News
Rath Paddling Pool to be saved
THE RATH PADDLING POOL in Milford Haven is set to be saved despite plans by Pembrokeshire County Council to stop its funding for the popular facility.
The pool had been identified as a potential saving in an email sent to all councillors prior to a Full Council Meeting on Thursday, March 2.
On hearing that it would close at Thursday’s Council meeting, Cllr Stephen Joseph, who has played an active part in saving the pool before, said he was ‘bleeding furious’.
Cllr Joseph was unable to read that email and said that many people in Milford use the pool during the summer.
Senior Officers in the council have apologised to Cllr Joseph for the way the situation has been dealt with.
Cllr Joseph told the Herald that they now need to secure the pool for the future and that he would be submitting a written request to Milford Haven Town Council, to ask them if they will be able to take over the running of the pool.
Speaking at the meeting on Thursday, Cllr Joseph said: “I am flabbergasted to be honest. I didn’t read that email yesterday so that came as a bit of a bombshell to say the least.
“That was certainly not mentioned at the last seminar I went to but in actual fact, the Head of Leisure pulled me to one side and said we need to talk about the paddling pool down the Rath but I said I’m quite happy to take the guys who work down there and do all the building maintenance that needs doing for the summer, that’s the only conversation I’ve had about the Rath Swimming Pool.
“To find out today that it’s shutting down I’m bleeding furious to be honest with you. Every year I go down there with friends of mine, a couple of the town councillors weed the place and clean it and no one’s got the courtesy to phone me and say that it’s closing.”
Council Leader Jamie Adams said: “We provide a county swimming pool in Milford Haven at the leisure centre; you cannot argue that the Rath is a county facility, therefore, with £170,000 of precept is the Town Council the appropriate body consider the operation of that funding? I would suggest that it’s worth a conversation.”
Cllr Joseph added: “A lot of senior officers and possibly yourself know the commitment that a lot of people in Milford have for putting this pool on every year. I really appreciate what the authority has done in the past.
“To hit it with that for a £1000 saving which on paper, I believe it’s higher than that in reality, and to put this into perspective there is a large element of single parents in Milford, they don’t drive and this paddling pool in the summer, which takes a maximum of 30 people, these people go down there for the summer, they can’t walk to the beach, they can’t afford buses.”
News
Open day at new St Davids housing development
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is celebrating the completion of Phase 1 Llys Glasfryn, St Davids.
The development was built by GRD Homes, and Phase 1 consists of 4 x 2 bed bungalows, and 3 x 1 bed bungalows.
Phase 2 consists of 11 x 2 bed bungalows, which it is hoped will be completed early 2026.
All properties within Phase 1 have been allocated, and Phase 2 properties will be available for bidding a few months before completion.
A Local Lettings Policy is used to allocate these properties, which was created in conjunction with local members, St Davids City Council, and the local community.
To celebrate the completion of Phase 1, Pembrokeshire County Council is holding an open day in one of the newly completed properties.
This will be held on Tuesday 28th January 2025, from 2pm – 6pm. This is for members of the public to view the site and one of the properties, ask questions, and provide feedback.
Cllr Michelle Bateman, Cabinet Member for Housing Operations, said: “These high quality homes will provide much needed housing in St Davids and form part of our wider development programme.
“Increasing the supply of affordable housing is a key priority for Cabinet and I look forward to meeting new tenants and the wider community at the open day event.”
For more information on Pembrokeshire County Council’s housing developments, or this event, please call 01437 764551, or email [email protected]
News
Agricultural shed fire on Narberth Road in Saundersfoot
CREWS from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service stations in Tenby and Milford Haven were called to a fire on Narberth Road, Saundersfoot, at 1:05pm on Monday (Jan 27).
The blaze involved a caravan and an agricultural shed measuring approximately 15 metres by 15 metres. The shed, which contained vehicles and machinery, was completely destroyed along with the caravan.
Firefighters used two hose reel jets, two main jets, an otter pump, and a water shuttle system drawing from an open water source to bring the fire under control.
Crews left the scene at 3:20pm.
Crime
Prison bosses dismiss assault rumours against Southport killer
PRISON authorities have denied claims circulating on social media that Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer convicted of murdering three young girls, has been attacked while in custody. The rumours, which gained traction after the circulation of a voice note on Sunday (Jan 26), alleged that the 18-year-old was assaulted by two inmates at HMP Manchester, where he is serving his sentence.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice firmly dismissed the allegations, stating: “Reports of Axel Rudakubana being attacked in prison are inaccurate. He has not been attacked.”
Rudakubana, originally from Cardiff but residing in the Lancashire village of Banks for the past decade, was sentenced on Thursday to a minimum of 52 years behind bars. His crimes, described as among the most extreme and shocking in recent history, included the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, as well as the attempted murder of ten others. The brutal attack took place on July 29 last year at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.
During sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, Mr Justice Goose outlined the horrifying details of Rudakubana’s calculated and violent actions. “He walked straight into the building, up the stairs to where he could hear the sound of happy children. His intention was clear: to murder as many of them as he physically could.”
Over a harrowing 15 minutes, Rudakubana fatally attacked three children, severely injured eight others, and wounded two adults who attempted to intervene. The judge highlighted the unrelenting nature of his violence: “After the other children escaped, he remained in the upstairs room, where he returned to attack two of the youngest victims, stabbing them multiple times. His actions demonstrated a determined intention to cause maximum suffering.”
Mr Justice Goose condemned Rudakubana’s actions as “the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime.” The judge noted that the carnage could have been even worse if not for the bravery of those who escaped and intervened.
Rudakubana’s case has left a community in mourning and sparked national outrage. As he begins his decades-long sentence, the Ministry of Justice has assured the public that he is being closely monitored and that claims of an attack on him in prison are baseless.
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