News
Council leader’s Coronavirus update (Wed, March 18)
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Leader, Councillor David Simpson, has provided a further coronavirus update:
“Yesterday we highlighted a range of developments relating to the closure of our day centres; the suspension of Council meetings and support for Pembrokeshire businesses.
“Today I want to mention:
• the announcement by Welsh Government that it is bringing forward the Easter break for schools in Wales, Schools will close for statutory provision of education at the latest on 20th March. The statement on school closures in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/statement-minster-education-kirsty-williams-school-closures-wales
• the Council’s own Business Continuity response continues to be ramped up and includes the formation of a Business Continuity response team and a more detailed plan; the implementation of an agile working approach for the Authority’s employees; a review of finance information, ensuring that data sharing protocols are robust and in place; keeping our building maintenance arrangements working effectively (such as council house repairs) and Contact Centre arrangements.
• yesterday I noted that Council meetings are being suspended. This means we need to look at ensuring governance arrangements for the Authority during the coronavirus outbreak are kept reviewed and remain robust. I am aware that key parties such as Welsh Local Government Association and the Welsh Government are urgently looking at this. When there is more detail around this I will update further.
“Today we have issued press releases covering:
• joint working between myself and my counterparts at Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion county councils and with the Chair of the Hywel Dda University Health Board
• advice relating to ceremonies provided by the Pembrokeshire Registration Service
“Our own staff are working hard on responding to this rapidly developing situation. As in most organisations they are one of our greatest assets. Latest advice comprising FAQs, guidance and internal updates are being made available to staff on the Council’s intranet.
“Public Health Wales continue to provide information and statements on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and I recommend you view their public website for the latest information and updates.”
Useful links:
• www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/coronavirus
• www.sir-benfro.gov.uk/coronafeirws
• https://phw.nhs.wales/
• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance
Crime
Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property
A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.
Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.
The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.
The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.
The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.
News
Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’
THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”
The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.
Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”
NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.
“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.
“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”
The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”
This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.
Community
Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed
RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.
The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.
Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.
With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.
“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”
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