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Politics

Senedd elections: Dowson UKIP’s candidate for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

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PEMBROKESHIRE County Councillor, Paul Dowson, has been named as UKIP’s candidate for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency for the Senedd
Elections.

Paul Dowson is the sitting UKIP Councillor for Pembroke Dock Central and will contest his home constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire and the Mid & West Wales regional list.

Cllr Dowson was born in the constituency from where he now runs his own TV and aerial business. He has worked in the hospitality industry, in social care and as a trouble-shooter for an international hotel chain.

Commenting on the announcement today, Cllr Dowson said: “I am delighted to be selected as the UKIP candidate for my home constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. Since my election to Pembrokeshire County Council, I have been shocked at the void between the mainstream political parties and local people. Labour, Tory and Plaid have taken people’s votes for granted and, in this election, UKIP will give them a wakeup call they cannot ignore.

“The Penally Camp migrant crisis brought the reality of the Senedd Woke Brigade’s policies on open door immigration to South Pembrokeshire. I stood alone in the Council chamber when I voiced concerns from local residents, who were not even consulted about the decision to house 250 illegal migrants at Penally Army Base. In 2020, illegal migration into the UK was more than 2018 and 2019 combined. At a time when 1 in 4 Welsh people live in fuel poverty, Penally showed that Wales is ill-equipped to be a Nation of Sanctuary.

“Last year, immigration into the UK was at 715,000, something Senedd and Westminster politicians want to ignore. The Tories say they have taken back control of our borders but net-immigration rose to 313,000 last year. That’s a city nearly the size of Cardiff added to the population every year. Unlike the Tories, the figures don’t lie.

“Wales is being made to suffer the consequences of an out of touch political elite, who dismiss anyone with legitimate concerns about immigration as ‘extreme’. It’s a blatant attempt to silence opposition. I won’t be silenced. Wales needs straight talking, real people in the Senedd, not career politicians.

“I called out the self-proclaimed Marxist group, Black Lives Matter, when they vandalised property, defaced war memorials and attacked police officers. Unlike Labour and Plaid, I did not grovel on my knees to the divisive politics of the Far Left. UKIP remained standing and I am proud to stand with them to save Wales from the anti-British Senedd. “

UKIP Leader, Neil Hamilton MS, added: “Paul has been a lone voice for the people of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. When other Councillors, MPs and Members of the Senedd put their careers first, he bravely stood with the residents of “Penally and called out Labour’s Nation of Sanctuary for what it is – virtue signalling of the most dangerous kind.

“I am delighted to have Paul as an integral part of UKIP’s Election Campaign. Voters have a choice: more of Drakeford’s Senedd or vote UKIP and scrap it altogether.”

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

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A CALL to allow school pupils from Johnston and Tiers Cross access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school is to be heard by councillors next week.

Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.

A petition calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment area to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest was recently started in the county.

The e-petition, which ran from September 18-November 1 on the council’s own website, attracted 351 signatures, meeting the threshold for a debate at the relevant Pembrokeshire County Council overview and scrutiny committee, in this case the Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28.

The petition, started by Kirsty Coaker, reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to change Johnston and Tiers Cross School Catchment back to Haverfordwest.

“Children of Johnston and Tiers Cross are now ineligible for free school transport to Haverfordwest High due to the areas no longer being in ‘catchment’.

“Both Johnston and Tiers Cross are Haverfordwest postal codes and are classed as Haverfordwest, yet the school catchment is Milford Haven.

“Please help our children access suitable transport to and from secondary school.”

The e-petition will now be considered at the November 28 meeting.

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Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

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A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund.  This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable  irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

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Business

Call to end ‘fad’ of ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire

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A CALL to end the ‘fad’ of permanent ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire for their benefit and the befit of the schools, instead using visiting ‘therapy dogs’ is to be heard next week.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28 will consider a public submission by Robert Thomas – who works with therapy dogs – on the subject of school dogs.

The submission reads: “My definition of a school dog is one that spends long periods in the school and is managed and owned by school employees not outside assessed and insured visiting therapy dogs who stay for an hour with a competent handler.

“The welfare of many dogs in schools in Pembrokeshire has been compromised over the last few years and we are concerned that the rise in the popularity of school-owned or teacher-owned dogs is an animal welfare issue.

“I can think of several school dogs in Pembrokeshire where it has gone wrong for the animal.”

He cites examples of ‘school dogs’ the county, where he says they have had to be removed, with the animals being unsettled, barking and even nipping on occasions, showing “a lack of understanding of animal welfare”.

His submission adds: “We have done some work with the Animal Welfare team at the Welsh Government around licensing this field, a consultation was completed in March 2023, currently awaiting the outcome.

“It has become a fad across the country and many dogs spend all day in schools supported by staff members who have another job to do. It feels like PCC does not have a policy overarching animal welfare policy in schools to protect dogs from being seen as staff members and there purely for human benefit, not the dogs.

“Dogs need to rest and sleep during the day and not in school. The visiting therapy dog model works best as the impact is greatest and the welfare of the dog is managed externally. If the dog is there all the time that can diminish the impact, and the novelty can wear off for the pupils.

“In my experience schools should concentrate on teaching and leave the therapy dog introduction to those that have the expertise in animal welfare.”

The submission will be considered by committee members at the November 28 meeting.

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