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Milford Haven: Port supports Small Business Saturday

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 Christmas shop window display at Cherubs, Barralier House, Milford Marina

Shop locally: Christmas shop window display at Cherubs on the Marina

AN ANNUAL celebration of small business success takes place this weekend (Dec 3) in Milford Haven and shoppers are being set a fun challenge to shop locally.

The special one-day event, called Small Business Saturday, is part of a national campaign to remind shoppers to put local companies high up on their list of places to visit, and this year it coincides with Milford Haven Town Council’s visit of Santa to Milford Haven and the switching on of the Christmas lights at Milford Haven Town Hall.

Milford Haven Business Circle, with support from Milford Haven Regeneration Team, the Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire County Council and Milford Town Council, has organised a range of activities aimed at encouraging people to shop locally.  A ‘Christmas Shopping Challenge’ is also taking place where shoppers will be given a card that they can get stamped at each participating shop where they make a purchase on the day. Completed cards with stamps from 10 different businesses will be entered into a draw to win an Xbox One, and the winner will be announced by the Mayor on Saturday night at the Town Hall just before the Christmas Lights are switched on.

“It’s a fun day out first and foremost,” explained Neil Jenkins, Destination Director at the Port of Milford Haven. “However there is an important message in the event too. We have some great local businesses here, both in the Marina and throughout the town. Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves by taking a walk around and popping into shops to take a look. Christmas is the perfect time to take that opportunity.”

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, national movement that promotes the quality and expertise of local businesses that often fill a niche that the bigger firms cannot. Popular baby and children’s clothing and accessories shop ‘Cherubs’ in Milford Marina is a great example. Owner Clare Watts has seen sales double in the last 3 years.

She said: “As a mum of four, I found it difficult to find clothing locally that was traditional and unique. So once my youngest daughter started school, my husband and I decided to start our own business on Milford Marina. It’s been really successful.”

Earlier this year, Brett Sheppard opened a health and fitness company ‘B-Fit’ in Cedar Court, close to Tesco supermarket in Milford Haven. He believes that a smaller, local business can offer something different to the major national health clubs and says his customers agree.

Brett said: “Business is booming and I think it’s because we offer a personal service. We are already a go-to place for locals and have smashed our targets in the first year. What’s even more exciting is that B-Fit is growing just as the plans to expand the Milford Waterfront as a retail and leisure destination are picking up pace. The timing is just right.”

A small Milford Market will also be taking place in Charles Street on the day between 10am and 4pm. As well as a selection of stalls, there will be entertainment throughout the day before the town’s Christmas lights are switched on at 6pm.

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Business

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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Welsh Water has increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’

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NEW figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Dwr Cymru discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 23,354 hours last year, a 40% increase on 2022. 

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in Welsh waterways.

The party has also called for a halt on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.

The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our nation’s rivers and waterways without consequence.

“It’s beggars’ belief that both the UK Conservative Government and the Welsh Labour government are allowing water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism.

“We as a party are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local waterways. We have also called for a halt on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”

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