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West Wales sanctuary gives safe haven to twelve Sussex horses

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SPRINGWOOD SANCTUARY near Carmarthen has reached out to a horse rescue centre in West Sussex who were desperately searching for homes for their 12 horses and ponies. Equine Gentling have been caring for their herd for over 7 years in Sussex, but after endlessly searching for a forever home had come to the realisation they would have to rehome their herd and faced the unthinkable task of possibly separating them. Having forged a friendship over social media Jacqui and David reached out and offered to take them all at their horse and donkey sanctuary in Wales.

Jacqui says “Here at Springwood we offer our rescued and rehabilitated horses, ponies and donkeys the space to roam free and enjoy a natural existence. Dan and I have chatted online over the past few years, sharing our passion for equines to live with freedom and choice. When he reached out to us we knew we had to help .”

Equine Gentling’s herd have been conservation grazing on gifted land across Sussex for the last seven years. Founder Dan Corbin says “We have been searching for a permanent home for years now and there have been some truly exceptional land owners whose land we have grazed on during that time, but we have reached the end of the road. Finances, recent extreme weather and minimal land availability has brought us to this point. When Jacqui and David answered our plea for help, it was beyond our wildest dreams. Springwood offers the herd the chance to live out their lives in peace and tranquility.”

David says “We have given our commitment that these beautiful equines will never again be used in any way. To be able to offer another 12 horses this healthy and enriched lifestyle where they can thrive is wonderful”

Springwood is self funded and relies heavily on sponsorship and donations, and they know doubling the size of their herd will bring its own challenges. Amazingly the vast majority of Equine Gentling’s sponsors have chosen to continue to contribute after the move but there is still a huge financial gap. They need to fundraise for this major transition, as well as massively increase the amount of sponsors to meet the needs of the increased herd. Although they live naturally without the need for stables, tack or shoes they still require health supplements, vet, dentist, farrier checks as well as land maintenance such as fences, winter field shelters and paid land labour.

They are asking for people to support their fundraiser to accommodate this new herd, or become sponsors of their new bigger rescue centre of 22 horses, ponies and donkeys to ensure these equines can continue their lives in this peaceful sanctuary. People can find out more about Springwood as well as details about donations and sponsorship on their website www.springwoodsanctuary.com

Details of the fundraiser can be found on GoFundMe by searching Springwood Sanctuary or at https://gofund.me/03cf939f

Education

Landfill odours breach air quality guidelines near Spittal School

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AIR quality near Spittal School has breached World Health Organisation (WHO) odour annoyance guidelines due to emissions from the Withyhedge landfill site, sparking health concerns among residents.

Public Health Wales (PHW) revealed that hydrogen sulphide levels exceeded the WHO odour annoyance threshold of 5ppb at the Spittal School monitoring station between October 1 and November 3. The colourless gas, known for its eggy smell, can cause symptoms including headaches, nausea, dizziness, and throat irritation when present at elevated levels.

Henry Tufnell MP (centre) at visit to Withyhedge Landfill Site

Community complaints lead to monitoring

Air quality monitoring began earlier this year after Natural Resources Wales (NRW) received numerous complaints about odours linked to the landfill. While other monitoring sites recorded no such exceedances between September 7 and 22, PHW acknowledged the distress caused by the smells.

A PHW spokesperson said: “Bad smells in your community can be upsetting and lead to physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and sleep problems. These effects usually pass once the odour is gone.”

Stop the Stink: There have been several protests by locals over smells from the landfill site

Health risk remains low

PHW emphasised that the long-term health risk to residents remains low. However, it advises residents to close windows and doors when odours occur to reduce exposure, while ensuring proper ventilation for safety. Once the smell dissipates, opening windows can help clear residual odours.

Calls for regulatory action

NRW stated that it is committed to ensuring the site operator, RML, takes steps to minimise emissions that could cause offsite odours. PHW, while monitoring the situation, clarified it has no regulatory authority over landfill operations.

“We understand the stress and anxiety caused by these odours,” said a PHW spokesperson. “We will continue reviewing and updating the health risk assessment as more data becomes available.”

Local residents continue to call for stronger action to address the issue, as the unpleasant odours disrupt daily life and raise ongoing concerns.

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Wales tourism tax: £1.25 levy proposed from 2027

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A NEW tourism tax of £1.25 per person per night could be introduced in Wales starting April 2027, following the publication of draft legislation by the Welsh government. The levy, applicable to hotels, B&Bs, and self-catered accommodation, would be charged per person, including children. A reduced rate of 75p would apply to stays in hostels and campsites.

The Welsh government argues the levy will raise approximately £33m annually, supporting services and infrastructure in tourism hotspots. Funds raised will be ring-fenced for projects such as promoting tourism, improving visitor services, and supporting the Welsh language. However, the plans have sparked criticism from opposition parties and industry groups, who warn the tax may deter tourists and harm Wales’ vital tourism sector.

Industry concerns

The tourism sector, employing 159,000 people—nearly 12% of Wales’ workforce—has expressed concerns about the impact of the levy on visitor numbers. Critics, including the Wales Tourism Alliance, argue there is no guarantee the revenue will enhance the visitor experience, potentially making Wales less attractive compared to neighboring regions without similar taxes.

The Welsh Conservatives oppose the measure, calling it a “barrier to tourism” and warning of increased costs for families and additional bureaucracy for small businesses. Shadow Minister for Finance Peter Fox stated: “This tax is the wrong one for Wales and the wrong one for our tourism industry.”

How it works

The levy will not apply to stays of more than 31 nights or to individuals in temporary accommodation or homeless hostels. The tax will also require providers of short-term accommodations, such as Airbnbs, to register under a licensing scheme set to be introduced through additional legislation before 2026.

Councils adopting the levy must consult stakeholders and provide 12 months’ notice before implementing or increasing the charge. While the levy is optional for local authorities, it is expected to be a divisive issue among councils. Some may view it as a means to generate revenue for improving tourism infrastructure, while others may fear it could drive visitors to neighboring regions without the tax.

Broader context

Visitor levies are not new; countries worldwide employ similar systems to fund local services and improve tourist destinations. Welsh Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford defended the plan, saying, “It’s fair visitors contribute towards local facilities, helping to fund infrastructure and services integral to their experience.”

Cardiff Council has indicated interest in exploring fiscal powers like the levy as part of its broader strategy to invest in the tourism sector. Meanwhile, critics remain skeptical, with some calling for clearer commitments on how funds will be spent to ensure the levy provides tangible benefits for tourists and communities alike.

Next steps

For the tax to take effect, the proposed legislation must pass through the Senedd. If approved, councils will have discretion over implementation, ensuring any decision is tailored to local priorities and needs.

Whether this initiative strengthens Wales’ position as a leading destination or creates obstacles for the tourism industry remains a point of contention.

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Storm Bert aborts Pembrokeshire lifeboat in search for missing person

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A major sea search got underway on Sunday evening following reports of a missing person in the sea off Rhossili.

Tenby Lifeboat received a call shortly after 11 pm on Sunday, November 24 from the coastguards, requesting the crew’s assistance.

“The volunteer crew was soon on the water and got to Rhossili in extremely rough seas as a result of Storm Bert,” commented a spokesperson for the Tenby crew

“The crew was requested to search around Worm’s Head using lights and night vision equipment.”

But after searching the coastline for around two hours, the crew was forced to stand down.

“It soon became obvious that the conditions were too rough for the lifeboat to get in close enough to be of any assistance, so with the lifeboat unable to safely provide assistance due to extremely rough seas, the crew stood down.”

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