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Councillors covet retractable fountain

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HAVERFORDWEST Town Council has exciting plans for the County town.

But those plans are so exciting most town councillors don’t want the public to know about them.

That’s why a public meeting scheduled for this Friday (March 4) was cancelled when the Town Council applied pressure to the host venue to stop it from happening.

KEEPING THE PUBLIC ILL-INFORMED THE PRIORITY

The meeting was scheduled for the Bluebirds Bar at Haverfordwest County FC.

The Town Council told the Club the event was not approved by it and could “misinform the public.”

The Club rents the ground from the Bridge Meadow Trust. The Trust is intimately involved with the Town Council, which has representatives on the Board of Trustees.

The reader might wonder at the Kremlin-esque reluctance for public involvement and the Council’s wish to manage events’ narrative.

Cllr Jill Owens commented: “The Club was approached to host the event due to the size of the venue and for their involvement in the Community.  

“There was no intention to ‘misinform’ the public. We are transparent about the meeting’s aim: to listen to the Community’s views and what they want and then pass them onto the relevant persons.

“An email to all Councillors from the Town Clerk in the week stated, if the public are misinformed at any consultation, it could have a negative impact on this Council and other organisation, which could create issues for future funding opportunities including this one.”

Cllr Jonathan Twigg echoed her views.

Cllr Twigg told us: “We both believe that Town Council should hear the voice and ideas of the residents; Councillors had the opportunity to highlight their thoughts, which included the pedestrianisation of the Town Centre.

“There is an opportunity to input further ideas and we can only do that by being a voice of the community back to the consulting company as they look to prioritise and deliver actions on the available funding to Pembrokeshire County Council.”

The opportunities the Council identifies are so exciting the public isn’t allowed to know about them.

So exciting, it’s a mystery why the public doesn’t know more about them.

It should; so, here we go into the future.

THE SILO IN THE SQUARE

Imagine Castle Square, Haverfordwest, with a fountain.

But not any old fountain.

When not in use, one that sinks back underground like a missile in a silo – another Kremlin-Esque touch, perhaps.

A retractable fountain would be a centre of attraction in the middle of the town.

The cost of installing such a feature would be as remarkable as the planning decision to rip up Castle Square, remove and replace service ducts and utilities serving the rest of the town centre, repave the square, maintain the fountain’s mechanism and ensure it couldn’t be vandalised.

But that’s what Haverfordwest Town Council is considering.

Having moved the Town Council offices and acquired a new building with almost no hint of public scrutiny and disposed of the Picton Centre with a similar level of engagement, Haverfordwest Town Council seems keen to press on without opening up its plans for public consideration. The secrecy is particularly remarkable, as the public will pay for the upkeep of the fountain in the town centre.

But what’s the point of having one fountain on its own?

Two floating fountains in the River Cleddau could also be on the cards.

If nothing else, they’ll startle ducks bobbing along the surface of the notoriously flood-prone river.

Equally startling is the absence of minutes for 2022 from the Town Council’s website and the frequency with which its members choose to exclude the public and the press. The frequency with which the Council excludes the press and public when discussing its remarkable plans for spending public money and hides away its decisions is also surprising.

You might imagine the Council would want to publicise and gain public support for an erection of a fountain in the middle of the town, especially in an area busy by both day and night.

But they don’t seem that keen.

Remarkable.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

And, again, they’ll use public money for their construction, maintenance, and security.

The source of that money will be a fund intended to rejuvenate town centres. It’s a Welsh Government funding stream only available for designated purposes.

Like retractable fountains.

The scheme is not new; it’s been around for over a year.

Part of the funding for the Riverside improvements comes from the same source.

The Council has discussed the fund for over a year. Still, it is yet to consult with the public on anything resembling a coherent plan.

An email to all Councillors from the Town Clerk in the week stated that if the public is misinformed at any consultation, it could harm the Town Council and other organisations, creating potential issues for future funding opportunities.

The public was scarcely aware of the Council’s plans to flog off the Picton Centre. The public scarcely beat a path to the Council’s door to demand it relocate to a building on an expensive lease with an option to buy when it already owned its own offices. But without public engagement, the Council doesn’t have a clue what the public want.

Becoming a Haverfordwest Town councillor doesn’t mean listening to the public; in most cases, it doesn’t even mean getting elected.

The treasonous suggestion that councillors don’t always know best is rarely raised.

And the failure to consult on a giant underground water pistol must be the cherry on the cake of keeping the public in the dark.

It’s almost as though the Town Council wants to invoke a sense of urgency to generate support for its idea.

Crime

Bin lorry driver banned after “squishing” man in road rage incident

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RHYS GRIFFITHS, a former bin lorry driver, has been banned from driving after injuring a man by colliding with his car door during a road confrontation on St Issels Avenue, Haverfordwest, on 22 February 2023.

Swansea Crown Court heard from Prosecutor Harry Dickens that Griffiths, 32, accelerated towards the victim’s vehicle, stopping bumper-to-bumper. Following a brief verbal exchange, the victim turned back to his car, only to hear Griffiths rev his engine, mount the kerb, and strike the driver-side door, pinning the man against his own car. Though the victim felt pain in his thighs, he did not require medical attention, and only minor damage was reported to the car.

Griffiths left the scene without stopping, and a witness alerted the police. The victim later told officers: “There was no need for this incident at all.”

Griffiths initially pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving, later changing his plea to guilty on the day of his trial. His defence lawyer, Emily Bennett, expressed Griffiths’ “deep shame” over the incident, noting he had been redeployed from his job as a bin lorry driver due to the offence.

Judge Paul Thomas KC described Griffiths’ actions as “incredibly stupid” and sentenced him to 10 months, suspended for 18 months. Griffiths must complete 100 hours of unpaid work, 25 rehabilitation days, and pay £1,200 in costs due to the lateness of his plea. Additionally, he was disqualified from driving for 12 months and must pass an extended driving test to regain his licence.

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Health

Welsh GP committee reject contract offer and hold referendum for members

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BMA Cymru Wales’ GP committee has voted unanimously to reject the Welsh Government’s offer for the 2024/2025 GMS (General Medical services) contract, as it fails to provide a credible and sustainable future for general practice.

GPs in Wales will now vote on whether to accept or reject the contract in a referendum which will open later this month.*

Dr Gareth Oelmann, chair of the BMA’s Welsh GP committee said:

“The decision to disregard the serious concerns and valuable contribution of general practice once again in Wales is beyond insulting, it is dangerous, leaving more surgeries and their patients in peril.

“We are deeply concerned that this offer will leave more practices with no option but to close their doors. GP practices are being denied the resources they need to deliver vital services to the population.

“For years, the service has been starved of adequate funding which has led to the closure of 100 surgeries since 2012. This is having a devastating impact on general practice.

“A recent survey** of our members showed that 91% of GPs are routinely unable to meet patient demand due to unsustainably high workloads.

“With 100 fewer surgeries for patients to turn to, GPs are now seeing up to 35% more patients each, causing unsustainably high workloads and burnout with doctors being expected to do more with less, risking patient safety. How long can this continue?”

Dr Oelmann continued: “General Practice is the foundation of a high-quality, cost-effective health system, but successive governments have insisted on ignoring the vital role general practice plays in the national health service.

“Welsh Government had an opportunity to change the current trajectory but has failed to do so. It is now up to GPs to decide what happens next.”

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Entertainment

Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience torock Tenby Blues Festival

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THE soulful, genre-bending blues act, Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience, is set to take the main stage on Friday at Tenby Blues Festival, bringing their high-energy mix of blues, rock, and soul.

Ranked #3 on both the Roots Music Report UK and the UK IBBA Most Played chart in September 2024, Pat Fulgoni’s latest album, Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience, has captured the hearts of blues lovers across the UK. Released on September 27, 2024, the album has received praise for its dynamic fusion of blues, funk, and soul. Tracks like “Drifter,” “Keep The Blues Alive,” and “Stickin’ the Knife in Blues” showcase Fulgoni’s powerful vocals, which have been hailed by Billboard magazine, describing him as a singer who “could sing a pearl from its oyster.”

The Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience began as a spontaneous lineup supporting a food bank fundraiser in Huddersfield. Since then, Fulgoni and his band have performed at numerous blues festivals, from Colne Blues to Blues Alive in the Czech Republic, and have built a reputation as a sought-after live act. The band’s lineup features rising guitar talent Jacob Beckwith, alongside the rhythm section of bassist Rory Wells and drummer Zebedee Sylvester, with Sam Bolt on piano. Together, they deliver a distinctive blend of original tracks and classic covers, including “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” and “Midnight Train.”

For fans of soulful, energetic blues, don’t miss Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience this Friday at Tenby Blues Festival. More information and music are available on Spotify, Bandcamp, and other platforms.

Track Listing:

  1. Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
  2. Drifter
  3. Keep The Blues Alive
  4. Midnight Train
  5. Bleeding Heart
  6. Lady Day & John Coltrane
  7. Confusion Blues
  8. The Thrill Is Gone
  9. Stickin’ the Knife in Blues

For press inquiries, contact Matt at Chocolate Fireguard on 07974 675244 or email [email protected].

For more updates, follow Pat Fulgoni Blues Experience on Facebook @patfulgonibluesexperience or explore their latest releases on Bandcamp.

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