Community

Cancer patients targeted with parking fines outside Haverfordwest support centre

Published

2 weeks ago

April 29, 2026

Adam’s Bucketful of Hope says vulnerable users, elderly volunteers and charity drivers have paid more than £1,000 after Ateb introduced camera-controlled parking at the former library car park

LOCAL cancer victims, many of whom are battling their final months of life, are being targeted with unnecessary parking fines by local housing company Ateb.

Since taking over the former library in Haverfordwest town centre, together with the adjoining car park, Ateb has been claiming car parking fees monitored by Parking Eye Limited.

But the system means that patients attending the nearby cancer support centre, Adam’s Bucketful of Hope, are being issued with multiple fines, court summonses and even bailiff action.

Many fines are being served on vehicles which drop patients off at the centre and immediately drive off.

These include an 89-year-old volunteer who, despite paying her parking tickets, has received three separate threatening letters; a courtesy van which was fined £100 for transporting charity equipment to a fundraising event; a motorist who recently accrued a £200 fine for delivering a patient and returning later that afternoon to pick her up from the centre; and a Polish van driver who collects the charity’s ragbags for Wilcox Recyclers, who has paid £120 in parking fines.

“Why should these people have to pay?” said Chris Evans-Thomas, who co-founded the charity with her son Adam, who sadly died of leukaemia at the age of 35.

“We don’t pay when we go to the hospital, we don’t pay at the doctor’s surgery, so why are our patients, many having reached the last months of their lives, being dealt all this stress whenever they visit our support centre?

“We’ve repeatedly asked to meet Ateb face to face in order to discuss the issue, but they’re ghosting us.”

Chris claims that when Ateb purchased the library back in April 2022, the housing company assured the charity that the existing arrangement would be honoured, enabling regular charity volunteers to use their five allocated car parking spaces free of charge.

“But the parking system is now all on camera, so even if we just drive in to drop somebody off, the driver of the car is fined,” she continued.

To date, the centre’s cancer patients and volunteers have spent a total of £1,062 on tickets issued on vehicles using the five designated parking spaces. A full refund has now been requested by the charity.

“We’ve been based at this site for almost 20 years and have always operated from the back entrance. But since Ateb took over the car park, all this has changed.”

Support for patients

The charity’s principal purpose is to support cancer sufferers, many of whom are terminally ill, by providing a wide range of free treatments to boost their personal rejuvenation and respite.

These include contemplative sessions in the respite and rejuvenation room, hair and beauty treatments, and a wide range of craft and singing sessions.

The charity works closely with the VC Gallery and also welcomes anyone undergoing hospital treatment for other illnesses, both physical and mental. People who are too sick to attend can use the “messenger wall” to interact with others attending the centre.

“A lot of people finish their treatment at hospital and are then told they can go home, and for many this can be daunting,” continued Chris Evans-Thomas.

“Suddenly they no longer have all the camaraderie they received from the medical staff and they start feeling anxious and lonely. This is why the centre is so important to so many of our users.

“But since Ateb bought the library, our numbers have seen a steady decline because a lot of our users don’t want to risk using the car park and get a £100 fine, so they’ve stopped attending.”

The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that some of the centre’s older users are unable to use the car park’s card and phone payment system.

Terminal diagnosis

One of the centre’s regular attendees is Yvonne who, last November, was told that her cancer is terminal.

“I was told that I’ve got a year to live, maybe two years maximum,” she said.

“I’m already serving a life sentence, so why should I have to deal with all this added trauma from Ateb?

“They’ve sent me four letters and threatened me with court proceedings, but I’m in the middle of my cancer treatment. Having to deal with all this just adds to the stress.

“Everyone in life has come across people who are suffering from cancer and it hits the heart of everybody. But Ateb is just carrying on with their threats without giving any thought to what it’s doing to us.”

Moving to Foley House

Meanwhile Chris Evans-Thomas said that Adam’s Bucketful of Hope is currently preparing to relocate to another part of town.

“All we’re asking is for Ateb to listen to our plea and help our patients continue using the centre until we move to our new location in Foley House, having outgrown the building here in Dew Street,” she concluded.

“The feasibility studies have all been completed, with the result that we’re hoping to move in the next two years. This means we only need Ateb’s support for a short period of time.

“If we can give them our users’ registration numbers, there would be no problems.”

Ateb response

Meanwhile Ateb responded stating: “Ateb have worked closely with a range of local residents, businesses and the Local Authority to offer various solutions and concessions to local parking needs including aligning our parking terms to that of other nearby public car parks.

“We will continue to operate the parking within the displayed terms of operation and engage in issues that are made aware to us at the relevant time.”

Community

Eisteddfod decorating campaign set to begin ahead of July event

Published

1 hour ago

May 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

COMMUNITIES are being encouraged to get creative as preparations begin to welcome more than 175,000 visitors to Eisteddfod y Garreg Las.

With just over 75 days to go until the festival, villages and towns across the catchment area are being invited to take part in the traditional harddu, or decorating, campaign.

The official decorating weekend, sponsored by housing association Barcud, will take place on Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5.

Workshops will begin at Cardigan Castle on Sunday, May 17, with a special session for local businesses at 10:00am, followed by a community session for residents at 2:00pm.

Local artist Jenni Jones, a teacher at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi, will lead the workshops. The sessions are free, open to all, and there is no need to register in advance.

Jenni said: “I’m really looking forward to working with communities across south Ceredigion to create materials to welcome the Eisteddfod to the area in August.

“This is a very special year for Cardigan and for the Eisteddfod, with the 850th anniversary celebrations, and organising a creative workshop to decorate the area has already sparked a number of colourful and innovative ideas.”

Manor Park Zoo, near Tenby, will host the Pembrokeshire workshop on Saturday, July 4, as part of the decorating weekend. The aim is to create a large piece of public art to be displayed on the road outside the main entrance.

Details of a workshop for west Carmarthenshire will be announced shortly.

Organisers and the Eisteddfod Executive Committee are also encouraging residents, businesses and community groups to decorate their own areas and create colourful displays to welcome visitors.

Executive Committee Chair John Davies said there was already strong enthusiasm across the region.

He said: “Wherever I go, someone is sure to ask about the decorating campaign – whether it’s to find out when it will begin or to share local ideas for welcoming visitors.

“I’m certain there will be a strong sense of friendly competition between villages as we approach Eisteddfod week.

“We’ve all heard of the competitive spirit of singing and competing, and I’m sure a real community spirit will take hold as the area prepares.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to ensure our communities are looking their best for the celebrations, and we’re all looking forward to getting started over the coming weeks.”

A decorating pack has already been published on the Eisteddfod website for anyone wishing to get involved.

Eisteddfod y Garreg Las will be held in Llantwd, north Pembrokeshire, from August 1-8, 2026.

For more information, visit www.eisteddfod.cymru.

Community

Fishguard RNLI volunteers respond after yacht runs aground

Published

20 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SOLO SAILOR HELPED TO SAFETY BY COASTGUARD CREWS

FISHGUARD RNLI volunteers were paged on Saturday evening (May 9) after a 26ft yacht broke free from its mooring and ran aground near Fishguard Lower Town quay.

The charity’s D-class inshore lifeboat, Edward Arthur Richardson, was launched at 7:56pm following a request from HM Coastguard.

Information received was that the yacht, with one person on board, had grounded on the seaward side of the quay.

When the lifeboat arrived, the helm assessed the situation and sea conditions. Swells were lifting the yacht before dropping it back onto rocks below the surface.

Because of the yacht’s position and the weather conditions, it was decided that the safest way to assist the sailor was from the shore. Fishguard Coastguard officers, who were already on the quay side, helped the casualty from the vessel and back up the steps on the quay wall.

The lifeboat remained on standby while coastguard crews assessed the situation. During that time, the helm kept the inshore lifeboat facing into the conditions to ensure the safety of those on board.

Once it was confirmed that the sailor, members of the public and coastguard officers were safely away from the water, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

‘Not viable to tow’

Fishguard RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Cedwyn Rogers said: “Fishguard’s volunteer crew responded to a request from HM Coastguard to attend a yacht with one person on board that was being pushed onto rocks by the weather.

“Once on scene, the helm made an assessment and it was determined that, given the proximity to the quay and accessibility of the casualty vessel from shore, the most appropriate way in which to preserve life was for the casualty to be assisted from the yacht by coastguards.

“With the vessel already aground and the nature of the surf due to the northerly winds, it was not viable to attempt a tow without presenting further unnecessary risks to the lifeboat crew and casualty.

“Once a vessel has grounded, the structural integrity and stability of a vessel is unknown, and to tow it off could compromise that further. In these situations, other means of assisting a casualty will be utilised.

“With the casualty sailor safe with HM Coastguard and no further persons near the water’s edge, the lifeboat returned to station.”

The RNLI added that anyone who is in trouble at sea, or who believes someone else may be in difficulty, should call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Pic: RNLI/Rhodri Pugh-Dungey.

Community

St Lawrence’s Church in Gumfreston to reopen after major restoration

Published

20 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

A CENTURIES-old rural church in Pembrokeshire will reopen its doors this summer following a lengthy and complex restoration project.

Tucked away down a narrow track in the village of Gumfreston, the church is known for its distinctive tapering tower, vaulted porch, and atmospheric interior. Surrounded by trees, its churchyard is said to come alive each spring with carpets of lesser celandine, while nearby holy wells continue to flow year-round.

The restoration has taken several years to complete. According to the project team, the building was in a severely deteriorated condition before work began, with significant damp problems that have made drying and stabilisation particularly challenging. During the course of the works, conservation teams also made a number of unexpected discoveries within the historic structure.

Organisers expressed gratitude to the many contractors, volunteers, supporters, and local residents who contributed to the project and showed patience throughout the lengthy closure.

St Lawrence’s Church, Gumfreston is welcoming selected visitors on Thursday, June 18, with an opening celebration planned from 2pm to 4pm.

Visitors attending the reopening event will be able to view the restored church, hear about its conservation journey, and join a toast to mark the completion of the works.