THOUSANDS of voters across Pembrokeshire will head to the polls on today to have their say on who they want to represent their local area for the next five years.

The election will determine who will lead Pembrokeshire County Council, which is responsible for a large number of vital services for people and businesses such as rubbish collection, managing schools, providing social care and housing to name just a few.

There is no election in 19 council wards due to those seats being uncontested. Pembrokeshire has the second highest number of uncontested council seats in Wales, after Gwynedd. People in those wards have received a letter from the council explaining there is no election in their areas.

Some people have already had the chance to cast their vote in today’s election via a postal vote.

For everyone else, polling stations will open across the county opened at 7am and, they will remain open for fifteen hours – closing at 10pm.

For the first time, those aged 16-17 will be able to take part and vote in the local government election.

EU citizens are permitted to vote in the election.

Some people could have two votes, for example if they live in two Local Authority areas (for example students or because of work).

Voters will get a ballot paper to select which candidates they want to back.

If there is more than one councillor in a ward (Dual seat ward) voters will get more than one vote.

It is first past the post, so the winners in the ward are the candidates who win the most votes.

HOW TO VOTE

Polling stations will open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

You don’t need your poll card to vote.

You must vote at your assigned polling station.

If you are registered to vote, but you don’t have your poll card, you can go to the polling station and give them your name and address.

In Wales, you don’t need any form of ID.

Once the polls close ballot boxes will be delivered to The Parkhouse Centre, Withybush Showground, Haverfordwest in preparation of the count which will start at 9am on Friday.

It is estimated first Council ward declaration will be at around 10am, the full council declaration is estimated at 2pm.

DYFED-POWYS POLICE’S new Chief Constable, Dr Richard Lewis, marks his return to force with a Saturday nightshift back on the streets of Aberystwyth, where he first began his policing career.

Announced as Police & Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn’s preferred candidate to lead the force following the retirement of Mark Collins earlier this year, Dr Lewis has served as the Chief Constable in Cleveland since April 2019.

Originally from Carmarthenshire, his career in the police service started in 2000. During his 18 years in Dyfed-Powys Police he served in every rank up to Deputy Chief Constable, working in all four counties in the force. He has also been the head of the professional standards department and chaired the Wales Counter Corruption Working Group.

Speaking ahead of his return home, Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis shared a message with the organisation about his intentions for Dyfed-Powys Police, and the importance of giving our communities and the workforce a voice in shaping those plans for the future.

He said: “Since my appointment, I’ve heard so many tell me that there’s no reason why Dyfed-Powys Police can’t be an outstanding organisation and public service for our communities – I couldn’t agree more, but the time has come to stop asserting what we could be, and push on harder to always improve. The first step to doing so is to consult on priorities, and I will do this during my first 100 days; not forgetting that we must also work to deliver the PCCs Police & Crime Plan, in itself develop through consultation with our communities.

“My aim in spending my first shift back in force, out on the streets with our frontline colleagues is because I want to see it as it is and hear it as it is. I want the truth and I want challenge.”

The Chief’s plan to consult both within and outside of the organisation takes him through until late March, at which point the hoped-for rich picture of where Dyfed-Powys Police goes next and the plan to deliver the vision will be put into place.

Dr Lewis continued: “Once we agree on priorities, we will relentlessly pursue them as a single team, with clarity and focus. Prioritising some things means admitting that other things, whilst important, are not top of our agenda.

“However, consulting cannot mean that our work grinds to a halt in the meantime – the rhythm of an organisation requires work to continue apace.

“When we’ve set our priorities and decided how we will measure progress, we will not set targets but simply aim to be better every single day. We will not define ourselves against the results of others, but aim to continuously improve.”

A YOUNG CHILD has been tragically killed in a vehicle collision on private land near Clynderwen, the police have confirmed.

A spokesperson for the police told The Pembrokeshire Herald on Wednesday (Aug 4) “Dyfed-Powys Police was alerted to a collision involving a vehicle and a child at a private property in the Clynderwen area at approximately 7pm on Tuesday, August 3.

“Sadly, a three-year-old boy died at the scene.

“An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing and the family is being supported by specialist officers.

“The Health and Safety Executive and HM Coroner have been informed. Nobody else was injured.”

The Herald understands that the incident involves an agricultural vehicle.