Pembrokeshire County Council has warned residents that worsening weather this afternoon, particularly in the east of the county, will affect roads and services.

The Council said it would be closing some services early to allow staff to travel home safely. Schools that opened as normal this morning are also set to close early.

Forecasters expect snow and sleet to become heavier later today in eastern parts of the county, which could lead to travel disruption on untreated roads. Overnight, road surface temperatures are forecast to fall to around -2.5°C, with the risk of sleet or snow on higher ground.

Council teams have been continuously gritting and patrolling all primary routes since yesterday afternoon. Precautionary salting, patrolling, and ploughing of primary and secondary routes will continue through the afternoon, evening, and overnight. Gritting route information is available on the Council’s website.

The Council added that road surfaces are likely to remain below freezing for much of tomorrow morning and into the early afternoon.

Due to high call volumes, residents are being asked to contact the Council only in emergencies or for urgent matters. Road users are advised to take care, particularly on untreated roads, and to travel only if essential.

The weather may also affect school openings tomorrow, with updates to be posted on the Council’s dedicated school closure page.

A COMMUNITY fund of £20,000 for Cardigan as part of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s £20m upgrade at its wastewater treatment works is being launched this week.

The not-for-profit company is currently upgrading the treatment process at Cardigan Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) and once complete, the new process will ensure the works can cope better with the influx of seawater from the tidal Afon Teifi, helping to reduce the spill frequency from the site.

The works started in spring 2025, after being approved by Ceredigion planners last January, and is expected to be completed by the end of spring 2027.

In its 2024 application, Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water said the works will reduce the amount of pollution in the Teifi, reducing spills of untreated effluent, and improving water quality in the long-term.

However, concerns had been raised about the scheme, saying there will be an impact on neighbouring homes, and the access route to the site is unsafe.

Work at Cardigan so far has included service diversions, preparation work for the new dissolved air floatation treatment process (DAF), and the draining and cleaning of the existing tanks on the current Cardigan site. This will allow them to be converted into new balancing tank and moving-bed bioreactor (MBBR), while there has also been the installation of two new 15-metre diameter primary settlement tanks (PST) – key elements of the wastewater treatment process.

Welsh Water’s Managing Director of Wastewater Services, Steve Wilson, said: “We are pleased to be making good progress on our essential work to upgrade the treatment process at Cardigan Wastewater Treatment works.

“This large investment will help ensure that we have capacity at the site to take wastewater and implement measures to prevent the influx of salt water. This in turn will ensure that we treat wastewater efficiently and reduce the number of spills from this site into the estuary.

“Now, we would like to say thank you by giving something back to the local community by launching our Cardigan Community Fund, giving local groups the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 of funding to bring their community benefit projects to life.”

The Cardigan Community Fund will be open for applications from Monday, January 5 until February 28, and groups will be able to apply for varying amounts from £250 up to £5,000 to help enhance the area they live in.

To award the funds to local community projects, Welsh Water will be working in partnership with the local Public Service Board who will be part of the community fund panel.

To be eligible for funding, non-profit organisations and groups must be based within an area that is served by Cardigan WwTW, such as Cardigan, St Dogmaels, Penparc and Gwbert. They can apply for the funding to help them develop, launch or maintain a community project, which they will manage and deliver.

TRIBUTES have been paid from across Pembrokeshire following the death of County Councillor Mike Stoddart, who passed away peacefully today at Withybush Hospital, surrounded by his family.

The sad news was announced earlier by his wife, Vivien, who said the family were heartbroken at his passing.

Mike Stoddart was a well-known and often formidable figure in Milford Haven public life, recognised both for his long involvement in local journalism and for his outspoken role in local politics.

Alongside Vivien, Mike founded and ran the Milford & West Wales Mercury during the 1990s, establishing the paper at a time when independent local journalism played a central role in town life. The family-run newspaper became a familiar fixture in Milford Haven before being sold in the late 1990s. The title went on to change ownership several times before eventually ceasing print publication in 2020.

After leaving the newspaper, Mike continued to play an active and highly visible role in local debate. He became widely known for his forthright “Old Grumpy” website, where he wrote extensively and often critically about council business, local governance and public accountability. His writing style was unapologetically direct, and he was unafraid to challenge decisions or individuals he believed were failing the community.

That same approach carried into his time as an elected member of Pembrokeshire County Council, where he served as a county councillor and became known as a strong and experienced voice in the chamber. Colleagues frequently remarked on his depth of knowledge and his willingness to speak plainly, even when his views were unpopular.

Milford Haven Town Council was among those to pay tribute, saying it was saddened to hear of the passing of County Councillor Stoddart. In a statement, the council described Mike as a well-known figure around the town and community, noting that he and Vivien had both served Milford Haven for many years as public servants, as well as through their work running the former Milford Mercury.

The council added that its thoughts and sympathies were with Vivien, Mike’s family, friends and his colleagues at Pembrokeshire County Council at this difficult time.

Cllr Tim Evans also paid tribute, saying he was “so sorry” to hear of the passing of his fellow county councillor. He described Mike as a “big presence” at County Hall and said his knowledge and experience would be greatly missed. He added his heartfelt sympathies to Vivien and her family.

Mike Stoddart leaves behind a significant legacy in Milford Haven, shaped by decades of involvement in local journalism, public debate and council service. Whether admired or challenged, he was a figure who made his presence felt and whose voice was rarely ignored.

Our thoughts are with Vivien, their family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.