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Historic Harbour awarded EU funding boost

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A FUNDING announcement by the First Minister, Carwyn Jones yesterday (Jan 8) signalled a major step forward in the redevelopment of Saundersfoot Harbour and in realising its ambition of becoming high quality international destination for marine tourism. The First Minister visited Saundersfoot to announce that the project to redevelop the harbour has been awarded £463,500 European Regional Development Funding towards a £927,000 total project cost. Additional funding of £200,000 has also been secured via the Tourism Infrastructure Support Scheme fund.

The project extends Visit Wales’ existing coastal tourism activity funded via the EU Coastal Tourism Project working with the Saundersfoot Trust Port to further develop the facilities within Saundersfoot, making it an iconic tourism destination for South West Wales. The First Minister said: “I’m delighted to make this announcement today and to see the plans that the Harbour Commission has for future development and to raise the profile of Saundersfoot Harbour. Improved access is key to competing on an international stage.

“I’m also delighted to see that the plans aim to make the most of the area’s rich maritime heritage by establishing a heritage trail and interpretation installations around the walkway. Tourism is a vital employer in Pembrokeshire, sustaining the local economy and culture and this development will create 24 jobs in the area. “I wish all partners every success for the future.” Philip Evans, Chair of the Harbour Commission said: “This first phase of Marine Infrastructure is a critical installation that nearly doubles our mooring capacity and also triggers the exciting Marine Centre of Excellence programme which will bring 55 new jobs directly into this Port. “Our strategy, and indeed challenge, was to create an Internationally recognised iconic leisure and commercial harbour. Thanks to the vision, ambition and support of Wales Government this £4m. programme is now achievable and will be delivered by the Commissioners and Executive Team here in Saundersfoot.’’

Visit Wales Coastal Tourism project has seen three Coastal Tourism Centres of Excellence receive a total of £18.3m of funding (£8.2m ERDF) since 2010. The three centres are Pembrokeshire, Aberdaron and Swansea Bay. Completion of the Saundersfoot Harbour project in spring 2015 will complete the project. The First Minister told Herald reporter, Joelle Olivia: “I’m here to look at the new project to revamp Saundersfoot harbour; to make sure that’s it’s easier for people to use in terms of boats but also great plans that have been put forward to redevelop the harbour for tourists.

Asked if it will benefit the village Mr Jones said: “I think it will be a great benefit. I’ve been here many times over the years, were in the St Brides Hotel now this is a fantastic place. “It’s really been done up very well over the years and of course we know that people come to Saundersfoot, they spend time on the beach, they don’t necessarily goes as far as the harbour and what this new development will do is bring people into the harbour, learn more about the harbour’s history and of course there will be facilities for people to enjoy.”

Our reporter asked if there were potential economic benefits to Saundersfoot, and the First Minister said: “Absolutely, no doubt about it. I think new businesses will spring up around this development, they’ll employ people and of course that can only benefit the local economy.” The minister added: “We came here in 2006 /2007 with the family. We stayed just round the corner there, and the last time I’ve been in Saundersfoot was in the 70’s in this hotel and the change is fantastic. “You know, really even seeing there is new businesses starting here, you can see businesses being refurbished, redeveloped there’s a real sense of get up and go in Saundersfoot and its started with an extent with this hotel and the way it was refurbished and you can see it now flowing down into the town itself and of course the harbours is the next step.”

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Community

Ogi gives back this Black Friday with big rewards for customers

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This Black Friday, Ogi – Wales’s biggest alternative telecoms company – is giving back to its customers with up to £400 available in rewards for new introductions.

Existing customers can earn £40 for each introduction – unlocking up to 10 rewards a year every time a new sign up is successful.

New customers can also enjoy great savings this “Black Fibre Friday”, with Ogi doubling the speed of its £15 a month entry-level package (now 400Mbps). Plus, if they sign up through an introduction, they’ll receive a £40 referral voucher too. The “Black Fibre Friday” event package also includes two Amazon eero routers at no extra cost.

Offering standard installation slots right up until Christmas, all new customers could get full fibre speeds in time for the festive film, tv and gaming binge.

With nearly half of UK adults shopping during Black Friday, retailers are expecting around £3.8 billion* in sales as consumers hunt for the best deals amid continuing pressure on household budgets.

Announcing the time-limited “Black Fibre Friday” deal, Chief Revenue Officer, Sally-Anne Skinner, said: “Traditionally, Black Friday tends to reward new customers, but this year we’re excited to give back in a way that benefits existing customers too. With our new ‘introduce a friend’ programme, current customers can earn up to £400 by recommending Ogi to friends and family – a great way to share the love and get rewarded. For new customers, we’re offering unbeatable value too, doubling the speed of our entry-level £15 per month plan, plus two smart Amazon eero routers included.

“At Ogi, we’re all about making life easier and more affordable, and this offer is a great way to get fast, reliable broadband just in time for the festive season. It’s a win-win: customers get the best broadband deals and extra rewards for sharing with others, and all from a Wales-based service provider.”

With Ogi’s latest “Black Fibre Friday” event, customers can refer up to 10 friends a year, and earn £40 for every successful new installation – with the potential to earn up to £400 in vouchers.

The deal runs for 15 days from Monday 18 November, until Monday 2 December (Cyber Monday), before prices return to Ogi’s standard £15, £20 and £30 a month for new customers signing up for 12 months. The introduce a friend programme will continue after the end of the Black Friday period, subject to terms and conditions.

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Business

Wolfscastle Country Hotel crowned Wales’ best boutique wedding venue

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THE Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa has been named Wales’ Best Boutique Wedding Venue for 2024 at the prestigious Welsh National Wedding Awards.

The ceremony, held on Sunday (Nov 10) at Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall, welcomed more than 600 guests for its 13th annual celebration. Thousands of votes were cast by brides, grooms, and supporters to determine the winners from over 300 shortlisted nominees.

Double victory

The Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa not only won the regional title for west Wales but also secured the national accolade for the second time in three years.

Known for its glamorous reception spaces and elegant ceremony room, the hotel offers a comprehensive bridal package. This includes wedding accommodation and a private spa experience featuring a hot tub, sauna, and various treatments.

Celebrating success

Taking to social media, the hotel expressed gratitude to its guests and staff for their role in achieving this prestigious honour.

Hotel owner Andy Stirling said:
“We’re very proud to have been nominated and voted winners in both our local and national categories.

“I have the pleasure of seeing how tirelessly Lowri, and my wife Mandy Stirling, our wedding coordinators, work on every wedding to tailor the experience to suit the couples we have joining us.

“We pride ourselves on offering exquisite in-house catering provided by head chef Seb, head pastry chef Adama, and our excellent kitchen team, backed up by first-class table service from our highly experienced waiting staff.

“I am overwhelmingly grateful for the support of our guests and couples who have wedded with us in helping achieve this award.

“I know that myself and the team all look forward to hosting many more phenomenal weddings in the future.”

Welsh National Wedding Awards

The awards celebrate the best wedding venues and services across Wales, with attendees from all regions of the country.

Celebrations: Andy and Mandy Stirling with wedding co-ordinator Lowri Nicholas (Pic: Wolfscastle Country Hotel and Spa)

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Community

Special guests for Torch showing of ‘Attack on Sorpe Dam’

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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY was the most appropriate day for the screening before a Pembrokeshire audience of a remarkable film, narrated by the last surviving ‘Dambuster’ of the RAF’s 617 Squadron.

The RAF’s Air Officer Wales, Air Commodore Rob Woods, and World War II Veteran Duncan Hilling, of Saundersfoot, were chief guests at the Torch Theatre for the showing of ‘Attack on Sorpe Dam’, one of three large dams in Germany attacked by 617 Squadron in May 1943.

They were joined by service representatives, air cadets and many locals – the evening being a fundraising event for the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincolnshire.

Exquisitely created in digital format, the film describes the story of Avro Lancaster bomber AJ-T which attacked the Sorpe Dam, with the narration by the late Squadron Leader Johnny Johnson, who died in 2022. He was the bomb aimer on the aircraft which dropped an ‘Upkeep’ bomb on the dam.

It is the culmination of six years of work by film producer Andrew Panton and Pitor Forkasiewicz and is now part of the IBCC archive. Also shown was a short film ‘Remembering the Avro Lancaster’ in which four wartime aircrew visit a preserved Lancaster at a Lincolnshire museum. The film was launched that day by the IBCC, with the Torch audience being the first to see a live screening.

The event was organised by Andrew Panton’s brother, Ian, of St Davids, who commented: “There was no doubt that many found this a very special occasion for Remembering Them, and so many others, on Remembrance Sunday.”

On display during the evening was a Lancaster bomb aimer’s panel, re-created by Dr Andy Watkin, a Trustee of the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre.

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