News

Leaked report could spell end for PCC

Published

11 years ago

January 23, 2014

A WELSH Government report into the future of local government in Wales has suggested that key services will be delivered by multi-council consortia while the number of local authorities in Wales will be halved.

The Commission, chaired by Sir Paul Williams, a non-executive director of Natural Resources Wales, was set up by First Minister Carwyn Jones in April 2013. At the time, the Welsh Government said the panel would “look hard, honestly and objectively at ways public services are delivered”.

The Commission’s report has already been delayed from the end of the last calendar year, when a special amendment had to be placed before the Senedd to extend its remit, and it is now due to present its findings at the end of January.

The plans to cut the number of Welsh councils will hardly be a surprise. As reported in Pembrokeshire’s Best Magazine in May of last year and The Pembrokeshire Herald in October, senior figures in the Welsh Government regard the current set-up of 22 local authorities delivering services as unsustainable.

In October 2013, the First Minister said:

“There is almost no one now who says that the current structure of 22 local authorities is the right one for Wales. “No one says it.”

The plans tie in with other Welsh Government plans to strip out the organisation of education from the responsibilities of individual authorities, replacing it with a system of multi-council or multi-provider consortia. The Welsh Government is widely reported as despairing of the ability of local authorities to deliver positive education outcomes, with five authorities, including Pembrokeshire, having had some form of Welsh Government intervention in the last two years.

If Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Councils merged, an upward readjustment in Pembrokeshire’s Council Tax bills would almost certainly be necessary, the average bill in the neighbouring authority area being around £200 higher than that in Pembrokeshire. The Welsh Local Government Association claimed in its submission to the Commission that plans to cut local authorities would cost 15,000 jobs and cost anything up to £400m in 2016/17, the earliest point at which reorganisation could take place.

A particular difficulty the Welsh Government faces is that many of the smallest authorities are located in the South Wales Valleys, from which the Labour administration draws much of its support in the Senedd. Responding to the leaked content of the report, Pembrokeshire County Council leader Jamie Adams told The Pembrokeshire Herald:

“Assuming the speculation regarding the Commission’s recommendation is correct, it comes as no surprise to me that some form of local government reorganisation has been suggested.

“The majority of senior Assembly Members have been inclined towards local government reorganisation for some time. Such a move would also be consistent with the drift towards centralisation that we have started to see with other public services in Wales.

“In my view, retaining local democratic representation is of the utmost importance. Decisions about Pembrokeshire should be taken in Pembrokeshire.

“Furthermore, given that we currently charge, by some margin, the lowest Council Tax in Wales, any merger with another local authority is likely to result in a significant increase in the level of Council Tax Pembrokeshire residents would be expected to pay.”

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.