Community

Paul Davies MS calls for review of parking charges in Ceredigion following concerns

Published

3 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

SENEDD Member for Ceredigion Penfro, Paul Davies, has called on Ceredigion County Council to urgently review its policy on car parking charges, following growing concerns from local businesses about the negative impact charges have on trade and town centre footfall.

Mr Davies wrote to the Leader of the Council on May 18, to highlight the challenges faced by businesses across Ceredigion’s towns, where rising parking costs are seen as a deterrent to people visiting local high streets. He urged the local authority to listen carefully to the concerns being raised and to review these charges.

In his letter, Mr Davies wrote: “I’m writing to raise concerns regarding car parking charges across Ceredigion, and to urge the local authority to do all it reasonably can to minimise these costs for individuals spending time in towns throughout the county.

“This is a serious issue for local businesses, many of whom have made it clear that car parking charges risk deterring people from visiting our high streets and towns. Any resulting decline in footfall would have immediate and damaging consequences for local trade and, more broadly,for the county’s economy.

“At a time when our high streets are already facing significant challenges, | believe it’s unacceptable that additional financial barriers have been introduced. The Council should be actively supporting its high streets and town centres and encouraging people to visit, not implementing measures that make doing so more difficult and less affordable.

“The concerns raised by both residents and businesses are justified and cannot be ignored. The Council must act on these concerns and urgently review the decision to introduce or increase car parking charges, with a view to reducing their impact.”

Many locals have voiced their concerns on social media, commenting on the “outrageous” cost of parking and the cost of public toilets, claiming that Ceredigion County Council are to blame for the loss of footfall in the area.

Mr Davies said: “Car parking charges add yet another barrier to people visiting our towns and high streets and can be detrimental to local businesses, at a time when many businesses are already facing significant economic pressures.

“Our high streets are the backbone of our communities and play a vital role in the local economy. If people are put off visiting because of the cost of parking, then businesses will inevitably suffer. This is not only short-sighted but risks causing long-term damage to the vibrancy of our towns.

“The Council must act on the valid concerns being raised and review its parking policy as a matter of urgency. The focus should be on encouraging footfall, supporting local trade, and ensuring that our town centres remain accessible and affordable for everyone.”

Community

Cardiff’s new Hollywood Bowl XL seeks enthusiastic ‘Chief Fun Officers’

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

HOLLYWOOD BOWL XL has launched an exciting opportunity to find a lucky winner and their family to be the ‘Chief Fun Officers’.

With work set to complete on the stunning new multi-entertainment centre at St David’s shopping centre, local bowling enthusiasts are invited to apply for the chance to test and experience all that the new centre has to offer, ensuring it provides top-tier entertainment for the community to enjoy.

The new centre will feature 20 ten pin bowling lanes, interactive darts, electric go-karting and a live sports bar. This marks the first time the brand has added e-karting to one of its venues, adding a new layer of high-speed competition to the Hollywood Bowl XL experience.

The successful winners will get to test the state-of-the-art bowling lanes, complete with advanced scoring systems, indulge in sampling a variety of delectable food and drink, including American favourites such as hot dogs, burgers, chicken wings, shakes, and signature cocktails (for adults only) and have a go in the state-of-the-art amusements area.

To enter, families must submit a 60 second video entry sent via an Instagram DM to @hollywoodbowluk and explain why they think they should win by midnight on June 19, 2026.

Family participation is encouraged – children can apply for the role with the accompaniment of a parent or guardian. Families also have the option to apply and enjoy the experience together (maximum 2 adults and 3 children). Entries will be judged on creativity, enthusiasm and personality

Jeremy Verecchia, Area Support Manager, said: “Getting the community involved with our new centre is important to us. We want to make sure we’re offering the best experience possible, so what better way to do that than by hearing directly from families and bowling fans? We can’t wait to see who will join us in this exciting new role at Hollywood Bowl XL Cardiff St David’s!”

Hollywood Bowl is the UK’s leading ten-pin bowling and competitive socialising brand and is encouraging families to apply via Instagram with the successful winner bringing their family with them for the experience.

All entrants under 18 will need parent/guardian approval and attendance on the day. Entries are now open via an Instagram DM to @hollywoodbowluk and are being accepted until June 19.

The lucky family will be selected and contacted by June 26 and will need to be available when Hollywood Bowl XL Cardiff St David’s opens to claim their prize. The winning family will be the first to step through the doors of the brand-new centre and bowl at an invite-only pre-opening event on July 15, making it a true VIP experience!

Bookings will open shortly at hollywoodbowl.co.uk and customers are encouraged to sign up to the VIP mailing list for updates and exclusive offers at https://www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk/cardiff-st-davids

Want to work at Hollywood Bowl XL Cardiff St David’s? Recruitment is underway for over 50 roles including team members and management positions. Candidates who wish to find out more information and apply should visit https://careers.hollywoodbowlgroup.co.uk/our-roles.

Community

HMS Erebus exhibition opens as Pembroke Dock marks 200-year milestone

Published

11 hours ago

June 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK HERITAGE CENTRE has marked the 200th anniversary of the launch of HMS Erebus with a special event celebrating one of the town’s most remarkable maritime stories.

HMS Erebus was built at the Royal Dockyard in Pembroke Dock and launched on June 7, 1826, before going on to become one of the most famous exploration vessels of the 19th century.

The ship later took part in major polar expeditions, including voyages to Antarctica, before being lost during Sir John Franklin’s doomed Arctic expedition. Its wreck was discovered in Canadian waters in 2014, reigniting worldwide interest in the vessel and its Pembrokeshire origins.

The anniversary event was attended by supporters, volunteers and visitors, with music from folk trio Broadoak and a presentation by Professor Russell Potter on the ship’s extraordinary career.

The Heritage Centre thanked everyone who helped make the event possible, including its volunteers, catering team, musicians and guest of honour Professor Potter.

The new exhibition, HMS Erebus: From Dockyard to Discovery, opens to the public on Monday (Jun 8).

Professor Potter will also give a public talk, From Land’s End to the Ends of the Earth: The Eventful Career of HMS Erebus, at 10:30am.

Community

Welsh legal and housing charities share in £3.9m consumer justice funding

Published

12 hours ago

June 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WELSH legal and housing advice charities are to receive funding from a £3.9 million grants programme using unclaimed money from a major class action case.

The Access to Justice Foundation has announced the recipients of its Improving Lives Through Advice 2026 programme, which will support 16 organisations across the UK over three years.

The money comes from unclaimed settlement funds from the Gutmann v SW Trains case, also known as the Boundary Fare class action.

In Wales, the organisations named include Citizens Advice Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent, Cyngor ar Bopeth Powys Citizens Advice, Speakeasy Law Centre, also known as South Wales Law Centre, and Shelter Cymru.

The foundation said the funding is being directed to areas where class members were based and where access to free legal advice is most needed.

Although no Pembrokeshire organisation is named directly, the funding is likely to support services used by people across Wales, including those facing housing problems, debt, benefits issues, consumer disputes and difficulties accessing legal advice.

Clare Carter, chief executive of the Access to Justice Foundation, said: “Unclaimed funds from collective actions represent a significant opportunity to strengthen access to justice.

“These organisations are the first point of call for people to understand and enforce their rights. This grant round will ensure that the outcomes of collective actions are felt by consumers across the UK.”

The foundation said the programme had been heavily oversubscribed, with 315 applications seeking more than £70 million in support.

It said the level of demand showed the pressure facing free legal advice services, with many charities now acting as the first and only place people can turn when trying to enforce their rights.

The Access to Justice Foundation said more than two thirds of adults in England and Wales face a legal problem each year, while more than 11 million people do not get help to resolve their legal issues.

The grants programme is the first in the UK to redistribute unclaimed class action money in this way.