News

One planet scheme to produce furniture and mushrooms in woods

Published

3 years ago

February 13, 2023

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A ONE PLANET DEVELOPMENT scheme to produce furniture and grow mushrooms in a Pembrokeshire wood is expected to get the go-ahead from planners next week.

The application for a smallholding at Cresselly Big Wood, Cresselly, has been submitted by Marcus Beck; it includes the construction of one dwelling, a workshop, barn, compost toilet, garden room, greenhouse, reed bed, pond and attenuation ponds with a parking area and internal tracks, within a five-year phased timescale.

Itis recommended for conditional approval by officers at the February 14 meeting of the planning committee.

It is planned to eventually offer open days and educational courses on site.

A report for planners states: “Employment of permaculture techniques and principles are proposed, to transform the woodland into a smallholding which specialises primarily in timber products and mushroom cultivation.”

The main enterprises are based around timber to make bespoke furniture and growing organic oyster mushrooms, with secondary enterprises relating to honey, charcoal, biochar, eggs, herbs and spices and training days, the report adds.

The scheme has been supported by local community councils Carew and Jeffreyston, with letters of support also received, along with letters of objection, including being out of character and a claimed impracticality of the application.

Planning permission was previously granted on March 1 of last year for a forestry building on the site, work on which has begun, which would form a wood storage building proposed as part of this application.

The report for committee members says the applicants currently produce 10 per cent of their own food needs from honey, eggs, preserves and fruit; growing food produce at a community garden in nearby Lawrenny.

“Based on the information provided it is considered that there is a possibility that the site could grow/rear at least 30 percent of food needs by year five, with the remaining 35 per cent bartered or purchased with income from the land based enterprises.

“Should the applicants cease to use the community garden for growing some of their food, their food needs could still be met from the application site alone.”

The application would be delegated to the head of planning to approve, subject to a string of conditions including a Section 106 agreement ensuring that the dwelling is tied to the land and that the applicants are the occupants of the site.

Crime

Man bailed after serious assault in Fishguard town centre

Published

48 minutes ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in Fishguard that has left a man in hospital.

The incident happened on Main Street at around 11:00pm on Saturday (Mar 21), when the victim was reportedly punched, sustaining head injuries. He remains in hospital receiving treatment.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed-Powys Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could assist the investigation, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference: 26*227686.

Information can be provided online via the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], by calling 101, or by sending a direct message on social media.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

News

Childcare funding boost announced in Wales

Published

1 hour ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Hourly rate to rise as costs increase

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has confirmed an increase in the hourly rate paid to childcare providers under its Childcare Offer, following a review of funding levels.

The Minister for Children and Social Care, DAWN BOWDEN MS, announced that the rate will rise to £6.67 per hour from April 6, 2026. The increase of 4.18% comes after feedback from childcare providers and sector data gathered during 2025.

The Welsh Government said the change is designed to help providers cope with rising costs, including increases to the National Living Wage.

The Herald understands the review drew on responses from the Childcare Offer’s Annual Survey, as well as information from Care Inspectorate Wales’ Self-Assessment of Service Statement (SASS).

The move follows a policy shift announced last year to review the rate annually, rather than every three years, in a bid to make funding more responsive to pressures facing the sector.

As part of the update, the maximum charge for meals will also increase by 4.18%, which ministers say is intended to balance affordability for both providers and parents.

Dawn Boden said the Welsh Government remains committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of childcare services, adding that officials will continue working with the sector to explore further improvements.

Health

Doctors say Wales is failing to value NHS staff over new pay award

Published

1 hour ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

BMA Cymru Wales accuses ministers of falling short on pay restoration as Welsh Government accepts DDRB recommendations for 2026-27

DOCTORS in Wales have accused the Welsh Government of failing to properly value NHS staff after ministers accepted this year’s independent pay recommendations for medical and dental professionals. The row centres on whether the award represents fair recognition for frontline staff — or yet another missed chance to reverse years of falling real-terms pay.

In a written statement published on Wednesday (Mar 25), Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said the Welsh Government had accepted the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body recommendations on headline pay for 2026-27. Under the decision, consultants, specialty and associate specialist doctors, resident doctors, dentists and locally employed doctors will receive a 3.5% consolidated uplift from April 1, 2026, while salaried dentists in Community Dental Services and the Public Dental Service will receive 3.75%.

But while the Welsh Government also said it accepted in principle a 3.5% uplift for contractor GPs and a 3.75% uplift to the pay element of dental contracts, ministers made clear that final decisions on how those increases are applied alongside wider contract changes would be left to the next government.

That has triggered an angry response from BMA Cymru Wales. In a press release issued on Wednesday, Dr Iona Collins, chair of the BMA’s Welsh Council, said ministers had “once again chosen to impose an award that falls short” of repeated promises to deliver full pay restoration for doctors employed by NHS Wales.

She said the award failed to reflect the “superhuman” efforts of doctors working under intense pressure and warned that inadequate pay would make it harder to retain staff in the Welsh NHS at a time when many are considering leaving for better pay and conditions elsewhere.

The BMA also raised concerns about general practice, saying GP pay had effectively been left hanging because the Cabinet Secretary linked the award to ongoing General Medical Services contract discussions with the incoming administration. The union said this left general practice “out in the cold” compared with other branches of the profession and called for urgent talks.

The Welsh Government said the award would apply from April 1 and added that wider DDRB recommendations not directly related to headline pay would be considered separately with partners. Ministers thanked NHS staff for their “ongoing dedication and hard work”.

The dispute is likely to reignite the wider argument over recruitment, retention and morale in NHS Wales, with doctors’ leaders insisting that pay restoration is no longer simply about reward, but about preventing more clinicians from walking away from the service.