News

Local activists will be in London for mass climate demonstration

Published

3 years ago

March 12, 2023

A LARGE group of residents from Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire are preparing to take part in the mass climate demonstration in London on 21st to 24th April, according to organisers.

The demonstration has been nicknamed ‘The Big One’, The Herald has been told.

Sarah Wright, who was previously on the Cardigan Town Council and a teacher at Coleg Ceredigion, is one of those going. She explained, “The Big One is designed to be a non-disruptive, all inclusive, family friendly demonstration of the breadth and depth of concern amongst ordinary people about the climate crisis. There will be tens of thousands of people demonstrating outside the Houses of Parliament on Friday 21st April, with many returning every day until Monday 24th. The police have been consulted in the arrangements from the start. We want to get the Government’s attention, not to disturb the public. I’m a grandmother and I intend to be there to speak up for a better future for my grandchildren. Unless the UK Government takes radical action the future will be very bleak for all of us, and especially for young people.”

Bus transport has been hired to take people to London for the day from Pembrokeshire, south Ceredigion and Carmarthen, and the bookings show that places are going fast. Similarly, rooms at a hostel have been booked for those who can stay for the whole 4 day demonstration, and this has over half the beds booked already.

Jane Mansfield, a retired nurse, is one of the organisers of the transport and the hostel, and she said, “The bookings show that lots of people are coming who have perhaps never been on a demonstration before, but they feel ‘now is the time’ as the effects of climate change become more and more obvious. We hear about it from world scientists, we see its effects on the news from across the world, with wildfires, floods, storms, rising sea levels, and astonishingly high temperatures. And we see it all around us in the changing climate affecting our lives. I am a gardener and see how the normal seasonal patterns to our weather have changed; it is now a lot more unpredictable. This has big consequences for our food production not just in my garden, but around the globe as we have seen in the shops this winter.”

The demonstration will bring together many movements such as The West Wales Climate Coalition, Friends of the Earth, CND, local Resilience groups and Extinction Rebellion, as well as many individuals of all ages and backgrounds who may not belong to any particular organisation. Banners have been seen in Cardigan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, St.Davids, and Fishguard, declaring ‘April 21st – Unite to Survive’ and ‘Yr Hinsawdd – yn ein dwylo’ (The Climate – in our hands). Many feel that the UK Government is leading us in the wrong direction, actively making the climate worse by granting new licences for coal, oil and gas. The Government’s own climate advisors are saying that they’re not on track to reach net zero in time.

“I am a volunteer at the Cardigan Oxfam shop and we are very aware of how it is a question of climate injustice,” explained Philippa Gibson, who will also be going to the demonstration. “Those in the developing world, such as many African countries, are feeling the effects of climate disaster first and most deeply, although they are the ones who have contributed the least to the problem, as their carbon emissions are tiny compared with those of us in developed countries. ”

Anyone interested in joining the bus to the demonstration, or just finding out more, can contact [email protected] 07717 391611

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

19 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

19 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

20 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.