News
Two hundred at County Hall Bryn protest
A PROTEST by local union members at Pembrokeshire County Council has been held at County Hall, Haverfordwest. The unions say they are protesting at leadership under Mr Parry-Jones, the chief executive.
The unions are also calling for the council CEO to be suspended while Gloucester police investigate his pension arrangements.
Unison branch secretary Vic Dennis told The Herald: “We organised a ballot very quickly, as a result of the reopening of the police investigation, and within a week we got over a 50% return on the ballot, during a peak holiday period, and 98% of those that returned said they had no confidence in the chief officer of this council.”
He added: “We want the county council to deal with what’s happening at the top fairly and equitably, the same as all our members who come to work every day, We expect fairness. We’re not looking for special treatment.”
Around two hundred people took part in the protest. A number of councillors were present including, Cllrs Paul Miller, Jonathan Nutting, Reg Owens, Rhys Sinnet, Alison Lee, Gwilym Price, Tony Wilcox and Stephen Joseph.
Asked why he was out supporting the protest, Cllr Tony Wilcox said: “I’m out here with a few hundred people because it’s time for a change. It seems hard to believe that a guy, who is in complete control of everything, can be responsible for nothing at all when it goes wrong.”
He added: “The very least he should do is stand down voluntarily until such as time as the enquiry has run its course. The Carmarthen chief executive did stand down but ours never did and he’s not going to now, he’s just completely immune and out of touch with everything. This is Pembrokeshire sadly; it’s not a nice place to be. We’re losing staff left right and centre for all sorts of reasons”.
Cllr Gwilym Price told The Herald: “I feel very strongly that Bryn Parry-Jones should have been listening to the people a long time ago and listening to us councillors that he has the moral duty to stand aside whilst he’s being investigated and that he should pay back the money.
“At a time of austerity when our people, our workers, who work very hard, had to lose money, anything up to £5000, it’s a bit obscene for him to collect all that money and have a huge amount of money to defend his position which we fought was really untenable.
“Most of all, this is my opportunity to say what I really feel about the people who are supporting him, these are elected members, I’m an elected member and I hope that I’m honest enough to represent my constituents, but as long as we have the IPG group who are like nodding donkeys, who will support the Bryn Parry-Jones’ of this world, then he is sitting pretty.
“He’s got a little cocoon around him, he tells them what to say and they say it and they vote that way and I find that disgusting. I have as much disgust for those for keeping him there as I do for the man who is taking this money”.
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Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
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Jonathan nutting
August 8, 2014 at 4:09 pm
Actually I was there too. I wanted to stand with the ordinary workers who feel let down. If we have rules and expectations then they should be equally applie to all 🙁
Frank
August 8, 2014 at 9:30 pm
This man is tainted by his own arrogant disregard for the people who pay his wages. Remember, he is a public servant, like every single one of the people working in County Hall, and as such, they are all equal.(Even though the “lesser mortals” can apparently be reprimanded for giving him the courtesy of a cheery “good morning”!) They are all there for us, not the other way round. Why is he still there?
Tomos
August 9, 2014 at 5:50 pm
I wrote to PCCs HR Dept asking them whether they had a standard operating procedure for when a member of staff is being investigated by Police for an alleged illegal action committed whislt acting as a PCC employee.
The reply I was given that each case is looked at independently . so NO standard procedure.
Would any PCC employees like to confirm or deny that?
Maybe I should ask again but this time under the Freedom of Information Act?