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Now we are 6 (months): Part II – The Empire Strikes Back

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Assistant editor Jon Coles continues his countdown of the Herald’s Top Ten Stories since its launch in July 2013.

Having read the paper back and forth while preparing this countdown, I was struck by how many articles make it in to each copy of the Herald. My colleagues on the Courtroom beat have covered cases ranging from offences ranging from rape and serious assault to ones involving car-clocking and mitigation offered more in hope than expectation. Those stories are told with humanity and – where appropriate – with wit. The one that sticks in my mind is the one of the relieved young lady who, on leaving Court, told the District Judge “loves ya, babes!” There are truly some things that cannot be made up.

There is an aphorism that it is bad news that sells papers, but our experience at The Pembrokeshire Herald has been that for every instance of scandal and allegation of sharp practice, there is plenty of evidence that Pembrokeshire’s people are a far closer and warmer community than perhaps even we appreciate. The stories we have carried about acts of charity and kindness are ones that show how much people care about their communities and about other people. One of those makes my personal top five.

I was delighted to be asked to give a speech to the Ladies’ Circle in Walwyn’s Castle, the members’ friendly interest in current affairs was bracing and I hope they enjoyed the evening as much as I enjoyed the comments of one of our publisher’s former teachers who happened to be in the audience that night! Dearie, dearie me… It seems appropriate, somehow, to start this week with one from our publisher’s alma mater

5. Government probe school’s ‘anti-gay’ policy

government probeWe led our eighth edition with the revelation that Tasker Milward School, Haverfordwest had placed a policy document on its website that breached the terms of the Equality Act.

The policy statement echoed the notorious Section 28 brought in by the Thatcher government in 1988. The policy had remained on the School’s website despite the repeal of Section 28 in 2003. The school stated that the policy dated from 2008 and was one that had not been in operation at the school. The school withdrew the policy statement without explaining how a document posted in 2008 referred directly to legislation repealed in 2003.

The news unfolded as part of a larger national story on a controversy that engulfed 45 schools across England and Wales which were discovered to have unlawful policies breaching the Equality Act, either in operation or present on their websites.

We received a strong response to this article, most but not all critical of the school; we had a few (very few) criticising Tasker Milward for taking down the policy when the matter came in to the public eye.

4. Summer Events

summer eventsBUT WHAT A SUMMER OF EVENTS of events in Pembrokeshire it was. Of course, I take full credit for launching the paper at the height of the summer months to enable us to capture the best that summer in Pembrokeshire had to offer, and I am not the person who advised a launch date later in the year…

Iron Man hit our county’s roads, as competitors pushed themselves to the limit in pursuit of the prize.

While Ironman and Red Bull’s Cliff Diving World Series are relatively new to Pembrokeshire, the cornerstone of the Pembrokeshire Summer is Pembrokeshire County Show. This year the best of Pembrokeshire was on display from livestock to fresh produce, crowds flocked to Withybush Showground to see it all. The smaller local shows and carnivals also enjoyed bumper crowds.

BY THE TIME the last splash had faded at Abereiddy after the cliff diving, the glorious summer had already begun its long descent into damp autumn.

3. Walk on Wales

walk walesAs reported extensively in this newspaper, 11 teams of four people have carried a silver baton around the Welsh coast which has been inscribed with the names of 50 Welsh Guardsmen who have lost their lives in conflicts around the world since WWII. The walk began and ended on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, after taking in the breath-taking scenery along the length of the Welsh coast. Intrepid walkers raised money for the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal and Combat Stress. 870 miles and 61 days after starting, the last group of walkers reached Cardiff.

We were lucky to have regular updates from our columnist Dennis O’Connor throughout the event. Dennis, who walked and then hobbled his way along the route around the south of our county and then on to Carmarthenshire. But good natured ribbing of our columnist should not obscure the importance of the causes for which Walk on Wales raised money.

Dennis wrote: “Spending time in the company of quiet, dignified veterans of conflicts fought in places such as Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Bosnia, The Falklands and Iraq has been a humbling experience. Being privy to conversations about their experiences of war and conflict, listening to them speak of their fallen comrades and witnessing their frankness about their own mental scars has left me with a long lasting perspective of the ravages war and of those who defend our country.”

2. What next for Witybush?

what nextThe future of health service provision in Pembrokeshire has been the subject of impassioned argument for some years. Each successive quango appointed to run the show has lurched from one crisis to the next while services have been salami-sliced away, all the diminishing the range of health care in Pembrokeshire.

At least Hywel Dda LHB cannot be accused of saying one thing and doing another: they said they wanted to close minor injury units at South Pembs and Tenby and they closed them. They said they wanted a Level 2 special care baby unit at Carmarthen and – by gum – they now “aspire” to have one (whatever that means).

Our old friend, Badger, has expressed fairly trenchant views elsewhere in this paper: none of what he says, however, could be half as trenchant as some of the views expressed at the Picton Centre on 21st November this year, when a packed meeting expressed no confidence in the Health Board and vowed to fight any move of SCBU, maternity and paediatric services from Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest to West Wales General, Carmarthen.

The fallout from local Welsh Labour AM’s failure to support a Senedd motion calling to secure the future of core services at Withybush and for an unambiguous statement from the Local Health Board on Withybush’s future, is not yet quantifiable. The opinion expressed at the time was that, with both Pembrokeshire seats being key Westminster marginals, AM’s votes on the party line may cost their party candidates valuable votes come May 2015.

1. Bryn’s pension

bryns pensionLET’S make no mistake about it: the big story in Pembrokeshire this year has been about Bryn Parry-Jones’ pension pot. As I write this piece, the Wales Audit Office has still not disclosed what it intends to do next with a decision on next steps likely to be given early in New Year.

One thing is certain though, Carmarthenshire County Council has rowed back from the brink of open confrontation with the Audit Office. Sulking and grizzling it may well be, but the tax free bunce it doled out in lieu of pension contributions for its Chief Executive has ceased.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s ruling group are being uncommonly secretive about what their intentions are. Perhaps they are drawing straws to see who will be brave enough to approach their CEO and ask for the money back.

The whole argument is about a decision reached in a meeting in the Chief Executive’s own office to pay him a large wodge of tax free cash to enable him to avoid tax on the very large pension he has built up at Council Tax payers’ expense. That decision was challenged by the Wales Audit Office and that has had the Council reaching for their very expensive briefs. The IPPG Cabinet have said they made the decision to ensure the retention of the Council’s top staff. Bearing in mind that the decision to ensure Bryn had a happy finish to his career was reached at the height of the scandal affecting Pembrokeshire’s education system we can only guess how difficult it was to persuade Bryn to accept the money.

Jon Coles writes: In 2014 I would be surprised if there was not even more on Withybush Hospital and the Local Health Board. A storm is brewing about local health care in Pembrokeshire and there will be plenty of thunder and lightning. With challenging decisions in the offing about local education, that is a fair bet for extensive coverage. The Welsh Government is rumbling about reorganizing the whole apparatus of local government and education in Wales and I do not doubt there will be a great deal of heat and very little light in that argument. In the meantime, the activities of Pembrokeshire County Council’s ruling group seem to be the news gift that keeps on giving.

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Rugby Weekly – Tenby’s promotion push continues

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It’s crunch time for all rugby clubs around the county, whether promotion is their aim or fighting relegation or even just trying to improve their league position, it’s now or never. 

Last weekend saw an important win for Fishguard in division two west which should put any relegation fears to bed completely. James Griffiths added an impressive 18 points for the Seagulls as they defeated Nantgaredig 33-19. 

Elsewhere in the second division, Milford were beaten 32-8 by a good Lampeter outfit. The Mariners are still a little too close for comfort with the drop zone but should have enough quality to see them safe. 

At the other end of the table Tenby sit in second place and have played fewer games than leaders St Clears and third place Lampeter. They won impressively again last weekend, beating Pontyberem 64-19 at Haywood Lane. Fletcher Broadhurst impressed with two tries as did Hywel Baker who also grabbed himself a brace. Another excellent performance in an outstanding season so far in which promotion would be the absolute icing on the cake. 

In Division Three West, Pembroke were well beaten by Laugharne 74-15 in which the outstanding Liam Price and Nico Setaro both crossed the whitewash 4 teams a piece. The latter also added 7 successful conversions. 

There was a local derby at Pill Parks where Llangwm hosted Pembroke Dock Quins and it was an exciting clash. The visitors won narrowly 28-23, Craig Barnett and Gethin Bradney both scored two tries for the Quins. The Wasps battled hard and will be proud of their performance, Gethin Thomas impressed for the hosts with two tries of his own but it wasn’t enough to secure the points. 

St David’s hosted the high flying Cardigan outfit and were unable to score in reply to the visitors 20 points, with it ending 20-0. The Saints however won’t be losing too much sleep over it as they have had a great season so far. 

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Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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