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Safety boost for cyclists in Pembrokeshire

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A NEW campaign has been launched to improve road safety in Pembrokeshire.

‘Close Pass’ aims to remind motorists to give a 1.5m safe passing distance when overtaking cyclists.

More than 100 signs highlighting the safe passing distance have been put up on roads around the county.

The hi-visibility signs target popular cycling routes including Ironman, the Tour of Pembrokeshire, Wales Long Course and the National Cycle Network.
“Research has shown that a third of all confrontational incidents which take place between drivers and cyclists are related to close passes,” said Cllr Phil Baker.
“This initiative aims not only to improve safety but also the relationships between all road users.”

The Close Pass campaign has been launched by the road safety team at Pembrokeshire County Council with Sarah Hitchen, whose husband, Tenby Aces cyclist Jason Hitchen, was seriously injured while cycling on the A4139 near Manorbier in August 2017.

Jason was airlifted to Morriston Hospital following the collision, which took place while he was training for Ironman.

His injuries included six double fractured ribs, a collapsed lung, shoulder dislocation, muscle and tissue damage, several cuts and bruises – and he was told he would never do a triathlon again.

Incredibly, Jason completed the Long Course last year, following eight gruelling months of rehabilitation, and completed the event again this year.

Sarah said the campaign aims to make a ‘real difference’.

“The number of people cycling on our roads has risen drastically and we need to create a better environment for everyone – drivers and cyclists,” she said.

“We also need motorists to slow down and be more conscious of the need to leave an adequate gap between themselves and other road users.”

She said the campaign was very close to her family’s hearts.

“We’re trying to turn a negative situation into a positive and save other people’s lives,” she said. “We don’t want anyone else to have a phone call from the police saying their loved one has had a serious accident.”

Cllr Phil Baker praised Sarah’s determination to raise awareness of the issue and her work on the campaign.

And he said it was important that there is mutual respect on the road.
“Vulnerable road users such as cyclists and horse-riders need space on our country roads too,” he said. “They share our roads and are exposed to other traffic.
“You may be in a hurry but be patient; before you overtake them, make sure you have given them enough room as they could adjust their road positioning unexpectedly for a pothole or drain.”

Pictured are Sarah and Jason Hitchen and their daughter Ella, who has raised awareness and funds for the Welsh Air Ambulance since her father’s accident. Also pictured is Cllr Phil Baker, Road Safety Officer Kirstie-Anne Donoghue and Transport Planner Clare Williams.

Community

Warm room project returns to Crymych with £5 roast lunches

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THE COMMUNITY pub in Crymych has relaunched its weekly winter warm room scheme, offering local residents a full roast lunch for just £5 as part of the Cwtsh Cynnes initiative.

The project, based at the Crymych Arms, will run every Thursday afternoon through to the end of March 2026. It forms part of the Keep Warm Keep Well programme supported by PAVS and Pembrokeshire County Council, which funds warm, welcoming community spaces across the county during the colder months.

Staff, volunteers and committee members at the pub say the support has been vital in helping them continue a service that has proved hugely popular in previous years.

A spokesperson for the volunteer committee said: “We are so grateful to PAVS and the Keep Warm Keep Well team for providing the support funding to allow us to deliver the meals at a reduced cost for local people. It’s great that the community has a chance to come together on a Thursday afternoon, enjoy a warm space and share an affordable cooked meal.”

Alongside the weekly lunch, the Crymych Arms will also open on Thursday and Friday afternoons to encourage wider use of the space as a warm community hub.

Anyone wishing to attend the warm room lunch is asked to phone the pub on 01239 831435 before 12:00pm on Thursday to confirm numbers.

Further information about the community pub project can be found at crymycharms.cymru.

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Community

New Get Outdoors Partnership launched to expand accessible outdoor opportunities

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE Coast Charitable Trust has launched a major new initiative aimed at widening access to outdoor experiences across the county.

The Get Outdoors Partnership Programme was formally unveiled at the recent Get Outdoors Network Breakfast in Saundersfoot. The event brought together educators, community groups and local businesses to hear more about the new scheme and how they can get involved.

For almost twenty years, the Trust has provided beach wheelchairs and all-terrain equipment to help people of all abilities enjoy Pembrokeshire’s natural spaces. The new programme builds on that work, creating a long-term, sustainable model to support inclusive outdoor access while offering partners a range of benefits in return. Participating organisations will also be able to display new ‘Get Outdoors’ branding to show their support.

Attendees at the breakfast heard from the Trust’s Education Team about how new equipment is enabling more pupils to take part in outdoor learning. Blue Horizons shared insights into the physical and mental benefits of connecting with the sea, while the Get Outdoors Team invited participants to trial equipment first-hand. Discussions also explored the programme’s countywide impact, the kit currently available, and future opportunities for development.

The Partnership Programme will roll out fully in 2026, with wider expansion planned from 2027. A tiered structure will allow partners to join at a level that suits their needs – from basic access to equipment and support, through to enhanced packages that include training, bespoke kit and opportunities to share their organisation’s story.

The Trust thanked all current hosts, supporters, donors and local businesses who have helped provide accessible outdoor experiences over the years, and said it looked forward to welcoming them into the new programme.

Katie Macro, Director of the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust, said: “We are incredibly excited to enhance the Get Outdoors Partnership Programme and look forward to working closely with our partners to provide more people with access to the outdoors. This programme is a fantastic opportunity to build on our work over the past 20 years and ensure these experiences are sustainable for the future.”

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of beach wheelchairs and all-terrain equipment in Pembrokeshire. A special celebration is planned, with further details to be announced soon.

The Get Outdoors Partnership Programme represents a significant step forward in promoting inclusive outdoor access and securing the long-term future of outdoor learning across the region.

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Community

Operation targets untaxed and abandoned vehicles in Haverfordwest

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Garth Ward clear-up sees multiple removals

POLICE have organised the removal several untaxed and abandoned vehicles from the Garth ward in Haverfordwest following a joint operation earlier today.

Neighbourhood officers from Haverfordwest NPPT, working alongside the Roads Policing Unit, carried out enforcement action after a number of vehicles were found to have no valid road tax and had been left parked or abandoned for extended periods.

A police spokesperson said the operation was aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and the general appearance of residential streets where long-term abandoned vehicles had become an issue.

Millforge Garage were brought in to assist with the removals, with officers praising staff for their work in recovering vehicles that were “in awkward and difficult positions”.

Under UK law, it is illegal to keep or park an untaxed vehicle on any public road. Vehicles must be taxed or declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), but a SORN declaration is only valid if the vehicle is kept entirely on private land. Leaving a SORN vehicle on a street, layby or pavement breaches DVLA regulations and can result in immediate enforcement action.

DVLA enforcement teams and police have the power to clamp or remove any untaxed vehicle found on a public road without warning. In many cases, removal fees, daily storage charges and unpaid tax must be settled before the vehicle can be released — and if not collected, the vehicle may ultimately be scrapped.

The Herald understands that further inspections will continue over the coming weeks as part of ongoing efforts to tackle nuisance and abandoned vehicles across the town.

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