News
Food rating system scores a success
A LEADING Welsh environmental health officer has praised the success of the Food Hygiene Rating system.
Mark Elliott, Chair of Wales Heads of Environmental Health Group and Head of Public Protection at Pembrokeshire County Council said 23,540 businesses across Wales now received a hygiene rating with the number getting top marks increasing by almost a fifth. Conversely, the number of businesses rated 0-2 has declined by a third since the introduction of the mandatory scheme. “Giving consumers more information is having a positive effect on food hygiene standards,” he said. “The number of businesses rated 5 (very good) has increased by almost 20% since the start of the scheme and many have reported that a good rating has increased their takings significantly. “In Pembrokeshire too the number of food business operators improving their food hygiene standards is also increasing with 94 per cent of food premises now scoring 3, 4 or 5 under the scheme.” But he warned that the scheme’s success was taking place against a background of rapidly shrinking local authority budgets and if it were to be continued would have to be adequately resourced. “The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’s success so far reflects the hard work and dedication of Environmental Health Practitioners in Pembrokeshire and across Wales,” he said. “It is vital that such services are adequately resourced in future to protect public health.” The Food Hygiene Rating system was introduced in 2010 when all 22 Welsh local authorities took the voluntary decision to implement one food premises inspection scheme. The scheme aims to improve business food hygiene standards by making them visible to the consumer so that they can make informed choices about where to eat safely. The ratings awarded by Local Authority officers follow inspections and are then made available to the Food Standards Agency, which publishes them on their website. In November 2013, the Welsh Government made the implementation of the Food Hygiene Rating scheme mandatory. Food businesses were also required to display their food hygiene rating in a prominent place, such as the front door or entrance, or face a fine or prosecution with money generated from fixed penalty notices going to the Welsh Government. Meanwhile businesses that score poorly and want to improve are given assistance to enable them to improve their hygiene rating – although in some cases further appropriate enforcement activity may also be carried out. In November this year the Rating scheme will be extended to businessto- business trade, which means that almost everyone from small producers to factories will also be included. This will help small businesses choose their suppliers and could be used as a selection criterion when public sector contracts are tendered. “Environmental Health Practitioners will take all necessary action, including prosecution, to protect the health of the public where serious failures of law are found during inspections,” said Mr Elliott, who is also a Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. “We are working hard to improve the services we deliver but it is against a background of rapidly shrinking local authority budgets. It is vital that such services are adequately resourced in the future to protect public health.” *Members of the public wanting to check on the rating of a business can do so at http://tinyurl.com/dyvdbgc
Crime
Cocaine dealers jailed after flooding Aberystwyth streets with drugs
TWO men who supplied cocaine in Aberystwyth have been jailed after police seized large amounts of cash, drugs and weapons during coordinated raids.
Luke Hutton, aged 25, and Lee Mark Walsh, 37, were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after admitting possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property.
The court heard that police attended Walsh’s flat in Aberystwyth on Thursday (Nov 14) to execute a search warrant. Officers saw several people outside the address, including both defendants. When police approached, Walsh remained at the property while Hutton attempted to flee but was quickly detained.
Walsh, of Yr Hafan, Aberystwyth, was found with cannabis, £160 in cash and a mobile phone. Hutton, of Corporation Street, Aberystwyth, was carrying £8,795 in cash and a phone.
During a strip search in custody, officers recovered a wrap of white powder concealed on Hutton. Further searches uncovered £850 in cash laid out on Walsh’s bed, five mobile phones, a silver knuckleduster and a large kitchen knife hidden beneath the bed.
Police also recovered scales with white powder residue, a bank card contaminated with drug traces, and a further bag of white powder elsewhere in the flat. At Hutton’s address, officers found £1,060 in cash, bicarbonate of soda and empty snap-seal bags, consistent with drug preparation.
Prosecutor Dean Pulling told the court both men were clearly involved in drug supply for financial gain.
Walsh also admitted possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis. He has previous convictions for cannabis offences and failing to comply with a drugs test.
Hutton has a longer record, including offences involving communications, driving matters, domestic abuse and breaching a restraining order.
Mitigating for Walsh, Ryan Bowen said the defendant had experienced a troubled childhood, moving schools frequently, and had struggled with cannabis use from a young age. He said Walsh had shown a strong work ethic and hoped to pursue barbering on release.
Jon Tarrant, representing Hutton, said his client had been heavily addicted to cocaine and that drug use had dominated his life, contributing to the breakdown of relationships, including contact with his two young children.
Sentencing, Judge Vanessa Francis said both men had been involved in dealing with the expectation of making “significant financial gain”.
Addressing Hutton, she said: “You told the author of the pre-sentence report that when your benefits stopped, you ‘did what you had to do’. This court will do what it has to do to take off the streets those who spread the misery of drug supply.”
After reductions for guilty pleas, Hutton was jailed for three years and Walsh for 32 months. Both will serve up to half of their sentences in custody before being released on licence.
Community
Crowds line streets as tractor run hailed a festive success
CROWDS lined streets and pavements across Pembrokeshire on Saturday evening (Dec 20) as Clarbeston Road AFC’s illuminated Christmas tractor run was hailed a resounding success.
More than 200 tractors took part in the event, travelling through villages and towns including Newmoat, Maenclochog, Llys-y-frân, Walton East, Clarbeston Road, Wiston, Newbridge, Poyston Cross, Crundale and Haverfordwest, where large crowds gathered to watch the festive convoy pass through.
Families, children and residents wrapped up against the cold to enjoy the sight of tractors decorated with Christmas lights and festive displays, with applause and waves greeting drivers as they made their way through built-up areas and rural roads alike.
The convoy set off from the Clarbeston Road AFC Knock Playing Fields at 5:30pm and concluded at the County Showground in Haverfordwest later in the evening. At the end of the run, refreshments were available and the raffle draw took place at the Park House building, which was open to the public.
Organisers said the turnout from both drivers and spectators exceeded expectations, with the event once again bringing communities together while raising funds for local causes, including The Catrin Vaughan Foundation, In It With Isaac, and Wales Air Ambulance.
Clarbeston Road AFC thanked tractor drivers, volunteers, sponsors and members of the public for their support, as well as residents and road users for their patience while the convoy passed through.
The illuminated tractor run has become a firm fixture in the local festive calendar, with Friday night’s event described by many spectators as one of the best yet.

Community
Charity tractor and car run set to raise funds for Macmillan and Paul Sartori
A CHARITY tractor and car run in memory of Charles Rees is set to take place in Pembrokeshire later this month, with funds raised supporting Macmillan Cancer Support and Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.
The Charles Rees Tractor & Car Run will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, starting and finishing at Dudwell Farm in Camrose.
Participants are being invited to “start their engines” in aid of the two charities, with gates opening at 9:00am and the convoy leaving promptly at 10:30am. Organisers have confirmed that the run will operate with no halfway stops, returning to Dudwell Farm at the end of the route.
The event will begin and finish at Dudwell Farm, Camrose (SA62 6HJ), and is open to tractors and cars. Registration and cash payment will take place on the day, with the price to be confirmed nearer the event.
Additional donations can also be made locally in the run-up to the event at Camrose Country Hardware and Croesgoch Stores.
The run has been organised to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, which provides vital care and assistance to people living with cancer, and Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, which supports patients and families across Pembrokeshire during some of the most difficult times of their lives.
Organisers say more information will be released closer to the event and are encouraging the local community to support the run, whether by taking part, donating, or lining the route to show support.
The event is expected to attract strong local interest, continuing Pembrokeshire’s tradition of community-led fundraising in support of much-valued charities.

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