Community

Age Cymru condemns cuts to winter fuel payments in Wales

Published

7 months ago

October 9, 2024

AGE CYMRU has expressed deep concern over the Westminster Government’s decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments, which will leave more than 100,000 pensioners in Wales without this crucial financial support. The charity has described the move as “appalling,” particularly given that over 86% of pensioners living in or just above poverty in Wales will be affected—the highest proportion of any UK nation or region.

Many of the affected pensioners are already facing significant challenges, including living with disabilities, being isolated, or residing in older, less energy-efficient homes that are harder to heat. Age Cymru is calling on the government to reverse its decision, particularly in Wales, where more than 56,000 eligible people are not claiming Pension Credit—a key factor in determining Winter Fuel Payment eligibility under the new rules.

The charity has been receiving distressing reports from older people across Wales, describing the tough choices they will have to make without this essential financial lifeline. Some have already indicated they will need to reduce their spending on food, heating, and hot water. Of particular concern are those with long-term health conditions who need to maintain a warm home, but are now facing the prospect of having to choose between staying warm and eating properly.

In Age Cymru’s 2024 annual survey, which gathered responses from over 1,300 older people across the country, nearly half reported that the cost of living had been a significant challenge in the past year. More than half cited concerns over their physical health, which is likely to deteriorate further as a result of the cuts.

Age Cymru is urging the Westminster Government to reconsider its decision, or at the very least, to expand eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payments. The charity is advocating for automatic payments to those receiving Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, and Carer’s Allowance, to ensure that vulnerable pensioners are not left without the help they need during the cold winter months.

Voices from Wales: Struggling to cope

When asked how they would manage with up to £300 less this winter, older people across Wales shared their concerns:

“It will be a huge struggle to make do on my pension. I lost my husband two years ago, and with a single pension coming in, it is a constant worry how I will pay my bills.”
“We will have to turn the heating off more and find ways to cut back on cooking, heating, and hot water. Because of health reasons, this will be really difficult.”
“This payment makes a real difference to my winter energy costs, allowing me to avoid reducing the temperature in my flat. I have medical problems that mean I spend most of my time inside.”
“We live in a rural community off mains gas. Our heating is oil-fired, and the Winter Fuel Payment covered a sixth of a tank of oil. My wife has chronic kidney disease and feels the cold terribly, so the payment certainly made things easier for us.”
“I am chronically ill and need a warm home. Without this help, I will not be able to stay warm enough to have a decent quality of life. I will have to reduce my food intake.”

Call for Government action

Age Cymru is urging the UK Government to reconsider its cuts, warning that many pensioners, especially those living in Wales, face an increasingly harsh winter without the vital support they once relied on. For the most vulnerable, these cuts may not just represent financial hardship but could have serious consequences for their health and wellbeing.

The charity continues to advocate for a fairer system that ensures older people across Wales, and the rest of the UK, are not forced to choose between warmth and other basic needs.

Community

Hedgehogs successfully rehomed at Bluestone National Park Resort

Published

6 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THIS month, May 2025, Bluestone National Park Resort in Wales has rehomed three juvenile hedgehogs aged one year old as part of the five-star holiday resort’s long-standing partnership with Pembrokeshire Hogspital. Pembrokeshire Hogspital rescues and rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs, returning them to the wild in most cases.

Three hedgehogs, twin brothers and a single unrelated female, are now in the process of a soft release at Bluestone National Park Resort. A purpose-built lodge is made for them, gradually they are given more space, the fences are then taken away, and food will continue to be provided for them until eventually they are successfully integrated into the wild.

Marten Lewis, director of sustainability at Bluestone, said: “Over the past five years, Bluestone has been part of several heartwarming hedgehog releases. This spring we were delighted to have rehomed and released more hedgehogs who have received incredible care from Pembrokeshire Hogspital. This one is extra special as we also got a little help from our community, asking Bluestone’s social media followers to name the hedgehogs’ new ‘lodges’; so, the new official lodge names are Tŷ Draenog and Hodge Lodge.”

Bluestone has a longstanding partnership of five years with its local Hogspital, having donated money for an intensive care unit to provide incubators for looking after baby hedgehogs; and serving as an emergency release site, which is a safe place for hedgehogs that are ready to leave the Hogspital but for a variety of reasons can’t be taken back to where they were found.

Find out more about how people and the planet are at the heart of Bluestone National Park Resort and book a stay at bluestonewales.com

Community

Kilgetty public toilets to be transferred to community council

Published

7 hours ago

May 13, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A TRANSFER of a Pembrokeshire village’s public toilets to the community council from the county council won’t lead to it forking out for remial repairs, councillors heard.

A question submitted at the May meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council by local member Cllr Alistair Cameron, Transfer of Responsibility for Kilgetty Public Conveniences from Pembrokeshire County Council to Kilgetty Begelly Community Council, asked for an update on the transfer.

“Kilgetty Begelly Community Council is willing to accept responsibility for maintaining Kilgetty Public Conveniences. However, two actions are necessary to enable the transfer to take place.

“The county council needs to terminate its lease with the Co-op to enable the community council to negotiate a new lease with the Co-op.

“The county council needs to undertake repairs and maintenance work on the public conveniences so that they are in a fit state for the community council to take them over. Please could the relevant Cabinet Member(s) let me know how much progress has been made against these two actions?

“Could the Cabinet Member confirm that until the county council have completed the two actions above (i.e terminated the lease with the Co-op and undertaken the necessary repairs and maintenance work to bring the public conveniences up to an acceptable standard) there will be no requests for maintenance payments made to Kilgetty Begelly Community Council.

Responding, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said the council was continuing to work with the community council, with discussions surrounding the surrender underway, including agreeing any remedial works, which would be undertaken at the county council’s expense.

He said there would be a 28-day advance notice once agreements were in place with the landowner.

Members also heard it was hoped to arrange a site meeting for all concerned parties.

Back in 2023, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet produced a list of public toilets in the county at potential risk of closure if community asset transfers to town and community councils or other sources of funding weren’t agreed.

At the time, Kilgetty was one of those listed for a potential asset transfer.

Community

Art Afoot trail brings sculpture and storytelling to Fishguard and Goodwick

Published

16 hours ago

May 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A NEW public art trail is turning heads in North Pembrokeshire as sculptures, kinetic installations, and augmented reality artworks transform the coastal towns of Fishguard and Goodwick.

The initiative, called Art Afoot, links the twin towns through a trio of scenic walking routes, using existing paths such as the Goodwick Moor boardwalk, the Marine Walk overlooking Fishguard Harbour and Lower Town, and a community orchard route.

All trails are free, family-friendly and open daily, encouraging locals and visitors alike to explore the area’s rich natural beauty and cultural heritage in an interactive way.

Each of the artworks—many of which were inspired by drawings and ideas gathered through community engagement sessions—tells a story about the area’s unique biodiversity, wildlife, and local history. Highlights include a dramatic steel seahorse sculpture, a kinetic shoal of fish that moves in the wind, and a finely detailed dragonfly installation located within the wetlands.

One of the more playful features is a cut-out board showing traditional Welsh costume, allowing walkers to pose for photos as part of the living artwork. QR codes placed along the trails unlock augmented reality experiences via smartphone, adding another layer of interaction to the journey.

The trail map, which includes both new and existing works—such as the well-known Last Invasion Tapestry displayed at Fishguard Library—is available online and in print from local venues.

Organisers say Art Afoot offers not only a creative boost to the area but also a new way to appreciate Pembrokeshire’s coastal paths and community spaces.