Community

Call to expand Pembrokeshire football club facilities

Published

5 months ago

July 26, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to expand a Pembrokeshire village football club’s facilities to ensure its viability has been submitted to county planners.

Stephen Brown of Clarbeston Road Association Football Club seeks permission from Pembrokeshire County Council to extend car parking and to create a mini football pitch for junior football at the Graham Roberts Playing Field, Wiston Road.

A supporting statement through agent Ian Bartlett Planning and Architectural Services says: “The submitted scheme is required to sustain and ensure the viability of the existing Clarbeston Road AFC offer and community provision.”

It adds: “Clarbeston Road AFC has grown considerably in recent years and now has approximately 370 playing members pertaining to 25 teams. The club prides itself in prioritising local children for recruitment to the mini teams to sustain long term viability and community ethos. Players of all abilities are welcome, and the club has a pan-disability group serving a wider area. The girl’s section has scope for further growth and new recruitment is still taking place.

“The club holds FAW Platinum accreditation, the highest level, in recognition of the standards of governance, coaching and community outreach. In order to grow and improve the existing community offer, the submission seeks to increase parking provision to minimise occasional disruption to local residents from roadside parking when matches on the existing two pitches overlap.

“Despite efforts by the club to schedule games to avoid this, some occurrences of overlap are unavoidable to ensure all fixtures can be accommodated. Time constraints relating to the mini and junior fixtures result in matches having to be completed in a 3.5-hour window on Saturday mornings.”

It says the new mini-pitch “is in response to specific difficulties experienced recently with accommodating under 10 and 11 fixtures as there are four existing teams at this age group which cause stretch to the existing pitch offer when home games for more than two teams in these age groups are scheduled”.

It adds: “Provision of this extra mini pitch and associated parking, would address foreseeable needs and improve highway safety by reducing on street parking.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

Community

Narbelles WI support Food Bank with festive donation

Published

17 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Group marks December meeting with charity collection and Christmas celebrations

NARBELLES WI rounded off the year with a festive December meeting featuring a bring-and-share buffet, party games and a Secret Santa gift exchange.

Members also used the occasion to support families in need across the county, collecting food items and presenting a £120 cheque to Ann Watling from Pembrokeshire Food Bank. The donation represents the proceeds of the group’s bucket collection during Narberth Civic Week 2024.

A spokesperson for the WI said the group was delighted to finish the year “with fun, friendship and a chance to give something back to the community.”

(Photo: Narbelles WI members presenting the cheque to Ann Watling, Pembrokeshire Food Bank.)

Community

Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.

The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.

A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.

The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community

3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire

Published

2 days ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event

THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.

Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.

The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.

The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.

Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.

Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)