Community
Everyone is welcome to the latest Community Open Day at Milford Haven mosque
FOLLOWING the wonderful success of the open days at Milford Haven mosque on September 10 and 11, Milford Haven’s Islamic community has decided to open the doors once again to those who missed the event due to the death of The Queen, and of course to everyone who came last time who would like to pop in again.
Everyone is welcome from all over Pembrokeshire and beyond – this is not only a Milford Haven event – The Herald has been told.
The Mosque said it understands that some people stayed at home following the loss of The Sovereign, and others may have thought that the event had been cancelled, as many events across the UK had been cancelled during that weekend.
The next open day will take place on Sunday October 2 and the venue will be open between 12pm to 5pm.
During the Open Day there will be an exhibition of Islam, and food will be provided for guests.
There is no need to book if you would like to attend, and women are respectfully requested to consider their dress is appropriate when attending the mosque.
DEFINITION OF ISLAM
A way of life that leads to peace by keeping the commandments to attain submission to the one and only God.
In Islam belief in the one and only God is fundamental. Associating anyone or anything else with God is a mortal sin.
THE DEFINITION OF A MUSLIM
A Muslim is a person who believes in the religion of his father Abraham, believing in the one and only God and in all the prophets and messengers. A Muslim is one who submits his will to the will of God.
WHO IS ALLAH
It is the proper name for God in Arabic.
Christians whose mother tongue is Arabic refer to God as Allah.
WHAT MUSLIMS BELIEVE
Muslims believe in all the Prophets from Adam through to Moses and Jesus; they believe Muhammad is the last Prophet sent by God to mankind.
WHO IS MUHAMMAD
He is the descendant of Ishmael son of Abraham.
Prophesised by:
-Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord thy God will raise up on to thee a prophet from the midst of thee of thy brethren like unto me unto him ye shall harken”.
-Jesus in the Gospel of John 14:15-16 “if you love me keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter”.
WHO GAVE THE MESSAGE TO MUHAMMAD.
Angel Gabriel visited Muhammad over a period of twenty-three years revealing the Quran in stages.
The same Angel Gabriel who announced to Mary that she was to have a holy son named Jesus.
THE MESSAGE OF GOD THROUGH MUHAMMAD IS THE QURAN
The Quranic message is the same as the message of all the prophets sent by God.
That message is to believe in the one and only God and his prophets or Messengers.
For example,
– Deuteronomy; the message of Moses in 6:4 “Hear O’Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one”.
-The Gospel of Mark; we find the message of Jesus, “Hear O’Israel the Lord your God is one God”.
-The Quran chapter 112 “Say He Allah, Allah the Eternal, Absolute’.
WHO DOES THE QURAN ADDRESS
The Quran addresses:
-Mankind, stating that the Quran is a mercy to all mankind.
The Quran also states that Muhammad is a mercy to all mankind.
Most of mankind have not read the Quran, yet God addresses them directly and indirectly.
-The scientific community to include embryologists, oceanologists, astrologers and others.
-People of different beliefs:
Addressing the Jews, as “Children of Israel” and the Christians as “people of the Gospel” and others.
THE MUSLIM RELIGION
When addressing Muslims in Chapter twenty-two, the Quran informs the Muslims that their religion is the religion of their father Abraham who did not join gods with God.
Abraham’s religion was belief in one God.
In Chapter three the Quran informs mankind that Abraham was not a Jew nor a Christian, for neither Moses nor Christ had appeared.
The Quran informs us that Abraham was a man true in faith and submitted his will to the will of God.
THE STORY OF ABRAHAM BEING ASKED TO SACRIFICE HIS SON
The Bible and the Quran tell the story of how Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son.
Abraham submitted to the one and only God and God replaced his son with a lamb.
ABIDING BY THE COMMANDMENTS
Abiding by the commandments is submission.
The Quran instructs Muslims to obey Allah and obey his messenger.
This is the same as The Old Testament at Genesis 26:5 “Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”
In the Gospel of John, Jesus informs his followers at 14: 15 “If you love me keep my commands”.
Matthew 5:17 “do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them”.
Quran 5:46 “and in their footsteps (that is the footsteps of earlier prophets) we sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the law that came before him, We sent him the Gospel; therein was guidance and a light and a confirmation of the law that had come before him; a guidance and an admonition for those who guard against evil”.
PEACE/SALAM
The word Islam comes from the same root letters as the word peace. Thus, submission to the will of Allah brings about a state of peace by way of submission.
CONCLUSION
Muslims believe in:
-God.
-the same God who Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus believed in.
-that Muhammad is the last and final prophet.
-the commandments of all the prophets from Adam to Muhammad.
-the day of Judgement.
Community
Rent in Pembrokeshire rises 7% over past year
NEW figures reveal that private rental costs in Pembrokeshire have climbed by 7% in the past year, with the average monthly rent reaching £625 in October. This is a significant increase from £582 a year earlier and represents a 22% rise over the past five years, where the average rent was estimated at £511.
The data, collected by Rent Officers Wales as part of the Housing and Regeneration Division, highlights growing pressure on tenants amidst rising costs. The collection aims to cover approximately 15% of the rental market by gathering data from landlords and letting agents.
Across Wales, the average monthly rent has risen 8% year-on-year to £766. Cardiff recorded the highest rental cost in the country at £1,062 per month, while Powys had the lowest at £556.
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, commented on the challenges faced by renters in a press statement sent to The Pembrokeshire Herald. She said: “Getting good news about your rent is about as common as discovering your housemates have washed up for you, or your landlord suggesting you get a dog. For many, the only way out of the endless cycle of rising costs is to buy, but that’s far easier said than done when rents absorb so much of your income.”
The situation is compounded by a lack of available rental properties. Nathan Emerson, chief executive at Propertymark, explained: “As we continue to see further increases in rental prices across the UK, our members emphasize the lack of rental stock versus an ever-growing number of tenants. Selling up or turning to the short-term letting market has become a more attractive option for landlords due to challenging legislative changes and increased financial liabilities.”
Breakdown of Rental Costs in Pembrokeshire
The figures show a range of costs depending on property type and size in Pembrokeshire:
– A one-bedroom property: £462 per month
– A two-bedroom property: £576 per month
– A three-bedroom property: £732 per month
– Homes with four or more bedrooms: £934 per month
By property type:
– Detached houses: £768 per month
– Semi-detached houses: £653 per month
– Terraced houses: £629 per month
– Flats or maisonettes: £521 per month
In October, the average rent for private properties across Great Britain stood at £1,307 per month—up 9% compared to the same period last year. This equates to an increase of £105 per month.
As landlords adapt to changing regulations and financial pressures, the shortage of rental properties continues to push prices higher, creating further challenges for tenants across Pembrokeshire and beyond.
Climate
Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine
A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.
The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.
In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.
“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”
In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.
The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”
In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.
In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.
2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.
The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”
The application will be considered by planners at a later date.
Community
Council warns of icy conditions as temperatures drop
ROAD users in Pembrokeshire are being urged to exercise caution tonight as temperatures are forecast to dip below freezing.
Pembrokeshire County Council has announced that road surface temperatures could reach as low as -2°C, with the possibility of sleet or snow on higher ground. In response, precautionary salting of the county’s primary routes will be carried out this evening and overnight.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Road users are advised to take care if travelling on untreated roads.”
Motorists are reminded to plan ahead and drive carefully, particularly in areas that may not have been treated.
Stay tuned to The Herald for updates on road conditions and weather warnings.
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