News
Give your litter a lift home
GIVE YOUR LITTER a lift home – that’s the message to takeaway and fast-food customers in Carmarthenshire.
A number of restaurants and takeaways in the county have joined forces with the council to launch a new campaign to combat litter.
Signs and posters asking customers to put their rubbish in the bin have been put up and litter-picks are being carried out with the help of the local community at rubbish hot-spots.
Those taking part include McDonald’s in Llanelli, Cross Hands and Carmarthen and Roadchef in Pont Abraham.
Operations manager at Roadchef Judith Beckett said the signs and posters were already making a big difference.
“Since the signs have gone up we have seen a reduction in the amount of litter and an increase in the use of our bins,” she said. “In fact we have had to install more bins and empty them more regularly.”
Figures show that confectionery-type litter and drink-related litter were found on 45.6% and 43.2% of Carmarthenshire streets last year, with fast-food litter on 25.6% of our streets.
And in Wales in general the number of polystyrene cartons and fast-food cups found littered were up on the previous year.
Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “There is no excuse for dropping litter on our streets, if there are no bins nearby, then please take your rubbish home with you to dispose of.
“Litter can cause harm to animals and wildlife, it spoils the appearance of an area and it can attract vermin. Hopefully this campaign will encourage people to do the right thing.
“I would like to thank all the takeaway premises and fast-food restaurants for working with us to help clean up Carmarthenshire.”
As well as raising awareness, council environmental enforcement officers will also be increasing patrols and anyone caught dropping litter could be issued with an on-the-spot fine of £75.
Executive Board Member for Public Protection Cllr Philip Hughes said: “We do not want to fine people, we want people to be responsible and put their litter in the bin. However, if people break the law by throwing it out of their car window or because they are just too lazy to walk to a bin, then we will come after you and you will be fined. Research shows that drivers are the worst litterers because they don’t think they will be caught, but we can identify you with the help of the DVLA and we will take action.”
The maximum fine for littering is £2,500 if prosecuted in the magistrates court.
News
Closure of Tata Steel’s coke ovens sparks political and union backlash
THE recent announcement by Tata Steel to close the coke ovens at its Port Talbot plant in South Wales has ignited a firestorm of political and industrial action, highlighting the deepening crisis within the British steel industry and the challenges facing the transition to green steel.
Jo Stevens MP, the Shadow Welsh Secretary, expressed her concerns over the impact of the closure on the Welsh steel industry and the workers affected. Stevens emphasized the need for assurances about the workers’ immediate future and pledged that a UK Labour government would invest in the steel industry to support the transition to green steel, harnessing the skills, talent, and ambition of Welsh steelworkers.
The closure, slated for Wednesday due to concerns over the ovens’ “operational stability,” has been criticized by regional Senedd Members for South Wales West, Tom Giffard MS, and Dr. Altaf Hussain MS. They accused the Labour Welsh Government of neglecting its support for the Tata Steelworks in Port Talbot, highlighting a lack of financial assistance since 2019 and calling for a change in response to the current developments.
Unite, the UK’s leading union, has been vocal in its opposition to Tata’s decision, describing it as a shock and a “result of years of betrayal.” The union criticized Tata for not disclosing the imminent risk of closure during recent consultations and announced a ballot for industrial action among 1,500 Tata workers. Unite insists there should be no job losses at Port Talbot or Llanwern and that a blast furnace should remain operational.
Peter Hughes, Unite’s regional secretary for Wales, called for Tata to halt its closure plans in anticipation of Labour’s promised £3 billion investment to rejuvenate the UK steel industry. He accused Tata of managing the decline of UK steel while accepting government subsidies, describing the company’s actions as “deliberate industrial vandalism.”
The closure has not only raised concerns about the future of steel production in the UK but also spotlighted the political and economic strategies required to ensure the industry’s survival and transition towards more sustainable practices. The unfolding situation underscores the need for a collaborative approach between the government, industry stakeholders, and the workforce to navigate the complex challenges ahead.
News
Firefighters tackle blaze at block of garages in Monkton
ONE person was injured as a result of a sunday afternoon garage fire in a block of garages in Monkton.
A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service told The Pembrokeshire Herald said: “At 1.31pm on March 17, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven crews were called to extinguish a fire in an alight central garage and were forced to use two breathing apparatus and two hose reels.
“The firefighters reportedly left the scene at 3.02pm after continuing to dampen the fire and check for fire spread.
“The casualty was treated by ambulance service personnel also in attendance.”
The police confirmed that a garage fire had been dealt with by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Welsh Ambulance Service attended.
News
Air ambulance called following incident at Aldi Pembroke Dock
THE WALES AIR AMBULANCE, along with the Welsh Ambulance Service and police were called on Monday morning to an incident at the Aldi supermarket car park in Pembroke Dock.
The Herald understands that the alarm was raised after a car hit a person in the car park after 9am.
We have been told that the incident involved a local taxi.
The emergency services have been asked for a comment.
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