News
Plans submitted for new solar farm
VOGT Solar and Solafields, have submitted plans for a 10.8MW solar farm at Yerbeston Gate Farm, Yerbeston, to Pembrokeshire County Council.
The solar farm, proposed for a site located west of the A4075, would sit on 18.6 hectares (45 acres) of land and would generate enough renewable energy for approximately 3,000 homes.
Leaflets were sent to more than 100 properties in Cresselly, Loveston, Yerbeston and Carne; and made available in the Yerbeston Gate Farm Shop. Eleven comments were received, with 100% support for the project.
Paul Holmes-Ling of Vogt Solar says: “Although the level of feedback we received was fairly low, we are very pleased with the support shown for the solar farm. The site at Yerbeston Gate is well screened by woodland and hedgerows so will have a minimal visual impact. Also, the solar farm will help the farm to diversify their business and be more sustainable.
“We will be planting the land around the solar panels with wildflowers to encourage biodiversity, which will attract insects, birds and bees; and will be grazed by sheep. This way, the land can remain in agricultural use whilst green energy is being generated.”
Hedgerows and trees bordering the site would be enhanced to improve existing and provide new habitats. Hedgehog homes and bird and bat boxes would also be introduced to the site.
Mr Holmes-Ling continued: “Should the solar farm go ahead, we will work closely with Jeffreyston Community Council and relevant stakeholders to explore the ways in which the proposal could benefit the local community as a whole.”
Renewable energy schemes, such as the proposed solar farm, are strongly supported by both UK and European policy. The project will make a valuable contribution to the UK’s energy targets of producing 15% of the energy we need from renewable sources by 2020.
Pembrokeshire County Council will now consider the planning application and members of the public can view details and submit their comments via the website athttp://planning.pembrokeshire.gov.uk citing planning application reference 13/0501/PA.
If approved, the solar farm would take around eight to 10 weeks to build. The solar farm would be temporary, and would be decommissioned after 30 years.
Community
Second Milford Haven webcam launched after 1.3m views and US TV feature
Twin live feeds from Herald roof now showcase both marina and Milford Haven Waterway
A SECOND live webcam overlooking Milford Haven has gone live from the roof of 11 Hamilton Terrace — home of The Pembrokeshire Herald — expanding the town’s growing global digital footprint.
The original harbour-facing camera, streamed worldwide via EarthCam, has already clocked up more than 1,300,000 views. It even featured on ABC News in the United States, where the Milford Haven view was broadcast live ahead of a national weather forecast.
That first stream — listed on EarthCam as “Wales Waterway” — looks across Milford Marina and the busy lower reaches of the Haven, capturing ferry departures, commercial shipping, leisure craft and the changing light across the Pembrokeshire skyline.
Now, a second camera has been added, offering a complementary perspective further up the Milford Haven Waterway towards the Cleddau.
A global window on Wales’ largest port
The new feed captures daily activity along the largest port in Wales — from the twice-daily Wales–Ireland ferry sailings to petroleum, oil and gas tankers moving more than 60 million tonnes of cargo each year. Thousands of smaller vessels, from yachts to powerboats, also pass through the Waterway annually.
Together, the two cameras provide twin live perspectives of one of the UK’s most strategically significant maritime corridors.

As dawn broke over Milford Haven this morning, the Waterway lay still beneath a clear sky, the first light spilling across rooftops and masts before stretching out over the wide expanse of the Haven.
From the vantage point of Hamilton Terrace, the scene felt both intimate and expansive — a quiet town waking gently while a major working port prepared for another day of movement and industry.
It is moments like these that help explain the worldwide appeal of the EarthCam streams. Viewers tuning in from across the UK, Europe and North America are not simply watching ships pass; they are witnessing the rhythm of tide and trade, the sweep of weather systems, and the subtle beauty of West Wales unfolding in real time.
From dramatic winter steam plumes rising from power station chimneys to calm summer sunsets over the marina, Milford Haven’s live feeds have become a constantly changing digital canvas.
Watch live
Original harbour view (1.3 million+ views):
https://www.earthcam.com/world/uk/wales/?cam=waleswaterway
New up-the-Waterway view:
https://www.earthcam.com/world/uk/wales/?cam=waleswaterway2
The Herald hopes the second camera will prove just as popular — continuing to put Milford Haven on the global map, one sunrise at a time.

News
Welsh rugby faces ticket slump as Six Nations sales stall
WALES’ Six Nations campaign is facing an unexpected off-field challenge, with thousands of seats still empty for upcoming home fixtures at Cardiff’s 74,000-capacity Principality Stadium.
Figures from the Welsh Rugby Union ticketing platform show significant availability remains for all three remaining championship games in the capital. The shortfall is most noticeable for March’s meeting with Italy, while seats are also still on sale for clashes with France and Scotland.
For a tournament traditionally regarded as the crown jewel of the Welsh sporting calendar, such availability is unusual. Home internationals in Cardiff have long been considered near-guaranteed sell-outs.\

Grassroots clubs counting the cost
Several community clubs allocated ticket packages are now scrambling to avoid financial losses.
Some club officials have taken to social media to try to shift surplus tickets. Others say they are facing invoices for thousands of pounds despite not selling their full allocations.
One grassroots representative told The Herald that unsold tickets could leave his club thousands of pounds out of pocket — a significant blow for volunteer-run organisations already balancing tight budgets.
Matchday prices range broadly depending on seating category, with some fans questioning whether the cost of attending still represents value for money.
Performance and politics
On-field struggles have coincided with uncertainty off it.
Wales endured a prolonged losing streak before breaking the run last summer and have not lifted the Six Nations title since 2023. A heavy opening defeat in this year’s championship has done little to restore confidence among supporters.
Away from results, tensions remain over the future structure of the professional regional game, with debate continuing about funding, governance and the long-term direction of Welsh rugby.
Sports economist Calvin Jones said sustained under-capacity crowds would be concerning, noting that international gate receipts form a major part of the sport’s financial model in Wales.
“The stadium is critical to the game’s financial health,” he has previously warned. “If reduced attendances became a trend rather than a one-off, that would raise serious questions.”
WRU confident of late surge
The Welsh Rugby Union insists supporter loyalty remains strong and says sales have accelerated since the tournament began.
Officials point to changing purchasing habits, with more fans buying closer to matchday rather than months in advance.
They remain confident that the atmosphere in Cardiff will remain vibrant when France visit, with hopes that traditional matchday traditions — from the anthem to the post-match celebrations — will continue to draw supporters through the gates.
Lowest crowds?
Historically, Six Nations matches in Cardiff have rarely dipped far below capacity. The lowest attendance in the tournament at the Principality Stadium came against Italy in 2002, while recent fixtures have generally drawn well over 60,000 spectators.
Whether the current dip reflects temporary frustration or a deeper shift in supporter behaviour may become clearer by the end of the championship.
For now, Welsh rugby finds itself fighting for momentum — both on the pitch and in the stands.
Local Government
Hakin byelection set for March following death of Cllr Mike Stoddart
A BYELECTION for Pembrokeshire County Council’s Hakin ward will take place next month following the death of long-serving councillor Mike Stoddart.
Cllr Stoddart, described as a “fearless campaigner for truth and justice”, passed away on January 4. He had represented Milford Haven’s Hakin ward since first being elected in 2004 and served the community for more than two decades.
His wife, Vivien Stoddart, represents Hubberston on the county council, while his daughter, Tessa Hodgson, represents Lamphey and currently serves as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

Well known for his forthright style, Cllr Stoddart built a reputation for challenging perceived failings and injustices within local government. Before entering politics, he co-founded the Milford Mercury newspaper with his family. In later years, he continued scrutinising council affairs through his widely read Old Grumpy website.
Paying tribute, Pembrokeshire County Council Leader Cllr Jon Harvey said: “Mike was the prime example of what someone in local politics should be – working for and demanding better for his constituents.
“Mike was unashamedly forthright. He would argue his corner with conviction and always with facts on his side.
“He has kept me and many predecessors as leader firmly on our toes. The chamber and Pembrokeshire as a whole will be much poorer for his loss.”
Cllr Jacob Williams, a friend and fellow blogger, described him as leaving “a formidable legacy”.
“I was first elected to the council with Mike in 2012, and he’s been an enormous part of my life ever since. To say he was my mentor wouldn’t do him justice – I couldn’t have wished for a better friend, and I’ll miss him dearly,” he said.
If the Hakin seat is contested, the election will be held on March 17. Nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer at County Hall, Haverfordwest by 4:00pm on February 18.
Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by midnight on February 27.
The Hakin contest follows the recent Fishguard North-East byelection, held on February 10 after the death of Cllr Jordan Ryan. That seven-way contest was won by Plaid Cymru candidate Billy Shaw with 253 votes.
Full results were: Caleb Charles Churchill (Welsh Liberal Democrats) 135; Paul Stephen Howe (Welsh Labour) 83; Peter Martin John (Reform UK) 95; Brian Andrew Murphy (Welsh Conservative Party) 69; Teresa Ruth Tannahill (Independent) 79; Adrian John Adrian Tyrrell (Independent) 35; and William Cuthbert Linton Shaw (Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales) 253.
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