News

£400,000 to help with storm damage

Published

11 years ago

February 6, 2014

PEMBROKESHIRE is to receive £400,000 from the Welsh government to ensure that the county’s tourism industry can be open for business by Easter after the recent storms and flooding. It is part of a £1.6 million fund being allocated for projects in Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Anglesey, Swansea and Monmouth County Council areas.

Economy Minister Edwina Hart announced the new fund on Thursday as she and Finance Minister Jane Hutt visited Aberystwyth. This funding follows the additional £2million announced last week by Minister for Natural Resources Alun Davies to fund emergency repairs to flood defences that were damaged in the recent storms.

Announcing the fund, Mrs Hart said: “The Welsh Government is supporting the tourism industry in Wales to be strong and resilient and a crucial part of our economy. Tourism is already worth an estimated £5billion a year to Wales and we are determined to do everything we can to ensure the sector continues to grow.

“Latest figures revealed 2013 was a very successful year for tourism in Wales, with increases in visitor numbers and visitor spend well ahead of those for Britain as a whole. And this week Wales was voted by Rough Guide readers as one of the five top countries to visit in 2014 – this is all great news for the Welsh tourism industry as we head towards Easter and the traditional start of the main tourist season.

“Our new Visit Wales advertising campaign will be launched in March with a view to attracting even more visitors to Wales for the summer of 2014.

“This funding will help speed up repairs to damaged infrastructure that could have had a negative impact at the start of the tourism season in Wales. We want to ensure areas affected by the winter storms are fully open for business by Easter at the latest, and preferably by half term and that potential visitors are aware of this.”

Finance Minister Jane Hutt said: “We want to support communities who were hit by the recent bad weather in whatever way we can. We are already investing significantly in improving flood defences across Wales but we know there is more immediate work that needs urgent attention. By providing this extra funding now we can help the tourism industry get back on its feet ready for the peak seasons.”

Funding will be allocated to the following local authorities: Ceredigion £560,000; Gwynedd £400,000; Pembrokeshire £400,000; Anglesey £80,000; Swansea £80,000; and Monmouth £80,000.

The funding is anticipated to support tourism related infrastructure projects within local authorities and to promote the message that Wales is “open for business”.

Crime

Teenager in court over public threats blade incident

Published

29 minutes ago

March 18, 2025

Court Reporter

A 19-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court accused of threatening a man with a knife in Haverfordwest.

Kian Kelly, of Freemans View, is charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place and making threats with it on Hill Street on March 8.

He is also accused of causing criminal damage to household items belonging to the alleged victim.

Kelly appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on March 10, where the case was sent to Swansea Crown Court. He was granted bail and is due to enter his pleas on April 11.

Business

New fish and chip shop opens in St Davids to meet local demand

Published

34 minutes ago

March 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A NEW fish and chip shop has opened in St Davids, offering residents and visitors an additional takeaway option in the popular tourist destination.

St Davids Fish and Chips, located on St Davids High Street, opened its doors on February 11. The business is run by Jay Babahan, who has lived in Pembrokeshire for 25 years and wanted to provide more choice for the local community.

“There was a clear demand for another takeaway in St Davids, as we only had one other option,” said Mr Babahan. “Since opening, the response has been fantastic. We’re in a busy area, and we expect trade to pick up even more during the summer months.”

The shop prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients, including fresh fish and Pembrokeshire-grown potatoes. Mr Babahan, who has supported local sports teams through his previous businesses, hopes to continue giving back to the community.

“We’ve always wanted to contribute to the local area,” he said. “We’re happy to be here and are committed to serving top-quality fish and chips. Our goal is to establish ourselves as the best in the area.”

Shortly after opening, the shop was inspected for food hygiene, and Mr Babahan is confident of securing the highest possible rating of five.

“We have a great team and loyal customers already,” he added. “We offer a variety of meals, including kebabs, and are looking forward to a busy season ahead.”

Despite being open for only a month, St Davids Fish and Chips has already achieved a 90% recommendation rating on Facebook, with customers praising the food, service, and cleanliness.

Education

UWTSD and Pembrokeshire Music Service collaborate on recording sessions

Published

1 hour ago

March 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

STUDENTS from the Creative Music Technology programme at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) have teamed up with the Pembrokeshire Music Service to record two promising rock and pop bands.

The recording sessions took place at Haverfordwest High VC School, offering young musicians from the Pembrokeshire Music Service a unique opportunity to professionally capture their original compositions.

This initiative, launched in 2024 by Max Griffiths while still a student at UWTSD, highlights the lasting impact of student-led projects in fostering innovation and industry engagement. By the time the event took place, Max had graduated, underscoring the programme’s success in nurturing creative talent.

Dr David Bird, Lecturer in Creative Music Technology at UWTSD, said: “It was inspiring to witness music being supported in innovative ways beyond the classroom. There is an incredible pool of talent emerging from Pembrokeshire, and we are privileged to have recorded these musicians at the start of their musical journeys. Our students also gained invaluable experience, making this an exciting opportunity for everyone involved.”

Miranda Morgan, Pembrokeshire Music Service Coordinator, praised the collaboration: “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with UWTSD’s music technology staff and students. The entire day was an enriching experience for our rock and pop ensemble pupils, who not only enjoyed recording their original works but also gained insight into music technology and the recording process. We look forward to future collaborations.”

Philippa Roberts, Head of Pembrokeshire Music Service, highlighted the experience’s impact on young musicians: “Pembrokeshire Music Service is delighted to have partnered with UWTSD. The experience was invaluable, and our students greatly benefited from the expertise of skilled tutors and musicians. A special thank you to the Pembrokeshire music tutors for their dedication and encouragement in nurturing our aspiring rock musicians.”

Plans are already in motion to expand the partnership with future workshops focused on Music Technology. These workshops aim to equip young musicians with the technical skills needed to navigate the evolving music industry.

For further information, contact: [email protected].