News
Snow falls across Pembrokeshire [LIVE UPDATES]
HEAVY SNOWFALL across Pembrokeshire yesterday (Mar 1) has resulted in the county waking up to a white wonderland this morning.
All schools are closed today after shutting early yesterday afternoon and are scheduled to re-open on Monday (Mar 5).
A council spokesperson told the Herald: “Due to the forecast bad weather, all schools in Pembrokeshire are to close from 1 pm today (Thursday, 1st March). They will also be closed tomorrow (Friday, 2nd March) and, it is envisaged, will re-open on Monday (5th March).
“This pre-emptive action has been taken in light of the Met Office forecast of deteriorating weather conditions this afternoon and to avoid unnecessary congestion on the road network.”
The temperature is not expected to rise above freezing all day.
Due to the snow impacting our delivering services, this week’s edition of the Herald is free for all and available to read online.
MORE SNOW
More snow is falling across the county. Conditions of roads are likely to get worse.
TRAVEL WARNINGS
Pembrokeshire County Council gritting crews have been working non-stop throughout the night to keep the county’s main road network open.
However a section of the ‘mountain road’, the B4329, remains closed as does the B4313 between New Inn and Llanychaer although this is expected to re-open shortly.
Highway crews have been utilising the Council’s fleet of 15 gritting vehicles (fitted with snow ploughs) and two snow blowers to keep main roads open.
Once the primary road network is clear, work will commence on secondary and then minor roads in the county.
The Council has cancelled refuse collection services due today and all schools and main Council buildings remain closed including leisure centres, libraries, day care centres and civic amenity sites.
Darren Thomas, the Council’s Head of Highways and Construction, said that the Authority was prioritising services to those who most required assistance and was working closely with other agencies including health, police, fire and ambulance services.
COUNCIL SWITCHBOARD
Pembrokeshire County Council are only taking emergency calls: “Due to the weather conditions our contact centre are only able to take emergency calls on 0845 6015522”
COUNCIL FIXING BOILERS
Pembrokeshire County Council say they are working on broken boilers: “In the last two days Pembrokeshire County Council has received 407 emergency calls for boiler/heating related problems.
“There were 10 private heating engineers and seven Council plumbers allocated to this work.
“Some 334 cases have either been remedied or, where this was not possible, temporary heating facilities made available.”
ARRIVA CANCEL TRAINS IN SOUTH WALES
Arriva Trains Wales have been cancelled for all South Wales, disrupting many travel plans.
A spokesperson said: “Customers are advised not to attempt to travel on Arriva Trains Wales services for the whole of the South of the network.”
FIRST CYMRU BUS CANCELLATIONS
All First Cymru services are terminated from 6pm.
“A decision has been made to terminate all of our services early this evening#AmmanfordDepot, #Trawscymru #LlanelliDepot & #CarmarthenDepot: Services will be completed & back to the depot by “7.30pm #HaverfordwestDepot: All services will be completed & back to the depot by 6pm
BIN COLLECTIONS CANCELLED
Bin collections have also been cancelled today by Pembrokeshire County Council.
A spokesperson said: “As there was no refuse or recycling collection today, householders are asked to take in any black or orange bags they may have left out. Collection will be arranged for a later date which will be publicised in advance.”
CLINICS CANCELLED
Hywel Dda University Health Board has said that the following clinics are cancelled today:
• Opthalmology, Crymych Health Care Centre, Pembrokeshire
• General Surgery, Mr Beasley, Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen
• Rheumatology, Withybush Hospital, Pembrokeshire
Steve Moore, Chief Executive at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We would like to thank all who have assisted staff and patients today with their travel and we urge everyone to keep safe and warm through this period.”
GAS SUPPLIES
Wales & West Utilities Gas Emergency service have issued a statement: “Yesterday was a significant challenge for us.
“We received an emergency call once every 16 seconds and responded to more than 1000 gas emergencies.
“The majority of these were frozen condensate boiler pipe issues, which is something we cannot help customers with.
“If you have an issue such as this with your gas boiler or any other gas appliance please call a Gas Safe Registered (GSR) Engineer or your gas supplier.
“For a GSR Engineer in your area call 0800 408 5500 or visit gassaferegister.co.uk.
“You can find the contact details of your gas supplier on your bill.
“Our priority is responding to gas emergencies to keep people safe and save lives, and we really appreciate the support of local people to only call the number if it’s an emergency as we work hard to get to those who are most in need.”
COMMUNITY APPEAL
Kayleigh Kitts messaged us on Facebook to share the news of her appeal to help those in local communities.
She said: “Alot have people have offered to help/visit/check on elderly & Vulnerable people tonight and assist with Transport for those who need to get places!!! with the weather conditions we are in! Snow Likely to be here tomorrow!!!The Following People are willing to visit/check on your family & friends who are alone in an area your unable to get to!!! There are also people with 4 X 4’s are offering help to (have seen Posts on here)xx If you can help, pop your name in comments and areas you can cover!!!!”
You can help by visiting her post here.
ST DAVID’S PARADE CANCELLED
A scheduled St David’s Parade tomorrow (Mar 3) has been cancelled.
COASTGUARD HELPING OUT
Fishguard Coastguard have posted this on Facebook:”Two trips were made into Haverfordwest to ensure hospital staff could get in safely, the main roads are passable but side roads in many areas remain dangerous.
“It’s not all cliffs & beaches for us you know.”
News
Too many children in Wales living in poverty – Lib Dems want action
THIS week in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats renewed their demands for the implementation of child poverty targets.
According to a report from the Bevan foundation, 29% of children living in Wales are currently experiencing poverty (an estimated 190,000 children).
The same report highlighted that the largest percentage of children living in poverty are from working households or in couple households.
The Welsh Lib Dems are now renewing calls for the Welsh Government to create a set of targets for reducing child poverty, which the party argues will allow for more accountability.
The party has previously called for the implementation of targets, citing recommendations from the Calling Time on Child Poverty Report published in November last year.
Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “The latest statistics on childhood poverty in Wales paints a very distressing image of families across the country struggling to make ends meet.
Over the course of the last six years, the proportion of children in poverty has skyrocketed. Fuelled by worsening economic conditions and a complete lack of action from both governments in Westminster and Cardiff Bay.
We cannot act complacent about these figures nor accept the clear lack of progress in fighting child poverty, behind each statistic is a child that the state has failed.
It remains painfully clear that the Welsh Government is failing to make any meaningful progress in this fight, which is why they must follow through with the implementation of clear set targets that will allow for further accountability.
We as a party have continuously called for the creation of these targets and we will not be silenced. For the sake of future generations we urge the Welsh Government to listen.”
Crime
Welsh constabulary areas record another increase in shoplifting
RETAIL trade union Usdaw is deeply concerned by today’s police recorded crime statistics showing that in 2023 there were significant increases in shoplifting across all constabulary areas in Wales. In the whole of England and Wales there has been a persistent upward trend since the pandemic, which continued with a 37% increase and has now risen to the highest level in 20 years.
The Office for National Statistics released figures showing a 39% increase in shoplifting incidents across Wales and by constabulary area as follows:
- Dyfed-Powys +11%
- Gwent +47%
- North Wales +23%
- South Wales +51%
Usdaw’s 2023 annual survey of over 5,500 shopworkers found that 60% had suffered incidents of violence, threats and abuse that were triggered by shoplifting and armed robbery.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers. Having to deal with repeated and persistent shoplifters can cause issues beyond the theft itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers. This 39% increase in shoplifting across Wales is further evidence that we are facing an epidemic of retail crime, which is hugely concerning.
“Our members have reported that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in the stores and we know that retail workers are much more likely to be abused by those who are stealing to sell goods on. Our latest survey results show that 7 in 10 retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. 60% of respondents said theft from shops and armed robbery were triggers for these incidents.
“The scale of assaults, abuse and threats towards shopworkers and extent of the retail crime epidemic has been a disgrace for many years. This has been made worse by police cuts and a failure to legislate to protect retail staff. Usdaw has long called for action that includes a standalone offence for assaulting a shopworker and that has been vehemently opposed by this Government and their Conservative MPs on many occasions.
“Recently the Government performed a long overdue U-turn after many years of sustained campaigning by Usdaw and others. Our members have had to wait too long for their voices to be heard and common sense to prevail. We will have to see the detail of what Ministers are proposing and we are clear that it must be at least what we won in Scotland three years ago. It also cannot fall short of Labour’s commitments to 13,000 more uniformed officers, patrols on high streets, banning repeat offenders and ending the perverse £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters.
“The dither and delay by this Government on this issue over many years, has led to thousands of shopworkers needlessly suffering physical and mental injury. Today’s stats should ensure that their promise to legislate is done speedily. We hope that whatever the Government is proposing will be substantial and effective in giving shopworkers, key workers in every community, the respect that they have long deserved and regrettably too often do not receive.”
Business
Paramount’s key role in transformation of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet
FAST-growing Welsh company Paramount is relishing the challenge of creating an “irresistible dining destination” after winning the contract to play a key role in the multi-million transformation of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend.
The Cardiff-based design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist will spearhead the re-development project of the shopping centre after being handed responsibility for revamping its popular food court over the summer.
In the coming months, the development will see the Food Court transformed into three modern, and bright restaurants, welcoming new food and beverage brands to the centre and creating more than 100 new job opportunities for the local community.
Paramount’s Construction Director, Paul Thomas, said: “The team behind the scenes at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend have fantastic plans for the future and we’re delighted to have been entrusted with the mission to help turn their exciting vision into a reality.
“Paramount prides itself on creating places where people want to be, and my team are relishing the opportunity to help create what will be an irresistible dining destination. It’s certain to be a complex project, but we have the expertise and local knowledge to deliver outstanding results in close collaboration with our project partners.”
The owners of the shopping centre, which has been attracting local people and visitors for more than 25 years, have promised a “substantial investment to redevelop the Food Court area and replace it with new and exciting restaurants”.
Now the Paramount team is ready to lay the groundwork by removing some existing structures around the Food Court and will then introduce a series of new features as part of the overall facelift. These include new glazed entrance doors within glazed curtain walling shopfront, render and a new entrance lobby with new stairs and lifts.
The work to completely develop the Food Court in the shopping centre starts this week, and is expected to be completed in late autumn. As a result, customer favourites including Nando’s, McDonald’s and Chopsticks will be closed while work is under way.
Patrick Finney, Head of European Construction, McArthurGlen Group, said: “After celebrating our 25th anniversary last year, we’re extremely pleased to welcome Paramount on board in this important step of revitalising the Food Court area.
“These are exciting times for everyone at one of South Wales’ best-loved retail complexes and we know Paramount will work closely with us to create a truly special place for diners and shoppers of all ages.”
Paramount, whose turnover reached £45 million in 2023, employs 60 people who own a majority shareholding of the business – 51 per cent – following completion of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) scheme in 2021, a deal which marked a major milestone for Paramount after a period of sustained growth.
The company is well known across Wales and England where it has created high-quality inspirational space for a number of leading companies. These include the multi-million-pound redevelopment of Hodge House and Fusion Point One in central Cardiff, and the fit out of Par 59 bars in South Wales and South West.
Over the next few months, Paramount’s construction team will also be completing on a multi-million-pound social housing development in Porthcawl, Mid-Glamorgan with Valleys to Coast.
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