News

LIVE UPDATES: Election results day in Pembrokeshire

Published

4 years ago

May 6, 2022

James Hemingray

THE people of Pembrokeshire have had their say and the count will soon get underway in Haverfordwest.

There have been a number of changes to electoral wards for this election and it will deliver a new-look council.

Despite its new look there will still be similar issues for them to deal with like the council’s budget, Covid and education.

19 seats have been uncontested but there are still 40 wards which will be decided today and we will update this article as and when results come in.

There will also be results for Town and Community Council elections announced.

The sun was out for voting day on Thursday (May 5) giving residents the perfect chance to go out and cast their vote. Some wards were won by only a couple of votes in 2017 so every vote counts.

The article will be updated and results will appear below

15:50 That leaves us with 35 Independent councillors, 11 conservatives, 10 Labour, 2 Plaid Cymryu and 2 Liberal Democrats.

15:35 All 40 council wards have now been declared

15:33 Narberth Urban

Marc Tierney (Labour) 514

Victoria McAndrew 177

15:31 Saundersfoot South

James Bishop (Conservatives) 84

Mike Wainwright (Independent) 159

Chris Williams (Independent) 432

15:26 Boncath and Clydau

Hedd Harries (Plaid) 426

Iwan Ward (Independent) 464

15:24 Camrose

Jamie Adams (IPG) 537

Julian Rutter (Labour) 158

IPG HOLD

15:22 Haverfordwest Prendergast

Philippa Thompson (Labour) 276

Andrew Edwards (Conservatives) 391

15:20 Manorbier and Penally

Steve Thomas (Plaid) 171

Phil Kidney (Independent) 540

15:17 Milford North

Bill Abbott (Conservatives) 296

Alan Dennison (independent) 333

15:15 Pembroke Dock Central

Josh Beynon (Labour) 376

Rhian Cowen (Conservatives) 148

George Manning 60

Labour HOLD

15:13 Llanrhian

Neil Prior (Independent) 670

Rob Smith 65

Independent HOLD

15:10 Haverfordwest Garth

Jonathan Twigg (Conservatives) 119

Anji Tinley (Independent) 311

15:00 Still waiting on the results from the final 10 wards

Those wards are: Camrose, Haverfordwest Prendergast, Narberth Urban, Pembroke Dock Central, Haverfordwest Garth, Milford North, Saundersfoot South, Boncath, Manorbier and Llanrhian

Aled Thomas was elected to the Johnston ward by three votes

Simon Midway Rees (right) wins the Crymych and Mynachlog-ddu seat from Cris Tomos (left)

Bethan Price (right) wins the St Davids ward

14:25 Just ten more wards to be declared including Llanrhian, Manorbier and Boncath

14:17 David Lloyd only got in by 13 votes at the last election and he has now lost his seat

14:10 St Davids

Rachel Hurdley (Labour) 181

David Lloyd (Independent) 250

Keith Missen (Green) 43

Bethan Price 283

14:05 Crymych and Mynachlog-ddu

Cris Tomos (Plaid) 484

Simon Midway Rees (Independent) 561

Independent GAIN from Plaid

14:00 Burton

Danny Young (Conservatives) 399

Robin Howells 247

13:58 Pembroke Dock Bufferland

Billy Gannon (Independent) 64

Gordon Goff 76

Michelle Wiggins 240

13:56 Johnston

Daniel Metcalf (Labour) 226

Aled Thomas (Conservatives) 229

John Gray (Independent) 149

13:54 Lamphey

Tessa Hodgson (Independent) 466

Josh Carey (Conservatives) 147

13:52 Fishguard North East

Jordan Ryan (Labour) 399

Brian Murphy (Conservatives) 278

13:50 Milford West

Rhys Sinnett (Plaid) 325

Stephen Joseph (Independent) 146

Plaid HOLD

13:45 Goodwick

Nicola Gwynn (Labour) 354

Lynn Porter (Conservatives) 59

Peter John (Independent) 339

13:40 St Florence and St Mary Out Liberty

Rhys Jordan (Conservatives) 315

Jonathan Preston (Plaid) 242

Conservatives GAIN from Plaid

13:20 Lampeter Velfrey

David Simpson (Independent) 355

Lizzie Lesnianski (Conservatives) 176

Independent HOLD

13:10 The Herald understands that Jonathan Preston has lost his seat

Alec Cormack (right) wins the Amroth and Saundersfoot North ward from Tony Baron (left)

Milford Central: Tom Sinclair (left) and newly elected councillor Terry Davies (right)

Solva: Josh Phillips (left) and Mark Carter (right)

Steve Alderman (left) is re-elected to the Hundleton ward

Mike John is re-elected to the Llangwm ward having been unopposed at the last election

Mark Carter holds on to his seat in Solva by only 9 votes

12:45 Hundleton

Steve Alderman (Independent) 348

Julie Cooper (Independent) 264

12:43 Llangwm

Mike John (IPG) 466

Dave Golding 409

12:40 Carew and Jeffreyston

Peter Everall (Independent) 111

James Harrison-Allen (Independent) 173

Vanessa Thomas (Independent) 433

12:35 Solva

Josh Phillips (Labour) 373

Mark Carter (Conservatives) 382

Conservatives HOLD

12:25 Bro Gwaun

Bob Kilmister (Liberal Democrats) 310

Delme Harries 340

12:20 Milford Hakin

Lee Bridges (Conservatives) 125

Duncan Edwards (Independent) 176

Mike Stoddart (Independent) 286

Independent HOLD

12:17 Pembroke St Mary North

Deborah Willcocks (Conservative) 159

Jon Harvey (Independent) 404

Independent HOLD

12:15 Amroth & Saundersfoot North

Tony Baron (Conservatives) 256

Alec Cormack (Liberal Democrats) 466

Leigh McShane (Green) 78

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservatives

12:10 Milford Central

Anthony Powell (Conservatives) 135

Terry Davies (Independent) 147

Tom Sinclair (Independent) 109

Martin Jones (Independent) 102

12:05 Pembroke St Mary South

Daphne Bush (IPG) 227

Aaron Carey (Conservative) 364

Reg Ebrey (Independent) 159

David Edwards (Labour) 265

Lee Herring (Liberal Democrats) 88

Jonathan Grimes (Conservative) 293

Marcel Laval (Labour) 201

Jonathan Nutting 219

Aaron Carey and Jonathan Grimes are elected to the new dual-ward

12:00 Kilgetty and Begelly

Peter Adams (Plaid) 122

Chris Ebrey (Independent) 28

Paul Wyatt (Independent) 85

David Pugh (IPG) 115

Alistair Cameron (Liberal Democrats) 397

Greta Marshall (Propel) 14

Liberal Democrats GAIN from IPG

11:57 The Herald understands that sitting Cabinet member Bob Kilmister has lost his seat

Aden Brinn (Left) and new councillor Mel Phillips (right)

11:30 Aden Brinn was only elected in 2017 but he loses his seat to Mel Phillips

11:27 Maenclochog

Ben Levy (Labour) 177

Hefin Wyn (Plaid) 188

Simon Wright (Independent) 505

11:25 Pembroke St Michael

Aden Brinn (Conservatives) 375

Mel Phillips 418

32 rejected votes

11:15 Reg Owens is elected with a majority of 70 having been elected unopposed in 2017

11:10 St Ishmaels

Reg Owens (IPG) 326

Janie Harwood (Green) 116

Martyn Cheshire 256

Claire George 227

IPG HOLD

11:08 Newport and Dinas

Maya Donnelly (Plaid) 243

Huw Thomas 325

Jano Williams 279

Huw Thomas is elected to the new ward of Newport and Dinas

Sarah Harvey (Left) and Maureen Bowen (right): Maureen Bowen is elected to the Pembroke Dock Bush ward – Paul Dowson wasn’t present

11:00 Peter Morgan wins The Havens with an increased majority and Sam Skyrme-Blackhall is elected to the Tenby South ward which was previously held by Michael Evans

10:53 Tenby South

Paul Rapi (Plaid) 309

Sam Skyrme-Blackhall (Independent) 427

Independent GAIN

10:50 The Havens

Nick Neumann (Conservatives) 341

Peter Morgan (IPG) 486

IPG HOLD

10:47: Pembroke Dock Bush Ward

Maureen Bowen (Labour) 173

Sarah Harvey (Indep) 154

Paul Dowson (No declaration) 84

Labour GAIN

Returning officer Steven Richards-Downes declares the result for Haverfordwest Castle (Tom Tudor right; Sue McKeemam left)

10:27 Tom Tudor wins the Castle Ward with an increased majority from the 2017 election

10:25 – First result of the day: Haverfordwest Castle

Tom Tudor (Labour) – 531

Sue McKeemam (Conservatives) – 150

Labour HOLD

9:55 – 19 people will be elected unopposed, as no other person is standing against them. They are all already councillors at the present time.

Mike James – IPG
John Davies – IPG
Pat Davies – Independent
Michelle Bateman – Independent
David Howlett – Conservative
Steve Yelland – Conservative
David Bryan – Conservative
Tim Evans – Independent
John Cole – Independent
Simon Hancock – Rejoined Labour Group
Paul Miller – Labour
Guy Woodham – Labour
Viv Stoddart – Independent
Di Clements – Conservative
Elwyn Morse – IPG – Conservative Party Member
Jacob Williams – Independent
Mike Williams – Plaid
Brian Hall – IPG
Tony Wilcox – Labour

9:45 Results will be expected shortly from Maenclochog, Pembroke St Michael, Haverfordwest Castle, Kilgetty and Begelly, Pembroke Dock Bush, Tenby South, St Ishmaels, The Havens, Newport and Dinas Cross and the dual-member ward of Pembroke Monkton and St Mary South

9:40 Counts are underway for a number of wards

Community

Fire service sets out new flood response plan for Mid and West Wales

Published

18 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

AROUND 31,000 properties across Mid and West Wales are at risk of flooding, according to figures released as part of a new fire service response strategy.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has completed a major engagement process to shape how it deals with future flooding incidents.

The work brought together operational crews, partner agencies and community representatives through a series of “Flooding Balanced Room” workshops.

The service said the aim was to make sure all voices were heard equally while developing practical options for prevention, response and recovery.

Nearly 24,000 properties in the service area are at risk from river flooding, while more than 7,000 are at risk from tidal flooding.

The service attends around 300 water rescue and weather-related flooding incidents each year.

Officials say flooding is becoming more frequent and more serious because of climate change, including heavier rainfall and prolonged weather events.

Recent data also shows a clear seasonal pattern, with the highest number of flooding incidents taking place between October and February.

The third quarter of 2025/26 was the busiest for flooding incidents since 2017/18, while February 2020 and November 2025 recorded the highest monthly levels of flooding activity.

The workshops produced four key priorities: prevention first, collaboration and partnership, enhanced specialist capability, and learning and continuous improvement.

Eleven initial options were narrowed down to five main areas.

These include better public education, community flood groups, improved flood messaging with partner agencies, more staff training, improved welfare and PPE for firefighters, better vehicles and technology, and stronger post-incident support for communities.

Proposals include using flood awareness in home fire safety checks, improving training scenarios, increasing the number of qualified water incident managers, expanding drone use, and using climate data to plan future fleet and equipment needs.

The options have now been assessed, with recommendations presented to the service’s Executive Leadership Team.

The plans will feed into the service’s future flooding strategy and its Community Risk Management Plan 2040.

Iwan Cray, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The Flooding Balanced Room process has highlighted the importance of collaboration.

“By listening to our staff, partners, and communities, we’ve created practical, forward-thinking solutions that will strengthen our ability to prevent and manage flooding in Mid and West Wales.

“Together, we can build a safer, more resilient Wales.”

Crime

Trial of men accused of murdering Ian Watkins delayed

Published

34 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE TRIAL of two prison inmates accused of murdering former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has been delayed by a day.

Watkins, who was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences, died following an alleged attack at HMP Wakefield last October.

Rashid Gedel, 25, who has been referred to in court as Rico Gedel, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, were due to stand trial at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (May 5).

The case is now expected to begin on Wednesday (May 6).

Watkins was jailed in December 2013 for 29 years, with a further six years on licence, after admitting a series of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

He was arrested after police executed a drugs warrant at his home in Pontypridd on September 21, 2012. Officers seized computers, mobile phones and storage devices, which later revealed evidence of his offending.

Watkins had previously been taken to hospital after being attacked in prison in 2023.

In 2019, he was jailed for an additional ten months after being found guilty of possessing a mobile phone while in prison.

Charity

Home-Start Cymru highlights vital support for parents during Maternal Mental Health Week

Published

36 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CHARITY Home-Start Cymru is calling for greater awareness and support for parents facing mental health challenges during the early years of family life.

The appeal comes as Maternal Mental Health Week shines a spotlight on the emotional wellbeing of mothers and parents across Wales.

The charity is sharing the story of Naomi Durham, a mother of two who previously received support from Home-Start Cymru.

Naomi said that, while she appeared to be coping, she was privately struggling with postnatal depression, health issues and the pressure of raising two young children alone.

She said: “On the outside, I tried to look like I was coping, but inside things were falling apart.

“I was struggling with postnatal depression, managing my health, and raising two young children on my own. For a long time, it felt like nobody really knew how to help me.

“But when I was matched with a Home-Start Cymru volunteer, everything began to change. For the first time in a long while, I felt like someone truly saw me and listened to me, and that support made all the difference.”

Home-Start Cymru said Naomi’s experience showed the impact that early intervention and compassionate, community-based support can have on families.

The charity provides volunteer-led, one-to-one support for families with young children across Wales. Parents are matched with trained volunteers who offer practical and emotional support, helping to reduce isolation, build resilience and improve wellbeing.

A spokesperson for Home-Start Cymru said: “Too many parents feel they have to struggle alone, particularly during the early years when the pressures can be overwhelming.

“Naomi’s story shows just how important it is for families to feel seen, heard, and supported. Our volunteers play a crucial role in offering that lifeline.”

Maternal Mental Health Week is used to raise awareness of conditions such as postnatal depression and to encourage parents to seek help.