A CALL for Pembrokeshire County Council to spread a little festive cheer by not issuing any court summonses for non-payment of council tax is to be considered by senior councillors.

A Notice of Motion by Independent group leader Cllr Huw Murphy, heard at the December 12 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, asks: “That PCC do not issue any summonses for appearance at magistrates court for non-payment of council tax during the month of December.”

It adds: “At a Corporate O&S meeting on November 14 it was disclosed that since April 2024 PCC have sent out 14,000 reminder letters with regards to council tax (late payment) and issued 4,000 summonses for non-payment of council tax, which clearly evidences the financial pressure many Pembrokeshire residents currently face.

“December is for many families a festive month and although the debt does not go away the avoidance of any prosecutions during the month of December in the lead up to the festive holiday will indicate some empathy by PCC towards its residents under most financial pressure.”

At the December 12 meeting, members agreed the call be sent to the county council’s Cabinet for further consideration.

Cllr Murphy is no stranger to festive cheer calls; last year asking for the council to overturn a “mean-spirited” decision to end the free collection of trees in Pembrokeshire after the festive season.

That 2023 ‘Christmas tree call-in’ motion, supported by councillors Vanessa Thomas, Anji Tinley, Alan Dennison, Elwyn Morse, Michael James and Iwan Ward, was defeated by nine votes to four.

A NUMBER of changes to key local bus services in Pembrokeshire will be introduced in January 2025, including reinstating some reduced services.

The changes are designed to improve punctuality and service performance on key routes.

In addition, several services that had been reduced in recent years will be reinstated.

This includes an hourly year-round service between Haverfordwest and Tenby via Pembroke Dock, a Saturday service between Tenby and Pendine and additional daytime journeys between Haverfordwest and Broad Haven, and between Merlin’s Bridge and Haverfordwest town centre.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said: “We have listened to feedback from passengers and worked with bus operators to put in place these improvements with additional funding through the Welsh Government Bus Network Grant.

“We hope these changes will provide a better and more reliable service for bus users in Pembrokeshire.”

Passengers using Fflecsi Pembrokeshire services may also notice that the Fflecsi app now provides details of bus timetables where a fixed route bus service is available for the journey they have requested. This will help improve the availability of the Fflecsi service for journeys where there is no other public transport option.

A temporary timetable will also be introduced on the T5 service operated by Richards Bros between Haverfordwest and Cardigan, due to a major road closure in Newport.

For further information about copies of the new timetables, please visit https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/bus-routes-and-timetables/planned-bus-service-changes or contact [email protected]

The changes are as follows:

From 04/1/25

351 – Tenby-Amroth-Pendine (Taf Valley Coaches)

• Service will now also run on Saturdays during the winter.

From 6/1/25

301 Haverfordwest Town Service (Pembrokeshire County Council)

• Service will no longer call at Augustine Way. Alternative bus stops are available at St Thomas Green or Horsefair.
• New stop on Scarrowscant lane near the junction with Tasker Way.

302 – Withybush Hospital –Hubberston (First Cymru)

• Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality.

307 Haverfordwest to Merlins Bridge (Pembrokeshire County Council)

• New service mid-morning (Monday to Friday) and mid-afternoon (Fridays only).

308 Haverfordwest – – Llangwm-Burton circular (Pembrokeshire County Council)

• Afternoon journey will call at Withybush hospital and retail park.

311 Haverfordwest – Broad Haven (Pembrokeshire County Council)

• Two additional journeys provided, mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

322 Withybush Hospital – Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen (First Cymru)

• Change to route in Carmarthen. Bus will go from Carmarthen bus station around the bypass to Glangwili hospital, and then return via the town.
• Connection with 381 in Narberth for travel to/from Tenby has been maintained.

Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality.

349 Haverfordwest-Pembroke Dock-Tenby (First Cymru)

• Change to route in Haverfordwest. Bus will depart from Bus Station to Withybush hospital, then around the bypass to Picton Place.
• 14.25 service from Haverfordwest will run throughout the year, not just in school holidays.
• New later bus from Pembroke-Haverfordwest at 19.40.
• Improved connection with 381 in Tenby.
• Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality.

381 Haverfordwest-Narberth-Tenby (First Cymru)

• Change to route in Haverfordwest. Bus will depart from Bus Station to Withybush hospital, then around the bypass on its way out of town towards Narberth. Passengers for Withybush retail park will use the stop outside Home Bargains for both inward and return journeys.
• Connection with 322 in Narberth for travel to/from Carmarthen has been maintained.
• Improved connection with 349 in Tenby.
• Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality

T5 Haverfordwest-Fishguard-Cardigan-Aberystwyth (Richards Bros)

• A temporary timetable will be in place from 6/1/25 for at least 8 weeks, due to a road closure in Newport.
• Buses will not be able to use the main bus stop in Newport. Alternative bus stops will be available at Newport Memorial Hall and the Golden Lion.
• Due to the narrow diversion route, a low-floor accessible minibus will be provided between Fishguard and Cardigan.
• All passengers will have to change at Fishguard for onward travel towards Cardigan or Haverfordwest.
• The 07.45 from Haverfordwest will terminate at Fishguard.

AN 83-YEAR-OLD man has tragically died in a fire that caused extensive damage to a property in Drefach, Llanybydder.

Emergency services were alerted to the blaze at around 12:20pm yesterday (Dec 11). Despite their efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A joint investigation by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Dyfed-Powys Police is underway to determine the cause of the fire. Early reports indicate that the fire, which was contained to a single property, is not being treated as suspicious. Investigators are expected to remain at the scene over the weekend.

The incident prompted the closure of the A475 Drefach-Rhydowen road, with Dyfed-Powys Police shutting it between the B4338 (Llanybydder turn-off) and the B4459 (Capel Dewi turn-off) to ensure public safety. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.

A police statement said: “The road is currently closed due to an incident. Please avoid the area and find alternative routes for your journey.”

The fire brigade said :”At 12.12pm on Wednesday, December 11^th, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Tregaron, Lampeter, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth Fire Stations were called to an incident in Drefach in Llanybydder.

“Crews responded to a two-storey, domestic property, that was well alight on their arrival and fully involved in fire.  Crews utilised three hose reel jets, one 45mm jet, one light portable pump and thermal imaging cameras to extinguish the fire.  A turntable ladder appliance was also used as a water tower. 

“An adjoining property was assessed with no signs of fire spread found.

“Sadly, one man, aged 83, died at the scene.

“An investigation is underway to find out the cause of the fire, with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service investigators and Dyfed-Powys Police crime scene investigators likely to be at the house over the weekend. 

“The fire, which was contained to one property, is not being treated as suspicious at this time.”