Community
Surfers Against Sewage scoop local hero award
THE Pembrokeshire representatives of a national environmental charity have scooped the 2014 National Park Local Hero Award in recognition of their continued efforts to protect the Pembrokeshire Coast’s oceans and beaches.
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) were presented with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Award at the Radio Pembrokeshire Local Hero Awards on February 27, following their tireless work to keep beaches clean and oceans safe, together with their drive to recruit more volunteers to help carry out this important work.
National Park Authority Chairman Cllr Mike James said: “This dedicated group has not only set an example to others by collecting numerous bags of litter from many of our beaches, but have strived to educate people about the negative effects such pollution can have on delicate environments such as those on the Pembrokeshire Coast.
“It is a pleasure to recognise the hard work of Surfers Against Sewage, particularly as their continued support has been vital following the recent storms. Groups such as this ensure that our beaches are a clean and welcoming environment for local people and visitors alike.”
The local SAS work in 2013 began with a New Year’s beach clean at Newgale in January, which saw a staggering 200kg of marine litter collected in 40 bin bags.
This was the first of many beach cleans, which followed the SAS campaign calendar, including the ‘Hard to Reach Beach Clean’ by canoe and kayak and the ‘Big Spring Beach Clean’.
In addition to collecting and disposing of beach rubbish properly, the local team also took part in the ‘Return to Offender’ campaign, which saw 50 items of identifiable marine litter returned to the companies that produced them, accompanied by a campaign challenge.
In April 2013 the local reps joined their fellow SAS counterparts from all over the UK in North Devon for a training weekend, where local SAS representatives delivered a presentation on their work in West Wales, highlighting region specific issues and praising coastal communities for their work to protect and enhance their coastal environments.
The work wasn’t limited to the spring, however, as September 2013 saw over 100kgs of rubbish collected at Whitesands as part of the Cold Water Beach Clean Series, a nationwide tour funded by The Crown Estate and Finisterre. Pembrokeshire SAS representative Jetske Germing added: “Whilst Surfers Against Sewage also works hard on wider issues such as water quality and climate change, the beach cleans offer a great way to get communities involved in caring for their local area. The National Park Local Hero Award gives recognition to all the volunteers who helped care for their beaches.”
Surfers Against Sewage will be holding a series of beach cleans at Solva (Gwadn), Newgale and Pen y Cwm between March 28-31 as part of the national Big Spring Beach Clean event.
You can find out timings on www.sas.org.uk/events/ or get in touch with Jetske on [email protected] to find out when your next local beach clean is, or to offer to volunteer to organise your own SAS beach clean!
Community
Bishop Joins Street Pastors on Pembroke Outreach
PEMBROKE’S Street Pastors received a visit from Bishop Dorrien over the weekend as he joined their outreach efforts to witness their work within the local community.
The Street Pastors, active in both Pembroke and Haverfordwest, provide pastoral and practical support to people using the town’s pubs and clubs. Their assistance ranges from offering water to the dehydrated, tissues to those in distress, and even flat shoes to help patrons make a safe journey home. Most importantly, they offer a compassionate ear, comfort, and prayers to those in need.
Supported by a dedicated prayer team, the Street Pastors take breaks to pray and gather strength, reflecting on their encounters with the community. Bishop Dorrien praised their work, describing it as a witness to Christ’s command to love our neighbours.
The Bishop noted the warm reception the team received during their rounds and the affection the community holds for their ministry. He blessed their ongoing service, acknowledging its positive impact on the lives of many.
Community
Calls for ‘dangerous’ speed limit in Pembrokeshire village to be lowered
A PETITION calling for the speed limit to be reduced through a north Pembrokeshire village to address “a serious safety concern for the community” is to be heard by councillors later this week.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, meeting on November 15, are to consider a petition, entitled Reduce the Speed Limit at Square and Compass, calling for a reduction of the current 50mph limit on that section of the A487 Fishguard-St Davids road.
The petition, which attracted 127 signatures on the council’s own website, was started by Emma Tannahill, and has met the threshold for committee debate.
It reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to reduce the current speed limit of 50 miles per hour on the main road (A487) through Square and Compass as it is a serious safety concern for the community. This road is home to many families with young children.
“A school bus from Croes Goch Primary School has a drop-off point on this stretch of road which further exacerbates the risk of accidents. In addition, there are young families that cycle to and from Croes Goch primary school along this road.
“This section of road also serves as a thoroughfare for traffic to and from Croes Goch petrol station and Torbant caravan-site. Both of which see a high volume of traffic and pedestrian activity. The high speeds of traffic on the main road is a risk to those coming in and out of these sites.
“In addition to the petrol station and caravan-site there is also a pub and public bus stop, both of which are adjacent to this 50 mile per hour section of road. Reducing the speed limit would significantly improve safety for pedestrians and cyclist.”
Committee members will hear the petition at their November meeting.
A further speed reduction call petition, by Emma Pritchard of Broadway Community Group, for the Pembrokeshire village of Broadway will also be heard by the committee.
That petition reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to reduce the speed limit through the community of Broadway.
“The road is shared with pedestrians, children, dogs, horses and cyclists. It is the ‘pavement’ through Broadway. The current speed limit is dangerous to those sharing the road with vehicles.”
Community
Angry locals fight ‘cash grab’ Porthgain parking charge plan
A CALL to stop national park-approved council “cash grab” parking and traffic changes in a rural north Pembrokeshire seaside village will be heard by councillors later this week.
Pembrokeshire County Council, in an application before the September meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, was granted approval for a long list of changes to Porthgain Harbour, Porthgain.
It includes highway and environmental improvements, including new parking bays, a realignment of the existing Llanrhian Road carriageway, resurfacing of existing parking areas, designated pedestrian footways and crossings, and traffic calming features.
The National Park owns the land subject to the application, historically a quarry port prosperous in the early 1900s; the scheme recommended for conditional approval.
The village of 260 residents is dominated by the village green and informal car parking area and high visitor numbers during peak months cause traffic congestion, parking problems, and safety issues for pedestrians and emergency vehicles, a report for planners at that meeting said.
Local concerns raised in the report said the proposal would “change the ‘feral and free’ nature of Porthgain,” and is “a complete urbanisation of a very rural historic working harbour village” and the “natural charm of village will be ruined”.
Speaking at the September meeting, local county councillor Cllr Neil Prior said there had been much local division over the proposals, and he had been to “numerous meetings trying to smooth things out,” adding: “There have been some strong objections, there have been village tensions, which I regret; what started as harmonious and collegiate has been quite divisive.
“There’s been a number of strong objections but a number in quiet support, who perhaps haven’t made their views because of the tensions.”
Since then, a 517-strong e-petition was received on the council’s own website, started by Andrew Harries, which will now be heard at the November 15 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The petition reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to stop Porthgain changing.
“We are all dead against the proposals to change Porthgain. The village has been trapped in time since the quarry closed in the 1930s. The original houses, foundations, grounds and landscape have all remained the same since that day all of the workers lost their jobs.
“The proposed plans for Porthgain were drawn up by PCC and The National Parks. The plans would add dedicated parking spaces around the village, zebra crossings, pavements and more.
“To replace the grounds of where the workers and its buildings once stood with pavements and car parks is absolutely disgraceful.
“This is nothing more than a cash grab by PCC and National Parks. The new car park will most likely charge visitors, which will also affect the businesses as well as decrease the villages footfall.”
Committee members will now consider the petition at their November meeting.
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