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Dumped rubbish doesn’t fly with locals

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RESIDENTS of Pembrokeshire took to Facebook to display their disgust and outrage, after a photo was posted of fly tipping that had occurred earlier on that day near Carew Airfield in Sageston, Tenby, which consisted of orange bags, a sofa, two mattresses and metal frames.

According to Stats Wales, there were 1,199 incidents of fly tipping in Pembrokeshire between 2015 and 2016, which is 381 more incidents than between 2014-2015, with only 212 investigations taking place. Despite this, no warning letters, statutory or fixed penalty notices or prosecutions occurred. This cost Pembrokeshire £77,693 in clearance costs.

Locals mostly placed the blame on Pembrokeshire County Council, saying the charges at the landfill sites were too high for commercial vehicles, which could be catching out those advertising their services such as “man with a van,” who charge too little for their services, and are therefore unable to cover the costs at the tip.

One commenter posted: “Probably man with van doing tip run for a few quid. Happened at my hubby’s work it was dumped being his unit. He put it on Pembrokeshire-Bay to find out if someone recognised the stuff. The person who owned it was mortified that the person she paid did this and came collected it herself!”

The feeling seemed to be mutual among the majority of those commenting, with one person saying: “It is disgusting, but with the Council now charging £104 for a large trailer load we had better start getting used to it.”

They added:”It is embarrassing trying to justify it to customers for that very reason. Looks as though I am ripping them off.”

The Herald spoke to local businessman, Mr John Andrews [name changed] who said he couldn’t understand how people advertising “man with a van” can perform their legal obligations for the prices charged, and expressed his concerns over the consequences of hiring such people.

He said: “Fly tipping is getting worse. If I came to you to do a job for you and I had waste to take away, that would be industrial waste. I would need insurance on my van to be able to cover waste goods, so these people taking things away – are they covered? I don’t understand how people can do things for £20.

As explained on Natural Resources Wales’ website and gov.co.uk, you will need to be registered as a waste carrier if your main place of business is Wales, and you transport waste as part of your business, buy, sell or dispose of waste. If you just transport waste you produce yourself, registration is usually free and renews automatically, however, you’ll need to pay £154 and renew your licence every 3 years if you transport other people’s waste, or construction or demolition waste you produce yourself.

The Herald contacted three different people advertising ‘Man with a van’, two asking for £30 and one asking for £20 for a ‘tip run’. When asked if this amount would cover the cost at the tip, one person said “Hope so” while the other said “The charges are a nightmare. You can see why people fly tip!”

The Herald also asked Mr Andrews what he would charge if he were to, hypothetically do a ‘tip run’ for a customer. He said: “Looking at the waste that’s been dumped at Carew, it looks like more than one van load, so it’d probably be two trips, so taking this into account with my hourly rate, with diesel and covering a charge at the tip, you’re looking at around £100.”

In relation to the Facebook post, other suggestions came flying in as to why somebody would have fly tipping as an option in their mind, rather than take it to the tip where it would be disposed of properly; one of which was fortnightly bin collection.

The Council first proposed the controversial plans in February 2013, and introduced the new regime in October 2013. Irate residents and concerned local Councillors voiced their fears that the changed could potentially be hazardous, but the Council felt that the estimated £500,000 they save per year because of the change would be beneficial – more so perhaps, than having weekly bin collections that could prevent fly tipping.

Gary Venn, who commented on the post on the popular Facebook selling page, Pembrokeshire-Bay, said: “I’m not surprised to be honest. The bin men come every two weeks. I took loads of bags to the tip today doing a job that we pay tax for and they told me only four bags allowed to be dumped. I had to take away six bags.”

However, some said they found no problem with bringing their rubbish to the tip, but did say that he felt that the culprit could have made this decision due to landfill sites not being open as often like they are in the summer.

As stated on Pembrokeshire County Council’s website, every household in Pembrokeshire has a legal responsibility to dispose of its rubbish in the appropriate manner. It says: “If you have your rubbish removed and it ends up being fly-tipped, you could be held responsible and fined,” and you must remember to always ask to see a waste carrier’s certificate and do not use waste contractors who won’t show you an original certificate, keep a record of the waste carrier’s details in case they fly-tip your waste and it is traced back to you. It also states that businesses must always get a copy of a waste transfer note from the person who takes the waste away

Under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 the penalty for fly-tipping/non-compliance can be a maximum of £50,000 and/or five years imprisonment.The Herald contacted Pembrokeshire County Council, to see if they felt the charges at landfill sites could be deemed as extortionate?

A spokesperson for the Council said: “Pembrokeshire County Council does not operate any landfill sites and has no control over the charges set by private operators.“A total of 74% of the cost of landfilling waste (commercial or domestic) is a tax of £84.40 per tonne, which is currently levied by Central Government. The remaining 26% is a cost set by the landfill operator.”

Health

Phone calls to reduce GP visits for 42% of patients this winter

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NEW research from the Royal Voluntary Service has shown that a simple phone call could significantly impact well-being, reducing GP visits by 42% among patients who receive regular telephone support.

The charity urges those feeling isolated this winter, particularly the elderly, to use telephone support services as a way to improve health and free up GP appointments, potentially reducing waiting times. It is estimated that if people experiencing loneliness in later life reduced their GP visits by just one appointment a year, this could free up 588,000 appointments annually.

As winter approaches, the Royal Voluntary Service reports that isolation can sharply increase, especially for adults over 75, with nearly half (47%) of people in this age group feeling lonelier in the colder months. Among those who live alone, one in six say they feel forgotten during winter, and 20% report having no one to turn to for emotional support.

In addition to loneliness, older generations face several winter worries, including increased heating costs, cited by 55% of respondents, and reduced ability to go out, which 29% said they dreaded as winter sets in.

To address these challenges, Royal Voluntary Service has launched the Stay Safe, Warm and Well campaign in partnership with Yakult. The campaign provides a guide for practical and emotional winter preparation, encouraging sign-ups for telephone support services and offering access to the Virtual Village Hall online community for events and activities. Practical advice on money-saving and energy-saving tips is also available through the guide.

Royal Voluntary Service Ambassador Elaine Paige, who has herself made support calls for the charity, described the positive impact these calls can have. “A warm, friendly phone call can transform someone’s day. Some conversations leave you smiling long after the call ends—something we could all use, especially in winter. For those facing the season alone, there are amazing people ready to remind you that you’re not alone,” she said.

The charity’s support services match volunteers with individuals across the UK for friendly chats, reducing isolation and boosting mental health. Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “The feedback that conversations with volunteers are helping people to visit their GP less is testament to the value of connection.”

Yakult Marketing Manager Reshma Patel added: “Our research with Royal Voluntary Service shows that one in four adults over 75 feel they’d benefit from practical and emotional support over winter. We are committed to helping people access the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide to support their overall well-being.”

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Crime

Welsh shop workers face ‘surge in shoplifting linked violence and abuse’ says union

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A NEW survey by retail trade union Usdaw has revealed disturbing figures on the abuse, threats, and violence endured by Welsh shop workers, with incidents increasingly linked to shoplifting. Released during Respect for Shop Workers Week, which runs from November 11 to 17, the statistics highlight a troubling trend that is impacting thousands of retail employees.

Usdaw’s survey, based on responses from over 4,000 retail staff, shows that in the past year:

  • 69% experienced verbal abuse.
  • 45% were threatened by customers.
  • 17% were assaulted.

Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis commented on the findings, saying: “Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive. These reports from Welsh retail staff make grim reading. It is shocking to see over two-thirds of our members subjected to abuse, threats, and violence. Seven in ten of these incidents are related to theft, much of it tied to addiction and organised crime.”

Usdaw’s survey suggests that shoplifting is increasingly becoming a flashpoint for violence. Many shop workers report encountering hardened criminals who appear to steal goods “to order” or to fund addictions. According to the union, incidents are on the rise across Wales, with police-reported shoplifting up by 33% in the past year.

Usdaw member testimonies paint a vivid picture of the dangers faced on the shop floor:

  • One respondent described being “spat at, pushed against a wall, punched, and threatened with a knife.”
  • Another reported that, after refusing to sell alcohol, they were told to “F**k off” and threatened with a beating by a group of five.
  • Others spoke of being punched, spat on, and verbally abused, with threats that often left lasting emotional scars.

New measures on the horizon

Usdaw has been calling for greater legal protection for retail workers for years, and it appears these calls are finally being heard. The recent Crime and Policing Bill, announced in the King’s Speech, proposes to:

  • End the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has been a source of frustration for retailers.
  • Introduce town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.
  • Allocate funding for tackling organised shoplifting and increase police presence in shopping areas.

“We welcome these new measures and hope they will provide much-needed protection,” said Mr. Lillis. “After 14 years of neglect under successive Tory governments, we are encouraged by the steps the new Labour government is taking to address the retail crime epidemic.”

As Christmas approaches—a time when retail crime tends to peak—Usdaw is urging the public to “respect shop workers” and remain calm as stores become busier.

Usdaw, which represents around 360,000 members, primarily in retail, launched its Freedom From Fear Campaign to tackle the growing issue of violence against shop workers. The final results of the 2024 survey are expected in March 2025.

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Charity

Milford Haven RNLI celebrates heartfelt donation from Neyland Ladies Choir

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MILFORD HAVEN RNLI Fundraising Group received a generous donation of over £1,000 from Neyland Ladies Choir this October, marking a touching tribute to Mrs. Dorothy Beckett, one of the RNLI’s longest-standing supporters.

The Neyland Ladies Choir held a special concert at St. Mary’s Church on Waterloo Road, Hakin, to celebrate Dorothy Beckett’s 90th birthday. A lifelong supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Dorothy has played a crucial role in lifeboat fundraising in the Milford Haven area, dating back to the 1970s. She was instrumental in establishing the Hakin Point RNLI fundraising group, which has raised over £500,000 to support the RNLI’s lifesaving work.

The concert’s proceeds were presented in a moving ceremony at Bethesda Baptist Church in Neyland. Accepting the donation on behalf of the RNLI were Steve Lewis, Chairman of the fundraising group, and Thomas Kehoe, Deputy Coxswain of the Angle Lifeboat.

Adding to the evening’s celebrations, Alice Coleman, RNLI Community Manager, presented Dorothy with the Long Service Medal, recognizing her fifty years of dedication to the institution. This award, given by the RNLI, honors Dorothy’s unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea.

“Thank you, Neyland Ladies Choir and Dorothy Beckett,” said the RNLI in a heartfelt message to the community. “Your support and dedication mean the world to us.”

The Milford Haven RNLI Fundraising Group encourages supporters to share and spread the word, hoping that Dorothy’s legacy inspires continued community support.

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