Community

Ajay Owen confirms key Herald reporting in lengthy online tirade

Published

2 months ago

November 28, 2025

In a 5,000-word website blog post described as a “corrective measure”, the SARS Cymru director has confirmed several of the most serious points raised in last week’s Herald investigation.

SINCE The Herald published its investigation into SARS Cymru on 25 November, director Ajay Owen has issued a lengthy public rebuttal.

In that statement, posted on Friday, Mr Owen confirmed that he reposted photographs of children without parental consent in order to “show residents how it felt to have their privacy invaded”. He also announced that he will “in the coming days” publish private messages and screenshots linked to the dispute.

Mr Owen’s new statement follows significant local concern about SARS Cymru’s activities, including volunteers attending incidents without invitation, the use of amber beacons on private vehicles, and the administration of several large local Facebook groups.

Three key admissions

On reposting photographs of children

“I reposted public images from their profiles to show them how it felt to have their privacy invaded. Was it the right choice? I apologised and removed it.”

This directly confirms the accounts of parents and residents who spoke to the Herald last week.

On plans to release private messages

“In the coming days, I am releasing the screenshots that the newspapers were too afraid to print.”

Police and Meta have been informed of the stated intention to publish large quantities of private correspondence.

On the safeguarding referral

Mr Owen again states that a Section 5 safeguarding referral was “unsubstantiated”. This confirms that a formal referral and threshold assessment took place, exactly as the Herald reported.

Additional resident concerns

Following publication of the Herald’s initial article, further residents have contacted this newspaper and commented publicly on social media.

One resident, Jerome Bartens, claimed Mr Owen attempted to stop farmers accessing livestock during snowy conditions by creating an unauthorised road block.
Mr Bartens said: “He blocked the road himself and told people they needed a permit to get through because the sign was covered. He was doing traffic management without authority.”

Another resident, commenting on Nation.Cymru’s report, described confusion about SARS Cymru’s appearance at a recent flood response.
Roger Thomas said: “Their uniform is very police-like. In a major incident with fire and ambulance crews, they were confusing. I still don’t know what role they played.”

Claims that collapsed

In his rebuttal, Mr Owen accuses this newspaper of suggesting he posted “inappropriate images of children”. The original Herald article made no such claim. It reported only that images of children were posted without consent and later removed.

Mr Owen also states that journalists “refused to look at hundreds of screenshots”. In fact, the Herald published his complete 5,000-word response verbatim.

It is also worth noting that the responses Mr Owen sent to the Herald, presented as a detailed rebuttal, were the same statements he had already posted publicly on his own Facebook page.

Statutory services restate their position

Dyfed-Powys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and Pembrokeshire County Council have all reiterated to the Herald that SARS Cymru has no formal partnership, memorandum of understanding, or delegated authority.

Herald response

Mr Owen states in his post that he will “not stop” and that SARS Cymru “will not stop”.

The Herald considers the public interest in this matter fully served by the original investigation, read more than 100,000 times in its first four days, and by Mr Owen’s own subsequent confirmations.

We have no plans for further commentary unless significant new evidence emerges.

Community

New illustrated heritage map unveiled in Narberth town centre

Published

3 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW illustrated heritage and wayfinding map has been installed in Narberth town centre, highlighting the town’s rich architectural history, cultural heritage and key landmarks.

The hand-drawn map has been created by local artist Fran Evans and is part of a wider project aimed at improving interpretation and the visitor experience in Narberth.

The panels have been installed at two prominent locations: the undercroft, also known as Rebecca’s Cell, at the rear of the Old Town Hall, and the existing external display frame at the side of No.47, adjacent to the town’s museum.

Developed and delivered by Narberth Town Council, the project has been funded through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, with additional match funding provided by the Town Council.

The illustrated map features detailed drawings of historic buildings, local stories and notable points of interest. It is designed to function both as a practical guide for residents and visitors navigating the town, and as a visual celebration of Narberth’s heritage.

Town councillors say the project forms part of a broader effort to enhance how the town’s history is presented in public spaces, making it more accessible and engaging for those visiting the area.

The Town Council has indicated that further information about the project, including background details and images of the newly installed panels, can be made available, along with comments from the artist and council representatives.

Community

Views sought on Pembrokeshire Age Friendly Communities

Published

4 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE residents aged fifty and over are being invited to share their views as part of a new consultation on Age Friendly Communities across the county.

The survey focuses on how older people experience life in Pembrokeshire and what helps them maintain a good quality of life as they grow older, both at home and within their local communities.

Participants are asked to reflect on their later years, including how well communities support older residents, and the role played by statutory services, voluntary groups and community organisations.

An Age Friendly Community is defined as a place where people are supported to age well, remain living in their own homes for as long as possible, take part in activities they value, and continue contributing to their communities.

The Age Friendly Communities approach was developed by the World Health Organization in 2007, following consultation with older people worldwide. It is based on evidence about what supports healthy and active ageing and places older residents at the centre of shaping the communities they live in.

Responses from the consultation will help inform the Pembrokeshire Age Friendly Communities Strategy and Action Plan. This will be developed in partnership with organisations including Hywel Dda University Health Board, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the voluntary sector and Pembrokeshire’s 50+ Forum.

Further information is available on Pembrokeshire County Council’s Have Your Say webpage. The online survey must be completed by February 15, 2026.

Community

Bethlehem Baptist chapel set to undergo expansion

Published

10 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to extend a chapel and hall near Haverfordwest to provide much-needed space for activities has been given the go-ahead by Pembrokeshire county planners.

Reverend Jenny Gough, through agent Sureline Design Services Ltd, sought permission for an extension to Bethlehem Chapel and its attached hall, in the village of Bethlehem.

A supporting statement said: “Bethlehem Baptist Chapel, located on the outskirts of Haverfordwest has 45 adults in membership of the church at the present time ranging from 19 years to those in their mid-90s. In addition, on a Sunday we have a further 46 adults in regular attendance and 11 regular under 16-year-olds.

“The growth of the church fellowship in the past ten years has necessitated the provision of a portacabin in church grounds which is a temporary measure, intended to be removed once the proposed extension to the church hall is completed.

“Whilst the church is currently providing various community activities, we are limited in the number of people who can attend and often find that we are restricted in the services we would like to provide due to the space available.

“Allied to this, the need to meet public standards for disabilities, parking, health, and safety and the need for an extension becomes ever more pressing. The project aim is to provide a first-class facility that will enhance the community, be a welcome lift to the area, and enable existing and new activities to be undertaken in a pleasant, warm, accessible and welcoming environment.”

It added: “Over the last four to five years it has become increasingly clear that the current building facility could not meet the needs of its users, nor hope to satisfy the ever-increasing regulatory demands placed on facilities that are open to the general public.”

The chapel hosts many activities including adult and toddler/baby group, ladies craft group, community lunch group, bereavement peer support group, dementia support group, primary school children’s holiday clubs, secondary school youth clubs, young adult groups, Christian teaching groups and social events.

“Since many of these activities are well attended, we are often lacking space in the building. For some larger gatherings we are forced to use halls in the communities around us, which increases our workload for holding the events in having to transport necessary equipment.

“The main result is that we are not holding events to our full potential, if more space was available at Bethlehem Chapel, we would be able to hold more events to benefit the wider community with what we are already providing.”

The application was conditionally approved by officers.