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Community

Community transport progress highlighted during visit by Older People’s Commissioner

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MEMBERS of the Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations (PACTO) have met with the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, to present the latest progress on their three-year Transformation Project, funded by the Motability Foundation.

The Commissioner, whose role is to protect and promote the rights of people aged sixty and over, visited Pembrokeshire Archives in Haverfordwest where Transformation Project Manager Wyndham Williams and PACTO General Manager Ady Poole outlined the impact of the investment so far.

PACTO received almost £1 million from the Motability Foundation to transform community transport in Pembrokeshire. The project aims to build a more resilient sector with stronger governance, shared resources and a more coherent network of services for people with mobility challenges.

Project aims and investment

The three-year initiative will:
• Improve accessibility, efficiency and long-term sustainability across community transport services.
• Deliver five wheelchair-accessible cars and four wheelchair-accessible minibuses to expand the countywide fleet.
• Provide seed funding for new services and their ongoing operating costs.
• Produce a new countywide community transport strategy, shaped by stakeholder consultation and implemented over three years.
• Create a model that can be replicated by community transport operators elsewhere in the UK.

Pembrokeshire’s Community Transport network is made up of six operators: Bloomfield House Community Centre NDCSA, Green Dragon Community Transport, Manorbier and District Community Transport, Pembrokeshire Voluntary Transport, the Royal Voluntary Service, and The VC Gallery.

Across the last twenty-one months, 4,336 people with mobility needs have used community transport services in the county, including 187 individual wheelchair users between October 2024 and September 2025.

Commissioner highlights importance of local transport

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said: “Spending a week travelling across Pembrokeshire to meet with older people’s groups, as well as organisations providing crucial community support, was hugely valuable to see first-hand some of the activities making a positive difference to people’s lives, as well as hear directly about the challenges and barriers people are facing.

“Issues relating to transport were raised with me by older people wherever I went, and it was clear that community transport plays a particularly important role in Pembrokeshire.

“So, it was really helpful to meet with PACTO during my time in the county, to learn more about the ways they are supporting a wide range of CT services to provide innovative, flexible options that are essential to enable people to get out and about and do the things that matter to them.”

PACTO thanked the Commissioner for her visit and said they look forward to continuing work together to support and strengthen community transport in Pembrokeshire.

About PACTO

Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations (PACTO) is a registered charity and umbrella body supporting community transport groups across the county. Established in 2004, it works to improve access to transport for people who are isolated, elderly or disabled. Through guidance, advocacy and its Motability Foundation-funded Transformation Project, PACTO helps strengthen governance, modernise services and reduce transport barriers across Pembrokeshire.

About the Motability Foundation

The Motability Foundation is an independent charity established in 1977. It funds, supports and innovates to ensure disabled people can make the journeys they choose. As well as overseeing the Motability Scheme, it provides grants to individuals, charities and organisations that improve or campaign for accessible transport. Working with disabled people, government and industry, the foundation aims to build transport equity across the UK.

Community

Pembrokeshire asked to shape new walking, wheeling and cycling routes

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PEMBROKESHIRE residents are being invited to have their say on where new walking, wheeling and cycling routes should be created or improved, as the county council updates its Active Travel Network Map.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s public consultation opens on Monday (Jan 26) and runs until Monday (Apr 20).

The map is intended to help identify where infrastructure improvements are needed to make everyday journeys safer and easier, including for people who use mobility aids or who are new to walking, wheeling or cycling.

A wooden post with a sign on it, in Pembrokeshire

The council says the work forms part of the Active Travel (Wales) Act, which requires local authorities to plan and map suitable active travel routes.

The consultation focuses on the county’s designated localities, which include Fishguard and Goodwick, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Tenby, Saundersfoot, Haverfordwest, Neyland, Milford Haven, Johnston, Narberth and St Dogmaels.

People can take part online using an interactive mapping tool hosted by Data Map Wales, where users can view proposed future routes and existing routes and leave comments.

The online consultation can be found at: https://datamap.gov.wales/survey/Pembrokeshire-AT-survey/

Drop-in sessions have also been arranged for people unable to access the online material, with council representatives attending to answer questions.

The sessions are:

Thursday (Feb 5)
Pembroke Dock Library, 10:00am to 1:00pm
Pembroke Town Council, 2:30pm to 5:30pm

Tuesday (Feb 11)
Ocean Lab Café, Goodwick, 10:00am to 1:00pm
Fishguard Library, 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Monday (Feb 24)
Neyland Library, 10:00am to 1:00pm
Johnston Baptist Church, 2:00pm to 6:00pm

Wednesday (Feb 26)
Narberth Library, 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Thursday (Mar 5)
Tenby Town Council, 9:30am to 12:30pm
The Regency Hall, Saundersfoot, 1:30pm to 5:30pm

Wednesday (Mar 18)
St Dogmaels Memorial Hall, 2:00pm to 6:00pm

Wednesday (Mar 25)
Milford Haven Library, 10:00am to 1:00pm

Thursday (Mar 26)
HaverHub, Haverfordwest, 2:00pm to 6:00pm

Paper copies of plans are available on request, although the council says hard-copy plans can only be provided for specific areas due to the extent of the consultation.

Residents who need alternative formats such as large print, easy-read, Braille, audio or another language have been asked to contact the council.

For more information, email: [email protected] or call 01437 775182.

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Community

Jenkins & Davies investigating alleged racist remarks after video circulates online

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AN ENGINEERING firm has launched an internal investigation after a video circulated online over the weekend which is said to show a senior member of staff at the Pembroke Dock firm making comments described as racist.

The video was uploaded to YouTube and TikTok by DJ Clips UK. In the footage, a member of staff is heard saying he was concerned about a drone being flown in the area because of travellers nearby.

He is quoted as saying: “There are gypsies down the corner, and we just don’t want stuff going missing.”

In response, members of the traveller community have erected a banner outside the company’s gates accusing the firm of “racial abuse”.

Jenkins & Davies Engineering has since issued a public statement acknowledging the video and apologising to those affected.

The company said it was “aware of a video circulating online involving comments made by a senior member of our team” and added: “The message stated was inappropriate and does not reflect our values or the views of the company.”

It continued: “We recognise the hurt and offence this has caused to members of the community, and we would like to sincerely apologise to anyone affected by these unwarranted comments.”

The firm said it takes discrimination “extremely seriously” and confirmed the employee involved had been removed from all duties while a full investigation is carried out.

Charlie Price, described as a prominent voice within the local traveller community, said he believed the remarks were racist and that the response so far had not gone far enough.

He said: “What was said was not acceptable in 2026. We are not happy at all and we see they put an apology on Facebook with the help of their fancy £300 an hour solicitors in Cardiff, but we wants them to come out and give us an apology in person.”

The company statement was signed by managing director R Barnard.

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Community

Fire chiefs back Register My Appliance Week to cut risk of white goods fires

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MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service says registering appliances is free, quick, and could help households receive urgent safety alerts or recalls.

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is urging households across the region to register their white goods and other electrical appliances as it backs Register My Appliance Week, running from Monday, January 19 to Friday, January 23.

The campaign encourages people to sign up items such as washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and smaller appliances so manufacturers can contact owners quickly if a fault is discovered or a product recall is issued.

The fire service said it had attended 40 incidents involving faulty white goods over the past 12 months, and believes registration is a simple step that could help reduce the risk of accidents in the home.

Home Fire Safety Manager Gareth Hands said: “Smart, efficient appliances make life easier, but it’s essential to get them registered. It’s quick, free, and ensures you’re alerted first if a safety repair is ever needed. A few minutes now helps you enjoy the benefits without compromising safety.”

Residents are being directed to the Register My Appliance portal, which offers access to more than 70 leading brands, with many accepting registrations for both new and older appliances, including items bought second-hand or acquired “nearly new”.

To register, households can visit www.registermyappliance.org.uk.

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