News
West Wales sanctuary gives safe haven to twelve Sussex horses
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
News
Visitor levy and accommodation register proposals to boost tourism
THE Welsh Government has announced plans to introduce new legislation to support the tourism industry and local communities across Wales. Two proposed Bills aim to give local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy and create a national register for visitor accommodation.
The announcement, made by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford and Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans, outlines a Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill set to be introduced to the Senedd on 25 November, pending approval.
Under the new proposal, local councils would have the authority to introduce a small levy for overnight stays in visitor accommodations, generating additional funds to support sustainable tourism initiatives. Each local authority would decide on the levy based on local needs, potentially easing the burden on resources in popular tourist areas.
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said that the levy would be “a small charge,” intended to help councils manage the impacts of tourism and invest in community infrastructure. “This will support the long-term sustainability of our tourism industry,” he added, emphasising that the approach is in line with the Welsh Government’s commitment to collaborative tax development.
Consultations led by the Welsh Revenue Authority highlighted the importance of a registration system to support the proposed levy. Feedback from stakeholders led to the decision to include a national register of all visitor accommodation providers in Wales as part of the Bill, aimed at ensuring quality standards across the sector.
In addition to the visitor levy, the Welsh Government previously consulted on a licensing scheme for visitor accommodation to create a fair playing field for providers and ensure visitors receive high-standard services. The proposed registration scheme within the Bill marks a first step toward this broader licensing framework.
The second phase of the initiative will involve a separate Bill aimed at establishing a statutory licensing scheme for visitor accommodations. This would allow providers to demonstrate compliance with certain conditions, enhancing transparency and standards. Welsh Government representatives confirmed they would continue discussions with tourism stakeholders, accommodation providers, and local authorities as the proposals progress.
If approved, the Bills will mark a significant shift in how Wales manages its tourism sector, balancing visitor demand with community needs and sustainable practices.
Business
Small business briefing hosted by Local MS
A BRIEFING event which considered how to best support small businesses in Wales has been hosted by Preseli Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Paul Davies. Mr Davies hosted the event in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales, Economic Intelligence Wales and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. The theme of the event was ‘productivity’, given that Wales has had a persistent productivity gap with the UK as a whole and with other international competitor regions.
Mr Davies said, “It’s always a pleasure to help facilitate discussions on how we can support small businesses across Wales. 99.3% of businesses in Wales are small or medium enterprises (SMEs) and it’s important for us to explore the opportunities there are to boost SME growth.”
“Business-friendly policies are needed to address Wales’s persistent productivity gap, and we heard from the speakers today that more support is needed in areas like skills development, infrastructure enhancements and planning.”
“As I’ve said before, the Welsh Government has some significant economic levers, and it must now use those levers to create conditions for growth in Wales. We know that when small businesses thrive, they create jobs, spread prosperity and keep our communities vibrant and it’s crucial that governments at all levels do more to support our small businesses and enable them to grow.”
Business
Bristol Trader to temporarily serve menu at the Castle Hotel
The team of a popular riverside pub in Pembrokeshire, devastated by a recent fire, will relocate to a new town centre location while repair work is carried out on the original site.
On Wednesday, 6 November, a fire broke out at The Bristol Trader, situated on Haverfordwest’s riverside, causing significant damage to the building. The fire affected two floors of the pub as well as the roof space, forcing its closure. Smoke from the blaze was visible across the town as firefighters from Haverfordwest and Milford Haven worked for two hours to extinguish the flames.
Following the incident, the pub’s owners expressed their sadness, describing the team as “absolutely heartbroken” but determined to reopen and come back stronger. They extended their gratitude to the regulars, locals, friends, and family who have offered their support during this difficult time.
In the meantime, The Bristol Trader team will continue operating from an alternative venue. Beginning Monday, 18 November, the pub will relocate to the restaurant of the Castle Hotel, located on Haverfordwest Square, where they’ll serve the same menu.
“While repairs are being made to The Bristol Trader, Team Trader are being temporarily relocated to The Castle Hotel Restaurant from Monday the 18th of November,” announced the team in a social media post. “All our menus are attached to our Facebook page, and the phone lines are being redirected.”
Anyone with a booking at The Bristol Trader who hasn’t been in touch since the fire on 6 November is encouraged to contact the team at 01437 762122.
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