News

PM’s flying visit

Published

11 years ago

February 27, 2014

THE FIRST visit to Pembrokeshire by a serving UK Prime Minister since 1991 took place in a mist shrouded Newgale on Wednesday, February 19.

Landing by helicopter, the Prime Minister’s visit included a visit to the Duke of Edinburgh pub, pictures of which, surrounded by flood waters and the remains of sea defences, have become iconic images of the recent storms.

Jasper Slater, the owner of the pub for fourteen years told The Herald: “The Prime Minister arrived by helicopter and landed in the car park. He was greeted at the door of the pub by myself and was shown around the damage by landlord Chris Lugg and his partner. He looked around and spoke with the workmen inside such as plasters and electricians. He was very interested to see how the bad storms had affected the community and offered his concerns.”

The Prime Minister joked to Mr Slater that he may be back to enjoy a pint with him once the reconstruction work was completed.

Later during his visit, the Prime Minister called in at St David’s Assemblies’ plant on Glasfryn Road, St David’s and met with local and national press representatives.

Herald assistant editor, Jon Coles, attended along with representatives of the Western Mail, Western Telegraph, and Radio Pembrokeshire. He writes:The road to St David’s was shrouded in mist as the local press headed to and from the site of St David’s Assemblies Ltd, a leading supplier of parts to the automotive and domestic appliance industries. Stephen Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire told the local press pool:

“It’s quite surprising that this type of manufacturing still exists in a place like St David’s. There are high-quality, skilled jobs, employing local people on good wages. The company has partnerships with local colleges to train apprentices and employs over forty people, many of them women. This is a Pembrokeshire success story.”

There was quite a wait to see the Prime Minister, before the four of us were ushered into a small office to ask one question each to David Cameron. He’s significantly less full-faced than he appears on television: dressed down for his visit, as you might expect, he was friendly in the way that professional politicians are friendly and invited us to sit down with him around a low table for what was described as “a huddle”.

He was clear and precise with his answers. On the issue of tackling flooding, David Cameron said:

“Tackling floods is a devolved issue to the Welsh Government. I rang the First Minister to offer military help. Of course, there is the question of insurance, which is not devolved and we shall be speaking to the Welsh Government about that. In terms of offering additional funding, funding for flood defences is a devolved issue and we have the Barnett formula for public funding in Wales. We (the UK government) are always happy to talk with the Welsh Government about needs and problems. That is one of the reasons we have come today”

With roads blocked and railways damaged, the question of what opportunities existed to review and replace existing transport infrastructure:

“In England, there is an annual review of the resilience of our transport infrastructure. In Wales, that process is a devolved area. I think it is sensible, once the flood waters have drained down, to ask how we can better build in resilience to our infrastructure, for example signalling equipment able to withstand flooding. I am sure the Welsh Government will be doing that and we will share expertise and experience with them.”

In relation to “planned withdrawal” from coastal areas, David Cameron was forthright:

“I think we should look at our flood defences and work out how to make them more robust. Where I was this morning (Newgale) was flooded from in front and behind, from the river and the sea. It was flooded twice in one month. We need to make sure that we restore the defences from the sea and clear the river. We shouldn’t feel powerless in the face of these extreme weather events. Of course, across the UK many thousands of homes were flooded, but flood defences protected over a million homes. I am confident in using modern technology and improving our forecasting, we can protect ourselves even better.”

On a change of tack, the Prime Minister took a strongly partisan line to a question about Withybush Hospital:

“Health is a matter for the Welsh Government. I’m very clear that the Welsh Government, controlled by Labour, made a bad decision because they decided to cut the funding to the Health Service. In England, we took the decision to protect the funding for the Health Service. So we’re not making cuts to the health budgets in England, we’re protecting them. Here in Wales, they are being cut; they are being cut by over eight percent and that has had very bad consequences for the NHS in Wales. That was a political decision taken by the Labour Party in Cardiff and I think it was a mistake.”

And that was it, polite exchanges, 5 minutes out of the Prime Minister’s schedule, and he was ushered out to meet the BBC and ITV Wales. While we waited for the camera crews to clear the outside of the building, we took the chance to speak with Stephen Crabb, who praised the efforts of local council workers during the recent floods.

“Today the Prime Minister has paid tribute to the County Council’s workers who helped keep Pembrokeshire open during the recent storms, during which the County Council got a lot of things right. The way in which it used social media to get information quickly to the public was particularly effective.”

Charity

Contacts to NSPCC Helpline about domestic abuse reach record levels

Published

2 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE NSPCC Helpline handled a record 7,825 contacts from adults concerned about domestic abuse affecting children last year, marking a 14% increase from the previous year.

Figures released by the charity show this is the highest annual number since the Helpline began specifically tracking domestic abuse concerns in 2021/22. On average, 21 adults contacted the service daily between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, highlighting the alarming scale of the issue.

Notably, there was a significant 29% rise in concerns relating to coercive and controlling behaviour compared to the previous year, alongside a 24% increase in reports of emotional abuse.

A third of these contacts resulted in referrals to local agencies, including police and children’s social services, ensuring immediate intervention and support for affected children.

Adults who contacted the NSPCC expressed worries about various forms of domestic abuse, including physical violence, coercive control, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, and financial abuse.

One grandparent who reached out to the Helpline described deep concerns for her grandchildren’s safety due to their step-father’s aggressive and threatening behaviour, reflecting the complex nature of domestic abuse situations.

Jess, from Wales, who experienced years of domestic abuse from her biological father, emphasised the severe, long-term impact such abuse can have on mental health and wellbeing. She urged individuals to speak up and seek help early, stating, “Contacting the Helpline could be the first step in helping turn a young person’s life around.”

Paddi Vint, Development and Quality Manager at NSPCC’s Domestic Abuse Practice Advisor Team, said: “The surge in contacts to our Helpline about domestic abuse is alarming, particularly as we’ve recorded the highest annual total since tracking began. It is crucial everyone recognises the signs of domestic abuse, particularly coercive control, which is increasingly common. Quick action and collective vigilance can significantly help protect children at risk.”

Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected]. Children experiencing issues can reach Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk.

Crime

Domestic abuse a ‘public health emergency’, say campaigners

Published

8 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Report finds NHS training ‘inconsistent’ as victims fall through the cracks

DOMESTIC abuse should be treated as a public health emergency, a leading charity has warned, after a new report exposed widespread failings by the NHS in identifying and supporting victims.

According to the latest Office for National Statistics figures, more than 12 million people in England and Wales—around one in four adults—have experienced domestic abuse. The charity Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (Stada) says that, despite frequent contact with both victims and perpetrators, NHS staff are often ill-equipped to intervene.

Stada reviewed domestic homicide and suicide cases published during 2024 and found that in 9 out of 10 cases, the NHS had failed in its safeguarding duties. The most common failing was a lack of proper training for staff on recognising signs of abuse.

Although national guidance recommends mandatory training for frontline NHS staff, the report found that provision remains patchy and inconsistent across services. Failures to record risk properly, share information between agencies, and link victims with mental health or alcohol support services were also highlighted.

The warning comes as a separate study in The Lancet found that more than one in four women who died by suicide and were under secondary mental health care had previously suffered domestic abuse.

Cherryl Henry-Leach, chief executive of Stada, said: “Treating domestic abuse purely as a criminal justice issue costs lives. The NHS is uniquely placed to help, but it must be properly resourced and trained to do so.”

The report urges the government to fund standardised training and improve data sharing. Without urgent reforms, Stada warns that the government’s stated aim of halving violence against women and girls by 2034 will not be met.

Tim Woodhouse, a suicide prevention expert, said as many as 1,800 suicides a year may be linked to domestic abuse, calling it “a national scandal”.

Andrea Simon, from the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said healthcare workers are often the only professionals victims may encounter: “They must be trained to spot the signs and know what to do. Inaction can lead to serious harm or even death.”

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, added: “Given the trusted relationships GPs have with patients, it is deeply worrying that chances to help might be missed.”

In response, an NHS spokesperson said: “All NHS staff must complete safeguarding training which includes domestic abuse, and this training is currently being reviewed and updated.”

A UK Government spokesperson said a new strategy to prevent domestic abuse is due later this year. “We remain committed to protecting victims, holding perpetrators accountable, and ensuring healthcare professionals have the tools to support survivors,” they said.

Help is available for domestic abuse victims in Pembrokeshire

Support services offer confidential advice, refuge and counselling

Anyone experiencing domestic abuse in Pembrokeshire is urged to seek help. Support is available 24 hours a day, and no one should suffer in silence.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

There are several local and national organisations offering confidential support, practical advice and emergency accommodation:

Key Helplines

Live Fear Free Helpline (24/7, confidential):
📞 0808 80 10 800
📱 Text: 07860 077333
📧 Email: [email protected]
Victim Support (for anyone affected by crime):
📞 0808 16 89 111
Refuge National Helpline (for women and children):
📞 0808 2000 247

Local Services in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire Domestic Abuse Services (PDAS)
Offers outreach, one-to-one support, refuge, counselling, and children’s programmes.
📞 01554 752 422
Stori (formerly Hafan Cymru)
Provides housing support, drop-in advice and specialist help for women, men and families.
📍 8 High Street, Haverfordwest, SA61 2DA
🕘 Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
📞 01437 768 761
📧 Email: [email protected]
Welsh Women’s Aid
A national organisation working with local providers to ensure survivors get the help they need.
Contact via the Live Fear Free Helpline above.

You are not alone.
Whether you need immediate safety, someone to talk to, or long-term support, these services are here to help. All calls are confidential and support is available for women, men and children.

Business

Mayor welcomes Eyemazy to Tenby with official opening

Published

10 hours ago

June 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TENBY Mayor Cllr Dai Morgan officially welcomed a unique new business to the town on Sunday (June 23) with the opening of Eyemazy, a creative studio specialising in transforming photographs of the human iris into striking pieces of personalised art.

Speaking at the launch, the Mayor said: “Tenby has always been a place of breathtaking beauty, creativity, and warm community spirit. Today, we celebrate something new that captures all of that—and more.”

Eyemazy, which offers cutting-edge imaging and custom artwork services, allows visitors to turn a close-up image of their eye into a one-of-a-kind visual display. The studio adds to Tenby’s growing reputation as a hub of artistic innovation and tourism.

“This innovative studio transforms something truly personal—your iris—into a unique work of art,” added the Mayor. “It’s a celebration of individuality, creativity, and the beauty within each of us. Eyemazy not only brings artistic flair to Tenby but also strengthens our local economy and continues our proud tradition of blending creativity with commerce.”

Cllr Morgan concluded by offering a warm welcome to the Eyemazy team and said he looked forward to the studio becoming a popular destination for both residents and tourists.