Pembrokeshire Herald 26/04/2024

Popular press officer dies

GENUINE popularity is a rare thing.

Being genuinely popular, respected, and loved by those who know and work alongside you is even rarer.

Anna Wilson, who died at the age of 51, was one of those people.

Anna was a press officer with Pembrokeshire County Council. She carried out her duties with unfailing good humour and diligence.

You discover most people’s values and attitudes through the small things they do. Anna Wilson was someone who made the small things count.

On a personal level, Anna was a delight to deal with: unfailingly polite and always ready with a wry observation. Importantly, especially for those who asked questions or requested comments, she always told you if she couldn’t get back to you by a deadline.

But she was more than just a person at the end of a phone call or an email.

When I heard of Anna’s passing over the weekend, it soon became clear that I was not alone in my shock. Councillors, former councillors, and those who knew Anna through sport and her participation in village life in Llangwm all expressed their sadness at her family’s loss and Anna’s absence from their lives.

Anna was born in 1972 and attended Sir Thomas Picton School before attending Aberystwyth University, where she studied French and Spanish.

After working in Chamonix, she taught English as a Foreign Language in the Rioja region of Spain.

In 1998, she joined The Western Telegraph as a junior reporter and later became a senior reporter. In 2002, she moved to

Jon Coles jon.coles@herald.email

Radio Pembrokeshire as news editor and broadcaster before heading to the County Council in 2004 as a press officer.

By then, Anna and her then-partner (later husband) David had moved to Llangwm.

The village became the centre of her social life.

She adored Llangwm and threw herself into local life with gusto. Her two boys attended the village school, where she helped organise events. She joined the choir’ Village Voices’, performing at concerts and participating in WW1: a Village Opera, first performed in 2014 to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War. The opera went on to win a national award.

Anna was involved with the mini and junior sections of Llangwm Rugby Club, helping to organise the aftermatch food and becoming team manager for the age group that her youngest son played for.

One of her proudest days was watching her eldest son play in a youth (under18’s) final in the Principality Stadium in April 2022.

Anna was part of a book club in the Cottage Inn, though it’s fair to say that reading wasn’t always the prime motive for meeting up!

Anna was an incredible person. Always positive, there was no malice in Anna. She saw the good in people. She never criticised or spoke ill of others.

Anyone who came into contact with Anna—friends, work colleagues, or even fleeting acquaintances— was struck by her thoroughly decent and kind persona and wicked sense of humour.

She believed in dispensing with daily random acts of kindness—even if it

was just letting cars out at a junction into traffic.

One day, Anna and her friend Fran were walking in the fields around Llangwm, discussing the awful plight of refugees fleeing the war in Syria who ended up in overcrowded camps in neighbouring countries. They were determined to do something.

Anna suggested holding a pop-up cafe in the village hall to raise money for the refugees. With the help of other friends, the cafe was a huge success and raised a considerable amount of money.

The pop-up cafes became a regular feature of village life, raising thousands of pounds for various charities, some local and some far afield.

Anna was also daring and adventurous.

Anna wanted to see things and go places and always challenged herself. She never settled for the status quo. She was inquisitive. A great writer, Anna was working on a children’s novel that was

clever and beautiful, much like the author. She was also an incredibly humble person who was ill at ease when praised.

Most of all, she was full of love, especially for her two boys.

Anna Wilson will be keenly missed.

Anna was the daughter of Eric & Caroline Smith and the older sister of Anthony.

She was brought up in the countryside, which she loved, just outside Haverfordwest and went to Prendergast Infants/Juniors Welsh unit.

When she was six, Grampies gave her her first piano, delivered in a horsebox. She went on to have lessons with Shirley Williams and Seimon Morris (to 7th grade).

Anna loved ballet and Guides and having fun with her cousins and friends, not forgetting Spike the dog(a cocker spaniel) and numerous cats. She also loved spending time with her beloved grandparents and Anthony.

Silverdale employee threatened

A 21-YEAROLD man has been sentenced by magistrates after threatening to throttle an employee at a homeless refuge in Pembrokeshire.

Stephen Dennison was on duty at the Silverdale Lodge, Johnston, when he was alerted to someone screaming and shouting outside.

“He saw that Joshua Lea had entered an argument and was offering to fight another individual,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwdest magistrates this week.

“Mr Dennison was inside the office, and he had locked the door because a vulnerable lady was inside and he didn’t want her to become upset as a result of the defendant’s behaviour.”

But Mr Dennison then heard Joshua Lea attempting to gain entry to the Lodge via the laundry room.

“He [Lea] began banging and kicking the door, screaming,

“You’re a f rat. Look out…if I get in there and get my hands on you, I’ll throttle you’.”

Ms Jackson went on to say that this was the first time in Mr Dennison’s 12-month employment at the Silverdale Lodge when he had been threatened by a resident.

“I know what he [Joshua Lea] is like and I know that he’s capable of violence,” Mr Dennison said in a victim impact statement.

“This has left me shaken up.”

Lea, who is now of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault against Stephen Dennison.

After considering a detailed probation report, magistrates sentenced Lea to a 12-month Community Order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 80 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

Pensioner accused of sexual offences

A 72-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with 17 sexual offences against children under the age of 14.

The Crown Prosecution alleges that between May 2004 and April 2007

Robert Hughes of The Close, Spittal, sexually assaulted three girls on eight separate occasions, by touching. At the time of the alleged offences, the girls were aged under 13.

Hughes faces nine additional charges of gross indecency against four girls under the age of 14, allegedly committed between October 1998 and October 2004.

The Crown alleges

that all offences took place in Haverfordwest, Hughes denied all 17 charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday via a video link from his home.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction in the matter.

Trial proceedings against Hughes will now commence at Swansea Crown Court on May 24.

Hughes was granted conditional bail, the conditions being that he

does not contact the four complainants nor the Prosecution witnesses. He must also notify the police if he changes his address and must have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18.

Samuel Kurtz talks connectivity with BT

Local Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz recently attended an event, hosted by BT, to learn more about their digital switchover programme.

The programme, Digital Voice, is BT’s new home phone service, which provides a phone line through existing broadband connections, rather than through a traditional phone socket.

According to BT, over 99% of phone handsets are compatible, allowing for a seamless transition when customers make the switch on a region-byregion basis.

Commenting on the event, Samuel said:

“I was impressed by their technological innovations, particularly around their ability to filter out scam calls using artificial intelligence.

Jon Coles jon.coles@herald.email

“BT are absolutely aware that some individuals for certain reasons won’t be in a position to migrate over to the new system, so

they are working to ensure that these people are supported and not left high and dry.

“I will certainly keep an eye on the roll-out and development of Digital Voice, as living in and

representing a rural area, I am keenly aware of the importance of good connectivity for both homes and businesses.”

For more information, visit www.bt.com/ broadband/digital-voice

Haverfordwest interchange: Next stage of £19m the project backed

The second stage of building Haverfordwest’s near-£19m transport interchange has been backed, with senior councillors hearing it could cost the council more to not support it.

The transport interchange, which includes an integrated bus station and construction of a new multi-storey car park, is part of a wider series of regeneration projects in the county town.

The total cost of the scheme in the approved budget is £18.881m, £1.987m from Pembrokeshire County Council; the remainder, £16.894m, from an already-awarded Welsh Government grant.

To date, £3.425m has been spent on advanced works, including the demolition of the old multi-storey car park and a temporary bus station.

Members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, meeting on April 22, were recommended to approve the award of the Stage

Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter

2 construction contract for the Haverfordwest Transport Interchange.

The report for members listed two simple options for Cabinet, to authorise the award of a contract, recommended, or to not.

For the latter it warned: “It is envisaged Welsh Government will withdraw the funding awarded and the council would need to repay grants received to date; £10.322m has been received to date of which £3.376m has been offset against expenditure.”

It added: “Cost to cease this project could cost PCC more in terms of grant repayment and any capital work required to make good. PCC match contribution for the project is forecast as £1.987m of the £18.881m.”

Planning permission for the interchange was granted in 2022, with a temporary bus station constructed that year and the old multi-storey building demolished in

2023.

That year, members of the county council’s Cabinet agreed a temporary car park will be sited on the demolished remains of the old multistorey car park until the Haverfordwest Public Transport Interchange –delayed as no compliant tender had been found at the time – is built.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller said: “The interchange is an important part of the regeneration of Haverfordwest, it will not regenerate Haverfordwest on its own, it is part of a wider process. The alternative to us being engaged is we simply allow it to decline and fail.”

He said the interchange was about “making it easier to visit Haverfordwest,” making parking provision “really straightforward, making it easy and convenient as possible”.

Cllr Miller said not progressing with the scheme would risk the grants already obtained,

Builder over twice drink-drive limit

A SELFEMPLOYED Pembrokeshire

builder has been ordered off the roads for 17 months after driving home from a friend after downing homebrew.

Timothy Parkes, 60, was followed by police officers after they received a tip-off from a member of the public concerned that Parkes may have consumed alcohol prior to driving his Mitsubishi L200.

“It was on the evening of April 17 when police were asked to keep observations on the defendant as a result of information they’d received that he may have been drinking alcohol,”

Crown Prosecutor

Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

meaning the council could potentially foot the bill for costs to date, at a greater level than progressing.

He said the cost options were a near£2m subsidised council involvement for the whole scheme or the £3m-plus spent to date if the scheme was ended, which would leave the car park as it is now.

“It’s pretty reasonable that if they give us the money and we don’t build a transport interchange they’ll be looking for that money back,” Cllr Miller said.

He said previous figures from parking revenue – back in 2019 – amounted to £100,000 a year; and could be expected to at least double on a “likefor-like” basis following the increase in parking charges.

Members, after a private and confidential session over the actual contract details, agreed to proceed with the scheme, awarding the contract to Kier Construction Western and Wales.

apprehended by the officers and a roadside breath test carried out which proved positive. He was conveyed to a police custody suite where two further intoximeter tests gave the lowest reading of 78mcg. The prescribed legal limit is 35.

Parkes who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, chose to legally represent himself when he appeared in the dock.

“I was a bit foolish,” he told the magistrates. “I went to see my friend who had had an accident at work and he was given some homebrew by friends, and I drank some. I didn’t know how strong the homebrew was, to be fair.”

Parkes informed magistrates that he is a self-employed builder.

“The officers illuminated their lights but the defendant carried on driving. They then saw him pull into the driveway where the vehicle was registered, dump it and run into the yard area.”

Parkes, of Isfryn, Pontyglasier, was subsequently

“I live in the countryside so now I won’t be able to go to work,” he said.

After considering the mitigation, Parkes was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was fined £230 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £92 court surcharge.

Uniting for a Stronger Pembrokeshire

4THEREGION forges new paths in collaboration and innovation, with the ‘It’s Your Pembrokeshire’ Conference.

In an era marked by rapid technological change along with global economic challenges, the need for local resilience and sustainable development has never been more important. This is the ethos behind the transformative efforts of 4theRegion which is bolstering community wellbeing and sustainability in South West Wales. Sharing these goals, Pembrokeshire organisations such as Grwp Resilience and Buy Local Wales are backing the event by hosting a follow-on evening event

Following on from recent successful events and conferences, such as the Green Economy conference, 4TheRegion is coming to Pembrokeshire to unite groups, businesses, and organisations to enhance prosperity and well-being in the county,

It’s Your Pembrokeshire conference, on May 8th, is a collaborative event aimed at connecting and empowering all sectors for a shared, sustainable future. Scheduled to take place at the Queens Hall in Narberth. The conference will offer a full day of engaging discussions from 9:30 am to 3:30 PM hosted by 4TheRegion, followed by an impactful evening session from 4:30 PM until 7:30 PM hosted by Grwp Resilience and Buy Local Wales.

The conference will feature themed discussion zones, where stakeholders can explore innovative solutions in food sustainability, community development, transport, and youth empowerment. The objective is to create the ideal environment for new partnerships to form that leverage strengths to meet local needs—a crucial step towards reducing reliance on

empowerment, Marten Lewis of Bluestone, focusing on nurturing local supply chains, and Holly Skyrme, who will delve into renewable energy initiatives. These discussions will not only spotlight existing challenges but also pave the way for actionable solutions tailored to the unique context of Pembrokeshire.

In addition to the daytime talks, the evening session promises to deepen the conversations from the conference with a focus on integrating advanced technologies, such as AI, and adopting circular economic models to bolster community resilience. In collaboration with Grwp Resilience and Buy Local Wales, this session will explore how shared resources like electric vehicles and cargo bikes can be part of sustainable infrastructure, facilitating local horticulture and food distribution.

This conference is more than just an event; it’s a call to action for businesses, community groups, and charities to forge stronger connections that benefit the entire region. It provides a critical platform to discuss how Pembrokeshire can lead by example to build a resilient future that embraces the principles of deliberative democracy, empowerment, and a zero-carbon local economy

Join us on May 8th and be part of this pivotal event. Help shape the future of Pembrokeshire by collaborating, connecting, and innovating.

Get your FREE ticket

unsustainable global supply chains.

The event highlights notable speakers, such as Cris Tomos from PLANED, who will discuss community

For more information on the conference, visit www.4theregion.org.uk

For evening event enquiries: www.grwp.wales

Borded up shops

Haverfordwest shopping Centre

Narberth

Stink overpowers Gething’s sweet smell of success

AS RESIDENTS near Withyhedge can testify, the smell isn’t going away.

And neither is the stink around Wales’s new First Minister.

Jeremy Miles, now Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and the opponent Mr Gething defeated in a very close ballot of Labour members and trade union members, appeared on BBC Wales at the weekend.

When asked whether he would have accepted donations totalling £200,000 from two companies, the owner of which was convicted of environmental health offences, he said no.

When asked whether the donations raised issues about Mr Gething’s judgement, he noticeably did not say no.

He said it was “a matter for individual candidates to decide.”

He may as well have said yes.

Mr Gething might feel he can brush off criticism from outside the Labour group in Cardiff Bay. However, pressure from inside the Labour group is another matter.

Mr Miles could have equivocated. He might even have stood up for his former opponent.

Instead, he delivered a simple, savage blow to Vaughan Gething’s authority and credibility.

GETHING IS HURTING LABOUR

Mr Gething also appears to have a gift for providing free ammunition for opposition politicians.

The problem is one of presentation and perception.

Mr Gething addresses other MSs and journalists in a practised and slightly artificial tone overflowing with Uriah Heep-levels of insincerity. Every word and gesture is a performance designed to accentuate his serious reasonableness and reasonable seriousness. Nobody has told him he comes across as an oily, arrogant, and patronising fake. Under pressure, he defaults to peevish snark,

which, combined with his laboured oleaginousness, makes him appear even smugger.

Minister’s Questions were revealingly unenthusiastic about his adopted line. You couldn’t say eyes were rolled, but they weren’t far off doing so.

The absence of many Cabinet members at the start of the Senedd session on Tuesday also added to the sense of the First Minister’s isolation.

THE MAGIC MONEY TREE

Mr Gething stood against his colleague Jeremy Miles in the race to succeed Mark Drakeford as Labour’s figurehead in Wales and First Minister.

Carwyn Jones said his campaign fund when he became First Minister in 2009 was no more than £15,000.

In 2024, Mr Gething disclosed donations totalling over £350,000.

Two separate donations of £100,000 a piece come from Dauson Environmental Group companies.

The first, made on December 18, 2023, came the same day as an application to build a massive solar farm in Mr Gething’s constituency.

The last politician to run that one to a parliament was Boris Johnson. It didn’t do him much good.

The faces of Mr Gething’s colleagues as they sat behind him at First

In his first two outings at First Minister’s Questions, Mr Gething has patronised opposition politicians, deflected questions through semantic nitpicking, and kept to one line. “No rules have been broken.”

The campaign budgets are nominally capped at a fixed amount per member. However, those budgets only account for campaign literature and other promotional materials. There is no cap on the budget for other areas of the campaign, which are usually funded by relatively small donations from individuals.

When Mr Gething stood against Mark Drakeford in 2018, neither candidate’s budget exceeded £45,000.

Former First Minister

The second, made on January 11, 2024, arrived days before part of the Dauson group of companies entered into an invoice finance agreement with HSBC. Such arrangements are usually entered into when companies experience cashflow problems and mortgage their future contract payments in exchange for money upfront from a lender.

The donations’ size is startling enough on its own. To provide context, the total amount of ALL declared donations received by politicians in England

Jon Coles jon.coles@herald.email

and Wales during February this year was £1.287m. Mr Gething’s donations from one source account for almost one-sixth of that sum.

DOING DUE DILIGENCE

Worse, when asked whether due diligence had been done about the donations’ source, Mr Gething said it had. He ducked the question when asked whether he knew of Mr Neal’s convictions and suspended sentences for environmental offences.

The following day, Wednesday, April 24, that facade tumbled down.

In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Mr Gething’s campaign cochair, Ken Skates MS, said: “I can’t recall a precise timeframe, but over time... the convictions were raised with me.

“But when they came to light, I asked questions about the convictions.

“I asked questions because I wanted to know the details of the donation, where it came from and so forth.

“I was assured and I think everybody on the campaign team has been assured that... the donation will have no bearing whatsoever on any decisions that might come.”

When we examine Mr Skates’s comment for sense, even more questions arise:

“Over time, the convictions were raised with me.”

When? After the first donation? After the second? Or when the donations and convictions became public knowledge?

Those are important questions because the answers will help establish the credibility of Mr Gething’s claim that the donations underwent due diligence before being accepted.

Even worse, Mr Skates didn’t know where the extraordinary sum of £200,000 came from.

If Mr Skates became aware of potential issues only when they became public, there would have been a gap of two months of campaigning since the first donation. Where did he think the money came from?

If Mr Gething’s campaign co-chair did not know about the convictions or the origin of the donations, who on earth did, and who did due diligence on them?

Compounding that issue is Mr Gething’s evasiveness when asked whether HE knew about the convictions. Let’s get one thing straight: he knew because Mr Skates knew. So, why didn’t he answer a straight question?

All those questions and no good answers from Mr Gething mean this will run and run.

However, we have one answer. Mr Gething has charged his former colleague and ex-First Minister Carwyn Jones with investigating the affair.

As Andrew RT Davies remarked, that smacks of Labour marking its own homework.

MR GETHING’S MONEY

Mr Gething stood against his colleague Jeremy Miles in the race to succeed Mark Drakeford as Labour’s figurehead in Wales and First Minister.

The campaign budgets

are nominally capped at a fixed amount per member. However, those budgets only account for campaign literature and other promotional materials. There is no cap on the budget for other areas of the campaign, which are usually funded by relatively small donations from individuals.

When Mr Gething stood against Mark Drakeford in 2018, neither candidate’s budget exceeded £45,000.

Former First Minister Carwyn Jones said his campaign fund when he became First Minister in 2009 was no more than £15,000.

In 2024, Mr Gething disclosed donations totalling over £350,000.

Two separate donations of £100,000 a piece come from Dauson Environmental Group companies.

The first, made on December 18, 2023, came the same day as an application to build a massive solar farm in Mr Gething’s constituency.

The second, made on January 11, 2024, arrived days before part of the Dauson group of companies entered into an invoice finance agreement with HSBC. Such arrangements are usually entered into when companies experience cashflow problems and mortgage their future contract payments in exchange for money upfront from a lender.

The donations’ size is startling enough on its own. To provide context, the total amount of ALL declared donations received by politicians in England and Wales during February this year was £1.287m. Mr

Custodial sentence for fisherman

PASSING a sea survival course has resulted in a custodial sentence for a Pembrokeshire fisherman after he admitted using threatening behaviour towards staff at the Silverdale homeless lodge.

Brandon Pugh was told earlier this month that he had successfully passed the sea survival course after serving an apprenticeship on a fishing boat operating from Neyland Marina.

But after drinking to excess to celebrate his success, Pugh returned to the Silverdale Lodg in Johnston, where he had been residing for the previous 24 hours.

Gething’s donations from one source account for almost one-sixth of that sum.

A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Mr Gething has vigorously denied any suggestion the money loaned to David Neal’s companies by the Development Bank of Wales was somehow returned to his campaign via a donation.

A spokesperson for the development bank said: “In February 2023, the Development Bank of Wales agreed to a loan to Neal Soil Suppliers Ltd for £400,000, which funded the purchase of a solar farm.

“The loan is on track to be repaid over five years. It is supported by security from the company and debentures from other companies in the same group, Dauson Environmental and Atlantic Recycling.

“Lending and investment decisions taken by the Development Bank are wholly independent of the Welsh Government.”

A spokesperson for Dauson Environmental said: “As a growing Welsh business, Dauson Environmental Group is committed to investing in the operation and development of all our sites, as well as in the Welsh supply chain.

“This includes working with the Development Bank of Wales to support this economic growth.

“We can reassure you that none of the loan received from the Development Bank of Wales was used to contribute to the donations made by Dauson Environmental Group.”

you.”

“I took his threats literally, as his manner and demeanour made me feel uncomfortable,” said the Silverdale Lodge victim in a statement she made to the police.

“I felt that if he was going to open the door, he would harm me.”

The court was told by probation officer Julie Norman that the offence was committed whilst Pugh was the subject of a two-year suspended prison sentence for a common assault conviction in January 2023.

“There’s a pattern of violent offences here, with the result that I request he be sent to custody,” she said.

“He was absolutely thrilled that he could finally see a future opening up before him,” his solicitor, Tom Lloyd, told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“So what did he do? He got intoxicated to the point where he couldn’t remember anything.”

Pugh reached Silverdale just before 1.30am on April 24, and confronted a female staff worker who believed he had taken a dislike to her during their meeting the previous day.

“She was typing up notes when she heard a knock on the door,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson.

“She heard a male voice and recognised it as Brandon Pugh. She asked him to hold on while she waited for her colleague to come back as she didn’t feel comfortable engaging with the defendant on her own. She had met him only once, and didn’t think he liked her.”

But Pugh then began kicking the door whilst shouting, “I’m going to end

But solicitor Tom Lloyd urged magistrates to apply leniency in their sentence.

“His background is extremely troubled and he is an extremely vulnerable individual,” he said. “Since a very young age he’s been pushed into doing things that he didn’t want to do, and this has been the story of his life.

“At last he’s been given the chance to work on a fishing boat, things have gone very well, and this is the main reason he’s kept out of trouble.

“But that night he got very intoxicated and said things that he didn’t mean. He’s embarrassed by what happened.”

However after considering the mitigation, magistrates sentenced Pugh to 24 weeks in custody. He was also ordered to pay £239.

“Despite how it looks today, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said presiding magistrate Mary Smith. “When you come out of custody you’ll be able to pick up the pieces and get on with your fishing career.”

Stalker filmed standing on victim’s doorstep

A HAKIN man has been sentenced for stalking his ex-partner to the point where she became fearful for her personal safety.

“I don’t know what he’s capable of,” Kirsty Braithwaite said in a personal victim statement read out to Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“Scott Horton is unpredictable and won’t take no for an answer. I don’t want him at my address, but I’m scared he’ll turn up.”

The court was told that the relationship between the couple began to deteriorate in December 2023. The stalking commenced the following March.

“On March 8 the victim returned to her home at approximately 11pm and 40 minutes later she heard a car pulling up outside,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson.

“She saw the defendant’s vehicle, and then saw him standing outside her living room window, and heard him say ‘I can’t believe you’ve done this to me’.”

Six days later the victim was contacted by a neighbour who informed her that CCTV footage showed the defendant standing outside her property in the early hours of the morning and again at 7am.

“He attended on three further occasions that day, which was March 14, and the victim notified the police about

what had happened,” said Abigail Jackson.

“On numerous occasions she received unwanted contact from him concerning the breakdown of their relationship, including doorbell footage which showed him standing outside her house at 5am in the morning, creeping past the front door and ducking past her camera.”

Ms Jackson said Horton’s behaviour has left her fearful for her safety.

“He knows my normal routine and I’m scared,” Ms Braithwaite continued in her personal statement.

“I’ve had to change the locks on my doors and I’ve had to install a CCTV camera. I’m afraid to walk anywhere in case he approaches me and I’m frightened to go to work in case he sees me there.”

Horton, 42, of Harbour Way, Hakin, pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

He was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must also pay £250 compensation to Ms Braithwaite, £85 costs and a £114 surcharge. He will be subject to a daily electronic monitoring curfew between 10pm and 7am for three months.

NRW issues new enforcement notice at Withyhedge

NATURAL Resources Wales (NRW) has taken further enforcement action at Withyhedge Landfill in Pembrokeshire, setting out the urgent steps its operators must take to address the site’s ongoing odour and landfill gas emission issues.

NRW has issued site operators Resources Management UK Ltd (RML) with a further Regulation 36 Enforcement Notice, which requires the operator to deliver a series of actions by specified deadlines – the first due to be achieved by April 21.

The actions include implementing measures relating to gas management infrastructure, further capping areas of the site, and improving interim cover arrangements as the work progresses.

Each step outlined in the Notice must be completed by May 14.

However, the Notice stipulates that most works must be completed before May 8.

The measures are intended to address the odour issues experienced by communities surrounding the site.

Although actions set out in the Section 36 Notice issued in February to prepare and cap a waste cell and install gas infrastructure to contain and

collect landfill gases appear to have been completed, the site operator has identified further areas of the site which could be causing problems.

RML submitted their plans to resolve these issues last week.

The proposed solutions informed the actions included in a new S36 notice issued last week.

The new enforcement activity requires the operator to deliver the additional steps they need to take.

If the actions outlined in this new Notice are not complied with, NRW will not hesitate to take further action. The Welsh Government agency will consider all the regulatory tools available, including issuing a Section 37 suspension notice.

A Section 37 Notice would end operations at Withyhedge Huwel Manley, Head of South West Operations, NRW, said: “NRW is taking additional enforcement action to ensure RML Ltd. takes the urgent action they have identified needed to control the odour issues at Withyhedge Landfill.

“We fully understand the growing discontent from the affected communities, and we feel

that it is unacceptable for residents and visitors to the area to continue to be affected by these odour and landfill gas emissions.

“We want to reassure everyone that we are committed to ensuring RML Ltd. deliver the actions they have identified and that they work quickly to resolve this issue.

“While the pressing work required by the operator progresses over the coming days and weeks, the site remains under investigation, and we will continue our regulatory presence.

“Nothing is off the table. If the series of actions required in this Notice are not complied with, we will have no hesitation to take further enforcement action, considering every option available to us under the regulations, including suspending the environmental permit if appropriate.”

Will Bramble, Pembrokeshire County Council Chief Executive, said: “We are extremely disappointed that RML, the company managing the Withyhedge landfill site, has not delivered the necessary action to stop the completely unacceptable odour emissions.

“We fully support NRW’s additional enforcement action and continue to work closely

with them to correct the situation.

“We also support NRW’s intent to take further action should it fail to meet the May 14 deadline, including considering suspending the permit.

“Geotechnology is monitoring under the direction of the air quality cell and liaising directly with residents affected.

“We will ensure the data is made available to the public at the earliest opportunity.”

The controversy over £200,000 in donations to Vaughan Gething’s Labour leadership campaign by companies linked to Withyhedge and a further substantial personal donation by company director David Neal continues to dog Wales’s new First Minister.

As revelations continue to bubble up from under the cap that Mr Gething has tried placing on them, the smell from Withyhedge has reached Cardiff Bay. It is beginning to stink out the Senedd.

More details of that story are elsewhere in this week’s Herald.

NRW requests that instances of odour from the landfill continue to be reported via this dedicated form: https://bit.ly/ reportasmellwithyhedge.

Jon Coles jon.coles@herald.email

Woman sentenced for urinating on pavement

A 33-YEAR-OLD homeless woman has appeared before magistrates after squatting down in the centre of Haverfordwest to urinate in front of members of the public, including children.

Paramedics were called to Picton Place on the afternoon of March 11, following reports that a woman was lying unconscious in the street.

Upon arrival, they discovered Rebecca David.

“The paramedics recognised the female as the defendant as they had dealt with her previously,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“She sat up shortly after they arrived and began swearing and

shouting, telling the paramedics to f*** off. She then said ‘I need a piss’ and proceeded to walk down an alley near to the bus stop.”

The paramedics followed David, fearing for her personal safety, and requested the police to attend as a result of her aggressive nature.

“They then saw her squat down as she tried to urinate,” continued Abigail Jackson. “The officers turned around to try to prevent members of the public seeing what she was doing, as these included children.”

David pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words and behaviour that was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

She was fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 court surcharge.

Former army officer admits driving on cannabis

A FORMER army officer has appeared before magistrates after being caught drug-driving just one week before being granted a medical prescription for cannabis.

Shane Blofield was stopped by police soon at 9am on November 7 as he drove his white Ford transit van on the A40 through Slebech.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive and subsequent blood tests showed he had 5.8mcg of Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The specified legal limit is 2.

This week Blofield, of Clos Pluguen, Llandovery, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving above the specified drug limit when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.

“This is a former army officer who has served his country well and is the father to

Too many children in Wales living in poverty

THIS week in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats renewed their demands for the implementation of child poverty targets.

According to a report from the Bevan foundation, 29% of children living in Wales are currently experiencing poverty (an estimated 190,000 children).

The same report highlighted that the largest percentage of children living in poverty are from working households or in couple households.

The Welsh Lib Dems are now renewing calls for the Welsh Government to create a set of targets for reducing child poverty, which the party argues will allow for more accountability.

The party has previously called for the implementation of targets, citing recommendations from the Calling Time on Child Poverty Report published in November last year.

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

three young children,” said his counsel, Dr Bobby Shabir of the Kings Bench Chambers.

“My client has a prolapse as well as issues with his back, and as a result he requires medicinal cannabis for health reasons. A prescription for cannabis was sadly given to him a week after the incident, because at the time, he was oblivious to the fact that he could get it on prescription.”

Dr Shabbir presented the magistrates with three character references including one from his former employer and a work colleague. He informed magistrates that Blofield is currently unemployed.

After considering the mitigation, magistrates disqualified Shane Blofied from driving for 12 months. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 surcharge.

Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “The latest statistics on childhood poverty in Wales paints a very distressing image of families across the country struggling to make ends meet.

Over the course of the last six years, the proportion of children in poverty has skyrocketed. Fuelled by worsening economic conditions and a complete lack of action from both governments in Westminster and

Cardiff Bay. We cannot act complacent about these figures nor accept the clear lack of progress in fighting child poverty, behind each statistic is a child that the state has failed.

It remains painfully clear that the Welsh Government is failing to make any meaningful progress in this fight,

which is why they must follow through with the implementation of clear set targets that will allow for further accountability. We as a party have continuously called for the creation of these targets and we will not be silenced. For the sake of future generations we urge the Welsh Government to listen.”

Paul Davies responds to St David’s Surgery news

LOCAL Senedd Member Paul Davies has reacted to the news that St David’s surgery in North Pembrokeshire has decided to resign its General Medical Services Contract. It’s understood that for registered patients, care will continue to be provided until the end of October 2024 and patients are being advised to remain registered with the Practice while longer-term plans are developed. Patients will be invited to share their views as to how these services can continue to be delivered after the end of October.

Mr Davies said, “This is a very worrying announcement and patients in the local area will be understandably

anxious about what this means for the future.”

“It’s vital that GP services can continue to be delivered in the area in the future and so Hywel Dda University Health Board must be open with patients of

the Practice about their plans and address the community’s concerns. Every effort must be made to ensure that patients are able to access services in the long term.”

“I will of course, be

raising this with the Welsh Government and urging the Health Minister to do everything in her power to support the Health Board and help ensure patients can access these vital services.”

All three school stabbing victims discharged from hospital

POLICE remain at Ysgol Dyffryn Amman today, (Thursday 25/04/24) following an incident yesterday in which three people were injured, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed on Thursday (Apr 25)

Officers will be at the school throughout the day as the CIDled investigation progresses.

A teenage girl remains in custody after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Two teachers and a teenage pupil were taken to hospital with stab wounds, which were not life-threatening. All three victims have now been discharged from hospital, having been treated for knife injuries.

Carmarthenshire Superintendent Ross Evans said: “As can be expected with an incident as serious as this, there will continue to be a police presence at the school throughout the day today.

“Officers at the scene will be looking for evidence to assist the investigation, while other specialist teams will analyse any information submitted

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

through our dedicated web page.

“We understand the level of concern in the community as people try to process the incident. We urge anyone affected by yesterday’s events to seek support, and not to share any videos, photos or information that might cause further distress to pupils or parents at the school.

“We continue to work with Carmarthenshire

County Council and other agencies as they provide support to those affected by yesterday’s events.”

Speaking on Wednesday evening, Superintendent Ross Evans said:“DyfedPowys Police continue to investigate the serious incident that took place at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire this morning.

“We received a call just after 11.20am advising us people were injured following an incident at the school.

“Emergency services immediately attended, and the school was locked down for the safety of everyone on the premises.

“Two teachers and a teenage pupil were taken to hospital with stab wounds. Their injuries are not life threatening.

“A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and currently remains in police custody.

“A knife has been recovered as evidence.

“I am aware that there is footage of the incident currently circulating on social media and would ask that this is removed to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, and to avoid further distress to those involved.

“I would also ask that people do not speculate while there is a police investigation ongoing, and to refer to official channels for factual updates.

“Local people will see more police in

the area over the coming days as the investigation continues.

“I would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has concluded, and pupils have now left the school.

“We are working with the school and other agencies to ensure appropriate support is available to all those involved.

“This was a very distressing incident, and our thoughts are with the victims, their family and everyone impacted by what has happened.

“We have set up a dedicated portal, and anyone with information that could help us with our investigation is asked to report it through this link to help police manage the volume of information coming in to us.

“Lastly, I would like to thank the whole community for their support and patience while police, emergency services, Carmarthenshire County Council and the school work through this distressing incident today and over the coming days.”

Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to DyfedPowys Police by calling 101.

County Hall to offer space for community banking

A CALL for Pembrokeshire County Council to potentially change its banking arrangement with Barclays, after it closed its Haverfordwest branch has been turned down, but County Hall is to offer space for community banking.

Barclays Bank, on the town’s High Street, is to close on May 10.

The council has had a banking services contract with Barclays since 2013.

Councillor Huw Murphy, in a notice of motion heard by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet meeting of April 22, asked the council to review its banking arrangements with Barclays following the announced closure. e said the loss of a branch “not only impacts upon town centres and businesses but also disproportionately impacts the elderly who are less likely to embrace

on-line banking options”.

A report for Cabinet members said, in terms of the impact on Pembrokeshire residents, Barclays has said that it is “not leaving

Haverfordwest and [will] continue to provide face-to-face support for those who need it” via community locations.

Two options were presented to Cabinet:

to retender the banking services contract, and, the favoured, to work with Barclays to ensure a community location is set up in Haverfordwest.

Members heard the costs associated with moving to a new banking service provider could be in excess of £50,000.

For the second, favoured option, members heard Barclays was in discussions with the council about a location for potential community banking.

Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance Cllr Alec Cormack, after outlining the risks in the report for members, and moving the notice be not adopted, said he had “considerable sympathy” with Cllr Murphy’s notice.

From April 25, the rooms will be available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, members heard.

Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery Cllr Jon Harvey also said he had “a lot of sympathy” for the motion, adding: “It’s excellent news a deal has been struck to occupy the ground floor rooms three days a week; hopefully this will mitigate, to a certain amount, the closure.

“If we can work with the respective banks to get a community-type approach let’s move forward.”

He told councillors there was a glimmer of light for banking arrangements in the county, with an agreement now signed for two ground floor rooms at County Hall, Haverfordwest, to be used for community banking.

All Withybush wards affected by RAAC planks now open

All six wards at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest which were closed due to the presence of RAAC planks last year are now open.

Six of the Pembrokeshire hospital’s 12 wards were closed last summer after a significant amount of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) planks were found in the hospital building.

Hywel Dda University Health Board declared an internal major incident in order to identify the scale and impact of RAAC on the site and carry out urgent survey and repair work.

As well as the six wards, areas on the ground floor and kitchen, including outpatients and clinic rooms were also closed.

Wards 7, 9 and 12 were reopened at Christmas; Ward 11 was back up and running in January while Ward 10 was re-opened earlier this month. Work came to an end on Ward 8 –the last ward to re-open

- last week.

One of the services most seriously affected by the ongoing RAAC survey and repair work has been elective inpatient surgery, but with the re-opening of all wards, this will now be introduced back to the hospital.

There is however, still some extensive work to be done on the Ground Floor at Withybush including at Outpatient

Departments A and B and the Physiotherapy Department which are currently in use and temporarily fully supported with props and safe to operate in. There is likely to be disruption when these areas are closed.

RAAC will continue to be an issue at Withybush Hospital, with repair work continuing throughout this year. There is also

an ongoing programme of regular survey work to monitor the condition of the RAAC, which will cause some disruption from time to time.

Director of Operations Andrew Carrurthers said: “We are very pleased that the wards which were closed while we undertook essential repair work to the RAAC concrete planks are now operating as normal.

“And while there is still much work to do to manage the survey and repair work resulting from the discovery of RAAC concrete, we are now in a much better place than we found ourselves this time last year.

“This has been a challenging time for staff who have had to adapt very quickly to a fast-changing situation. This is on top of a difficult winter which has seen Emergency Departments (A&E) at all our hospitals having to cope under enormous pressures. We hope the reopening of the wards at Withybush will relieve some of this pressure.

“Our staff have shown incredible teamwork and resilience during a very difficult time, so I would like to thank them for their support. Thanks also to our patients and members of the public who have been affected by the ongoing work. Some have had to be treated at alternative locations within the health board area, so my thanks to them

for their patience and understanding.

“The internal major incident declared at Withybush Hospital was brought to an end in January, but survey and repair work will continue until Spring 2025, so there is some way to go before Withybush hospital returns to a normal service. We will continue to engage with our staff, patients and the public and keep them informed of the latest developments.”

RAAC is a material that was commonly used in the construction of buildings between the 1960s and 1990s. Its presence has been confirmed at Withybush Hospital and at a limited part of Bronglais Hospital. It has also been identified at a range of NHS properties and other public buildings such as schools, across the UK.

Further information and FAQs are available on the Hywel Dda website RAAC - Hywel Dda University Health Board (nhs.wales).

Bruce Sinclair Local Democracy Reporter

Milford School pupils showcase artistic talent

FROM May 3 to May 23, the Joanna Field Gallery at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven will be exhibiting art works by pupils from Milford Haven Comprehensive School. This will be their fourth exhibition at the Torch.

The exhibition will see 44 pupils, aged 15 to 16, who undertook GCSE Art last summer taking part. Previously, the exhibition was held at the Milford Haven Town Hall before being relocated to the Torch.

“The exhibition is a celebration of art-work created by the pupils in their final year and

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

a chance to see what they have achieved,” explained Katie George, the Art Technician at Milford Haven Comprehensive School.

Katie added: “This will be the ninth exhibition that the school has arranged. We started off in Milford Town Hall and then were very excited to be able to show our annual art event in the Torch. This will the fourth year showing in the Torch, which has been really fantastic as it gives us a chance to show the work of the pupils in a professional setting, and

the pupils have spent a great deal of time and effort completing their masterpieces under the watchful eye of their Art Teacher, Mr Chris Green. They re encouraged to use as many different materials as possible ranging from painting in watercolours and acrylics, printing, sculpture, collage, clay work, printing and many more.

“The pupils work on their individual investigations. They pick a theme of their choice and then work through with artist research that connects to their theme. They then follow with

MIKE EDWARDS

Although the weather has slightly improved since my kindly rant at the heavens and Mother Nature, a new terror has descended on the land—a new and expensive terror. It’s called “visiting” the garden centre.

My beloved wife loves “visiting” the garden centre.

It’s funny, isn’t it?

You don’t usually visit the shops. You go to the shops to buy things like Glengettie or other essential teas and biscuits.

You visit museums or art galleries, where you gaze at unaffordable objects of extraordinary value and beauty.

A garden centre is like a combination of going to the shops and visiting a museum.

lots of experimentation using different media and materials also painting, drawing and sketching. They then have their twoday exam, which they have spent time planning for using all the skills and materials they have now become familiar with to produce a final piece that will be shown in the exhibition,” explained Katie.

“It’s always exciting to tell the pupils that their final pieces will be on show in an exhibition in The Torch and generally they are excited for that to happen. They are so busy trying out new materials and ideas during their lessons, that they don’t really think about the exhibition itself until they are invited to see their work at the Torch. When they come with their parents or friends, it’s usually a real ‘Feel Good Factor’ of achievement, which is always great to see. The whole ambiance and setting created at the Torch is perfect,” concluded Katie.

To see the exhibition by pupils from Milford Haven Comprehensive School from 3 May to 23 May at the Joanna Field Gallery, Torch Theatre visit www.torchtheatre. co.uk or call by during Box Office opening hours.

accident and emergency department on the Friday before Christmas.

There is an order to the chaos, and you celebrate the small triumphs when something unexpectedly pulls through. However, there is also blood, swearing, and pain.

My darling one is from traditional agricultural stock. That leads to two interlinked problems.

The first is that Mrs Edwards believes that, given enough horseshit, any plant will thrive in any situation. That means waterlilies in the rockery and fuchsias around the garden pond.

You gaze at the plants, pots, garden tools, and compost. They all look so nice. They all look, in their ways, beautiful.

Your eyes goggle at the prices, and you remember the last trip to a museum when the nice lady behind the counter mugged you for £18.00 in exchange for a bookmark, pencil, fridge magnet, and car sticker for inside the rear windshield that fell off three hours later and hasn’t been seen since.

While absorbing the shock and awe of garden centre prices, your good lady wife goes off, carefully weaving her way through the cheap bedding plants to the heavily-priced exotica beyond. This is when you need sharp wits, sharper reflexes, and a Usain Bolt-like turn of speed.

I lack all of those things.

That is why much of our garden resembles an innercity

The second is the belief that horticultural activities are best conducted with machinery and paraquat.

I like powered tools as much as the next man. However, I do not see the value of buying a tiller, chainsaw or vats of chemicals when I am mostly concerned with coaxing azaleas to bloom or eliminating the existential threat to them posed by next door’s moggy.

Furthermore, coaxing a plant to live where it is unhappy is like being the Health Minister in the Welsh Government. Undoubtedly, someone has to do the job, but it’s a lot of effort for no discernible benefit. Although there are always new and exciting opportunities to prolong life, the cost of doing so is prohibitive.

Moreover, like a Health Minister in the Welsh Government, you come to realise that feeding your garden an unending diet of horseshit does not guarantee success.

Miracle pup finds her forever home after heart-wrenching journey

AERIAL, a remarkable six-legged spaniel, has captured hearts worldwide, culminating in her adoption this week. Found abandoned in a Pembrokeshire car park and famously nicknamed after Disney’s Little Mermaid due to her unique condition, Ariel’s journey from despair to joy is nothing short of miraculous.

In September 2023, the then 11-week-old puppy was discovered outside a B&M store in a neglected state. Suffering from severe physical

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

anomalies including two extra hind limbs and an additional vulva, Ariel faced daunting challenges. A subsequent medical examination revealed a more complicated internal scenario: a missing kidney and a malformed pelvis that jeopardised her mobility.

Despite the grim prognosis, Ariel’s plight touched many, leading to a worldwide fundraising campaign that raised approximately £15,000. These funds enabled

her to undergo critical surgeries at Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital, Somerset, where surgeons successfully removed the surplus limbs and preserved her four functional ones.

“Both procedures went well, and remarkably, Ariel was walking and eating by the next day,” explained Mikey Lawlor, founder of Greenacres Rescue, where Ariel was rehabilitated. “It was crucial that we avoided any post-operative infections, but she’s been in the best hands,” he added, reflecting on the

complexities of her care.

Ariel’s recovery was supported by numerous vet visits, specialised surgeries, and extensive physiotherapy. Her resilience and endearing character garnered media attention globally, from radio and television appearances to newspaper features, highlighting her inspirational battle for a normal life.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Ariel has been officially adopted,” announced a recent post by Greenacres Rescue. “Her journey of transformation

from a discarded pup to a beloved family pet has been extraordinary.”

The post also extended a heartfelt thank you to June, Ariel’s dedicated foster mother, whose relentless support was pivotal during the rehabilitation process. “June’s care and energy have been instrumental in Ariel’s recovery,” the rescue centre noted.

Surgeon Aaron Lutchman, who led Ariel’s medical team, remarked on her progress, “She’s bounced back and is a happy little dog. We hope she goes on to lead a fabulous life.”

As Ariel embarks on this new chapter with her adoptive family, her story remains a profound testament to the power of community support and the unwavering spirit of animals overcoming adversity. Greenacres Rescue encapsulates this sentiment in their message, “Ariel is symbolic of everything we stand for—love, hope, and the chance for a new beginning.”

For further updates on Ariel and other rescue stories, follow Greenacres Rescue on their social media platforms.

Musical Team ladies again proved they are indispensable

Musical Team ladies again proved they are indispensable when Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir staged after Easter Week in the flower-bedecked St Mary’s Church, Angle, before a large congregation.

Musical Director Juliet Rossiter and Accompanist Carole Rees came together in a keyboard duet for only the second time at a concert. They played ‘March Militaire’ by Franz Schubert and Stauss’ ‘Radetzky March’ to warm applause.

And principal soloist Alyson Griffiths was given a standing ovation by choristers for her contributions – playing on flute and then singing the hymn ‘We worship at your feet’ and playing an Easter hymn medley of ‘Passion Chorale’ and ‘I walked in the garden’.

Singer/singwriter and first tenor Peter Halifax contributed another of his own compositions, ‘Let there be peace’, and ‘Where have all the flowers gone.

With the forthcoming D-Day 80th anniversary

in focus the choir’s programme included reflective items along with always popular songs from ‘Les Miserables’ and 1960s pop favourites.

Stand-in MC Huw Morgan made his debut promising no jokes but had everyone laughing at his unique delivery style.

Choir and audience were welcomed and thanked by church warden Chris Hirst. Refreshments were provided in the village half and thanks to the church ladies were expressed by choir chairman John Hillier.

The War for One Planet

THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD recently ran a series of articles about One Planet Developments.

One Planet Developments (OPDs) are part of a controversial Welsh Government policy that is all that remains in the wreckage of an old Labour initiative to greenwash Wales.

The vestigial limb of a largely abandoned policy, OPDs are - supposedly - sustainable small-holdings that not only provide a home and an income stream but also hold the promise of a greener, more sustainable future for those willing to try living off the land.

As our articles revealed, the challenges of inadequate enforcement, pressure from the Welsh Government, under-resourced planning authorities lacking the necessary expertise, and well-resourced pressure groups who help the Welsh Government mark its own homework have alienated the rural communities with OPDs imposed on them.

OPDs have the persistent problem of perception: middle-class incomers get breaks in the planning system that local families can neither afford nor get.

However, mindful that forensic analysis of OPDs’ failings as a general policy can only go so far, The Herald sought a source that shows how individual OPDs should be handled.

We found one.

And it is about an OPD in Pembrokeshire.

Helpfully, the book is called “How We Went Off-Grid”. Its subtitle is Fully Approved Planning Application - Easy-toFollow Business Plan for Simple Living.”

Let’s start at the very beginning, with the title.

The “easy to follow business plan” bit is more than a little misleading. It should be

Jon Coles jon.coles@herald.email

“How We Chopped and Changed a Business Plan to Get Around the Fact our Business Plans Have All Failed.”

As it happens, the part of the title referring to the “Fully Approved Planning Application” is true without being the whole story.

The whole story would include how the applicants for the OPD, Matthew and Charis Watkinson, antagonised locals in Newport, threw temper tantrums when they couldn’t get their way, benefited from the unconditional backing of the planning officer supposed to assess their application impartially, harangued the National Park, disputed the findings of statutory inspections, and took expensive legal action against their nearest neighbours.

It is anything but a simple story.

As a template for future successful applications for OPDs, it’s more a cautionary tale about entitlement than an uplifting one about forging a sustainable lifestyle.

One chapter is written by the planning officer who oversaw the Watkinsons’ application. It is generous to say that its author, Caroline Bowen, got far too close to her subject. In one unintentionally revealing sentence, she claims that attitudes towards her changed among her colleagues at Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, amid suggestions she had - in her words “gone rogue”. Roguishness or not, Ms Bowen, who has left the Park’s employment, is not impartial about the Watkinsons’ application. Whether she was at the time they made it is another matter. Present bias is not an indication of previous partiality. However, the chapter reveals a very important consideration:

the Watkinsons’ application status as the first for Pembrokeshire’s National Park.

After getting past that point, we get into the nitty-gritty of the application process itself.

When we prepared our previous articles on OPDs, we obtained much information and documentation about the processes involved. Regardless of what the book says, and based on our documents, a large part of Beeview Farm’s successfully obtaining OPD status appears to be arguing the toss when an independent assessor finds you have not met the OPD criteria.

It’s difficult not to sympathise with the Watkinsons here.

They could never have imagined that sticking a horsebox on bricks and plonking it near a pristine coast would cause an issue. Even less could they have foreseen that there might be doubts that the horsebox met the criteria for a permanent, sustainable dwelling. Moreover, the requirement to live on the OPD is undoubtedly too onerous, even if it is the foundation of OPD applications.

The dwelling is sustainable as long as the weather is fine. During winter, sustainability is to be found elsewhere in Pembrokeshire. It turns out that the most sustainable place to live when it’s cold is in a house.

Then there’s the question of a business plan: by gum, the Watkinsons have had a few.

There are several business plans for making hot tubs, poultry farming for eggs, beekeeping, or raising geese for slaughter for Christmas. Nettle soup and wine could be next.

That is peculiar.

The OPD regulations require the original business plan to outline how

the planned business will generate a significant proportion of a family’s income. If the business plan changes once, that can be put down to bad luck. Changing it three or more times smacks - at best - of an inability to create a functioning business that generates enough income for a family to live on.

It goes to a central principle of OPDs.

The most important thing about an OPD application isn’t a checklist. It’s not following the rules, having a viable business plan, living sustainably, or even living on-site.

No, the most important thing is having a supportive planning officer and being prepared to shout until others give in.

It also helps to have

supportive media companies to help you spread the gospel.

It’s the Donald Trump approach. You deny reality, belittle those who doubt you, and resort to lawyers.

Instead of explaining how to make a successful OPD, the book is an object lesson of why they are so unpopular in rural communities.

Be wary of gulls as breeding season approaches

AS families across Wales head to the seaside for the bank holiday weekend, a national trade body is urging people to be wary of gulls as their egg-laying season gets underway.

During the breeding season, gulls have been known to launch attacks on people, says British Pest Control Association (BPCA).

After mating and nestbuilding in February and March, many gulls will be protecting nests and eggs towards the end of April and into May.

However, BPCA is also reminding people that avoiding gulls wherever possible is always the best course of action as interfering with wild birds, their eggs or nests could lead to prosecution.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that all wild birds and their eggs are protected, but people with the appropriate knowledge on licences, such as BPCA members, can take steps if the birds are causing a public health and safety concern.

Natalie Bungay, Technical Manager at

BPCA, said: “We love British birds. All wild birds and their eggs are rightfully protected by law in the UK, so it is absolutely vital that holidaymakers, householders or business owners don’t interfere with them.

“However, gulls can pose a serious safety concern. They have been known to attack people unexpectedly, which can be a frightening experience, especially if they draw blood, which can occasionally happen.

“We often think of gulls as a coastal problem – which they can be in seaside towns where people have fed them regularly. But for some time now they have also been an increasing problem in towns and cities away from the coast too.”

Gulls can live for 25 to 30 years and many weigh around 1kg, with wingspans of around one metre.

Seaside visitors can try to avoid attracting gulls by ensuring picnic foods or chippy takeaways are kept covered or eaten out of sight of gulls where possible.

Nesting gulls can cause problems for homes and businesses both on the coast and inland, as well as at supermarkets and hospitals, as these buildings can offer ideal nesting sites which are difficult to access and proof.

Nests can clog gutters or chimneys, which may cause water overflows, or potential issues with

carbon monoxide, as well as bringing a risk of secondary infestation from bird mites, ticks, fleas and beetles. Properties are also at risk from bird droppings, which can carry some harmful bacteria and diseases, as well as even cause slips, trips and falls where they build up.

Natalie added: “Gulls are also protected by the

law, so it really is important to seek professional help.

“BPCA members are trained in bird control and will be able to offer a management plan that will alleviate the issue.

“There are a variety of bird-proofing measures available, all of which will deter birds without causing them harm, and as gulls are large

and heavy, any proofing measures need to be suitable for the job, very heavy duty and correctly installed by a professional.

“Bird prevention, proofing and control is a highly specialised area requiring specific equipment and techniques. Pest professionals are required to try all reasonably practicable non-lethal bird control methods before they consider lethal control.

“Always consult a BPCA member before considering any form of bird management. You could be prosecuted if you illegally interfere with a bird, its nest or eggs.”

BPCA members are trained, experienced professionals with access to a range of specialist products not available to the public, as well as being regularly assessed to the British Standard in Pest Management BS EN 16636.

BPCA members are also endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme.

To find a professional pest controller visit bpca. org.uk/find

Return your postal vote and make your voice count

POSTAL votes for the upcoming Police and Crime Commissioner election can be returned as soon as received.

Those registered should have received their postal vote information and now is the time to fill it in and pop it back in the post.

You must complete the postal voting statement and your ballot paper for your vote to be counted.

Your postal vote pack includes full instructions on how to complete the form and voting ballot.

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

This helpful YouTube video shows how to complete the postal vote documents.

If you need help with your postal vote form you can also call 01437 775844

There are some changes to postal vote submission and you will need to complete a form with our staff if you decide to hand your postal vote in to a polling station or County Hall reception.

There will be two envelopes – complete the postal voting statement and include your ballot paper in envelope A before placing that in envelope B, ensuring the freepost return address is visible.

Charity funds brain tumour research

CANCER RESEARCH

WALES is setting up the Brain Tumour Research Initiative to fund pioneering research into brain tumours in Wales. It will establish Wales as a world leader in brain tumour research and provide scientists with a greater understanding of the disease.

The Brain Tumour Research Initiative will also develop new lifesaving and life-prolonging treatments and provide better support for people with brain tumours.

SURVIVAL RATES NOT IMPROVING

Dr Lee Campbell, Head of Research at Cancer Research Wales - the only charity wholly dedicated to funding cancer research in Wales for Wales, said:

“There has been a reported 39% increase in the incidence of primary brain tumours in the UK since the 1990s, with over 400 of these occurring within Wales every year.

“Unlike for many other cancer types, survival rates for brain tumour patients have barely improved over the last 30 years, with few new treatments introduced during this time and longterm survival rates for the most aggressive forms of brain tumour rarely exceed 10%”, he added.

Dr Lee Campbell concluded: “While childhood primary brain tumours have better outcomes, the nature of the current treatments mean these children often struggle to lead fully independent lives as adults. New and kinder treatment strategies are needed that not only further improve survival rates, but importantly reduce long-term side effects and cognitive impairment”.

“The Brain Tumour Research Initiative will

represent a first for Wales and will establish Wales as a world-leader for a disease that is notoriously difficult to treat. “

The programme, which aims to invest up to £1 million every year in the study of brain tumours, will bring together scientists, clinicians, and neurosurgeons from across Wales to work collaboratively to gain a better understanding of the disease.

and kinder therapies that increase survival rates, provide better support, and improve the quality of life for brain tumour patients everywhere.

ALEX’S STORY: LIVING WITH A BRAIN TUMOUR

I was so scared. I just thought ‘How will I cope?’; ‘How will I be a good mum and a wife?’; ‘Why me?’ I witnessed my parents crumble and cry and my husband try his hardest to be strong”, said Alex.

devastating news that she had brain cancer. She returned to Wales, and her family helped Alex through the weeks and months ahead.

family, my friends and the wonderful guardian angels I have crossed paths with on this journey I’m not sure I would have got through it”, reflected Alex.

Seven years later, Alex still has regular health checks and MRI scans but is living with renewed vigour, grateful for the research that made her treatments possible. She’s giving hope to others in the early stages of their diagnosis, and Alex knows all too well the difference hope makes.

“I wish I’d had someone like me in those early days to give me hope. I feel very lucky to be where I am now. I’m still here and living the best life I can – I love and value time with my family – my husband Leo, son Taylan and my mum Kay.”

“I am indebted to the research that enabled my treatment and to the amazing team who’ve looked after me.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

“The experience of cancer has undoubtedly changed me. There are some things I’ve had to accept I can no longer do, such as riding my horse. The cancer has stolen away my confidence in the saddle.

“The financial impact of cancer has also meant I had to use all my savings so I could live and pay rent, but I can look forward to the future with real hope, enjoy time with my family and open my heart and my life to new experiences I thought might never be possible.” Jon Coles

It is hoped this will lead to the development of new

Alex Aghili is a 50-yearold wife and mother from Abergavenny. In 2017, Alex had a seizure while she was asleep. Shortly afterwards, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and sent to London for a craniotomy to remove it.

“My world fell apart.

“I never really understood what the word ‘Family’ stood for until that day. My parents and my husband were amazing the way they held me up physically and emotionally. You need to hold onto the people who love you to keep you strong.”

Following the removal of the tumour in London,

“BROKEN CRAYONS CAN STILL COLOUR”

“I needed to be in Wales, where I would be home and would feel stronger to deal with it. It’s been an exhausting journey, and there have been days when I’ve felt broken, but I have a saying that keeps me going— ‘Broken crayons can still colour’.

“After I fell from my horse, I realised, that in the battle in regards to my passion for horses, cancer won, hence me hanging my hat up,” said Alex.

NRW to reduce mowing in May to help pollinators

NATURAL

Resources Wales (NRW) will reduce mowing as much as possible on the land in its care during May to help tackle the nature emergency and in support of Plantlife’s ‘No Mow May’ campaign.

The scale and rate of biodiversity loss across Wales is accelerating. Every third mouthful of food we eat has been created by pollination, and without pollinators our food supply would collapse.

Half of the UK’s 27 bumblebee species are in decline, and of the 43 species of butterfly seen in Wales, 10 are in severe decline and 17 are declining.

There are several reasons for the decline in pollinators, such as climate change, pollution and pesticides, and change in how land is managed.

Throughout the growing season, NRW cuts grass and vegetation in areas such as forests, nature reserves, river banks, flood defences and reservoir embankments.

Reducing mowing in

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

May will help biodiversity by allowing spring plants to set seed and grow to provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. NRW will reduce its mowing activities in May as much as possible, but essential grass cutting will continue in some areas across Wales. There are several reasons for this, for example:

• to manage access to forests and nature reserves to make sure people are safe when they visit.

• to easily inspect flood defences and repair them if needed, helping to reduce flood risk to communities.

• for nature conservation, for example to manage an invasive species or to benefit species in a certain area by cutting the vegetation.

David Letellier, NRW’s Head of Operations

South Wales Central, said: “We’re committed to tackling the climate and nature emergencies and helping nature and people thrive together.

“We will reduce our mowing activities in May as much as possible to support pollinators, but we want people to understand that we may carry out essential grass

cutting to benefit certain communities or species.

“For example, we may continue mowing flood defences to make sure they are in good working order, or if mowing some sites in May would leave wildflowers to recover and bloom throughout the late summer to benefit certain pollinators.

“We need to act now

to protect our pollinators. This is why we manage all of our sites to make them as pollinator friendly as possible and to provide food and shelter for other species.

“There are things we can all do to make it easier for pollinators to survive. These can be relatively simple, such as managing grass verges

in a more sensitive way, or leaving wild areas around our offices, homes and public buildings.

“We can all help by making our gardens pollinator-friendly by not using pesticides, not mowing the lawn as often, and growing pollinatorfriendly plants.”

Successful Penfro Modellers Club Model Show

The Sunderland Ward at South Pembrokeshire Hospital and the Pembroke Dock Heritage Trust have both benefited from the success of the recent Penfro Modellers Club Model Show held in March.

Cheques for £190 were presented at the town’s Heritage Centre where the Club meets monthly.

“The hospital ward is of course named after the most famous of flying boats, the Short Sunderland, which flew from Pembroke Dock for nearly 20 years and is so well remembered,” said Peter Mitchell of the Modellers Club. “We had an excellent show this year and are disappointed that we were not able this year to raise more money for the hospital and for the Centre which hosts our event.”

Sunderland Ward team members Tracey George, Sarah Lucas and Clare Lee are picture with Modellers Club members Paul Emens, David Woolnough, Derek Church and Peter Mitchell. PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography

1,000 thefts a day: Labour calls for more support for high streets

SHOCK analysis by the Labour Party has revealed more than 1,000 shoplifting offences are being committed across England and Wales every day – equating to an offence almost every minute of the day.

Yet separate Freedom of Information requests submitted by the party to police forces suggest that charges have fallen by a quarter over the past five years.

Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, Henry Tufnell, was out visiting local businesses in Tenby last week (April 19) to hear about the challenges presented by shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

“Labour has a plan to ensure our town centres are a safe, enjoyable place for Pembrokeshire residents to spend time in. Coupled with the Welsh Labour Government’s Transforming Towns scheme, which will provide £27 million by 2025 in South West Wales towards funding projects to regenerate and support our town centres, Labour’s priority is breathing life back into our high streets.”

Philippa Thompson, Labour’s Police and Crime Commissioner candidate for Dyfed Powys Police, joined with members of the Co-operative Party and USDAW, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, to campaign for stronger protections for retail workers. Today’s announcement

Henry Tufnell, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, said: “Pembrokeshire relies upon local businesses to grow our local economy, support jobs, and drive tourism. Today’s stats are clear: the Conservatives have lost control.

comes shortly after the UK government finally committed to introduce a new offence for assault of a retail worker, which Labour, the Co-op and USDAW have called for, for more than a decade.

Labour’s Police and Crime Commissioner candidate for Dyfed Powys Police, Philippa Thompson, said:

“A Labour Government in Westminster means we’ll see more police on the streets, a crackdown on anti-social behaviour, and on retail crime. As a Labour & Co-operative Party candidate, today I am campaigning with USDAW to strengthen protections for retail workers against the assault and abuse they face at work.

It has taken the Conservatives ten years to heed what Labour, the Co-operative Party and USDAW have been saying, and introduce a specific offence for assault of a retail worker. The Tories have run out

of steam and run out of ideas, and it’s time for a change. Only Labour can deliver that change.”

Since September, Labour has been calling for the Tories to scrap their Shoplifter’s Charter, which is leaving criminals to steal with impunity.

The rule, brought in by Theresa May in 2014, introduced a new category of ‘low-value shoplifting’ to describe theft of goods worth under £200 and has led to police deprioritising enforcement in these cases – even where there are repeat offences or organised shoplifting. This has left businesses and

retail workers at the mercy of criminals.

Alongside removing the Tories’ £200 rule, Labour has vowed to put 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the streets and introduce a Community Policing Guarantee to tackle shoplifting.

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said: “Under the Tories too many communities and high streets are being blighted by staggering increases in shoplifting, but charge rates are going down. That means more criminals are getting away with it and

more local businesses are paying the price.

“The Conservative government has decimated neighbourhood policing, leaving our town centres unprotected, and they are still refusing to get rid of the £200 rule, which is encouraging repeat offending and organised gangs of shoplifters.

“Labour will scrap the Tories’ Shoplifter’s Charter and bring in a Community Policing Guarantee, with 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs to crackdown on shoplifting and keep the public safe.”

Pembrokeshire embraces future with new e-bike scheme

PEMBROKESHIRE

COUNTY COUNCIL, under the chairmanship of Thomas Baden Tudor, has announced an exciting new initiative aimed at boosting sustainable transportation across the region. The council has introduced a “pay as you go” electric bike (E-Bike) service, now available in Haverfordwest, Fishguard, Goodwick, and Tenby as part of a 12-month trial that commenced on 8th April 2024.

Tom Sinclair Editor@herald.email

The scheme, managed by Zeus Mobility, features the Zip bikes— electrically powered bicycles designed to make cycling less strenuous and more accessible to a broader demographic. Each location will start with 10 E-Bikes, with plans to increase the fleet to 50 by summer. The service will include three main charging stations and numerous satellite bays for convenient access and returns.

Priced competitively, the E-Bikes can be hired for £3.00 for the first hour, with subsequent time billed at 5p per minute. Daily and weekly rates are also available, offering users more flexibility for longer trips. The bikes are aimed at reducing reliance on motor vehicles, promoting healthier living, and contributing to national decarbonisation targets.

Councillor Tudor tested the new bikes himself, describing the experience as “brilliant fun for the whole family” and encouraging all residents and visitors to give them a try. The initiative is part of a broader effort by the council to offer ecofriendly travel options that align with environmental objectives.

To use the E-Bikes, riders need to download

the Zipp Mobility app, which allows for bike unlocking, ride tracking, and payment. The app also provides information on bike locations, parking bays, and cycling routes within the county.

Funded by a £150,000 grant from the Swansea Bay and South West Wales Metro, the project focuses solely on this EBike trial, aiming to make Pembrokeshire a leader in sustainable travel. For further details on hiring and operating the EBikes, residents can visit the Cycle Pembrokeshire webpage or contact the team directly via email at ebikes@pembrokeshire. gov.uk.

Llandeilo Antiques Fair has a touch of Spring.

THE NEXT Antiques and Vintage Fair to be held at the Civic hall Llandeilo , will be bursting with variety and good quality antiques on Saturday 4 th May.

Nestling into the Carmarthenshire countryside Llandeilo is a busy town ,lying on the outskirts of Carmarthen and just 15 minutes away from the end of the M4, it’s conveniently situated.

The fair boasts record attendance this year and May hopefully will continue this pattern .The Civic Hall can be found right in the Centre of the town ,opposite the main Car park. Here you will find a bustling, vibrant Fair with lots of antiques and vintage on display. The variety is impressive ,with lots of variety to keep your interest.There will be a number of outside stands to compliment the inside displays.Here you will find a good selection of gardening tools and pots.

May is the season where we get inspired to get planting and sowing our seeds ,as the weather gets milder.

Look out for the huge collection of gardinalia that will be on display. This is an area of collecting that has grown in popularity over the past few years and especially after lockdown. People have begun to realise that growing your own vegetables , can prove to be both frugal and satisfying .There are many benefits from growing your own produce ,both mentally and physically.Turning over fresh soil on a spring day with a spade that has been handed down over

the generations ,doesn’t come better than that. The satisfaction from sewing your own seeds ,to watching them grow and mature and finally the joy from harvesting your own crop of potatoes or tomatoes. If you fancy taking up the spade or fork , then there will be a good selection of tools for sale .From spades ,forks and hoes , to garden buckets , watering cans plus axes and garden stakes and supportsMost of these vintage garden tools which have been loving restored and ready to have their place in a new garden .Fundamentally nothing has changed in the shape of garden tools except perhaps for the quality. They were certainly made to last and people knew how to care for them and look after their garden tools , so that they would last for years to come.

It’s this time of year when the the threat of frost have receded ,that we begin to plan our planting of our patio pots. Just recently there has been a trend of using and repurposing leaky old watering cans and buckets into attractive flower containers. Galvanised containers have risen in popularity as they do not rust .A old watering can,galvanised bucket , baths or even a churn can be recycled into attractive garden containers .

The trusty watering can hasn’t changed a lot over time . As gardeners and vintage enthusiasts, we often take for granted the tools we use. One such tool that has always been around is the watering can. It may seem a simple device, but it has

played an essential role in keeping our gardens and greenhouses functioning for centuries.

So let’s have a meander through the history of watering cans. Where did they come from? How have they evolved over time?

The first documented use of anything resembling a watering can was found in a painting from ancient Egypt ,depicting a gardener using a vessel with a long spout ,to water plants. In Rome, metal vessels were used by farmers to water their crops. There are a few early paintings showing people watering plants with “ordinary” jugs but we know that pots specially for watering begin to make an appearance in early medieval documents about gardens, which were of course largely utilitarian rather than ornamental. They had presumably evolved to be as efficient as possible given the constraints of material and ease of use.

The term ‘watering can’ was first used in 1692 by the cottage gardener Lord Timothy George of Cornwall, and various design types existed at that time. This was a watering pot of copper, having a big belly and a narrow neck, a strong handle of metal was now attached to the belly and head of the can to enable the gardener to carry the pot from place to place in the garden. The big revelation came in 1886 when John Haws patented a new design incorporating the sprinkler end to the spout or rose as we now call it. The Haws company remains one of the

world’s premier watering can companies to this day. They would produce watering cans that were of metal but galvanised to protect them from rusting and were much lighter than the previous copper ones.This method is still used today . And not just on watering cans ,It’s used to protect lots of garden equipment.

Galvanisation or galvanising is the process of applying a protective zinccoating to steel or iron, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hotdip galvanizing, in which the parts are submerged in a bath of hot, molten zinc. This will protect the steel from rusting. However it will in time wear off with continued use and exposure to the elements .Ironically it’s this rustic look that has proved most popular and is on trend at the moment. I can remember the old dustbins 50 years ago , we’re all galvanised .The sound of the lids being clattered by the bin men , early in the morning has stayed in my memory , as they formed an early morning wake up call. In those

bye gone days. These bins now make make ideal Flower containers , as do the old humble washing dolly tubs that every house had before the arrival of washing machines .They have become a fashionable must have container for a patio or balcony and now command a large price tag. Even galvanised animals feeders and troughs have become hugely popular as planters.In these times of being mindful of limiting waste ,it’s nice to see this recycling, up cycling and repurposing of items going on in our gardens. The displays at the fair will be eye catching and inspirational.

There’s always something interesting and new at this popular fair, one of the new attractions is Helen Brind’s ( designernell) collection of interior design and textiles . She has an impressive collection of handmade cushions and some beautiful material.Her displays are always colourful and eye catching.

The Llandeilo fair has a rich cross section of antiques and vintage on

offer, including collections of rare Welsh pottery, art and textiles. Wales is a country known for its textile treasures and especially hand stitched quilts.

The fair is located in the heart of Llandeilo, close to the main car park.Here you will find a bustling, vibrant Fair with lots of antiques and vintage on display. The variety is impressive , which is why over 500 visitors attended the fair in April.

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

Homemade refreshments will be available and doors open at 10 am until 4pm.

Admission is just £2

FUW presents alternative options to on-farm slaughter

FOLLOWING an announcement last week (15 April), the longawaited appointment of the Bovine TB Technical Advisory Group (TAG) met for the first time, with the Chair Professor Glyn Hewinson, Sêr Cymru Chair of the TB Centre of Excellence, leading the group.

The ten publicly appointed members consist of a wealth of knowledge covering social sciences, epidemiology and veterinary medicine. However, questions have been raised concerning the absence of farmer representatives on the group.

Speaking after the first meeting of the TAG, FUW Policy Officer Elin Jenkins said: “We welcome the opportunity to present alternative options for the group to consider that would reduce the number of cattle slaughtered onfarm following bovine TBbreakdowns and provide support in circumstances where on-farm slaughter is unavoidable.”

we presented included providing greater flexibility around arranging routine testing to avoid block calving periods, and minimising the risk of onfarm slaughter cases due to medical withdrawal periods.

“However, the need to discuss the subject of alleviating the horrors of on-farm slaughter looks to remedy the symptom rather than address the root cause of the issue which is the abysmal track record of a long standing ineffective TB eradication programme in Wales.

The majority of these cases of on-farm slaughter were due to

During the three year period between 2020 and 2023, 2,337 cattle were slaughtered on-farm; 8 percent of the total number of cattle culled due to bovine TB in Wales during that period.

animals testing positive for TB whilst under medicated withdrawal periods, or when they were heavily pregnant or within the first week post-calving and were therefore deemed unfit for transport according to animal transport regulations.

“As such, and whilst we welcome the fact that Wales now has a dedicated TAG to provide expert advice on bovine TB eradication, the importance of allowing this group to be politically independent and to identify and explore a fully holistic approach to eradicating this disease cannot be overstated,” said Mrs Jenkins.

“Some of the options

Rwanda: A bird’s eye view of misguided schemes

AHOY there, my feathered friends and bipedal buddies! It’s your seaside commentator, Stephen Seagull, here to dive into the political currents swirling around our picturesque coast. This week, we’re flapping over the choppy waters of the Rwanda scheme, a policy initiative that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hopes might just secure his electoral nest against upcoming storms. But if we squawk back to the past, particularly to the pre-Brexit days of David Cameron, we might uncover why this plan could end up more adrift than a piece of driftwood at high tide.

Let’s stretch our wings and glide back to the times of David Cameron, before the big Brexit squall hit our shores. Cameron, much like a diligent gull scouring the beach for chips, worked tirelessly to renegotiate Britain’s EU membership deal. Yet, as any seasoned gull will tell you, effort doesn’t always mean a full belly! Voters aren’t looking for a politician who merely tries; they’re searching for leaders who deliver the goods. And Cameron, unfortunately, came back with a beak full of promises unkept. He presented an “emergency brake” on EU migration—a mechanism as effective as using a feather to stop a rolling crab pot. Promises of halting free movement were left flapping in the wind, much to the electorate’s dismay.

Fast forward to the present, and it appears Prime Minister Sunak is flapping his wings down the same gusty path with his Rwanda deportation plan. Sure, managing to get that first plane off the ground would be a feather in his cap, but it won’t stem the tide of boats

crossing the channel. The number of deportees Rwanda has agreed to take is but a mere drop in the ocean.

Our current PM seems

to be pecking at the immigration issue without truly daring to disrupt the established pecking order. As a gull who’s an expert at dodging both

waves and wayward beach umbrellas, I can tell you—that’s no way to secure a satisfying meal!

And the voters, sharpeyed and ever watchful,

are likely to judge harshly. They demand tangible results, not fleeting efforts that serve only to plump up GDP figures on paper.

Moreover, there’s a storm brewing on the horizon with Downing Street potentially aiming to make the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) the next scapegoat. But my fellow gulls, as any bird braving the coastal winds knows, engaging in a battle over arcane constitutional policy is akin to trying to feast on seaweed when what you really crave is a plump, juicy fish!

In addition, whispers from the corridors of power suggest that some in Downing Street had anticipated, perhaps even hoped, that the legislation would falter, allowing them to frame an election narrative around those obstructing their plans in the House of Lords rather than facing the electorate on the actual results of their policies.

So, as the political winds howl and the sea of public opinion roils, keep your eyes on the horizon. Will the Rwanda scheme be the wind beneath Sunak’s wings, or will it be the gale that sends him spiraling into the political brine? Time will tell, but one thing is certain—in the world of politics, as in the art of flight, it’s not merely the flapping that counts; it’s how gracefully you land.

Until next tide, keep your feathers fluffed, your wings ready, and your eyes on the prize (or fries)!

Squawk out, Stephen Seagull

Badger and the Void

BADGER was disobliging about Rishi Sunak last week.

Poor Rishi!

Poor, indescribably wealthy Rishi!

Badger’s approach is balanced. This week, he wants to address the vacuum at the heart of Welsh politics.

Step forward, Humphrey Vaughan Gething, The £200,000 Man.

You couldn’t even get Steve Austin a bionic thumb for that amount of money.

You can, however, bankroll a Labour Party election with it.

£200,000.

It’s not that £200,000 bought Mr Gething’s favour. That would be the most appalling libel. It would also be a reckless investment only a fool would make.

As successive Labour Cabinet ministers have repeatedly made clear, especially when things go Pete Tong, they exercise no control over what happens in Wales. They didn’t when Labour was in Westminster and haven’t since 2010.

And—and here is the important thing— when offered powers over trifling things like Wales’s water, they refused them. When they got long-asked-for powers to vary Wales’s income tax rates, they shied away from their use. With powers to reorganise health social care rationally and nationally, they’ve done zippidy-doodah.

That must be true, readers. Remember, Labour’s ministers in Cardiff Bay tell you they are powerless to do anything that counts for much. And they

wouldn’t lie.

If we take Labour ministers at their word (and why wouldn’t we?), they can’t do anything of consequence or effect. That’s why they’ve done bog all to stop Wales’s public services, infrastructure, and economy from vanishing around the u-bend for the last twenty-odd years.

Quod Erat Demonstrandum.

For all the truly consequential changes Labour ministers have made in Wales, they may as well have sat around a carbonneutral campfire and sung “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”.

Before anyone mentions The WellBeing of Future Generations Act, it has only added a whole new layer of pointless bureaucracy and cost to decision-making. As effective and well-

thought-out policies go, it’s the same as saying, “It’s nice to be nice.”

That is why we know Welsh Government Cabinet ministers are incorruptible. They are so powerless and inept that you’d be wasting your money.

Handing large sums of cash to a Welsh Government minister, hoping they would somehow return the favour by looking after your interests, would be about as much use as giving gold bars to your neighbour’s cat.

Therefore, we can be confident that, whyever else Mr Gething got £200,000 from the convicted criminal behind the Withyhedge landfill site, it wasn’t for favours he has no power to deliver; not that he would, anyway.

Q.E.D.

Even if we can’t rely on Labour ministers’

protestations of impotence, Getho the Hump is not a crook.

A crook would be smart enough not to declare a £200,000 donation to his leadership campaign. Vaughan Gething declared the donation; therefore, nothing is amiss.

Q.E.D.

And anyone suggesting declaring the £200,000 donation is some sort of double bluff needs to start taking their medsor at least watching Mr Gething in action (inaction?) to see how lunatic that proposition is. As masterminds go, Mr Gething is not even at the Monty Panesar on Celebrity Mastermind level.

Strip away the arrogance and preening self-regard, and Getho the Hump is little more than a barely-animated self-

serving empty talking suit.

There’s no substance. There’s no plan to tackle Wales’s problems. There’s a sucking vacuum where a sense of purpose should be.

The whole point of Vaughan Gething being First Minister is that Vaughan Gething is the First Minister.

It’s no use asking, “What’s the big idea?” That is the big idea.

When you think about it, Mr Gething’s rise to becoming First Minister is the story of devolution.

The number of voters who turned out was tiny, the result was very close, and - in the end - even those who supported either were disappointed. Increasingly, the point of devolution seems to be having it rather than doing anything with it.

As in 1997, so in 2024.

Badger remembers when he was very young, there was a comedy series (probably on repeat; Badger’s not that old) called “Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width”. It was about a pair of ill-matched tailors in business together with the usual “hilarious results”. Considering the great size of Mr Gething’s chutzpah compared to his political ideology, its title seems appropriate to his ministry and devolved governance in Wales.

Badger is a great fan of the late Sir Terry Pratchett.

In a book called Hogfather, Sir Terry has Death say: “Take the universe and grind it down to the finest powder and sieve it through the finest sieve

and then show me one atom of justice, one molecule of mercy. And yet,” Death waved a hand. And yet you act as if there is some ideal order in the world; as if there is some... some rightness in the universe by which it may be judged.”

Take Vaughan Gething’s ministerial career. Grind it down to the finest powder and pass it through the finest sieve. And then show Badger one atom of legislative achievement, one molecule of lasting improvement to the lives of the people of Wales.

Show Badger just one thing Vaughan Gething can say about which the First Minister can say: “I did this. I made this difference, and everyone benefitted.”

Show Badger anything involving him or the Welsh Government doing anything other than being present. Something more than windy aspirations and hollow words. Something real.

Crikey Moses, readers, Getho the Hump would be hardpressed to do so. Badger finds the task impossible.

As Badger pointed out above, Mr Gething’s rise to becoming Wales’s First Minister is, in many ways, the story of devolution in Wales.

Mr Gething travelled hopefully, and now he’s arrived. He’s not got an itinerary. He can’t find the currency exchange and is busy looking around Cardiff Airport for a taxi to the Great Pyramid of Giza.

But it’s the thought that counts.

H a T’S on

w‘The Simon & Garfunkel Story 2024’ hits Milford Haven

PREPARE to be swept away on a mesmerising journey through music history as Torch Theatre proudly announces the arrival of “The Simon & Garfunkel Story 2024” to Milford Haven!

This electrifying production, which has set stages ablaze with its sold-out shows in London’s illustrious West End, is now making its way to our doorstep for an unforgettable evening of nostalgia and pure musical magic.

Audiences around the world have been left spellbound by this international sensation, and now it’s our turn to experience the thrill firsthand. With breathtaking projection photos and original film footage, coupled with the dynamic energy of a live band, every iconic hit from the legendary duo is brought to life in spectacular fashion. From the timeless

melodies of “Mrs Robinson” and “Cecilia” to the soul-stirring harmonies of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Homeward Bound”, prepare to be transported to a place where music knows no bounds.

The praise for this extraordinary production has been nothing short of ecstatic. Elaine Paige of BBC Radio 2 hails it as “Fantastic”, while The Stage declares it “Authentic and Exciting”. It’s not just a show; it’s

an experience that will leave you exhilarated and craving for more.

So, mark your calendars for Saturday 29th June 2024, and secure your tickets now for what promises to be the hottest ticket in town. Don’t

miss out on this opportunity to witness history in the making, as Torch Theatre presents “The Simon & Garfunkel Story 2024” - an evening of pure musical enchantment that will leave you breathless and begging for an encore!

Merry Hell set to ignite Fishguard Folk Festival this spring

AS the vibrant strains of folk music echo through the air, anticipation mounts for a spectacular evening at the Fishguard Folk Festival on Saturday, May 25th, 2024.

Prepare to be enthralled as the multi-awardwinning sensation, Merry Hell, takes centre stage at Theatre Gwaun, promising an electrifying showcase of their infectious folk-rock fusion.

Hailing from the NorthWest of England, Merry Hell is not just a band; they’re a force of nature, born from the ashes of

the revered folk-punk ensemble, The Tansads. With an ensemble of eight talented musicians, Merry Hell has crafted a musical journey like no other, pulsating with raw energy and brimming with passion.

But it’s not just about the music – it’s about the message. In these turbulent times, Merry Hell stands as a beacon of hope and togetherness, their lyrics resonating with the shared experiences of humanity. With six critically acclaimed albums under their belt and a string of mesmerising live

performances, Merry Hell has captured the hearts of audiences far and wide, spreading their infectious optimism wherever they go.

Joining the ranks of Fishguard Folk Festival, Merry Hell promises an evening of pure musical magic, where every chord struck and every lyric sung will ignite the soul. So mark your calendars, gather your friends, and brace yourselves for an unforgettable night as Merry Hell sets the stage ablaze with their unbridled passion and unwavering spirit!

Step back into the 80s!

DUST off those legwarmers, tease up that hair, and get ready to groove, because the Lord Nelson Hotel is throwing it back to the neon-lit, shoulderpadded glory days with an unmissable 80s-themed Drag Night!

Get set to sashay down memory lane as DJ Jordan Marshall spins the ultimate retro beats, transporting you to a world where excess was the norm and glamour reigned supreme. It’s going to be like, totally tubular, folks!

Mark your calendars

because this blast from the past is happening on the 11th of May, 2024, from 6 pm until the clock strikes midnight.

Tickets are priced at a totally righteous £15, but snag them quick, because spaces are scarcer than a Madonna concert in ‘85!

Secure your spot with a £5 deposit and prepare to be dazzled by performances that’ll have you saying, “Like, totally rad, dude!”

And hey, big groups are totally welcome – tables can fit up to 12 guests! Plus, for those who want to go all out, drinks packages

are available for pre-order, ensuring your glass stays filled as you party like it’s 1989.

Let’s make this a night to remember, kittens! So grab your besties, your feather boas, and your fiercest attitude, and meet us at the Lord Nelson Hotel for an evening that’ll have you saying, “Gag me with a spoon – that was totally epic!”

To snag your spot at the hottest shindig in town, dial 01646 450445 faster than you can say, “I want my MTV!”

Get Ready to Rock: The Phonics

Prepare to be swept away on a tidal wave of electrifying music as Saundersfoot Harbour proudly presents The Phonics, the ultimate tribute band to the legendary Stereophonics!

On Friday, the 3rd of May 2024, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM BST, the air will be charged with anticipation as The Phonics ignite the stage with their dynamic performance.

Get ready to experience the full spectrum of Stereophonics’ iconic hits, from the classics that defined a generation to the fresh, pulsating sounds of their latest masterpiece,

“Keep the Village Alive.”

With their unparalleled energy and flawless execution, The Phonics will transport you through the heart and soul of Stereophonics’ music like never before.

From the anthemic rhythms of “Have a Nice Day” to the soul-stirring melodies of “Maybe Tomorrow,” “Dakota,” and “Handbags & Gladrags,” every note will reverberate with passion and nostalgia. But it doesn’t stop there! Dive deep into the treasure trove of album tracks cherished by the most devoted Stereophonics fans, and let The Phonics reignite your love for this

iconic band.

But the excitement doesn’t end with The Phonics alone! Joining them on this epic musical journey is none other than Dean Jones, the sensational Tom Jones Tribute Act, guaranteeing a night of double the star power and unforgettable performances.

For those who crave an immersive concert experience, this is your moment. Stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow fans, feel the pulse of the music reverberate through your bones, and lose yourself in the magic of live music like never before.

Justice Hyperdrama Pearl Jam dark Matter

ON their new album

‘Hyperdrama’, Justice, the French duo, delivers a captivating blend of maximalist electronic beats.

This marks their first album in eight years, following Daft Punk’s disbandment in 2021. Busy P, their label boss, praised the album, comparing it to their debut. Featuring collaborations with Tame Impala, Thundercat, and Miguel, the album debuted at Coachella with a visually stunning stage production.

‘Hyperdrama’ is a bold departure from their previous work, moving away from progressive sounds

towards a fusion of their debut style with pop influences. Singles like ‘One Night / All Night’ and ‘Generator’ showcase this evolution, with the latter standing out as a pinnacle moment. The album seamlessly weaves between vocal collaborators and pop structures, creating an engrossing listening experience.

While Justice’s previous albums excelled live, ‘Hyperdrama’ holds its own in the studio, showcasing their reverence for the album format. From its meticulously crafted artwork to its blend of style and substance, it’s one of the standout releases of 2024.

AFTER 33 years and 12 albums, Pearl Jam aficionados might assume they’ve got the band figured out.

From their dominating presence in the ‘90s rock scene with the 13-times platinum sensation ‘Ten’, to a lukewarm period in the ‘00s marked by lacklustre, blues-infused albums like ‘Binaural’ and the forgettable 2006 self-titled release, it seemed their prime had faded into history.

However, with ‘Dark Matter’ –their inaugural offering since 2020’s ‘Gigaton’ – Eddie Vedder and company demonstrate they’re still capable of springing surprises.

Right from the outset, the grunge maestros deliver some of their

most hard-hitting material in recent memory, launching into explosive tracks such as ‘Scared Of Fear’ and ‘React, Respond’, reminiscent of the classics found in ‘Vitalogy’ and ‘Vs’. This time, however, they’ve not only revisited their roots but merged them with decades of expertise. Nowhere is this fusion more evident than in the title track. Alongside providing the same electrifying burst of energy that initially propelled Pearl Jam into the spotlight, it also highlights the instrumental finesse of bassist Jeff Ament and lead guitarist Mike McCready. Here, the duo playfully manipulate dynamics and exhibit flashes of virtuosity rarely seen.

Bridgerton season 3 - Not long to wait

Dearest gentle readers, Season Three approaches. Here’s all you need to know about the recordbreaking Netflix drama.

Credit to the Bridgerton team; they excel at stoking anticipation. Season 3 debuts next month, accompanied by a cast tour to fuel excitement. The newly unveiled trailer hints at a burgeoning romance between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), exuding the trademark Bridgerton chemistry.

Penelope and Colin’s chemistry also dominates headlines during the Bridgerton World Tour, which commenced in Australia over the weekend.

Coughlan shared red carpet snapshots on Instagram, expressing her excitement for the tour’s start: “So excited to kick off the Bridgerton World Tour in Australia! This moment has been literal years in the

making. I’m thrilled we can finally start sharing Season 3 with you all.”

Netflix unveiled fresh images of the remaining cast, featuring Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton, previously portrayed by Ruby Stokes. In one image, she stands alongside Penelope at a ball. The trailer hints at potential discord between Penelope and Francesca’s older sister, Eloise (Claudia Jessie), as Penelope grows closer to Francesca’s brother. Will Francesca become Penelope’s confidante?

Penelope may indeed require support, especially with the introduction of new character Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), absent from Julia Quinn’s novels. His impact on the storyline remains uncertain, but his proximity to Penelope appears significant, as suggested by promotional materials. However, any attempt to disrupt Penelope and Colin’s relationship may face challenges,

given the anticipated intensity between them. Coughlan disclosed a unique clause in her Bridgerton contract, ensuring her parents receive a PG version of the series due to her conservative upbringing.

Regrettably, one Bridgerton member won’t return, as Phoebe Dynevor confirmed her departure, albeit not ruling out a potential return as Daphne in subsequent seasons.

The third instalment will be split into two parts. Part 1, comprising four episodes, will premiere on Netflix on Thursday 16th May 2024, followed by Part 2 on Thursday 13th June.

This release model mirrors that of other Netflix hits like The Witcher and Stranger Things.

In anticipation of the release date announcement, Netflix unveiled a video highlighting the fervent anticipation for the upcoming instalment. Additionally, the joyous news is that Bridgerton

has been renewed not only for Season 3 but also for Season 4!

Netflix announced the renewal in April 2021, declaring, “BREAKING NEWS FROM THE TON.

Bridgerton is returning for seasons three AND four!”

Chris Van Dusen, the show’s creator, will not return as showrunner for the forthcoming seasons, passing the baton to Jess Brownell for Season 3.

Reflecting on his departure, Van Dusen remarked, “Bridgerton will always have a special place in my heart, and I think I achieved what I set out to do. But ultimately, it was time for me to move on and hopefully create magic elsewhere in the future.”

Adjoa Andoh, who portrays Lady Danbury, commended both writers, expressing confidence in Brownell’s ability to maintain the show’s captivating storytelling in the Shondaland style.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Henry Cavill steps into the shoes of the real-life inspiration behind James Bond in a captivating World War II escapade that hits all the right notes.

Mark Twain once quipped, “If you don’t fancy the latest Guy Ritchie flick, just bide your time.” And true to form, there’s always another one around the corner. Ritchie, renowned for his snappy ensemble action and crime capers like “Snatch” and “Man From U.N.C.L.E.”, seems to have an endless well of stories featuring tough guys with a penchant for witty banter. With each release, his repertoire resembles a well-oiled machine humming along.

In his latest offering, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” Ritchie delivers a gripping tale of men on a mission, based on the daring exploits of “Operation Postmaster” during WWII. At the helm is Henry Cavill, portraying Gus MarchPhillipps, purportedly the reallife figure who inspired James Bond. Cavill, fresh off his Bond-

esque role in Matthew Vaughn’s “Argylle,” exudes charm and swagger, rubbing shoulders with the likes of “M” (Cary Elwes) and Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox).

Gus assembles a ragtag team, including a cunning explosives expert (Henry Golding), a mastermind schemer (Alex Pettyfer), a steadfast sailor (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), and a jovial yet lethal figure named Andres Lassen (Alan Ritchson). Their mission? To sabotage a German cargo ship carrying vital supplies, a task fraught with danger as it’s unofficial and fraught with peril from both enemy forces and their own countrymen.

Meanwhile, two undercover agents, Mr. Heron (Babs Olusanmokun) and Marjorie Stewart (Eiza González), infiltrate Fernando Po, setting the stage for the audacious raid. As expected in tales of daring deeds, plans go awry, forcing our heroes to think on their feet to salvage the situation.

Ritchie, known for his affinity for British icons like Sherlock Holmes and King Arthur, now

adds Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear) and a Bond-esque character to his roster. “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” embodies Ritchie’s trademark blend of largerthan-life action and cheeky camaraderie, striking a fine balance between the gravity of war and the thrill of watching charismatic heroes dispatch villains with aplomb.

Cavill, sporting a dashing moustache, revels in his role, while Ritchson embodies the essence of a born action star. The ensemble cast shares a palpable chemistry, making the film a joyous romp amidst the chaos of wartime.

Yet, amidst the action, it’s Christopher Benstead’s evocative score that steals the show, reminiscent of Ennio Morricone’s work, infusing the film with a delightful sense of adventure. Make no mistake, this isn’t a sombre war drama; it’s a rollicking ride that embraces sensationalism while honouring its historical roots.

Kris Marshall

Beyond Paradise BBC1, 8pm

Humphrey and Martha's wedding day finally arrives, with the lavish affair organised by Anne - whose plans feel far grander than anything either of them actually wanted. Meanwhile, there's no rest for the Shipton Abbott team members who have to deal with the theft of a valuable museum piece and a nefarious pair of cyber criminals before they can join in the celebrations.

Bettany Hughes

Bettany Hughes’ Treasures of the World Channel 4, 6.50pm

The engaging historian, author and broadcaster travels to Bulgaria where she demonstrates its incredible mosaic of cultures. There’s a 6,000-year-old hoard of gold treasure to be found in Varna by the Black Seam while in the valley of the Thracian Kings she visits a 2,300-year-old tomb which still has its vibrant, colourful frescos intact.

Have I Got News for You. Martin Lewis hosts the quiz, with guests Ignacio Lopez and Steph McGovern.

9.30 Mammoth. Tony tries to make up for lost time. (R)

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Avoidance. Claire forces Jonathan to lie to her parents.

11.10 Dinosaur. Nina goes on her first date with Lee. (R)

11.35 Dinosaur. The girls head to Rothesay for Evie’s hen do. (R)

12.05 Film: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. (1994) 1.45 BBC News.

6.00 Breakfast. 10.00 Saturday Kitchen Live. 11.30 Mary Berry’s Simple Comforts. (R) 12.00 Live Women’s Six Nations. Wales v Italy (Kick-off 12.15pm). Coverage of the match from the final round of fixtures, which takes place at Principality Stadium. 2.20 Match of the Day Classics. (R) 4.00 BBC News. 4.10 BBC Wales Today; Weather. 4.20 Live Women’s Six Nations. France v England (Kick-off 4.45pm). Coverage of the final match of the championship, held at Stade Chaban Delmas in Bordeaux.

7.00 Blankety Blank. With Jason Watkins, Layton Williams, Anthea Turner, Rob Beckett, Nadia Jae and Jill Scott. (R)

7.35 Pointless Celebrities. Gavin Ramjaun, Sally Magnusson, Pete Wicks, Vicky Pattison, Jay Rayner, Thomasina Miers, Remel London and London Hughes take part.

8.25 Casualty. A new exposé about Holby Hospital has shaken the team, while Dylan is cracking down on Patrick, the pressure is building on Siobhan, and Cam’s doubts are creeping in.

9.15 Traces. Another deadly explosion occurs.

10.00 BBC News; Weather.

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

11.45 Film: Greta. (2018) Thriller, starring Isabelle Huppert.

1.20 Weather for the Week Ahead.

1.25 BBC News.

6.15 Homes Under the Hammer. (R) 7.15 The Bidding Room. (R)

8.00 Sign Zone: Antiques Roadshow. (R) 9.00 BBC News.

10.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the morning session on day seven.

12.00 BBC News. 1.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the afternoon session on day seven.

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Radzi Chinyanganya, Janet Ellis, Darren Harriott and Suzi Ruffell take part. (R)

6.30 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. Michael Portillo explores the pretty town of Faversham.

7.00 Weatherman Walking. Derek Brockway heads for the hills above Aberdyfi. (R)

7.15 Scrum V Live. Scarlets v Sharks (Kick-off 7.35pm).

9.30 QI XL. Sandi Toksvig hosts an underground and underwater episode of QI. (R)

10.15 Coast. (R)

10.30 Newsnight.

11.00 Weather.

11.05 Snooker: World Championship Highlights.

11.55 Snooker: World Championship Extra.

1.55 Sign Zone: This Town. (R)

2.55 Smart Motorways: When Technology Fails – Panorama. (R)

3.25 Andi Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts. (R) 4.25 This Is BBC Two.

6.15 Children’s Programmes. 9.00 Gardeners’ World. (R) 10.00

Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the morning session on day eight. 12.00 Football Focus.

1.00 BBC News; Weather. 1.15

Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the afternoon session on day eight, featuring the start of a second-round match and the conclusion of another. 4.00 Coast.

(R) 4.25 Final Score. 5.15 Flog It!

(R)

6.00 Gardeners’ World. Adam Frost continues to develop his new woodland border.

(R)

7.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the evening session on day eight.

8.25 Neil Diamond at the BBC. The pick of the singer’s performances for the broadcaster over the decades. (R)

9.25 Neil Diamond: Solitary Man. The life and career of the American singersongwriter. (R)

10.25 In Concert: Neil Diamond. The singer-songwriter performs a selection of hits.

(R)

11.05 Neil Diamond: Electric Prom. The singer-songwriter performs at London’s Roundhouse in 2010. (R)

12.10 Neil Diamond: Radio 2 in Concert. (R) 12.35 Snooker: World Championship Highlights. 1.25

Snooker: World Championship Extra. 3.25 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00

Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

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

ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

2.00 Riddiculous. (R) 3.00

Winning Combination. (R) 4.00

Tipping Point. (R) 5.00 The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.00 Coast & Country. Sean Fletcher and Ruth Dodsworth explore the stunning Elan Valley.

7.30 Emmerdale. Kim confronts Will about his lies.

8.00 Coronation Street. Roy summons Carla to discuss Bobby’s statement, Rowan encourages Leanne to unburden herself of negativity, and Tim forces Steve to arrange a date.

9.00 Beat the Chasers – Celebrity Special. With Rory Bremner, Dana, Carlton Cole and Claire Richards. (R)

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 The Twelve. Claire’s boarding school mistress takes the stand.

11.45 Sorry, I Didn’t Know. The return of the panel show, hosted by Jimmy Akingbola. (R)

12.10 Shop on TV. 3.00 The Twelve. (R) 4.00 Unwind. 5.10

Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show. (R)

6.00 Love Your Garden. (R) 6.30

Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. (R) 8.25 Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show. 9.25 ITV News.

9.30 James Martin’s Saturday Morning. 11.40 Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen. 12.45 James Martin’s French Adventure. (R)

1.15 ITV News; Weather. 1.30 ITV

Racing: Live from Sandown. Coverage from Sandown Park, Leicester, and Haydock Park. 4.00

For the Love of Dogs with Alison Hammond. (R) 4.30 Ninja Warrior

UK: Race for Glory. More competitors take on the obstacle course. (R) 5.30 ITV News; Weather. 5.45 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

6.00 In for a Penny. Stephen Mulhern sets challenges to members of the public.

6.30 In with a Shout. The Boyle family from Middlesbrough and the Kellys from Wales compete.

7.30 Britain’s Got Talent. More performers take to the stage.

8.50 The 1% Club. Quiz, hosted by Lee Mack.

9.50 ITV News; Weather.

10.10 TikTok: Murder Gone Viral. An American influencer whose body was found in a side road. Last in the series. (R)

11.05 English Football League Highlights. Action from the latest fixtures.

12.25 Shop on TV. 3.00 Next Level

Chef (USA). (R) 3.45 Unwind. 5.05 Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Codi Pac. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Y Sîn. (R) 1.30 Cegin Bryn. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Côr Cymru 2024: Corau Sioe Cymsg. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R) 6.00 Teulu Shadog: Tymhorau’r Flwyddyn. (R) 6.30 Garddio a Mwy. (R) 7.00 Heno. 7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Hen Dy Newydd. (R) 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Am Dro! (R) 10.00 Welsh Whisperer – Ni’n Teithio Nawr! (R) 10.30 Creisis. (R) 11.35 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R) 6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 Work on the Wild Side. (R) 12.00 Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. (R) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 Four in a Bed. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News. 7.30 Unreported World. 8.00 Bill Bailey’s Australian Adventure. (R) 9.00 Gogglebox. 10.00 Late Night Lycett. 11.05 Film: American Pie: Reunion. (2012) 1.10 Film: X. (2022) 2.55

Car S.O.S. (R) 3.45-6.00 Come Dine with Me Paralympics Special.

6.00 Cyw. (R) 8.00 Stwnsh

Sadwrn: Oi! Osgar. 8.05 Prys a’r Pryfed. (R) 8.20 Byd Rwtsh Dai Potsh. (R) 8.30 Hei Hanes! (R) 8.50 Lego DREAMZzz. (R) 9.15

Cic. (R) 9.35 Mabinogi-ogi. (R)

10.00 Mike Phillips: Croeso Dubai. (R) 11.00 Codi Pac. (R) 11.30 Garddio a Mwy. (R) 11.55

Teulu Shadog: Tymhorau’r Flwyddyn. (R) 12.25 Symud Gymru. (R) 1.20 Richard Holt: Yr Academi Felys. (R) 1.45 Clwb Rygbi. Bulls v Ospreys (Kick-off 2.00pm). 4.00 Y ’Sgubor Flodau. (R) 5.00 Ralïo+. (R) 5.30 Stori’r Iaith. (R) 6.30 Cefn Gwlad. (R) 7.30 Newyddion a Chwaraeon. 7.45 Clwb Rygbi. 10.00 Wil ac Aeron: Cowbois Tecsas. (R) 11.00 Hyd y Pwrs. (R) 11.35 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.00 The King of Queens. (R) 6.45 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 7.35 The Simpsons. (R) 11.35 Film: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. (2018) 1.50 Four in a Bed. (R) 4.20 Worst House on the Street. (R) 5.25 The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer. (R) 6.20 Channel 4 News. 6.50 Bettany Hughes’ Treasures of the World. 7.50 Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker. 8.50 Abba: 50 Years of Pop. 10.20 Film: Book Club. (2018) 12.15 Film: Event Horizon. (1997) 1.50 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell. (R) 2.40 Couples Come Dine with Me. (R) 3.35 The Simpsons. (R) 4.00-6.00 Hollyoaks Omnibus. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45

Friends. (R) 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away.

(R) 2.15 Film: Happy Birthday Murder. (2021) 4.00 BargainLoving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5.

6.00 Motorhoming with Merton & Webster. Paul and Suki visit Norfolk for the final leg of their UK tour. Last in the series. (R) 6.55 5 News Update.

7.00 Phone Scams: Don’t Get Caught Out! How to fight back against fake text scammers. (R)

7.55 5 News Update.

8.00 Secret Spitfires: How Britain Won the War. A look into the secret history of the Spitfire aircraft. (R)

9.00 Michael Portillo’s Long Weekends. Four decades after his first visit, the presenter visits Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and city of a hundred spires.

10.30 Film: Sudden Impact. (1983) Crime thriller sequel, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.

12.50 Entertainment News. 1.00

PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.00

Nightmare Tenants Revisit. 3.50

Everest: Conquering the Death Zone. (R) 4.40 House Busters. (R)

5.05 House Doctor. (R) 5.30

Entertainment News. 5.40 Fireman

Sam. (R) 5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

6.00 Milkshake! 8.50 SpongeBob SquarePants. (R) 9.00 Entertainment News. 9.10 22 Kids & Counting. (R) 12.00 Dogs

Behaving (Very) Badly. (R) 2.55

Our Yorkshire Farm. (R) 4.55

Reuben: Life in the Dales. (R) 5.55 5 News Weekend.

6.00 Portillo’s Andalucia. Michael Portillo explores the region of Andalucia in southern Spain. (R) 6.50 Michael Palin in Nigeria. Michael climbs Dala Hill in the of city of Kano in northern Nigeria. (R) 7.50 Secrets of the Royal Palaces. Behind-the-scenes tales of Tudor residences, with architectural historian Jonathan Foyle tracing the story of Hampton Court Palace's creation.

8.50 Inside Windsor Castle. New series. Xand Van Tulleken, JJ Chalmers and Raksha Dave examine the history of the castle and uncover how the building itself has changed and adapted with the times.

9.50 Ronnie Corbett: 30 Funniest Moments. (R) 11.45 Bradley Walsh: My Comedy Heroes. The actor celebrates his favourite comedy, beginning with sitcoms. (R)

1.05 PlayOJO Live Casino Show.

3.05 King’s Cross Station: Then & Now. (R) 3.55 A Yorkshire Farm.

(R) 4.45 House Busters. (R) 5.10

House Doctor. (R) 5.35 Entertainment News. 5.40 Fireman Sam. (R) 5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

BBC Four 7.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the evening session on day seven. 9.00

TOTP: 1984 9.30 TOTP: 1980

10.00 David Byrne: BBC Four Sessions 11.00 Talking Heads Talking Video 11.30 New York Rock at the BBC

ITV2

4.00 Dawson’s Creek 5.00 Dress to Impress 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase 7.00 Family Fortunes 8.00 Bob’s Burgers 9.00 Film: 21 Jump Street (2012) 11.15 Family Guy

ITV3

3.45 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 5.55 Heartbeat 8.00 Doc Martin 9.00 Shetland 11.35 Lewis

ITV4

4.00 The Best of the 70s 4.15 The Sweeney 5.25 River Monsters 5.55 Monster Carp 7.55 The Motorbike Show 9.00 Auf Wiedersehen, Pet 10.05 All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite

E4

4.00 Young Sheldon 5.00 The Big Bang Theory 7.00 Hollyoaks 7.30 Modern Family 8.00 Taskmaster Bleeped 9.00 Film: War of the Worlds (2005) Sci-fi thriller, starring Tom Cruise. 11.20 Naked Attraction Film4

3.25 Ice

BBC Four 7.00 Coast 7.25 Rick Stein’s Long Weekends 8.25 Snooker: The World Championship. Further coverage of the evening session on day eight. 10.00 Inspector Montalbano: The Catalanotti Method 11.55 Ronnie’s: Ronnie Scott and His World Famous Jazz Club

ITV2

4.50 Film: Corpse Bride (2005)

6.25 Film: Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Rosario Dawson

Dopesick BBC2, 10pm

Dopesick is a drama based on Beth Macy’s book

Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America. Despite being inspired by real events, many of the characters are fictional or composites of several real people, while the story focuses on opioid addiction and its impact on several groups, as well as the conflict of interest between a major pharmaceutical company and various government agencies.

Jamie Oliver

Jamie Cooks Spring Channel 4, 8pm

It may not seem like it when you look out of the window or step outside, but it’s spring. For Jamie Oliver it is one of his favourite times of the year, and so it’s fitting that he is kicking off his new series celebrating seasonal and sustainable ingredients, in spring. In tonight’s first edition, the chef picks some rhubarb from the garden and celebrates its tart tanginess by making a lipsmacking sauce for marinated pork belly.

(R) 5.05 Weatherman

Walking. (R) 5.35 BBC News. 5.50 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

6.00 Countryfile. Sean Fletcher discovers how Rutland Water has transformed the area into a wildlife haven and Charlotte Smith investigates the increasing number of ticks in the countryside.

7.00 Mammals. The different ways mammals survive the hottest places on earth.

8.00 Antiques Roadshow. Fiona Bruce presents the show from the Ulster Folk Museum just outside Belfast. (R)

9.00 This Town. The pressures that formed the band threaten to destroy it. Last in the series.

10.00 BBC News; Weather.

10.25 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.30 Match of the Day 2. The day’s Premier League action.

11.40 Scrum V. A review of the latest Women’s Six Nations and United Rugby Championship matches. (R)

12.40 The Women’s Football Show.

1.25 BBC News.

6.00 Breakfast. 9.30 Morning Live. 10.45 Big Little Crimes. (R) 11.15 Homes Under the Hammer. (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt. 1.00 BBC News at One; Weather. 1.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather. 1.45 Doctors. 2.15 Money for Nothing. (R) 3.00 Escape to the Country.

3.45 Garden Rescue. 4.30 Bridge of Lies. (R) 5.15 Pointless. 6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather.

6.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

7.00 The One Show. Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas bring you the stories that matter.

7.30 EastEnders. Bianca returns to the square.

8.00 Panorama. Current affairs report.

8.30 One Man and His Island –Our Lives. The ex-aircraft engineer, now the warden of a remote island between England and Wales. (R)

9.00 Blue Lights. As tensions grow in Mount Eden, a response call forces Stevie to confront his past.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Dark Land: Hunting the Killers. Reinvestigating some of the country’s most shocking unsolved murders. (R)

11.35 Have I Got a Bit More News for You. Martin Lewis hosts the quiz, with guests Ignacio Lopez and Steph McGovern. (R)

12.20 Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star. (R) 1.20 BBC News.

6.35 Countryfile. (R) 7.30

Breakfast. 9.00 Beechgrove Garden. 9.30 Landward. 10.00

Snooker: The World Championship.

Coverage of the morning session on day nine. 12.15 MOTD Live: Women’s Super League. Everton v Arsenal (Kick-off 12.30pm). 2.35

Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the afternoon session on day nine.

6.00 Scrum V. A review of the latest Women’s Six Nations and United Rugby Championship matches.

7.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the evening session on day nine.

8.00 Greece with Simon Reeve. Part two of two. Simon travels into the mountainous north of the country. (R)

9.00 Super Telescope: Mission to the Edge of the Universe. As NASA releases the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, this film tells the inside story of the instrument's construction. (R)

10.00 Dopesick. New series. Factbased drama, starring Michael Keaton.

11.00 Dopesick. The criminal investigation into OxyContin begins.

12.00 Snooker: World Championship Highlights. 12.50

Snooker: World Championship

Extra. 2.50 Sign Zone: Blue Lights. (R) 3.50 Question Time. (R) 4.50

This Is BBC Two.

6.30 Bargain Hunt. (R) 7.15 Money for Nothing. (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: MasterChef. (R) 9.00 BBC News.

12.15 Politics Live. 1.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the afternoon session on day 10.

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Former winners Tim Key, Jamie Laing, Sunetra Sarker and Laura Whitmore compete. (R)

6.30 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. Michael Portillo embarks on a trip along the coast of the east of England.

7.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the evening session on day 10.

8.00 Remarkable Places to Eat. Chris Bavin takes Fred Sirieix on a culinary venture around the New Forest. (R)

9.00 Pompeii: The New Dig. The archaeologists complete the excavations of a villa, a bakery and a laundry. Last in the series.

10.00 Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. (R)

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 Snooker: World Championship Highlights. Action from day 10.

12.05 Snooker: World Championship Extra. 2.05 Sign Zone: Countryfile. (R) 3.00 Rick Stein’s Food Stories. (R) 3.30 How To with John Wilson. (R) 4.30 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 James Martin’s Spanish Adventure. (R)

6.50 Film: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. (2013) 8.25 Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show. 9.25 ITV News. 9.30 Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. 11.30 Love Your Garden. (R) 12.05 ITV News; Weather. 12.25 Film: 3 Men and a Little Lady. (1990) 2.30 Live Gallagher Premiership Rugby Union. Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs (Kick-off 3.00pm). 5.30 The Chase Celebrity Special. (R)

6.30 ITV News; Weather.

6.45 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

7.00 Backstage. With Tate Modern curator Osei Bonsu.

7.30 Coast & Country. Sean Fletcher and Ruth Dodsworth explore the Elan Valley. (R)

8.00 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Jeremy Clarkson gives six new contestants the chance to win a fortune. (R) 9.00 Red Eye. Nolan panics as he fears he is being framed.

10.05 ITV News; Weather.

10.15 Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific. (R) 11.10 Gallagher Premiership Rugby Union Highlights. A look back at all the action from matchweek 16. 12.10 English Football League Highlights. (R) 1.30 Shop on TV. 3.00 Paul O’Grady’s Great Elephant Adventure. (R) 3.50 Unwind. 5.05 Fletchers’ Family Farm. (R)

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00

Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

12.30 Loose Women. 1.30 ITV

Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55

ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

2.00 Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club. 3.00 Winning Combination. (R) 4.00 Tipping Point. (R) 5.00

The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. Manpreet misfires. Things are bad between Marlon and Rhona. Charity pulls Mack up over his attitude.

8.00 Coronation Street. An unwelcome surprise awaits Nina on a visit to Roy in prison, Paul gets carried away during Amy’s radio interview, and Steve attracts some interest on his new dating app.

9.00 Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific. The actor explores Micronesia. Last in the series.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 Sharp End. Political discussion.

11.40 All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite. Hard-hitting action from the world of All Elite Wrestling. (R)

1.20 Shop on TV. 3.00 Glitter: The Popstar Paedophile. (R) 4.15

Unwind. 5.30 Made in Britain. (R)

10.00 When Evil Came to Rochdale. Documentary exploring cases of allegations of satanic ritual abuse of children.

11.30 5 Mistakes That Caught a Killer. Damning errors made by Ian Huntley. (R) 12.25 5 Mistakes That Caught a Killer. (R) 1.15 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.15 Farrow & Ball: Secrets of the Posh Paint Factory. (R) 4.05 Britain’s Greatest Bridges. (R) 4.50 House Busters. (R) 5.20 House Doctor. (R) 5.45 Entertainment News. 5.50 Fireman Sam. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 8.50 Penblwyddi Cyw. 9.00 Waliau’n Siarad. (R) 10.00 Garddio a Mwy. (R) 10.30 Arctig Gwyllt Iolo Williams. (R) 11.30 Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol. (R) 12.00 Y Sîn. (R) 12.35 Uchafbwyntiau Farsiti 2024. (R) 1.35 Teulu Shadog: Tymhorau’r Flwyddyn. (R) 2.10 Pobol y Cwm Omnibws. 3.15 Clwb Rygbi. 5.00 Sgorio. The New Saints v Connah’s Quay Nomads (Kick-off 5.25pm). 7.45 Newyddion a Chwaraeon. 8.00 Côr Cymru. The equal voice category in this year’s choral competition from Aberystwyth. 9.00 Creisis. 10.00 Ar Brawf. (R) 11.00 Pobol y Penwythnos. (R) 11.35 Diwedd. Channel 4: 6.00 The King of Queens. (R) 6.45 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 8.00 The Simpsons. (R) 9.30 Sunday Brunch. 12.30 The Simpsons. (R) 2.00 Kirstie and Phil’s Love It or List It: Brilliant Builds. (R) 2.30 Film: First Knight. (1995) 5.05 A Place in the Sun. (R) 5.35 Key to a Fortune. 6.30 Channel 4 News. 7.00 Secrets of the Supermarket Own-Brands. (R) 8.00 The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer. (R) 9.00 The Piano. 10.00 Gogglebox. (R) 11.05 Film: George Michael: Portrait of an Artist. (2023) (R) 1.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA. (R) 1.50 Come Dine with Me. (R) 4.05 Grand Designs. (R) 5.00 Location, Location, Location. (R) 5.55-6.10 Sunday Brunch Best Bits. (R) 6.00 Milkshake!: 8.50 SpongeBob SquarePants. (R) 9.00 Entertainment News. 9.05 The Yorkshire Vet. (R) 9.35 Cruising with Jane McDonald. (R) 12.35 Inside Hampton Court Palace. (R) 2.35 A Victorian Farm Through Time. (R) 3.35 Michael Portillo’s Long Weekends. (R) 5.00 When Classic Comedy Goes Horribly Wrong. 6.55 5 News Weekend. 7.00 The Bailiffs. A woman who owes almost £4,000 in rent. (R) 8.00 Coastguard: Search & Rescue SOS. New series. Return of the documentary following the work of Maritime and Coastguard Agency teams. 9.00 Inside the Hilton: Park Lane. The new lobby finally opens. Last in the series.

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Dim Byd i’w Wisgo. (R) 1.00 Dan Do. (R) 1.30

Welsh Whisperer – Ni’n Teithio Nawr! (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05

Alun, Chris a Kiri yn Seland Newydd. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. 6.00 Sain Ffagan. (R) 6.30 Rownd a Rownd. (R) 7.00 Heno. 7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Cysgu O Gwmpas. 8.25 Garddio a Mwy. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Ffermio. 10.00 Sgwrs Dan y Lloer. (R) 10.45 Iaith ar Daith. (R) 11.50 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R) 6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 Work on the Wild Side. (R) 12.00

Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. 4.00 Narrow Escapes. 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 Four in a Bed. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00

Channel 4 News. 8.00 Jamie Cooks Spring. 9.00 Miriam: Death of a Reality Star. 10.00 Murder Case: The Digital Detectives. 11.05 Night Coppers. (R) 12.05 Surviving R Kelly. 1.00 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell. (R) 1.50 The Simpsons. (R) 2.40 Couples Come Dine with Me. (R) 3.35 Grand Designs Australia.

BBC Four

7.00 Rick Stein’s Long Weekends

8.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Further coverage of the evening session on day nine. 10.00 Davis v Taylor: The ’85 Black Ball Final 11.00 Alex Higgins: The People’s Champion

ITV2

3.35 Film: Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) 5.20 Film: Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012) 7.05 Film: Legally Blonde (2001) 9.00 Family Guy 11.30 American Dad!

ITV3

2.45 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 7.00

Vera 9.00 Long Lost Family 10.00 DCI Banks 11.55 Agatha Christie’s Poirot

ITV4

10.40 Live British Touring Car Championship. Coverage of the first round of the season at Donington Park. 6.45 The Best of the 80s 6.55 Monster Carp 8.00 Gallagher Premiership Rugby Union Highlights 9.00 Film: Hellboy (2004) 11.25 River Monsters E4 6.50 Film: The Devil Wears Prada (2006) 9.00 Film: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) 11.00

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Friends. (R) 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15 Film: A Mother’s Secret. (2020) 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5. 6.00 Police Interceptors. Jo and Mike track down a VW Golf involved in a robbery. (R) 6.55 5 News Update. 7.00 Traffic Cops. Officers are out in force protecting lorry drivers and their cargoes. (R) 7.55 5 News Update.

8.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders. PCs Jan Simlesa and Jamie Leslie pull over a top of the range BMW and smell alcohol on the driver’s breath, and the roadside breathalyser test reveals a shocking result.

9.00 Inside the Force. PC Adam Woodland arrives at an estate where one woman is suspected of hitting her daughter, and a bloodied man is found stumbling in the road.

10.00 Police Code Zero: Officer Under Attack. A PC who was attacked by a mugger. (R)

11.05 Film: The Commuter. (2018) Thriller, starring Liam Neeson. 1.10 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.10 Greatest Ever Movie Blunders. (R) 4.45 House Busters. (R) 5.10 House Doctor. (R) 5.35 Entertainment News. 5.45 Fireman Sam. (R)

BBC Four 7.00 Great Australian Railway Journeys 8.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Further coverage of the evening session on day 10. 10.00 Civilisation: A Personal View by Kenneth Clark 11.40 Faith Ringgold: Tell It Like It Is –Imagine.. ITV2

Michael Palin

Michael Palin in Nigeria

Channel 5, 9pm

Michael starts the final part of his journey hurtling down one of Nigeria’s notoriously dangerous roads, to the historic city of Benin. Once there, he notices a statue of British soldiers being massacred by a Benin Warrior in the 1897 ‘Raid on Benin’, when Britain’s forces burnt down the city. The next day, after a lunch of traditional Jollof rice, he heads into the vast Niger Delta.

Ben Miller

Professor T ITV, 9pm

A woman is found dead at the scene of a car crash but when it's discovered it wasn't the accident that killed her the Professor investigates, only to find some uncomfortable resemblances to his own situation. Lisa and Dan's relationship progresses to the next level as she prepares to transfer to another force. Crime drama, starring Ben Miller, Emma Naomi and Ben Onwukwe.

6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather.

6.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

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

7.30 EastEnders. Honey encourages Billy to speak to his father.

8.00 Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr: The Final. In the grand final, the contestants redesign holiday lodges in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. Last in the series.

9.00 Tree on a Hill. Clive returns determined to honour his promise to Glyn. Last in the series.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Slammed: The Eighties. Charting the most turbulent decade in Welsh rugby history. (R)

11.40 Ibiza: Secrets of the Party Island. Zara McDermott explores the island’s drugs trade. (R)

12.25 Ibiza: Secrets of the Party Island. (R) 1.10 BBC News.

6.30 Bargain Hunt. (R) 7.15 Garden Rescue. (R) 8.00 Sign

Zone: MasterChef. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 10.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the morning session on day 11. 12.15 Politics Live. 1.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the afternoon session on day 11.

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Previous winners Sunetra Sarker, Laura Whitmore, Tim Key and Jamie Laing compete. (R)

6.30 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. Michael Portillo travels from Woodbridge to Southwold.

7.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the evening session on day 11.

8.00 Saving Lives at Sea. Port Isaac’s crew race to the rescue of a female casualty with a spinal injury.

9.00 MasterChef. Ten familiar faces return in Comeback Week. (R)

10.00 QI. With Zoe Lyons, Dan Tiernan, Josh Widdicombe and Alan Davies. (R)

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 First Minister’s Questions. The FM answers questions from the Senedd.

12.15 Snooker: World Championship Extra. 2.05 Sign

Zone: Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr. (R) 3.05 Pompeii: The New Dig. (R) 4.05 This Is BBC Two.

6.30 Escape to the Country. (R)

7.15 Garden Rescue. (R) 8.00 Sign

Zone: See Hear. 8.30 MasterChef. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 10.00

Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the morning session on day 12. 11.15 Politics Live. 1.00

Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the afternoon session on day 12.

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Former winners Tim Key, Jamie Laing, Sunetra Sarker and Laura Whitmore compete. (R)

6.30 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. Michael Portillo travels from Lowestoft to Great Yarmouth.

for the premiere of The Spy Who Loved Me, a set of military bagpipes, a pair of Jazz musician statues and a locket.

9.00 Race Across the World. The teams travel 1,400km through Thailand to Mae Sariang.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

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

11.10 Boxing, Belief and Me. Following Sikh amateur boxer Bupinder Singh. (R)

12.10 Match of the Day Top 10.

12.40 Pointless Celebrities. (R)

1.35 BBC News.

7.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the evening session on day 12.

8.00 Andi Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts. Andi attempts to help make Merthyr Tydfil’s first ever Pride a success.

9.00 Surgeons: At the Edge of Life. Surgeons operate on a patient involved in a motorcycle accident. Last in the series.

10.00 Mammoth.

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 Snooker: World Championship Highlights.

12.05 Snooker: World Championship Extra. 2.05 Sign

Zone: See Hear. (R) 2.35 Dragons’

Den. (R) 3.35 Murder, They Hope. (R) 4.20 This Is BBC Two.

6.00 Good Morning Britain.

9.00 Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning. 12.30 Loose Women.

1.30 ITV Lunchtime News; Weather. 1.55 ITV News

Cymru Wales; Weather.

2.00 Riddiculous. (R) 3.00

Winning Combination. (R)

4.00 Tipping Point. (R) 5.00

The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. Nicola has a new distraction.

8.00 For the Love of Dogs with Alison Hammond. Alison helps an ill pug on his road to recovery.

8.30 Changing Ends. Alan finds joy in acting.

9.00 Stalking: State of Fear. Sharing the stories of women who live in fear of men stalking them.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 On Assignment. James Mates meets Russian opposition activists in Lithuania.

11.15 Instagram’s Worst Con Artist. Part one of two. Documentary examining the rise of influencer Belle Gibson. (R)

12.10 Shop on TV. 3.00 Chris

Kamara: Lost for Words. (R) 3.50

Unwind. 5.05 Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. (R)

6.00 Good Morning Britain. 9.00

Lorraine. 10.00 This Morning.

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

ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

2.00 Riddiculous. (R) 3.00

Winning Combination. (R) 4.00

Tipping Point. (R) 5.00 The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. A bruise flips Dawn and Billy’s lives upside down.

8.00 Coronation Street. Bernie’s distant past turns up in the shape of the twins’ father, and Mary urges Roy not to give up hope of remembering a key clue regarding Lauren.

9.00 Professor T. A woman is found dead at the scene of a crash, but the accident didn’t kill her. Last in the series.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

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

11.40 Stalking: State of Fear. Sharing the stories of women who live in fear of men stalking them. (R)

12.30 Shop on TV. 3.00 Food

Costs: Can You Spend Less? –Tonight. (R) 3.25 For the Love of Dogs with Alison Hammond. (R)

3.50 Unwind. 5.05 Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Bwrdd i Dri. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Ffermio. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Ty am Ddim. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R) 6.00 Cegin Bryn. (R) 6.30 Ralïo+. (R) Newyddion S4C. 7.00 Heno. 7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Pobol y Cwm. 8.25 Rownd a Rownd. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Ar Brawf. 10.00 Heliwr. 11.15 Bethesda: Pobol y Chwarel. 11.50 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R) 6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 Work on the Wild Side. (R) 12.00

Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. 4.00 Narrow Escapes. 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 Four in a Bed. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00

Channel 4 News. 8.00 Aldi’s Next Big Thing. 9.00 Miriam: Death of a Reality Star. 10.00 Night Coppers. 11.05 Sky Coppers. (R) 12.05 Murder Case: The Digital Detectives. (R) 1.05 Taskmaster. (R) 2.00 Late Night Lycett. (R) 2.55 Couples Come Dine with Me. (R) 3.50 Grand Designs Australia. (R) 4.50 Location, Location, Location. 5.45-6.10 The Perfect Pitch. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 11.00 Dysgu Gyda Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Richard Holt: Yr Academi Felys. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00 Pobol y Penwythnos. (R) 1.30 Garddio a Mwy. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Cefn Gwlad. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R) 6.00 Cais Quinnell. (R) 6.30 Rownd a Rownd. (R) 7.00 Heno. 7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Pobol y Cwm. 8.25 Y Sîn. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Alun, Chris a Kiri yn Seland Newydd. 10.00 Cysgu O Gwmpas. (R) 10.30 Teulu’r Castell. (R) 11.35 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R) 6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 Work on the Wild Side. (R) 12.00

Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. 4.00 Narrow Escapes. 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 Four in a Bed. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45

Friends. (R) 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15 Film: A Husband’s Revenge. (2023) 4.00 BargainLoving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5. 6.00 Police Interceptors. An uninsured motorist tries to pass himself off as his 52-year-old father. (R) 6.55 5 News Update.

7.00 The River Trent: Britain’s Great Rivers. The river’s historical connection to many Midlands industries. (R)

7.55 5 News Update.

8.00 The Yorkshire Vet. A threehour-old donkey’s life is in danger, as he can’t feed from his mother.

9.00 Michael Palin in Nigeria. Ending his journey, Michael visits the city of Benin, and the River Ethiope. Last in the series.

10.00 Stalked: The Killing of Molly McLaren. The stories of women killed by their expartners. (R) 11.05 Skin A&E. (R) 12.05 A&E After Dark. (R) 1.00 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.00 Cats Make You

Laugh Out Loud. 3.25 The Funny Thing About Holidays. (R) 4.15 Great Artists. (R) 4.40 House Busters. (R) 5.05 House Doctor. (R) 5.30 Entertainment News. 5.40 Fireman Sam. (R) 5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

BBC Four 7.00 Great Australian Railway Journeys 8.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Further coverage of the evening session on day 11. 10.00 The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway 11.00 Chasing the Moon

ITV2 4.00 Dawson’s Creek 5.00 Dress

10.30 999: Critical Condition. A woman is admitted after a head-on collision with another car. (R) 11.30 999: Emergency Call Out. Paramedic Ayshe and special sergeant Hannah respond to two calls. (R) 12.30 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders. (R) 1.25

PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.25

10 Years Younger in 10 Days. (R) 4.15 Cats Make You Laugh Out Loud. (R) 4.40 House Busters. (R) 5.05 House Doctor. (R) 5.30

Channel 4 News. 8.00 George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations. (R) 9.00 Stacey Solomon’s Renovation Rescue. 10.00 Miriam: Death of a Reality Star. 11.15 The Piano. (R) 12.20 24 Hours in A&E. (R) 1.15 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell. (R) 6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Friends. (R) 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15 Film: A Murder in Venice. (2023) 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5. 6.00 Police Interceptors. Reports of gunshots at a party lead to a full-scale firearms operation. (R) 6.55 5 News Update. 7.00 Shop Smart, Save Money. The team look at robotic lawnmowers and fencepainting spray guns. 7.55 5 News Update. 8.00 The Motorway. New series. A patrol team deals with a freak accident. 9.00 A Very British Sex Scandal: The Love Child & the Secretary. A look at the scandal that ended Cecil Parkinson’s political ambitions.

Johnny Vegas

Murder, They Hope BBC2, 9pm

The three-part whodunit caper starring Sian Gibson and Johnny Vegas continues. This week

Gemma’s sister, Monica, is starring in an amateur theatre company’s production of Romeo and Juliet, which is being sponsored by the town’s local bakers. Unfortunately, somebody is poisoning the baked products –and lives are now at risk. Paul Whitehouse guest stars.

Romario Simpson

Granite Harbour BBC1, 8pm

New series. Davis Lindo is back, having decided to stay in Aberdeen and continue with his traineeship at the MIT team. The team members have their work cut out when 'reformed' drug kingpin, Grace McFadden's notorious fixer, Lucas Galloway, turns up dead, a new cocaine and ketamine compound is flooding the streets, and there's suspicion that there might be an impending turf war.

; Weather.

The One Show. Live magazine show, hosted by Alex Jones and Roman Kemp. 7.30 EastEnders. Yolande is horrified to hear Pastor Clayton is taking over the baptism planning.

8.00 The Bidding Room. Items brought in by the public include a retro game and a bike. (R)

8.30 Britain’s Busiest Mountain: Our Lives. People that work on Snowdon, or Yr Wyddfa, the most popular mountain in Britain. (R)

9.00 MasterChef. Five more comeback contestants return to the competition to try their luck again.

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

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

11.40 Elections 2024. Coverage of the council and mayoral elections.

2.00 Elections 2024.

6.30 Money for Nothing. (R)

7.15 Garden Rescue. (R) 8.00

Sign Zone: Gardeners’ World.

(R) 9.00 BBC News. 12.50

Lifeline. (R) 1.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the opening session of the first semi-final. 4.15 Meet the Moose Family: Natural World.

(R) 5.15 Flog It! (R)

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Jamie Laing, Sunetra Sarker, Tim Key and Laura Whitmore take part.

(R)

6.30 Great Coastal Railway Journeys.

7.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of the opening session of the second semi-final.

8.00 Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby. A new Italian hotel built to look like a 200-year-old village. (R)

9.00 Murder, They Hope. A turf war between two bakers leads to food poisoning at an am-dram society.

9.45 QI XL. Sandi Toksvig and a panel of guests explore Ulex and other uncommon U words.

10.30 Newsnight.

11.10 Weather.

11.15 Snooker: World Championship Highlights.

12.05 Pompeii: The New Dig. (R)

1.05 Surgeons: At the Edge of Life.

(R) 2.05 Sign Zone: Beyond Paradise. (R) 3.05 Saving Lives at Sea. (R) 4.05 This Is BBC Two.

6.15 Homes Under the Hammer. (R) 7.15 Garden Rescue. (R) 8.00

Sign Zone: Antiques Roadshow. (R) 9.00 BBC News. 10.00

Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of session two of the opening semi-final. 12.00 Elections

2024: Politics Live Special. 1.45

BBC News at Six; Weather.

BBC Wales Today; Weather.

The One Show. Live magazine show, hosted by Alex Jones and Roman Kemp.

7.30 MasterChef. The week’s best comeback contestants return for the last quarterfinal.

8.00 Granite Harbour. New series. The MIT team finds itself immersed in Aberdeen’s drug underworld.

9.00 Have I Got News for You. Satrical current affairs quiz, with guest panellists Lyse Doucet and Chloe Petts.

9.30 Mammoth. Tony Mammoth takes on the task of dating in the modern world. Last in the series. (R)

10.00 BBC News at Ten.

10.30 BBC Wales Today; Weather.

10.40 Kelly Jones in Concert. The Stereophonics frontman performs with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

11.10 Kelly Jones in Studio from Ocean Sound Norway.

11.40 Avoidance.

12.10 Avoidance. 12.40 Dinosaur. (R) 1.40 BBC News.

Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of session two of the second semi-final.

6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. Previous winners Tim Key, Jamie Laing, Sunetra Sarker and Laura Whitmore compete. (R)

6.30 Great Coastal Railway Journeys. Michael Portillo samples the smallest public railway in the world. Last in the series.

7.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Coverage of session three of the opening semi-final.

9.00 Gardeners’ World. Monty Don prepares for a summer display in the cottage garden at Longmeadow.

10.00 QI. (R)

10.30 Newsnight. 11.00 Weather.

11.05 Snooker: World Championship Highlights.

11.55 Film: Kursk: The Last Mission. (2018) Fact-based drama, starring Matthias Schoenaerts.

1.45 Sign Zone: Panorama. (R)

2.15 This Town. (R) 3.15 Andi

Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts. (R) 4.15 This Is BBC Two.

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

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

ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

2.00 Riddiculous. (R) 3.00 Lingo. (R) 4.00 Tipping Point. (R) 5.00

The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.30 Emmerdale. Billy tells the family the bad news, Moira and Ruby are at loggerheads, and Belle is worried she could be pregnant.

8.30 Funeral Costs: The Price of Dying – Tonight. Adam Shaw examines the rising costs of funerals.

9.00 Instagram’s Worst Con Artist. Part two of two. The investigation reveals that Belle Gibson has a history of health lies dating back to her teenage years.

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 The Twelve. Nathan lies under oath about the affair.

11.50 Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport. Passenger Experience Manager Harry rushes to a gate that has had its door smashed. (R)

12.10 Shop on TV. 3.00 The Twelve. (R) 4.00 Unwind. 5.10

Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show. (R)

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

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

ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

2.00 ITV Racing: Live from Newmarket. Coverage from Newmarket and Goodwood. 4.30

Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals. (R)

5.00 The Chase. (R)

6.00 ITV News Wales at Six; Weather.

6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather.

7.00 Coast & Country. Ruth Dodsworth and Sean Fletcher join conservationists at Caerphilly Castle.

7.30 Emmerdale. Ruby starts a vicious rumour about Moira.

8.00 Coronation Street. Denny leaves Paul unattended in the flat.

9.00 Beat the Chasers – Celebrity Special. Bradley Walsh welcomes four more famous faces who play for charity. (R)

10.00 ITV News at Ten; Weather.

10.30 ITV News Cymru Wales; Weather.

10.45 ITV Studio Sessions. New series. Clara Amfo introduces a set by Jess Glynne.

11.15 The Twelve. The jury’s verdict is finally handed down. Last in the series.

12.20 Shop on TV. 3.00 The Twelve. (R) 4.00 Unwind. 5.10 Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show. (R)

6.00 Cyw. (R) 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Cais Quinnell. (R) 12.30 Heno. (R) 1.00

Sain Ffagan. (R) 1.30 Cysgu O Gwmpas. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 3.05 Iaith ar Daith. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R) 6.00 Dan Do. (R) 6.30 Y Sîn. (R) Newyddion S4C.

7.00 Heno.

7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Pobol y Cwm.

8.25 Rownd a Rownd.

8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Y Byd yn ei Le.

9.45 Côr Cymru. (R) 10.45 Wil ac Aeron: Taith Rwmania. (R) 11.15 Grid. (R) 11.35 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R) 6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 Work on the Wild Side. (R) 12.00

Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05

Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. 4.00 Narrow Escapes. 5.00

Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 Four in a Bed. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00

Channel 4 News. 8.00 Wildlife Rescue. 9.00 Taskmaster. 10.00

Joe & Katherine’s Bargain Holidays. 11.05 Gogglebox. (R) 12.05

Ramsay’s Hotel Hell. (R) 12.55

Couples Come Dine with Me. (R) 1.50 The Simpsons. (R) 2.40 Film: Countdown. (2019)

6.00 Cyw. 12.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 12.05 Codi Pac. 12.30

Heno. (R) 1.00 Y Sîn. (R) 1.30 Cais Quinnell. (R) 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynhawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd.

3.05 Côr Cymru. (R) 4.00 Awr Fawr. (R) 5.00 Stwnsh. (R) 6.00 Teulu Shadog: Tymhorau’r Flwyddyn. (R) 6.30 Garddio a Mwy. (R) 7.00 Heno.

7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 8.00 Alun, Chris a Kiri yn Seland Newydd. (R) 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd. 9.00 Strip. 9.40 Y Gic Fawr. (R) 10.10 Welsh Whisperer – Ni’n Teithio Nawr! (R) 10.40 Creisis. (R) 11.45 Diwedd.

Channel 4: 6.10 Countdown. (R) 6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun. (R) 8.05 Everybody Loves Raymond. (R) 9.30 Frasier. (R) 11.00 Work on the Wild Side. (R) 12.00

Channel 4 News Summary. 12.05 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. (R) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. (R) 2.10 Countdown. 3.00 A Place in the Sun. 4.00 Narrow Escapes. 5.00 Chateau DIY. (R) 6.00 Four in a Bed. 6.30 The Simpsons. (R) 7.00

Channel 4 News. 8.00 Bill Bailey’s Australian Adventure. (R) 9.00 Gogglebox. 10.00 Late Night Lycett. 11.05 Film: Step Brothers. (2008) 1.00 Formula 1: Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Highlights. 1.25 Film: Trading Places. (1983)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45

Friends. (R) 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15 Film: Murder in the Neighbourhood. (2022) Thriller, starring Gina Simms and April Hale. 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5.

6.00 Police Interceptors. The firearms team is involved in a dramatic doorstep showdown. (R) 6.55 5 News Update.

7.00 A Yorkshire Farm. Rob and Dave Nicholson cope with a variety of troublesome births.

7.55 5 News Update.

8.00 Reuben: Life in the Dales. Reuben trains up his work force, including 17-year-old Sarah.

9.00 The Hotel Inspector. Alex Polizzi visits East Sussex to help a duo with their Shepherds Huts business.

10.00 Killer at the Crime Scene. The mysterious hit-and-run death of a church organist. (R)

11.05 Making a Serial Killer. The crimes of Sheila LaBarre. (R)

12.05 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders. (R) 1.00

PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.00

10 Years Younger in 10 Days. (R)

3.50 Britain’s Greatest Bridges. (R)

4.40 House Busters. (R) 5.05

House Doctor. (R) 5.30

Entertainment News. 5.40 Fireman

Sam. (R) 5.50 Pip and Posy. (R)

6.00 Milkshake!: 9.15 Jeremy Vine. 11.15 Storm Huntley. 12.45 Friends. (R) 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime. 1.45 Home and Away. (R) 2.15 Film: Betrayed Within. (2022) 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun. 5.00 5 News at 5. 6.00 Police Interceptors. Bob and BoBo pursue a white van through the back streets. (R) 6.55 5 News Update. 7.00 Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan. The presenter travels across Japan on an epic adventure. (R) 7.55 5 News Update. 8.00 The Big Steam Adventure. New series. John Sergeant, Peter Davison and Paul Piglet Middleton explore the Lake District. 9.00 Michael Portillo’s Long Weekends. The presenter explores Milan. 10.25 Eurovision: 30 Unforgettable Moments. Celebrating the most spectacular moments in Eurovision’s history. (R) 11.50 Eurovision: Secrets & Scandals. Documentary uncovering what goes on behind the scenes at the song contest. (R) 12.50 Entertainment News. 1.00 PlayOJO Live Casino Show. 3.00 Strictly Entertainment: The Bruce Forsyth Story. (R) 4.15 Great Scientists. (R) 4.40 Wildlife SOS. (R) 5.05 House Doctor. (R) 5.30 Entertainment News. 5.40 Fireman Sam. (R)

BBC Four 7.00 Coast 7.10 Great Railway Journeys 8.00 Snooker: The World Championship. Further coverage of the opening session of the second semi-final. 10.00 Film: The History Boys (2006) Comedy drama, starring Richard Griffiths. 11.50

Alan Bennett at 80: Hytner Meets Bennett

ITV2

4.00 Dawson’s Creek 5.00 Dress to Impress 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase 7.00 Family Fortunes 8.00 Bob’s Burgers 9.00 Family Guy 11.30 American Dad! ITV3 3.45 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 5.55 Heartbeat 8.00 Vera 10.00 DCI Banks 11.50 The Royal

PeMbrokeSHIre vIkIngS Tackle c

The Pembrokeshire Vikings embarked on a journey up the m 4 to clash with the Cardiff Chiefs r FC on s unday, the 21st of April.

An enthralling afternoon of Mixed Ability Rugby unfolded, with the spirit of rugby prevailing. Despite the valiant effort, the Vikings found themselves outscored by the Chiefs, the scoreboard reading 47 to 28.

Displaying commendable sportsmanship, the Chiefs graciously bolstered the Vikings’ ranks by loaning some of their own players.

Scoring tries for the Vikings were Rob Sweeny, Callum

Power, and Ben Couceiro, with conversions executed by Callum Power (3) and Ben Couceiro (1).

A special salute goes out to Brothers Ben & Ashley Couceiro, Sean McKenzie Hughes, Marcus Greenish, Josh Price, John JC Ellis, Jack Colley, Bleddyn Gibbs, JohnJoe McDonagh, and Logan James. Their passionate performance epitomised the essence of MIXED ABILITY RUGBY.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution, Callum Power was named man of the match. Despite being thrust into an unfamiliar

position at scrum half, Rob Sweeny’s commendable effort earned him the title of ‘dick of the day.’

John-Joe exhibited his characteristic dynamism on the field, while Sean Phillips and Travis French delivered resounding tackles to thwart the Cardiff attack.

Gratitude is extended to the Cardiff Chiefs for their warm hospitality, and a special mention goes to Dom Barrett from New York Welsh for his enthusiastic support.

Ben Couceiro dedicated his try to the team’s Kit man, Johnboy Evans, currently recuperating in hospital.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, John!

Heartfelt appreciation is owed to Pembrokeshire College for lending their Mini Bus for transportation and to Llandaff RFC for graciously hosting the event.

The Vikings squad

Sean Phillips, Bleddyn Gibbs, John-Joe McDonagh, Sean McKenzie Hughes, Ashley Couceiro, Benjamin Couceiro, John JC Ellis, Marcus Greenish, Gareth Rees, Callum Power, Jack Colley, Josh Price, Paul Clayton, Rob Sweeny, Travis French, Dave Roberts, Logan James, and Andrew Meddings.

AH, behold, the triumphant return of Prison Architect! Like a phoenix rising from its pixelated ashes, Prison Architect 2 is gearing up to hit us with another tidal wave of gaming greatness later this year.

And my, oh my, it’s not just a mere sequel; it’s a leap into the third dimension, promising us a whole new realm of virtual incarceration adventures.

But hold your horses, mate, this ain’t just a fancy makeover job. Double Eleven, the masterminds behind this gaming gem, are pulling out all the stops. They’re not just slapping on a fresh coat of paint; they’re tossing in a bunch of innovative features to set Prison Architect 2 leagues ahead of the competition.

Picture this: new, one-of-akind inmates. Yeah, sure, the original game had its characters, but these new guys? They’re like thespians in a Shakespeare play, oozing realism from every

virtual pore. We’re talking about inmates with desires, needs, and personalities so vivid you’ll swear they’re real people trapped inside your screen. Details are scarce, but if Double Eleven delivers on their promises, we’re in for a management experience that’ll knock our virtual socks off.

Now, let’s take a stroll down memory lane, back to the good ol’ days of the original Prison Architect. Building prisons, managing inmates, stopping riots—classic stuff, right? But Double Eleven isn’t satisfied with just recycling the same old formula. Oh no, they’re cranking up the realism dial to eleven. In Prison Architect 2, every decision you make will have consequences, rippling through the complex web of inmate relationships like a stone thrown into a virtual pond. And speaking of relationships, that’s where things get really interesting. Imagine inmates forming

bonds, alliances, and maybe even a few prison gangs. It’s like a virtual soap opera behind bars, with each character bringing their own baggage and quirks to the table. And those traits? They’re not just for show; they’ll dictate how inmates behave and what they need to keep their virtual sanity intact.

Sure, Double Eleven hasn’t spilled all the beans yet. We’re still waiting on the juicy details about these new mechanics. But mark my words, mate, if they pull it off, we’re looking at a game-changer. No more simple management; this is full-on virtual rehabilitation, with twists and turns at every corner.

So buckle up, folks, because Prison Architect 2 is shaping up to be one hell of a ride. And remember, in the virtual world of prisons, there’s no such thing as an easy time. It’s adapt or get shanked—metaphorically speaking, of course.

ARIES

Take a trust fall, Aries! Tuesday’s Full Moon in your Scorpio-ruled intimacy zone wants you to take a risk and engage with uncertainty. Then Mercury Retrograde (in your sign!) ends on Thursday. Clear thinking and successful communication return when you apply what you’ve learned. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction gives you the gift of closure wherever you need it.

TAURUS

Happy birthday, Taurus! Tuesday’s Full Moon in your Scorpio-ruled romance zone wants to invite a new love interest, deepen a connection, or complete a relationship for you. Mercury Retrograde ends on Thursday, and little by little, you’ll be living in the present, not the past. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction is a social one, so gather with your closest friends and mutually support each other.

GEMINI

Crawl before you sprint, Gemini! A Full Moon in Scorpio this Tuesday lights up your well-being zone. Approach your wellness from a mindset of small goals adding up cumulatively over time. Mercury Retrograde ends on Thursday and helps you repair relationships with friends after potential miscommunication. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction inspires you to see your career from a more creative, soulful perspective, so take inspired action there.

CANCER

You’re worthy right now, Cancer! A Full Moon in Scorpio this Tuesday helps you see you’re already worthy of love, joy, and belonging. So act that way! Mercury Retrograde ends on Thursday and gives you the professional momentum that you’ve been missing for the last 3.5 weeks. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction wants you to follow your curiosity for curiosity’s sake. Explore the unknown and have fun!

LEO Who’s your royal family, Leo? Tuesday’s Full Moon in your Scorpio-ruled domestic sector helps you love your home and family in deeper ways. On Thursday, Mercury Retrograde ends and you’re tasked with making abstract learning more actionable. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction is an intimate one, so get curious about your erotic and sexual desires!

VIRGO

Speak up, Virgo! Tuesday’s Full Moon in your Scorpio-ruled communication zone helps you use your words, listen carefully, and initiate dialogue where you need to. Mercury Retrograde ends on Thursday and helps you see who you can trust to take relationships to deeper places. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction generates a new romantic story for you with opposites-attract style chemistry.

LIBRA

Put your values into action, Libra. Tuesday’s Full Moon in your Scorpioruled income zone wants you to apply your ethics to open up financial opportunities. Love won’t be a battlefield after Thursday when Mercury Retrograde finally ends and gives you connection after conflict. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction is peak self-care energy, so treat yourself!

SCORPIO

Check in, Scorpio! The annual Full Moon in your sign on Tuesday is your moment to review your choices responsibly and generate new behaviors that align with your truth. Mercury Retrograde ends on Thursday and helps you take slow but meaningful action to improve your wellbeing. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction wants you to share your truth with someone who’s earned the right to hear it.

SAGITTARIUS

The past is behind you, Sag. Tuesday’s Full Moon in your Scorpio-ruled closure zone wants you to inhabit the present and let go of pain and people from the past. Mercury Retrograde ends on Thursday and clears up some crises of confidence you’ve been having. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction provides an experience and education on emotional safety.

CAPRICORN

YPower to your people, Capricorn! A social Full Moon in Scorpio on Tuesday connects you to both the community and causes you’re passionate about. Mercury Retrograde ends on Thursday and stabilizes you emotionally after some unsettling moments. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction wants you to read between the lines a bit and get fluent in nonverbal language(s)!

AQUARIUS

You’re the boss, Aquarius! A career-focused Full Moon in Scorpio on Tuesday wants you to take charge of your professional trajectory with integrity and discipline. Mercury Retrograde ends on Thursday and inspires you to speak with clever, compassionate language. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction reframes your approach to financial security through a more spiritual lens.

PISCES

Bon voyage, Pisces! Tuesday’s Full Moon in Scorpio puts wanderlust in your heart, so explore new spaces and schools to expand your horizons. Mercury Retrograde ends on Thursday and inspires you to implement your values for greater integrity. Sunday’s Mars-Neptune conjunction is a refresh on your identity, especially when it comes to your desires for new experiences and relationships.

on

Inew Y dd

‘Rhaid

i chi ei weld, er mwyn ei wneud.’

MAE Pwyllgor

Chwaraeon y Senedd yn galw heddiw i dwrnamaint rygbi

Pencampwriaeth y Chwe Gwlad gael ei warchod er mwyn parhau am ddim i bobl ei wylio ar y teledu, gan ddadlau y dylai’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Ddiwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon symud Pencampwriaeth y Chwe Gwlad o fod yn ddigwyddiad Grŵp B i fod yn ddigwyddiad

Grŵp A fel rhan o’r drefn digwyddiadau rhestredig o dan Ddeddf Darlledu 1996.

Byddai hyn yn golygu y byddai twrnamaint y Chwe Gwlad yn ymuno â Rownd Derfynol

Cwpan FA Lloegr, y Gemau Olympaidd a Pharalympaidd, Cwpan Pêl-droed y Byd y Menywod a Phencampwriaethau Ewropeaidd fel twrnameintiau sydd wedi’u diogelu ar gyfer darlledu ar wasanaethau am ddim.

Mae’r Pwyllgor hefyd yn argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi’r alwad hon.

Dywedodd Delyth

Jewell AS, Cadeirydd Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon a Chysylltiadau

Rhyngwladol y Senedd: “Mae gan rygbi rôl unigryw yn ein bywyd cenedlaethol, ac mae lle arbennig i dwrnamaint y Chwe Gwlad yng nghalonnau cynulleidfaoedd Cymru.

“Roedd hyn ar flaenau ein meddyliau wrth ddod i’r penderfyniad i alw am ei ddiogelu fel darllediad rhad ac am ddim.

“Rydym wedi clywed yn blwmp ac yn blaen am yr heriau sy’n wynebu’r gamp wrth i nifer y bobl sy’n chwarae rygbi leihau yng Nghymru. “Rydym hefyd wedi clywed pryderon

ynghylch effaith gosod y twrnamaint y tu ôl i wal dalu a sut y gall hyn effeithio ar y nifer o bobl sy’n chwarae rygbi – yng ngeiriau un o’r bobl fu’n siarad â ni ’rhaid i chi ei weld, er mwyn ei wneud’ “Mae llawer yn cydnabod yr effeithiau niweidiol o ganlyniad i roi criced yn y DU y tu ôl i wal dalu yn 2006. Rhwng 2006

a 2015, bu gostyngiad o 32% yn nifer y bobl sy’n chwarae criced. Allwn ni ddim gadael i’r un peth ddigwydd i rygbi.

“Wrth dyfu i fyny, mae pobl ifanc yng Nghymru yn cael eu hysbrydoli i gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon drwy wylio rygbi ac mae’n hanfodol bod twrnamaint y Chwe Gwlad ar gael i bawb.”

Ffilmiau Cymraeg newydd gyda chefnogaeth Sinema Cymru

MAE Sinema Cymru yn gydweithrediad rhwng S4C a Cymru Greadigol a bydd yn cael ei gyflwyno gan Ffilm Cymru. Nod Sinema Cymru yw datblygu ffilmiau Cymraeg drwy roi hwb i ffilmiau Cymraeg annibynnol sy’n feiddgar, yn anghonfensiynol, ac sydd â’r potensial i gael eu rhyddhau mewn sinemâu yn rhyngwladol.

Y pedwar teitl a ddewiswyd ar gyfer Cyllid Datblygu yn y rownd gyntaf hon yw:Gorllewin Gwyllt: drama gomedi am alltud rhyfedd sy’n defnyddio ei gwybodaeth obsesiynol am ffilmiau cowbois i ddatrys diflaniad ei ffrind gorau o’u tref wledig yng Nghymru.

Pijin: Addasiad o nofel dod i oed Alys Conran am gyfeillgarwch plentyndod rhwng Pijin a Iola sy’n

dianc rhag realiti trwy fyw bywyd o ddychymyg ac adrodd straeon - byd sydd yn y pen draw yn mynd allan o reolaeth gyda chanlyniadau trychinebus.

Triongl (Cwmni cynhyrchu) Angharad Elen (Awdur), Euros Lyn Lluest: Archwiliad gwaedlyd o frad a dial gan fenywod wedi’i osod yn yr eira ar fynyddoedd gogledd Cymru yn y ddeunawfed ganrif.

Severn Screen Ltd (Cwmni cynhyrchu) Ed Talfan (Awdur), Gareth Bryn (cynhyrchydd Gweithredol), Caryl Lewis (Cynhyrchydd Gweithredol)

Estron: Mae cymuned yn ymladd i oroesi wrth i luoedd arallfydol ymddangos.

Joio Cyf (cwmni cynhyrchu), Lee Haven Jones (Cyfarwyddwr), Roger Williams (Awdur) Mae’r cylch hwn

o Gyllid Datblygu yn buddsoddi £140k i ddatblygu’r syniadau cychwynnol, gyda’r nod bod o leiaf un o’r ffilmiau yn symud ymlaen i gyllid cynhyrchu. Bydd ffilmiau yn y dyfodol yn anelu at gael eu dangos mewn gwyliau cyn eu rhyddhau yn y sinema. Bydd y rhaglen hefyd yn cynnwys pecyn o hyfforddiant pwrpasol a datblygiad proffesiynol parhaus i gefnogi awduron, cynhyrchwyr a chyfarwyddwyr ffilmiau nodwedd yng Nghymru, gan olygu bod y buddsoddiad o dan y cylch hwn o Gyllid Datblygu yn gyfanswm o £280,000.

Lansiwyd y cynllun drwy gynnal Labordy preswyl ar gyfer Awduron. Fe’i trefnwyd gan Ffilm Cymru mewn partneriaeth â Le Groupe Ouest o Lydaw. Bu’r mentoriaid sgriptio Nolwenn Guiziou

a Yacine Badday yn gweithio gyda rhai o wneuthurwyr ffilm Sinema Cymru a oedd yn uchel ar y rhestr fer i ddatblygu eu prosiectau nodwedd yn ystod y labordy wythnos o hyd. Dywedodd Aelod Dynodedig Plaid Cymru, Cefin Campbell: “Mae cronfa Sinema Cymru yn gyfle inni hyrwyddo ffilmiau Cymraeg a chefnogi’r dalent y tu ôl i’r camera ac ar y sgrin. Drwy iaith fyd-eang ffilm

gallwn ddod â’n hiaith i gynulleidfa fyd-eang, a datblygu a chefnogi’n sector ffilm.”

“Mae hwn yn gyfle gwych inni hyrwyddo a dathlu ffilmiau Cymraeg. Bydd Sinema Cymru yn cefnogi ffilmiau Cymraeg annibynnol, yn datblygu syniadau a thalent, ac yn cryfhau’r sector ffilmiau Cymraeg.

“Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at weld sut mae’r prosiectau hyn yn datblygu.”

Early Years’ investment improved educational outcomes

• cuts to funding mean gains could be lost • new system has a fraction of sure start’s funding

NEW research from IFS has found that the Sure Start programme—designed to provide holistic support to families with children under 5—greatly improved the educational performance of children from lowincome backgrounds.

Sure Start (named Flying Start in Wales) is a UK Government area-based initiative, announced in 1998 by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown.

The positive effects were particularly pronounced for Sure Start centres established early in the programme. These tended to have bigger budgets and more successful outreach programmes to families who could benefit from Sure Start but might not otherwise have accessed it.

In England, children eligible for free school meals who lived near a Sure Start centre increased their GCSE performance by three grades relative to similarly poor children who could not access Sure Start.

This research chimes with and adds to the international evidence that well-designed and well-funded interventions in early childhood to promote child development through holistic family support can yield important individual and societal benefits.

Between 1999 and 2010, Sure Start expanded as a network of ‘one-stop shops’ integrating services for families with children under the age of 5 under one roof. These ranged from ante- and postnatal health services, parenting support, early learning and childcare, and parental employment support.

At its peak, Sure Start cost £2.5 billion per year. However, more than a decade in cuts has seen that budget plummet by

• Improvements lasted through to gcSe

more than two-thirds as many centres have been closed, scaled back or integrated into Family Hubs.

The research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, provides the first evidence of how Sure Start affected children’s educational outcomes up to age 16. The findings add to previous analyses from IFS researchers, which showed that almost a third of the up-front cost of Sure Start was offset by savings for the NHS through reduced hospitalisations.

Focusing on the expansion of the programme from 1999 to 2010, the researchers found:

• Access to a Sure Start centre improved children’s academic performance through primary and secondary school. Among all children, those who lived near a Sure Start centre performed 0.8 grades better at GCSE level than those who lived further away.

• Impacts were disproportionately strong among lowincome children and children from ethnic minority backgrounds. Living near a centre increased GCSE performance by three grades for children eligible for free school meals (FSM). That is equivalent to the

difference, for example, between getting two Cs and three Ds and getting five Cs, which is six times larger than the effect on FSM noneligible children. Across both FSM-eligible and non-eligible children, Sure Start had a greater positive impact on nonwhite children.

• Sure Start increased the prevalence of support for special educational needs (SEN) at young ages before reducing it in adolescence. At age 16, the reduction was particularly strong for more expensive Education, Health and Care Plans, which decreased by 9% (or over 1,000 children per year) among children who lived near a Sure Start centre compared with those who lived further away.

• These positive impacts are entirely driven by centres that opened before 2003 under the Sure Start Local Programme phase of the policy. Throughout the 2000s, these centres spent more time reaching out to more families that needed extra support and had more community input in designing the service offer than centres that opened later.

Even accounting only for Sure Start’s impact on educational

engage with Sure Start but who stood to benefit a lot.

“The return on investment in integrated early years services that are given the resources to reach those most in need can be very large.’

Sarah Cattan, a Research Fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and a co-author of this report, said: “Back in 2009–10, the government spent a third of the early years budget on Sure Start.

attainment and SEN prevalence suggests its benefits outweighed its costs, with substantial dividends among disadvantaged families.

By its peak in 2010, total spending on Sure Start was around £2.5 billion in today’s prices.

The programme’s benefits in reducing the government cost of SEN support offset around 8% of this cost. The research estimates that for every £1 the government spent on Sure Start, children who attended benefited by £1.09 in terms of their lifetime earnings, solely because of better school outcomes.

The programme has other known benefits, such as reduced hospitalisations of children, improved educational attainment and lower SEN prevalence.

Nick Ridpath, a Research Economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and a co-author of this report, said: “Sure Start generated substantial benefits for disadvantaged children throughout their education, helping to close the disadvantage gap in attainment.

“Centres with more resources generated much larger benefits, partly because the extra funding allowed them to reach out to families who were less likely to

“Since then, overall early years spending has significantly increased, but spending on Sure Start has dwindled due to a clear shift in the government’s early years policy away from integrated early years services and towards the free childcare entitlement.

“The current Family Hubs initiative aims to connect family support services for children aged 0–18, with less than 5% of what Sure Start received at its peak.

“It seems unlikely Family Hubs will be able to go as far in realising the potential that this research shows early years integrated programmes can have for children and their families.”

Ruth Maisey, an Education Programme Head at the Nuffield Foundation, said: “Local authorities and schools are experiencing significant problems with securing sufficient special educational needs provision to meet families’ rising needs. So, policymakers will want to take stock of this research as they look to improve special educational needs.

“Given Sure Start’s demonstrable effect in reducing the need for education, health, and care plans, it will be important to consider how early provision of integrated services might form part of the solution.”’

educa TI on

Dogs to visit older persons in Pembrokeshire to assuage loneliness

‘Be-a-friend’ –Companionship with Paws, is a new service launched in Pembrokeshire by Cariad Pet Therapy which aims to alleviate loneliness in older persons through befriending visits from volunteers and their engaging dogs.

Be-a-friend Coordinator, Leasa Pendell says,

“We know that many older people in Pembrokeshire find themselves isolated and lonely, the consequences of loneliness can be profound and far reaching in terms of mental health and wellbeing. Most of us probably know someone who may be lonely. At Cariad Pet Therapy we understand that dogs have a positive impact on our wellbeing. Visiting older people who are dog lovers that feel lonely because of no or limited social contacts, can be helped through our befriending service by our caring volunteers and their friendly, engaging dogs.”

“We want to reach out to make a positive difference to older people’s lives, and are asking Pembrokeshire residents, neighbours, friends and family to refer people to us who may benefit from our new service.”

Our service is free to use service and has been funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund from Pembrokeshire County Council.

Cariad Pet Therapy is based in Haverfordwest and has therapy dogs across the whole of Wales and into Scotland, they also run the pet food bank on City Road, Haverfordwest to help pet owners struggling with financial hardship.

For more information, please contact Leasa at Be-a-friend@ cariadpettherapy.co.uk or to make a referral please visit www. cariadpettherapy.co.uk/ be-a-friend. You can also ring the head office on 01437 723628 and speak to one of the team for more details.

Cattle breeding farmers say data driven decision making is key

A North Wales cattle breeding farming couple have highlighted how data driven decision making is helping them make efficiencies and be more sustainable, whilst managing their carbon footprint and improving biodiversity across their land.

Located within the outskirts of Llanrwst is Moelogan Fawr, an upland beef and sheep enterprise, covering an area of 304 hectares (ha) – 751 acres (ac) that rises to 1500 feet (about 457.2 m). The farm is home to the Jones family, where wife and husband team Sian and Llion, as well as their three children Gwern (9), Beca (8) and Annie (2), look after 150 Stabiliser cattle and about 850 improved Welsh ewes. The farm has been in Sian’s family since 1972 and they are the third generation to farm here.

“Before taking over the farm here in 2018, we were farming on a small National Trust farm, a 40-acre holding. Llion worked on a dairy farm and I worked at the local authority as a surveyor as well. Starting here was a massive step for us, making farming our full time job but this is such an excellent opportunity for us and also our children,” said Sian.

The land here varies from improved and semi improved through to the upper reaches where an expanse of seminatural/ unimproved habitat is extensively grazed. Extensive tree planting, through a Glastir Woodland Creation grant in 2018 means that the farm now also includes 10 hectares (24.7 acres) of mixed broadleaf, newly planted woodland which extends the area covered by the existing woodland, increasing the habitat and in doing so increasing its resilience to environmental changes now and in the future. The woodland also improves the connectivity of habitat across the lower parts of Moelogan Fawr bolstering biodiversity on

the farm.

There are also 20.6 hectares (51 acres) of upland heathland (wet and dry heath), which are important for a number of species of high conservation importance which have been lost from many other parts of the UK. The mix of wet and dry habitats, different vegetation heights and structure further provide important habitat. The farm also has 2 ponds, which help to support aquatic plants and animal species such as ground nesting birds including Curlew and Lapwings.

Sian and Llion are keen to be as sustainable and efficient as possible and regularly record and measure their farm data, including carbon auditing. Working with HCC on their carbon audit, Sian and Llion took away tangible advice on how to lower their carbon footprint through for example increasing the sward variety in their grass, have eliminated fertilizer use on grazing land and only applying a minimal amount on silage ground and they are soil testing to further optimise nitrogen fertiliser applications – all of these things not only save them money by reducing inputs but are also beneficial for the environment. In their bid to reduce costs across the farm they also concentrate heavily on health and fertility of the herd.

“The information from the carbon audit and the biodiversity survey which we have worked with HCC on, has really inspired our decision making. For example, at the beginning we were just growing rye grass and then we started looking into the inclusion of herbal leys, and understanding what worked where. We’ve adjusted and put plantain into the mix and added the old grasses like Timothy and Cocksfoot in the mix too. On the lower ground we have herbal leys and they do really well there. It’s learning what works on which ground and how to best look after it. We don’t graze it too hard until it’s properly established and that helps too. These are just a few examples of how we are moving towards a healthier farm, healthier soils and a more efficient business,” adds Sian.

As part of their efforts to be more efficient, a rotational grazing system as part of Grass Check GB has also been implemented, and new infrastructure through tracks across the farm, are providing tangible results.

“We try to extend our grazing season and rear everything of grass. We’ve added quite a bit of infrastructure to the farm since taking over. We’re lucky we have our own stone on the farm so we added tracks which

means we have good access to the fields. This means we can get the cows to the further fields at the wettest times. And to make sure we get water to all the paddocks, we now also have a solar water pump that helps bring water to even the furthest fields.

“The cattle used to come in around September but now we have been able to extend their outdoor season until October / November and in calf heifers are out until January on fodder beet or a winter crop. That’s reduced winter housing and feeding by two months and we hope to extend this further. The cows are 100% rotational grazed during the grazing season and we’ve started implementing that for the ewes as well,” said Llion.

“It’s great to see how the rotational grazing system has helped us be more efficient and improve soil health as well. Through the dry summers this has really helped. Being part of discussion and benchmarking groups has helped us understand the financial side of the business and enabled us to know where we need to improve and can make savings. Data recording has helped us see where the efficiencies need to be made and that level of data driven decision making is something that we will continue to do,”

added Sian.

Talking about their sustainability goals, Sian and Llion are clear that it can’t be business as usual. “Sustainability in our eyes goes hand in hand with efficiency. The more efficient we can be the better - it will improve our carbon footprint, and help us to achieve our goals. We are working towards reducing bought in inputs, getting our livestock as healthy as possible, utilising the grass, and protecting the soil.

“We have a rigorous system and don’t keep cattle that don’t perform. Genetics and epigenetics also play a big part. We sell Stabiliser bulls and breeding females through a Stabiliser Cattle Company. Whatever we sell - if it’s in-calf heifers or bulls we want to ensure they perform as good as possible for other farms” explains Sian.

Dr. Heather McCalman, HCC’s Research and Development and Sustainability Executive, who has been working with Sian and Llion on Grass Check GB as well as fertility improvement projects, said: “Farms like Moelogan Fawr are setting the scene for future farming practices. It is essential that farms embrace research and development and combine traditional farming practices with the benefits of technology and data to be sustainable and fit for the future.

“While the impact of agriculture on climate change continues to be a hot topic, it’s important to remember that there are huge variations in the environmental impact of different farming systems across the world, with Wales being especially suited for rearing cattle and sheep, as we can see here.

“The Welsh way of farming has a very different story to tell compared with some of the intensive and industrial systems found in other parts of the world. With high standards of animal husbandry and pasture land management, the Jones family help to preserve our unique landscape. They are making a positive contribution to mitigating climate change and are managing their grassland by combining traditional practices with innovation and HCC is proud to help them on that journey.”

“We farm on high ground and are very exposed here, which means we’re best suited to be a breeding cow farm. We have a very strict system here and we hope they will perform wherever they go. Feet, udders and overall condition, temperament, condition and fertility are all things we scrutinise and they must rear good calves. We look for uniformity in our calves and record everything, including live weight gains and weaning weights. We look to produce moderate sized cows and calves. They are all fed on silage and grass and we don’t supplement any of the females. If they don’t get in calf within a 9 week block at 14 months, we fatten and sell them on as meat. It might seem a harsh way of doing it but we need to be efficient and a stringent selection process is part of that sustainability journey,” adds Llion.

The FUW continues to represent the views of its members through Senedd visits, meetings with politicians and stakeholders. Specifically, we recently met with the opposition spokespersons for agriculture ahead of their first opportunity to question the new Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affair, Huw Irranca-Davies in the Senedd.

Mr Irranca-Davies told one of the media outlets, following the session, that he understood the concerns from the agricultural industry, but scrapping the Sustainable Farmers Scheme (SFS) would be ‘the worst thing to do’.

This came a day after a summit to discuss the challenges of the recent wet weather. Organisations from across the UK food supply chain gathered to discuss the challenges and possible interventions the Welsh Government should consider to support the industry.

Some of the interventions we called for included derogations around scheme requirements; many Growing for the Environment contract holders have been unable to meet the required sowing dates due to the wet conditions. It’s been impossible for other farmers to comply with their Small Grants Environment contracts due to both the weather and prescriptive dates for when certain works could be completed. We also made clear that greater flexibility was needed to cross compliance rules and farm inspections. There is also an urgent need to provide capital grant support to farmers for slurry

infrastructure and yard coverings in line with reducing the burden on those who are attempting to complete works to meet incoming regulatory requirements.

Despite numerous calls made by the FUW to delay the third phase of the Control of Agricultural Pollution ‘NVZ’ regulations until the review of the regulations has been completed, this latest edition of wet weather has made it impossible for building contractors to continue with their work. This means that the August deadline for increased slurry storage is looking as challenging as ever.

Above all else, these past few months have demonstrated the need for any future financial support scheme in Wales to underpin the economic viability of our family farms so that they can continue to navigate such unforeseen circumstances in future.

We wholeheartedly welcomed the opportunity to inform the Cabinet Secretary of the issues farmers and landowners face due to the challenging climate.

As we continue to await any real news on the next steps of the SFS from the Welsh Government, Huw Irranca-Davies has explained that there were ‘knotty issues’ that need to be addressed.

Time will tell if the ‘knots’ can be successfully untangled from the plethora of issues highlighted to the Rural Affairs team down in Cardiff Bay. We have committed to working with them to ensure the scheme is reworked to the extent it requires, but the correct platform for these discussions must be provided for meaningful change to happen.

FUW highlights challenges during Ministerial Summit on extreme weather

THE Farmers’ Union of Wales has highlighted the challenges farmers are facing due to the wet weather and called for possible interventions during a summit which took place recently (19 April).

Organised by Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, the summit was arranged to examine the impacts of the current prolonged wet weather and to explore what interventions may be necessary from the supply chain to deal with the exceptional circumstances some farmers are facing.

Speaking after the summit, FUW President, Ian Rickman said: “We welcome the opportunity to discuss these very timely issues farmers face

following an extremely wet winter. It was positive to see engagement from such a wide range of stakeholders from across the UK food supply chain.

“Some of the interventions we called for included derogations around scheme requirements; many Growing for the Environment contract holders have simply been unable to meet the required sowing dates due to the wet conditions. It’s been impossible for some farmers to comply with their Small Grants Environment contracts due to both the weather and prescriptive dates for when certain works could be completed.”

Other interventions required, in the FUW’s view, include greater flexibility to cross compliance rules and farm

inspections. Additionally there is an urgent need to provide capital grant support to farmers for slurry infrastructure and yard coverings in line with reducing the burden on those who are attempting to complete works to meet incoming regulatory requirements.

“Despite numerous calls made by the FUW to delay the third phase of the Control of Agricultural Pollution ‘NVZ’ regulations until the review of the regulations has been completed, this latest edition of wet weather has made it impossible for building contractors to continue with their work. This means that the August deadline for increased slurry storage is looking as challenging as ever.

“Above all else, these past few months have demonstrated the need for any future financial support scheme in Wales to underpin the economic viability of our family farms so that they can continue to navigate such unforeseen circumstances in future.

“Whilst we await news from the Welsh Government on outcomes from the summit, it is recommended for any farmer facing extreme difficulties to seek support and speak with relevant organisations. These include the FUW, Rural Payments Wales, Natural Resources Wales, bank managers, The DPJ Foundation or any other mental health charities. No one should feel alone during these trying times, we’re all here to support one another,” concluded Ian Rickman.

Subaru (UK) Ltd announce new Outback Touring X

SUBARU (UK) Ltd has expanded the line-up of the awardwinning Subaru Outback with the addition of a new Outback Touring X. This new rangetopping limited edition variant is limited to just 100 units in the UK and is available from May 1, priced at £43,635 on the road.

The Subaru Outback, which features the brands-renowned permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system and X-MODE™ terrain system, is built on the Subaru Global Platform, and combines strong, robust exterior styling with the latest driver assistance technology, to make it the most capable, luxurious, and safest Subaru Outback yet.

Built with outdoor adventures in mind, the Outback Touring X is finished in an exclusive Subaru Geyser Blue exterior paint finish and contrasts with a plethora of components finished in black. It is adorned with dark metallic 18inch alloy wheels, crystal black door mirrors and black roof rails with an increased load capacity. The front and rear bumpers are fitted with a gloss black lower fascia and the front grille is also finished in the distinctive gloss black colouring. With a high level of standard specification,

the Touring X Limited Edition also includes a luxurious Nappa Leather interior, heated front & rear seats, smooth leather-wrapped steering wheel, sunroof, and digital reversing camera. An 11.6-inch Subaru Infotainment

system is portraitmounted and comes with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay™ & Android Auto™, and is complemented with an 11-speaker Harman/ Kardon® sound system. Proving ever-popular with customers since

its introduction in 1995, as an off-roadfocused variant in the Subaru Legacy line-up, the Subaru Outback was recently named Overlander 4x4 Best Crossover in 2024, taking the award for the second year in a row.

Mo T or S

Nissan Qashqai: the original and now even better

Nothing stands still for long in the highly competitive crossover segment that Nissan pioneered with the original Qashqai. In the three-and-a-bit years since the third generation Qashqai was launched, it has sold more than 350,000 units in Europe and continues to set the standard for crossovers – the pioneer and still the benchmark. And to maintain its place as the reference in its segment, it has received a comprehensive aesthetic refresh, as well as significant technology updates.

From the bold changes to the exterior styling to the comprehensive updates to the infotainment and connected services onboard, the philosophy behind the changes to Qashqai is to keep the essence of what consumers love about Qashqai, enhance its strengths and to add even more intuitive and convenient technology.

Exterior updates refresh Qashqai’s look

The new Qashqai exudes a sharp and modern dynamism thanks to its refreshed design.

The front grille of the Qashqai has been

comprehensively updated to create a more striking first impression. Inspired by the patterns of ancient Japanese armour scales, it now consists of dozens of high gloss, three dimensional commashaped elements painted in high gloss black paint which appear to float in the space between the lip of the bonnet and the numberplate holder. To the sides of the central portion, the “commas” form a triangular shape from the new headlights down to a point to the side of the numberplate and they are finished in a ”satin chrome” hot foil stamp, on the top grade version.

The flanks of the bumper are body coloured and a strip of black in a high-gloss finish runs below the numberplate to the lower corners of the bumper. Underneath the cooling aperture, there is a thin body-coloured “chin strap” which gives a sense of definition to the front.

The new headlights bring a sense of purpose and presence, with an even sharper look. It now features an adaptive high beam module complemented by a smaller unit for wider beam distribution, useful

for increased visibility in low-light conditions and fog. Below the main lens the daytime running lights consist of five small lenses which are the same shape as the “commas” of the main grille. The daytime running lights now encircle the main headlight lens, joining with the thin light above the headlight which is similar to the unit on the previous iteration of Qashqai, but it now has an illuminated “Nissan” on its outboard edge. The upper daytime running light element becomes the turn indicator when activated and, for the first time, features sequential turning lights (according to the grade).

At the rear, the shape of the lights remains unchanged but the composition of the lights within the unit has been redesigned. The red lighting elements now consist of four individual elements which echo the shape of the front grille ”commas”. They appear to float in the lens housing and are now a distinctive shade of red, known as “super red”, and bring a sense of elevated precision. The lenses are now clear, to allow a better view of the lighting elements. The

thin boomerang lighting element that frames the upper side of the light unit continues through the tail light and now features the dynamic indicator signal.

The bumper has been reshaped and now features harmonized colour – either gloss black on the higher grade versions or body coloured on the new N-Design grade.

Likewise, when viewed in profile, the updated Qashqai on the higher grades benefits from a new gloss black finish on the body beneath the doors and wheel arches.

A new 18” diamond cut alloy wheel is now standard on the midgrade Qashqai. For the higher grades, there is a new 19” alloy and a new 20” diamond-cut alloy wheel design. This range of striking wheels gives one of the widest range of wheels in the segment, adding an extra dimension to the Qashqai’s eye-catching design refresh.

Three new colours have been added to the Qashqai’s palette. Pearl White is new and features a cleaner, pure tint that appears to give a glow in certain lighting conditions. Pearl Black replaces the previous black option

and has a richer black tint and has the effect of sharpening the definition of the Qashqai’s visual geometry.

Deep Ocean is an eye-catching shade. It appears to sit somewhere between dark blue and metallic teal depending on the prevailing light conditions. It’s sure to spark the conversation among passers-by whose eye has been caught: “is that Qashqai blue or maybe green?”.

Five of the Qashqai colours – Pearl White, Deep Ocean, Fuji Red, Magnetic Blue and Ceramic Grey – are all available in two-tone, with a black roof for a more distinctive look.

New N-Design grade

A new addition to the Qashqai line-up is the N-Design grade. Conceived to appeal to Qashqai customers who’d like their version to be particularly bold, it features unique aesthetic touches. On the exterior, the lower body portion below the doors and the wheel arches are bodycoloured on N-Design. There are also unique, all-new 20” alloy wheels which bring added onroad presence.

Upgraded interior trim

Once potential

or existing Qashqai customers have had their interest stirred by the refreshed exterior, that curiosity will be heightened once they immerse themselves in the revised interior.

For the upper grades (N-Design and Tekna+), there is a new application of Alcantara® on the dashboard, door inserts, door armrests, centre storage console lid and even the knee pads all combine to elevate the on-board ambience.

New patterned materials adorn the centre console around the gear selector and the decoration insert between the upper dashboard and glovebox, underlining the attention to detail which underpins Japanese craftsmanship.

Updated seat trims have been introduced across the upper three grades of Qashqai for an even more premium feel. Most notable is the black partially quilted premium leather on the top spec Qashqai.

On the penultimate grade, there’s a quilted synthetic leather which is complemented by “burnt umber” flashes on the seat base and shoulders of the seat upright.

MINI presents the latest member of the New MINI Family

BIG appearance for MINI: The all-electric MINI Aceman is celebrating its world premiere at the 18th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2024. Together with the all-electric MINI Cooper and the powerful MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4, MINI is presenting its new model generation in Beijing. Munich/Beijing. MINI fans can look forward to the 18th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2024. From April 25 to May 4, MINI will be presenting the new generation of the new MINI Family at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing. As part of the Chinese motor show with the theme “New

Era, New Cars,” MINI is celebrating the world premiere of the first-ever MINI Aceman. With its independent, all-electric vehicle concept, the MINI Aceman occupies the position between the MINI Cooper and the MINI Countryman. Together with the electric MINI Cooper in both power levels “E” and “SE” and the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 with intelligent all-wheel drive, MINI is presenting the range of its new product portfolio at the Auto China 2024.

Auto China has been held in Beijing every two years since 1990. On more than 200,000 square meters of exhibition space, over 700 exhibitors present their portfolio in what is currently the world’s largest automotive

market.

The MINI Cooper: Maximum emotion in a minimal footprint.

With a fully electric drive, the MINI Cooper is available as Cooper E and with higher performance and range Cooper SE. Together with the octagonal front grille, the iconic round headlights define the distinctive face of the all-electric vehicle. As with the entire new model family, four vehicle trims (Essential, Classic, Favoured, JCW Trim) are available for the MINI Cooper.

At Auto China 2024, MINI presents the Cooper E in Favoured Trim. The exclusive exterior details of the equipment variant are expressively showcased in Sunny Side Yellow with contrasting roof and mirror caps in

white. The MINI Cooper E impresses with 135 kW/184 hp and thrilling acceleration without delay. The battery of the MINI Cooper E (combined power consumption: 14.3-13.8 kWh/100 km according to WLTP; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km; CO2 class: A) achieves a range of 305 kilometers in the WLTP test cycle with a capacity of 40.7 kWh. 28 minutes of charging time at 75 kW is enough to charge the MINI Cooper E battery from 10 percent to 80 percent.

Electrified go-kart feeling with increased range.

In the MINI Cooper SE (combined power consumption: 14.7 — 14.1 kWh/100 km according to WLTP; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km;

CO2 class: A), the spontaneous power delivery of the 160 kW/218 hp electric motor creates even more emotions. The high-voltage battery with a capacity of 54.2 kWh achieves a range of up to 402 kilometers in the WLTP test cycle.

At Auto China 2024, the MINI Cooper SE in British Racing Green is a reminiscent of the racing successes of its classic predecessor.

In Classic Trim, the two-tone black and blue knit surface on the dashboard and doors provides an elegant contrast to the highquality seats made of vescin. The interior of the MINI Cooper is based on the new MINI design language “Charismatic Simplicity.”

The round OLED display, the

characteristic toggle switch bar and the redesigned steering wheel characterize the minimalistic look of the cockpit.

At its booth in Beijing, MINI also presents the Cooper SE in John Cooper Works Trim. The red contrasting roof adds a characteristic highlight to the Legend Grey shade. Exclusive design features such as the distinctive diffusers in the front and rear areas, the radiator grille and the JCW logo in high-gloss black emphasize the sporty character of the trim. In the interior, JCW sports seats with multicolored knitwear and black synthetic leather with red stitching reflect the color scheme of the dashboard and door panel.

eal TH

HHealth board to appeal against planning decision on Health and Well-being Centre

Hywel Dda University Health Board, on behalf of Dyfed Area Planning Board, will be appealing against a decision by Carmarthenshire County Council to refuse planning permission for a Health Improvement and Wellbeing Centre in Llanelli.

The purpose of the centre is to help improve the health and wellbeing of the community and future generations by providing services to the local community for children, young people and adults who wish to seek support with lifestyle behaviour change.

The health board –on behalf of the Area Planning Board (APB) - submitted a planning application in December 2022 for the delivery of the centre at the Anchor Point building in the North Dock area of the town. This was turned down by the planning authority in September 2023.

The application will now be submitted to Planning Environmental Decisions Wales (PEDW), a Welsh Government body which manages casework relating to the development and use of land in the public interest.

The original

planning application included space for the health board’s Health Improvement and Wellbeing public health team, the smoking cessation service, the children and young people’s early intervention and prevention service delivered by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service, psychology services for both adults and children and the health board Community Drug and Alcohol Team.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, Executive Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Following consideration with our partners, we have come to the conclusion that there is a need for a Health and Well-being Centre in Carmarthenshire and that the Anchor Point building in North Dock is the best place for this.

“A new health improvement and wellbeing centre in Llanelli is essential to the health board’s strategy

of shifting services from treating illness, to promoting and supporting wellness, working with partners, communities, patients and public to enable our community to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and tackle the leading causes of preventable ill health and early death.

“Smoking, alcohol and drug misuse are among the leading causes of preventable ill health and early death and tackling these issues are strategic priorities for the health board and members of

the Area Planning Board.

“We engaged with the local community at the time of the original application and although some concerns were raised, there was also support shown for the plans by the local community during the consultation events and at the planning committee.

“The health board will continue to engage with the local community regarding this proposed development.”

National Office for Care and Support formally launched

The Minister for Social Care Dawn Bowden has welcomed the launch of the new National Office for Care and Support, which marks another important step towards a National Care Service in Wales.

With a focus on innovation, improvement and transformation of adult and children’s services, the National Office for Care and Support forms a major part of the Welsh Government’s longer term goal to strengthen social care arrangements at a national level.

The launch of the national office is the first part of the phased plan to implement the National Care Service, which is a shared priority in the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

The National Office for Care and Support will primarily focus on supporting the Chief Social Care Officer for Wales in their role, delivering a National Care Service for Wales, and implementing the National Commissioning Framework for Care and Support in Wales.

Newly-appointed Minister for Social Care Dawn Bowden said:

“The number of people aged 85 and over in Wales is projected to increase by more than 65% over the next 20 years – it is to be celebrated that we are living longer but it also means we need to radically rethink how we care for our older population.

“The launch of the National Office for Care and Support is another important milestone in our ambitious

journey to create a National Care and Support Service. It will be crucial to help guide the sector as it drives improvements in access to care and the experience of service users.

“It will also play an essential role in the integration of health and social care, working closely with the NHS Executive to ensure Wales’ health and social care system is fit for the future.”

Albert Heaney, Chief Social Care Officer for Wales, said:

“The national office will bring together the 22 local authorities, involve people who use social care services, their carers, the workforce, professional bodies, and key partners to work together to delivery national priorities, quality standards, particularly in

relation to commissioning of care and support services.

“It will help me, as the chief social care officer to direct resources where they are most in need and benefit the most vulnerable, driving improvement in the national delivery of social care in Wales to achieve better and more equitable outcomes, access, and service-user experience.”

Plaid Cymru Designated

“As our society gets older we need to look carefully at how we care for our oldest citizens and provide a system that works for everyone and is free at the point of need. The establishment of the National Office for Care and Support is a small but important step in delivering this vision.”

Member Cefin Campbell said:

St David’s Surgery to return General Medical Services contract

HYWEL Dda

University Health Board is working together with St David’s Surgery in North Pembrokeshire to ensure that GP services will continue to be provided in the area following the resignation of the surgery’s General Medical Services Contract.

The decision to resign the Contract with the Health Board was made by the single-handed GP Partner.

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long Term Care for Hywel Dda, said: “We would like to reassure the patients of St David’s Surgery that the provision of these important services will continue for patients.

“We will be working closely with St David’s

Surgery and the wider Cluster to find the best way to secure services for patients.”

For registered patients this means that care will continue to be provided as normal by the same team in the Practice until the end of October 2024. Patients are being advised to remain registered with the Practice while longer-term plans are developed.

The Health Board will be writing to all patients registered at St David’s Surgery to inform them of the situation.

Meanwhile, patients will be invited to share their views as to how these services can continue to be delivered after the end of October.

Ms Paterson continued: “The views of the local Community and

patients will be gathered before any decision is made about the longterm provision for the Service. There will be opportunities to speak to the Health Board at a public engagement event more details of which are to follow.”

“The Health Board will continue to work closely with the Peninsula Working Group established last year, whose membership includes community representatives from St David’s and Solva, and also Llais in order to ensure the high standards of care currently provided continue for patients of this Surgery.

“We very much appreciate the continuing support given by the community to the team at St David’s Surgery throughout this

challenging period.”

For further information, please call 0300 303 8322 (option 5) or email ask.hdd@wales. nhs.uk

Local Senedd Member Paul Davies has reacted to the news that St David’s surgery in North Pembrokeshire has decided to resign its General Medical Services Contract. It’s understood that for registered patients, care will continue to be provided until the end of October 2024 and patients are being advised to remain registered with the Practice while longer-term plans are developed. Patients will be invited to share their views as to how these services can continue to be delivered after the end of October.

Mr Davies said,

“This is a very worrying announcement and patients in the local area will be understandably anxious about what this means for the future.”

“It’s vital that GP services can continue to be delivered in the area in the future and so Hywel Dda University Health Board must be open with patients of the Practice about their plans and address the community’s concerns. Every effort must be made to ensure that patients are able to access services in the long term.”

“I will of course, be raising this with the Welsh Government and urging the Health Minister to do everything in her power to support the Health Board and help ensure patients can access these vital services.”

bu SI ne SS

Top TV chef Chris inspires young pizza entrepreneurs

A POPULAR TV chef has been giving tips to a group of enterprising teenagers who are setting up a pizza making business

The budding entrepreneurs are regulars at Cellb, the innovative community arts complex based at the former police station in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Chris “Flamebaster” Roberts conducted a workshop teaching them the finer points of making dough and adding toppings.

Their new venture, Pizza ‘Stiniog, is based in a converted shipping container that’s been kitted out with three pizza ovens.

Chris went to Cellb with his fellow presenters, standup comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean television presenter Alun Williams, from the S4C series, Alun, Chris a Kiri yn Seland Newydd (Alun, Chris and Kiri in New Zealand) when they drive more than

1,000 miles from Queenstown in south island to Auckland, the country’s biggest city in the north, carrying out various challenges along the way.

The series was made by Caernarfon based television production company, Cwmni Da, who have a longstanding relationship with Cellb, having screened a number of premieres there in recent years, including the latest one starring Chris, Kiri and Alun.

The presenters’ visit to the pioneering project proved a real inspiration for the three would-be pizza makers, all pupils at Ysgol y Moelwyn.

Chris said: “They’ve got an amazing setup with three pizza ovens, two small and one large, and they are capable of making pizzas very quickly so they maximise the number they can cook and serve.

“The lads are very keen and we had a workshop where they

made the dough and rolled them out and added the toppings and cooked them.

“We made some Margherita pizzas to start and then we added some pepperoni and herbs and they were epic,” he said.

Chris, who lives in Caernarfon, added the Cellb garden has planted herbs like basil, thyme and parsley which although are currently out of season will be very useful during the summer.

During the workshop, another group of youngsters filmed Chris at work.

“Once they get going they’re hoping to film themselves cooking and posting their videos online to attract customers. It’s a great idea and it worked for me!” said Chris.

According to Carys Thomas, head of Food and Nutrition at Ysgol y Moelwyn the boys were “buzzing” after their workshop.

“They said it was an amazing experience

beds where we grow herbs and vegetables and the old garage where police vehicles were kept there are two large shipping containers.

“The garage has been soundproofed and provides a safe location for youngsters to rehearse and record their music through the medium of the Welsh.

“The new pizza kitchen has been created in one of the containers and we hope to secure funding to set up a cookery school.

“We were really grateful to Chris for coming along to run a pizza workshop. The youngsters learned a lot and the pizzas they made were delicious.

and they all want to do it again,” she said.

Noa Hughes, aged 14, said: “I love Chris’ programmes and getting the chance to get tips from a famous chef here (at Cellb) was great.”

Jac Roberts, also 14, added: “It was a mega experience getting tips from top chef Chris. He’s banging.”

Rhys Roberts, a key figure at Cellb and a former Anweledig and Sibrydion band member said the workshops put on by Chris, Kiri and Alun had gone down well.

He said: “Cellb has developed a range of activities inside the building. We have created a cinema in the old cells, a cafe as well as a performing space in what used to be the town’s magistrates court.

“We also have a large area outside and here we’ve created areas specifically for young people. It’s called Iard Clinc and in addition to the raised

“Alun led a presentation workshop and Aneurin Thomas, one of Cwmni Da producers ran a filming course which was very useful for the young people. In May Kiri will be returning to Cellb to lead a performing workshop.

“We were also pleased to have the opportunity to premiere the new show. Not many films are made in the Welsh language and we are always keen to showcase such films,” added Rhys.

The pizza workshops were part funded by a Playworks Holiday Project Grant from Gwynedd Council.

The three-part series ‘Alun, Chris a Kiri yn Seland Newydd’ is on S4C on Wednesday nights until May 1.It is also available for streaming on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and other platforms. English subtitles are available.

Captions

It’s a pizza cake... Seth Buckley, Noa Hughes, TV chef Chris “Flamebaster” Roberts, Dion Hughes and Jac Roberts

Pizza masterclass by Chris “Flamebaster” Roberts, watched by Noa Hughes and Jac Roberts

Pictures by Cian Roberts

First Mid Wales Growth Deal project given green light

DURING its meeting on 19th April, the Growing Mid Wales Board approved the Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Elan Valley Lakes project. This decision marks a major milestone for the Growth Deal as the first project to advance to the next stage of development under the Board’s approval.

With this milestone achieved, the project is now poised to progress towards completing a comprehensive Full Business Case, the crucial final step required to secure Growth Deal funding prior to implementation.

On receiving the news, Martin Driscoll, Senior Responsible Owner for the Elan Valley Lakes project and Director of Business Services and People, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, said: “We are pleased that the project has reached such an

important stage as we aspire to deliver a flagship destination in Mid Wales. We believe it will be key to achieving the Growth Deal’s Strengthened Tourism Offer priority area. This project aims to enhance visitor experience, increase revenue, and sustain the natural beauty and environment of the Elan Valley. We look forward to continuing to work with the Mid Wales Growth Deal team to make this happen.”

A Growing Mid Wales Board spokesperson said: “We were pleased to approve the Outline Business Case for this project at our Board recently; it is an exciting milestone to be the first project to reach this step with the Mid Wales Growth Deal so far. There is a lot of work to do with Dŵr Cymru on the project, and we will do what we can to see the Growth Deal

investment leveraged to its full potential and attract investment into the region to enhance and improve our tourism offer.

“Mid Wales is already on the map in terms of outdoor adventure – however, this investment could drive further improvements

to the sector while keeping conservation and sustainability as key priorities.

“The creation of new facilities and assets will help draw in more varied visitors to Mid Wales; creating jobs directly – but also in the wider visitor economy, giving more reasons for

people to visit and stay in Mid Wales, supporting a greater variety of jobs in the leisure, retail, and hospitality industry in the region.”

At the Full Business Case stage, the Elan Valley Lakes project will demonstrate that it is ready to enter into the procurement

phase. This comes after thorough negotiations with potential service providers/suppliers, preceding the formal contract signings and procurement of goods and services. Final approval at this juncture is essential for the release of Growth Deal funding.

P ol ITI c S

POSITIVELY LIBERAL PM targets the sick with benefit cuts

able to elect their Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Dyfed Powys. Some will have already voted by post.

We do not expect a big turnout. This is a shame as PCCs have an important job in holding the police to account. They have many responsibilities including appointing the Chief Constable and setting the police budget. They directly control a large budget which can be spent on community initiatives to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. The current PCC has spent this money in a number of areas including tackling violence against women, antisocial behaviour, supporting Crimestoppers (where people can report crimes confidentially) and tackling substance misuse.

The PCC is not responsible for the day to day delivery of police services (known as ‘operational policing’). This is to make the police free from political interference at an operational level. However, the PCC does have a strategic role and is responsible

order to produce a police and crime plan for their police service. You would also expect a PCC to investigate high profile issues within their police service which affect the public.

Voters in Dyfed Powys can choose from 4 candidates representing 4 parties: Labour, Conservative, Plaid Cymru and my own party, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, where Justin Griffiths is our candidate.

You can find out about each of the four candidates by going onto the following website: https:// choosemypcc.org.uk/

It is right that police officers are allowed to get on with their job on a day to day basis in accordance with the law without political interference. However, the Police need to be accountable for their actions just like every other public service. That accountability is currently provided through a democratically elected Police and Crime Commissioner.

Often the turnout for PCC elections is low and this undermines their credibility. I therefore urge you to go out and vote on 2 May for who you want to be your representative as Police and Crime Commissioner.

One further point, in order to vote you will need to take along an approved form of ID such as a passport, photographic driver’s licence, blue badge, an older person’s or disabled person’s bus pass or a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) issued by the Council (the deadline to apply for a VAC was 24 April).

If you wish to discuss these issues, please contact me at Facebook: AlistairCameronPembs

Twitter: AlistairPembs

Email: alistairc@traseweb.co.uk

ON FRIDAY (April 19), Rishi Sunak announced that his Government knew more about sick individuals’ needs than doctors.

In an effort to stigmatise yet another vulnerable group ahead of a General Election, the Prime Minister declared that he wanted to end the UK’s “sicknote culture”.

Wherever you look, it seems the parliamentary Conservative Party is at war with one culture or another. The ill and disabled are just the next in line.

A RISING TIDE OF ILLNESS

It’s not that the PM doesn’t have a vague point underpinning his rationale.

In Great Britain, 4.2 million working-age individuals – one in ten – claim a health-related benefit.

That number could rise to 5.4 million (12.4%) by 2028–29, a rise of more than 2 million since 2019–20.

The rapid increases in health-related benefits cases that began around the beginning of the pandemic are projected to continue.

Before the pandemic, both incapacity benefits and disability benefits saw about 20,000 new claims per month. By November 2022, that had risen to 51,000 and 43,000 respectively.

In addition, the number of economically inactive people in the UK - those

neither working nor claiming benefits - has markedly increased.

Calculations using forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Scottish Fiscal Commission imply that 5.4 million working-age individuals (12.4%) will receive a health-related benefit by 2028–29. That assumes that the rates of new awards will slow from their current levels but still be far above the pre-pandemic norm. If the recent pace of new awards persists, the number of recipients in 2028–29 would be 5.8 million.

As a result of the rise in cases, spending on disability and incapacity benefits for working-age people rose by £12.8 billion to £48.3 billion between 2019–20 and 2023–24 (2024–25 prices).

The latest forecasts imply a further rise to £63.7 billion by 2028–29 – a £28.1 billion increase.

For context, total expenditure on ALL working-age benefits in 2028–29 (including incapacity and disability benefits) is forecast to be £144 billion. Meanwhile, Old Age Pensions already cost the Government £138bn, a figure forecast to rise to £165bn by 2027.

The current asylum system costs the UK around £3bn a year.

PROPOSALS NOT EVIDENCE-BASED

The Prime Minister said: “We don’t just need to change the sick note;

we need to change the sick note culture so that the default becomes what work you can do, not what you can’t.

“Building on the pilots we’ve already started, we’re going to design a new system where people have easy and rapid access to specialised work and health support to help them get back to work from the very first Fit Note conversation.

“We’re also going to test shifting the responsibility for assessment from GPs and giving it to specialist work and health professionals who have the dedicated time to provide an objective assessment of someone’s ability to work and the tailored support they need to do so.”

Although the rising cost of these benefits will be a pressing concern for the next Government, the lack of clarity on what is fuelling the rise makes designing the right policy response much more difficult.

The idea that the increasing number of claimants is a transitory phenomenon following the Covid pandemic is for the birds. The change seems long-term.

Although the number of new claims is highest among young workers, one-in-six of 60-64-yearolds now get a healthrelated benefit.

Mubin Haq, Chief Executive of the abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, said: “Before the pandemic, around one in thirteen claimed a health-

related benefit. That could rise to one in eight by the decade’s end. This matters as the growth in poor health and disability increases the likelihood of people being locked out of the workforce at a time when the UK faces acute labour shortages.

“A range of fators, such as the pandemic, NHS waiting times and conditionality in the benefits system, are likely to contribute to this rise. However, much remains unknown.

“Cutting or reducing access to benefits would lead to severe hardship for millions with additional needs and fail to address the underlying conditions we now face.”

GOVERNMENT

FOCUSSED ON EFFECTS NOT CAUSES

Therein lies the fundamental problem with the PM’s announcement.

The Government has no idea what is driving increased claimant numbers or rising economic inactivity. given his leadership of a parliamentary party of which Liz Truss is a member, Mr Sunak appears unaware of the debilitating effects of poor mental health.

The PM gave no clue how the Government would fund a new system, who would carry out fitness assessments, what qualifications they would have, or even how he proposed to square the circle between the demand for staff and its

supply. Government contractors’ farcical handling of PIP claims and the Universal Credit fiasco suggest that trying to do things on the cheap via outsourcing could prove an expensive disaster.

Until Mr Sunak can answer those questions, his announcement is little more than performative and empty rhetoric.

The Centre for Mental Health claims the Prime Minister’s comments about mental health and work are not based on robust evidence and could lead to policies and practices that do more harm than good, Centre for Mental Health chief executive Andy Bell said: “There is clear evidence that mental ill health is becoming more prevalent among younger people in particular. Mental health services are struggling to grow fast enough to keep up with rising demand for essential support.

“Suggesting that this is due to an overmedicalising of the everyday challenges of life, while too many people struggle to access the mental health support they need, may discourage people from seeking vital support when they need it.

“Being in work can be positive for many people’s mental health, but only in workplaces with good working conditions, fair treatment and decent pay. Supporting better mental health at work would help more people to fulfil their potential and return to

time to see more patients.

“Recent progress means issuing these notes can now be undertaken by “other doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

“With a waiting list of 7.5 million—not including for mental health problems— delays to diagnostics and resulting pressures on GP practices, patients cannot get the treatment they need to be able to return to work.

work if they need time off for their mental or physical health.

“The Prime Minister’s suggestion that Personal Independence Payment eligibility may be further restricted for people with mental health problems will cause great concern to many people for whom this benefit is a lifeline.

“PIP is a benefit paid regardless of whether a disabled person is in work or not to help with the extra costs of being disabled. It’s already hard to get. Restricting it further will cause more people to lose vital support.

“If the disability benefits system is ‘unsustainable’, the Government should take action to deal with the causes of higher numbers of people needing support for their mental health, not take away the help people get to deal with the consequences.

BMA: “PM MUST DITCH HOSTILE RHETORIC”

Dr Katie BramallStainer, chair of England’s General Practice Council, said: “Fit notes are carefully considered before they are written, and a GP will sign their patient off work only if they are not well enough to undertake their England’s “We recognise the health benefits” of good work. Most people want to work, but when they are unwell, they need access to prompt care.

“Further review of how fit notes are issued may relieve the administrative burden on GPs, freeing up

“So rather than pushing a hostile rhetoric on ‘sicknote culture’, perhaps the Prime Minister should focus on removing what is stopping patients from receiving the physical and mental healthcare they” need, which in turn prevents them from going back to work.”

D’ Kathryn McKinnon, chair of the occupational medicine committee, said: “The announcement of ‘a move towards a national occupational health service’, as DWP Minister Mel Stride put it, can be a positive step for the UK workforce and economy. However, we have concerns with the level of detail provided. Specifically, how this will be delivered considering the level of staffing, training and supervision, as the existing OH workforce is already under pressure.

“We need to see the details on how it will be implemented. This seems like an announcement made out of nowhere with no thought or reasoning into how huge this could be to occupational health, which “is currently a commercial enterprise in the UK.

“We believe that every worker in the UK deserves to have access to occupational health (OH) and medicine. As it currently stands, OH is often a benefit certain employers give.

“The PM’s announcement put more emphasis on occupational medicine through the Work Well program, which was announced in budget 2023 and then went silent.

“We hope this leads to universal occupational health services for all workers in the UK and would like further details from the Government.”

LAST Saturday I joined with the Co-operative Party and USDAW, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, to speak out against retail crime and to speak up for our retail workers, who deserve dignity and respect at work. It has taken the Conservatives ten years to heed what Labour, the Co-operative Party and USDAW have been saying, and introduce a specific offence for assault of a retail worker.

I also asked local stores about their experience of shoplifting, which has been at soaring levels across the UK, with an offence almost every minute of the day. Labour has been calling for the Tories to scrap their Shoplifter’s Charter, which is leaving criminals to steal with impunity. The rule, brought in by Theresa May in 2014, introduced a new category of ‘low-value shoplifting’ to describe theft of goods worth under £200 and has led to police deprioritising enforcement in these cases - even where there are repeat offences or organised shoplifting. Businesses and retail workers should not be at the mercy of criminals and paying the price. Labour will remove the Tories’ £200 rule, and we pledge to put 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the streets and introduce a Community Policing Guarantee

to tackle shoplifting. Policing in Dyfed Powys will cost £168 million in 2024/25. How that money is prioritised on protecting us and preventing crime really counts. I will work with all levels of government so that we keep a local neighbourhood policing presence rooted in our communities. Community views must be represented in policing. I hope, if elected, our County, Town and Community councillors, as well as local organisations, will play a key role in helping me keep in close touch with you. I’ve already received plenty of emails about issues ranging from motorcycle theft, firearms licensing and wildlife crime, as well as retail crime.

If you’d like to find out more about my campaign to be our next Police and Crime Commissioner there’s more at www.facebook.com/

PhilippaThompsonLabour

I hope you’ll consider giving me your vote on Thursday 2 May to be our next Police and Crime Commissioner.

Philippa Thompson Labour & Co-operative Party Candidate for Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner

WITH PHILIPPA THOMPSON

Plaid cymru call for cap on political donations

A PLAID CYMRU motion calling for a cap on political donations will be debated in the Senedd next week.

It comes after major controversy around the donations accepted by Labour First Minister Vaughan Gething.

Mr Gething accepted a £200,000 donation from convicted environmental polluter David Neal of Dauson Environmental Group to his leadership campaign for the Labour leadership in Wales.

Subsequent reports revealed that Dauson Environmental Group Ltd was £400,000 in debt to the Development Bank of Wales, a bank wholly owned by the Welsh Government. The loan was awarded to the company when Vaughan Gething was the economy minister.

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said that in accepting the hefty donation from an individual “who he knew had been found guilty of environmental

offences”, Mr Gething had demonstrated a “contemptuous attitude towards political donations”.

Mr ap Iorwerth said it raised “wider questions about the First Minister’s judgement”.

Plaid Cymru has called for an independent inquiry into the saga to “bring this sorry chapter to a close”.

The Plaid Cymru Leader called on the First Minister to support Plaid Cymru’s calls for an independent inquiry and a cap on individual donations to restore the Welsh public’s trust.

Rhun ap Iorwerth said, “In accepting £200,000 from an individual he knew had been found guilty of environmental offences, Vaughan Gething has demonstrated a contemptuous attitude towards political donations.

“Not only would the eye-watering sum of money not meet public approval, but it also

raises wider questions about the First Minister’s judgement.

“Only an independent inquiry can bring this sorry chapter to a close.

“The purpose of having our parliament is to be able to do things differently and better. The First Minister seems utterly disinterested in

seizing this opportunity.

“If he is to have any chance of restoring the Welsh public’s trust, the First Minister must urgently rethink his

refusal to commission an independent inquiry and commit to supporting Plaid Cymru’s calls for a cap on individual donations.”

Crime Commissioner candidate welcomes retail crime crackdown

A RAFT of new measures has been announced in the fight against epidemic levels of shoplifting on our highstreets.

Increased use of tagging for repeat offenders and the rollout of facial recognition cameras are part of the crackdown.

A new standalone offence for assaulting a shop worker will carry a sentence of up to six months in jail or an unlimited fine. Criminal Behaviour Order will also ban offenders from returning to that shop.

The moves have been welcomed by Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner candidate for Dyfed Powys, Ian Harrison.

Ian said: “Shoplifting is the scourge of our highstreets. Local shops are the heart of our communities,

especially in rural areas, and this sends out a tough message to those who think it is acceptable to rob local businesses and abuse the people who work in them.”

“Of particular concern is the appearance of organised shoplifting gangs, targeting our smaller High Street retailers. One local shopkeeper advised me that police response has been woefully inadequate.”

Announcing the crackdown, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “I am sending a message to those criminals – whether they are serious organised criminal gangs, repeat offenders or opportunistic thieves – who think they can get away with stealing from these local

businesses or abusing shopworkers, enough is enough.”

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said the voices of three million people working in retail had finally been heard after relentless campaigning for a specific offence for assaulting shop workers.

She said: “Victims are ordinary hardworking people –teenagers taking on their first job, carers looking for part-time work, parents working around childcare. This announcement sends a clear message that abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.”

Retail crime is reported to cost business across the UK over £1bn every year.

WG to “refine” 20mph limit

IT’s fair to say the Welsh Government’s 20mph default speed limit policy has been controversial.

The Senedd’s Petitions Committee recently considered the biggest petition in Senedd history, calling on the Welsh Government to scrap the policy. It attracted a record-breaking 469,571 signatures.

The Welsh Government has now said changes will be made to how the policy has been implemented.

When the default speed limit on restricted roads in Wales changed from 30mph to 20mph last September, there was strong public opposition, demonstrated by the petition. Stories of 20mph signs being vandalised

were common.

There’s since been a change in the First Minister and the Transport Minister.

During his leadership campaign, the new First Minister, Vaughan Gething MS, said the Welsh Government had “got some of the communication side wrong” around the policy.

Last week, the new Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates MS, (the Cabinet Secretary) echoed the First Minister’s view, touching on plans for a “national listening campaign”. However, neither the First Minister nor Cabinet Secretary has said the policy will be scrapped.

The Senedd also recently rejected a

motion for the policy to be reversed. Instead, Labour used its majority to pass a wrecking amendment that recognised “the need to refine its implementation”.

During the debate, the Cabinet Secretary suggested a “need to make sure 20 mph is truly targeted” in places “where children and the elderly are at risk”.

The Cabinet Secretary set out plans to engage with the public and stakeholders to achieve “the right speeds on the right roads”.

Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “Although I support the principle of widespread 20mph zones, it’s clear that it was implemented very poorly and inconsistently, with too many roads changing to

20mph in places where it felt unreasonable.

“The Welsh Government must push ahead now and sort it out, working with local authorities and communities to ensure that limits are properly reviewed, and unreasonable 20mphs are removed.”

Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, said: “Correcting guidance will not be enough to ease concerns.

“The Welsh Conservatives want to see this policy scrapped and have given the Labour Government a number of opportunities to vote to do so. A more targeted approach is needed with the support of the Welsh people.”

BLUE VIEW

WITH STEPHEN CRABB MP

THERE is a common perception in the communities around the Withyhedge Landfill site that The Welsh Labour Government have turned Pembrokeshire into a dumping ground for waste from across South Wales.

On Tuesday I met again with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to try to get answers to the many questions that people in Pembrokeshire have about what is causing the stink at Withyhedge Landfill.

Since November, I have been inundated with emails, letters, phone calls and contacted via social media about the unacceptable odour coming from Withyhedge Landfill, as well as the excessive amount of ‘Atlantic Recycling’ lorry traffic on the road headed for the site. I have experienced it driving on the A40, and I am acutely aware that the smell continues to travel further and affect a large number of residents not just in the local villages of Spittal, Crundale, Rudbaxton and Treffgarne, but further afield in the neighbouring areas of Roch, and Newgale and parts of Haverfordwest.

Wales Online covered the story last week - and it is good to see the Withyhedge Landfill get the national attention it deserves. The story uncovered some shocking revelations and what has become clear is that waste and landfill disposal means big business, and big money. Otherwise, how could the owner of the RML landfill site be able to donate £200,000 to Vaughan Gething’s leadership election campaign? In a Welsh context, a £200,000 donation to a single politician is unheard of. The fact that the company that made the donation is so heavily engaged in activities regulated by Welsh Government raises questions in itself, but the revelation now that it was also the beneficiary of a Development Bank of Wales loan of £400,000 is extraordinary.

The First Minister needs to step forward and state whether he knew about the Development Bank loan to Dauson

Group and, if so, why he felt able to accept the donation to his campaign. He was Economy Minister at the time and the Development Bank came under his portfolio. It is in the public interest to know the exact size of the loan, what was the stated purpose of the loan application, and why a company that was so reliant on a Welsh Government-owned bank loan was in a position to donate money to Vaughan Gething’s political campaign.

It is clear that instead of standing up for local people, Pembrokeshire Labour are backing Vaughan Gething, with the Mid and South Pembrokeshire candidate providing his full support in his leadership campaign.

The lack of progress on enforcement action is appalling, and as we move ever closer to the summer months, with warmer weather on the cards, I am acutely aware that this problem may worsen.

I continue to engage in discussions with PCC, NRW, Public Health Wales (a branch of Welsh Government), as well as Welsh Government Ministers to try and get clear answers on next steps to address the issues. The Conservative Group within PCC also attempted to move a motion at full council urging the Labourleaning cabinet to begin enforcement proceedings. Last week I wrote to the First Minister directly about this. I am yet to receive a response.

Meanwhile, my constituents just want their quality of life back. This unacceptable situation has dragged on for months and the landfill site must not be allowed to continue operating in the way it does. Welsh Labour has turned Pembrokeshire into a dumping ground for waste from across South Wales on the back of the contracts secured by this company.

The situation at Withyhedge Landfill is a prime example of Welsh Government failing to regulate and take enforcement action against a company that has consistently let down local residents.

death notices

Gwenifor RICHARD

RICHARDS Gwenifor

Peacefully at Glyn Nest Baptist Home on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, Gwenifor Mary Richards (formerly of 6 Green Meadows, Pembroke and a retired teacher) aged 95 years. A much loved aunt of Anne, Alan and Ian, great-aunt to Tiffany and Nicholas and great-great-aunt to Matilda. Strictly private funeral service at Blaenwaun Chapel, St. Dogmaels. Further enquiries to Colin Phillips and Daughters Funeral Directors, Cardigan. Tel: 01239 621192.

Martha Mary LAURETTA Davies

Martha Mary LAURETTA

Davies Fishguard In Loving Memory Who passed away peacefully on 25 April 2023. Treasured Mother of Andre, Lisa and Gerald, Dearest Nan of Daniel and Blaine and a Cherished Great Grandmother. Our lives go on without you But nothing is the same, We have to hide our heartaches When someone speaks your name. Sad are the hearts that love you Silent the tears that fall, Living our hearts without you Is the hardest part of all. You did so many things for us Your heart was kind and true, And when we needed someone We could always count on you. The special years will not return When we were all together, But with the love within our

hearts You will walk with us forever. X X X

Joyce Hunt

HUNT Joyce of Haverfordwest Joyce passed away peacefully on the 31st March 2024 at Withybush Hospital aged 93 years. Widow to the late Ronald, loving sister of Margaret and aunt to David. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Enquiries to Roy Folland & Son Funeral Directors (01437) 763821

Barry Webb

WEBB Barry Passed away aged 95 on 17th April 2024 in Newmarket, Suffolk, with his children by his side. He is survived by David and Sally, six grandchildren and four great granddaughters. Barry and Hazel lived in their beloved Pembrokeshire for 47 years. Barry was the manager of the Gulf Oil refinery, Commodore of the Dale Yacht Club and a member of two Probus groups in Pembrokeshire. The funeral is at the West Suffolk Crematorium on 29th April 2024 at 13.30 followed by afternoon tea.

Mary Ruth Evans

EVANS Mary Ruth David and Paul wish to thank family and friends for their kind messages, numerous cards, support and sympathy on their very sad loss. We would like to show our appreciation to the Minister Mr R James for taking the

service at the crematorium in Narberth, Pembrokeshire. Also we would like to thank Mr Treharne of E C Thomas and Son of LLanteg for his guidance, help, kindness and dignity shown to us in arranging the funeral. Also thank you Mr Treharne, for receiving donations to the Cancer Day Unit at Withybush General Hospital.

Michael Goslin

GOSLIN Michael St Flor-

ence The death occurred at Park House Court, Tenby Cottage Ward, Tenby on Thursday 11th April of Mr Michael Reginald Mulvey Goslin, he was aged 83 and from St Florence. Michael is survived by his wife Jayne, daughter Belinda, and grandson Alex. The funeral service takes place on Tuesday 30th April at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth at 1.45pm There will be family flowers only, donations if desired, can be made payable to the “RNLI”. c/o Funeral Directors W & M J Rossiter & Sons Ltd, The Old Rectory, The Norton, Tenby, SA70 8AB or Landsker House, 21 Station Road, Narberth, SA67 7DR or viawww.rossitersfunerals.co.uk

David Hackett

HACKETT David Pembroke

Dock The death occurred at home on Wednesday 3rd April 2024 of Mr. David Hackett, aged 61 years, of Spring View, Pembroke Dock. David will be sadly

missed by his family and friends. Survived by his son and daughter Nathaniel and Jessica Hackett. The funeral service will take place on Friday 3rd May 2024 at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth at 2:30pm. There will be family flowers only. Should you wish to make a donation in memory of David, please kindly forward to The Pembrokeshire Foodbank Head Office, Liberty Café, Grace Court House, Market Square, Narberth, SA67 7AU. Funeral arrangements are being carried out E.C. Thomas & Son Funeral Directors, 21, Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS (01646) 682680 & Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH (01834) 831876.

Mair Hughes

HUGHES Mair Yn Ysbyty Glangwili ddydd Llun, Ebrill 15, 2024, hunodd Elizabeth Mary (Mair) Hughes, Caerwen, Heol Aberystwyth, Aberteifi (gynt Crymych) yn 98 mlwydd oed. Priod annwyl y diweddar Glyn, mam gariadus, Carol, Llifon a’i briod Carys, mamgu arbennig Rhys a Nerys, Steffan, Sion a Tristan, hen-famgu balch Heidi a Noa, a modryb hoffus. Gwasanaeth cyhoeddus ddydd Sadwrn, Ebrill 27 yng Nghapel Seion, Crymych am 2.30 o’r gloch. Rhoddir i orffwys ym Mynwent y Capel. Blodau’r teulu yn unig, rhoddion, os dymunir i ‘Capel Seion’ trwy law y Trefnyddion Angladdau, Colin Phillips a’i Ferched 4 Stryd Morgan, Aberteifi SA43 1DF Ffon: 01239 621192.

Jean Letitia Reynolds

REYNOLDS Jean Letitia

Peacefully on Monday 15th April at Parc y Llyn Nursing Home, Jean of Hayscastle. Beloved wife of the late Leslie, loving mother of Andrew and Ian and their partners Susan and Nicola, much loved grandmother of Stephanie, Thomas and Grace and cherished great grandmother of Chloe. Funeral service on Saturday 27th April at Noddfa Newton Chapel, Hayscastle at 2pm followed by interment in the Chapel cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu if desired, made payable to ‘Withybush Hospital Cancer Day Unit’ or ‘British Heart Foundation’ c/o Paul Jenkins & Sons Funeral Directors, Feidr Castell, Fishguard, SA65 9BB. Tel: 01348 873250.

Mary Elisabeth Ann (Liz) REES

REES Mary Elisabeth Ann (Liz) Peacefully at her home on Monday 8th April 2024

Mary Elisabeth Ann (Liz) Rees of Dudwell Farm, Camrose aged 72 years. Beloved sister and sisterin-law of Charles and Ruth, much loved aunt of Tom and Mary and great aunt of Rory. The funeral service will take place on Thursday 2nd May, 10:30am at Keyston Chapel. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, made payable to the Guide Dogs For The Blind may be sent c/o Jackie Williams,

Croesgoch Farm Stores, Croesgoch, Haverfordwest, SA62 5JP Further enquiries to F. G. Rees & Sons, Haverfordwest. Tel: 01437 764418.

Harry Hanger

HANGER Harry Birthday memories of a loving Husband, Dad and Grandad

HARRY HANGER 25th April. Although there are no cards to send today, In our hearts you will always stay. Loved and remembered everyday. You were simply the best. Love from Susan, Jonathan, Joanne, Mike, John, Ben and Jessica. x x

Dorothy Gwendoline Johns

JOHNS Dorothy Gwendoline

Templeton The death occurred peacefully on Sunday 7th April 2024 at Withybush Hospital of Mrs. Dorothy Gwendoline Johns, aged 83 years of Templeton, Narberth. Dearly loved Mum to Deborah, Helen, Clive, Adrian and Colin. Much loved Motherin-law. Treasured Nanny to Thomas, James, Harvey and Dylan. The Funeral service will take place on Thursday 25th April at Zoar Chapel, Llanteg, Narberth at 3.00pm followed by cremation at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth at 4.00pm. There will be family flowers only with donations in lieu if desired for Salvation Army (Tenby Branch) c/o E.C. Thomas & Son Funeral Directors, Zoar Chapel Funeral Home, Llanteg, Narberth SA67 8QH (01834) 831876 & 21, Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS (01646) 682680.

le TT er S & no TI ce S

PIc Ture oF THe week!

Tenby by Drew

Buckley

UNFAIR TWO-CHILD LIMIT TO BENEFIT PAYMENTS

DEAR SIR, I was shocked to learn, via new research from the End Child Poverty Coalition, that 1200 children in our constituency are impacted by the unfair two-child limit to benefit payments. Which equals 10% of all children in this area. Alongside this, the figure for child poverty for Ceredigion is 30.0%.

We don’t limit access to the NHS to two children per household. We don’t lock children outside of the school gates and say that education isn’t for them just because they have older siblings. So why, when a family faces tough times, do we deny a child the support they need to stay fed, housed and

healthy, just because they happen to have more than one older brother or sister.

This is the reality for the 1.5 million children impacted by the unfair two-child limit, which is essentially a sibling tax. Removing this tax means that younger siblings will get the same support as their brothers or sisters.

I understand that in order to address the increasing numbers of children in poverty, the End Child Poverty Coalition are calling for an end to the twochild limit to benefit payments, as part of their All Kids Count campaign. If the government were to do scrap this policy which prevents larger families from claiming child related benefits for their third or subsequent child, 250,000 children would immediately be lifted out of poverty.

Rachel McAdam

EIGHT RARE CHOUGHS WERE SPOTTED DEAR SIR,

I am delighted to share with your readers a remarkable observation made on April 14th, 2024, at Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park, Gwbert, Cardigan, West Wales.

No fewer than eight rare choughs were spotted simultaneously on the cliffs overlooking Cardigan Island, which lies about 200 metres offshore. This sighting, recorded by a keen bird-watcher from Cardiff and his wife, marks the largest group of choughs I have witnessed in my 77 years residing here; previously, the most I had seen at one time was four. This significant increase is an encouraging sign for both avid bird-watchers and environmental

conservation efforts.

In addition to the choughs, the couple also enjoyed sightings of skylarks in our clifftop field and a group of guillemots on the island. Such diverse avian activity highlights the rich biodiversity of our region.

I would also like to propose a potential project that could further enhance our local ecosystem and economy. In the 1930s, puffins thrived on Cardigan Island until they were eradicated by rats from the shipwrecked SS Hereford in 1935. Although the Ministry of Agriculture successfully exterminated the rats in the 1960s, the puffins were never reintroduced. The “Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales,” the current owners of the island, could consider reintroducing puffins sourced from the overcrowded

Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire. These vibrant and iconic birds would undoubtedly attract tourists, boosting local business and enhancing the natural diversity of Cardigan Bay.

Such a project would not only be economically beneficial but also relatively inexpensive and profoundly positive for our local wildlife. I urge the Welsh Government to consider supporting this initiative with appropriate funding in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust. The potential returns and spin-offs for Welsh tourism and the economy of West Wales could represent one of the best investments in our region’s future.

Thank you for considering these insights.

Yours faithfully, L.J. Jenkins Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park

Friday April 26th 2024

www.pembrokeshire-herald.co.uk

www.pembrokeshire-herald.co.uk

For up to date news please check our social network channels

ServIceS

CARAVANS

CAR PARTS

CARPENTRY

CAMERAS & PHOTOGRAPHY

CLEARANCES

ELECTRICAL

FENCING, DRIVEWAYS AND LANDSCAPING

FABRICATION

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING

HAIRDRESSING

HANDYMAN

OVEN CLEANING

TSP or

Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double

Two thrilling semi finals last weekend has meant Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road will meet in the senior cup final this coming Saturday.

Goodwick faced Pennar Robins in their semi final who pushed the champions very hard. Carl Vincent will be disappointed but proud of the Robins as they gave a great account of themselves. However in the end Goodwick’s quality and experience just was too much for Vincent’s team.

The other semi was an absolute thriller, and after a nail biting game Matthew Fox’ Clarby progressed to the final. A offside call has sparked a lot of debate around the county. However it seems that linesman Jenkins made an absolute perfect call so credit to him for that.

Both teams would have wanted a nice

week of preparation for the final, maybe without any games to play.

Unfortunately this hasn’t been possible due to the fixture backlog and both outfits have played already this week.

Goodwick will be favourites of course,

however if anyone can upset the apple cart Saturday it’s this Clarbeston Road team. Fox’ outfit have impressed over and over this season. Without too much pressure on them, they are in a good place going into the final.

The double at one staged looked like the minimum Goodwick would be aiming for this season. However losses in other cup competitions, means its Senior Cup success or just the league title for the outstanding team of the season. Oddly

becoming champions with no cup success maybe seen as a huge disappointment considering their dominance this season. A unique pressure. However if anyone can handle that pressure it’s O’Sullivans outfit.

Monkton Swifts reserves eye up double

MONKTON SWIFTS reserves have blown away the second division this season and now have the double in their sights. They face Merlins Bridge reserves in the semi final of the second division cup and lived up to

their favourites tag.

Swifts won comfortably with key player Butland getting three assists and Josh Sture grabbing a brace. Waterman and Rhys Sture added the other goals as outstanding Monkton won 4-0.

Herbrandston and

Johnston played in the other semi final and this was a much harder fixture to call. The promoted Herbie a younger and perhaps less physical outfit in comparison to the Tigers. Johnston quickly took control of the game when they

Tenby hit five against Bridge

ON a beautiful day in Tenby, the hosts welcomed Merlins Bridge to The Clicketts, fresh from their West Wales semi final defeat midweek.

The Bridge squad was missing some influential players after picking up some injuries and the visiting team asked questions over the fitness of the pitch, which, according to the Bridge

management, was too hard.

The referee waved these away and the game was on, with the Tenby squad clearly thinking they were already in the heads of the Bridge team.

Almost straight from Kick off Tenby set their stall out with some great attacking play, which Jerome Mansbridge benefitted from in just the

second minute putting the home team ahead.

The bridge players weren’t at the races and Tenby capitalised scoring a further 4 first half goals, including a Mansbridge hat trick, leaving the away team bewildered and 5-0 down at half time.

What could have been a hugely embarrassing defeat for a team that harboured title

found themselves two up after just 29 minutes.

However when Scott Murray was shown a red card just eight minutes later, Herbie would have been confident of staging a comeback. Despite being a man light, Johnston held Herbie until the

hopes at the beginning of the season, turned around somewhat at half time, when Dai Davies, the club captain, almost singlehandedly dragged them to a much higher level in the second half, ensuring his players kept their discipline and worked hard against a very good Tenby team.

Undoubtedly Merlin’s Bridge were the better team in the second period, but the damage had already been done in the first half, and despite

final minute of the 90, when Alex Ouzman gave Herbie late hope. The Tigers held firm however and progress to the final where they will be underdogs. A tag that I’m sure the players and manager Steven Allen won’t mind too much.

Bridges best efforts, the score remained 5-0 to the home team.

In a game which saw Tenby jump to 4th in the league, they can be hugely proud of their season and will look to build on that for their next in Division one.

A fantastic game on a beautiful day with a good home crowd watching, the team from the Clicketts will be justifiably happy with their afternoons work.

Welsh swimmers set to make a splash at this year’s Olympics

WELSH athletes Medi

Harris, Matthew Richards, Daniel Jervis, and Kieran Bird are set to represent Team GB in the Olympic pool programme, while Hector Pardoe, who secured a bronze medal at February’s World Championships, will compete in the 10km open water marathon event.

Comprising over 15 percent of the 33-strong British swimming team, the Welsh contingent will showcase their skills at La Defense Arena in July and August.

Matthew Richards, aged 21, made history by clinching Wales’ first gold medal in the pool in over a century during the 4x200m Freestyle relay in

Tokyo three years ago. Following an impressive display at the Speedo Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, Richards secured nomination times across the 50m, 100m, and 200m Freestyle events in Paris, where he will also contribute as a vital member of the relay teams.

Daniel Jervis, a distance specialist from Swansea University, is returning for his second Games, having finished fifth in the 1500m final in Tokyo. Despite facing setbacks, including missing out on the 2022 Commonwealth Games due to COVID-19, Jervis triumphed by claiming the British title and surpassing the nomination time.

Reflecting on his selection, Jervis expressed his excitement for the upcoming Games and gratitude for the support he has received from his loved ones. He acknowledged the challenges he has faced since Tokyo but affirmed his resilience and determination to overcome them.

Kieran Bird, another Tokyo participant, secured the British 400m title at the London Aquatics Centre, narrowly missing the nomination time by two tenths of a second. Nevertheless, his consistent performance earned him a spot in his second Olympic team.

Medi Harris of Porthmadog will make her Olympic debut

in France, boasting an impressive record of Commonwealth, European, and World medals since the previous Games. As a Backstroke specialist, Harris qualified as part of the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle relay team at the London Aquatics Centre.

Outside the pool, Hector Pardoe, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian, will compete in his second consecutive Olympic marathon swimming event despite an eye injury curtailing his medal aspirations in Japan. Joining him is Hayley Baker, coach of Swim Wales and Swansea Aquatics, who will lead the marathon swimming team in Paris.

Fergus Feeney, CEO of

Swim Wales, expressed immense pride in the Welsh athletes selected for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, highlighting their representation as a significant achievement for the nation’s aquatics community.

Ross Nicholas, National Performance Director of Swim Wales, commended the five selected athletes for their dedication and performance, emphasizing their hard-earned spots on the Olympic team as a testament to their commitment to the sport. With a blend of returning Olympians and a debutant, Nicholas expressed excitement for what the Welsh athletes can accomplish in Paris.

Medi Harris

Matt Richards

Daniel Jarvis Kieran Bird

Three Welsh hockey players heading to Olympics

GREAT BRITAIN’S women and men have both secured their berths at the Paris 2024 Olympics through FIH Qualification tournaments held in Valencia and Muscat.

Welsh players Rupert Shipperley, Jacob Draper, and Sarah Jones were instrumental in GB’s journey to qualification.

The FIH qualification tournament marked Sarah Jones’ return to the GB matchday squad after a hamstring injury had sidelined her, preventing her participation in December’s Pro League series in Argentina.

In Spain, the women’s team finished second in their group to hosts Spain, securing a spot in the final four.

The GB women triumphed over Ireland 2-1 in the FIH qualifiers bronze-medal match, securing Olympic qualification alongside Spain and Belgium.

Sarah Jones scored her fifth international goal for GB, earning

herself the player of the match award.

Meanwhile, the GB men showcased dominance in their Olympic qualifying campaign in Oman, tallying 16 goals in their opening three pool matches against Pakistan, Malaysia, and China. They clinched a spot in Paris after defeating New Zealand 3-1 in the semifinals.

Despite their formidable performance, the men’s team

Mark Williams Out

MARK WILLIAMS, the esteemed Welsh snooker maestro, encountered a bout of frustration during his inaugural round at the World Snooker Championship, facing off against Si Jiahui.

Amidst the clash, as tensions mounted, Williams found himself compelled to vent his vexation by delivering a forceful punch to his cue, an act witnessed by spectators as he then relinquished the cue to an eager fan occupying the front row.

Regrettably, Williams’s journey in the World Snooker Championships was curtailed prematurely, as he bowed out in the first round. The formidable Si Jiahui emerged victorious in their encounter on Tuesday. Initially, Williams had maintained a slender lead of 5-4, yet the tide turned decisively in Jiahui’s favour, with the scoreline shifting to 7-5. A palpable manifestation of Williams’s mounting frustration manifested as he found himself trailing by

settled for the silver medal after narrowly losing to Germany 1-0 in the final of the World Championships.

“It was quite an eventful tournament, especially with a significant fall in the first match, but I’m thrilled we managed to pull through and secure qualification for the Olympics later this year. Bring on Paris!” said Jones, who contributed to GB’s bronze medal win at the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

58 points with a mere 59 remaining on the table.

The pivotal moment arrived with a missed pot to the centre, prompting Williams to unleash his frustration upon his cue with a forceful blow. Surprisingly, he then elected to bestow his cue upon an attendee situated in the front row, before retreating to his corner. Despite Williams’s efforts, a comeback failed to materialise, culminating in Jiahui’s unexpected triumph with a 10-9 upset.

Post-match, during a press conference, the three-time champion was queried regarding his intentions for the next year’s championship. Williams, who will reach the milestone of 50 years next year, responded with contemplation, stating, “Who knows? I’ll be 50 years of age next year. I looked around and loved every minute of it. Whether or not I’ll be back again, I don’t know. I’m not considering my future really, just it’s a tough game. You keep getting back to these venues and it’s hard.”

Welsh swimmers set to make a splash at Olympics