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Consultation statement not whole story

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Council was 'unfair and unreasonable': Dr Nick Poole

Council was ‘unfair and
unreasonable’: Dr Nick Poole

EMAILS leaked to The Pembrokeshire Herald show that senior staff at Sir Thomas Picton School refused to agree a statement on an investigation into the conduct of a student ballot because it failed to explain that no complaints had been made against any member of staff.

When the Council decided to investigate the conduct of the consultation at Sir Thomas Picton it couched its letter to parents by reference to a single complaint and invitedcorrespondents to contact them if they had any concerns about the school’s handling of the consultation.

Having asked for ‘concerns’, no doubt Kate Evans-Hughes was relieved that there were no takers for her kind invitation. The letter to parents did not make clear that the complaint arose following a presentation by the pupil-led school council which took place in the presence of an independent observer and which was followed by a ballot overseen by the same observer.

Dr Nick Poole was at pains to ensure that the Council, which said that 10 students were told they had to complete the consultation response, presented the facts.

And what appear to be the facts are:

  1. Far from a consultation response, pupils were asked to complete a simple ballot paper containing a single question following a school assembly;
  2. The pupils’ presentation was viewed and approved by an independent adult
  3. No staff asked, still less ordered, pupils to complete their responses;
  4. The ballots were tallied in the presence of an independent adult.

The Council refused to make all of these clarifications, which would have significantly recast its, response. That statement suggested that regardless of the findings of its investigation, the Council was dissatisfied with the conduct of the ballot.

The gulf between the wishes of those involved at the school to provide ‘an accurate reflection’ and the actions of the County Council, which refused to agree to report matters accurately, appears to have increased the possibility of ‘bad feeling and mistrust being generated’.

Regardless of how the consultation process concludes, there will be bridges to be built by the Council. Whether they find receptive staff and governors prepared to be ignored again remains to be seen.

 

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. sjb

    July 23, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    Will someone PLEASE sack our bullying Council Officials – they are our servants surely ? TOO BIG for their VERY expensive shoes!

  2. private jet charter Chicago

    April 10, 2026 at 11:30 pm

    I found this very helpful and will be sharing it with my friends.

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Land Rover swallowed by tide at popular Welsh beach

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A LAND ROVER Discovery has been lost to the sea at Abersoch after becoming stranded on the resort’s Main Beach.

The vehicle, worth tens of thousands of pounds, was spotted by early morning dog walkers on the sand at the Gwynedd coastal village before being completely covered by the incoming tide at around 10:00am.

Stranded on sand

Images circulating on social media showed the 4×4 marooned on the beach, with some locals initially questioning whether the pictures were genuine.

However, witnesses later confirmed the incident, with one RIB owner reporting: “People are paddleboarding over its roof!”

It is believed the vehicle may have become stuck while being used to recover a boat trailer or jet ski.

‘Not the first’

Locals said the incident was a familiar sight at the popular seaside resort, where vehicles have previously become trapped by soft sand and fast-moving tides.

One man wrote: “Not the first and it won’t be the last.”

Another joked: “The tide comes in. Who knew?”

Others described it as the start of the “silly season”, when coastal mishaps increase as visitor numbers rise.

Expensive mistake

New Land Rover Discovery models can cost around £80,000, while Discovery Sport models start from about £55,000.

Commenters suggested the vehicle’s off-road reputation may have given the driver false confidence.

One wrote: “It probably gave him a sense of security that it can go anywhere — we all know it can’t.”

Recovery expected

As the tide began to recede, boat owners reported the outline of the vehicle starting to reappear beneath the water.

Recovery was expected to require a beach tractor, but seawater damage means the Land Rover is likely to be written off.

One local said: “Very sad to see that something went wrong. You see many cars go into the sea to retrieve boat trailers, and you know that car will be rotten very soon afterwards.

“There’s a reason why old tractors are used.”

Despite the flood of “can’t park there” jokes and “Chelsea tractor” comments online, many said they felt sorry for the owner, who now faces what one person called a “very expensive weekend.”

 

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Community

Cllr marks 10th blood donation and urges others to give blood

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A PEMBROKESHIRE councillor has urged more people to become blood donors after receiving his 10-unit donation badge from the Welsh Blood Service.

Cllr Thomas Tudor said he was pleased to receive the recognition and encouraged anyone who is able to donate to come forward.

He said: “If you can give blood, please do so.”

The Welsh Blood Service says hospitals in Wales need around 350 blood donations every day to support patients in need.

A single donation can help up to three patients, as blood can be separated into different components and used in different ways to help people recover.

The service is calling for donors from all backgrounds, including first-time donors and those who have given blood before, to help maintain supplies for hospitals across Wales.

Giving blood is described as quick, simple and safe, and remains one of the most important ways members of the public can help save lives.

Anyone wishing to find out more can contact the Welsh Blood Service on 0800 252 266, Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 7:00pm, or Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. They can also email [email protected].

Caption:

Cllr Thomas Tudor giving blood after receiving his 10-unit donation badge from the Welsh Blood Service.

 

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Welsh Labour manifesto pledge: Direct London train for Milford Haven

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WELSH LABOUR has unveiled a pledge to deliver a direct rail service between Milford Haven and London – a move that would transform connectivity for communities across Pembrokeshire.

This commitment builds on £50 million of UK Labour investment to upgrade rail services to Milford Haven.

Work is already underway, in partnership between the Welsh Labour Government and Pembrokeshire County Council, led by Council Labour Leader Paul Miller, to transform Milford Haven railway station into a modern Public Transport Interchange – delivering smoother, better connected and more accessible journeys.

Together, these upgrades will pave the way for direct London services to call at Milford Haven, alongside an hourly service and vital level crossing safety improvements delivered by the UK Labour Government.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “This pledge sits alongside a record commitment to rail in Wales – up to £14 billion of investment, new stations and a transformed Metro. But this is about more than just a rail line.

It’s about opening Pembrokeshire up – bringing more people to one of the most beautiful parts of Wales, strengthening our tourism sector and creating new opportunities for local businesses to grow.

“And as we do that, we’re doing it the right way – backing a greener economy, making it easier for people to travel sustainably, and ensuring that growth benefits our communities. This is how we build a stronger future for West Wales – with better connections, more opportunity and an economy that works with our environment, not against it.”

Welsh Labour candidate for Ceredigion Penfro, Marc Tierney added: “A direct train to London from Milford would be a game changer for our communities – boosting tourism, supporting local businesses and making it easier for people to live and work here.

“The work underway to transform Milford Haven station into a modern transport hub, alongside plans for an hourly service, shows what Welsh Labour can deliver when we work in partnership with local authorities – investing in the infrastructure our communities deserve. With new funding from the UK Labour Government and a strong partnership in place, we can now go further.

“Welsh Labour is delivering the investment and the ambition needed to ensure West Wales is at the forefront of modern, connected and accessible transport.”

The pledge forms part of Welsh Labour’s wider plan to modernise public transport, strengthen regional connectivity and ensure no part of Wales is left behind.

 

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