Community
Photographer captures Mongolian migration
AN AWARD-WINNING photographer, who recently visited Mongolia, treated members of Tenby and District Camera Club to a talk on Thursday, October 27.
Jenny Hibbert, who recently featured on this year’s BBC Countyfile Calendar, provided members with an inspiring talk based on her recent trip to witness the annual migration of the Kazak people in Mongolia, something only a handful of outsiders have seen.
Once in Mongolia, Jenny participated in the annual migration which involved walking some 19 miles a day for five days. Temperatures ranged from -26 to -35 as the Kazaks moved their 1,000 strong animal herd from their winter home to their spring home.
This was the first time that photographers had been invited to witness the trip, with Jenny being one of eight from all over the world.
The migration started in Ulgli, with the Kazaks packing all of their belongings into one truck and loading their camels with all that was needed for the migration; nothing gets left behind. Images by Jenny show the young animals that were too young to walk being put into boxes before also being loaded onto the camels.
No animals were lost during the migration and it was clear that the animals were a valuable asset. One of their most prized possessions, a Golden Eagle which the Kazaks rely on to hunt for foxes and wolves, was wrapped up in blankets to protect it from the cold.
The migration involved crossing frozen lakes and passes of an altitude of up to 14,300 feet, before reaching their spring base at Tavan Bogd National Park.
Jenny’s talk described the hardship of the journey for all as a result of the extreme cold. She also described how she had to deal with exhaustion due to the high altitudes. In the night, the photographers slept in ‘Gers’ – Mongolian Yurts that were erected each night.
Throughout the talk, members of the Camera Club were treated to some spectacular photography and were left in awe at the journey Jenny had made.
For more information about the Camera Club, visit www. tenbyanddistrictcameraclub.org. Upcoming events include Namibian Adventure by Mike Cullis on Thursday (Nov 10).
Community
Drop in sessions to help reshape Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) is pleased to announce the launch of a series of community drop-in sessions designed to gather feedback from residents and stakeholders. This initiative aims to identify issues and challenges that may impact the delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan 2040 (CRMP 2040).
The CRMP 2040 outlines the Service’s commitment to addressing risks, threats, and challenges faced by communities. These drop-in sessions provide an opportunity for residents to help shape the future of fire and rescue services in Mid and West Wales, ensuring safety and well-being remain a priority.
Shaping the future together
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Iwan Cray said: “We believe the best way to serve our communities is by involving them in the planning process. These drop-in sessions are an opportunity for us to listen, learn, and collaborate with the people we serve.”
The drop-in sessions, details of which are available on the MAWWFRS website, offer a platform for open dialogue. Residents can share their insights, concerns, and suggestions, contributing to the development of a modern Fire and Rescue Service tailored to their needs.
A data-driven approach
The CRMP 2040 adopts a data-driven approach, focusing on prevention, protection, and response to reduce emergencies’ impact and enhance public safety. By tailoring services to community needs, MAWWFRS is committed to building safer and more resilient communities.
Get involved
Community members are encouraged to attend these sessions and provide their feedback. To thank participants, MAWWFRS is offering a chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher. To enter, simply attend a session and complete the survey.
For more information about the plan or the upcoming drop-in sessions, visit the MAWWFRS website or contact the team at [email protected].
About MAWWFRS
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is dedicated to protecting and serving the communities of Mid and West Wales. Through prevention, protection, and response, the Service works tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors.
Community
Landfill odour sparks calls for inquiry and legal action
RESIDENTS near Withyhedge landfill in Haverfordwest are demanding a public inquiry and considering legal action after foul odours returned just weeks after the site reopened on 6 January.
The landfill, closed last May to address odour issues, was declared fit to reopen by operator RML, which claimed its improvements would protect nearby communities. However, Colin Barnett, of campaign group Stop the Stink, said: “People in Crundale, Haverfordwest, and Spittal are being subjected to horrendous smells again.”
Describing the site as a “stink bomb on steroids,” Barnett supported Conservative MS Paul Davies’ calls for a public inquiry. “We’ve been flanneled by NRW, public health, and Pembrokeshire council. It’s disgraceful,” he said, adding that delays in resolving the issue had left litigation as the only option.
RML, part of Dauson Environmental Group, is owned by businessman David Neal, who has previous convictions for environmental crimes in 2013 and 2017. Last year, another of Neal’s companies pleaded guilty to environmental offences.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) reported receiving 34 complaints since 6 January, with a rise in recent days coinciding with the end of a slurry-spreading ban. However, NRW stated no odours attributable to the landfill were detected and plans to inspect the site with Pembrokeshire council on 29 January.
First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “I’ll keep a very close eye on this, and if concerns persist, we’ll discuss further steps with NRW.”
RML and the Welsh Government declined to comment.
Community
Public transport users urged to ‘check before travelling’ due to storm
TRANSPORT FOR WALES and Network Rail are urging all customers to check before they travel on Friday morning and into the weekend with weather warnings in place across the country.
With Storm Eowyn set to hit Wales and winds reaching 90mph on Friday morning, customers should expect disruptions and are strongly urged to check before they travel.
There will be alterations to rail services, replacement road transport on certain routes and blanket speed restrictions at some locations, meaning journeys could take longer than usual.
Stand by buses are being planned at key locations around the network in preparation for travel disruption.
Across Wales and the Borders, Network Rail have positioned response teams to address any storm related problems to keep disruption to a minimum.
TfW Operations Director Sarah Higgins said: “It’s so important for our customers to plan ahead when looking to travel this Friday.
“While we’ve made a number of changes to our services based on detailed forecasts, storms can still be unpredictable.
“We’ve seen the impact storms can have, with damage to trains and infrastructure sometimes taking weeks or months to repair, so our cross-industry approach will hopefully limit that and keep our colleagues and customers safe. We apologise to customers for any disruption to their journeys as a result.”
Network Rail Wales & Borders Operations Director Rachel Heath added: “Our priority is always keeping safe everyone who travels and works on the railway.
“Unfortunately, there will be some delays and cancellations on Friday, as trains will not run on some lines and there will speed restrictions on other parts of the route.
“We are working closely with our train operator colleagues to ensure we can safely reopen affected lines as quickly as possible and urge passengers to check before they travel.”
Rail service changes:
- No services to run on the Conwy Valley Line all day, with replacement road transport in place.
- No services to run on the Heart of Wales line all day, with replacement road transport in place.
- Speed restrictions at various locations around the network, meaning some journeys will take longer than usual. These include:
- 50mph speed restrictions imposed from 0200 to 1500 Friday on the North Wales Coast – Bodorgan to Llandudno Junction.
- 50mph restrictions from 0200 to 1200 between Carmarthen to Kidwelly.
- 50mph restrictions from 0200 to 1200 between Neath and Swansea.
- 50mph restrictions from 0100 – 0800 between Newport and Llanwern.
Customers who have connecting tickets for the following operators who have suspended services due to the adverse weather conditions, we’ll honour tickets dated 24 January on either Thursday 23 January or up to and including Tuesday 28 January.
- London Northeastern Railway
- LUMO
- TransPennine Express
- Northern
- Grand Central
- Avanti
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