Community
Crymych Arms Community Pub purchase raises £58,400 in first open day event

THE COMMUNITY volunteers arranging the purchase of the Crymych Arms as a community pub are celebrating a successful and busy first open day for promoting the purchase held last Saturday the first of April. A total of £58,400 was deposited with the community venture on the first day of the official launch of the community share offer.
There is now a very tight deadline of Wednesday the 5th of April for people wishing to have their names recorded for the 30% tax incentive known as Social Investment Tax Relief which will end on the 6th of April 2023.
A supporter of many community pub purchases, Cris Tomos of PLANED the community development charity in Narberth explained. “It is a very short window of opportunity for the Tafarn Crymych Arms Project which is being spearheaded by Crymych Football Club.
The club was registered as a cooperative community benefit society with the FCA a week ago and now can offer a chance for people to register for the 30% tax relief.”
Cris added “The specialist advice that we have received is that all interested in the tax relief need to deposit their investment of shares in the club’s bank account by Wednesday the 5th of April. They will then be discussing with HMRC about the process but people need to read the prospectus on the web page www.cpdcrymych.cymru to fully contemplate the offer”
The community target for purchasing the Crymych Arms is £275,000 and with this first weekend of opening the press release they have raised 21% of the target. The full share offer will run for 2 months from the first of April and it is hoped that by June the community group will have raised enough money to buy the Crymych Arms and reopen it for the community to have a local traditional pub.
Community
Coastal footpath between Coppet Hall and Wiseman’s Bridge reopens

Popular route restored after months of safety work following landslides
THE COASTAL footpath between Coppet Hall and Wiseman’s Bridge has officially reopened—just in time for the warm weather and summer visitors.
The scenic route, which is a favourite among walkers and cyclists, had been closed for several months due to a series of landslides that made the path unsafe. Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed on Wednesday (June 19) that the stretch has now reopened following major safety repairs.
The council praised the efforts of its teams and contractors who “worked tirelessly” to make the route safe again. Temporary fencing, slope stabilisation and other remedial work has been completed to ensure the safety of all users.
A spokesperson for the local authority said: “Thanks to everyone for their patience while the important safety work was carried out over the last few months. And a big thank you to the council teams and contractors who’ve worked so hard to get the path open again.”
The reopening has been welcomed by residents, local businesses and tourism operators in the area, who rely on the popular path for footfall during the holiday season.
A full press release and site photographs are expected in due course.
Community
Landfill row escalates as campaigners urge NRW to reject Withyhedge permit expansion

Fears over asbestos, pollution and criminal case against landfill owner spark calls for action
A PEMBROKESHIRE campaigner has submitted a formal objection to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) over a proposed expansion of the Withyhedge landfill site, warning that allowing more waste to be dumped would be “a danger to public health.”
Colin Barnett, a resident of Spittal and a leading member of the ‘Stop the Stink’ campaign, wrote to NRW’s permitting consultations team on Wednesday (June 19), urging them to reject a permit variation application submitted by Resources Management UK Ltd (RML).
The company is seeking to increase the volume of “waste soil” allowed at the controversial site in Rudbaxton, near Haverfordwest — a proposal that has provoked fierce backlash from local residents who say they have suffered over 18 months of ongoing odour and air pollution.

Criminal proceedings pending
In his letter, Mr Barnett points to the criminal proceedings currently pending against RML’s owner, David Neal, who is due in court in September on alleged environmental offences.
He states: “It is highly inappropriate for NRW to consider any permit variation while serious legal proceedings are pending… Doing so risks further undermining public confidence in environmental regulation and due process.”
Mr Barnett says this is not the first time the company has faced prosecution for environmental breaches, calling into question their fitness to operate and expand such a facility.
‘18 months of pollution with no enforcement’
Local residents living near the landfill site have repeatedly complained about noxious gases and foul odours, with some families forced to stay indoors or keep windows shut. NRW has acknowledged receiving complaints and confirmed it is conducting an ongoing investigation.
But campaigners say little action has been taken.
“There has been no criminal enforcement action or meaningful consequences for the operator, despite the scale and duration of the pollution,” Mr Barnett claims. “Allowing increased waste volumes under these circumstances would significantly increase the risk of further environmental harm.”
He adds that the public has lost faith in NRW’s ability to regulate the site, and described the agency’s approach as a “silo system” which allows compliance issues to be assessed in isolation, rather than as part of a broader pattern of misconduct.
Questions over asbestos and contaminated soil
The site is one of only two landfill sites in Wales currently licensed to dispose of asbestos — a fact Mr Barnett says is under-communicated to the public. He warns that NRW’s failure to stop other pollution may mean it cannot be trusted to manage the risks associated with asbestos fibres or contaminated soil.
He also raises concern over the term “waste soil,” saying it is too vague and potentially misleading. “Waste soil can include material contaminated with heavy metals and chemicals,” he says. “It has not been properly explained to the public what is really being dumped at Withyhedge.”
Planning before permitting?
In a further twist, Mr Barnett questions why NRW is consulting on the permit variation before Pembrokeshire County Council has made a planning decision to allow the site’s height — and therefore its capacity — to be increased.
“Are there backroom agreements already in place?” he asks. “Or is it an expectation within NRW that Pembrokeshire County Council will pass anything that is needed to get the permit variation through?”
He accuses NRW of “prioritising a company with a criminal history above the wellbeing of the public” and suggests this could be seen as misconduct in public office.
Campaign gathers support
The ‘Stop the Stink’ campaign now has more than 2,500 members, and pressure is mounting on NRW to either reject the application outright or delay any decision until after the legal case against David Neal concludes.
In closing, Mr Barnett proposes a compromise — reducing the existing waste tonnage rather than increasing it — and calls for an independent audit of the site before any changes are approved.
The Herald has contacted Natural Resources Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.
Photo caption: Protest sign near Withyhedge Landfill Site, part of the growing public campaign (Pic: Herald)
Community
Tractor rally hailed a sunny success in Cardigan Bay

Hundreds take part in cross-county fundraiser for emergency service charities
UNDER glorious sunshine, hundreds of vintage and modern tractors rumbled through the countryside on Sunday (June 15) for the Welsh National Tractor Road Run 2025 — a spectacular event that this year took in the stunning coastline and rolling hills of Cardigan Bay.
Led by Dai Rees and organised by the North Pembrokeshire Tractor Enthusiasts, this year’s event was hailed as one of the best yet, with a 35-mile route winding in and out of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, offering breathtaking views of both the coast and the Teifi Valley.
Starting just south of the River Teifi at Awenfryn, Glanrhyd — by kind permission of the Evans family — the convoy of tractors included models of all shapes and sizes, with larger machines grouped at the rear. The event remained a family-friendly and safety-conscious affair, with strict rules on seating and convoy discipline.
With HGV parking arranged at CCF agricultural depot and refreshments available at both the start and lunch stop, the event ran smoothly and drew praise from participants and spectators alike.
More importantly, the 2025 run raised vital funds for three local charities: Wales Air Ambulance, Crymych First Responders, and Cardigan First Responders. While final fundraising totals are yet to be confirmed, organisers say the response has been overwhelming, with generous donations and strong entry numbers.
Dai Rees said: “It was an incredible day. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and the support from the local community was fantastic. It’s all about raising money for great causes and celebrating our shared love of tractors and the countryside.”
Entries were open via the WNTRR Facebook page, with dozens of photos already shared online capturing the colour, character, and community spirit of this year’s run.
As the sun set over Cardigan Bay, engines cooled and trailers rolled home — but the memories of a perfect day in the fields will last a long time.
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