News
Bookings open for real Christmas tree collections
PEMBROKESHIRE residents are once again able to book a kerbside collection of their real Christmas tree over the festive period, the council has confirmed this week.
For a charge of £5 per tree, real Christmas trees will be collected from residents’ homes on a designated day before being sent to a Pembrokeshire facility for shredding and composting.
The fee has been introduced as part of a range of saving options approved by Council to support a balanced budget and ensure statutory elements of the service can continue in light of the unprecedented financial situation that the Council finds itself in.
The collection service will commence from Monday 8th January 2024 and householders wishing to have a collection can arrange one through your My Account or by calling the Council contact centre on 01437 764551.
Requests for collections will be available through the contact centre until the 5th January and via My Account until 7th January.
Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, Councillor Rhys Sinnett, said: “We have been able to maintain the collection service for a small fee, however households can still take their Christmas trees to any of our Waste and Recycling Centres free of charge, bookings can be made via the PCC website, My Account or through the contact centre.
“These collections also contribute towards Pembrokeshire’s recycling performance and we are delighted to have recently been named one only five Authorities in Wales to have already met the Welsh Government’s recycling target of over 70%.”
For details of Council services over the Christmas period, including opening hours of the contact centre and Waste and Recycling Centres, including additional openings and kerbside waste and recycling collections, see: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/christmas-in-pembrokeshire
Health
MS Slams Decision to Proceed with GP Surgery Closure
SENEDD Member Paul Davies has criticised Hywel Dda University Health Board’s decision to
proceed with the transfer of patients from St David’s surgery to surgeries elsewhere in
Pembrokeshire. In a board meeting held on the 26 th September 2024, the Health Board also
confirmed that it is in discussions with Shalom House in St David’s about the establishment
of a branch surgery to deliver some services.
Mr Davies said, “It’s shameful that Hywel Dda University Health Board is pushing ahead with
these plans, despite the vocal opposition shown by the local community.
“The city of St David’s will soon be the only city in the United Kingdom without a GP surgery,
and I’m appalled that the Health Board has allowed this to take place. For many people the
travel to other surgeries from St David’s is just too far and too stressful and a weak
commitment to coordinate surgeries with bus times is just not going to cut it.”
“Residents have been trying to engage with the Health Board and urging the management to
look at a range of other options and it appears as though the Health Board is unwilling to
consider the views of the people of St David’s. The people of St David’s deserve better, and
I hope all political representatives in Pembrokeshire can work together to stand up for the
local community.”
Business
New electric vehicle charging stations installed in Kilgetty
TWO new electric vehicle (EV) rapid charging stations have been installed on Carmarthen Road in Kilgetty as part of InstaVolt’s expanding network across the UK. The site includes one fully accessible bay, with an additional 1.2 metres of space on either side, providing ease of use for all drivers.
The chargers are flush with the ground and feature lower screens, along with an improved cable management system for easier manoeuvrability.
Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, expressed his excitement about the new installation: “We’re delighted to bring more of our award-winning rapid chargers to the area, with class-leading reliability. InstaVolt is on hand to offer a fast charge that will get drivers back on the road in no time.”
Lane also highlighted the user-friendly nature of the chargers: “EV drivers can be confident that when they arrive at the site, they’ll find an easy-to-use charger with payment by contactless debit or credit card, as well as on-site driver amenities. With an extensive, fully nationwide network, EV drivers are never far away from an InstaVolt rapid charger. A bit of route planning in advance using search engines or InstaVolt’s app makes long journeys easier.”
InstaVolt, one of the UK’s largest public EV rapid charging networks, continues to expand rapidly. With over 1,560 chargers currently installed nationwide, the company aims to have 10,000 rapid chargers in place by 2030. The new stations in Kilgetty contribute to the growing infrastructure supporting the more than 1.2 million fully electric cars now on Britain’s roads.
Praised as one of Britain’s top rapid charging networks, InstaVolt’s chargers are designed for convenience, accepting contactless payments without the need for a subscription. Drivers can find their nearest charging station, check real-time availability, and pay for their charge all through InstaVolt’s website or app.
Crime
Man charged with possession of offensive weapon and assault
A MAN has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and common assault following an incident in the Pembrokeshire village of St Dogmaels.
David Rees, 62, is set to appear in court on 9th October in relation to the incident, which took place on 16th September and left one person with minor injuries.
Locals reported that armed police, dog units, and a police helicopter descended on the scene, creating a significant emergency response in the normally quiet village.
In a police update that evening, it was confirmed that the ‘unusual police presence’ was due to an ‘isolated incident’ which had been ‘safely resolved’. Two police patrol cars remained in the village late into the evening to reassure residents and members of the public.
An update issued by Dyfed-Powys Police on Wednesday, 25th September, confirmed they had responded to reports of an assault resulting in injury to the victim. Following their response, officers arrested and charged a man with possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and common assault in connection with the incident.
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