News

Welsh Government considering tourism announcement for July

Published

5 years ago

June 11, 2020

PEMBROKESHIRE’s tourism businesses, so badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, were given a small measure of hope for the summer season on Wednesday (June 10).

Tourism in Wales is collectively responsible for over £6.2Billion to Welsh GDP and over 172,000 jobs.
During the Welsh Government’s daily media briefing, Minister for the Economy Ken Skates cautiously pencilled-in July 9 as the date when the Welsh Government could announce the easing of lockdown restrictions for tourism in Wales.

He did so after reminding the public the five-mile limit on travel could be tailored to local needs. For example, if the nearest supermarket is ten miles away, ten miles is ‘local to you’.

Addressing a question from ITV Wales’ Adrian Masters, Ken Skates referred to the consistent approach of the Welsh Government to easing lockdown restrictions and highlighted the perils of making policy ‘on the hoof’ in the way the Westminster Government did over schools’ reopening.

He said that non-essential retail should have taken a hint on timelines from the last restriction review, which gave a date at which non-essential retail restrictions could be eased.

Mr Skates said the important factor was that the public needed confidence that it was safe to reopen tourist attractions so, when the time came, the public would be ready to go to them.

A subsequent question from Paul Martin from BBC Wales picked up the Minister’s words on tourist attractions and asked when restrictions on travel might be lifted.

Mr Skates responded: “As we look to reopen the tourism sector, we will have to review our current guidance. We must not ruin the prospects of the visitor economy for 2021 by prematurely opening up the economy in the summer of 2020. We have a regular rhythm of reviews.

“The next review point is on June 18 and the date of the next on July 9. In other parts of the UK, the dates being considered for reopening the tourism sector on July 4; in Northern Ireland, the date under consideration is July 20. There is no significant difference between us, other devolved governments, and the UK Government on the timing of reopening some parts of the tourism and hospitality sector. Our review dates are fixed and we hope to have positive news for that sector.”

Later the same afternoon, Conservative leader Paul Davies raised tourism with First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Referring to Mr Drakeford’s weekend comments which warned that Wales would remain closed to visitors until the Welsh Government’s scientific advisors approved a change in approach, Mr Davies said: “Your comments were met with some anger and frustration by some tourism operators across the country, who, understandably, fear that this could lead to the collapse of the Welsh tourism sector.”

Mr Davies spelt out his and his party’s understanding that public health concerns remained paramount, and asked: “Will you and your Government take the opportunity today to spell out exactly what the Welsh Government’s current plans are for the tourism industry here in Wales? And can you also tell us what discussions you’ve had with representatives of the tourism industry to ascertain how your Government can better support them throughout this pandemic? And will you commit to providing further support to tourism operators across Wales until they can reopen, to ensure their viability for the future?”

Mr Drakeford responded: “The future of the tourism industry is very much in my thoughts and in the work that we do within the Welsh Government. I absolutely appreciate what an enormous impact the virus has had on that sector here in Wales.”
He continued: “There are some ways in which we might yet be able to resume some tourism activity during the current season, but it will have to be, as Paul Davies has rightly said, with safety at the forefront of our thinking. We have very regular contact with tourism organisations and interests in Wales.
“I had a meeting only yesterday with the Minister responsible (Dafydd Elis Thomas), with senior officials here, reporting on those conversations and thinking ahead to what we might be able to offer in terms of lifting the lockdown.
“If it is possible, then, beginning with self-contained accommodation, where people are not sharing kitchens and toilets and showers and so on, seems to be a sensible and safe way of thinking about how we can resume activity in the tourism industry.”
In a debate on economic recovery later in the same session, Ken Skates said the Welsh Government’s message to tourism businesses – and all businesses – was clear: “You’ll be able to plan for reopening, where we believe that it can be carried out safely and that those physical adaptations that are required for a business to reopen, or an attraction to reopen, can be implemented in a timely fashion.”

Crime

Police issue update following incident at Tenby multi-storey

Published

11 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Luke Sinclair

Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed this morning that they are investigating a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby, at around 4pm on Thursday, January 2.

The collision, police said, involved a grey Nissan Qashqai and a young child.

The child remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The family are being supported by specially trained officers.

One man, aged 33, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, drink driving, and drug driving. He remains in police custody.

Police issued a statement saying: “This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation.

“We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances and allow our officers to carry out their enquiries.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to us, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Quote reference 25*6238”

News

Milford sex offender’s child abuse images ‘most disturbing imaginable’

Published

17 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Court Reporter

A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Pembrokeshire has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found with nearly 40,000 indecent images of children, including some of the most disturbing nature imaginable. Jason Church, a father of young children, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he faced multiple charges related to child exploitation.

The investigation began when police traced suspicious online activity linked to Church’s home in Milford Haven. On August 23, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at his residence, during which Church admitted to having incriminating material on his mobile phone. He explicitly stated to the police, “It’s on my phone, what you’re looking for” when questioned about the nature of the images.

Upon examination of his Samsung device, authorities uncovered a staggering collection: 2,688 images classified as Category A (the most severe), along with 4,160 Category B images and an alarming 32,205 Category C images. Among these horrific images were videos depicting the sexual abuse of very young children, including a baby. Additionally, officers discovered a 170-page manual that provided detailed guidance on how to exploit children and evade detection.

In court, prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton highlighted the graphic content of the material found and emphasised the seriousness of Church’s offences. Despite his previous clean record, Church pleaded guilty to all charges against him. His defence barrister noted that Church was aware of the severity of his actions and had sought help from organizations aimed at preventing child exploitation.

Judge Huw Rees condemned Church’s actions as “unhealthy” and a significant danger to children. He stated, “These are not just images; they represent real victims,” reinforcing the gravity of Church’s crimes and the impact they have on real lives.

In addition to his prison sentence, Church is required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years following his release.

Community

Welsh Water distribute free cold weather lagging kits

Published

17 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

AS the winter season is in full swing and the temperature drops, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is offering free winter lagging kits to help households across Wales prepare for the colder months. With over 2,500 kits available, the initiative aims to assist residents in protecting their homes against frozen pipes and costly bursts.

Frozen pipes can lead to unwanted damage and unnecessary stress during the winter season, but with the right preparation the risks can be minimised.
The winter lagging kit includes pipe insulation and a tap jacket – with lagging designed to protect exposed pipes and a tap jacket to prevent outdoor taps from freezing and bursting.

“We understand how challenging winter can be for many people, which can be made worse should the unexpected happened – such as a experiencing a frozen or burst pipe,” said Euan Hampton, Water Demand – Delivery Manager at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. “To help ease the pressures winter can bring, we’re offering free pipe lagging kits and tap jackets as part of our ongoing commitment to helping communities stay safe, warm, and secure throughout the colder months.”

In addition to distributing free lagging kits and tap jackets. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water recommends the following tips to help residents prepare their homes:

Locate your stop tap: Knowing the location of your stop tap is essential in the case of an emergency. If your pipes freeze or burst, you’ll want to shut the water off to minimise damage.
Clear your gutters: Blocked gutters can lead to excess water accessing your home, especially during a storm.
Insulate pipes: Not only outdoor pipes need preparing, think of areas that may be at risk to cold weather – attics or uninsulated cupboards.
Fix those drips: Dripping taps can increase the risk of frozen pipes. Fixing it will also save you litres of water every day, saving both energy and money on your water bill.
Away from home? Empty buildings are at particular risk. If you’re leaving your home for a prolonged period, turn off your stop tap and drain down the system – so there is no water in the system to freeze. If you’re away for a short time, if you can, we suggest keeping your heating on low to help keep your home warm and prevent pipes from freezing.
The free kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a free winter lagging kit or tap jacket, customers can visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/winter-ready

Alongside the helpful tips to prepare your home this winter and advice on how to manage any issues should they arise. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water are also offering free water efficiency home visits to all domestic customers – and the free lagging kit and tap jackets can be installed as part of the visit.

If you would like to find out more ways you could start saving, visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/cartref/water-efficiency-home-visit