News

Youth unemployment still an issue

Published

10 years ago

June 27, 2014

ACCORDING to the latest figures youth unemployment in the Pembrokeshire area is 8.1%, the same figure as four years ago. Pembrokeshire County Council have implemented a plan, they call it the Local Service Board Single Integrated Plan; its purpose? Ensure ‘Pembrokeshire has a competitive, productive and sustainable economy.’

Well, that may be their end game, but if you are in the 18-30 demographic then their latest Business Panel Action Plan 2013-14 makes for pretty grim reading. Far from showing a marked improvement this plan actually shows that youth unemployment has not dropped since 2010. Even more worrying is the local dominance of micro-businesses; a staggering 90.4% of businesses in the area fall into this category. A micro-business is a small business that typically employs less than 10 people. Naturally the prominence of these types of businesses is an area of concern for Pembrokeshire as, though the businesses may flourish, they do not usually grow and thus fail to create new jobs. So, how is Pembrokeshire County Council going to combat this issue of youth unemployment? Well, a look at their action plan reveals that they feel ‘education and training providers need to assess their provision and shape the curriculum to reflect the needs of the labour market,’ in other words changing school syllabuses and children’s capacity for learning in order to accommodate local industries. Surely it would make more sense putting measures in place for aggressive industry expansion in the local area and thus the introduction of new markets? Later in the same report they appear to contradict themselves by stating that ‘Pembrokeshire’s high rates of self-employment could lead to conclusions that formal qualifications may be less important than entrepreneurial drive.’ This seems more plausible, indeed with the problematic issue of micro-businesses dominating the job market locally it may be necessary for younger people to consider the entrepreneurial route and start up their own business. But how do the County Council encourage youngsters to go the enterprising route, particularly when this approach requires a substantial amount of capital for set up costs? A key area of industry for Pembrokeshire is tourism and this is an area primed for expansion and growth. Indeed, Pembrokeshire is the most popular coastal holiday destination in Wales and, as the Herald detailed (June 6th) Tenby’s Harbour Beach was voted Europe’s most beautiful beach and made a list of 30 global tourist destinations. This is big news for the area, but it doesn’t appear that the powers-that-be are exploiting this fact keenly enough to attract more interest and tourism and with it more job opportunities. Whilst the county remains stuck in its ways and our County Council fails to capitalise on opportunities to publicise the area, whilst simultaneously neglecting to efficiently address the issues behind youth unemployment, it is likely that recruitment opportunities for the young will continue to prove elusive. For an economy that has relied for too long on agriculture and tourism to support it perhaps it is time that measures were implemented to make Pembrokeshire more self-sufficient. The question we should be asking the County Council is, how?

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

4 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

5 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

5 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”