ENTREPRENEURS in north Pembrokeshire are invited to attend a business support drop-in event at Fishguard Town Hall next month.

The session, which takes place quarterly, is supported by PAVS and Futureworks, with Pembrokeshire County Council’s Business Development Team also in attendance. A range of other organisations offering business support will also be present.

The next event takes place on Tuesday, May 13 from 10:00am to 12:00pm.

Established businesses, freelancers, and anyone considering starting a new enterprise are welcome to attend. Topics for discussion include accessing finance, writing a business plan, joining social enterprise networks, and finding the right support at each stage of the business journey.

In addition, Pembrokeshire’s Business Support Team runs regular networking events at the Bridge Innovation Centre in Pembroke Dock on the last Friday of every month from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

A WEST WALES mother’s poignant call for a permanent Pembrokeshire memorial – and sanctuary – in memory of her late daughter has been backed by county planners.

In an application before Pembrokeshire County Council, Emma Thomas, of Ammanford, sought permission for the extension of a forestry track to enable the planting of woodland along with a memorial pond to her late daughter Mia Haf Sahara Thomas Jones at a field off Brynheulog, near Llangolman.

A personal statement by Emma accompanying the application said: “My name is Emma Thomas, and I am setting up the Mia Sahara Sanctuary in memory of my beautiful daughter, Mia, who tragically and unexpectedly passed away at the young age of 16, on April 19, 2023.

“Mia was a very passionate young lady, and throughout her life enjoyed being in the natural environment absorbing everything it had to offer.

“As Mia’s mother, I must do something positive out of something so, so negative.

“As Mia was to inherit a property on her 18th birthday, as a family, we have decided to purchase land out of the proceeds from the sale.  The land is approximately 6.3 acres and lies on the western edge of Llangolman, Pembrokeshire.”

She added: “My aim is to develop the land by placing a wildlife pond to provide a breeding space for frogs, toads, newts and dragonflies as well as a habitat for a host of other creatures from pond skaters to water snails.  The pond will be shallow at one end and will provide areas for birds and a watering hole for hedgehogs.”

Emma said produce grown in existing polytunnels “will be given and shared amongst local charities to support the local population and hopefully a local educational establishment with healthy eating seasonal produce”.

Emma went on to say: “I worked within education before Mia’s health deteriorated at numerous educational establishments internationally.  I have a learnt understanding of the issues faced by individuals that live within Pembrokeshire as a single parent caring for a child with needs.

“There is a need for support for so many individuals and a lack of funding and resources can have detrimental consequences.

“In December 2022 Mia and I decided to set up a charity and Mia wrote her introduction to the Forum in advance.”

Mia, in her own words, explained her reasons for the charity: “I have struggled throughout my life with various of different things…  At the age of just 16, I got an official diagnosis as being Autistic. But that is why we are here to help each other and to thrive with each other with that help/support!  I have also struggled with making/maintaining friendships and hopefully with setting up this forum I could make new friends!

“Also make changes for the better.  Use this charity for a network of people as a safety net to help and inform each other with information that you and others may need…”.

Emma concluded: “I envisage the Mia Sahara Sanctuary to be a place where nature will flourish with new life.  I will meet with representatives from the community and local groups to determine what produce would best support their service users with the aim of working collaboratively for the benefit of the local people.

“Mia is no longer here physically however my love for her fuels me to plan the Mia Sahara Sanctuary and to create something that will benefit future generations within Pembrokeshire, and I have the determination and passion, with your support, to make this a reality.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.

A CALL to extend a Pembrokeshire cemetery to provide a space for eco-friendly natural burials has been refused by county planners.

A natural burial is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial, burying a body in the ground without a coffin or headstone.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, the Trustees of Tabernacle Chapel sought permission for a change of use of agricultural land to extend the existing Tabernacle Cemetery, Fishguard to include a natural burial site.

A supporting statement, through agent Gethin Beynon, said the land has been in the cemetery ownership since 1945, adding: “Based on the development forming a similar use to the adjacent cemetery and being in the same ownership as the Trustees of Tabernacle Chapel, the proposal would be classed as an extension to an existing community facility.

“As the development is not proposing any engineering or physical features with the natural habitat being retained, it is considered the change of use of the land would be in keeping in an area where other cemeteries exist to the north, east and west of the application site.”

It added: “With regard to the operation of the burial ground, when a burial takes place, a plot is allocated, and the turf cut and set aside. The topsoil and subsoil are then heaped alongside the grave. The graves would be dug to the appropriate depth to earth over the coffin to protect it whilst allowing the body to recycle in the active/living layer of the soil.

“After a burial, soil is returned in compacted layers around and on top of the coffin, with topsoil and turf on top. Grave locations are plotted and recorded on plan. It is intended that such administration and management duties of the site would be undertaken by the applicants.

“Due to the development not resulting in marked graves and there being no maintenance requirements from mourners, visits and any associated vehicle movements would be of a low intensity and infrequent.”

The application was supported by Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council, subject to satisfactory outcomes of an archaeological survey in relation to nearby Castell Mwrtach, an Iron Age defended enclosure and possible associated earthworks, along with discussions with the south Wales Trunk Road Agency.

An officer report, recommending refusal, said Natural Resources Wales (NRW) had raised concerns “that cemeteries have the potential to cause pollution to controlled waters, with the level of risk dependent on many factors and to fully assess potential impact of each site an initial Tier 1 assessment which shall define potential pathways and receptors in proximity of the site,” adding: “No such risk assessment has been submitted in support of this application resulting in a development that does not adequately confirm the level of risk to controlled waters the development poses.”

Archaeological advisors Heneb has said a geophysics survey of the site is needed to determine any effect on adjacent to Castell Mwrtach.

“As a geophysics survey has not been submitted in support of the application, it cannot be demonstrated that the development would have an acceptable impact on the historic environment in conflict [with policy].”

The scheme was refused by planning officers on the grounds of the concerns raised.