News
Is Pembrokeshire home to the UK’s littlest hell raiser?
MOTORCYCLISTS with a passion for biking often pass on this enthusiasm to their sons and daughters, with children’s motorbikes, scooters and bikes often high on lists to Santa.
One of the UK’s leading motorcycle insurance brokers, Carole Nash, is inviting those in Pembrokeshire to submit photos that capture little ones zooming around, to show how their passion for biking can start from a very early age.
The competition will be helped judged by the company’s ambassador, two times World Superbike Champion, Jonathan Rea, who will be selecting the top 10. The chosen winner will receive a brand new toy motorbike worth up to £150, just in time to ride around this Christmas!
Rebecca Donohue, Head of Marketing at Carole Nash, said: “We know that many bikers share their love for bikes with their little ones and therefore we want bikers in Pembrokeshire to capture this passion and share a photo with us.”
“With the festive season just around the corner, the prize would be the perfect gift for a little one to find under the tree this Christmas, especially if it’s already on Santa’s list!”
World Superbike Champion, Jonathan Rea, added: “As I have two young boys of my own who love riding around on toy motorbikes, I know just how excited a child would be to win this competition. I can’t wait to see all the entries come through, although I am sure it is going to be tough narrowing them down to a top 10!”
If you’re a parent who has your very own little hell raiser, you can take part in the search to find the nation’s best. Simply share your photo with Carole Nash by visiting its blog here: http://www.carolenash.com/news/1742-little-hell-raisers
Permission to enter the competition must be sought from the parents in the photograph. Please check the terms and conditions before uploading an image. Competition ends at 12 noon on the December 2.
Business
Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services
PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.
In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.
The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.
Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.
Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.
Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”
“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”
“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”
“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”
Business
Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end
TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.
The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.
Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.
Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.
“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”
Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.
“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”
News
Welsh Water has increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’
NEW figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Dwr Cymru discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 23,354 hours last year, a 40% increase on 2022.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in Welsh waterways.
The party has also called for a halt on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.
Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.
The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our nation’s rivers and waterways without consequence.
“It’s beggars’ belief that both the UK Conservative Government and the Welsh Labour government are allowing water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism.
“We as a party are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local waterways. We have also called for a halt on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”
-
Crime2 days ago
Letterston man pleads guilty to making extreme Cat A images of child
-
News2 days ago
Family heartbroken by loss of ‘larger than life character’ in M4 crash
-
News14 hours ago
Police ask motorists to avoid A44 trunk road due to heavy snowfall
-
Crime6 days ago
Haverfordwest parent found guilty of school attendance failings
-
Sport3 days ago
Rocky delivers knockout blow
-
Sport6 days ago
Can Galdo’s men regain form? Can Cosh do the great escape? Division Two Preview
-
Crime1 day ago
Woman will quit the booze after seeing shocking drunken video in court
-
Business3 days ago
Savers to close its Haverfordwest store in another blow to county town