Business

Businesses urged to apply for new Covid-19 grants

Published

4 years ago

October 26, 2020

Tom Sinclair

BUSINESSES eligible for the new Welsh Government Covid-19 support grants are being urged to apply as soon as possible.

In response to the recent national firebreak lockdown, the Welsh Government has introduced two non-repayable grants.

Grant 1

A grant of £5,000 is being made available for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses that have been forced to close and occupy properties with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000. Applicants will need to be on the Non-Domestic Rate (NDR) rating list on 1st September, 2020, and will need to complete a simple registration form to receive the grant.

Properties that will benefit from the relief as being wholly or mainly used:

as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
for assembly and leisure
as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation.

Grant 2

A grant of £1,000 is being made available to businesses eligible for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) in Wales occupying properties with a rateable value of up to £12,000.

Dependent on meeting the eligibility criteria, Grant 2 applicants that have been forced to close as a result of the national firebreak lockdown will also be eligible for a further top-up grant of £2,000.

Again, applicants will need to be on the NDR rating list for their local authority on 1st September, 2020, and will need to compete a simple application form to receive the grant. Businesses need to declare that they are trading and generating a turnover to be eligible for this grant.

Not-for-profit organisations that meet the eligibility criteria for Grant 2 may apply for the grant including the enhanced top-ups if appropriate.

In relation to self-catering accommodation, properties will not be eligible for the grant unless the following criteria are met:

the self-catering accommodation can produce two years of trading accounts directly preceding the current financial year of the business
the self-catering accommodation must actually have been let for a period of 140 days or more in the financial year 2019-20
the self-catering accommodation business must be the primary source of income for the owner (minimum threshold is 50 per cent).

As the overall discretion allowed by local authorities in the first scheme is no longer there, the Council will need to assess any applications from self-catering units against the strict criteria in the scheme and applicants should only apply if they meet all three.

In addition, for businesses not on the NDR list the Welsh Government has launched the Lockdown Discretionary Grant.

A discretionary grant of £1,500 is available to assist businesses that have:

been forced to close as a result of the national firebreak lockdown
or are able to demonstrate that the national firebreak lockdown will result in at least a 80 per cent reduction in their turnover for that period

Businesses are not eligible for this grant if:

it is eligible for, or has received, the Lockdown NDR Grant from its local authority
it has 50 or more employees
the business generates less than 50 per cent of the applicants income. The business must be the main source of income.

Welsh Government has announced that the grants will be open to applications from 28^th October and will close at 5 pm on 20th November, 2020, or when the fund is fully committed. All businesses are urged to apply as soon as possible.

Receipt of an application will be acknowledged within 10 working days and the Council aims to process grant finalised applications within 30 days of receipt. Please do not contact the Council to chase progress during this period.

For more information and to make an application from Wednesday (28^th October) go to: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support

Pembrokeshire County Councillor Paul Miller, the Authority’s Cabinet Member for Economy, said: “I would encourage all eligible businesses to apply as soon as they can.

“I have asked officers to consider all applications as sympathetically as possible and where we possibly can offer support, we will.”

Business

Residents meet with local politicians over A477 road safety concerns

Published

3 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MEMBERS of the Eglwyscummin Community Council and residents of the village of Red Roses today (Friday 17^th January) called a road-side meeting with local politicians Samuel Kurtz MS, Cefin Campbell MS and Ann Davies MP to highlight what they consider to be an ‘unsafe’ junction.

Growing concerns about the safety of the Red Roses junction brought about by the increase in near misses and accidents from users of the junction was evidenced during the meeting. The community hope that continued pressured on Welsh Government will deliver the additional safety modifications needed to reduce the number of incidents happening at the junction.

The local Member of Senedd for Carmerthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Samuel Kurtz, has been leading the campaign with the Community Council and has been liaising with SWTRA and Welsh Government Ministers to call for action on this junction.

He has already delivered a successful campaign to change the road layout of the notorious A477 Nash Fingerpost junction following several serious accidents, which is already being of real benefit to the local community. He hopes to build on this success by continuing to fight for further improvements in Red Roses and address the speeding issues being experienced on the A477 through the village of Milton.

Following the community meeting, Samuel Kurtz MS commented: “The Community Council have been extremely active in sharing the experiences that drivers are having at this junction and have put forward some recommendations that they believe will make it safer. Sadly, it’s a typical case of the junction meeting all the criteria on paper, but in practice, it’s dangerous and needs addressing.”

“ In this case, traffic travelling Westward towards Pembroke at speed have no turn off lane before having to slow down to virtually a standstill to make the narrow sharp lefthand turn off the A477 to Red Roses. On this fast busy road, it has been the root cause of the sign being crashed into on several occasions as drivers have failed to make the turn. There are crashes or near misses, as cars break sharply to try to make the turn as safely as possible.”

He added: “I believe that there are some relatively straight forward steps that can be taken which will deliver improvement and I’ve been asking Welsh Government for a review of the A477 and will invite road officials to see for themselves the junction in use. But I do need feedback from the local community to help make the case to Welsh Government. I’m asking people to get in touch with me via my Facebook page or email to share their experience, opinion, or example of any issues they may have had or witnessed using this stretch of road.”

Pictured above: Members of the Eglwyscummin Community Council at the road-side meeting with local politicians Samuel Kurtz MS, Cefin Campbell MS and Ann Davies MP discussing safety concerns at the Red Roses junction.

Business

Haverfordwest Farmers Market: Local producers and fresh produce

Published

3 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

AS County Councillor for Castle Ward, Thomas Tudor expressed his delight after visiting the Haverfordwest Farmers Market. Held in Castle Square, the market showcases a variety of high-quality local produce, offering a vibrant community shopping experience.

Fresh produce every Friday

The Haverfordwest Farmers Market takes place every Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm in the heart of Pembrokeshire’s bustling county town. Visitors can explore a wide range of stalls offering fresh produce, meats, crafts, and organic goods directly from local farmers, growers, and artisans.

Market Manager Joanne Welch explained: “Customers enjoy a memorable shopping experience in a vibrant, friendly atmosphere, have confidence in the producers, their products, and can always rely on the high-quality produce available at every market.”

Why shop local?

The market serves as a hub for supporting local businesses and reducing food miles. “Buying local makes sense,” Joanne continued. “Not only does it benefit the local economy, but it guarantees the freshest produce that is great value for money—and tastes fantastic too!”

What you need to know

Purpose: Farmers markets provide a unique opportunity to connect with local producers while enjoying fresh, quality food. Supporting these markets ensures a sustainable future for local farmers and reduces the environmental impact of long food supply chains.
Hygiene standards: Stallholders adhere to the same strict hygiene regulations as other food retailers, ensuring safety and quality for customers.
Cost: While prices may not always be cheaper, the quality and freshness of the products offer excellent value for money.

For those looking to enjoy a unique shopping experience, Castle Square in Haverfordwest is the place to be every Friday. Explore the best of Pembrokeshire’s local produce and craft while supporting your community.

Business

Samuel Kurtz MS raises awareness of Asda Foundation local grant opportunities

Published

3 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ MS has called on local grassroots organisations in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire to apply for new grant funding opportunities from Asda’s charity, the Asda Foundation.

The Asda Foundation has announced up to £500,000 of funding to help transform and improve community spaces across the UK. Grants awarded will be worth between £500 and £3,000 and are aimed at helping grassroots groups improve or transform their local outdoor community spaces. Funding can be used to transform an outdoor area, create or enhance community growing projects, and enable community clean ups.

This is the first in a series of grants that the Asda Foundation will deliver in 2025, with over £3m of funding to be made available to grassroots community groups. Information for groups on how to apply is available here: https://asdafoundation.org/our-grants/outdoor-community-spaces-fund/

Karl Doyle, Chair of the Asda Foundation, says: “Over the last year, our research has consistently told us that local communities are seeking better access to safe and accessible public spaces. We know that being outdoors has a positive impact on health and wellbeing, and that that bringing people together to be part of a group and community makes a significant difference to people’s lives. This grant provides funding support for groups to do just this, and we hope it will also help build community connections and help grow pride in communities across the UK.’’

Samuel Kurtz MS added: “ This funding scheme from the Asda Foundation provides a great opportunity for local groups to really come together to improve their local community and outdoor environment. I encourage any groups that may have an idea about how this money could be put to good use to find out about the application process as soon as possible. Given the deadline of the 11^th February for this round of funding it is vital that applications are submitted in good time. It would be fantastic to see as many local bids as possible so that communities right across Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire can benefit from this scheme.”

Photo caption: Samuel Kurtz Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire pictured at the ASDA store in Pembroke Dock.