Community

‘Paying £29 to reach a cashpoint is absurd’: Narberth’s urgent ATM appeal

Published

1 minute ago

July 23, 2026

Residents, businesses and visitors are being urged to provide evidence after two High Street cash machines were removed, leaving the town with just one ATM.

A COMMUNITY campaign has been launched to restore convenient access to cash in Narberth following the removal of both cash machines from the town’s High Street.

Until recently, the busy Pembrokeshire market town had three ATMs. The closures this summer have left just one cash machine, located outside CK’s supermarket on Spring Gardens.

Cash can also be withdrawn over the counter at Narberth Post Office, but that service is limited to branch opening hours and is not the same as having an ATM available throughout the day, at weekends and on Bank Holidays.

Campaigners say the loss of the High Street machines is causing particular difficulties for older residents, people who do not use online banking, visitors and businesses that rely on customers being able to withdraw cash locally.

They have now launched an urgent survey to collect evidence before the limited window to challenge an access-to-cash assessment closes.

Three-hour journey for cash

Among those supporting the campaign is Narberth pensioner Terry Pitts, who is approaching his 90th birthday.

He said: “I prefer paying for things in cash, but the one cash machine we have left is often empty when I try to use it.

“A round trip from Narberth to Kilgetty can take up to three hours by bus, and it really takes it out of you at my age.”

LINK, the organisation responsible for assessing communities’ access to cash, has concluded that the approximately 7,000 adults living in the Narberth area have adequate access to alternative facilities.

These include banks in Haverfordwest, Post Offices in Narberth and surrounding communities, an ATM at the Co-op in Kilgetty and a cash machine at Folly Farm.

Campaigners argue that the assessment does not reflect the practical difficulties faced by residents who do not drive or cannot easily travel outside the town.

Folly Farm cashpoint included

The inclusion of the Folly Farm ATM has attracted particular criticism.

The cash machine is situated by the attraction’s gift shop, and campaigners say it is within the paid visitor area. Standard on-the-day adult admission to Folly Farm is £29.

Henry Tufnell, MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, said: “Paying £29 for a ticket to an attraction just to access a cashpoint is absurd.

“Local residents need free-to-use cashpoints restored to Narberth High Street.

“I will continue to engage with constituents, local businesses, the council, LINK and colleagues in Parliament to ensure better access to banking services right across our county.”

Concern for businesses

There are also fears that the loss of convenient cash access could damage Narberth’s independent businesses during the important summer tourism season.

Visitors who cannot withdraw money in the town centre may spend less, avoid businesses that prefer cash or leave Narberth to find another machine.

Traders can also face difficulties when paying cash takings into their accounts, particularly when nearby bank branches have closed and alternative services are only available during restricted hours.

A campaign spokesperson said: “We need to show clearly how these closures affect residents, businesses and visitors.

“Whether it means travelling further, struggling to withdraw cash or losing trade, we need to hear people’s experiences.

“The evidence collected through this survey will be used to challenge LINK’s decision. Every response counts.”

Narberth’s urban and rural county councillors, Marc Tierney and Elwyn Morse, are supporting the campaign.

They said: “We need strong evidence from local people and businesses to demonstrate why convenient access to cash still matters in Narberth.

“Every response will help build the case for better local cash services, so please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share it with others.”

Members of the Narberth Civic Week Committee and local businesses are also distributing campaign posters and encouraging people to respond.

The survey is open to residents, visitors, people who work in Narberth and anyone who runs or uses a local business.

It closes on Friday, August 7, and can be completed by scanning the QR code displayed on the campaign poster.

What cash access remains in Narberth?

One public ATM outside CK’s supermarket, 7 Spring Gardens.
Over-the-counter cash withdrawals at Narberth Post Office, 19 High Street, subject to opening hours and the customer’s bank.
No remaining ATM on Narberth High Street.

Community

Contentious DARC space radar scheme to be decided by Welsh Government

Published

6 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

THE CONTENTIOUS DARC ‘space radar’ scheme in Pembrokeshire is to be decided by Welsh Government rather than county planners, just days before it was to be debated by them.

In an application submitted earlier this year to Pembrokeshire County Council following a public consultation, the Ministry of Defence wants to install 27 radar antenna and a long list of associated works at Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy for a worldwide network of sensors called the Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept (DARC) to track active satellites and other objects which would utilise three sites worldwide, part of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership, in the USA, the UK and Australia “enabling 360-degree coverage of the sky at all times of day and under any weather conditions”.

In late 2023, Cawdor Barracks was identified as the preferred UK site by the-then UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps.

A supporting statement says of the DARC scheme: “This capability is critical to protect and defend the services provided by satellites, ensuring continuity and resilience against collisions or debris-related incidents.

“Without DARC, the UK faces a significant risk of losing access to these vital services, which would have severe consequences for national security, economic stability, and public safety.”

St Davids City Council members unanimously opposed the pre-application consultation proposals, and public objectors have raised concerns with protests taking place outside the barracks and County Hall, Haverfordwest earlier this year, and the scheme before county planners attracted more than 1,000 objections.

Pembrokeshire-based Jerome Flynn, famous for his roles in Soldier Soldier, Robson & Jerome and more recently Game of Thrones has described the scheme as “the most unspeakably abominable planning application led by the US military, backed by Donald Trump to place 27 radar dishes right on the edge of our beloved coastal national park”.

Campaign group PARC against DARC, set up in 2024 to oppose the scheme which it has described as the militarisation of space, submitted an official request to ‘call in’ the application for DARC radar to the newly formed Plaid Cymru Welsh Government.

A ‘call-in’ means the application could be decided at Welsh Government level rather than by county planners.

The application was due to go before Pembrokeshire County Council’s next planning committee, on July 28, but has now been ‘called in by Siân Gwenllian MS, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.

The Cabinet Minister’s letter to Pembrokeshire County Council calling in the application says: “The proposed development raises national security issues given the strategic defence nature of the proposal and is a novel planning issue.

“The proposal potentially conflicts with national policy in relation to landscape, ecology, sustainability and placemaking.

“A decision on the proposal may be controversial beyond the immediate locality, and there is already considerable public interest in the proposal.

“All these matters lead the Cabinet Minister to conclude the development is of more than local importance and the application should be determined by the Welsh Ministers.”

A PARC against DARC spokesperson, welcoming the ‘call-in,’ said: “As we made in our case to Welsh ministers, the DARC proposal is part of a weapons system designed to track and target satellites belonging to other countries around the world.

“It is being developed for the US Space Force, which was created under Donald Trump, at a time when US military spending has doubled since he took office. That is why DARC has been described as a significant escalation in the militarisation of space.”

A planned demonstration at County Hall, Haverfordwest, due to be held on July 28 when Pembrokeshire planners were to deliberate on DARC, is to go ahead as “a vigil in support of Welsh Government’s call-in decision,” PARC against DARC has said.

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said the call-in had been received on July 21.

“As such the application is transferred to the Welsh Ministers for a decision and the application will no longer be presented to the council’s planning committee at its meeting scheduled for July 28.

“The council now awaits confirmation from the Welsh Ministers regarding the procedure and timetable that will be adopted for their consideration of the application.

“Further information will be provided once the council has been formally notified of the next steps in the decision-making process.”

Community

Goodwick Sea Scouts spruce up headquarters ahead of Wales in Bloom judging

Published

17 hours ago

July 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

GOODWICK Sea Scout Group has praised its young members, leaders and volunteers after they helped brighten up the area outside the group’s headquarters.

The team rolled up their sleeves ahead of the town’s recent Wales in Bloom judging, clearing overgrown vegetation and transforming an old boat into an eye-catching flower bed filled with colourful plants.

The group said the work had made a real difference to the front of the hall and thanked everyone who gave their time to help.

A spokesperson said: “Our Scout group worked hard to tidy up the front of our hall in time for the town’s Wales in Bloom judging.

“Well done to all the young people, leaders and volunteers who helped.”

The group is now hoping to build on the improvements and would like to hear from anyone with gardening experience who could volunteer to help care for the land surrounding the hall.

Anyone interested in lending a hand is encouraged to contact Goodwick Sea Scout Group directly.

Community

£447,000 investment to train next generation of planners in Wales

Published

21 hours ago

July 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

New bursary schemes will support up to 19 qualified planners, with a particular focus on tackling workforce shortages in mid and west Wales

COMMUNITIES across Wales are set to benefit from stronger local planning services following the announcement of almost £450,000 to train and retain the next generation of planners.

The Welsh Government has confirmed £447,400 for two bursary programmes which could support up to 19 people to gain professional planning qualifications.

The existing Pathways to Planning bursary scheme will receive £126,000, enabling up to seven junior planners to complete fully funded postgraduate study.

A further £321,400 will be invested over three years in a new Mid and West Wales Rural Planners bursary scheme, designed to address recruitment and retention difficulties in rural authorities.

The programme will support up to 12 graduates and existing local authority staff to study for Royal Town Planning Institute-accredited postgraduate qualifications while continuing to live and work in their local communities.

It will operate across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Eryri National Park.

The scheme will also place a strong emphasis on supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and developing locally based professionals with an understanding of the communities they serve.

Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning Siân Gwenllian said effective planning departments were vital to the future of communities across Wales.

She said: “Good planning services are the backbone of thriving communities. They shape where homes are built, where businesses grow and how we protect our natural environment, but too many rural areas in Wales are struggling to recruit and retain the planners they need.

“That is why I joined a roundtable at the Royal Welsh Show this week with rural council leaders, including the leaders of Ceredigion and Powys, to hear directly about the pressures they face.

“These bursary schemes are a direct response to what we heard, investing in local talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and growing the planning workforce from within the communities it serves.”

Ceredigion County Council will lead the delivery of the rural programme in partnership with the other participating authorities.

Council leader Cllr Bryan Davies said the initiative demonstrated what rural authorities could achieve by working together to tackle shared workforce challenges.

He said: “Ceredigion has been proud to lead the development of this regional initiative, working with our partners to create new opportunities for local people to build professional careers in planning while remaining in rural Wales.

“By investing in home-grown talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and strengthening the skills we need for the future, we are helping to ensure that mid and west Wales has the capacity, expertise and local knowledge required to shape thriving, sustainable communities for generations to come.

“We thank the Welsh Government for the opportunity to develop this ‘grow your own’ planners approach.”