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Immigration control separates family

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visaA PEMBROKESHIRE hotelier has been forced to set up a brand new local tourist business on his own whilst his wife awaits a Visa to enter the UK. 

As the British Government is forced to tighten working visas, during the current climate of immigration hysteria, it seems that a family are caught up in the red tape that is forcing them to live apart, separating a devoted Asian born mother, Koi Leng Chi (Jan), 47, from her young children who have British dual citizenship, along with her husband of 21 years who is a British National. Mr Rummery started by telling The Herald, “There are probably many people in the same situation. I’m extremely grateful that my late appeal has been recognised and we are now waiting for a court hearing. There was one part of the criteria that didn’t fit for the Spouse Visa. It was simply that I wasn’t here working (when we applied) earning £18,600 per annum. having invested and contributing to the community, I still can’t honestly put down that I’m earning £18,600. She (my wife) just can’t get inside the border under any circumstances. Tristram is 17 and in the first year of his A levels; a crucial time for the family unit. My 11 year old is in the first year of secondary school. He misses his mum and the bond with him and my wife is very close. The younger one is a concern. The older son is more independent, but he has his own frustrations about what is happening here. The idea was, rather than go back to Surrey, where we have a house that we sold to move our resources here, we would be here with my family. This property came up as an opportunity last year. We applied for the Visa (for my wife) in January 2013. It was refused in June/July 2013. Immigration wanted it, I think, that I had a job first and then she came over. We immediately appealed. The only area we had to explain was that I was still in Kuala Lumpur and not in the UK. It didn’t make much sense to do it that way round: I figured set up the family first and then when the time is right then resign in the Malaysian job and then take up the work in the UK. It was very difficult to fit their criteria, as I wasn’t in the UK earning that £18,600. Am I supposed to invest my money in a business in Malaysia or should I invest it here in the UK?” He talked about the adverse affect this is happening on his family life. “We are a close knit family. There is now due to be a court hearing that could be in 6 months time and that is only the first step. This whole thing could be dragged out over two years. My wife is staying with friends throughout the process, not knowing how long this thing is going to take. We are just a family who wants to live together, I and my two sons are British subjects, we (me and my wife) married in Hong Kong when it was under British rule. There is this article 8, that maybe can come in on humanitarian grounds: a mother’s rights to be with their children”.

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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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