News
Reluctance to seek help about dementia
MORE than 40 per cent of people affected by dementia have kept concerns about the condition bottled up, according to a poll carried out by Alzheimer’s Society.
The poll – which was released to mark Dementia Awareness Week (May 18 to 24) – also found that over half of respondents (54 per cent) had waited for six months or more after first noticing symptoms of dementia in themselves or someone close to them before seeking professional help. Of the 1043 people surveyed, three quarters (73 per cent) felt that dementia is a difficult subject to talk about. The charity is this week is warning that this reluctance to open up about dementia is contributing to the fact that 61 per cent of the 45,500 people living with the condition in Wales are yet to receive a diagnosis, denying them access to treatment and support. Alzheimer’s Society is urging anyone who is worried themselves or someone close to them may have dementia to reach out for support and advice. These findings are supported by a separate YouGov survey of members of the general public, commissioned by the charity. According to the poll almost a quarter (23 per cent) of people in Wales said that dementia is the condition they would be the most reluctant to seek help about compared to other health conditions including serious heart problems (14 per cent) and losing their sight (11 per cent). The YouGov poll also found that 59 per cent of adults in Wales who have had a health problem in the past year have put off seeking help about it. The YouGov survey also found: The reason almost half (44 per cent) of people in Wales gave for putting off seeking help was that they thought they would be making a fuss. 30 per cent of those who have put off seeking help said it was because they feared it was a serious health problem, such as dementia. Over a quarter (31 per cent) said they didn’t seek help because they were too embarrassed. Sue Phelps, Director of Alzheimer’s Society in Wales said: “One in three people over the age of 65 will develop dementia, so it is worrying that so many people would feel reluctant to seek help about it. Talking about dementia can be difficult and we all bury our heads in the sand from time to time, but the sooner you know what you are dealing with, the sooner you can feel in control again and get on with your life. “That’s why this Dementia Awareness Week, Alzheimer’s Society is urging anyone who is concerned about dementia to stop bottling it up and get in touch. It is possible to live well with dementia and there are lots of ways we can help.”
Crime
Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property
A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.
Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.
The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.
The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.
The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.
News
Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’
THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”
The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.
Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”
NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.
“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.
“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”
The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”
This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.
Community
Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed
RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.
The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.
Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.
With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.
“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”
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