News

Councillors call for chief’s immediate suspension

Published

11 years ago

October 1, 2013

Five county councillors have signed a formal requisition to the Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council calling for an extraordinary meeting where Councillors will decide if Chief Executive Bryn Parry-Jones should be suspended.

It calls upon the council to refer the ‘Pensions Arrangements’ matter to the Welsh Government for investigation, and for the arrangement to be rescinded immediately,and for the Chief Executive to be suspending pending the outcome of the Welsh Government’s inquiry.

Until Friday’s Herald exclusive, no other publication had revealed that the meeting had taken place in secret session inside the Chief Executive’s office, and it has since been confirmed that the Chief Executive was present throughout the meeting and when the matter over pensions was discussed.

Cllr Miller’s requisition for the extraordinary showdown is cosigned by his fellow Labour party member Cllr Tony Wilcox, Cllr Mike Stoddart and Cllr Viv Stoddart who are both unaffiliated independents; and Plaid Cymru’s group leader, Cllr Michael Williams.

The Councillors call for the council to debate and vote on the following:
(1) The original decision to allow the pension payments to be made to individuals instead of their Local Government Pension Scheme to be rescinded;
(2) The Welsh Government to appoint an independent panel to review the legality of the decision and the circumstances surrounding the debate and decision making process;
(3) That the Chief Executive Officer be immediately suspended pending the outcome of the above inquiry.

The Chairman of the Council, Cllr Arwyn Williams, has until Monday October 7 to set a date for the meeting or to refuse the request. If Cllr Williams refuses or fails to convene a meeting, the signatories to the original requisition can then call upon the authority’s Head of Legal and Committee Services to arrange for the meeting to be held. This request cannot be refused, and the Head of Legal and Committee Services is required by the constitution to set the date of the meeting within five clear days.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

9 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

17 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

17 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.