Community

Local MS urges eligible Pembrokeshire residents to apply for Fuel Payment Support

Published

4 years ago

January 12, 2022

CEFIN CAMPBELL, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Mid & West Wales has urged eligible locals to claim a one-off payment made available to address pressures on living costs.

The Welsh Government’s Winter Fuel Support Scheme is part of a wider support package of over £50m issued by the Welsh Government to address “immediate pressures on living costs.” A total of £38 million has been earmarked through a Winter Fuel Support Scheme, and those eligible have until 18 February 2022 to claim a one-off £100 payment from their local Council to provide support to pay their winter.

The payment will be available to all eligible households regardless of how they pay for their winter fuel, and the scheme is open to households where the resident or their partner are in receipt of any of the following welfare benefits:

Income Support
Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance
Income-Related Employment & Support Allowance
Universal Credit
Working Tax Credits

Cefin Campbell MS, who has previously highlighted the cost-of-living crisis facing communities across Mid & West Wales in the Senedd, has urged eligible constituents to apply for the payment, saying:

“One in three children in Wales lives in poverty, and rural poverty is particularly pertinent in communities across Pembrokeshire and too often goes under the radar.

Cefin Campbell urges Pembrokeshire residents to apply for fuel payment support if eligible

Households across Mid & West Wales are facing a cost-of-living crisis. Bills are soaring whilst household incomes remain stagnant or fall. Regretfully the Tories’ cruel decision to remove the additional £20 a week on Universal Credit – a decision that will see over 10,000 households in Pembrokeshire impacted – will merely see more families face hardship over the coming weeks.

This week alone we also see the Tories voting against a measure calling for a VAT cut on energy bills. Instead of providing families, pensioners and small businesses with security, they are abandoning them.

As we emerge from the festive period, people shouldn’t have to choose between heating their homes, putting food on the table, and keeping up with the day-to-day cost of living – and that’s why I’m urging those that are eligible to apply for this payment.”

Anyone who believes they are eligible for the payment have been able to submit a claim on their local council’s website since 13 December 2021, and all applications must be received before the closing date on 18 February 2022. The Department for Work and Pensions and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have confirmed that this payment will not affect an individual’s current benefits or be subject to tax.

For any further information on the winter fuel support scheme, follow this link: Winter fuel support scheme | GOV.WALES

Community

Loose horse sparks police response in Pembroke

Published

5 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Animal seen galloping through residential streets and towards main road

POLICE are reportedly tracking a loose horse which strayed into a residential area of Pembroke.

The animal was first spotted in Gatehouse View before making its way onto a nearby main road.

A post on the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Citizens’ Forum said the horse had left Gatehouse View and was seen heading towards the road by Pembroke Leisure Centre.

The resident wrote: “Anyone recognise it? Police following it.”

The horse was later reported to be galloping down Buttermilk Lane in the direction of Martha’s.

Stray horses are not uncommon in the area. In January, several animals were reported loose around Pembroke and along the A477, particularly near Buttermilk Close and the Cleddau Bridge.

Those incidents created a hazard for motorists, prompting Pembrokeshire County Council to step in and return the animals. Drivers were advised to take extra care and avoid startling them.

Community

Charlie the ventriloquist doll returns to Pembroke Dock after 100 years

Published

13 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Beloved character to greet visitors as Heritage Centre reopens for new season

CHARLIE the 100-year-old ventriloquist’s doll is coming out of retirement — and back to where it all began.

Visitors to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre will be greeted by the much-loved character when the attraction reopens for the new season on Monday (March 30).

It marks a nostalgic return for Charlie, who once performed in the very same building — then the Royal Dockyard Chapel — alongside his original owner, Ernie James, a Pembroke Dock bus company proprietor. Over the years, the duo became a familiar and popular act on the Pembrokeshire variety circuit.

Today, Charlie is cared for by Paul Elliott, of Llanreath, who inherited the doll from his father, Fred Elliott — better known locally as magician ‘Mr E’, whose shows delighted audiences for decades.

Charlie has also recently enjoyed a brush with national attention, appearing alongside Paul at a BBC Antiques Roadshow event in Swansea.

The Heritage Centre will offer free entry on opening day, with Charlie and Paul on hand to meet visitors and share stories from a century of entertainment.

Community

First person of colour to be elected mayor of Haverfordwest

Published

22 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE town council will soon have its first-ever person of colour as mayor, and its youngest mayor in a century.

Haverfordwest Town Councillor Randell Iziah Thomas-Turner, aged 37, is to become mayor this May.

Cllr Turner said: “Tonight [March 19], I had the honour of accepting the nomination as mayor-elect — a moment that will forever stay with me.

“In doing so, I am humbled to be making history as the first mayor of colour in Haverfordwest and the youngest mayor in a century. This is not just my achievement, it belongs to every person who believes in progress, representation, and the power of community. This is a new chapter for our town — one built on unity, opportunity, and hope.

“My mayor-making will take place this May, and I cannot wait to officially step into the role and begin serving the people of Haverfordwest with pride, passion, and purpose. Haverfordwest is the best in the West — and together, we are just getting started.

“Diversity is not a challenge to overcome, but a strength to embrace. When people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together with respect and openness, we unlock new ideas, stronger solutions, and deeper understanding.”

It’s a double celebration for the Thomas-Turner family.

Wife, and fellow town councillor, Dani, has been voted as sheriff of the town for the second-year-running, the first woman to serve as sheriff for two consecutive years.

“The coming civic year will be one to watch as my husband Councillor Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner is becoming the first mayor of colour in Haverfordwest’s history,” said Cllr Dani Thomas-Turner, adding: “It’s going to be a year of history and memory making for sure.”