Supporters in Pembrokeshire and beyond rally to keep animal sanctuary open to urgent new cases

GREENACRES RESCUE has been pulled back from the brink after an overwhelming public response cleared a £24,000 vet bill that had left the Pembrokeshire animal sanctuary facing the prospect of shutting its doors to new intakes.

The Talbenny-based rescue had warned it was at breaking point after receiving a March veterinary bill of £24,113.92, saying it could be forced to stop taking in emergency cases unless the money was raised by the end of the month.

The stark appeal triggered an immediate wave of support, with donations pouring in from Pembrokeshire and beyond.

Within the first 24 hours, Greenacres said it had raised £12,759, taking the charity more than halfway to its target. By Wednesday, the full amount had been reached.

In a message thanking supporters, the Greenacres team said: “Because of you our doors stay open.

“We hit our target for the vet bill and we are absolutely overwhelmed with gratitude.

“The support we’ve received has been nothing short of incredible, and thanks to every single one of you, our doors can stay open to help as many animals as we physically can.”

The rescue had warned that failing to clear the bill would have devastating consequences, with new emergency calls potentially having to be turned away.

Mikey Lawlor said last week that March had been the toughest month the charity had faced, despite more than £43,000 already being raised and paid off earlier this year.

He said the number of animals needing urgent help had reached an all-time high, pushing the rescue to the brink.

While Greenacres stressed it would always honour commitments to animals already in its care, it warned that being forced to close to new intake could leave other animals without a lifeline.

In its thank-you message, the charity said the successful appeal meant it could continue helping “animals who feel forgotten” and those with nowhere else to turn.

The rescue also highlighted the case of Venus, a Doberman taken in last week after spending time in council pound kennels.

Greenacres said Venus had faced an uncertain and heartbreaking future after going unclaimed, and had arrived too frightened to show her true character. Staff said she has already begun to relax and reveal herself as a gentle dog.

“Dogs like Venus are the reason we exist,” the team said.

As well as direct donations, Greenacres is continuing to ask supporters to help through its Amazon wish list, which provides food and other essentials for the animals in its care.

The charity, which has been rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming neglected and unwanted animals since 2008, cares for dogs, cats, horses, reptiles and other small animals across Pembrokeshire.

Campaigners say this is now the crucial stage in the battle to stop the closure of the rural Tegryn school, with every formal objection required to be logged and answered before a final council decision.

THE BATTLE to save Ysgol Clydau has entered its most critical stage, with campaigners urging residents to lodge formal objections before the May 11 deadline in a last-ditch effort to stop the village school from being shut.

In a fresh appeal posted on Sunday, Save Ysgol Clydau – Cadw Clydau yn Gadarn said the school was “at the heart of our community” and warned supporters that earlier consultation responses do not count at this stage.

The campaign said: “A local school is at the heart of our community. It means less time travelling and more time together, friendships that last a lifetime, and a place where every child feels they belong.

“If you haven’t already, please submit your objection to the closure of Ysgol Clydau – previous responses do not count, and every single objection must be recorded and answered.”

That message marks a new phase in the fight over the future of the Tegryn school, after Pembrokeshire County Council formally published its statutory notice to discontinue Ysgol Clydau from Aug 31, 2026.

Under the proposal, the school’s catchment area would transfer to Ysgol Bro Preseli from Sept 1, 2026, if councillors approve the closure.

The issue is already highly charged. Members of Pembrokeshire County Council voted by the narrowest of margins in March to move the closure process forward, with the proposal passing by just one vote.

That slim majority has emboldened campaigners, who believe there is still everything to fight for if enough people object during the formal notice period.

The council says the closure is the most appropriate response because of surplus places, concerns over the condition of the buildings, the long-term sustainability of education in the Preseli area, and value for money.

But for families and supporters in Tegryn, the argument is not simply about budgets or buildings.

They say the loss of Ysgol Clydau would strike at the heart of the community, forcing young children to travel further, weakening local ties, and removing a school that many see as central to village life.

Campaigners are also likely to point to the fact that Ysgol Clydau is a rural school, a category that carries added significance in school reorganisation cases in Wales.

The school’s supporters argue that once a rural school is lost, the wider damage can stretch far beyond the classroom, affecting the Welsh language, village identity, and the long-term future of the community itself.

That argument is strengthened by the school’s recent reputation. Ysgol Clydau has been described by inspectors as a happy, caring and welcoming community, with pupils feeling safe and supported.

For opponents of closure, that raises an obvious question: why shut a school that is valued by its children and families?

The latest Facebook appeal makes clear that campaigners now see the statutory objection process as the decisive battleground.

Supporters are being told to email [email protected] or write to County Hall before May 11, with campaigners stressing that each objection must be formally considered and answered.

The final decision is expected to return to councillors in June, setting up what could be a dramatic showdown over the future of one of Pembrokeshire’s rural schools.

For now, the message from Tegryn is simple: this is the stage that counts, and the fight to save Ysgol Clydau is far from over.

Closures, temporary lights and phased schemes across key routes are set to affect drivers, businesses and town-centre traffic into May

DRIVERS in Haverfordwest are facing weeks of disruption as a programme of resurfacing works hits key roads in and around the town.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s roadworks listings show temporary traffic lights on Haven Road and Portfield from Tuesday, April 22 to Tuesday, April 29 as resurfacing work is carried out. At the same time, motorists are already dealing with delays on Main Street, where temporary lights have been in place since March 25 because of a dangerous structure.

Town council information also shows High Street is due to close for two days from Saturday, April 25, adding to concerns about congestion in the town centre and disruption for shoppers, businesses and local traffic.

And the disruption is not expected to end there. Further resurfacing works are also planned at Merlins Hill, Winch Lane and St Thomas Green during the weeks that follow, meaning drivers could face a rolling programme of delays into May.

The works form part of the council’s annual road maintenance programme and come after Pembrokeshire County Council said its newly approved 2026-27 budget would direct extra funding towards front-line services including road repairs, gully clearing and highway maintenance.

While many motorists will welcome smoother and safer road surfaces in the longer term, the timing is likely to frustrate residents and businesses already coping with traffic issues in Haverfordwest. With several schemes either under way or imminent, the impact could be felt well beyond the roads directly affected as drivers look for alternative routes.

The overlap between resurfacing works and existing restrictions is likely to increase pressure on surrounding roads, particularly at busy times of day and as spring visitor numbers begin to rise. Businesses in the town centre may also be concerned that closures and delays could affect trade.

Motorists are being urged to allow extra time for journeys and to check for updated traffic information before travelling.