Community

Pembrokeshire second home owners fear council tax premiums

Published

10 months ago

August 18, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is currently consulting on the level of empty homes and second homes council tax premiums, but a group representing second home-owners is calling for more information.

Late last year, Pembrokeshire councillors voted to drop the council tax premium on second homes from 200 per cent, effectively a treble rate, to 150 per cent.

Prior to that, second-home owners in the county were charged a 100 per cent premium.

Under Welsh Government legislation, local authorities are able to increase the council premium on second homes to as much as 300 per cent, effectively a quadruple rate.

For empty properties, a single rate of 300 per cent is applied to all properties that have been empty for two years or more.

In its consultation the council seeks your views on both the premiums and how any funding raised from the premiums in 2026-27 should be spent, and also whether Welsh Government should change the minimum number of days that a property must be let for in order to qualify for non-domestic rate self-catering accommodation tax status.

The later is currently set at 182 days per year, with the consultation also asking whether the council should use its discretion to exempt holiday lets that transfer from NDR to council tax from any premium.

A group representing second home-owners, called the PCC Second Homeowners Legal Group, is calling for more information to be provided on the impact of changing levels of council tax premium, particularly whether there has been any impact on the tourism, hospitality, building and retail sectors, and whether the premium has resulted in affordable properties being bought to the market for rent or sale as originally intended.

The group said: “With no information provided in the supporting documentation about the impact on the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors, as well as the wider economy, we believe that the consultation falls short on providing respondents with enough information to enable an informed response.”

It adds: “Moreover, in 2025 a decision was taken by the PCC to allocate the premium revenue across a much wider range of services than was envisaged when the premium was first introduced. While the group understands the need for tax revenue to support wider activities including schools and youth services, these should be raised through the setting of appropriate levels of basic council tax to ensure continuity, rather than to rely on variable revenues depending on the proportion of second homeowners remaining in the county.”

In its consultation, Pembrokeshire County Council has said that while guidance on the premiums encourages it to use them to help meet local housing needs and address other local housing and sustainable community issues, it may be used for any purpose.

“Due to the adverse effect of long-term empty properties and second homes on both available affordable housing and the sustainability of local communities, the council has sought to strike a balance, ensuring that the income generated is utilised to address both issues.

“Since the Council Tax premiums were introduced, £10.7m has been allocated to the Affordable Housing Programme, £0.8m into Bringing Homes into Use and £7.1m for the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant Scheme. For 2024-25 £9.9m has been allocated to the general fund budget in respect of elements of the budget relating to affordable housing and enhancing the sustainability of local communities and it is proposed that this arrangement will continue in 2025-26.

“The allocation to the general fund budget also aims to address the adverse effect of long-term empty properties and second homes on both available housing, e.g. homelessness, and the sustainability of local communities, e.g. reducing pupil numbers in Schools, but in a different way to the aforementioned Affordable Housing Programme and Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant Scheme, both of which are continuing.”

The consultation is open until August 31.

Community

Bongo Clive brings rhythm and smiles to VC Gallery celebration

Published

16 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

LEARNING DISABILITY WEEK MARKED WITH MUSIC, LAUGHTER AND INCLUSION IN PEMBROKE DOCK

THE VC GALLERY in Pembroke Dock was filled with music, laughter and energy as visitors came together to celebrate Learning Disability Week.

The event saw popular entertainer Bongo Clive lead a lively session of singing, drumming and participation, with those attending joining in throughout the day.

The gallery said the session had created a joyful atmosphere, with music helping to bring people together and celebrate inclusion, creativity and wellbeing.

A spokesperson for The VC Gallery said: “The smiles said it all. A huge thank you to Bongo Clive for bringing your incredible energy, enthusiasm and positivity to The VC today. You certainly had everyone moving to the beat.”

Learning Disability Week celebrates inclusion and the abilities, creativity and individuality of people with learning disabilities.

The Pembroke Dock event highlighted the role of community spaces such as The VC Gallery in supporting wellbeing, friendship and confidence through shared creative activities.

Community

Sir Karl Jenkins named Eisteddfod President for 2026

Published

17 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIR KARL JENKINS has been named President of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for 2026.

The internationally acclaimed Welsh composer, one of the world’s most performed living composers, will take on the role as the festival prepares to welcome performers, competitors and visitors from across the globe.

Sir Karl is best known for works including The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, Adiemus and Requiem.

His appointment comes in a landmark year after The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was voted the most popular work in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026.

Opening night return

Sir Karl’s presidential year will begin with the opening night concert, Uniting Nations: One World, on Tuesday, July 7.

The concert had been due to take place in 2025 but was postponed, causing disappointment for volunteers, performers and audience members who had travelled from across the UK and overseas.

The Eisteddfod has now brought the event back with support from the Arts Council of Wales.

Sir Karl said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the Llangollen Festival this year and especially honoured to do so in the role of President.

“Llangollen is always a very special place to be, with its unique sense of community and international spirit.

“I’m greatly looking forward to conducting my most recent choral work, One World, particularly following the postponement of last year’s performance.

“It’s a piece that I feel reflects the very essence of the festival, bringing together outstanding musicians from across the globe to form one powerful collective voice.”

Global chorus

The evening will feature a full performance of One World, conducted by Sir Karl and performed by an international massed chorus made up of WorldChoir and NEW Voices, accompanied by the Llangollen International Orchestra.

The work blends Jenkins’ distinctive musical style with themes of humanity, compassion and environmental stewardship.

The concert will also include a complete staging of Peace Child: The Musical, which places young people at the heart of its message of peace and global citizenship.

Opening the evening will be the world premiere of Greeting the Dawn, a newly commissioned bilingual work by emerging Welsh composer Sam Buttler.

The piece was written for the 2026 Eisteddfod through the Harmony Without Borders initiative, continuing Llangollen’s tradition of supporting new talent and giving Welsh composers an international platform.

‘Great cultural ambassador’

John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Sir Karl Jenkins has agreed to serve as President of the Eisteddfod for 2026.

“Few musicians have done more to promote the values of peace, friendship and international understanding that lie at the heart of our festival.

“Sir Karl is one of Wales’s greatest cultural ambassadors and his music has inspired audiences across every continent.

“The fact that The Armed Man has just been voted the nation’s favourite classical work is a testament not only to his extraordinary talent, but also to the universal appeal of the messages of peace, hope and humanity that run through so much of his music.”

Mr Gambles added: “The postponement of One World last year was heartbreaking for everyone involved.

“We knew how much the concert meant to audiences, performers and volunteers alike, and we were determined to find a way to bring it back.

“Thanks to the support of the Arts Council of Wales, we can now finally give this extraordinary concert the audience it deserves.

“With Sir Karl as our President, the return of One World, the world premiere of a major new Welsh composition and the powerful message of Peace Child, this promises to be one of the most memorable and significant opening nights in the Eisteddfod’s history.”

Festival programme

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod returns for its 79th year on Tuesday, July 7.

This year’s programme includes performances from Michael Ball, Emeli Sandé with the Absolute Orchestra, Uniting Nations: One World featuring Sir Karl Jenkins, and the Choir of the World competition.

Thousands of competitors from around the world will also take part in the daytime programme, with the Parade of Nations returning on Friday, July 10.

Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting from £33.

Further information is available at llangollen.net.

Community

Lord Rhys emerges from the mist in St Davids

Published

19 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Giant puppet begins historic journey marking 850 years since the first Eisteddfod

MIST swirled around St Davids Cathedral on Friday evening as a giant Lord Rhys puppet emerged from the fog to begin a journey celebrating 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod.

Accompanied by traditional musicians and followed by crowds of spectators, the towering figure cut an imposing sight against the backdrop of the ancient cathedral.

The procession marked the start of Taith yr Arglwydd Rhys (The Journey of Lord Rhys), a cultural pilgrimage retracing the legacy of the Welsh prince whose gathering of poets and musicians at Cardigan Castle in 1176 is widely regarded as the first recorded Eisteddfod.

As fog drifted across the city and church towers faded into the background, the scene felt more like a chapter from Welsh folklore than a modern-day celebration.

The giant puppet, accompanied by fellow performers and musicians, travelled from St Davids Cathedral to Oriel y Parc before beginning a wider journey through west Wales.

The travelling celebration will visit communities across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion before culminating in Cardigan, where Lord Rhys originally staged his famous cultural gathering eight and a half centuries ago.

Video and photographs shared by DrifterStDavids captured the remarkable atmosphere, with many describing the spectacle as one of the most memorable cultural events seen in St Davids for years.

Photo caption: Lord Rhys emerges from the mist outside St Davids Cathedral as celebrations begin to mark the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod

(Pic: SmallWorld – Video: Drifter St Davids)