News
St Davids: Minister opens new school
A NEW school for three to 16-year-olds on the St Davids peninsula has been officially opened.
Ysgol yr Eglwys yng Nghymru Penrhyn Dewi in St Davids – the first of its kind – operates across the three sites formerly known as Ysgol Dewi Sant, Ysgol Bro Dewi and Solva Community School.
A plaque commemorating the event was unveiled earlier today (Nov 30) by Eluned Morgan AM, Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning.
Also in attendance was the St Davids Cathedral Dean, The Very Reverend Dr Sarah Rowland-Jones.
Penrhyn Dewi is the first Church in Wales secondary phase school to open since the 1920s and the Church’s first ever 3-16 school.
The former Ysgol Dewi Sant site has seen £4 million investment into a part-new build and remodelling of teaching accommodation. The contractor was WB Griffiths and Son of Haverfordwest.
Post-16 provision for pupils is available at the new sixth form centre in Haverfordwest as part of a formal collaboration between the County Council and Pembrokeshire College.
Penrhyn Dewi opened its doors to pupils in September.
It is one of several new schools which have been built – or are being built – in Pembrokeshire under the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, a collaboration between Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government who are sharing the funding.
The Diocese of St Davids also contributed to the funding of the new school.
Baroness Morgan – whose family hails from St Davids – was welcomed to the school by Council Chairman, Aden Brinn and headteacher, David Haynes.
At the official opening ceremony, musical items were performed by the Cathedral Choristers and the school choir.
She told guests: “It is a pleasure to officially open Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi and I am delighted that the Welsh Government’s has made such an important investment in education in Pembrokeshire by contributing £3.4 million to the £4 million cost of renovating the school.
“The most ambitious school building programme since the 1960s, Band A of our 21st Century Schools and Education Programme will see an overall investment of £1.4billion, including over £120 million for Pembrokeshire. Band B will see a further £2.3 billion invested, starting next year.
“Our pupils deserve the best learning environment to help them achieve their best and I’m so pleased Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi delivers this across the three campuses.
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved, and wish Mr Haynes, his staff and pupils the very best of luck for the future.”
The Minister later toured the new school meeting pupils.
Charity
Tenby club raises £1,000 for Wales Air Ambulance
TENBY INNER WHEEL CLUB has raised £1,000 for Wales Air Ambulance after holding a popular fish and chip supper fundraiser.
The club has supported the lifesaving charity for 12 years, raising £8,600 in total.
The latest event, held at the Boathouse in Saundersfoot, included both lunch and evening sittings, as well as a raffle.
The Inner Wheel Club of Tenby is a women’s organisation focused on friendship and service. It currently has 23 members who raise money for a range of good causes.
Karen Tulley, from the club, said: “Our members use our skills to promote and help good causes, while having plenty of fun at the same time.
“We are all aware that Wales Air Ambulance relies totally on donations and receives no government funding, which is why we are always keen to make this a really good event and raise as much money as we can.
“The air ambulance service is essential, particularly in rural areas.”
Following the fundraiser, Mike May, Wales Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager, attended the club’s annual meeting, where he was presented with the £1,000 cheque.
He said: “A huge thank you to everyone at Inner Wheel Club of Tenby for raising a further £1,000 for our service.
“The members have fundraised for us for 12 years and in that time they have raised an incredible £8,600, which is amazing. We really do appreciate their ongoing support of our all-Wales charity.
“Fundraisers like these will ensure that the Wales Air Ambulance continues to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most.”
Wales Air Ambulance is a consultant-led service which takes hospital-standard treatment to patients and, if needed, transfers them directly to the most appropriate hospital.
The charity must raise £13m every year to keep its helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
Pic: Mike May, Wales Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager, at the cheque presentation.
Community
Protest planned outside police station calling for Chief Constable’s removal
Campaigners accuse Dyfed-Powys Police of failing to safeguard children in Carmarthenshire
A PROTEST calling for the removal of Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis is due to take place outside Llanelli Police Station this weekend.
The demonstration, organised by campaign group Predator Awareness and activist Zack Griffiths, is scheduled for Saturday (May 23) at 11:00am.
Promotional material shared online claims the protest is being held because the current Chief Constable has “failed to safeguard the children of Carmarthenshire”.
Campaigners are urging members of the public to gather outside Llanelli Police Station under the slogan: “No more silence. No more excuses. Protect our children.”
The specific concerns behind the protest have not been fully outlined publicly, although organisers have linked it to wider safeguarding concerns.
When approached by The Herald, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed officers were aware of the planned demonstration.

A police spokesperson said: “We are aware of plans for a protest in Llanelli this weekend.
“We will always seek to facilitate lawful peaceful protest while balancing it with the rights of others, keeping the public safe, and preventing crime and disorder — and we encourage anyone organising a protest to contact us so we can work together to ensure any demonstrations are done safely and with respect for the wider community.”
The protest is expected to take place outside Llanelli Police Station on Saturday morning.
News
Bank holiday rail works to affect Cardiff and Valleys passengers
PASSENGERS are being urged to plan ahead this bank holiday weekend as essential rail improvement works take place across the Cardiff and Valleys network.
Transport for Wales said all lines through Cardiff Queen Street will be closed on Sunday (May 24) and Bank Holiday Monday (May 25).
Rail replacement buses and service diversions will be in operation to keep passengers moving.
Services from Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil will continue to run into Cardiff Central via the City Line, through Ninian Park. Replacement buses will run between Radyr and Llandaf, Cathays, Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay.
The works come as warm weather is forecast and services to popular coastal destinations, including Barry Island and the North Wales coast, are expected to be busier than usual.
Passengers are also being reminded that a new timetable came into effect on Sunday (May 17), with some trains now calling at different stations and at different times.
Industrial action by West Midlands Railway is also expected to affect Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton and Hereford to Birmingham routes on Friday (May 22) and Saturday (May 23). TfW said its own services are likely to be busier as a result, with extra capacity provided where possible.
Sarah Higgins, Operations Director at Transport for Wales, said: “Transport for Wales will be running its normal timetable over the Bank Holiday weekend, but some services may be much busier than usual due to industrial action at West Midlands Railway affecting Shrewsbury–Birmingham and Hereford–Birmingham services on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 May.
“With high temperatures also forecast, customers are encouraged to take extra care when travelling, check for the latest travel information using the TfW website, mobile app, or social media channels, and to stay hydrated.”
On Sunday and Monday, buses will replace trains between Rhymney or Caerphilly and Cardiff Central, and between Radyr and Cardiff Central via Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street.
Penarth to Coryton services will terminate at Cardiff Central, with tickets accepted on Cardiff Bus routes 21, 23 and 27. On Monday only, tickets will also be valid on Cardiff Bus routes 92, 93 and 94 between Penarth and Cardiff city centre.
For the Cardiff Bay Line, tickets will be accepted on Cardiff Bus route 6, with an additional hourly bus running between Radyr and Cardiff Bay, calling at Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street.
Passengers are advised to allow extra time, carry water, and check before travelling.
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