News

Councillors covet retractable fountain

Published

4 years ago

March 9, 2022

Carli Newell

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.

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

6 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Health

Medicine shortages now ‘most severe on record’, health leaders warn

Published

6 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PATIENTS are facing some of the worst medicine shortages ever seen in the UK, with pharmacists warning the situation now poses a serious risk to safety.

The National Pharmacy Association said shortages affecting commonly used medicines are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and causing increasing disruption for patients, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

The warning comes as Serious Shortage Protocols for Creon, used by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help digest food, have been in place since May 2024 and have now been extended until July 10, 2026.

HRT treatment Estradot has also been under a Serious Shortage Protocol since December 2024, with the current extension also running until July 10.

Patients travelling between pharmacies

A survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 98 per cent of pharmacies had encountered patients who had visited several pharmacies in one day to find a prescription.

It also found that 96 per cent of pharmacies believed the current situation posed a serious risk to patient safety, while 89 per cent said they had been unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day because of supply problems.

Some pharmacy teams have also faced anger and abuse from patients unable to obtain medication.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.

“These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced.

“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”

Calls for urgent taskforce

The NPA is calling on the government to convene an emergency taskforce involving manufacturers, wholesalers, clinicians and pharmacists.

It also wants changes to rules which currently stop pharmacists from making simple substitutions, such as changing a tablet to a capsule or a cream to an ointment, even where a safe alternative is available.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said medicine shortages were frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists, and added pressure to already stretched services.

She said the College supported pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions where a medicine is unavailable and a safe alternative exists.

She added: “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Pancreatic Cancer UK have also raised concerns about the impact of shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on people who rely on the medication to digest food, maintain weight and stay well enough for treatment.