News

Vital bus service preserved and extended

Published

10 years ago

February 2, 2016

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL and Hywel Dda UHB have welcomed an agreement to secure public transport provision for those attending outpatient appointments at Glangwili.

The public bus route between Haverfordwest and Carmarthen, route 322, is operated by Silcox Coaches without subsidy from the Local Authority.

Due to the relatively low numbers of passengers using the service it was at risk of being withdrawn.

With the changes to health services and the greater number of people required to travel to Glangwili Hospital it was important that the 322 bus service was retained.

Pembrokeshire County Council worked in partnership with Silcox Coaches and Hywel Dda Health Board in order to introduce a number of initiatives to enhance the service and make it more sustainable.

The route has now been extended to serve the hospitals directly and is now an easy access bus improving the travel experience for all passengers.

Whilst serving shoppers to Haverfordwest and Carmarthen, the bus now also serves both Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals making it ideal for people attending hospital appointments or visiting friends and family.

The announcement that Silcox Coaches’ 322 bus service between Haverfordwest and Carmarthen has been preserved has, however, not come without adverse reaction on social media.

Despite the recent announcement of an all-Wales non-emergency transport initiative, members of the public have suggested that requiring people to use public transport to attend outpatient appointments at Glangwili is unacceptable and pressed for a return of services to Withybush. The Board has previously made it clear that no clinical case has been made for the return of services transferred to Glangwili from Haverfordwest over recent years.

Patient transport to and from Glangwili was a substantial issue raised by members of the Pembrokeshire public during the recent the inquiry by the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health. The comments online make it clear that there is little the Board can do to assuage those issues short of a complete clinical about face.

However, the complaints made on line suggest confusion between the extension of an existing bus service, non-emergency patient transport, and emergency ambulance provision, with one person enquiring whether the bus would be equipped with medical personnel and equipment.

Responding to the comments on its Facebook feed, a Board spokesperson said: ‘The purpose of sharing this information was to help those attending outpatient appointments or those visiting family and friends in Glangwilli Hospital – as this is a new service which people may not be aware of and which may be an option for some to consider depending on their circumstances. We do not propose this is a transport solution for sick children or late at night. For detailed information about the various travel options and advice for vulnerable families, please visit: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/page/83744”.

Hailing the service’s preservation and extension, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transportation, Councillor Rob Lewis, said: “We are pleased to have been involved with this scheme and to work closely with the Health Board and the other organisations to improve public access to health services in the county.”

Peter Llewellyn from the University Health Board said: “It is essential that we work collaboratively to improve patient access to health services in Pembrokeshire. We are already seeing the benefit of this partnership approach to patients across the county by working with colleagues from the Local Authority and Voluntary Sector with further developments planned.”

Speaking to The Herald: Cllr Jamie Adams, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “As a public service body, we recognise that from time to time, the point of delivery for services will change to ensure that services remain sustainable.

“What is important for the residents we represent is providing good access to those services and in that regard, we have been pleased to work with the Health Board to ensure that Pembrokeshire residents are not disadvantaged in terms of access to the service provision.”

Ministry of Defence

Castlemartin range set for heavy activity as winter live-fire exercise begins

Published

2 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Army warns of late-night firing and increased traffic

CASTLEMARTIN Training Area will be extremely busy over the next few weeks as the Army begins a major live-fire exercise running from now until to 5 December.

The winter training block will see troops carrying out critical preparation ahead of future deployments, with extensive armoured manoeuvres and both daytime and night-time firing.

Extended firing hours

Live firing will take place between the following times:

Monday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Tuesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Wednesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Thursday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm

There will be no live firing at weekends, although military vehicles will still be moving around the area.

Residents are being reminded that these times are the earliest and latest possible firing windows. Not every day will start or finish at the maximum hours listed.

Traffic expected on rural roads

The Army says there will be increased vehicle movements on local roads—particularly in Angle, Castlemartin and the Freshwater West area—in the week leading up to the exercise and throughout the training period.

A spokesperson said the support of local people is appreciated: “These exercises are essential for maintaining readiness and ensuring our troops are fully trained for any future operational requirement.”

Crime

Two Milford Haven men sent to Crown Court on GBH charges

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

The incident stems from a violent incident outside The Vibe public house, Milford Haven involving three men – a woman was also wounded in the incident

TWO Milford Haven men have been sent to Swansea Crown Court charged with section 18 wounding after an alleged incident in the town on November 15.

David McCallum, 41, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court on Monday (Nov 17). He is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding a woman in Milford Haven with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

McCallum also faces a second section 18 charge alleging that, on the same date in Milford Haven, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded a man with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, with the prosecution conducted by Nia James.

On Tuesday (Nov 18), Nathan Abbott, 31, also of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Abbott is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a man in Milford Haven on November 15 with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

He was represented by Mike Kelleher, of Welch & Co.

Abbott also gave no plea, and his case was likewise sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Both McCallum and Abbott were remanded on conditional bail.

McCallum’s bail conditions include a curfew from 7:00pm to 7:00am, to be electronically monitored, not to contact directly or indirectly witnesses, and not to enter any public house, licensed club or off-licence.

Abbott’s bail conditions include living and sleeping each night at his home address , not to contact witnesses directly or indirectly, and not to enter licensed premises.

Both men must appear for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing at Swansea Crown Court on December 19, 2025, at 9:00am.

No pre-sentence reports were ordered and no indication was given regarding any victim personal statements at this stage.

Crime

Aberystwyth man remanded after admitting cocaine supply

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has been remanded in custody after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply and having £7,000 in criminal cash.

Luke Hutton, 25, of Corporation Street, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17) for his first hearing. The case was heard by a bench of Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. He was represented by Jessica Hill and Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

Hutton pleaded guilty to two offences arising from a police incident at Yr Hafan, Princess Street, Aberystwyth, on November 14.

The first charge was possessing £7,000 in criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The second was possessing a quantity of cocaine, a Class A drug, with intent to supply.

Magistrates were told that Hutton indicated guilty pleas to both matters on the day of his appearance.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, the bench committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence under Section 14 of the Sentencing Act 2020. A pre-sentence report has been ordered.

Magistrates refused bail, citing the likelihood of further offending, the seriousness of the offences and the likely custodial sentence. Hutton was remanded into custody.

He will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on December 1, 2025, at 9:00am, for a committal for sentence hearing, listed for 30 minutes.