News
Lockdown at midnight as new strain of coronavirus grips Wales
ALL of Wales will be placed under lockdown from midnight with festive plans cancelled for all but Christmas Day.
First Minister Mark Drakeford made the announcement after urgent talks with ministers over a new strain of coronavirus, The Herald can confirm.
From December 23 to to December 28 rules had been due to be relaxed to allow people to celebrate the holidays with loved-ones.
But now this is limited to just Christmas Day.
Announcing the strict measures Mr Drakeford said: “While we all want to avoid further disruption to businesses and plans for Christmas, our overriding duty is to protect lives here in Wales, we know that 2021 will be a different and a better year. Our economy will recover. Christmas will come again.”
The changes mean that a Wales-wide lockdown, which was due to come into effect from 28 December, has been brought forward and will begin at midnight tonight.
All of Wales will be placed into the highest level of lockdown – Level 4 – with all but essential shops closed, and people being told to “stay home” to save lives.
Gyms, beauty salons, bars and pubs, and non-essential shops will have to close at the end of trading today, with people only being able to travel for “essential reasons”.
Commenting on the new restrictions announced tonight, Paul Davies MS, Leader of the Opposition in the Welsh Parliament, has said:
“Having been briefed by the First Minister today, I can fully appreciate the need for more severe restrictions in Wales, especially where infection rates are high, and the new strain of the virus is circulating.
“I know that many people will be disappointed as they were looking forward to seeing their loved ones this Christmas, but in the face of the emerging evidence it is clear that Christmas bubble arrangements must change.
“By working together and keeping to the rules we can ensure as many people as possible will be around to celebrate Christmas together in the years to come.”
First Minister statement – 19 December
Today, I met the First Ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Michael Gove, from the UK Government, to discuss the very latest information on a new strain of coronavirus.
We now know that this new strain is significantly more infectious and spreads more quickly than the original one.
Many of you will have heard the Prime Minister this afternoon setting out the pattern of transmission in London and the South East of England, which has been linked to this new variant of coronavirus.
This is remarkably consistent with the rapid acceleration of transmission in Wales and the high rates of cases we have seen in recent weeks.
The latest evidence suggests this new strain is present throughout Wales.
Throughout the public health emergency, we have had to respond quickly to the rapid changes, which have been so typical of coronavirus.
Today has been one of those days when new information has required an immediate response.
This afternoon, the Cabinet met to discuss this worrying new development in the pandemic and to hear the latest advice from our senior medical and scientific advisers, including the impact on our NHS.
The situation is incredibly serious. I cannot overstate this.
We have therefore reached the difficult decision to bring forward the alert level four restrictions for Wales, in line with the action being taken in London and the South East of England.
These new restrictions will come into effect from midnight tonight instead of during the Christmas period.
This will mean non-essential retail, close contact services, gyms and leisure centres and hospitality will close at the end of trading today.
Stay-at-home restrictions will also come into effect from midnight.
Unfortunately, we must also look again at the arrangements for Christmas – we cannot expose people to the risk of this new, more virulent strain of coronavirus.
We will therefore change the current rules, which allow two households to come together to form a Christmas bubble over a five-day period, so that they will apply on Christmas Day only.
Throughout the alert level four period, a single person household will be able to join with one other household.
While we all want to avoid further disruption to businesses and plans for Christmas, our overriding duty is to protect lives here in Wales.
We know that 2021 will be a different and a better year.
Our economy will recover.
Christmas will come again.
But lives which are lost, are lost for ever.
This new strain of the virus is another dreadful surprise in this long-running pandemic.
We now have a pandemic within a pandemic, a crisis within a crisis.
It is another challenge we must overcome. But one we will overcome together.
We will continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones, and, together, we will keep Wales safe.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi gyd.
News
Sheep rescue called off at Stack Rocks as coastguard urges public to stay back
Public warned not to look over cliff edge as animals remain stranded near firing range
A RESCUE attempt to reach two sheep stranded below the cliffs at Stack Rocks has been called off, with the coastguard urging members of the public to stay well back from the cliff edge.
The sheep were seen on the rocky ground below the cliffs this afternoon, prompting concern from people in the area.

The Herald understands that a rescue attempt was made, but it was later stood down. The animals remain at the location.
A witness at the scene told The Herald that the coastguard was keen for the public to be warned not to approach the cliff edge or try to look down at the sheep.
The situation is further complicated by activity at the nearby firing range, where several days of live firing are understood to be scheduled, meaning a further rescue attempt is not currently possible.
Members of the public are being urged not to put themselves at risk by going near the edge of the cliffs.
Photo: The stranded sheep at Stack Rocks (Pic: Cerianne Palmer).
Community
Sub aqua club marks first serious sea-diving weekend of season
CARDIGAN Sub Aqua Club has completed its first major weekend of sea diving of the season, with 23 divers taking part across four days.
The club rounded off the weekend on Monday (May 4), meeting at Porthgain at 8:30am with two club boats for a dive before returning by 2:00pm.
Ten divers took part in Monday’s outing, with the group diving on the Leysion, where visibility was reported at around three to four metres.
The club said the weekend had been an important opportunity for members to refresh skills, refamiliarise themselves with equipment and procedures, and give newer divers valuable sea experience.

There was also a milestone for club member Katie, who completed her first sea dive.
A club spokesperson said: “This has been the first serious club weekend out in the sea. Lots of refreshing of skills. Lots of refamiliarisation of kit and procedures. Some newbie experiences and some extending of experiences.”
The weekend also helped the club identify maintenance work needed on boats and trailers, with notes taken so the committee can prioritise resources.

The spokesperson added: “It’s been a good weekend for club diving — four days, two different locations and 23 different divers.”
The club said it will now focus over the next month on helping members who have not yet been back into the sea this season to get diving again and continue progressing with training.
Monday’s dive was followed by a debrief at The Sloop Inn, Porthgain.

News
Fresh Hamilton wage claims raise new questions for Haverfordwest County fans
Scottish reports of late and short wages add a new and more immediate concern for Bluebirds supporters already watching problems elsewhere in the same football network
REPORTS in Scotland that Hamilton Academical players were paid late, with some allegedly underpaid ahead of the club’s final game of the season, have added to scrutiny around the football network linked to Haverfordwest County AFC chairman Rob Edwards.
The latest claims were reported by Lanarkshire Live Sport and the Daily Record.
The relevance for Pembrokeshire lies in the links between Hamilton and Haverfordwest through Rob Edwards and Morley Sports Management.
Hamilton has previously stated that Morley Sports Management owns 100 per cent of 1874 Holdings Limited, and that 1874 Holdings in turn owns 97.5 per cent of Hamilton Academical FC.
Haverfordwest County has previously said Morley Sports Management has been the business vehicle behind Edwards’ takeover and funding of the Bluebirds since 2020.
Earlier this month, Haverfordwest County A.F.C. Ltd faced an HM Revenue & Customs winding-up petition at the High Court in London. The case was dismissed on April 15, but only after reaching a live hearing at the Rolls Building, with costs ordered against the company.
Separately, 1874 Holdings has faced a winding-up petition in Scotland. Hamilton later issued a statement acknowledging that petition, while saying the claim is disputed and that the company is seeking dismissal.
The latest Scottish wage claims come against a background of previous disciplinary action involving Hamilton. Earlier this year, the club was punished over failures to pay players on time and in full, resulting in a points deduction following an independent disciplinary process. Hamilton acknowledged that outcome in a club statement.
Companies House has also shown 1874 Holdings with overdue accounts and a strike-off notice. Those are separate processes from a winding-up petition, but they add to the list of recent off-field issues involving companies in the same football network.
There are also operational links between the two clubs. Haverfordwest publicly credited chief executive Beccy Nuttall with key work during the club’s licensing process earlier this month, while Hamilton has also announced Rebecca Nuttall in a senior role there.
The timing of the Haverfordwest case also drew attention because the club announced on April 8 that it had secured both its UEFA licence and FAW Tier 1 licence for the 2026-27 season, even though the HMRC petition remained live at that stage and was not disposed of until April 15.
The Herald contacted the Football Association of Wales for comment on the licensing position last week, but had received no response at the time of publication.
The Hamilton wage claims remain reports from Scotland, and there is no suggestion that Haverfordwest County AFC is facing the same issue. However, the developments are likely to be of interest to Bluebirds supporters because they concern companies and senior figures linked to the same wider football operation.
-
Local Government6 days agoFishguard children’s home application is a ‘legal test’, not planning merits decision
-
Community4 days agoDogs removed after welfare concerns at Milford Haven property
-
Crime6 days agoDrink-driver hit bicycle and failed to stop
-
Crime5 days agoPembrokeshire hairdresser avoids prison after pub assault
-
Crime5 days agoPembrokeshire man charged with making hundreds of indecent images of children
-
Business5 days agoHandcrafted garden furniture built to last across Pembrokeshire
-
Charity5 days agoRow erupts at Spitfire museum after Reform poster displayed at charity premises
-
Community5 days agoCancer patients targeted with parking fines outside Haverfordwest support centre









