News
Over 4,000 flights made from Haverfordwest airport last year

MORE than 4,000 flights were made from Haverfordwest airport in just one year, members of the county council heard.
At the July meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Huw Murphy raised concerns of a recently reported financial loss expected at the airport.
Cabinet has recently heard it must be run as a ‘zero subsidy’ concern.
Cllr Murphy said: “Withybush Airport now has a projected outrun of £239,000 for 2023/24 when council was informed pre-budget in March 2023 that the outrun would be £90,000, a substantial increase with additional further costs envisaged to include the need for new fuel tanks at circa £200,000 and the potential need to replace the runway lights at a proposed cost of £450,000.”

Cllr Murphy had pre-submitted two questions, which were answered by Cabinet Member for Place, the Region and Climate Change Cllr Paul Miller.
“With a projected outrun vastly beyond the budget forecast of £90,000 for 2023/24 can the Cabinet officer holding the Withybush Airport portfolio confirm where is the additional money being sourced to cover the substantial increase to PCC to keep this airport operational.”
“Can the following information be provided in relation to Withybush Airport usage for the year 2022 so that elected councillors and county residents have a clear knowledge of how often the airport is used in one calendar year.”
Cllr Murphy also asked for a comprehensive list of take-offs and landings for a variety of aircraft during 2022 “so that elected councillors and county residents have a clear knowledge of how often the airport is used in one calendar year”.
The list included: fixed wing, rotary wing, the National Police Air Service, Air Ambulance, Coastguard, military fixed wing and rotary, National Grid aircraft, take off/landings during tower hours and when tower inactive/closed, landings by any aircraft following broadcast of Pan Pan message, and landings following a Mayday message.
Responding to the first question, Cllr Miller said the overspend was contained within the overall community services budget.
Cllr Murphy – who stressed he was not against the airport, but stressed the current situation was untenable – said: “I just wanted figures so that the people of Pembrokeshire could see what they get for their money.”
Community
Carmarthenshire man missing in Thailand: Last seen on Phi Phi Island

A 26-year-old man has been reported missing in Thailand after his family lost contact with him more than eight weeks ago.
Daniel Davies was last seen on March 13 on Phi Phi Island, a popular tourist destination in southern Thailand. He had been staying at the Hangover Hostel in Bangkok prior to his disappearance.
A missing person report has been filed with Dyfed-Powys Police, and the case is now listed under reference number DP-20250329-215.
Daniel is described as being around 6ft tall, of slim build, with blonde hair and a beard. He also has tattoo sleeves on both arms.

Echoes of the Lost – a national missing persons initiative – has now joined the appeal alongside SARS Cymru, urging anyone with information to come forward. In a statement, they said: “Daniel, if you happen to see this post, please get in contact with your family. They are worried. If you wish to message us to pass information along, please feel free to do so.”
His aunt, Nicola Doran, has been sharing emotional appeals online, writing: “My nephew Daniel Davies, 26, from Llanelli – he’s gone missing in Bangkok, Thailand. He’s been reported and is now a missing person. No one has had any contact in weeks.”
Friends and family have been spreading the appeal across social media, hoping someone in Thailand may have seen him. One post reads: “Can all my mates out in Thailand, Bangkok area, please share this and keep eyes out for my lil’ kuzen – he’s been missing 8 weeks over there.”
Daniel’s disappearance has been reported to Thai police, and the UK Foreign Office is understood to be aware of the case.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk or calling 101, quoting reference DP-20250329-215.
Farming
Nonsense to base farm funding on population, says union

FARMERS in Wales have warned that changes to the way agricultural support is calculated could see them lose millions in future funding, as allocations move from a needs-based system to one based on population size.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has criticised the shift, branding the move “nonsense” and “concerning,” arguing it fails to reflect the reality that Wales has more farms per head than England.
Under the former EU model, funding was distributed based on need. However, from 2025-26, support for Welsh farmers will be included in the Welsh Government’s overall budget and determined by the Barnett formula—a population-based mechanism.
Guto Bebb, Chief Executive of the FUW, told BBC Radio Wales: “This latest decision is very concerning because if there is any future increase in farm funding, Wales will be allocated a population-based 5.2% rather than the 9.2% share we previously received based on need.”
The change, announced in the UK Budget last October, has raised alarm bells among the farming community. Mr Bebb urged farmers and unions to ensure that politicians in Cardiff remain committed to backing what he described as a “crucial part of the rural economy.”
The First Minister, Eluned Morgan, had already voiced similar concerns earlier this year, warning the Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster that the new model could leave Wales short-changed. “When it comes to agriculture, we should be significantly higher than 5%,” she said.
Despite the concerns, both the UK Treasury and Welsh Government have insisted the new settlement will benefit Welsh agriculture.
A spokesperson for HM Treasury said: “The Welsh Government is receiving over 20% more per person than the equivalent UK government spending in England. This translates to over £4 billion more in 2025-26. The full amount of agricultural funding from 2024-25 has been baselined into this settlement.”
Meanwhile, the Welsh Government said it welcomes having full discretion over agricultural support spending and confirmed that more than £366 million has been allocated this year—an increase from the previous year when farm funding was still ringfenced.
However, farming leaders remain sceptical, warning that the shift could jeopardise livelihoods in rural communities if funding does not continue to reflect the true scale and nature of Wales’ agricultural sector.
Farming
Bird flu restrictions lifted after major outbreak in Shropshire

BIRD FLU restrictions requiring poultry and captive birds to be housed indoors in part of Shropshire have been lifted.
The measures were introduced in January following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at Griffiths Family Farms, part of Oakland Farm Eggs, near Wem.
A 3km protection zone and a wider 10km surveillance zone were established around the site. The surveillance zone extended into the Wrexham local authority area.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that disease control measures have now been completed. The area previously within the protection zone is now part of the surveillance zone only.

Around one million hens had to be culled at the site—one of the largest poultry farms in the UK—after the virus was detected in the flock.
Under protection zone rules, all poultry and captive birds must be kept indoors. Surveillance zone rules require premises to keep records of all poultry and egg movements in and out of the area.
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