News

Angry campaigners ‘not prepared to roll over’

Published

12 years ago

November 20, 2013

THE CLOSURE of Tenby’s Minor Injuries Unit has not stopped campaigners, who say the fight to keep it open will continue.

At a meeting last Friday, local AMs, county, town and community councillors and South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network representatives confirmed they were not prepared to roll over.

“Although the Hywel Dda Health Board has stated that the MIU is to close, we’re not prepared to just roll over and accept their decision,” Tenby town councillor and secretary of the SEPCHN, Cllr Caroline Thomas, commented after the meeting.

She continued: “We feel that the case for maintaining the MIU in Tenby for the benefit of the whole of South East Pembrokeshire and the thousands of visitors who come to the area annually is as strong now as it always has been and we will continue to press that case.”

Chair of the Health Board, Chris Martin was invited to attend the event, but he declined leaving those who attended disappointed. Assembly members Angela Burns and William Powell, along with County Councillors, Mike Evans, Michael Williams, Phil Baker, Tony Brinsden, Jon Preston, Jacob Williams, Phil Kidney and SEPCHN chairman Mansel Thomas were all present at the meeting.

Before the meeting, Mr Martin had informed the clerk to Tenby Town Council, Andrew Davies, that the Health Board would not change their plans for the closure of the MIU, although he had stressed that no date had yet been agreed.

He had, however, agreed to meet with a small group of local county councillors to explain how the services currently provided at the Tenby MIU would be re-provided through local GP practices and ‘third party’ providers.

Members were grateful for the opportunity to meet with Mr Martin but local GP, Dr Iwan Griffiths, senior partner at the Tenby practice, expressed doubts that Mr Martin would be able to outline future provision, as Tenby Surgery had only been contacted once by the Health Board since June.

He said: “We, and I believe our colleagues in Saundersfoot, are still of the same opinion as 12 months ago, and that is that the current level of Emergency Nurse Practitioner-led service provided at Tenby MIU cannot be replicated by the GPs without an adverse effect on our role as primary care providers.”

Dr Griffiths added that promises made by Mrs Sue Lewis, the Health Board’s county director for Pembrokeshire, had not been kept. At a similar meeting with the group in June it was decided that they would look into models of provision in other areas with similarly high influxes of tourists.

He added: “If you keep reducing the services, and the times that these services are available, then ultimately you are going to reach a situation where the number of people presenting at the MIU is statistically so low as to indicate that it is not needed,” he ventured, adding that this seemed to fly in the face of the ethos of bringing care closer to the community.

Members at the meeting also felt that the Health Board had still not taken account of the poor transport links to Haverfordwest and Carmarthen, the large elderly population or the number of visitors.

Many members expressed their shock at the apparent lack of communication between the Health Board and the GPs over the last couple of months and Cllr Michael Williams even suggested that a vote of no confidence be called in the management of the Health Board.

Assembly member Mrs Burns agreed that there was certainly a case for lack of confidence in the board’s consultation and communication procedure on such an important issue, but felt that a lot more evidence would be needed to support such a letter.

Questions were also asked of the role of the Community Health Council in the matter, with East Williamston County Cllr Jacob Williams fearing that they had ‘capitulated’.

He said: “The CHC seem to have accepted the Health Board telling them that the services are going to be replicated by the GPs and other providers, but we’re now hearing from the GPs that no such agreement is in place. In fact, we’re hearing that the Health Board have not discussed the matter further with the GPs since June.”

Regional AM Mr Powell, who is also chair of the Assembly’s petitions committee, confirmed that Tenby Town Council’s petition calling for the Health Board to reverse their decision was still ‘live’ and was due to be considered again on November 11.

He also highlighted the fact Llandudno would be getting a £1.9 million investment to enhance their MIU facilities and said that the case for MIU provision in south east Pembrokeshire was no different.

The meeting resolved to keep the pressure on the Health Board to reverse their decision both through the Welsh Assembly and at local level.

News

Plaid leads Reform in latest Senedd poll as Labour falls to fifth

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PLAID CYMRU has taken a narrow lead over Reform UK in a new Senedd election poll, while Labour has fallen to fifth place in another warning sign for the party ahead of polling day.

The Find Out Now survey, carried out between April 18 and 22, puts Plaid Cymru on 29%, two points ahead of Reform UK on 27%.

The Welsh Conservatives are third on 13%, followed by the Green Party on 11%. Welsh Labour stands at 10%, with the Welsh Liberal Democrats on 6%.

The poll was commissioned by Plaid Cymru, although Find Out Now said the methodology was consistent with its previous Welsh polling.

It also found significant concern among voters about the future of the NHS under a Reform-led government.

Asked whether the NHS would be safe under Reform, 55% said no and 16% said yes. When undecided voters were removed, the split widened to 77% against and 23% in favour.

The findings are based on a sample of 2,012 adults across Great Britain, weighted to be representative of Wales by age, gender, region, Welsh language ability and 2024 general election vote.

Only voters who said they were “definitely” or “very likely” to vote were included in the headline figures. Those who initially answered “don’t know” were prompted again, with remaining undecided voters excluded from the final calculation.

The results come after a separate Ipsos poll, published earlier this week, also placed Plaid Cymru ahead.

That survey put Plaid on 30%, Reform UK on 25%, Labour on 15% and the Conservatives on 12%. Ipsos also found that 52% of voters said they may still change their mind before polling day.

Both polls suggest Plaid Cymru is leading the race for the Senedd, but they also point to a volatile contest, with Reform UK close behind and Labour struggling to recover support in what has historically been its Welsh heartland.

The latest figures underline the pressure on all parties as the campaign enters its final stages, with voters set to choose the next Senedd on Thursday, May 7.

News

Barley Saturday brings bumper crowds to Cardigan

Published

17 hours ago

April 25, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

CROWDS lined the streets of Cardigan on Saturday (Apr 25) as Barley Saturday once again brought the town centre to life with classic vehicles, rural tradition and a strong sense of community.

The annual event, one of Cardigan’s best-known celebrations, saw packed pavements and barriers along the High Street as families, visitors and local residents turned out in the sunshine.

Among those taking part was well-known West Wales delivery driver Dai Rees, who attracted plenty of attention as he drove through the town in his pride and joy, a blue Ford 3000 tractor.

Tom Samways, of HQueue in Cardigan, said it had been “another superb turn out” for the annual event, adding that it appeared to be getting bigger every year.

He said: “Some amazing entries but my vote has to go to the most famous delivery driver in West Wales, Mr Dai Rees, with his pride and joy, the trusty Ford.

“He even managed to pull up outside the shop for us to get a picture.”

The event also featured a touching personal moment for Deborah Davies, who finally completed a lap of honour on her vintage motorcycle, affectionately known as Olive, in memory of her godfather Leslie Morris.

Deborah said it was “5th attempt lucky” after several previous efforts to complete the lap had not come together.

***Trusty Ford: Dai Rees joined the procession in his blue Ford 3000 tractor***

Posting after the event, she said: “Well Olive and I did it, we finally did our lap of honour in Barley Saturday in memory of my godfather Leslie Morris, 5th attempt lucky. And here’s the proof.”

***Special tribute: Deborah Davies completed a lap of honour on Olive in memory of her godfather Leslie Morris***

She also thanked Sue Davies for the photographs, which captured her smiling on the green vintage machine during the event.

***Last year’s supreme champion, Angus Dane Valley Lord Louis with Joe Durham getting an award (Image: Stuart Ladd)***

With crowds filling the streets, classic vehicles passing through the town and residents sharing their own memories and photographs online, this year’s Barley Saturday proved once again why it remains such a popular fixture in Cardigan’s calendar.

Packed streets: Crowds lined High Street in Cardigan for this year’s Barley Saturday

Cover image: Stuart Ladd

Entertainment

Three actors bring The Invisible Man to Torch Theatre

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SLAPSTICK STAGE FUN

THE THOUGHT of invisibility, and the advantages it might bring, has captured imaginations for generations since H. G. Wells’ classic story was first published.

Now The Invisible Man, adapted for the stage by Derek Webb, is coming to the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven this May, offering audiences an evening of fast-paced slapstick silliness.

Although the story has been adapted many times for film, it is far less often seen on stage. This original and riotous version features 15 characters played by just three energetic actors, with quick costume changes, clever prop work, wacky imagination and plenty of tongue-in-cheek fun.

The production is presented by Our Star Theatre Company, following its successful 2023 UK tour and critically acclaimed sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The British Theatre Guide praised the show as “high paced throughout”, adding: “An exuberant cast, Daniel Davis, Eleanor Catherine Smart and Sophie Watkins, deserve credit for confidence and maintaining a high pace throughout. Watkins is a talented performer, coaxing the best out of the piece.”

The Invisible Man will be performed at the Torch Theatre on Wednesday, May 13, at 7:30pm.

Tickets are priced at £18 and can be booked online at torchtheatre.co.uk or through the Box Office on 01646 695267.