News

Immigration control separates family

Published

7 years ago

June 16, 2014

A PEMBROKESHIRE hotelier has been forced to set up a brand new local tourist business on his own whilst his wife awaits a Visa to enter the UK.

As the British Government is forced to tighten working visas, during the current climate of immigration hysteria, it seems that a family are caught up in the red tape that is forcing them to live apart, separating a devoted Asian born mother, Koi Leng Chi (Jan), 47, from her young children who have British dual citizenship, along with her husband of 21 years who is a British National. Mr Rummery started by telling The Herald, “There are probably many people in the same situation. I’m extremely grateful that my late appeal has been recognised and we are now waiting for a court hearing. There was one part of the criteria that didn’t fit for the Spouse Visa. It was simply that I wasn’t here working (when we applied) earning £18,600 per annum. having invested and contributing to the community, I still can’t honestly put down that I’m earning £18,600. She (my wife) just can’t get inside the border under any circumstances. Tristram is 17 and in the first year of his A levels; a crucial time for the family unit. My 11 year old is in the first year of secondary school. He misses his mum and the bond with him and my wife is very close. The younger one is a concern. The older son is more independent, but he has his own frustrations about what is happening here. The idea was, rather than go back to Surrey, where we have a house that we sold to move our resources here, we would be here with my family. This property came up as an opportunity last year. We applied for the Visa (for my wife) in January 2013. It was refused in June/July 2013. Immigration wanted it, I think, that I had a job first and then she came over. We immediately appealed. The only area we had to explain was that I was still in Kuala Lumpur and not in the UK. It didn’t make much sense to do it that way round: I figured set up the family first and then when the time is right then resign in the Malaysian job and then take up the work in the UK. It was very difficult to fit their criteria, as I wasn’t in the UK earning that £18,600. Am I supposed to invest my money in a business in Malaysia or should I invest it here in the UK?” He talked about the adverse affect this is happening on his family life. “We are a close knit family. There is now due to be a court hearing that could be in 6 months time and that is only the first step. This whole thing could be dragged out over two years. My wife is staying with friends throughout the process, not knowing how long this thing is going to take. We are just a family who wants to live together, I and my two sons are British subjects, we (me and my wife) married in Hong Kong when it was under British rule. There is this article 8, that maybe can come in on humanitarian grounds: a mother’s rights to be with their children”.

News

Judith Rhead murder investigation – Detectives given more time to question suspect

Published

20 mins ago

February 24, 2021

Thomas Sinclair

POLICE have been given more time to question a 43-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder.

The man has been in police custody since Saturday night, after being arrested over the death 68-year-old Judith Rhead.

She was found in a residential property in Market Street.

The police now have until Thursday afternoon (Feb 25) to question the suspect.

News

All people eligible for vaccination will get theirs by end of July

Published

4 hours ago

February 24, 2021

James Hemingray

PEOPLE eligible for the coronavirus vaccine will get theirs by the end of July, the Health Minister has said.

Wales achieved its target of getting everyone in the first four priority groups vaccinated by the middle of February and is now working on offering the vaccine to those in groups 5 to 9.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has set out that people with severe or profound learning disabilities or with a mental illness will be among priority group 6.

Mr Gething said that they were would make sure that no one is left behind.

The latest figures from Public Health Wales show that 878,506 people had received their first dose of the vaccine.

59,279 people have received both doses of the vaccine.

Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services, said: “We have achieved our first milestone of offering everyone in the first four priority groups vaccination by mid-February.

“We are now making progress in achieving our next milestone, which is to offer the vaccine to all individuals in priority groups 5 to 9.

“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has set out that people with a severe/profound learning disability and individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or any mental illness that causes severe functional impairment, should be invited for vaccination as part of priority group 6.

“There are challenges with identifying individuals within these groups, particularly given the JCVI language is not generally in use in Wales, and we are working hard to make sure that no one is left behind. Today we have published guidance on identifying eligible individuals in these groups and on how to support them to take up their vaccine offers.

“The JCVI has also said that some of our invaluable unpaid carers should be included in priority group 6.

“Today we have also published guidance on identifying those unpaid carers eligible for vaccine prioritisation and the process around this. I am grateful to the national carers’ organisations for their support with this work.”

News

Council want your help to keep Pembrokeshire active

Published

7 hours ago

February 24, 2021

Andy Chandler

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is asking residents to give their views on local walking and cycling routes.

The Council aims to make journeys on foot and by bicycle easier, safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

In order to design a network that works for all, the Council would like to get the views of as many people as possible, particularly those who don’t currently walk or cycle. This will help ensure the routes built for walking and cycling work for the whole community.

The consultation focuses on the main towns and villages in Pembrokeshire which have been selected by Welsh Government as the designated localities in the County. These are:

Fishguard & Goodwick
Haverfordwest
Johnston
Milford Haven
Neyland
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke
Tenby
Saundersfoot
Narberth

Pembrokeshire Council is currently undertaking an Active Travel Network Map consultation (ATNM) which will run in 3 stages

Consultation 1: Residents can take part in the consultation exercise online, hosted by Commonplace at https://Pembrokeshire.commonplace.is/

The interactive map allows participants to flag issues, problems and successes on a plan of the active travel settlement and add comments. Such points could be for example, a pavement that is too narrow or a newly built cycle route that is regarded as a success.

The first stage of the consultation will close on 31 st March 2021.

Consultation 2: Following this, the second step of the consultation will see the Council share the initial findings and ask people what they think of the plans
proposed as a result of the feedback received.

Consultation 3: The third stage of the consultation will give members of the public a final say on the Active Travel Network Maps before they are sent to Welsh Government for approval. These maps will have been produced taking into account public feedback and ideas from consultations 1 and 2.

By upgrading facilities and creating new walking and cycling routes, the Council plans to make Active Travel the popular choice for local journeys, to increase the attractiveness of local communities as places to live and work, improve health and well-being, and help tackle air pollution.

Cllr Phil Baker, Pembrokeshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “This consultation exercise will produce an Active Travel Network Map which will be a plan of routes the Council will use to inform where improvements to walking and cycling should be made in Pembrokeshire.

“It will help to make journeys on foot or by bicycle easier and safer for everyone, particularly those who don’t currently walk or cycle often and people who use mobility aids and will build on the increased level of walking and cycling that we have seen over the last 12 months during the pandemic.”

See more information on Active Travel at: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/fitness-and-well-being/active-travel