News

Emergency services raise alarm over new 20mph speed limit in Wales

Published

1 year ago

August 18, 2023

THE RECENT announcement of a default 20mph speed limit by the Labour Government has caused a stir within emergency services, as concerns rise over potential delays in response times.

The new policy has been critically appraised by a retained firefighter, who warns of possible ramifications in the field. The firefighter’s key points of contention include:

Potential delays for firefighters reaching stations in personal vehicles due to the new speed limit.

Increased time for fire engines to arrive at incidents.

An extension in the permissible distance for retained firefighters from 5 minutes travel time to a lengthier 10 minutes. This adjustment, coupled with the new speed restriction, is feared to further exacerbate response times.

Additionally, South Wales Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Mark Travis, disclosed in a recent statement, “The newly instituted 20mph limit in Wales will inevitably alter the dynamics of how both the police forces and emergency services in Wales operate.”

In light of these revelations, Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservatives Shadow Minister for Transport, voiced her concerns. “A confidential email divulged last week starkly illustrates the potential for the 20mph limit to hinder police responses,” she commented. The email, which starkly outlined these repercussions, has now been made public.

Asghar continued, “The firefighter’s insights merely accentuate the imminent threat. Such blanket policies, while they may be well-intentioned, can have inadvertent consequences. With lives potentially at stake, it’s high time we recognise that safety can’t be compromised.”

She concluded with a clarion call for the Labour Government to re-evaluate its stance. “The unfolding events of the past week have shed light on public apprehension. Labour must rethink this strategy, and consider pausing the 20mph default limit rollout. Safety should always precede policy, especially when such policy appears more and more to be rooted in vanity rather than practicality.”

The debate continues as Wales grapples with balancing safety concerns with the need for efficient emergency response. Only time will reveal the tangible effects of the new speed limit on Wales’ streets.

A letter from the Assistant Chief Constable for South Wales Police, Mark Travis, to other blue light services in Wales has given away that the new default 20mph speed limit in Wales “will have an impact on how we within the four Welsh police forces and you as emergency services, carry out your core business…”.

The Assistant Chief Constable goes on to say that “we recognise that this will influence the speeds at which our responders are able to travel to emergency calls and may have an impact on how we respond or deploy staff to incidents.”

As well as the revelation by South Wales Police, a FOI shows that the Welsh Government has not recorded any statistics or minutes during consultation with emergency services on the effect the 20mph speed limit change will have on emergency vehicles.

Commenting on the shocking disclosures, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS, said.

“Labour claim that this policy is to save lives. But with the Police admitting it will impact response times and no work carried out to measure the affect blue light services – contrary to saving lives, I fear that lives will actually be lost.

“This is clearly a very ill thought out policy by Labour and what we all want to know is why the Labour Government is hiding the truth from the people of Wales of what the emergency services said of their unreal plans which will cost the Welsh economy £4.5 billion.

“The Labour Minister needs to urgently put a hold on the roll out of the default 20mph, delaying it until all these questions are answered. I hope that the Labour Government will then decide that this ludicrous plan has hit a red light – indefinity.”

News

2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards Finalists announced

Published

3 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE finalists for the 2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards have been announced.

In total, 252 nominations were received and, following a selection meeting, the judging panel has named 39 finalists.

Matt Freeman, Manager of Sport Pembrokeshire, said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide nominations.

“Every year it gets harder to narrow the nominations down to three finalists and once again the quality of the nominees was enormously high.

“The number and quality of nominees just shows the strength of the sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire.

All the finalists will be invited to a grand presentation ceremony at Folly Farm on Friday, November 29th, where the winners will be announced.

The ceremony will also reveal the winners of two further categories – the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman’s Special Achievement Award.

The awards are organised by Sport Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire County Council’s sport development team.

They are sponsored by Sport Pembrokeshire, Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio.

The awards aim to recognise those people who have excelled in sport over the last 12 months, or who have given their time to coaching and organising grass roots sport.

Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2024 – Finalists

(In alphabetical order)

Coach of the Year

Francesca Morgan (Swimming)

Philippa Gale (Netball)

Tom Richards (Tennis)

Female Sporting Achievement

Gracie Griffiths (Race Walking)

Helen Carrington (Powerlifting)

Seren Thorne (Shooting)

Male Sporting Achievement

Jeremy Cross (Tennis)

Rhys Llewellyn (Athletics)

Sam Coleman (Powerboat Racing)

Boys (U16) Sporting Achievement

Carter Heywood (Football)

Hugo Boyce (Cycling)

Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Girls (U16) Sporting Achievement

Cerys Griffiths (Swimming)

Chloe John-Driscoll (Shooting)

Ffion Bowen (Football)

Disability Sport Award

Evelyn Thomas (Powerlifting)

Jules King (Crossfit)

Marc Evans (Cricket)

Junior (U16) Disability Sport Award

Finnley Walters (Boxing)

Jac Johnson (Gymnastics)

Lewis Crawford (Boccia)

Unsung Hero

John Laugharne (Rugby)

Owen Shanklin (Pool)

Sue Christopher (Surf Lifesaving)

Team Achievement of the Year

Alan Evans, Andrew Evans & Michael John (Short Mat Bowls)

Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club

Pembrokeshire County Bowls Team

Junior (U16) Team Achievement of the Year

Chaos Thunder U12’s Netball Team

Hakin United AFC u16’s

Neyland Yacht Club Junior Sailing Team

Young Volunteer of the Year

Anna May (Tennis & Surfing)

Caitlin Chapman (Netball)

George Richards (Cricket)

Club Organiser

Nadine Tyrrell (Gymnastics)

Nick Shelmerdine (Cricket)

Paul Hudson (Short Mat Bowls)

Club of the Year

Camrose AFC Women & Girls Football

Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club

Strength Academy Wales Cymru

Pictured above: The 2023 Club of the Year winner – Pembroke Cricket Club.

Crime

Man jailed for Pembroke Dock cannabis farm involvement

Published

5 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Madeline Knox

AN ALBANIAN man, Armando Beti, 37, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Nov 15) for his role in producing class B drugs.

Beti, who has prior convictions in 2022 and 2023, was arrested on October 3, 2024, at 10:00am after police found him hiding in a neighbouring building’s attic. The arrest followed a raid on the former Woolworths building on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, where officers discovered three rooms containing 594 cannabis plants. The crop was described as part of a wholesale operation, with an estimated street value of between £64,000 and £196,000, depending on yield.

Using an aerial drone, police tracked Beti as he attempted to escape by crossing two rooftops. He pleaded guilty immediately after his capture, claiming the cannabis farm was already operational when he arrived 10 days earlier. Beti described himself as merely the gardener, tasked with watering the plants, and alleged he was coerced into the role by individuals he met at an immigration detention centre to repay a debt.

Beti’s defence counsel stated: “He is under no illusion regarding the seriousness of his offending. He is eager to start his prison sentence so he can ultimately reunite with his wife in Albania.”

However, Judge Geraint Walters rejected Beti’s claims, citing a pattern of similar excuses in previous cases. The judge noted that Beti had been convicted in Cardiff in 2022 for cultivating over 600 cannabis plants, during which he also claimed to be a coerced gardener with little knowledge of the operation.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Walters said: “People like you need to understand that judges are not completely naive. We know what is going on. We are well aware of the activities of criminal Albanian gangs in this country, as are you.”

Police believe the operation uncovered in Pembroke Dock is linked to a wider network of organised crime targeting rural locations for cannabis cultivation.

Community

Pembs Agricultural Society’s Christmas Fair expands to an all-weekend event

Published

9 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S Christmas Fair will be an all-weekend event next month. The Christmas shopping extravaganza is all set to take place on Saturday, 14 December as well as Sunday, 15 December.

The Parkhouse building on the Haverfordwest Showground will be transformed into a Christmas paradise. There will be even more stalls this year with a wide variety of quality local businesses exhibiting as well as festive music, Santa in his Grotto and an outdoor food court.

Judith Roach and Emma Thomas, the event organisers, said, “We are excited to be able to announce that our Christmas Fair will be on for two days rather than just one this year. We continue to build on the success of last year’s event with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. It will be the perfect start to the festive season as the Parkhouse Building will be transformed into a one-stop-shop for those preparing for Christmas.”

The Fair will be open from 10am until 4pm and admission is free. Visitors will find unique gifts, handmade decorations, art and beautiful homeware. Some of the county’s very best food and drink producers will also have stalls to give visitors the opportunity to stock up on all their festive treats. From decadent chocolate brownies, fudge, festive spirits to Welsh cheeses, there’s something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds. There will also be a range of outlets for ‘on the go’ eating and drinking.

One special guest at the event will be everyone’s favourite bearded gentleman in red – Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. There will be a charge of £3 per child to visit Santa and all proceeds will go directly to Sandy Bear charity to support their work. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa as part of their visit. Parents can book in advance via the website: www.sandybear.co.uk/santa

Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President is looking forward to the festive event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Judith and Emma for all the hours they have put in, voluntarily, to organise the two-day Christmas event. We’re delighted to be able to offer visitors the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

Follow Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for a full list of stallholders in the run up to the event.