News

Kickstart scheme ‘success in Pembrokeshire’ says MP

Published

6 months ago

November 20, 2021

PRESELI MP, Stephen Crabb has welcomed the news of the success of the Kickstart scheme locally.

The UK Government’s Kickstart scheme, aimed at delivering more job opportunities for 16-24-year-olds in the wake of the pandemic, can be labelled a success story in Pembrokeshire with 110 individuals benefiting directly.

The success of this scheme comes on top of the positive unemployment figures for October. The unemployment rate in the constituency is now down to 3.8% and there were 50 fewer people claiming unemployment related benefits than in September. Figures in Preseli are lower than the average across the UK, which stand at 4.8%.

The Kickstart Scheme is part of a range of measures aimed at tackling long-term unemployment including an increase in the Minimum Wage and reduction to the Universal Credit withdrawal rate for people moving into work.

Mr Crabb believes that the drop in unemployment figures and the improving jobs market overall points to much stronger employment prospects in the future, particularly as the economy continues to rebound from the effects of Covid. Locally, Pembrokeshire has benefitted from the boom in staycations owing to the restrictions on international travel, but many hospitality firms have pointed to the difficulties in filling job vacancies.

Commenting on this week’s employment figures, Mr Crabb told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “The pandemic has been tough for young people, especially those looking for a job. I am delighted that the Kickstart scheme, which launched in September, has already had a direct impact in Pembrokeshire.”
“The measures announced in the recent Budget mean that we have the best opportunity in more than a generation to bring down long-term unemployment in this country. I was particularly pleased about the recent reduction in the Universal Credit withdrawal rate which will help smooth the path for people to move off benefits and take up paid work.”

News

New Chairman for Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

9 hours ago

May 26, 2022

Carli Newell

THE NEW Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council is Councillor Pat Davies, who represents Fishguard North West.

Cllr Davies, previously the Authority’s Vice-Chairman, was installed at today’s Annual meeting of Council at County Hall in Haverfordwest.

She succeeds Cllr Mike James, the Elected Member for St Dogmaels.

Councillor David Simpson – who will remain as Council Leader – proposed a vote of thanks to Cllr James.

The new Vice-Chairman of the Council is Councillor Thomas Tudor (Haverfordwest Castle) who expressed his pride at the nomination.

Councillor Simon Hancock will remain as the Authority’s Presiding Member.

Cllr David Simpson, who was elected to Council in 2004, was the sole nomination for Leader.

Cllr Simpson will complete his Cabinet choices over the coming days but he announced that Councillor Paul Miller (Neyland West) will become Deputy Leader of the Council.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed, Miss Sara Edwards, and the High Sheriff of Dyfed, Mr Rowland Rees-Evans, attended the Annual Meeting as guests.

News

Monkton: One person flown to Cardiff following incident

Published

12 hours ago

May 26, 2022

Carli Newell

THERE was a large emergency services presence in Monkton last night (May 25).

At around 7.30pm, emergency services were called to a report of an incident.

Back Terrace was temporarily closed off while officers dealt with the situation.

An Air Ambulance was dispatched and flew one person to The University Hospital of Wales.

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at approximately 7.30pm yesterday, Wednesday 25 May, to an incident in the Monkton area of Pembroke.

“We sent a rapid response car, an emergency ambulance and an air ambulance to the scene, where the crew were also supported by a duty operations manager.

“One person was flown to the University Hospital of Wales.”

Community

Nature is blooming at Withybush Woods three years after enhancement project

Published

16 hours ago

May 26, 2022

Thomas Sinclair

THREE years after the launch of a project to enhance Withybush Woods, there are abundant signs that biodiversity is thriving.

Swathes of early purple orchid – a scarce wild flower – have been spotted in shadier parts of the tranquil woodlands while a pair of rare breeding stock doves have made the woods their home for the second year.

Song thrushes can be heard everywhere on the 1.5km accessible footpath together with chiffchaffs, willow warblers, nuthatch, woodpeckers, blackbirds, blue tits and many other woodland birds.

Mallards and moorhens and their young can be seen on the restored lower pond, together with the resident swans, and a new wetland area nearby is providing a new habitat for other species of invertebrates and pollinators.

The EU-funded improvement project was led by Pembrokeshire County Council, which owns the woods on the outskirts of Haverfordwest.

Dr Steven Jones, Director of Community Services, said: “Withybush Woods has always been a beautiful and special place to visit and even more so now, thanks to its increasing range of species and biodiversity habitats.

The enhancement work received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

The scheme also received funding through the Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme, through the WCVA.