News

Friends of National Park AGM

Published

10 years ago

May 19, 2016

THE FRIENDS of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park continue to make a considerable practical on the ground contribution to the county’s national park but also makes their presence felt at a national level, so said the outgoing Chair, Peter Heard, at last week’s annual meeting.

Added Mr Heard, “We may be the Friends of one of the smallest national parks in the United Kingdom but we do sterling work on behalf of the precious environment that make up our national parks.

There is no doubt, whatsoever, that we punch well above our weight.”

“Many societies such as ours are experiencing difficulties but here in Pembrokeshire our membership is slightly up and we have no obvious financial problems. There is, however, no room for complacency and new members are most welcome and we must work to ensure that our finances remain on an even keel.”

The Chair of External Affairs, Edward Holdaway, explained to members that a strategy was being prepared to take the Friends forward. The strategy would the defining of the Friends’ niche as the “torch bearer” for the National Park and raise awareness of the importance of the Park; what makes it so special and the need to look after it. Mr Holdaway also gave a review of planning applications within the Park and also on the edge of the National Park which, it was felt, could have a detrimental effect on the environment.

Alan Mason, leader of the Work Party programme, told the meeting that the volunteers had, in a twelve month, provided a total of 358 working days on improvement works within the National Park. Work included underpinning a bridge at Abercych to assisting with the restoration of a lime kiln at Hook; installing fishing platforms at Bosherston to assisting with the installation of a board walk at the Broad Haven pond. Jane Mason spoke of the comprehensive events programme of the past year and plans for the future and the retiring Editor of the Friends magazine, News and Views, Steven Watkins, up dated members on matters relating to its publication.

Two retiring members of the Executive, long serving secretary, Jill Eaton Evans and Press Officer, Richard Howells, were the recipients of presentations from the Chair.

Officers elected were: Chair, Steven Drinkwater; Treasurer, Peter Heard; Secretary, Rosemary Williams; and executive members, Ian Patterson; Edward Holdaway; Jane Mason and Alan Mason.

Crime

Man bailed after serious assault in Fishguard town centre

Published

40 minutes ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in Fishguard that has left a man in hospital.

The incident happened on Main Street at around 11:00pm on Saturday (Mar 21), when the victim was reportedly punched, sustaining head injuries. He remains in hospital receiving treatment.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed-Powys Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could assist the investigation, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference: 26*227686.

Information can be provided online via the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], by calling 101, or by sending a direct message on social media.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

News

Childcare funding boost announced in Wales

Published

1 hour ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Hourly rate to rise as costs increase

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has confirmed an increase in the hourly rate paid to childcare providers under its Childcare Offer, following a review of funding levels.

The Minister for Children and Social Care, DAWN BOWDEN MS, announced that the rate will rise to £6.67 per hour from April 6, 2026. The increase of 4.18% comes after feedback from childcare providers and sector data gathered during 2025.

The Welsh Government said the change is designed to help providers cope with rising costs, including increases to the National Living Wage.

The Herald understands the review drew on responses from the Childcare Offer’s Annual Survey, as well as information from Care Inspectorate Wales’ Self-Assessment of Service Statement (SASS).

The move follows a policy shift announced last year to review the rate annually, rather than every three years, in a bid to make funding more responsive to pressures facing the sector.

As part of the update, the maximum charge for meals will also increase by 4.18%, which ministers say is intended to balance affordability for both providers and parents.

Dawn Boden said the Welsh Government remains committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of childcare services, adding that officials will continue working with the sector to explore further improvements.

Health

Doctors say Wales is failing to value NHS staff over new pay award

Published

1 hour ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

BMA Cymru Wales accuses ministers of falling short on pay restoration as Welsh Government accepts DDRB recommendations for 2026-27

DOCTORS in Wales have accused the Welsh Government of failing to properly value NHS staff after ministers accepted this year’s independent pay recommendations for medical and dental professionals. The row centres on whether the award represents fair recognition for frontline staff — or yet another missed chance to reverse years of falling real-terms pay.

In a written statement published on Wednesday (Mar 25), Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said the Welsh Government had accepted the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body recommendations on headline pay for 2026-27. Under the decision, consultants, specialty and associate specialist doctors, resident doctors, dentists and locally employed doctors will receive a 3.5% consolidated uplift from April 1, 2026, while salaried dentists in Community Dental Services and the Public Dental Service will receive 3.75%.

But while the Welsh Government also said it accepted in principle a 3.5% uplift for contractor GPs and a 3.75% uplift to the pay element of dental contracts, ministers made clear that final decisions on how those increases are applied alongside wider contract changes would be left to the next government.

That has triggered an angry response from BMA Cymru Wales. In a press release issued on Wednesday, Dr Iona Collins, chair of the BMA’s Welsh Council, said ministers had “once again chosen to impose an award that falls short” of repeated promises to deliver full pay restoration for doctors employed by NHS Wales.

She said the award failed to reflect the “superhuman” efforts of doctors working under intense pressure and warned that inadequate pay would make it harder to retain staff in the Welsh NHS at a time when many are considering leaving for better pay and conditions elsewhere.

The BMA also raised concerns about general practice, saying GP pay had effectively been left hanging because the Cabinet Secretary linked the award to ongoing General Medical Services contract discussions with the incoming administration. The union said this left general practice “out in the cold” compared with other branches of the profession and called for urgent talks.

The Welsh Government said the award would apply from April 1 and added that wider DDRB recommendations not directly related to headline pay would be considered separately with partners. Ministers thanked NHS staff for their “ongoing dedication and hard work”.

The dispute is likely to reignite the wider argument over recruitment, retention and morale in NHS Wales, with doctors’ leaders insisting that pay restoration is no longer simply about reward, but about preventing more clinicians from walking away from the service.