News

British fishermen angry and betrayed over post-Brexit trade deal

Published

4 years ago

December 30, 2020

A FISHING INDUSTRY leader said he felt “angry, disappointed and betrayed” by the post-Brexit trade deal agreed by Boris Johnson, which he warned would force some firms out of business.

Barrie Deas, the chief executive, said that there was growing disappointment and frustration in the industry – with many fishers furious that EU boats will be able to fish up to six miles off the coast of Britain.

Andrew Locker, chairman of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO), added to the criticism, and said many fishing businesses would be “absolutely worse off by this deal”

Mr Locker who himself runs two boats said: “I don’t know how the hell we’re going to get through 2021. We used to swap the quota we didn’t want with the French and Germans didn’t want. That enabled us to put together a fishing plan. This year we’re going to be woefully short of the amount of saithe, hake and cod we can catch. I am angry, disappointed and betrayed.

There is anger that the “marginal” gains on the share of fish that the UK fleet will be allowed to catch may be outweighed by the end of the system of quota-swapping, which has until now enabled deals to be made between British boats and their European counterparts on mainland Europe.

This is despite The Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove saying this week that the UK had struck the “best possible” deal for the UK fishing industry, as a whole.

Gove argued that at present British fishermen were entitled to about half the fish in UK waters but by 2026 this will increase to two-thirds.

The agreement, released on Boxing Day morning, contains numerous pages dedicated entirely to fishing policy in the UK and EU’s new relationship, and asserts the “sovereign rights” of EU states and the UK “for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving and managing the living resources in their waters”.

However it also includes a line on “the social and economic benefits of a further period of stability, during which fishers would be permitted until June 30 2026 to continue to enter the waters of the other party”.

Mr Locker said he was not aware of any allowance in the trade deal for UK firms to trade fish quotas with EU countries, which is a crucial part of how the industry manages its catch.

He said many fishing firms would go out of business by the end of the transition in 2026, telling the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “We are really, really going to struggle this

Mr Locker added: “When Boris Johnson and his government promised Brexit to the fishermen, he promised none of us would be worse off. And I can sit here now and tell you there is a considerable amount of fishing industry representatives and people, fishermen, small families, small communities, absolutely worse off by this deal.”

He said UK negotiators had won a “fraction” of the fishing quotas they had promised and warned about the prospect of having to revisit the deal when the transition period ends in 2026, describing it as a “can of worms”.

“When we were within the EU we used to trade fish with the EU and we used to swap fish that we didn’t use with fish they didn’t use, and that enabled us to put together an annual fishing plan,” he said. “What we’ve got now is a fraction of what we were promised through Brexit, a fraction of the fish we need to fish our annual fisheries plan through Brexit.”

A senior member of the UK’s negotiating team defended the agreement, and described fish as “one of the areas where we had to compromise somewhat”, but said this had been done by “both sides”.

The official said: “The crucial thing on fisheries policy is that although there is a transition, at the end of the transition it returns to normal arrangements, and we have full control over our waters.

“There’s a transition to that point and ideally we would’ve got out of it a bit faster, but where we’ve got to is acceptable and offers gains for the fisheries industry in the short run and a huge right to control everything and work within that after this five-and-a-half-year transition.”

News

Fire fighters respond to dangerous structure incident in Johnston

Published

1 hour ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

AT 8:28am on Friday (Jan 24), a crew from Haverfordwest Fire Station responded to a dangerous structure incident on Vine Road, Johnston.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to address roof ridge tiles hanging precariously from a two-storey domestic property over a public pavement.

A full road closure was implemented while firefighters used a turntable ladder to safely remove the tiles and secure the area.

The pavement and road have since reopened. The crew left the scene at 9:28am.

News

County councillor warns of dangerous and illegal E-scooter use in Haverfordwest

Published

2 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A COUNTY councillor in Haverfordwest has raised concerns about the dangerous actions of individuals using e-scooters in the town centre. Cllr David Bryan says that complaints from residents about the misuse of these devices have become a daily occurrence, highlighting the risks posed to pedestrians and road users alike.

According to Cllr Bryan, riders—both youngsters and adults—have been observed engaging in reckless behaviour, such as riding against the flow of traffic on one-way streets like High Street and Quay Street, as well as using pedestrian areas and pavements on Bridge Street and Riverside. Such actions put vulnerable residents, particularly older people and those who are hard of hearing, at significant risk.

“E-scooters ridden in pedestrian areas, on pavements, and against the flow of road traffic are not only dangerous but are also illegal,” the councillor said. “The only lawful way to use an e-scooter is on private land with the landowner’s permission.”

The councillor also criticised retailers for failing to adequately inform customers about the legal restrictions surrounding e-scooters at the point of purchase. “The lack of responsibility by sellers is extremely poor,” they added.

Police crackdown on E-Scooter misuse

Dyfed-Powys Police are conducting an operation to tackle the issue. Efforts include educating riders through school visits and other outreach initiatives, as well as seizing and impounding e-scooters that are being ridden illegally in public spaces.

Residents are urged to report instances of illegal e-scooter use by calling 101, providing details such as location and time to assist police investigations. CCTV footage may then be used to identify offenders.

Cllr Bryan concluded: “By working together, we can address this anti-social behaviour and make our town centre safer for everyone.”

News

Consultation launched on changes to Library Service

Published

2 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has launched a consultation about proposed changes to the Library Service.

The public is asked for feedback on proposed changes to Milford Haven, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Libraries.

Following a Library Needs Assessment last summer which asked the public about their library needs and about ways to reduce running costs as part of Council-wide savings requirements, it became clear that respondents did not support closing libraries, replacing staff with 24/7 access technology or reducing the book fund.

More support was given to reducing costs by co-locating or downsizing libraries, working with volunteers or reducing opening hours.

Working on the basis of a potential 20% savings requirement for the Library Service, the following changes are proposed:

Milford Haven Library: either to relocate the library to a smaller/cheaper premises or establish a Community Managed Partnership at the current library.

A Public Meeting will be held on Monday 3^rd February 2025, starting at 6.30pm at Milford Haven Library to outline how the option to establish a Community Managed partnership would work. All are welcome to attend.

Pembroke Library: the proposal is to reduce opening hours by eight hours per week.
Pembroke Dock Library: the proposal is to reduce opening hours by seven hours per week. We are also looking at options to share the library space with a third-party to reduce premises costs.

To take part in the consultations, please follow the links below.

Customers often use more than one library, so please feel free to take part in any / all of the surveys.

Paper copies of the consultations are available at each of the three libraries.

The paper surveys will remain in place until 5pm, on 17th February 2025, when the consultations will close.

The online survey will also close at the same time.

Should the Library Service savings requirement go up or down from 20% following the Council budget meeting on February 20th, a fresh consultation in relation to any additional or different proposals for change will be made.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “The Library Needs Assessment last year has helped shape the current proposals in a way that avoids library closures and some of the other negative impacts that the respondents told us they were against.

“Given the difficult financial situation impacting the Council we have tried to create proposals that strike a balance that continues to providing a much loved library service while also providing savings.

“Please take the time to fill in the surveys and provide feedback on the proposals ahead of decisions being taken.

“For those who use Milford Haven Library please also take up the opportunity to attend the public meeting on Monday 3^rd February 2025, at 6.30pm.”