News

Haverfordwest: Hundreds expected at latest sixth form protest

Published

10 years ago

April 13, 2015

HUNDREDS of pupils from Tasker Milward School and Sir Thomas Picton School are expected at a protest at County Hall, Haverfordwest tomorrow morning (Apr 14) as councillors meet to decide the fate of school sixth forms in the north of Pembrokehire.

Labour leader Cllr Paul Miller has called for the extraordinary meeting which will take place at 10am. Protestors will be gathering from 8am, the Herald understands.

Last month, Cllr Miller told The Herald: “We all voted for the proposals to go to consultation. However, since then it has been obvious to me from the public meetings I’ve attended in St Davids and Haverfordwest, that the proposals are so unpopular that any real consultation is only going to reject them fully, wasting time and money. Therefore, these proposals need to come back tocouncil and be rethought. We need to understand what the options are for maintaining school based sixth forms and we need to have a frank, open and honest discussion and debate with parents, pupils and the schools.”

The councillor, who is standing for parliament in the May General Election, added: “I am under no illusion that there needs to be change – standards in Pembrokeshire must improve. However, an outpouring such as this cannot be ignored and so today, we have a chance to think again and get it right.”

Stephen Crabb, who is also standing for parliament in May, and Paul Davies AM attended a meeting of the joint governor’s committee held at Tasker Milward School on April 7 to hear the opinions of the people of Haverfordwest faced with losing Sixth Form choice from their schools.

Governors, parents, pupils and those from the wider community attended the non-political event where Sixth Form choice was the only topic of discussion.

The Preseli Pembrokeshire MP heard from STP sixth former Corey Jenkins, and year 9 pupil Ben Richards, as well as a number of former pupils, all of whom highlighted the positive impact that sixth form education had on their lives.

Former Pembrokeshire College lecturers and current teachers also gave their views about why a choice on A-level provision was important for the future generations of Pembrokeshire children.

Mr Crabb and Mr Davies added their personal support for the retention of a sixth form in school. Mr Davies was asked to ascertain whether any judicial reviews have taken place on this matter anywhere else in Wales.

A petition of names collected during the first public meeting on March 2 was handed over to Jade Hughes and other pupils of Tasker Milward 6^th Form to add to those collected by the extensive petitioning efforts of pupils from both schools.

A ‘Hackathon’ event arranged by Cllr Miller took place on Friday, April 19 at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre. This was a further opportunity for the public to engage in shaping the education of young people in Pembrokeshire.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

17 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

24 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.