Community
Saundersfoot Community Lottery – December winner announced
THE INAUGURAL draw for the Lottery took place on December 1, and the Lottery team had the delightful task of reaching out to all the winners to inform them of their early Christmas gift! John Manchester was the fortunate recipient of the top prize. Very happy to receive his win from members of the Lottery team, John shared that it was a wonderful surprise just in time for Christmas.
The next draw is scheduled for January 2nd. If you haven’t purchased a ticket yet, there’s still time – it only costs £5 per month. You can enter through the website https://saundersfootcommunitylotto.org/ or at The Regency Hall. If you’ve already received your number, please remember to set up your standing order, as several numbers had to be returned during the draw due to unpaid entries. The prizes reflect the total amount in the pot each month, so the more players there are, the larger the prizes!
Tickets can also be bought with cash, with a minimum payment of £30 covering six months of tickets. This can be done at The Regency Hall any Wednesday or Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm.
Saundersfoot Community Lottery was set up in October 2024 to help raise funds to benefit the village. Fifty percent of the monthly pot goes to prizes and the rest is used for administrative costs and community events and groups. So, taking part is a ‘win-win’ – there’s the chance of a prize plus players are contributing to keeping Saundersfoot a vibrant village, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
Best of luck to all participants!
Photograph L-R Sue Boughton-Thomas, Emma Price, Sarah Whiddett, John Manchester, Ray Wise, Moira Saunders
Photo credit Gareth Davies Photography Tenby
Community
Excitement builds for the Art Afoot launch event
A FANTASTIC new accessible art trail connecting Fishguard and Goodwick is officially launching this Sunday (Dec 15). The Art Afoot / Celf ar Droed project brings together exciting new artworks, sculptures, and digital creations, seamlessly blending them with existing arts and heritage features.
Event details
- Date: Sunday, December 15, 2024
- Time: 2:00pm
- Meeting Point: Ocean Lab, Goodwick
- Conclusion: 3:30pm at Ffwrn with refreshments
The launch features a guided walk along the trail where visitors can explore new installations, including Gideon’s seahorse, creative wayfinders, and augmented reality sculptures. This family-friendly event is open to everyone and provides a chance to meet the artists and creators behind the project.
What’s new?
- Fresh public art pieces, including sculptures and AR creations.
- Enhanced trail routes connecting the twin towns of Fishguard and Goodwick.
- Promotion and printed maps supported by Pembrokeshire County Council and Visit Pembrokeshire.
Maps will soon be available at Ocean Lab and Fishguard Town Hall, helping visitors navigate the trails and discover these innovative works of art.
This event promises an afternoon of creativity, community, and connection. Don’t miss this unique celebration of art and heritage.
For more information, visit www.artafoot.co.uk.
See you there!
Community
Councillor’s call to stop council tax court summons during December
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.
Community
New Year, new bus services as changes introduced
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.
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