Community
4 Young Friends 7 marathons in 7 days along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path
On 12th September, 4 childhood friends will set off to complete 7 marathons in 7 days to Conquer the Coast in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Rufus McGrath, Geordie Wainwright, Jamie Prowse and Sam Lebus, all in their early twenties, aim to raise £40,000 for mental health charity CALM, the ‘Campaign Against Living Miserably’ which is leading a movement against suicide – particularly amongst young men.
The coastal path, which they will be running, covers 184 miles. It stretches from St Dogmaels in the north of Pembrokeshire to Amroth in the south. They will be covering the distance together, running 7 marathons in 7 days. The route has a total elevation change of 35,000ft, which is greater than the height of Everest.
Rufus McGrath comments: “In these odd times, I know that people can go for a run or bike ride or do exercise to clear their head, but it is only treating the short-term solution. CALM can view each individual from a neutral standpoint, calmly and dispassionately, and the fact that CALM is free is incredibly important in tackling this societal issue.
“We chose Wales and the Pembroke coast for this run as it is so astonishingly beautiful: the sea, the cliffs, the surrounding farmland and the totally awesome coastal paths. All four of us have felt so much goodwill locally and, though it is a daunting prospect, we are so lucky to be undertaking this challenge here in Wales.”
Geordie Wainwright – runner 2: “Running is often a solitary activity, so it’s great to feel a sense of togetherness by working together towards a common goal. Doing this challenge has already helped me develop a different attitude towards mental health. I now make a conscious effort to ask my friends how they’re doing so I can be there for them.”
Jamie Prowse – runner 3: “The challenge itself will be incredibly mentally tough, which aligns it with the charity we have chosen. It is a cause that is relatable to each and every one of us who has undergone a personal mental health battle or knows a loved one who has. It will undoubtedly test not only our physical endurance but also our mental fortitude like never before.”
Sam Lebus – runner 4: “I’m doing this challenge because the new focus on mental health illnesses has made me more aware of how problematic the current global circumstances can be for people everywhere. Running, for me, has been a real source of strength. It’s provided a focus when life feels messy and is often the antidote to a stressful day. I love the rhythmic movement and the power and control one feels when you’re moving your body through the motions.”
For more info on the challenge:
Conquer the Coast JustGiving Site
Conquer the Coast Instagram Site – @conquerthecoast2021
Business
Derelict Cilgerran house to be transformed into cafe
PLANS by a village shop owner to convert a house “in a state of disrepair” to a café to “improve the variety of community facilities” locally have been given the go-ahead.
Mrs Morris, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, sought permission from Pembrokeshire County Council to convert The Old Post House, High Street, Cilgerran, currently a four-bed dwelling, to a ground floor café, along with a first-floor flat.
The application received five letters of support, saying it would provide local jobs, support the community, promote Welsh and local food, and provide a local community hub, with three letters of objection, raising concerns about parking and traffic, and potential odours from the premises.
A supporting statement, through the agent, said: “The proposed site is currently a dwellinghouse, in current need of modernisations and renovations throughout. The site is under the same ownership as the neighbouring village stores Siop Y Pentre,” saying the proposal “can be read as an extension to the existing Siop Y Pentre”.
“Siop Y Pentre is a thriving local community village shop which acts as a village hub. The shop provides local residents with day-to-day necessities, with a focus on local, sustainable and minimal waste products,” the statement says, adding the dwelling it seeks to convert “is in disrepair and in need of internal works to make suitable for modern living”.
It went on to say: “The proposed café seeks to retain its focus on local and seasonal produce with minimal waste and would provide a welcomed opportunity for socialising, especially during the daytime. The café will also seek to employ local staff retaining a community feel throughout. As such, the principle of the café adjacent to the existing village store is considered acceptable. The site seeks to encourage a sustainable community, with development of an appropriate scale and nature.
“Further to this, the location of the development is within the settlement boundary and seeks to fulfil a need for day-time socialising environments currently lacking within Cilgerran.”
The application was conditionally approved by county planners.
Community
Emergency call outage affected Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire
RESIDENTS in parts of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire faced difficulties contacting emergency services via the 999 landline number on Sunday (Dec 17) due to a temporary outage.
Dyfed-Powys Police issued alerts on social media, warning residents of potential issues when trying to dial 999 from landlines in affected areas. Locations impacted included Pembroke, Manorbier, Carew, and surrounding areas.
In a statement, police advised: “You may have faced problems calling 999 from a landline in the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire area. Places likely to have been affected were Pembroke, Manorbier, Carew. Please try calling from a mobile phone as mobile networks may have been working normally. Normal service will be restored as soon as possible. Non-emergencies can be reported online. Please look out for further updates.”
Later in the day, an update confirmed that the 999 landline service had been restored in the Llangrannog and Llanteg areas.
The temporary disruption raised concerns about access to emergency services in rural areas, where mobile coverage can sometimes be unreliable.
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and use alternative communication methods in the event of future disruptions. Further updates are expected as investigations into the cause of the outage continue.
For non-emergency issues, residents can continue to report incidents via the Dyfed-Powys Police website or contact their local police station directly.
Community
Police and council in collaborative effort to tackle fly grazing
IT WAS confirmed this week Pembrokeshire County council is teaming up with Dyfed-Powys Police in a bid to tackle a growing problem of horses on public areas in the county.
The move comes after the County has witnessed a significant increase in incidents of horses being left on public land and highways – known as fly-grazing.
Over the Christmas period the agencies will work operationally in a collaborative effort to alleviate the issue.
This joint approach is in response to community concerns and part of a wider initiative that will enable partner agencies to effectively address with the issue.
Members of the public can report fly grazing concerns by contacting [email protected] or 01437 764551.
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