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Sir Thomas Picton School are top quizzers

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top quizzersCHILDREN from a Haverfordwest school beat pupils from across the country to win the final of the National Schools Liaison Core Programme Quiz 2014.

The National final took place in the Copthorne Hotel, Cardiff. The four teams competing for the national trophy were the successful regional winners from each of the Welsh force areas.

They were Caldicot Comprehensive School, representing Gwent, Dwryfelin Comprehensive School, representing South Wales, Sir Thomas Picton School, representing Dyfed Powys and Ysgol Y Creuddyn, Penrhyn Bay, representing North Wales.

Each of these teams comprised of five, year eight pupils, who have devoted considerable time and effort in learning information about the three main themes of the Core Programme: Drug and Substance Misuse, Social Behaviour and Community and Personal Safety.

During the quiz, hosted by Kevin Johns, from Swansea Sound Radio, the teams answered questions on, drugs and substances, antisocial behaviour, arson reduction, personal safety, road safety, health issues, ages in law and were also tested on their powers of observation.

Tension mounted as the rounds progressed with all the teams only having a few points between them at the start of the final round. At the end of round six, everyone waited in anticipation for the final score to be announced. Kevin John then confirmed the winning school as Sir Thomas Picton School from Haverfordwest with an overall score of 62.

All the participants received a plaque and certificate presented by Mr Alun Michael, the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales. As an extra surprise and thank you for all the pupils’ hard work they were presented with an iTunes voucher and the winning school received a HP Laptop with software and case from G4S Group 4 Securicor.

As an extra treat the next day the teams were involved in a visit to Cardiff Gate Fire Service Training Centre and Techniquest, before travelling back to their home areas.

Linda Roberts, All Wales School Liaison Core Programme Co-ordinator said: “The success of this event is based on effective partnership. Therefore, I would like to thank the Fire and Rescue Service for their commitment as without their support, this event would not be possible. I would also like to thank our other partners in this venture who have contributed time and effort to make this evening a success, specifically, Healthy Schools, Road Safety Wales, the Welsh Internet Safety partnership WISP, Crime stoppers, and BRfm Ltd.” Assistant Chief Constable Pam Kelly said: “My congratulations go to Sir Thomas Picton for winning but also to the other teams who took part. Engaging with young people in this way will enable them to discover important information about their personal safety, the dangers of substance misuse and good social responsibility. I am also very grateful to those who have organised and supported the competition.”

The team members of Sir Thomas Picton School, were: Ashwin Gunasekaran, Sophie Layton, Tom Long, Elizabeth Rowland and Euan Mc Sweenay.

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Business

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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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”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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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.”

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Welsh Water has increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’

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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.”

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