News

Council look to slash £700,000 from sports & leisure

Published

10 years ago

August 19, 2016

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is looking at reducing its budget for leisure and tourism services and a change in the way it delivers them in a bid to cut £700,000.

The council is currently looking for views from the public and a consultation period was started this week (Monday, Aug 15) and will run until September 16.

It is estimated that between now and 2020, the council will need to reduce its spending by £52.5 million.

There have already been a number of changes to council services over the last few years which have contributed to the council meeting some of its budget pressures.

The council says they are keen to find a way to operate leisure and tourism services more efficiently and that they hope to avoid closure of facilities wherever possible.

Customers will not be affected by any new changes but it is hoped that they will be managed and governed differently.

“We are asking the community, service users and other stakeholders to help inform the decision-making process” said the Authority’s Deputy Leader, Keith Lewis.

He went on: “Over the past 10 years, Pembrokeshire County Council has invested in excess of £25 million in upgrading its leisure centres and libraries.

“It is therefore very important that we take advantage of any potential savings with a view to maintaining a quality service to our customers and securing the future of our staff.”

A specialist firm, Winckworth Sherwood, has been brought in to look at the different ways in which this can be delivered and they have come up with five new options for leisure services which are now out for consideration.

Two further options have also been drawn up for tourism services.

As part of these options, there will still be funding coming from the council but management arrangements differ.

The five options include creating a local charitable entity, a mutual or a co-operative organisation, a council controlled company, outsourcing through competitive tender or keeping services in-house.

Winckworth Sherwood has stated that they believe the best option would be to establish a new locally created charitable entity (Trust) to deliver culture and leisure services with a separate wholly managed subsidiary to manage tourism marketing services (Option 1 and Option A).

The council adds that all responses will be considered carefully before a decision is made.

One meeting to discuss these changes was held in Crymych on Thursday (Aug 18).

The five other public meetings have been arranged around the county over the next few weeks from 6.30pm to 8pm as follows:

Tenby Leisure Centre, Tuesday, August 23

Milford Haven Leisure Centre, Thursday, August 25

Fishguard Leisure Centre, Thursday, September 1

Haverfordwest Leisure Centre, Monday, September 5

Pembroke Dock Library, Monda, September 12.

Another way to participate is to visit the council’s website at: www. pembrokeshire/gov.uk.

Alternatively, ring the council’s Customer Contact Centre on 01437 764551 and ask for a hard copy of the consultation to be posted.

The deadline for responses is Friday, September 16.

The local authority have faced criticism thus far for the short notice ahead of some of the meetings.

Concerns have been expressed by some that transferring the council’s leisure services either to an arms-length company or a trust could potentially lead to job losses and a reduction in the range of facilities offered.

In North Wales, a similar arrangement ended disastrously, while in neighboring Carmarthenshire, there is strong resistance to similar proposals.

Entertainment

Free screening to focus on climate and nature crisis

Published

3 minutes ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PUBLIC INVITED TO LETTERSTON EVENT HOSTED BY TRANSITION BRO GWAUN

A FREE public screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing is to be held at Letterston Memorial Hall on Friday, May 29.

The event, hosted by Transition Bro Gwaun, starts at 7:00pm, with doors opening at 6:30pm.

The screening will be introduced by Dr Sarah Beynon, of The Bug Farm, St Davids, and will be followed by a structured discussion on climate and nature risks and what they may mean for local communities.

The 50-minute film has been adapted from the National Emergency Briefing, held at Westminster Central Hall in November 2025, where more than 1,200 MPs, peers, business leaders, cultural figures, faith representatives, sports figures and media leaders gathered to hear from experts on climate and nature risks.

The briefing, introduced by Chris Packham CBE, examines the potential impact of climate and nature breakdown on food security, public health, infrastructure, the economy and national security.

Dr Beynon said: “We are in a biodiversity and climate emergency. We have destroyed over half of our wildlife. In my late father’s lifetime, we have destroyed 97% of our wildflower meadows.

“Over 80% of our habitats are in poor condition. Over 60% of our rivers are not in good health and one in five species is at risk of extinction.

“How do we want to leave this planet for future generations? Then ask yourself if you are prepared to act. If you are, the first step is to understand the issues facing us, and this film is a vital part of understanding the situation we are in so we can all step up and do something together.”

The People’s Emergency Briefing was launched nationwide in April and is now being screened in communities across the UK. Organisers say more than 300 showings have already taken place, with around 1,000 scheduled over the summer.

Further local screenings are also planned for Solva and Cardigan in June.

Transition Bro Gwaun said the Letterston event comes at a time when communities in Pembrokeshire are facing increasing pressure from severe weather, flooding, dry spells and wildfire risks.

November and December 2025 saw flooding affect many areas, with the Met Office confirming rainfall was more than 50% above average during that period.

The group said the event was not intended to be “doom and gloom”, but would also focus on practical and hopeful responses.

Henry Tufnell MP, Pembrokeshire county councillors and town and community councillors have been invited to attend.

Tom Latter, trustee at Transition Bro Gwaun, said: “TBG welcomes the opportunity to host one of many Emergency Briefing events around the UK, addressing the climate and nature crisis.

“Co-ordinated restorative action is urgently needed, and understanding of the urgency for honest commitment to resilience planning from all branches of society.”

Free tickets are available through Transition Bro Gwaun, and refreshments will be provided.

Climate

Free screening to focus on climate and nature crisis

Published

6 minutes ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair