News

First Minister of Wales gives blood during lockdown

Published

6 years ago

April 15, 2020

The First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford gave blood in Cardiff City Hall today, to help keep NHS blood banks well stocked during the coronavirus pandemic.

Having given blood since the age of 17, the First Minister says he hopes everyone fit, healthy and symptom-free, goes onto the Wales Blood Service website to book their own blood donation.

While new regulations have required people across the UK to stay home to save lives, travelling to donate lifesaving blood is essential due to medical need.

Over the past three weeks, the number of people donating blood in Wales has dropped by 30%.

Cardiff City Hall is one of five blood donation hubs open across Wales this week. Welsh Blood Service is asking the public to give blood differently, as they leave their iconic lorries in storage and request donors to book ahead.

Members of staff have personal protective equipment and donors will undergo screening before entering the clinic to ensure they are healthy. All donation hubs adhere to social distancing guidelines, and are sanitised thoroughly before, during and after each session.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “As well as staying at home to save lives during the coronavirus outbreak, eligible people can also save lives and help our NHS by going to the Wales Blood Service website and booking an appointment.

“It’s easy to do – you get a cup of tea and a biscuit as a reward – and your efforts could literally mean life over death for a mum, son, grandma or friend.”

Alan Prosser, Director of the Welsh Blood Service, said, “We are asking our amazing blood donors to go the extra mile – literally – to help our NHS at this difficult time.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors taking up to an hour of their time to give blood, like the First Minister has today, our stocks are currently in a good position. Donors have responded positively to the new safety measures in place on sessions and appointment uptake at our local donation hubs has been high.

“To ensure blood stock levels remain healthy we need new and existing donors to keep checking our website for local donation hubs near them and to book an appointment to donate if they are fit and well.”

To book an appointment go to https://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/

News

Major incident declared after bus crash in Carmarthenshire

Published

2 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Emergency services at scene as A484 closed near Parc y Bocs

A MAJOR incident has been declared in Kidwelly following a collision involving a bus.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were dealing with the incident on the A484 near the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs.

The road has been closed between the Kidwelly roundabout and Llandyfaelog, and motorists are being urged to find alternative routes.

Emergency services are at the scene, and members of the public have been asked to stay away from the area until further notice.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Officers are dealing with a major incident in Kidwelly, following a report of a collision involving a bus on the A484 near the Kidwelly roundabout.

“The road is closed between the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs and Llandyfaelog, and motorists are asked to find alternative routes.

“Emergency services are on scene and members of the public are asked to stay away from the area until further notice.”

More information is expected to follow.

Community

New town map unveiled in Fishguard

Published

15 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW town map has been installed in the heart of Fishguard to help residents and visitors discover more of what the area has to offer.

The map, created by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick’s in-house graphic designer, has been placed on the Abergwaun Hotel tunnel, near Offshore Surfwear’s new shop.

The group said it was “incredibly proud” of the finished result and thanked the building owner for allowing the map to be installed on the premises.

Visit Fishguard & Goodwick is now hoping to create a similar map for Goodwick and is asking for help from a centrally located building owner who may be willing to host it.

Anyone who can help, or knows of a suitable location, is being asked to get in touch with Visit Fishguard & Goodwick.

Community

Tenby Summer Spectacular cancelled amid council row over harbour access

Published

21 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Organisers say popular charity events cannot safely go ahead without clear powers to control crowds

TENBY ROUND TABLE has announced that this summer’s Tenby Summer Spectacular events have been cancelled until further notice amid a dispute with Pembrokeshire County Council over crowd control at the harbour.

The events, which were due to take place on Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 30, have been a major feature of Tenby’s summer calendar for decades, drawing large crowds to the harbour for entertainment, food, drink and fireworks.

In a statement, Tenby Round Table said the decision had been made “with enormous sadness” and claimed it had been forced on organisers because of unresolved issues over the safe management of pedestrian access.

The organisation said it needed the council’s Public Realm department to use statutory powers to temporarily restrict pedestrian access through the event area when capacity is reached.

Organisers said the matter had first been raised with the council in September 2025 and again formally in writing in May 2026.

They said volunteers had attended meetings, commissioned professional health and safety consultants and worked on Event Management Plans, but claimed the council had still not provided a clear answer.

Tenby Round Table said: “PCC’s Public Realm department has had nine months to answer one question on safe and controlled access to the harbour. It has not done so.”

The group also alleged that recent written responses from the council contained factual inaccuracies and misleading statements about the relevant legislation.

It added that the council’s legal advice was understood to be provisional and still under internal review.

The cancellation is currently described as provisional, with organisers giving the council a final deadline of June 25 to provide what they describe as a clear, accurate and legally grounded answer.

Tenby Round Table said that if this is provided, it will do everything possible to reinstate the events.

The group said the Summer Spectacular had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, sports teams, community groups and worthy individuals since it began.

It said the cancellation would be a devastating blow to those who benefit from the funds raised.

The statement added that organisers are still working with Dyfed-Powys Police and other relevant authorities ahead of a council licensing committee meeting in July, which is expected to consider whether the event licence should be renewed, amended or withdrawn.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.