NO FORMAL application for Pembrokeshire council proposals for a £40m-plus road realignment scheme at flood-hit Newgale will be made for at least a year-and-a-half following a decision by senior councillors.

Newgale was hit hard by flooding following storms in early 2014 storms, and later by Storm Dennis in 2020.

In 2014 it even saw a visit by the-then Prime Minister David Cameron following the storms.

A public consultation – through agent AtkinsRéalis – was launched last year ahead of a formal council application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for Phase 1 of the Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project, which would see the development of a new inland section of road with bridge over Brandy Brook some 2.3km inland, to replace the coastal section of A487 at Newgale that will be closed.

Varied claims have been made about the cost of this scheme, from £20m upwards, some even saying it could cost as much as £60m, with millions spent on consultation fees to date.

An alternative, cheaper, scheme had been proposed by STUN – Stand Up for Newgale, proposing a section of the shingle bank at Newgale be realigned 10-12 metres seaward leaving an over-wash barrier between it and the A487 to capture any pebbles and sea water.

In a report heard at the February 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, presented by Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett, members received an update on the scheme, which included a formal submission, abandoning it, and the favoured option of putting it on hold for a period of between 18 and 24 months.

The option recommended: “Acknowledge that the scheme is required to be delivered, in light of climate change, the work undertaken to date and the results of the WG Roads Review and Pre Application Consultation.

“However, taking into account the current financial climate and the immediate risk to the A487; pause the scheme prior to submitting planning application, and review the position in the next 18- 24 months.”

It also recommended maintain surveys of the scheme “with a view of future progression of the scheme to planning application as the scheme is required in the long term,” along with reviewing  “options available for short term improvements, including passing places and signage, to the division route implemented during road closures as a result of storm/ flooding impacts at Newgale through the Regional Transport Plan Funding,” and to “continue to review external funding options to support the delivery of the construction phase of the project”.

Cllr Michelle Bateman said the proposal “strikes the right balance” on what will be a long-term issue, and was “the best way forward at the current time”.

Leader Cllr Jon Harvey said it was “the right call to make at this particular time,” stressing there may be a change in Welsh Government’s priorities after May’s elections.

Members, by eight votes to one, backed the recommendation; a lone voice was Cllr Jacob Williams, who said he was “pleased the scheme is being parked,” adding the “unaffordable” proposal was unlikely to change in 18 months’ time.

Page disappears hours after offensive post sparks outrage across Pembrokeshire

A FACEBOOK page that presented itself as a local news outlet but repeatedly targeted The Pembrokeshire Herald and its editor has disappeared following a wave of public criticism from residents and charity workers.

The page, operating most recently under the name Clear Line News, published a lengthy post on Sunday (Feb 9) describing Pembrokeshire in highly offensive terms and mocking community groups, volunteers and local reporting.

Within hours, the post triggered widespread condemnation online.

By the end of the day, users reported the page had changed its name to “The Devil’s Feed” before becoming unavailable altogether.

Criticism arose after Marty Jones, PR manager for Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity, shared a screenshot of the post on his personal Facebook page and questioned its tone.

Dozens of residents replied, describing the language as “vile”, “nasty” and “beyond comprehension”.

Several said they had been blocked by the page after challenging it.

Others expressed particular anger at comments they said were directed towards a bereaved mother connected to a local fundraiser.

One commenter wrote: “How they can speak to a bereaved mother that way is beyond my comprehension.”

Name change and closure

As criticism mounted, users reported the page had been renamed before disappearing completely.

By Monday morning, it could no longer be accessed.

Earlier identity

The page’s history has also drawn scrutiny.

Before operating as Clear Line News, the account previously used the name “Dyfed-Powys Neighbourhood Watch”, presenting itself in a way that some residents believed suggested an official or community safety organisation.

A company using a similar name — GWARCHOD Y GYMDOGAETH DYFED-POWYS NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH LIMITED — was incorporated on Nov 4, 2024, according to Companies House records.

The filing listed the director as Ajay Owen, recorded as “Lord Ajay Owen”, with a correspondence address in Llanfyrnach.

The company’s stated activities included public relations, communications and public order and safety functions.

Companies House records show the company was dissolved on Feb 18, 2025.

During the period when the page appeared to carry Neighbourhood Watch-style branding, it accumulated more than 1,000 followers, including engagement from public bodies such as Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

After several rebrands, the page later emerged as Clear Line News in late 2025, adopting the look of a local news site.

Much of its content, however, focused on opinion pieces and attacks on local institutions and individuals.

Distancing statement

Following Sunday’s controversy, Mr Owen posted a statement saying he previously owned the page but no longer controlled it and had requested its removal.

Shortly afterwards, the account disappeared.

He told The Herald in December that he had sold the page for £10 within days of relaunching it under the new name. The purported new owner could not be contacted and no independent details confirming the transfer were provided.

Community response

While Pembrokeshire residents accept robust debate and scrutiny, many said they rejected what they saw as inflammatory or abusive social media content masquerading as journalism.

One resident wrote: “We should be grateful for where we live and try to make it better, not tear it down.”

Whether the page returns under another name remains unclear.

For now, it appears a site that set out to criticise the community ended up undone by that same community’s response.

A £1,000 grant from Nacro is set to strengthen grassroots support for neurodivergent children, young people and adults across Carmarthenshire.

CANDO (Carmarthen Aberystwyth Neurodiverse Outreach Group) has secured the funding through the Connecting Carmarthenshire Preventative Service, enabling the volunteer-led organisation to expand its practical, person-centred work with local families.

Operating under the message “We see your future whatever the past”, CANDO supports people who often struggle to access the right help, feel heard, or find stability in everyday life. The new funding will increase capacity, provide resources for inclusive sessions, and improve access to early support for those who might otherwise slip through the net.

The group works closely with individuals and families to reduce barriers and build confidence — whether through education guidance, wellbeing support, advocacy, or help navigating local services. Leaders say the grant will allow them to respond more quickly to growing demand and keep sessions welcoming, accessible and consistent.

A CANDO spokesperson said: “This grant is amazing news for our community. Neurodivergent people can face extra pressures — from isolation and anxiety to difficulties being understood in education and services. This support will help us reach more people, provide practical help, and keep showing up for those who need someone on their side.”

Nacro’s wider mission mirrors that approach. The charity works across education, housing, justice, health and wellbeing, providing tailored support to help people build independence and move forward. Alongside frontline services, it also campaigns to remove systemic barriers and give disadvantaged people a stronger voice.

For CANDO, that bigger picture is felt locally. Families often face complicated pathways, long waits and fragmented services, and need clear guidance and community-based help that understands neurodiversity. By intervening early — before challenges escalate — the group believes it can improve mental health, education outcomes and overall wellbeing.

The £1,000 grant will fund additional outreach, materials and practical resources, helping more people feel safer, more confident and better equipped to move forward.

CANDO added: “We’re proud to work alongside Nacro’s vision of a society where everyone has the chance to succeed. This funding will do real good — right here in Carmarthen and beyond — and we’re grateful for the belief it shows in our community.”