News
Motorcycle fatalities prompt police statement
THE HIGH number of collisions involving motorbikes in both North Wales and Dyfed-Powys Police areas has led the Chief Constables of both forces to make the a joint statement:
“This year has seen a significant number of motorcyclists return to North, Mid and West Wales to make the most of the scenery and facilities that Wales has to offer, helped of course by the fine weather that we have all enjoyed.
Unfortunately though we are seeing a significant increase this year in the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured on our roads, with 16 fatalities across both of the policing areas of North Wales and Dyfed Powys Police and a further 72 motorcyclists seriously injured as a result of collisions. Amongst the most common reasons for the collisions are rider error and excessive speed, particularly on bends.
This year’s increase is a very real public safety concern and a priority for both police forces. Our approach on enforcement has not changed; we will robustly enforce the law so that we can assist in reducing the risk to all road users. Motorcyclists, and other motorists, taking their time to visit the beautiful countryside of Mid and North Wales are very welcome so long as they ride or drive safely and within the law. Those who choose to break the law can expect to be prosecuted. Roads Policing Officers are equipped with a number of detection tactics and they have both overt and covert patrol cars and bikes. There will be no need for any riders to encounter police enforcement tactics if they ride as they should.
The approach around reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads is not, of course, based around enforcement alone. We continue to work with riders through a variety of engagement events and we will use what opportunities we can to educate riders as to the risks associated with riding inappropriately. We continue to be avid supporters of Bike Safe, an extremely valuable resource that is very well received, and we wish to encourage as many riders as possible to engage with a local Bike Safe workshop.
Many police officers and staff are keen motorcyclists who understand the attraction of the beautiful, but notoriously challenging, routes in North Wales and Dyfed Powys. Fellow motorcyclists are welcome, all we ask is that they ride safely and with respect for other road users.
Chief Constable Mark Polin, North Wales Police (motorcyclist) and Chief Constable Simon Prince, Dyfed Powys Police”
Crime
Man arrested after police stop car on Pembroke Dock street
A MAN was arrested after police stopped a car on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, on Saturday afternoon (Apr 4).
Witnesses said the incident happened at around 5:00pm outside Bargain Booze, when two police vehicles – one marked and one unmarked – pulled over a motorist.
According to one bystander, officers searched the boot of the vehicle and arrested the man straight afterwards.
The same witness said what was suspected to be Class A drugs were found, although that detail has not been confirmed by police.
The man was taken away in a police car, while an officer drove the suspect’s vehicle from the scene.
The Herald has contacted Dyfed-Powys Police for comment.
Image: File photo
News
Here is an improved version in a cleaner news style:
Students to get wider access to EMA support
MORE students in Pembrokeshire could soon qualify for a £40-a-week education grant as the Welsh Government expands eligibility for the Education Maintenance Allowance.
From September, an extra 1,500 students aged 16 to 18 across Wales will be able to claim the weekly payment, which is designed to help young people stay on in education.
Eluned Morgan MS welcomed the change, saying it would allow more families in Pembrokeshire to benefit from the support.
She said: “Wales already has the most generous EMA offer in the UK. Under a Tory government it was scrapped in England, while Scotland and Northern Ireland offer students less money than in Wales.
“EMA helps young people with costs like books, transport and meals – all things which can affect the cost of living for families.
“Every young person deserves the opportunity to reach their potential, so I am proud that, because of Welsh Labour choices, more students will be supported to do so.”
More than 18,000 students in Wales currently receive EMA, which is available to learners aged 16 to 18 from households below a set income threshold.
The Welsh Government said the latest expansion will mean even more young people can access weekly support from September.
Eluned Morgan said: “The Welsh EMA is breaking down barriers for learners in Pembrokeshire. Everybody deserves an equal opportunity to access education, and providing £40 a week to those eligible is one of the ways in which the Welsh Labour Government is making this a reality.
“Hundreds of learners in Pembrokeshire claim their EMA every year. At £40 a week, Welsh Labour delivers the most generous offer in the UK.
“I know this money makes a real difference for students and their families with the cost of living.
“And, of course, the Welsh Government’s £1 bus fare scheme for young people is helping to make the EMA go even further for families across Pembrokeshire.
“I would urge all 16 to 18-year-olds and their families in the county to take a few minutes to check whether they qualify for support.”
EMA can be used to help with education-related costs including transport, meals and study supplies.
Applications for the new EMA offer open on Monday (Apr 27).
Students and families can check eligibility and apply through Student Finance Wales, or speak to their school or college.
If you want, I can also turn this into a fuller Pembrokeshire Herald article with headline and subheading.
News
Emergency services respond to incident in Haverfordwest town centre
EMERGENCY SERVICES were called to an incident in Haverfordwest town centre on Saturday morning (Apr 4), with police and ambulance crews attending near County Sports.
Pedestrians were asked to avoid part of the area while the incident was being dealt with, causing some disruption in the town centre.
A witness told The Herald they were walking towards Old Bridge when they were stopped from going through.
The witness said: “I was walking towards the Old Bridge and was told that I had to go around due to a medical emergency.”
The nature of the incident has not yet been officially confirmed.
The Herald understands the emergency response remained in place for some time as crews dealt with the situation.
We have contacted Dyfed-Powys Police for comment.
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Nikki marsden
August 25, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Well, seeing as we are discriminating and putting everyone into one class here, maybe you should also introduce courses for the following :-
A) teach all tourists how to drive over 20mph, because seeing as how all us bikers ride stupid all tourists must drive the same as each other
B) teach all boy racers what that line in the middle of the road is for
And finally C) teach all tractor drivers that pulling out infront of a bike is dangerous.
Oh wait, my bad, I just re-read your article and remembered that it’s all the bikers fault. My bad.
JB
August 26, 2014 at 12:00 pm
The article states “Amongst the most common reasons for the collisions….”. I would like to know what the other common reasons are? I strongly suspect that a fair percentage of them are caused by people not looking/seeing bikes when pulling out of junctions – but of course – this is not mentioned or enforced. Now I fully accept that there are a lot of superheroes on bikes that tar us all with the same brush but – As Nikki says, its always the biker at fault.
Tomos
August 28, 2014 at 5:25 pm
bikers have to realise that they are vulnerable, a minor prang for a car driver could mean death or disability for the bikers.
Of course there are bad,stupid and selfish drivers BUT bikers must realise the vast majority of bike deaths OUTSIDE built up areas are single vehicle acccidents
Nikki
August 28, 2014 at 6:38 pm
We know we are vulnerable, I’m only angry at this article because we are all being put in to one category, I’m here saying I am a biker and I understand that there are stupid people that have bikes, but there are stupid people everywhere! I went around a corner to find a guy towing a caravan reversing around said corner when there was a car park right infront of him that he could have turned around in, you don’t see me saying that all car drivers that tow a caravan need to take a course.
My sister was riding her 125 home from work and was behind a lorry with a car so close to her back tire that she was forced close to the back of the lorry and every time she tried to break the car just got closer and wouldn’t allow her to back away from the lorry, a week before that she was almost knocked off by a drink driver and the police wouldn’t do anything because ‘he would probably be home by now’ even though she had the number plate.
So maybe we should stop playing the blame game and all just be a bit more considerate for EVERYONE that uses the road. How does that sound?