News
Pembrokeshire County Council urges response to Electoral Registration forms

ELECTORAL REGISTRATION forms have been sent to every household within Pembrokeshire asking residents to check whether the information that appears on the electoral register for that address is correct.
Householders who have not returned their Electoral Registration forms are being urged to respond as soon as possible. This can be done online, by telephone, text or returning the form in the envelope that has been provided.
The aim is to ensure that the electoral register is up to date, and to identify any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so.
Local Council elections will take place in May 2017, and this is an opportunity for residents to ensure that they will be able to take part.
Ian Westley, Electoral Registration Officer at Pembrokeshire County Council said: “Anyone that wants to vote must be registered. To make sure you are able to have your say at the elections next year, simply check the form when it arrives and respond as promptly as possible.
“It’s particularly important that anyone who has moved address recently looks out for this information to ensure that they are registered.”
Failure to respond will incur the cost of sending-out reminder forms and ultimately a canvasser calling.
The printing and posting of these forms will incur extra costs at a time when the local authority is trying to save money, while failure to respond to this reminder will incur the further costs of a canvasser calling at each property that has not responded.
The electoral registration form also allows residents to opt to have their details excluded from the open register. This will mean their details cannot be bought by individuals and commercial organisations.
Anyone who has any questions should call the helpline on 01437 775844 or email [email protected]
Crime
Goodwick man jailed for stealing prescription tablets from partner

A 47-year-old man from Goodwick has been sentenced to jail after admitting to stealing his partner’s prescription medication.
Andrew Gibbs, of Allt Y Carne, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he admitted taking four Pregabalin tablets from his long-term girlfriend on February 14.
Prosecuting, Alycia Carpanini told the court that Gibbs had taken the tablets while drinking in the living room earlier that day. He was arrested later that evening on unrelated matters, and officers found the medication in his possession.
During his arrest, Gibbs admitted aloud to police that he had stolen the tablets. He later confirmed the theft in a prepared statement during interview.
The court heard that Gibbs has a lengthy criminal history, with 35 previous convictions covering 68 offences. He had previously faced a series of serious allegations, including actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation against his partner, as well as two further assaults. However, those charges were dropped after the complainants chose not to support the prosecution.
In mitigation, defence barrister Dan Griffiths said his client had been cooperative with police from the outset and had already spent time in custody since his arrest.
Judge Paul Thomas KC imposed a 14-day custodial sentence for the theft, acknowledging the time Gibbs had already spent on remand. He will be released shortly under supervision.
Community
PCSOs and pupils join forces for Pembroke Dock litter pick

DYFED-POWYS POLICE Community Support Officers (PCSOs) 8042 and 8020 joined staff at McDonald’s and Year 5 and 6 pupils from Cosheston VC School for a community litter pick around Pembroke Dock.
As part of the school’s ongoing environmental project, the pupils helped collect seven bags of rubbish while keeping a detailed log of the types of litter found.
PCSOs are uniformed civilian members of police staff who work to support regular police officers and engage with the community. Their involvement helped promote positive relationships between local police and young people.
The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of looking after the local environment and encouraged children to take pride in their community.
Members of the public are reminded to dispose of their waste responsibly and use the bins provided.

Community
Joyce Watson meets apprentices at Haverfordwest transport hub

A VISIT to the site of the new Haverfordwest public transport interchange has highlighted the role of apprentices and skilled workers in delivering the major infrastructure project.
Joyce Watson MS, who represents Mid and West Wales in the Senedd, toured the construction site on Friday (Mar 21), meeting with workers and hearing how the scheme is creating opportunities for local people.
Mrs Watson, who chairs the Senedd cross-party group on construction and co-chairs the cross-party group on apprenticeships, was briefed on progress by Kier Construction’s project manager Dean Williams and Sheila Holmes, engagement adviser for the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Speaking following the visit, Mrs Watson said: “The Haverfordwest public transport interchange will transform the town’s transportation infrastructure and boost the local economy.
“With around a year’s work still to go, it’s already offering high-quality job opportunities, and I was delighted to meet the talented apprentices working on-site.”
Among those she met was Matthew Thomas, a local trainee working on the project.
Mrs Watson added: “It was a pleasure to meet Matthew, and I believe he has a great future ahead of him.”
Dean Williams, from Kier Construction, said: “It was great to welcome Joyce Watson MS for a tour of our Haverfordwest public transport interchange project. This scheme for Pembrokeshire County Council will deliver a modern transport hub for the local community, improving connectivity and accessibility for residents and visitors alike.”
CITB’s Sheila Holmes added: “We are pleased to be supporting Kier Construction in developing their supply chain for this infrastructure scheme. By doing so, we can invest in local skills, which are vital to the sector and to the regional economy. Projects like this help ensure we meet future skills demands.”
The interchange is part of the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro programme and has so far received nearly £17 million from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund.
Once completed, the new facility will include improved pedestrian and cycle access, a more efficient bus station with seven bays and upgraded passenger facilities, and a modern multi-storey car park.
The scheme is commissioned by Pembrokeshire County Council as part of its town centre regeneration strategy.
The visit was organised as part of Open Doors, a national initiative by Build UK that takes visitors behind the scenes at live construction sites to showcase the range of careers in the industry.
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