Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

News

Pembrokeshire Conservatives launch local election campaign

Published

on

AHEAD of Pembrokeshire County Council elections, Pembrokeshire Conservatives have launched their election campaign outside County Hall in Haverfordwest.

A total of 26 candidates are contesting 25 wards across the county standing on a platform of keeping council tax rates low, improving education provision in the county and rebuilding the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Conservative group were the biggest political grouping on the last council with eleven members and have hopes to increase their numbers at the elections on Thursday May 5th.

The candidates come from a range of backgrounds and ages, from barbers and estates agents, through to a former police officer and a retired teacher.

Commenting following the launch, Cllr David Howlett who has been re-elected unopposed to the Wiston ward, said:

“These elections are hugely important as they will help to shape the direction of our County for the next five years.”

“As we emerge from the pandemic, now more than ever we need a County Council that’s led with a clear vision, based on common values.”

“Over the last five years the Cabinet of Pembrokeshire County Council has consisted of a mishmash of Independents, Labour, Plaid Cymru and a Liberal Democrat.”

“Since 2018, your Council Tax has risen by a staggering 36%, education services have been branded by Estyn as “causing significant concern”, and over £200,000 of your money has been spent paying off the former Council Chief Executive – a move which Audit Wales deemed “unlawful”.

“A vote for your local Welsh Conservative candidate on May 5th will send a clear message that things must change – we need a culture of transparency, accountability and openness in County Hall.”

“Our candidates are all hardworking local champions, embedded in their communities. Now’s our chance to work with our Members of Parliament and the Senedd to deliver for the people of Pembrokeshire.”

PICTURED ABOVE: Some of the Welsh Conservative candidates with supporters at the Campaign Launch outside County Hall, Haverfordwest (Image: Handout)

News

Wales tourism tax: £1.25 levy proposed from 2027

Published

on

A NEW tourism tax of £1.25 per person per night could be introduced in Wales starting April 2027, following the publication of draft legislation by the Welsh government. The levy, applicable to hotels, B&Bs, and self-catered accommodation, would be charged per person, including children. A reduced rate of 75p would apply to stays in hostels and campsites.

The Welsh government argues the levy will raise approximately £33m annually, supporting services and infrastructure in tourism hotspots. Funds raised will be ring-fenced for projects such as promoting tourism, improving visitor services, and supporting the Welsh language. However, the plans have sparked criticism from opposition parties and industry groups, who warn the tax may deter tourists and harm Wales’ vital tourism sector.

Industry concerns

The tourism sector, employing 159,000 people—nearly 12% of Wales’ workforce—has expressed concerns about the impact of the levy on visitor numbers. Critics, including the Wales Tourism Alliance, argue there is no guarantee the revenue will enhance the visitor experience, potentially making Wales less attractive compared to neighboring regions without similar taxes.

The Welsh Conservatives oppose the measure, calling it a “barrier to tourism” and warning of increased costs for families and additional bureaucracy for small businesses. Shadow Minister for Finance Peter Fox stated: “This tax is the wrong one for Wales and the wrong one for our tourism industry.”

How it works

The levy will not apply to stays of more than 31 nights or to individuals in temporary accommodation or homeless hostels. The tax will also require providers of short-term accommodations, such as Airbnbs, to register under a licensing scheme set to be introduced through additional legislation before 2026.

Councils adopting the levy must consult stakeholders and provide 12 months’ notice before implementing or increasing the charge. While the levy is optional for local authorities, it is expected to be a divisive issue among councils. Some may view it as a means to generate revenue for improving tourism infrastructure, while others may fear it could drive visitors to neighboring regions without the tax.

Broader context

Visitor levies are not new; countries worldwide employ similar systems to fund local services and improve tourist destinations. Welsh Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford defended the plan, saying, “It’s fair visitors contribute towards local facilities, helping to fund infrastructure and services integral to their experience.”

Cardiff Council has indicated interest in exploring fiscal powers like the levy as part of its broader strategy to invest in the tourism sector. Meanwhile, critics remain skeptical, with some calling for clearer commitments on how funds will be spent to ensure the levy provides tangible benefits for tourists and communities alike.

Next steps

For the tax to take effect, the proposed legislation must pass through the Senedd. If approved, councils will have discretion over implementation, ensuring any decision is tailored to local priorities and needs.

Whether this initiative strengthens Wales’ position as a leading destination or creates obstacles for the tourism industry remains a point of contention.

Continue Reading

News

Storm Bert aborts Pembrokeshire lifeboat in search for missing person

Published

on

A major sea search got underway on Sunday evening following reports of a missing person in the sea off Rhossili.

Tenby Lifeboat received a call shortly after 11 pm on Sunday, November 24 from the coastguards, requesting the crew’s assistance.

“The volunteer crew was soon on the water and got to Rhossili in extremely rough seas as a result of Storm Bert,” commented a spokesperson for the Tenby crew

“The crew was requested to search around Worm’s Head using lights and night vision equipment.”

But after searching the coastline for around two hours, the crew was forced to stand down.

“It soon became obvious that the conditions were too rough for the lifeboat to get in close enough to be of any assistance, so with the lifeboat unable to safely provide assistance due to extremely rough seas, the crew stood down.”

Continue Reading

News

How local rum inspired by legendary pirate has exploded into national sensation

Published

on

When Jonathan Williams left his desk job in Swindon way back in 2010, his mission, to many, was impossible.

This is the man who hot-footed it back to Pembrokeshire to harvest seaweed from Freshwater West which he then used to create his multi award-winning ‘Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company.’

Using only choice produce sourced from the seas around Pembrokeshire, Jonathan’s innovative (and many would say courageous) idea began tickling the taste buds of some of the UK’s top chefs and food critics including James Martin who christened Williams as ‘the crazy seaweed man’.

Fast-forward seven years and once again Jonathan began honing yet another brain-storming idea, this time inspired by the mighty Bartholomew Roberts – otherwise known as Black Bart. After setting sail from his home in Little Newcastle at the age of 13, Bart gained notoriety as the most successful pirate in the ‘golden age of piracy’ who went on to raid 400 prize ships off the Americas and the West African coast between 1719 until his death from a wound to his throat, in 1722.

And so began Barti Spiced Rum.

“Everything was ticking along nicely at the Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company, and then in January 2017, Jonathan went off on paternity leave,” explained Barti Rum’s managing director, Fran Barnikel.

“Any normal person would have been busy changing nappies, but Jonathan, being the incredible entrepreneurial person that he is, came back to work saying, ‘Ok, I’m going to start a new company’.

“He’d read about Barti Ddu the pirate, and had always wanted to bring out a spiced rum in his honour.  So he’d spent his paternity leave investigating different distilleries and bottlers and slowly but surely, Barti Spiced Rum started to come to fruition.”

Because of Jonathan’s strong allegiance with Pembrokeshire seaweed, he knew from the outset that the natural product would be used in his rum.

“Jonathan wanted his rum to be vibrant in flavour, so the seaweed is infused, giving it a real depth of flavour and enhancing the other ingredients which include vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, orange and lemon,” said Fran.

The rum is distilled in the Caribbean and then exported to Cardiff where the Pembrokeshire seaweed along with the remaining ingredients are infused.

“Out first batch arrived in late summer and initially we sold only to people we knew,” continued Fran.

“But as time went on, we could see that there was definitely a market out there for expansion.

“Obviously there was a lot less niche for the rum as there had been for the seaweed, plus the gin market was picking up at the time.  But we could also see that the rum market was on the increase.  In many ways, it was perfect timing.  So we continued riding the wave.”

Jonathan and his team shun the rum purists who cite mixing it with coke or pepsi as sacrilege.

“All we want is for people to enjoy it,” said Fran.  “And this means drinking it exactly as they want.  If you want to add cola or ginger beer, that’s great.  But it’s also really good with cloudy apple juice and particularly now as we’re getting closer to Christmas, hot apple juice.”

Fran

The cream liqueur is also extremely versatile for cocktails, including the Manhattan, Mojito and Daiquiri.

Jonathan has steadfastly refused to add flavour varieties to his brand, adhering rigidly to the Barti Spiced.

“From the beginning, he wanted to create a strong product that would continue to do well, rather than dilute its vibrant flavour with other ingredients.”

But in Christmas 2023, Jonathan broke away from his rule by introducing a Barti Cream Liqueur.

“This was the first addition he’d ever introduced to the range and it was only supposed to last for the Christmas period.  But once again, because of the feedback we’ve received from our customers, we’ve kept it going and we’re now fully stocked for Christmas 2024.”

The Herald caught up with Fran as she travelled back to Pembrokeshire from Tesco’s headquarters in Welwyn Garden City, London.  Six weeks ago the company began selling their rum at a total of 58 Tesco stores throughout Wales, but the supermarket giant is now considering stocking Barti Spiced Rum throughout the whole of the UK.

Earlier this year, Barti Spiced Rum was named the best rum in the Great British Food Awards while the Barti Cream Liqueur has won eight separate awards in the World Drinks Awards including best in country, best new launch, and three golds awards in both the taste and design categories. 

One can’t help wondering, given the fact that eight years ago Barti Spiced Rum had yet to be given its first pouring, whether its success has come as a surprise.

““At the end of the day, Jonathan has that incredible ability to make everything work,” chuckled Fran.  “Everything that he captures tends to turn to gold.

“But we know that Barti Spiced Rum is a really strong product and something that’s very ‘Pembrokeshire-sentric’.  And the support we continue to get from the local cafes and pubs has been incredible and has really helped us to move forward.  The staff reach out, time and time again, with tasters and samples, and we know that they’re genuinely behind our brand.  And this is so important.  We are so grateful for everything they continue to do to support us.”

Continue Reading

News13 mins ago

Wales tourism tax: £1.25 levy proposed from 2027

A NEW tourism tax of £1.25 per person per night could be introduced in Wales starting April 2027, following the...

Community18 hours ago

Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed

RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just...

News1 day ago

Flooding wreaks havoc across large areas of Wales

FLOODING has wreaked havoc across large areas of Wales following relentless rainfall overnight and into this morning. Weather warnings remain...

Crime2 days ago

Detective Chief Inspector describes child’s death as ‘heartbreaking’

POLICE have described the death of seven-year-old Louis Linse at the hands of his mother as a “heartbreaking incident” that...

News2 days ago

Teenager’s death not linked to bullying or social media, says coroner

A “KIND, strong” teenager who tragically took her own life was not driven to her actions by bullying or social...

Crime3 days ago

Mother admits to killing seven-year-old son in Haverfordwest

A mother has admitted to the manslaughter of her seven-year-old son at their home in Haverfordwest, citing diminished responsibility. Papaipit...

Business4 days ago

Specsavers relocates to landmark new store following £1.2 million investment

HAVERFORDWEST will celebrate the opening of Wales’ largest Specsavers store on Monday 16 December 2024, following a transformative £1.2 million...

News4 days ago

Tribute paid to ‘kind and caring’ solicitor who died in crash

THE FAMILY of Emily Thornton-Sandy, a 30-year-old woman from Pontarddulais who tragically lost her life following a collision, have paid...

News4 days ago

Teachers were ‘absolutely horrible’ to a girl who died after cyber-bullying

A 14-YEAR-OLD girl who died following a harrowing cyberbullying campaign was “let down at every possible opportunity” by her school,...

Health5 days ago

NHS staff at risk during pandemic due to PPE issues, Covid Inquiry hears

NHS staff in Wales may have put their health at risk during the Covid-19 pandemic by treating patients without adequate...

Popular This Week