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Town council grant helps secure community arts activity in Milford Haven

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MILFORD HAVEN’S Torch Theatre has been awarded a £7,500 grant by Milford Haven Town Council, continuing a long tradition of support for community arts at the iconic venue.

Established in 1977 with significant backing from the Town Council, the Torch Theatre remains one of only three building-based professional producing theatres in Wales. It is widely recognised for its in-house productions as well as its extensive youth and community programmes.

The theatre, which operates as a charity, receives public funding through the Arts Council of Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council, alongside support from local businesses and organisations including Milford Haven Port Authority. Leaders at the venue say funding remains essential to maintaining its broad programme of events and activities for the community.

Chelsey Gillard, Interim CEO and Artistic Director at the Torch Theatre, said: “Being awarded grants such as this one from the Town Council helps us to deliver quality arts to the people of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire and further afield.

“We are very grateful for this continued support and appreciate the work of the Town Council to ensure important provision is supported across Milford.”

The Torch hosts more than 2,000 events and activities each year, attracting over 100,000 visitors. Its community facilities include The Junction, home to the Torch Youth Theatre and a rehearsal space for professional productions. The main auditorium seats 300 people, while the Studio Theatre accommodates 102. The Joanna Field Gallery showcases local exhibitions, and Café Torch serves meals throughout the year.

Ms Gillard added: “We do so much more than what audiences see on stage. Just to name a few of our regular activities, we run a very popular Youth Theatre for ages seven to eighteen, facilitate relaxed environment screenings and shows, host a Welsh learners’ group, Coffi Cymraeg, and hold regular clothes swaps.

“The Torch is also home to Welsh National Opera’s critically acclaimed Cradle Choir for people living with dementia and lots of high-quality classes for adults with disabilities run by Arts Care. All this activity relies on our team of brilliant volunteers and support from grants, trusts and donations.

“This grant will go towards ensuring these activities can continue — thank you.”

 

Community

Protest planned outside police station calling for Chief Constable’s removal

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Campaigners accuse Dyfed-Powys Police of failing to safeguard children in Carmarthenshire

A PROTEST calling for the removal of Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis is due to take place outside Llanelli Police Station this weekend.

The demonstration, organised by campaign group Predator Awareness and activist Zack Griffiths, is scheduled for Saturday (May 23) at 11:00am.

Promotional material shared online claims the protest is being held because the current Chief Constable has “failed to safeguard the children of Carmarthenshire”.

Campaigners are urging members of the public to gather outside Llanelli Police Station under the slogan: “No more silence. No more excuses. Protect our children.”

The specific concerns behind the protest have not been fully outlined publicly, although organisers have linked it to wider safeguarding concerns.

When approached by The Herald, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed officers were aware of the planned demonstration.

Protest planned: Campaigners are calling for the removal of Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis (Pic: supplied).

A police spokesperson said: “We are aware of plans for a protest in Llanelli this weekend.

“We will always seek to facilitate lawful peaceful protest while balancing it with the rights of others, keeping the public safe, and preventing crime and disorder — and we encourage anyone organising a protest to contact us so we can work together to ensure any demonstrations are done safely and with respect for the wider community.”

The protest is expected to take place outside Llanelli Police Station on Saturday morning.

 

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Community

Funding from wind farm helps expand community electric car scheme

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WELSH communities have benefited from more than £3.3m in renewable energy funding during 2025, according to a new report by RWE.

The company’s 2025 Community Fund report says its renewable energy projects invested £5.7m into community funds across the UK, including more than £3.3m in Wales.

Among the projects supported is the Dolen Teifi community electric car share scheme, which received help from the Brechfa Onshore Wind Farm Fund.

The scheme provides affordable shared access to electric vehicles for more than 400 registered users in a remote rural area, helping people reach education, healthcare and other essential services.

It also reduces transport costs and carbon emissions, while a team of volunteer drivers supports disabled and vulnerable residents.

RWE’s funding initially supported the salary of a part-time volunteer coordinator and helped provide a six-seater accessible electric vehicle.

The project has since secured lottery and government funding, allowing it to expand across West Wales with a fleet of more than 12 vehicles and hundreds of volunteer drivers.

In North Wales, a three-year funding package from RWE’s Clocaenog Onshore Wind Farm Fund has helped support the South Denbighshire Community Partnership, which works across the rural Ederynion area.

The partnership provides services including Meals on Wheels, community transport, prescription delivery, parent and toddler groups, and exercise classes.

Margaret, chief executive of SDCP, said: “We are delighted to be in receipt of funding from Clocaenog Wind Farm Fund.

“We know the positive impact that the services we are able to provide with it has on our service users and communities. Without this support, we wouldn’t be able to provide those services.”

Katy Woodington, of RWE, said: “Our community funds are all about putting local people in control, with a key feature being an independent community panel made up of local residents, who play a central role in shaping priorities and deciding how funding is allocated.

“With over £78.5m committed to community projects over the lifetime of our Welsh operating renewable generation portfolio, it will be really exciting to see what communities can achieve.

“RWE remains committed to putting communities at the centre of the energy transition, ensuring a brighter, more equitable future, one small project at a time.”

RWE says first-generation wind farms have invested more than £24.9m into Welsh communities neighbouring their sites.

Over their lifetime, wind farms operated by RWE Renewables are expected to invest more than £78.5m into Welsh communities.

 

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Community

Lydstep Haven swimming warning lifted after sewerage repairs

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BATHERS have been told they can return to the water at Lydstep Haven after warnings linked to a pollution incident were lifted.

Pembrokeshire County Council had advised people not to swim at the beach after an “abnormal situation” was declared earlier this month over concerns about bathing water quality.

Natural Resources Wales has now confirmed that the status has been lifted following repair works to a private sewerage system.

Water samples taken in the days after the repairs indicated that the bathing water was no longer being affected.

Signage warning people not to swim will now be removed by the council.

An NRW spokesperson said: “The ‘abnormal situation’ status at Lydstep Haven beach in Pembrokeshire has been lifted by Natural Resources Wales.

“The lifting of this status means that Pembrokeshire County Council is no longer advising people not to swim at Lydstep Haven.

“The private operator has carried out repair works to their sewerage system and results from several water samples taken indicate the bathing water is no longer being impacted.

“NRW is continuing its investigation into any possible regulatory breaches.”

 

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