Part-time outdoor role available with April application deadline

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL is inviting applications for a part-time handyperson role focused on maintaining key public spaces across the town.

The council is seeking an individual who enjoys working outdoors, with duties including upkeep of amenities and outdoor areas at Milford Haven Cemetery and other locations within the town.

Applicants must hold a clean driving licence, and the successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check.

The position is offered on a three-day working week, with seven hours per day. The salary is set at £15,179.80 per annum, equivalent to £13.86 per hour. The council has indicated that some weekend work may be required to support civic events.

Anyone interested in applying is asked to request an application pack by emailing the Town Clerk at [email protected].

The closing date for applications is Wednesday (Apr 15), 2026.

Farmers urged to act as magnesium levels in grazing ewes fall

SHEEP farmers across Pembrokeshire are being warned of an increased risk of magnesium deficiency in lactating ewes this spring, following months of heavy winter rainfall.

The condition, known as grass tetany, can lead to reduced milk production and poor lamb performance if not addressed early.

Dr Alison Bond, Technical Services Manager at Rumenco, said wet conditions over the winter are likely to have depleted key minerals in grazing land.

She said: “Excessive rainfall can leach magnesium from soils, meaning levels in spring grass may be lower than usual. At the same time, fast-growing grass can dilute mineral content, increasing the risk of deficiency.”

Typical spring grazing may not provide enough magnesium to meet a ewe’s needs. A lactating ewe requires around 4g per day, but grass alone often supplies only half that amount.

Dr Bond warned that even before obvious symptoms appear, flocks may already be suffering hidden losses.

She said: “Reduced feed intake, lower milk yield, loss of condition and increased disease risk can all occur. By the time clinical signs are visible, the impact on productivity is already significant.”

Other seasonal factors, including late frosts and fertiliser use, can further limit magnesium uptake in grass.

Farmers are being advised to take preventative action by providing supplementary magnesium during high-risk periods.

Dr Bond said: “Routine supplementation is the most effective strategy. It helps prevent both sub-clinical losses and more serious cases of grass tetany.”

Magnesium can be provided through mineral blocks or buckets, which allow free access for grazing animals and require minimal labour.

With lambing season underway, farmers are being urged to monitor flocks closely and ensure nutritional needs are being met to protect both ewe health and lamb growth.

New chairman Scott Thorley launches volunteer drive ahead of May Senedd election

REFORM UK is moving quickly to build its presence in west Wales following its breakthrough win in the Hakin by-election, with newly elected councillor Scott Thorley announcing plans to mobilise supporters across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

Thorley, who was elected last week as Reform’s first representative on Pembrokeshire County Council, has now taken on the role of Chairman for the party’s Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion branch.

In a message sent to supporters, he said the party’s immediate focus is on preparing for the Senedd election on Thursday (May 7), with a strong emphasis on grassroots campaigning.

“Our top priority right now – and the single most important thing we can do – is to gather voter intentions,” he said.

“That means getting out there, knocking on doors, and simply asking people: ‘Who do you intend to vote for in May’s Senedd election?’”

Thorley said responses would be recorded using the party’s ReformGo app, allowing campaigners to identify supporters, target undecided voters and build momentum ahead of polling day.

Volunteer hubs planned across the region

As part of the strategy, Reform UK is setting up a network of local “volunteer hubs” across towns and rural areas, aimed at coordinating canvassing activity and sharing campaign resources.

In Pembrokeshire, proposed hub locations include Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, Pembroke, Tenby, Fishguard, Narberth, Neyland, Saundersfoot, Newport and St Davids.

Similar hubs are planned across Ceredigion, including Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter, Aberaeron and New Quay.

Smaller “village cluster” groups are also being organised, linking rural communities to nearby town hubs to support coordinated campaigning.

Thorley said the aim is to make canvassing “straightforward and well-organised”, with volunteers meeting in informal settings such as homes, cafés, village halls and public spaces.

Momentum after by-election win

The announcement comes just days after Thorley’s surprise victory in Hakin, where he secured 179 votes in a low-turnout contest.

His win marked a significant milestone for Reform UK locally, giving the party its first foothold on Pembrokeshire County Council.

Despite being a late and relatively low-profile candidate, Thorley emerged ahead of a crowded field, with the result widely seen as a sign of growing support for Reform in parts of west Wales.

The party now appears keen to capitalise on that momentum by expanding its ground operation ahead of the Senedd election.

Focus on data and doorstep campaigning

Central to the campaign strategy is the collection of voter data through direct engagement, with volunteers encouraged to log conversations and voting intentions in real time.

Thorley emphasised that “every door counts”, urging supporters to get involved and help build what he described as a stronger position for the party ahead of May.

The move reflects a broader shift towards more organised, data-driven campaigning at local level, with Reform seeking to translate its by-election success into wider electoral gains.

Further updates on the party’s local campaign activity are expected in the coming weeks.