Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

News

Milford Haven: Councillor clashes with cameraman

Published

on

Clear off: Councillor bats away at camerman's lens

Clear off: Councillor bats away at camerman’s lens

A CAMERAMAN from Pembs.TV was told he was not permitted to film a Planning Committee visit to Milford Haven on Wednesday (Jan 14).

Mark Evans, a news cameraman and documentary maker for many years, told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “I was in a public place, filming councillors representing a public body, when one councillor took exception to being filmed and tried to push me away. He claimed that I was not entitled to film.

At the end of last year, Pembrokeshire County Council voted to allow the video and audio recording of all committee meetings and meetings of the full Council, unless the meeting is discussing commercially sensitive or other private and confidential information. Even then, advice on exclusion of the media and public has to be tendered and voted upon.

A Council spokesman told The Herald, however, that site visits are an exception to this rule: “Planning site inspections are not public meetings and, as such, the public and press are not notified.

“The majority of site inspections take place on private land. In such cases the Council contacts the landowner beforehand as a master of courtesy to enable the inspection to be carried out.”

After visiting the Manchester Street car park, councillors travelled to Milford Docks, where they refused to discuss concerns about the Port Authority’s plans for redevelopment with members of the public.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Dave

    January 17, 2015 at 9:28 pm

    Hardly a \”clash\”! Was it on public or private land, that bit has not been confirmed ? Obviously the recording of this meeting was to prompt a reaction and not in the interests of real reporting.

  2. Charles

    January 17, 2015 at 9:44 pm

    Inspections are open to members of the public but they cannot ask questions or speak unless invited to do so. Obviously we still have none transparent Councillors who dont want true and accurate reports to be published instead of the Councils slant on matters! Nothing changes at PCC does it! Keep up the good work with your reports Pembrokeshire Herald and keep rattling the Councillors cages!

  3. Flashbang

    January 17, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    Who was the councillor and what was the purpose of the site visit? As we have seen in the past, a close eye needs to be put on everything PCC does as nothing is as above board as they would have us believe.

  4. tomos

    January 18, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    Dave, are you trying to muddy the waters ? the article states it was on public land so confirmation is required by yourself from Pembs CC as you think the press is lying? -PCC the home of honesty,decency,sacking whistle blowers who report paedophiles and a load of other good things?

    you’re taking the mickey aren’t you ?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Crown Estate invests in Welsh offshore wind projects

Published

on

THE CROWN ESTATE has allocated funding to four Welsh organisations in the first round of its £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator programme, aimed at advancing the UK’s offshore wind sector. Across England, Wales, and Scotland, 13 organisations have received a share of £5 million to support early-stage supply chain projects.

The Welsh projects will contribute to the development of floating wind platforms, operations and maintenance facilities, and skills training. The funding is expected to unlock over £9 million in immediate investment, with the potential for £400 million in future capital expenditure. These initiatives align with The Crown Estate’s Celtic Sea Blueprint, which forecasts 5,300 new jobs and a £1.4 billion economic uplift through the deployment of floating offshore wind capacity in the region.

The Welsh recipients include:

  • Marine Power Systems Ltd.
  • Neath Port Talbot Group of Colleges (subject to contract)
  • Pembrokeshire College (subject to contract)
  • Tugdock Ltd.

Catalyst for change
Ben Brinded, Head of Investment at The Crown Estate, described the funding as a pivotal step for the UK’s renewable energy goals:
“This is a significant moment for The Crown Estate as our first funding into the UK’s offshore wind supply chain. We are fostering collaboration with industry and government partners to catalyse net zero, restore nature, and drive economic growth. The Supply Chain Accelerator is a vital step in maturing propositions that attract public and private investments.”

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens welcomed the funding as “an important boost to build local jobs and skills in South Wales,” highlighting that floating offshore wind technology provides cheaper energy and creates future-proof jobs.

Rebecca Evans, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy, and Planning, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Wales’ ambition to generate sufficient renewable energy to meet its own needs by 2035.

Expanding potential
The Crown Estate, which oversees the seabed around England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, launched the £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator fund earlier this year. With £45 million earmarked for future rounds, the programme aligns with the UK’s Industrial Growth Plan for offshore wind, aiming to unlock more opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

About The Crown Estate
The Crown Estate is a business mandated by Parliament to manage a £16 billion portfolio that includes offshore wind assets, urban centres, and rural holdings. Profits from its operations, totaling £4 billion over the past decade, are returned to HM Treasury.

Continue Reading

News

Welsh Labour criticised for ‘failing thousands of families’ on childcare

Published

on

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’S draft budget has sparked debate, with the Welsh Liberal Democrats labelling it a “missed opportunity” for failing to deliver on childcare, while Labour officials defend their record on supporting families.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have argued that the government missed a “golden opportunity” to support Welsh families during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis while delivering a boost to the Welsh economy. They claim that high childcare costs are forcing more parents out of work, and the extra £20 million allocated in the budget will only “paper over the cracks.”

The Liberal Democrats have proposed a universal offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week for all children in Wales aged 9 months to 4 years. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS expressed disappointment, stating:

“Instead of taking this opportunity to steer Welsh families away from sky-rocketing childcare costs, the Welsh Government has instead left them to fend for themselves. Thousands of people from across Wales are being forced to make the difficult choice between paying out of pocket for childcare or leaving work.

This shouldn’t be the case. We want to see a universal offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week for every single child in Wales between the ages of 9 months and 4 years old. By taking away the burden of childcare costs, we can help people get back into work, which will give our economy a huge boost.

The UK Labour Government has been talking about encouraging more economic growth, but it appears as though their colleagues in Cardiff Bay didn’t get the message.”

However, the Welsh Government has countered these claims, highlighting existing childcare support schemes and their broader efforts to ease financial pressures on families. A Welsh Government spokesperson said:

“Our government remains committed to supporting families across Wales. Our existing childcare offer provides up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare for working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds during term time, which we extended to include support during the school holidays.

In addition, we are investing £20 million to enhance childcare provision further, ensuring families who need it most can access support. We are continually working to develop policies that benefit Welsh families and strengthen our economy.”

The debate comes amid growing scrutiny of government policies as families grapple with the rising cost of living. Critics and supporters alike will be watching closely to see how the draft budget evolves and whether further measures are introduced to address childcare costs.

Continue Reading

Community

New Year, new bus services as changes introduced

Published

on

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.
Continue Reading

News4 hours ago

Council ‘s £34m budget gap ‘the most challenging since its inception’

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is staring down the barrel of a £34.1m funding gap for 2025-26. Despite a 3.6% funding increase...

News20 hours ago

Pembrokeshire loses out as Labour ‘rewards its heartlands’

THE HEADLINE figure is an average rise in Welsh local authority budgets by 4.3%. Every Welsh rural council got less...

News1 day ago

A475 closed as fire crews respond to west Wales house blaze

EMERGENCY SERVICES are tackling a property fire in Ceredigion, prompting the closure of the A475 Drefach-Rhydowen road. Dyfed-Powys Police have...

Health1 day ago

Lib Dems press Welsh Government on ambulance waiting times

THE WELSH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have intensified their criticism of the Labour Government over shockingly long ambulance waiting times in Wales....

News1 day ago

Local Authority says it will continue support following storm

AS PART of the recovery in the aftermath of Storm Darragh, Pembrokeshire County Council says it is continuing to support...

News2 days ago

Lives at risk in Pembrokeshire as storm leaves many without power

LIVES are being put at risk in rural Pembrokeshire following National Grid’s failure to install generators for hundreds of properties...

News2 days ago

Extensive historical child sexual abuse and institutional failings at Caldey Abbey

AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW into historical child sexual abuse at Caldey Abbey, situated on Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire, has uncovered extensive abuse...

featured3 days ago

The Teifiside Aggravator: Satirical news outlet challenges local journalism in Cardigan

HEARD the story about the ‘major’ car crash in Tesco’s car park, Cardigan?  The one where no one was hurt...

Community3 days ago

Welsh Government introduces new Bill to tackle mining legacy

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has today (Dec 9) introduced a landmark Bill to address safety issues arising from Wales’s disused mining...

News4 days ago

Storm Darragh: Leisure centres open as warm spaces for those without electricity

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has announced that leisure centres across the county, except for Fishguard, will be open today (Sunday, December...

Popular This Week