News
Joseph’s Dreamcoat in Tatters
THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD last month exclusively reported on the defection of Milford Haven Councillor Stephen Joseph from Plaid Cymru to Jamie Adams’s ‘Independent Plus’ Party.
Councillor Jospeh simulataneously and coincindidentally unveiled a grand vision for Milford Haven. Those plans included building an outdoor swimming pool, a large water slide and regenerating the dilapidated town centre. Councillor Jospeh’s vision was ambitious and backed by the Council, which submitted the plans to Cardiff Bay in order to compete for funding.
At the time, Councillor Joseph thought that as a member of the ‘Independent Plus’ Party he would ‘get more done for the town’.
The first stage of the selection process is over and The Pembrokeshire Herald can report that the Milford Haven scheme failed to make it into the eleven-council field for consideration for the funding award. Milford Haven also missed out on the consolation of getting a share of £5m awarded to ‘lucky losers’ in the funding round. As a result Pembrokeshire is one of only four local authorities in Wales to miss out on funding under the scheme.
“Welsh Government minister Carl Sargeant said “We received 22 applications (one from each local authority) requesting over £250m grant for SOPs worth total of over £1bn. I am very pleased and impressed with the way that local authorities and their partners have engaged with this opportunity.
”My officials will continue to work with the other 11 local authorities to refine and explore other potential funding streams for their regeneration proposals.”
The Herald attempted to contact Councillor Joseph for a reaction to the news but he was unavailable.
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
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
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
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.
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