News
Pembrokeshire’s Democracy Champions of the future join forces
Young people from Pembrokeshire’s secondary schools recently attended a special event designed to help them become Democracy Champions.
These Democracy Champions will raise awareness of the importance of democracy to everyone’s lives and encourage their peers to register to vote.
Organised by the Electoral Services Team and the Children and Young People’s Rights Office the event focused on what democracy means to the pupils and what impact it has on their everyday lives.
Young people from Ysgol Bro Preseli, Ysgol Harri Tudur, Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, Ysgol Caer Elen, Milford Haven School, Haverfordwest High VC School and Castle School attended the event at Pembrokeshire Archives.
Throughout the day there were a number of activities that aimed to generate ideas and discussion, as well as raising awareness of the rights of young people in Wales to vote in some elections from age 16.
There was a game of democracy bingo, workshops on the history of democracy and why votes matter as well as a mock election and vote, including polling booths, along with discussions on how to get even more young people involved and share information.
They also heard from senior Council staff about the value in voting, with Assistant Chief Executive Richard Brown opening the event and a closing address from Director of Education Stephen Richards-Downes.
There was positive feedback from the young people involved and they will also be helping to shape the resource pack to be made available to all schools for future events.
Senior Youth Worker, Engagement, Performance and Community, Nadine Farmer said: “It was fantastic to meet such an enthusiastic group of young people who will help spread the word of the importance of democracy and using your vote. With the introduction of votes for 16-year-olds for some elections in Wales it is vital that more and more young people get involved in their democracy and understand that democracy is for everyone!
“The information and resources developed at the Democracy Champion events will allow the representatives of each school to hold future events and inform learning for their peers.”
News
Major traffic jams following accident on M4 near Swansea
A ROAD traffic accident has closed the M4 in both directions as of Tuesday morning (Mar 19).
Police, paramedics and the fire service were called to the scene of the crash on the eastbound carriageway between Pont Abraham and Hendy at 23:20 GMT on Monday.
A fire which had broken out was extinguished before they arrived.
The motorway remains closed in both directions between J48 and J49.
The affected section is between junction 49 Pont Abraham and junction 48 Hendy, Llanelli, in Carmarthenshire.
As of 8.30am there were 45-minute delays with Traffic Wales saying: “Road continues to remain closed.
https://x.com/DyfedPowys/status/1769963608048378117
“Busy in the area delays showing as approximately 45 minutes in the surrounding areas. Please allow additional time for travel and thank you for your patience.”
Traffic monitors are showing there is already slow traffic in the area and congestion.
There are delays on surrounding routes in the area and on the A48.
News
Dredging work set for Tenby Harbour
TENBY HARBOUR and North Beach users are being asked to be aware of heavy moving machinery from Tuesday March 26 th to Friday 29 th as dredging work is carried out.
Sand will removed from the mouth of the Harbour and deposited at the north end of the beach. The work will not affect vessel movements at the Harbour.
Tenby Harbourmaster Chris Salisbury said a licence for the dredging had been issued after several months of application work.
“We ask that the public please keep clear of the operating area and that dogs are kept on a lead during this time,” Chris added.
Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “I’m grateful to our officers for securing the licence for this work to go ahead. This dredging is essential
for the operation of Tenby Harbour.
“The timing of the work has been governed by the tide and the dates represented the last opportunity for the work to be carried out before the boats are placed back in the
water.”
News
Closure of Tata Steel’s coke ovens sparks political and union backlash
THE recent announcement by Tata Steel to close the coke ovens at its Port Talbot plant in South Wales has ignited a firestorm of political and industrial action, highlighting the deepening crisis within the British steel industry and the challenges facing the transition to green steel.
Jo Stevens MP, the Shadow Welsh Secretary, expressed her concerns over the impact of the closure on the Welsh steel industry and the workers affected. Stevens emphasized the need for assurances about the workers’ immediate future and pledged that a UK Labour government would invest in the steel industry to support the transition to green steel, harnessing the skills, talent, and ambition of Welsh steelworkers.
The closure, slated for Wednesday due to concerns over the ovens’ “operational stability,” has been criticized by regional Senedd Members for South Wales West, Tom Giffard MS, and Dr. Altaf Hussain MS. They accused the Labour Welsh Government of neglecting its support for the Tata Steelworks in Port Talbot, highlighting a lack of financial assistance since 2019 and calling for a change in response to the current developments.
Unite, the UK’s leading union, has been vocal in its opposition to Tata’s decision, describing it as a shock and a “result of years of betrayal.” The union criticized Tata for not disclosing the imminent risk of closure during recent consultations and announced a ballot for industrial action among 1,500 Tata workers. Unite insists there should be no job losses at Port Talbot or Llanwern and that a blast furnace should remain operational.
Peter Hughes, Unite’s regional secretary for Wales, called for Tata to halt its closure plans in anticipation of Labour’s promised £3 billion investment to rejuvenate the UK steel industry. He accused Tata of managing the decline of UK steel while accepting government subsidies, describing the company’s actions as “deliberate industrial vandalism.”
The closure has not only raised concerns about the future of steel production in the UK but also spotlighted the political and economic strategies required to ensure the industry’s survival and transition towards more sustainable practices. The unfolding situation underscores the need for a collaborative approach between the government, industry stakeholders, and the workforce to navigate the complex challenges ahead.
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