decide how they spend the money allocated to them.

That leads to Badger’s second point. The Welsh Government does not allocate councils the money they need as part of the local government financial settlement. Instead, it operates a bureaucratic and wasteful series of grants and funds for which councils must compete against each other. It’s a game which depends on a Council’s ability to game the system and cultivate a relationship with decision-makers in Cardiff Bay. In extreme cases, this manifests itself as councils pumping resources into ambitious capital projects that are a world away from what communities need. The joy of grants for “active travel”, new “transport hubs”, and

the million-and-one things that the Welsh Government thinks we should have as opposed to need scars local decision-making. Quite frankly, readers, if the Welsh Government wants to fund those things, it should do so itself and do so directly. And, as these things are national priorities, it should do so from its resources instead of picking councils’ pockets.

The wastefulness of grant schemes, their capacity for abuse, and their inability to meet real NEEDS instead of Welsh Government WANTS throw scarce public money at uncommercial vanity projects.

Pembrokeshire County Council should never have been in the position of bidding for funds to redevelop the South Quay in Pembroke at the expense of other local authorities and other communities in need. You cannot blame our Council for bidding for funds if that’s the only game in town. Still, you must know that the cost of applying for such grants, drawing up the plans, and paying the specialists and specialist officers to formulate such applications comes out of the money that the Council could spend on services.

Earlier this year, the Audit and Governance Committee heard evidence about what goes wrong when grant farming goes wrong. The Pembroke and Pembroke Dock

Commercial Property Grant Scheme was hi-jacked by one developer, involved criminality, was overseen by superficially competent officers who bent over backwards to twist the rules to their limit, and - far from returning town centre properties to commercial use - created a bedsit empire for an individual who moved heaven and earth to avoid disclosure. Pembrokeshire is not alone. In Carmarthenshire, the local authority pilfered grant money to develop social care and used it to spend wherever officers felt like it. Again, officers twisted the rules out of shape to justify their conduct and blamed the funding provider for not stopping them. Faced with the prospect of handing back money to the EU for not following the rules, the Welsh European Funding Office bent over backwards to excuse gross misconduct and improper use of public money.

Badger has said it before, readers: “You couldn’t make it up, and it’s tragic that you don’t have to.”

Badger wants to peel back the layers of bureaucracy and remove grant farmers from local government. Councils shouldn’t employ people to game the Welsh Government’s spoils system, and the Welsh Government shouldn’t operate a spoils system!

If the Welsh Government knows a need exists, it is its responsibility to allocate money fairly to local authorities based on that need.

Instead of providing key services, the current system of grants and special funding rewards those who shout loudest or have the best connections in Cardiff Bay. It favours the sales pitch, the backroom deal, and box-ticking compliance for building a troupe of white elephants over improving public services.

It must end. After the next elections to the Welsh Parliament in May 2026, Badger hopes it does.

Until then, local government finance - the thing that pays for the services we need and use - is nothing more than a rigged game in a casino operated by the Mob.

Trumpeting troubles and musky moves

CAAAW! Lads and lasses, gather round while old Stephen gives you the squawk of the week. I’ve been perched high above the Milford docks, watching the antics across the pond, and let me tell you, it’s a proper farce. Our lot in Westminster are flapping about like pigeons near an open chip bag, and it’s all because that orange-feathered Donald Trump is back in the nest. Oh, and don’t forget his new wingman, the tech tycoon Elon Musk—what a pair, eh?

Six years ago, Trump was the

human equivalent of a soggy pasty— unappetizing and a bit dodgy. Now, in 2024, he’s suddenly a “gracious host” with a soft spot for the King. As for Musk, he’s calling Britain Stalin’s Russia one minute and getting chummy with Trump the next. But hey, if he’s important to Trump, then our lot reckon he’s important to us. I’d call it embarrassing, but it’s also predictable. Like a seagull diving for chips, they can’t help themselves.

Now, here’s the real problem. Musk is flapping his wallet about, and word has it he’s eyeing up Reform UK for a $100 million “squawk you” fund aimed at Starmer. Nigel Farage as Leader of the Opposition? Achafi! That’s like putting a fox in charge of the henhouse—chaos guaranteed.

But what’s Westminster doing about it? Sitting on their wings. The government’s idea of dealing with this is to wait until halfway through this Parliament before tightening the rules

on political donations. By then, the damage will already be done! Musk’s millions could buy more influence than a seagull with a fresh haul of chips at Milford Market.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

Imagine Musk’s money swooping into British politics—it’d be like a Premier League club buying the entire lower leagues for fun. In the US, they’re used to billion-dollar elections. Here, a single $100 million donation could outspend an entire year’s worth of campaigning for every party combined. And don’t even get me started on Boris bumping up the spending limits when he was in charge—talk about stacking the deck.

CLIPPING THE BIG WINGS

What we need is to pluck these bigmoney feathers. Cap donations, lower spending limits, and ban companies from donating altogether. Companies aren’t voters, so why should they have any say? Democracy belongs to the people—like chips on the pier belong to us gulls!

And don’t forget the Electoral Commission. Once upon a time, it had real bite. But Boris clipped its wings back in 2022. It’s high time we let it stretch its talons again with proper fines and criminal penalties for those who play dirty with our democracy.

KEEPING OUR NEST SAFE

Dark money is like a fox lurking around the henhouse—it’ll only cause chaos if we let it. Britain’s democracy has survived a lot, but it’s not invincible. If Trump and Musk’s antics teach us anything, it’s that we need to shore up our defenses. Otherwise, we’ll be left squawking in the cold while the fat cats—and fat gulls—feast on our chips. Until next time, keep your wings steady and your chips close. Stephen Seagull’s watching. Caaaw!

Christmas chocolate poisoning risk for dogs

NEW statistics from The Kennel Club, released today (December 4), reveal a significant surge in dogs being treated for chocolate poisoning during December and january. With chocolate posing a potentially fatal risk to dogs, the organisation is urging pet owners to remain vigilant throughout the festive season and beyond.

Figures from Kennel Club Pet Insurance, provided by Agria, show that nearly a third (31%) of all chocolate poisoning claims in 2023 were made during Christmas. January saw the highest number of claims, more than doubling the monthly average, highlighting the dangers of leftover holiday treats.

DEADLY TREATS

Robin Hargreaves, Senior Veterinary Advisor for Agria Pet Insurance, said:

“Chocolate can be very dangerous to your dog. The risk varies depending on the amount and type of chocolate consumed and the dog’s size. Symptoms, which can include sickness, stomach pain, excessive drinking, dribbling, fast breathing, and even seizures, may appear between four and 24 hours after ingestion. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, contact your vet immediately. Remember, even wrapped chocolates under the tree are easily sniffed out by dogs!”

FESTIVE HAZARDS

Chocolate isn’t the only seasonal danger for dogs. Other common holiday foods like mince pies, Christmas pudding, and stollen—containing toxic raisins—pose serious health risks. To help owners protect their pets, The Kennel Club offers these tips:

• Keep chocolate, mince pies, and other festive treats out

of reach, including advent calendars and edible decorations.

• Avoid feeding turkey, goose, or chicken bones, which can splinter and harm your dog’s stomach.

• Stay away from dangerous foods like macadamia nuts, blue cheese, alcohol, and mouldy leftovers.

If your dog shows signs of illness, such as vomiting or diarrhoea, consult a vet promptly.

SEASONAL SAFETY

Dogs are equally drawn to holiday decorations and presents, which can pose choking, puncture, or electrocution hazards. Beware of items such as

• Tinsel, ornaments, and festive plants like poinsettia, holly, and mistletoe.

• Wrapping paper, plastic decorations, and small toys.

• Batteries in electronic gifts, which can be toxic if swallowed.

WINTER AND STRESS RISKS

The cold weather also brings dangers like hypothermia, frostbite, and antifreeze poisoning from tainted puddles. Meanwhile, the holiday hustle and bustle can be overwhelming for pets. Maintaining routines and providing quiet spaces can help dogs feel secure.

Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare, and Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club, said:

“Christmas is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming for pets. These statistics remind us to stay vigilant, as leftover festive treats can be just as dangerous in January as they are in December.”

For more advice on keeping your dog safe this Christmas, visit The Kennel Club’s website: thekennelclub.org.uk/christmas.

Students bring back the medals from WorldSkills uK Finals

TALENTED Pembrokeshire College learners proved once again that they are among some of the best young trainees in the UK bringing home seven medals and two highly commended awards in the WorldSkills UK Finals held in Manchester during November.

A total of 12 Pembrokeshire College learners secured places in the UK Finals after scoring highly in the national qualifiers. They joined over 400 competitors from across the UK competing for medals in over 40 different skills at this prestigious competition. Their medal haul included a Gold medal for Ross Muller in the Inclusive Skills Horticulture

competition, as well as Gold medals for the Inclusive Skills Enterprise team; Ryan Lambert, Denver Picton and Kirsty Jones.

Meanwhile Erin Owens secured Silver in Beauty Therapy while Dylan Jenkins and Mason Briskham picked up Bronze in Inclusive Skills Media. Highly Commended awards went to Luke Roberts in Welding and Kaya Mujica in Beauty Therapy.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith commented: “Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s magnificent competition.

Each of you has showcased the exceptional talent and promise of our future workforce.

“Competitions like WorldSkills UK are so important in nurturing talent, providing a

vital platform for young people to develop the skills they need to seize opportunities and achieve growth.

“Huge thank you to the judges, mentors, and organisers whose hard work and dedication make these events possible. Your efforts are helping to inspire and empower the next generation to succeed.”

Taking part in skills competitions is an important part of many courses at the College and allows learners to test their skills against the best of the best, learning how to work under pressure and giving them a real point of difference as they progress to employment or further study.

Dr Barry Walters, Principal

at Pembrokeshire College commented: “We are incredibly proud of all the learners who made it through to the UK Finals.

“Competing at this level is proven to enhance a young person’s skills as well as helping them to develop key interpersonal and employability skills.

“As a College we are committed to equipping our learners with the skills to proactively contribute to the local, national and global economy and taking part in skills competitions forms a key part of this.”

To find out more about the range of courses available at the College go to the Pembrokeshire College website.

NFu Cymru sets out its priorities for Welsh Government budget

Maintaining the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) budget for 2025 must be the key priority for Welsh Government when it publishes its draft budget for 2025-2026 next week, says NFU Cymru.

Ahead of the publication of the draft Welsh Government budget on 10th December, NFU Cymru has taken the opportunity to set out what the union believes should be the Welsh Government’s priorities as far as Welsh agriculture is concerned.

NFU Cymru President Mr Aled Jones said: “Over the last few weeks the UK Government’s proposals around changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) have understandably featured very prominently in our conversations with politicians and our members. There is, however, another incredibly important area of work for NFU Cymru as Welsh Government prepares to set its own budget. As part of that process, NFU Cymru has made a comprehensive submission to the Senedd’s Finance Committee to help inform their scrutiny of the forthcoming budget, as well as extensive and frequent representations to Welsh Government.

“When NFU Cymru met with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister at the very beginning of October, one of the points emphasised was how important it is for Welsh farming, the agri-food supply chain and rural communities that the BPS budget is maintained at the current level for 2025. At what is once again a very challenging time for the sector, the certainty and stability of an adequately

funded BPS is crucial.

“As I have said on many occasions, supporting Wales’ farmers through the BPS to the tune of £238 million annually, produces an output from Welsh agriculture of around £2.2bn, a return on investment of around £9 for every £1 given in government support.”

NFU Cymru is also calling for the Welsh Government to, at the very least, restore the rural affairs budget to the level it was set at in 2022. Aled Jones said: “The rural affairs budget, which represents just 2.1% of the total Welsh Government budget, was subjected to the most significant cuts of any budget in the last budget round at the end of 2023, and was set at £420m, down £62.5m (13%) on the £482.5m level at which it was set at the end of 2022.

“With the rural affairs budget

paying for important public, animal and plant health measures and supporting economically important functions such as the promotion of Welsh food and drink domestically as well as in export markets, it is vital that the budget is now restored to the level it was set at in 2022 as a minimum.”

NFU Cymru is also concerned about certain aspects of the way in which future agricultural support funding will come from UK Treasury to Welsh Government. Aled Jones said: “Looking through the fine print of October’s budget it was positive to see that the Treasury intends to baseline funding for agriculture into each devolved government’s block grant, in effect ‘locking in’ the £340m or so of historic funding allocation Wales has received. What is less positive is that this funding is no longer ringfenced for agriculture, and this historic sum

has not been adjusted for inflation. NFU Cymru has said that this figure should be over £500 million annually to take into account inflation and to ensure that our ambitions for food, nature, climate and communities can be met.

“I am also deeply concerned that any future adjustments to agricultural funding into the Welsh block grant will be subject to the Barnett formula. Under such an arrangement NFU Cymru’s own calculations suggests that for any potential future funding uplift from UK Treasury, under this arrangement Wales will only receive 42% of the funding uplift it might otherwise have expected if the current formula based on agricultural production levels across the UK was maintained.

“NFU Cymru rejects the idea that adjustments to agricultural support funding can be done by simple population based Barnettisation and must instead reflect the scale and weight of the agricultural sector in Wales. We are looking to Welsh Government to join us in making the case to UK Government as to why agricultural funding uplifts should not be Barnettised.”

Aled Jones concluded: “For a little over 2% of our government’s budget, Welsh farming delivers so much for Wales. It underpins a £9.3 billion food sector with a food and drink supply chain that employs 17% of Wales’s workforce, and more than 50,000 people are employed on farms. Therefore, it is so important that Welsh Government, through its budget, backs Welsh farming at this time.”

Where there’s muck there’s brass – Welsh cows could hold key to carbon capture

A ground-breaking project to turn cow muck into the carbon capture fertiliser of the future could give Welsh farmers a much-needed new source of income.

A team led by consultant John Owen, of Anglesey-based business consultancy firm Lafan alongside experts at Coleg Sir Gȃr in Carmarthenshire, is developing a process to create a carbon storage substance from livestock slurry.

Biochar, a super charcoal, can be made by heating any biomass – usually plant-based – without oxygen but the team led by John have developed a process to create it from cattle slurry.

It can store carbon for thousands of years and could be worth millions to the Welsh agricultural economy as major multi-national companies pay for carbon offsetting to reach their net zero goals.

John, originally from Penrhos, in Gwynedd, retired from the staff at Coleg Sir Gȃr, this year to join Lafan as a Lead Consultant and is now working alongside former college colleagues to develop the system.

Lafan’s efforts have just won a £50,000 research award for Innovations in the Net Zero Industry from Government agency Innovate UK and they are currently waiting for the process they have developed to be tested and to produce Biochar.

John and his team, who are based at the college’s Gelli Aur Farm, near Llandeilo, where the project to create Biochar will be co-ordinated by Lafan and is being backed by leading Welsh food wholesaler Castell Howell Foods.

He said: “As yet Biochar has never

been produced from livestock slurry which is 95 per cent water but separating the solids and the dewatering processes we have developed at Gelli Aur have made that possible.

“The residue could be heated at high temperatures, over 400C, to turn it into Biochar, pure carbon which can be stored below ground in a carbon capture scheme.

“In this form Biochar stores carbon for thousands of years but it can also provide a host of agricultural and environmental benefits, as a soil enhancer and growing medium, an animal feed supplement or as a slurry additive to reduce methane emissions.”

They are currently waiting in a queue

for the use of a processing plant in Welshpool where the first Biochar from cattle slurry will be produced but John and his team are optimistic and believe their new material has massive potential to benefit rural Wales

He said: “Slurry is stored on farms for use on fields but from this month new regulations have come into force prohibiting the spreading of slurry during the designated closed period but if instead it is used to produce Biochar there are many more lucrative options.

“Microsoft and other big multinationals are investing billions in carbon capture and this could provide a new income stream for farmers – there won’t just be tankers calling to collect milk

but also to take slurry to be processed which will provide a new income stream.

“Castell Howell Foods, one of the UK’s leading independent food wholesalers, is supporting us because they are also looking at ways of reducing the carbon footprint of their business in the food supply chain.

“Every business in Wales has a target to achieve Net Zero and those that achieve that first stand to benefit the most.

“Businesses are looking to do that through carbon credits and the income from that could be massive and the whole supply chain benefits.

“We believe the process to create Biochar will work – we just have to see how the economics of the process stack up.”

Geraint Hughes, Lafan Chair and Agri-Food Lead Consultant, said: “There is a long way to go but Biochar could be really important and we’re delighted to be working with Innovate UK in Wales on a Welsh project with a Welsh company with Welsh partners.

“Innovation is key to everything we do at Lafan and what we like about this project is that it has the scope to respond to real life challenges on Welsh farms and beyond to the global challenges of carbon capture and renewable energy.

“We believe that this project shows that innovation is alive and well in rural Wales and that something we are doing in our own backyard could have global ramifications.”

For more information on the Biochar project contact https://lafan.cymru/ contact

Importance of tenant farms highlighted to MP

The importance of tenant farms to rural communities, and the many challenges they face were highlighted to Mid & South Pembrokeshire

Member of Parliament, Henry Tufnell MP, on a recent farm visit in Pembrokeshire with members of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW).

The visit took place on Gerwyn Williams’ farm, near Letterston. Mr Williams, Chair of FUW Pembrokeshire, highlighted the importance of local authorities investing in their council farms and safeguarding them for future generations.

The majority of Mr Williams’ farm is tenanted from Pembrokeshire County Council, and he has been farming the land for over 40 years. Mr Williams’ father was previously the tenant on the farm.

On the visit, Mr Williams highlighted the work he has undertaken over recent years through Welsh Government hedgerow improvement schemes, as well as maintaining his suckler cow herd on the 90-acre farm.

In discussing the challenges facing tenant farmers in Pembrokeshire, Mr Williams

highlighted the impact that compliance with the Water Resources Regulations Act - introduced earlier this yearhas had on the farm, as well as discussing the continued impact and uncertainty stemming from bTB.

Henry Tufnell and Mr Williams also discussed the recent UK Government Budget and the changes to both Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) from April 2026, and the likely impact such a change could have on the agricultural sector.

Commenting following Mr Tufnell’s visit, Gerwyn Williams, FUW Pembrokeshire Chair said:

“I was delighted to welcome Mr Tufnell to the farm, and highlight the many challenges faced by tenant farmers at what is an increasingly uncertain time for the agricultural sector.

For young farmers in particular, tenant farms can provide a golden opportunity to nurture the next generation of farmers, and it is crucial local authorities both safeguard and maintain their tenant farms so that they can continue to make a key contribution to the agricultural industry for

It’s often said that things come in threes, and for Welsh farmers this does seem particularly true at the moment.

November started with widespread concern across the sector following the UK Government’s Budget and the changes to APR and inheritance tax. As displayed on the streets of London, the changes have sparked genuine fear within the sector over the longterm sustainability and succession plans for farms. Meanwhile it is increasingly apparent significant questions remain surrounding the Treasury’s figures.

the UK remained within the EU. This equates to a loss of around £15,000 per Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) claimant in Wales since 2019.

This has meant a shrinking of the Welsh Rural Affairs budget by £37.5 million within the 2023-24 financial year, whilst the publication of the Welsh Government draft budget for 2024-5 revealed a further yearon-year cut of £62 million. This equated to a drop of around 13% - the largest relative reduction of any of the Welsh Government’s departmental budgets.

generations to come.”

Henry Tufnell, Member of Parliament for Mid & South Pembrokeshire added:

“Tenant farms are the backbone of rural communities and vital to the agriculture sector. Tenant farmers are the custodians of the land and Mr Williams, exemplifies this with the work and dedication that he has put into his farm.

Encouraging the next generation into farming is crucial if we are to maintain our rural traditions and heritage, and tenant farming provides that entry point into the sector for many young people. It is imperative that local authorities continue to invest in and safeguard these farms, ensuring they remain viable for future generations.

The challenges to the industry are numerous – compliance with new regulations, bTB, changes to APR and BPR and the transition to the Sustainable Farming Scheme. However, I am committed to supporting farmers through this difficult period and will be advocating for policies that sustain and strengthen the agricultural sector in Pembrokeshire and beyond.”

Second came the announcement surrounding the revised Sustainable Farming Scheme at the Winter Fair last week. It’s fair to say the latest proposals have fared better than the original scheme that was launched earlier this year. Whilst there has been progress, the devil remains in the detail; both in regards to the proposed payments and economic assessments. Getting this right remains key for the future of Welsh agriculture, the environment and our rural communities.

Last, and certainly not least, we now await the Welsh Government’s draft Budget next week, with the Welsh Rural Affairs settlement vital to farmers and our rural communities.

We know Welsh farmers have seen a drastic reduction in funding post-Brexit.

UK Government’s replacement funds for the previous European Union Common Agricultural Policy has fallen significantly short of historic values. For example by the end of the current financial year, Wales will have received around a quarter of a billion pounds less in funding for agriculture and rural development than could have been expected had

Whilst we appreciate the wider financial pressures faced by the Welsh Government, this disproportionate cut in funding for rural affairs remains a blow. This is even more of a concern at a time when Welsh farmers are expected to deliver an ever increasing range of sustainability and environmental objectives, while also producing food. Looking forward to the upcoming budget, it’s vital that at the very least the expected £340 million is allocated to the Welsh Rural Affairs budget. As part of this, maintaining BPS payments at current rates must be a priority. We know 80% of farm business incomes come from BPS payments. With 50,000 people working in agriculture in Wales, and being part of a wider food and farming sector worth over £9 billion to Wales annually, the economic, employment and social implications of any cut in BPS could be drastic for the industry and rural Wales.

Whilst retaining BPS at its current level will be a priority, it’s also essential that the entire Welsh Rural Affairs budget is increased in line with inflation wherever possible, particularly given the increased allocation of total funding for Wales from the UK Treasury.

All-new Mazda CX-80 awarded five star Euro NCAP rating

The all-new Mazda CX-80 has achieved a maximum fivestar rating by Euro NCAP in its latest series of tests. Mazda’s new seven-seat flagship SUV scored 92% in the Adult Occupancy category, and 88% for Child Occupancy. It also secured an 84% score in the area of Vulnerable Road Users protection.

The Mazda CX-80’s outstanding 92% score in Adult Occupancy included full marks in both the Lateral and Rear Impact tests, with a satisfactory level of protection recognised in the fullwidth rigid barrier Frontal Impact test. In both the side barrier and more severe side pole impact, protection of all critical body areas was good, leading to a maximum score in this part of the assessment.

In the Child Occupancy category, Mazda’s new SUV also achieved maximum points in both Frontal and Lateral Impact for crash test performance based on six- and 10-year-old children. The correct installation of child seats – CRS Installation Check –also received full marks, leading to an excellent combined score of 88%.

The all-new CX-80 scored an impressive 84% in the Vulnerable Road Users category. The autonomous emergency braking system’s (AEB) response to pedestrians both in front and to the rear of the car was good, as

was its performance in tests of its reaction to cyclists, including protection against ‘dooring’ – where a door is suddenly opened in the patch of a cyclist approaching from behind.

The CX-80’s comprehensive range of i-Activsense driversupporting safety technologies helped it secure a solid 79% Safety Assist rating. The vehicle achieved a maximum score in the Lane Support category for Emergency Lane Keeping, Lane Keep Assist and Human Machine Interface. AEB Car-to-

Car performance also received a superb rating in numerous fields relating to approaching other cars, as well as turning across the path of an oncoming car. Also contributing to the five-star rating is Mazda’s Skyactiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture, which is the basis for the CX-80’s longitudinal front-engine rear-wheel drive mechanical layout and its excellent driving dynamics.

The rear-biased all-wheel drive system combines the stability and traction of an AWD set-

up with the neutral cornering characteristics of a rear-wheel drive system. Featuring threerow seating, the new CX-80 is the most spacious car in Mazda’s European line-up. Comfortable, versatile and ‘Crafted in Japan’, it combines progressive design anchored in Japanese aesthetics with outstanding onboard accommodation flexibility, superior technology and features common to premium SUVs in its segment, and the signature driving performance delivered by every Mazda.

Fingers pointed as Andrew RT Davies quits

ON TUESDAY, December 3, Andrew RT Davies won a vote of confidence in his leadership. Shortly after the result was announced, he resigned as leader of the Welsh Conservatives.

The outcome of the vote among Senedd members, nine votes to seven, and the subsequent refusal of MSs to serve in his Shadow Cabinet made Mr Davies’s departure inevitable.

As we wrote in our weekend article that detailed the inside story of the putsch, the absolute worstcase scenario was for Mr Davies to win the confidence vote narrowly and stay on as leader, hopelessly wounded and with his authority in bits. By stepping down, Mr Davies has given his Party the chance to regroup and refocus.

A BATTLE OVER THE FUTURE

Mr Davies’s supporters suggest the fallen leader is a victim of his own Party’s MSs briefing against him. To them, he represented the authentic voice of grassroots members: politically incorrect, loud, brash, and prepared to bash the Labour Welsh Government aggressively. Mr Davies certainly has a strong appeal to Party members.

The attempt to brief against Conservative Senedd Group Chair Sam Kurtz as being behind Mr Davies’s ousting and the drip-dripdrip of briefings to the Welsh media is a mile wide of the mark. Mr Davies’s allies would be better off looking closer to home. Describing those who did not back Mr Davies as wet liberals or over-friendly with “Welsh Nationalists” is demonstrably untrue. Mr Davies’s probable replacement, Darren Millar, is scarcely on the left of the Conservative Party, let alone the Senedd Group.

Paul Davies MS said: “A big thank you to Andrew RT Davies, who has been a fantastic leader. His are big shoes to fill. I’m now backing Darren to chart a course for the next Senedd Election.”

Mr Davies’s supporters are hardly blameless themselves. They have been increasingly vituperative and caustic in their briefings against Conservative MSs who worry that Andrew RT Davies’s brand of tubthumping, bull-in-a-china-shop approach to hot-button issues opens him and them to ridicule.

The Herald understands that even MSs who backed Mr Davies expressed concerns at the way the Group’s officers and communications staff were briefing against elected members and other Conservative members. As Charlie Evans, the Chair of Mid and West Wales Conservatives, writes elsewhere, a house divided against itself cannot stand.

STRATEGY THE KEY

The core issue is the lack of an electoral strategy. In a recent report on the state of Welsh Conservative

communications, the Herald wrote that there is a limit to how often 20mph and 36 extra MSs can be shoehorned into every topic.

The Welsh Conservative leader and staff’s main role is to increase Conservative representation in the Welsh Parliament after 2026. Flirting with “Abolish the Assembly” (sic) and chasing Reform UK’s coattails, Andrew RT Davies managed to propel the Welsh Conservatives’ poll position to a dismal fourth. His critics point out, with some justification, that Andrew RT Davies had banged those drums for eighteen months and watched his Party’s ratings nosedive. Nevertheless, Mr Davies continued ploughing the sands.

While the fall in poll ratings is part of the UK Conservatives’ wider unpopularity with voters, it is worth bearing in mind that the Conservative vote fell less in Wales than across the UK on July 4 and that Labour’s vote share fell sharply. Moreover, as even one of Mr Davies’s backers told us: “Reform are just a vibe. They’ve not got any real organisation in Wales. We are fighting a potential threat instead of hitting Labour.”

It is at least arguable that Reform’s appeal to the socially conservative Labour base is more dangerous to an unpopular and failing Welsh Government than it is to the Conservatives. How Reform manages to keep that momentum when its economic policies are pie in the sky remains to be seen. As socially conservative as Welsh voters are, they are also – overwhelmingly in the seats that matter – economically liberal. In that regard, the Conservatives’ failure to formulate a distinctive and distinctively Welsh offering is a drag on their fortunes.

Mr Davies and his backroom team’s effort to take on Reform has failed to capitalise on Labour’s

weakness. Eluned Morgan is not a popular First Minister. Her government shows every sign of being run by Westminster and the Welsh Office. Finally, after 25 years in uninterrupted power, Labour in Wales is in the same position as the last Conservative government; there’s nobody left to blame but themselves.

ANGER AMID CALLS FOR UNITY

The Herald spoke to a number of Conservative politicians from across the Party.

They were unanimous in their sharp criticism of the lack of strategy and policy and the failure to lead the communications war instead of reacting to news headlines and Welsh Government announcements.

Charlie Evans told us: “I’m personally gutted about Andrew resigning today, but given the arithmetic of those voting against him, it is understandable.

“He’s one of politics’ good blokes. He’s well-liked by party members partly because of his brand of politics but mainly because he values them and listens to them. He should hold his head up high.

“We Welsh Conservatives find ourselves at a crossroads. If we don’t get the next few weeks and months right, the Senedd Election could be an extinction-level event for our Party.”

Pembrokeshire County Councillor Aled Thomas, Chair of the Conservative Rural Forum in Wales, said: “I would urge all Senedd members to come together following the vote, so our Party can focus on holding this disastrous Welsh Labour Government – which is failing our Health Service, local authorities and young people so badly – to account rather than having public blue on blue infighting, which only serves as a distraction.”

Those who spoke to us on condition of anonymity were scathing.

One prominent Conservative politician told us: “The Senedd Conservative Group is organisationally shambolic. Too comfortable in opposition. No vision. Bitterly divided. The new leader has a massive job on their hands, to make sure we don’t get replaced by Reform and Plaid Cymru.”

Another said: “I wish they’d get on with talking about Labour’s failure and what policies we will enact if we form a government in 2026 rather than just complaining all the time and falling out. We lost badly on July 4 because of this type of division. And here we are, not 6 months later, doing the exact sme thing.

“The MSs and backroom staff need to shape up and pull together for the sake of the Party’s future in Wales.”

There were also less apocalyptic voices: “There is a chance to get things right,” said one MS.

“I like Andrew; he’s a nice guy, but it was obvious he could not continue. He must look at the people who advised him. They’re the main reason he’s had to go. Nobody can work with people who hold them in contempt. That reflected badly on Andrew.

“We need to get off the back foot and push Labour hard where they are weakest. The NHS is in a permanent crisis. Local government is on the rack. Public services are shocking. We must explain to voters that we will do things better and show them how. All Labour has to offer is planting more trees, closing Welsh farms and putting Welsh workers on the unemployment register by closing down the industries in which they work.”

Definitely not the left-wing candidate: Darren Millar has already put his name forward to replace RT Davies

Deputy First Minister stands with commitment to disqualify lying politicians

THE DEPUTY First Minister reiterated a promise to introduce legislation disqualifying lying politicians amid concerns about vexatious complaints and politicisation of the courts.

Huw Irranca-Davies restated the pledge as he appeared before the Senedd’s standards committee to give evidence to an inquiry about accountability on December 2.

Labour’s Lee Waters questioned if the commitment, to a bill on disqualifying politicians found guilty of deception through an independent judicial process, will be kept by 2026.

Mr Irranca-Davies told the committee: “Come what may, that commitment stands.”

But he warned of practical complexity in disqualifying candidates and Senedd Members, raising further concerns about politicisation of the courts and vexatious complaints.

Mr Irranca-Daves said any new legislation would need to be cognisant of freedom of expression, under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

He stated proportionality will be the key test of compliance with human rights law.

The standards committee is weighing up recommendations including creating a criminal offence of deception, a civil offence, or strengthening the existing self-regulation system.

Mick Antoniw, a former minister who gave the initial commitment to legislation to avert defeat in a Senedd vote, argued the standards committee sits as a quasijudicial body.

Senedd counsel general Mick Antoniw

But Plaid Cymru’s Adam Price disagreed, drawing a distinction between self-regulation and an independent judicial process through a tribunal or criminal court.

Jane Dodds, the Liberal Democrats’ leader in Wales, called for clarity on the timetable.

Mr Irranca-Davies reiterated the commitment to bringing a bill forward before the 2026 Senedd election, saying the Welsh Government has set aside a slot for the legislation.

Turning to parliamentary privilege, which affords MPs immunity from legal

challenge, Mr Irranca-Davies said the precious principle allows politicians to speak freely.

In the Senedd, privilege is limited to defamation and contempt rather than absolute but moves are afoot to provide parity across the four nations.

“We have to make sure we don’t trespass on that essential right of parliamentarians to speak freely on behalf of their constituents and against injustice,” Mr Irranca-Davies said.

Calling for the standards process as a whole to be strengthened, he backed the introduction of a system of recall, which would allow voters to boot out Senedd Members between elections.

He said: “It is very important, we believe, as a point of principle where Members are found to have fallen well short of expected standards of behaviour that the electorate do have the opportunity to remove them.”

He described the triggers used in Westminster: a custodial sentence for 12 months or less, a suspension of at least ten days or an expenses offence conviction: as a useful starting point.

But the former MP said Wales could diverge, raising concerns a ten-day suspension could tie the committee’s

hands and suggesting discretion for suspensions of 30 days or less.

Mr Irranca-Davies cautioned that bringing forward a bill before the next Senedd election would require “rapid manoeuvring”, with implications for the legislative programme.

From 2026, people will vote for parties rather than individuals as the Senedd ditches the first-past-the-post system in favour of a full form of proportional representation.

The next candidate on the political party’s list would be elected, with the public having no further say on who would replace a recalled Senedd Member.

Mr Irranca-Davies said: “The [Welsh] Government remains firmly of the view that there isn’t a form of by-election, that you would see under the first-pastthe-post system, that would work within this new system. The fit isn’t there.”He argued individuals rather than parties should be punished, warning recall could otherwise undermine the proportionality of the Senedd as decided at an election.

The Deputy First Minister advocated a simple yes-no public vote on whether a politician should stay in office following a recommendation of recall from the standards committee.

Chris Haines

ICNN Senedd reporter

W ITH ANDREW lYE

COP29 has ended with a deal, but also with disappointment.

With much bolder action urgently needed, and with Donald Trump threatening to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement once again, now is the time for the UK to step up and show global leadership on climate action.

We’ve done it before –when the Liberal Democrats were in government, and we led the world in offshore wind while also leading in Europe to pave the way for the Paris Agreement.

But in recent years, the Conservatives abandoned that role of climate leadership and trashed the UK’s reputation on the world stage. We urgently need to get it back.

There were some promising signs in Baku. The PM committed the UK to an ambitious new emissions target for 2035 –a crucial step Ed Davey had urged him to take at Prime Minister’s Questions last month.

A good start, but what we need now is a clear plan of action to achieve that target – including an emergency home insulation programme and investing in cheap, clean renewable energy.

But action at home is just one part of it. The UK can and must drive forward bolder action around the world too. That’s what these COP summits should be all about.

Our climate and energy spokesperson Pippa Heylings MP was in Baku to represent our party and build alliances for climate action. Pippa commented:

“It matters what we do in our everyday lives – and everywhere I see examples of local people and communities doing that. It matters that we elect politicians at all

levels who know that we need to do more to protect our environment in order to hand down a healthy planet to our children and grandchildren. It’s worrying that President Trump has been elected for a second term. There’s no sense pretending that it isn’t. That is why Liberal Democrats will be working with you and, every more closely, with our allies in Europe and beyond, to be robust in the face of climate-sceptic, right-wing politics. We cannot wait out four years in the hope that political reality will change. We also need a groundswell of climate action on the ground – and the election of Liberal Democrat politicians at all levels so that we can stand up for a common future, a fair deal for the environment, the rights of all to clean air, clean water and clean soil There will be difficult moments ahead. But I left Baku with hope in my heart. The measure of our success will be how we rise to those challenges when those moments arrive.”

On climate change, on restoring Britain’s role in the world, and on so much more, the Liberal Democrats will continue to push the Government to act faster and be much bolder.

If you have any issues or comments, please contact me at andrew.lye@pembslibdems.wales

Welsh Secretary launches drive for ‘new era of prosperity and growth for Wales’

WELSH

SECRETARY j o

Stevens has chaired the first meeting of the Welsh Economic Growth Advisory Group, an initiative aimed at boosting prosperity, shaping the UK’s industrial strategy, and positioning Britain as a global leader in clean energy.

The meeting, held on Monday (Dec 2), brought together representatives from both governments, alongside leaders in business, education, industry, and unions, to influence cross-government policy. The group’s goal is to enhance economic growth, create jobs, and increase household incomes across Wales.

S UPPORTING W ELSH INNOVATION

As part of this initiative, Stevens met with leaders in Wales’s digital and technology sectors to explore growth opportunities. Last week, she toured Wolf Studios in Cardiff Bay, home to productions such as *Doctor Who* and *A Discovery of Witches*, while discussing Wales’s creative industries.

Speaking after the meeting, Jo Stevens said: “I was thrilled to meet some of Wales’s most talented and ambitious minds and hear their ideas on how we usher in a new era of prosperity.

This partnership has hit the ground running, working at pace to rekindle Wales’s proud industrial roots with jobs and industries of the future.”

F OCUS ON KEY SECTORS

The group is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, which will prioritise Welsh industries. Their recommendations will also inform Welsh priorities for the UK Spending Review in spring 2025.

Since July, the UK Government has announced more than £1 billion in investments for North Wales, launched Growth Deals and Investment Zones, secured a steel industry deal for Wales, and delivered a record Budget settlement for public services. Over the next six months, the advisory group will meet regularly to refine priorities for economic growth and clean energy.

V OICES FROM ACROSS WALES

Alison Orrells, Chair of CBI Wales, said: “I welcome the opportunity to share our members’ insights on actions needed to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across Wales. From regional investments to green growth

projects and semiconductor clusters, Welsh businesses can play a crucial role in delivering this mission.”

Shavanah Taj, General Secretary of TUC Cymru, highlighted the need to address economic inequalities: “Many parts of Wales have been scarred by deindustrialisation and underinvestment. These plans must prioritise decent work, manufacturing, and a just transition to net zero.”

Oriel Petry, Head of Airbus Group UK Public Affairs, said: “I look forward to advocating for Wales to capitalise on its sectoral strengths and industries of the future.”

Dr Jenifer Baxter, CEO of Industry Wales, added: “Industry Wales is excited to help shape an industrial strategy that drives innovation and economic growth through high-value manufacturing, clean energy, and digital connectivity.”

Sir Derek Jones, Independent Adviser at Cardiff University, concluded: “Economic growth must be the top priority for Wales. This initiative is a vital step in ensuring that goal is achieved.”

The Welsh Economic Growth Advisory Group marks a fresh approach to tackling Wales’s economic challenges and unlocking its potential for future prosperity.

Call for Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP to back farmers in crucial Commons vote

LOCAL Conservative Member of the Senedd (MS) Samuel Kurtz has urged Pembrokeshire’s MP to oppose what he calls “vindictive” changes to inheritance tax (IHT) on farms, as the Conservative Party gears up to force a vote on the issue in Parliament.

Conservative MPs will use their opposition day debate on Wednesday (Dec 4) to push for a vote on Labour’s controversial proposal that would increase IHT payments on farmland.

In her first Budget as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves announced plans to reform agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR). Conservatives argue the changes could saddle farming families with tax bills running into millions of pounds.

Samuel Kurtz MS said: “Labour’s vindictive family farm tax threatens to destroy British farming as we know it. Farmers in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and across the UK will face devastating consequences. On

Tom Sinclair editor@herald.email

Wednesday, MPs across the country have a choice: will they vote to axe the tax and save the family farm, or will they turn their backs on rural communities and support this damaging policy?”

According to the National Farmers Union (NFU), three-quarters of farmers could be affected by the changes. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) estimates that the average 250-acre arable farm would need to sell 20% of its land to meet the new tax burden.

Kurtz added: “Two weeks ago, thousands of farmers descended on Westminster to make their voices heard. So far, the government has refused to listen. Labour MPs, including Pembrokeshire’s, now have a chance to side with British farming or remain silent. Which route will they take?”

Andrew RT Davies resigns as Welsh Conservative leader

ANDREW RT DAVIES has stepped down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives after narrowly surviving a confidence vote within his party.

In a letter announcing his resignation, Davies expressed regret, stating that his position had become “untenable” after some Members of the Senedd (MSs) threatened to resign from his frontbench if he remained in post.

The vote, held on Tuesday morning, saw Davies secure nine votes in support but faced opposition from seven MSs. Reflecting on the outcome, he said: “It was clear from the result that a substantial minority of the group do not support our approach.”

Davies has served as leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd for most of the past 13 years. His departure marks the end of a tenure defined by both challenges and significant contributions to the party in Wales.

Commenting on the resignation, Reform UK Wales Spokesman, Oliver Lewis said: “True to form, the Tories have turfed out another leader thinking that will resurrect their failing party. They care more about jousting for position than they do about serving Welsh people.

“It does not matter who they have as leader, the simple fact is they have failed in opposition just as they failed

for 14 years. “The people of

Wales in Government in Westminster

Wales want real

change in 2026 and that is just what we plan to offer them. Wales needs Reform.”

Hywel Dda appoints new Deputy Chief Executive Officer

HYWEL DDA University Health Board has today announced the appointment of Lisa Gostling as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

Lisa has held the role of Deputy Chief Executive at the health board on an interim basis since February this year, pending the appointment of a substantive Chief Executive Officer, which was announced in October.

Professor Phil Kloer, Chief Executive Officer, at Hywel Dda said: “I am delighted that, following a competitive process, Lisa is appointed to the post of Deputy Chief Executive Officer, a responsibility that she will hold in addition to her post of Executive Director of Workforce and Organisational Development.”

Lisa relocated from the West Midlands to Pembrokeshire and developed her career within the workforce and organisational development teams at the Health Board. She has worked for Hywel Dda and its predecessor organisations since 1993.

Since 2015, she has been

a member of the Executive team and Board as Director of Workforce and Organisational Development. Since February this year, she also held the role of interim Deputy Chief Executive Officer. She holds a CIPD qualification from Sandwell College and is a keen Welsh learner.

Phil continues: “Lisa’s innovative approach to recruitment and to staff development has been of great benefit to our health board – including the development of our culture and values that shapes our work every day, and the establishment of the Apprenticeship Program that has seen us enable several local people to join our Hywel Dda teams and develop their career with us.

“Lisa has also been instrumental in supporting our work to reduce our dependency upon agency staffing and building our substantive workforce –ensuring greater sustainability and quality in our teams.

“I look forward to continuing

to work with Lisa in her new role and wish her every success for the future.”

Lisa Gostling, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Workforce and Organisational Development, added: “It is an honour to be appointed to this position and support Phil, our Board, and our

teams across the health board in delivering health care for our communities.

“I look forward to building on the foundations of the past six months and working with our team of staff who are all dedicated to improving the health and well-being of current and future generations.”

Specsavers brings state-of-the-art eyecare to county with landmark investment

IN a time when healthcare services are stretched thin across the UK, Pembrokeshire stands out as a beacon of hope and innovation with the upcoming opening of Wales’ largest Specsavers store in Haverfordwest. Thanks to a transformative £1.2 million investment, the county is poised to benefit from worldclass eye and hearing care when the new store opens its doors on Monday, December 16, 2024.

This state-of-the-art facility, situated at 21 Riverside Quay in the Riverside Shopping Centre, is set to revolutionize local healthcare with 14 test rooms, including two dedicated audiology suites. Not only does this make it the largest Specsavers in Wales, but it also places it among the most advanced in the UK. At a time when accessing NHS services can be challenging, the store’s cutting-edge technology and expanded clinical services offer a lifeline to residents, relieving pressure on GPs, hospitals, and A&E departments. Andy Britton, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Haverfordwest, highlighted the importance of this development: “Our investment reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional eye and hearing care in Pembrokeshire. This isn’t just

about a bigger store – it’s about meeting the needs of our growing community, introducing advanced clinical services, and training the next generation of optometrists.”

The new store is also a hub for education, supporting optometrists pursuing higher qualifications in areas like Glaucoma and Independent Prescribing. This ensures Pembrokeshire residents have access to top-tier care while nurturing a future generation of specialists.

A recent YouGov survey commissioned by Specsavers reveals a critical gap in awareness about eye health. Nearly 70% of Welsh adults don’t think to visit an optician first for eye-related issues, often turning to overstretched NHS services instead. By encouraging patients to make opticians their first point of contact for issues like sudden vision loss or painful eyes, Specsavers aims to change this narrative.

Britton elaborated: “Optometrists are equipped to handle many urgent eye issues, often faster and more effectively than traditional NHS routes. By improving awareness, we’re not only providing faster care but also reducing unnecessary strain on the NHS.”

The grand reopening event promises to be a celebration of

both innovation and community spirit, featuring live music from the Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir and appearances by local dignitaries, including Pembrokeshire mayors. Specsavers has also committed to a year of community-focused initiatives in 2025, cementing its role as more than just a business – but a vital part of Pembrokeshire life.

Cllr Paul Miller, Deputy Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, praised the investment: “At a time when many towns are struggling, Specsavers’ decision to invest in Haverfordwest demonstrates confidence in our community’s future. This new

store is not just a healthcare milestone – it’s a cornerstone of our town’s regeneration.” With flexible seven-day-aweek hours and a commitment to both innovation and accessibility, Specsavers Haverfordwest is a shining example of how Pembrokeshire continues to defy national trends in healthcare decline. For more information or to book an appointment, visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/ haverfordwest.

Pembrokeshire is truly fortunate to have such a forwardthinking service at its heart, proving that even in challenging times, innovation and care can thrive.

Health concerns as banned American candy floods UK markets

PARENTS are being warned this festive season about the dangers of imported American sweets, snacks, and fizzy drinks, which are flooding UK high streets thanks to social media trends. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has raised alarms over unauthorised additives in these products, many of which fail to meet UK safety standards.

A GROWING TREND, A HIDDEN DANGER

Social media platforms like TikTok have popularised American

confectionery, with influencers showcasing brightly coloured snacks in viral “candy haul” videos. This has made imported sweets a soughtafter stocking filler for children and teenagers, driving record sales in convenience stores and high-street retailers

However, this sugary trend comes with a bitter side. Many of these products, designed for foreign markets, bypass UK safety and legal standards. They often lack proper allergen declarations and contain harmful, unauthorised additives.

MAjOR SAFETY FAILURES HIGHLIGHTED

A pilot project led by Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team, funded by the Food Standards Agency, uncovered alarming issues. Inspectors seized 3,378 items valued at £8,500 from local shops. Tests revealed the presence of dangerous additives, including:

• Yellow 6 (E110): Found in snacks, linked to hyperactivity in children.

• Carrageenan: Common in jelly

cups, posing a choking hazard.

• EDTA: Prohibited in drinks, associated with developmental issues in animal studies.

Among the inspected stores, 89% failed to comply with UK regulations. Common violations included:

• Products with unauthorised additives.

• Missing English labels or allergen warnings.

• Expired items being sold.

In total, 3,700 non-compliant products valued at £10,300 were confiscated, including crisps with E110, sweets with mineral oil and bleached flour, and drinks containing EDTA.

A NATIONAL PROBLEM

The issue extends beyond Staffordshire. Operation Tootsie, a broader Trading Standards initiative, revealed that 77% of tested products from national retailers failed compliance checks, rising to 91% among importers.

Dean Cooke, CTSI Lead Officer for Food, said: “Social media has amplified the demand for American sweets. While retailers enjoy seasonal sales, they must ensure products meet UK standards. Parents should check labels to protect children from harmful additives.”

He also reminded consumers to avoid products without a UK/GB address on the label, as these fail to meet import labelling laws.

Councillor Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council, highlighted the seriousness of the issue:

“Our Trading Standards team was alarmed to find thousands of unsafe products on sale, often aimed at children. Poor labelling and unauthorised ingredients pose significant public health risks.”

The Pembrokeshire Herald advises that local consumers scrutinise labels carefully. Products with American weight measurements, such as ounces, are likely imports. These must meet UK safety standards, including accurate allergen declarations.

Anyone concerned about food safety in Wales can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline at 0808 223 1133.

This Christmas, Trading Standards is ramping up operations to tackle the influx of unsafe goods. Parents are advised to stay vigilant and prioritise safety when filling stockings with festive treats.

SEND YOuR lETTERS TO: THE EDITOr, 11 HAMIlTON TErrACE, MIlFOrD HAvEN, PEMbrOKESHIrE, SA73 3Al

EMAIl uS AT: editor@herald.email

LETTERS & NOTICES

TWYN HYWEl: A WAVE OF DESTRuCTION FOR WAlES

DEAR SIR,

The Welsh Government has granted automatic planning permission for the 92.4MW Twyn Hywel wind farm near Caerphilly and Pontypridd. This development will see 14 massive turbines erected on the pristine moorlands of Mynydd Eglwysilan, potentially increasing flooding in the Taff Valley. For Bute Energy—a nonWelsh company—this is the first of 16 proposed onshore wind projects across Wales, all greenlit under the Senedd’s renewable energy strategy. Alarmingly, nearly half of rural Wales is now designated for renewable energy sites, with most power exported to England via new pylon lines.

While the Welsh Government prioritizes achieving “net zero,” it overlooks the fact that Wales contributes a mere fraction— approximately 0.023%—of global emissions. Even if the entire UK ceased to exist, the impact on global climate would be negligible. Yet, Wales seeks to “lead the world” in the race for renewable energy, often to the detriment of its landscapes, heritage, and communities.

Bute Energy claims that projects like Twyn Hywel will drive economic growth, create jobs, and leave a “proud legacy.” However, my experience near the Brechfa wind farms suggests otherwise. Despite the destruction of 1.9 million trees, local benefits were minimal after construction, with sites left largely unattended during operation.

The serene moorlands of Cefn Eglwysilan offer rich history and natural beauty. Walks such as the Aber Valley Heritage Trail and others across this unspoiled terrain are treasures under threat. The installation of wind turbines will not only scar the landscape but also devastate local wildlife. Birds, bats, and insects are

PICTURE OF THE wEEK!

killed by turbines—victims of blade collisions and pressure changes—while their carcasses are scavenged, leaving little evidence of the toll.

The historical significance of Eglwysilan is equally at risk. The site is home to ancient landmarks such as the Senghenydd Dyke, Carneddi Lwydion burial sites, and St. Ilan’s Church, a Grade II-listed building on a 6th-century Celtic Christian foundation. This church, sadly closed in 2023, stands on a pilgrimage

route between Llantarnam Abbey and Penrhys. It is the resting place of William Edwards, the famed bridge builder, and many victims of the 1913 Senghenydd Colliery Disaster—the worst mining disaster in British history. These sacred and historic sites are poised to be overshadowed or destroyed by construction.

In 2023, a man irreparably damaged a Bronze Age monument at Eglwysilan and was fined just £4,400— a paltry sum compared

to the cultural loss. Such incidents foreshadow the widespread destruction that wind developments will bring, erasing ancient landscapes and heritage sites forever.

I urge readers to visit Mynydd Eglwysilan before it is desecrated. Walk its trails, experience its peace, and reflect on what Wales stands to lose. Let us protect our heritage and environment, not sacrifice them for fleeting, intermittent energy gains.

Terry Breverton

Fishguard art by Nik Chesters

Death Notices

CHRISTINE CHERYl BOWEN

SUDDENLY on Thursday, 14th November at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, Christine of The Willows, Llandisslio Caravan Park, Llandissilio, Clunderwen.

Beloved wife of Emyr, dear mother of Dylan, cherished daughter and sister.

Funeral service at St Mary’s Church, Strata Florida, on Saturday, 7th December at 12 noon.

Family flowers only. Donations if so desired towards

The British Heart Foundation or Cancer Research Wales, received by Ken Davies & Sons, Funeral Directors, Blaenwern, Bro Waldo, Clunderwen, SA66 7NQ. Tel: 01437 56331

CHARlES RICHARD (DICK) GIBSON

THE death occurred peacefully at home on Tuesday 19th November 2024 of Mr. Charles Richard Gibson, always known as ‘Dick’, of The Beacon, Rosemarket, Milford Haven.

Dearly loved, Dick will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by his family and all his many friends.

A short burial service will take place on Monday 16th December at 2:30pm at Pope Hill Cemetery, Johnston, SA62 3NX followed by a service celebrating Dick’s life and Christian faith at Emmanuel Christian Centre, Pembroke Road, Merlin’s Bridge at 3:15pm. All are warmly welcome. Colourful clothing is encouraged.

Personal flowers if wished may be brought to the grave if attending the burial.

Donations if desired in Dick’s memory will be shared between The Church of the Living Hope and Wellspring Church, c/o E.C. Thomas and Son Funeral Directors,

Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth (01834) 831876 & 21, Main Street, Pembroke (01646) 682680 or via www.ecthomasandson.co.uk

PAMElA SKElTON

PEACEFULLY on Sunday 24th November at Withybush Hospital, Pam of Dinas Cross.

Beloved wife of Terry, a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Funeral service on Wednesday 11th December at Glandwr Chapel, Llanychaer at 1pm followed by interment in the Chapel Cemetery.

Family flowers only. Donations in lieu if desired, made payable to ‘Royal British Legion’ c/o Paul Jenkins & Sons Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB. Tel: 01348 873250.

DIlYS MARY JAMES

PEACEFULLY on Tuesday 19th November at Withybush Hospital, Dilys of Trefin.

Beloved wife of the late Myrddin, loving mother of Ellis, dear sister of Eileen and the late Alun & Elsie, devoted aunty of Meriel, Carwyn & Gethin and a treasured great aunty of Max & Callum.

Funeral service on Thursday 5th December at Croesgoch Chapel at 1pm followed by interment at Croesgoch Cemetery.

Open for flowers or donations for ‘British Heart Foundation’ c/o Paul Jenkins & Sons Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB. Tel: 01348 873250.

WIllIAM EDWARD BRYNlEY (BRYN) DAVIES

PEACEFULLY at Highgrove

Residential Home on Friday 15th November 2024 Bryn Davies of Haverfordwest, aged 93 years.

Much loved father and father in law of Nicholas and Rachel, uncle of Kim, Christine and Andrew.

The funeral service will take place on Friday 13th December, 1:45pm at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth. Family flowers only.

Further enquiries to F. G. Rees & Sons, Haverfordwest. Tel: 01437 764418.

JEAN JONES-DAVIES

T HE death occurred peacefully at home on Thursday 21st November 2024 of Mrs. Jean Jones-Davies, aged 96

years of Oakfield Drive, Kilgetty. Devoted Wife of Ieuan. Much loved Mum of Delyth and Keri. Cherished Grandma of Samantha, David and Anne-Dora. Treasred Great Grandma.

The funeral sevice will take place on Wednesday 11th December 2024 at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth at 2:30pm.

There will be family flowers only with donations in lieu if desired for The Paul Sartori Foundation c/o E.C. Thomas & Son Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth (01834) 831876 & 21, Main Street, Pembroke (01646) 682680 or via www.ecthomasandson.co.uk

SERVICES

ClEARANCES

PROFESSIONAl

Cymru shocks Ireland THE WELSH WOMEN are heading to euro 2025

CYMRU MAKE HISTORY BY QUALIFYING FOR FIRST MAJOR TOURNAMENT

Cymru have made history in Dublin. Let the heartbreaks of the past be forgotten as tears of joy replace the pain of previous failures.

Cymru are heading to Switzerland next summer and will be one of the 16 nations competing at EURO 2025. Following the 1-1 draw in Cardiff, this would be the day of destiny. Winner takes all, Cymru put their bodies on the line and delivered the longawaited success this team has craved.

Head coach Rhian Wilkinson made two changes to the starting line-up as Josie Green and Hannah Cain replaced Ceri Holland and Ffion Morgan, and it was clear from the start that Green would be tasked with keeping a close watch on Ireland captain Katie McCabe. A physical battle between the two left McCabe frustrated and booked after just 17 minutes.

The 1st leg in Cardiff was a physical encounter and that theme continued in Dublin with a string of hard but fair challenges. As the game settled down the chances followed and it was Denise O’Sullivan who had the best opportunity of the half when her effort beat Olivia Clark

but struck the crossbar at the midway point. Clark would then deny Kyra Carusa.

Cymru would also have their chances and it was Lily Woodham, goalscorer in the 1st leg, who saw her free-kick saved by goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan. From the resulting corner, Brosnan then had to be at her best to prevent Rhiannon Roberts from opening the scoring as she turned her low shot wide of the post. However, it was Niamh Fahey who almost put Ireland ahead just before half-time but her fine strike went narrowly wide.

The game would turn within minutes of the re-start as a VAR review adjudged that Anna Patten had handled the ball and Cymru were awarded a penalty. Hannah Cain stepped-up and made no mistake. Ireland were visibly rattled and switched gears as they pressured the Cymru defence, but there were opportunities on the counter-attack and Cain almost added a second on 55 minutes but she couldn’t reach a cross from Rachel Rowe.

Narberth’s Angharad James could have extended the lead but Brosnan prevented the Cymru captain, and a hamstring injury

to Jess Fishlock saw her replaced to boost Ireland’s chances. However, Cymru would double the lead on 67 minutes when substitute Carrie Jones latched onto a through ball from Lily Woodham and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

After waves of pressure, Ireland finally pulled a goal back on 86 minutes as Patten headed home a McCabe corner, but it was Rhiannon Roberts who would be the hero for Cymru in added time as she made two huge defensive blocks to deny Leanne Kiernan and Denise O’Sullivan. It would prove to be enough to get Cymru over the line, and with it, make history.

Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones have etched their names in Welsh football folklore as their goals made the difference on the night, but it’s the previous coaches and the hundreds of players who have worn the shirt leading up to this moment who will celebrate tonight. Every single individual has played their part along the way, but it’s this team’s success that will take women’s football in Wales to a completely different level now.

Narberth’s Angharad James-Turner came close to scoring • Pic: FAW

Pembrokeshire celebrates sporting excellence

Winners and finalists

The talent, skill, and dedication of Pembrokeshire’s vibrant sporting community were celebrated at the prestigious Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2024, held at Folly Farm on Friday, November 29th.

For the first time in 17 years, the event saw a new host as renowned sports journalist Bill Carne stepped down in 2023. Taking the reins with ease was Ceri Coleman-Phillips of BBC Wales Sport, who masterfully presented the evening’s proceedings as winners were revealed.

Honouring Exceptional Contributions

The judges faced a challenging task, narrowing down high-quality nominations from an impressive 252 entries. Among the many accolades, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Brian Hearne for his extraordinary contributions to tennis in Pembrokeshire over more than 50 years.

Described as a fierce competitor on the court and a gentleman off it, Brian’s legacy includes taking charge of the Pembrokeshire County Open Tennis Tournament in 1966, ensuring its continuity into its 75th year. A stalwart of Haverfordwest Tennis Club, he represented South Wales and Wales in veterans’ age groups, won a Welsh doubles title, and became the club’s first life member in 1990. Today, at 85, Brian remains an inspiration, serving as the club’s president.

Another highlight was the Chairman’s Special Achievement Award, presented by Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman Cllr Steve Alderman, to Paralympic gold medallist Matt Bush.

Cllr Alderman praised Matt as “a phenomenal athlete whose journey epitomises resilience, dedication, and triumph.” Matt’s victory in the taekwondo K44 +80kg category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics marked a historic moment for Pembrokeshire sport. He later had the honour of serving as Great Britain’s flagbearer at the Paralympic closing ceremony.

The ceremony also reflected on Pembrokeshire athletes who competed or contributed at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, showcasing their inspirational journeys on the global stage.

Breaking Barriers and Making History

A special mention went to Jodie Grinham, originally from Haverfordwest, who made history as the first pregnant athlete to win a Paralympic gold medal in archery. Jodie’s achievement captured worldwide attention and cemented her as a prominent figure of the Paralympic Games.

Nurturing Future Generations

The School Award, one of the evening’s most significant accolades, was awarded to Cleddau Reach VC Primary School. Headteacher Rhys Buckley, along with staff members Ricky Pearson and Caty Brock, joined pupils to receive the award.

Located in Llangwm, the school was celebrated for its ethos of inclusivity and its commitment to fostering a love of sport. With a mantra of “If there’s an event taking place, the school attends,” the institution ensures that every pupil has the opportunity to participate in sports and serve as role models for younger peers.

A Night to Remember

Closing the evening, Ceri ColemanPhillips emphasized the dedication of everyone involved in making Pembrokeshire’s sporting landscape so extraordinary.

“We celebrate not just the winners but every nominee, coach, and supporter who makes sport in Pembrokeshire so extraordinary,” she said.

The Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2024 was a night of celebration, inspiration, and a testament to the power of sport in uniting communities and shaping futures.

Terry says goodbye

Terry Griffiths, the 1979 World Snooker Champion and a pivotal figure in Welsh snooker, has died aged 77. Renowned for his remarkable achievements both on and off the table, Griffiths was hailed as an “inspiration” by three-time world champion Mark Williams. Griffiths rose to fame in 1979 by winning the World Championship as a qualifier—a feat that remains one of the sport’s most iconic moments. Following his illustrious playing career, he transitioned to coaching, where he guided some of the game’s greats, including Stephen Hendry, Mark Allen, and his compatriot Mark Williams.

Reacting to the news of Griffiths’ passing, Williams expressed his deep sadness and admiration for the late snooker legend. “It’s very sad,” said Williams, who won the World Championship in 2000, 2003, and 2018.

“Griff, as I always called him, I’d go down his club when I was 13, 14 years of age, playing tournaments every Sunday for years and years,” Williams recalled. “He coached me for a while and won the World Championship, but just a good friend, one of the best players Wales ever produced.”

Griffiths’ influence extended far beyond his own accomplishments. He was a cornerstone of the Welsh snooker community, running a club that became a nurturing ground for aspiring players.

“He was an inspiration for all the juniors,” Williams explained. “We all used to go to his club and practise, and he always used to be there, presenting the £100 or £200 to the winners. He was always there. Every one of us looked up to him. It’s just very sad. He was a friend, mentor, coach, everything.”

Terry Griffiths’ legacy as a champion, mentor, and friend to generations of snooker players will endure, cementing his place as one of Wales’ most cherished sporting figures.

MANDERwOOD PEMBROKESHIRE LEAGUE 2024/2025

DIVISION ONE ROuND uP

Goodwick united 7 – Monkton Swifts 2 GOODWICK UNITED extended their lead at the top of the table with a commanding 7-2 victory over Monkton Swifts. Rhys Dalling was the standout performer, netting four goals, including a stunning solo effort to complete his hat-trick. Goodwick led 2-1 at half-time thanks to goals from Kieran Blundell and Rhys Jones. The second half saw an attacking masterclass as Jonny Horgan added two more before Dalling rounded off the scoring. Monkton Swifts managed a brilliant 25-yard strike from Connor Davies but were unable to contend with Goodwick’s relentless firepower.

Clarbeston Road 4 – Carew 4

A dramatic 4-4 draw unfolded as Carew snatched a stoppage-time equaliser at Clarbeston Road. Marcus Griffiths gave Carew an early lead, but Laurie Haworth and Ben John turned the game in favour of the hosts by halftime. Leon Davies’ brace put Carew back in front, but goals from Matthew Davies and a second from Haworth saw the Road edge ahead once more. Zac Rowell salvaged a crucial point for Carew in the dying seconds, lifting them out of the relegation zone in a pulsating encounter.

DIVISION TWO CuP ROuND uP

Goodwick united 7 – Monkton Swifts 2 GOODWICK UNITED extended their lead at the top of the table with a commanding 7-2 victory over Monkton Swifts. Rhys Dalling was the standout performer, netting four goals, including a stunning solo effort to complete his hat-trick. Goodwick led 2-1 at half-time thanks to goals from Kieran Blundell and Rhys Jones. The second half saw an attacking masterclass as Jonny Horgan added two more before Dalling rounded off the scoring. Monkton Swifts managed a brilliant 25-yard strike from Connor Davies but were unable to contend with Goodwick’s relentless firepower.

Clarbeston Road 4 – Carew 4

A dramatic 4-4 draw unfolded as Carew snatched a stoppagetime equaliser at Clarbeston Road. Marcus Griffiths gave Carew an early lead, but Laurie Haworth and Ben

Hakin united 2 – St Ishmaels 0

Hakin United climbed to second in the standings with a solid 2-0 victory over St Ishmaels. The Vikings took control early, with Ryan Wilson opening the scoring with a spectacular longrange effort. Liam Parks doubled the lead with a close-range finish. Despite dominating the game, Hakin couldn’t

extend their advantage further. The result pushed St Ishmaels into the relegation zone after a tough outing.

Pennar Robins 3 – Milford united 1 Pennar Robins overturned a first-half deficit to secure a 3-1 win against Milford United. Milford took the lead just before the break through Jack Dyer, despite

John turned the game in favour of the hosts by half-time. Leon Davies’ brace put Carew back in front, but goals from Matthew Davies and a second from Haworth saw the Road

edge ahead once more. Zac Rowell salvaged a crucial point for Carew in the dying seconds, lifting them out of the relegation zone in a pulsating encounter.

Pennar dominating possession. Ben Adams equalised early in the second half, followed by a stunning finish from Cameron Brunton to put the hosts ahead. Luke Phillips sealed the victory with a late penalty. Milford goalkeeper Charlie Malloy put in an impressive display, but his heroics couldn’t prevent the defeat.

Hakin united 2 – St Ishmaels 0 Hakin United climbed to second in the standings with a solid 2-0 victory over St Ishmaels. The Vikings took control early, with Ryan Wilson opening the scoring with a spectacular longrange effort. Liam Parks doubled the lead with a close-range finish. Despite dominating the game, Hakin couldn’t extend their advantage further. The result pushed St Ishmaels into the relegation zone after a tough outing.

Pennar Robins 3 – Milford united 1 Pennar Robins overturned a first-half deficit to secure a 3-1 win against Milford United. Milford took the lead just before the break through Jack Dyer, despite Pennar dominating possession. Ben Adams equalised early in the second half, followed by a stunning finish from Cameron Brunton to put the hosts ahead. Luke Phillips sealed the victory with a late penalty. Milford goalkeeper Charlie Malloy put in an impressive display, but his heroics couldn’t prevent the defeat.

MANDERwOOD PEMBROKESHIRE LEAGUE

Division

Broad

Division

St

Division

II

St Ishmaels Res v Newport Tigers

Division 5

Kilgetty III v St Clears Res

Manorbier United v Letterston Res

Milford Athletic Res v Herbrandston Res

Narberth Reserves v Milford United III

Solva Reserves v Hundleton Reserves

WELSH WOMEN MAKE HISTORY