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Couple clock up 101 years volunteering

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redcrossTHE BRITISH RED CROSS is marking national Volunteers’ Week, which runs from June 1 to 7, by thanking the hundreds of people who give their time and skills to the charity. This includes Pat and Roy Thomas, a married couple from St Davids, who between them have been volunteering with the charity for over 100 years. Roy joined the Red Cross in 1957 as a first aid volunteer and later became a trainer and assessor of first aid competencies and Pat joined in 1970, the year they were married, as a first aid volunteer and later as an assistant cadet officer. Over the years, the couple have spent countless hours providing first aid cover at many events across Wales and the UK. They are also part of emergency response team in Pembrokeshire. Pat and Roy have also worked alongside the Welsh Ambulance Service to set up a Community First Responder scheme in St Davids. The couple are on call to respond to emergency calls in their local area, providing crucial first aid before the ambulance arrives. Pat explains: “Both Roy and I are retired and have lots of first aid experience, so when we get a text come through – no matter what time – we are ready to help. We have dealt with lots of different situations and saved two people who were suffering cardiac arrests so the service really is invaluable.” Pat said: “Volunteering at the Red Cross has been a huge part of our life for a very long time. I also help arrange fundraising in the local area for all the fabulous services the Red Cross offers here in Pembrokeshire. I always find the local people incredibly generous. In fact, last month during Red Cross Week collections we raised over £1,000, so thank you to everyone who contributed.” The couple, who have both been awarded MBEs for their services, are also members of the Red Cross Volunteer Council and encourage other members of the community to support the work of the charity. Pat continued: “Volunteering is incredibly rewarding and I would definitely encourage anyone interested in doing something positive in their community to contact us. The training offered by the Red Cross is superb and you learn lots of new skills. You don’t need to give lots of time either; just a couple of hours a week can make a big difference to someone’s life. “Roy and I have enjoyed volunteering immensely. It has become such a huge part of our lives now. I never knew when I retired that I would be so busy.” The Red Cross offers a broad range of volunteering opportunities including health and social care, event first aid, patient transfer and retail. People are encouraged to learn more about the rewards of volunteering by calling the charity to discuss the opportunities. Those who wish to find out more about volunteering can call Cara Evans on 01239 615 945 or e mail [email protected].

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Visitor levy and accommodation register proposals to boost tourism

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THE Welsh Government has announced plans to introduce new legislation to support the tourism industry and local communities across Wales. Two proposed Bills aim to give local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy and create a national register for visitor accommodation.

The announcement, made by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford and Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans, outlines a Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill set to be introduced to the Senedd on 25 November, pending approval.

Under the new proposal, local councils would have the authority to introduce a small levy for overnight stays in visitor accommodations, generating additional funds to support sustainable tourism initiatives. Each local authority would decide on the levy based on local needs, potentially easing the burden on resources in popular tourist areas.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said that the levy would be “a small charge,” intended to help councils manage the impacts of tourism and invest in community infrastructure. “This will support the long-term sustainability of our tourism industry,” he added, emphasising that the approach is in line with the Welsh Government’s commitment to collaborative tax development.

Consultations led by the Welsh Revenue Authority highlighted the importance of a registration system to support the proposed levy. Feedback from stakeholders led to the decision to include a national register of all visitor accommodation providers in Wales as part of the Bill, aimed at ensuring quality standards across the sector.

In addition to the visitor levy, the Welsh Government previously consulted on a licensing scheme for visitor accommodation to create a fair playing field for providers and ensure visitors receive high-standard services. The proposed registration scheme within the Bill marks a first step toward this broader licensing framework.

The second phase of the initiative will involve a separate Bill aimed at establishing a statutory licensing scheme for visitor accommodations. This would allow providers to demonstrate compliance with certain conditions, enhancing transparency and standards. Welsh Government representatives confirmed they would continue discussions with tourism stakeholders, accommodation providers, and local authorities as the proposals progress.

If approved, the Bills will mark a significant shift in how Wales manages its tourism sector, balancing visitor demand with community needs and sustainable practices.

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Business

Small business briefing hosted by Local MS

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A BRIEFING event which considered how to best support small businesses in Wales has been hosted by Preseli Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Paul Davies. Mr Davies hosted the event in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales, Economic Intelligence Wales and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. The theme of the event was ‘productivity’, given that Wales has had a persistent productivity gap with the UK as a whole and with other international competitor regions.

Mr Davies said, “It’s always a pleasure to help facilitate discussions on how we can support small businesses across Wales. 99.3% of businesses in Wales are small or medium enterprises (SMEs) and it’s important for us to explore the opportunities there are to boost SME growth.”

“Business-friendly policies are needed to address Wales’s persistent productivity gap, and we heard from the speakers today that more support is needed in areas like skills development, infrastructure enhancements and planning.”

“As I’ve said before, the Welsh Government has some significant economic levers, and it must now use those levers to create conditions for growth in Wales. We know that when small businesses thrive, they create jobs, spread prosperity and keep our communities vibrant and it’s crucial that governments at all levels do more to support our small businesses and enable them to grow.”

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Bristol Trader to temporarily serve menu at the Castle Hotel

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The team of a popular riverside pub in Pembrokeshire, devastated by a recent fire, will relocate to a new town centre location while repair work is carried out on the original site.

On Wednesday, 6 November, a fire broke out at The Bristol Trader, situated on Haverfordwest’s riverside, causing significant damage to the building. The fire affected two floors of the pub as well as the roof space, forcing its closure. Smoke from the blaze was visible across the town as firefighters from Haverfordwest and Milford Haven worked for two hours to extinguish the flames.

Following the incident, the pub’s owners expressed their sadness, describing the team as “absolutely heartbroken” but determined to reopen and come back stronger. They extended their gratitude to the regulars, locals, friends, and family who have offered their support during this difficult time.

In the meantime, The Bristol Trader team will continue operating from an alternative venue. Beginning Monday, 18 November, the pub will relocate to the restaurant of the Castle Hotel, located on Haverfordwest Square, where they’ll serve the same menu.

“While repairs are being made to The Bristol Trader, Team Trader are being temporarily relocated to The Castle Hotel Restaurant from Monday the 18th of November,” announced the team in a social media post. “All our menus are attached to our Facebook page, and the phone lines are being redirected.”

Anyone with a booking at The Bristol Trader who hasn’t been in touch since the fire on 6 November is encouraged to contact the team at 01437 762122.

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