THE PEMBROKESHIRE LIBRARY SERVICE recently took part in the Books Council of Wales ‘Stars of the Shelves’ Initiative – to bring school children into libraries to meet local authors.

Grant funded by Welsh Government, the initiative aims to engage primary school pupils with literature and reading through author-led sessions in local libraries.

Pembroke Dock, Narberth, Milford Haven and Fishguard Libraries all took part and welcomed around 200 children at various sessions during March.

Welsh authors Kerry Curson and Rebecca F John were commissioned to deliver the workshops which were a fantastic chance for learners to interact with professional writers, explore storytelling and foster a love for reading and writing.

Pembroke Dock Community School and Narberth CP School enjoyed “fun”, “interesting” and “inspirational” workshops with Kerry where the pupils created their own stories, learned new vocabulary and felt more confident about their writing afterwards.

St Francis Catholic School, Ysgol Glannau Gwaun and Ysgol Wdig enjoyed hearing about Rebecca’s books and inspiration as well as taking part in the creative writing process and character development exercises and several found themselves wanting to read more.

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said: “Our libraries are more than just places to borrow books and this Books Council of Wales initiative is just one example of the importance of libraries in the community.

“There was overwhelmingly positive feedback from the pupils who took part, and it is fantastic to see our young people fostering enthusiasm for reading and writing.”

Tracey Johnson, Site Coordinator for Fishguard, Newport and St Davids libraries, liaised with the Books Council of Wales and the authors, to organise the timetable of visits.

She added: “It was great to see so many primary age children in our libraries, enjoying themselves and learning in a fun way.

“It’s really important that we help develop the ‘library habit’ of visiting regularly, to help encourage a love of reading from an early age. Libraries are free to join, and library staff are here to help children and parents who visit.”

Ten Towns scheme supports restaurant, memorial hall and local businesses

LAUGHARNE is among several rural towns in Carmarthenshire benefitting from investment through the Ten Towns programme, supported by Carmarthenshire County Council and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

The scheme aims to boost local economies, support businesses, and improve community facilities across rural parts of the county.

A key project in Laugharne has been the redevelopment of the former Portreeve restaurant site into Tŷ Glo, a new family-friendly food and drink venue. The refurbishment, funded through the Ten Towns Capital Development Fund, has created more than eight full-time jobs and brought a previously empty building back into use.

Laugharne Memorial Hall, a central community venue, has also received support. Funding from the Ten Towns Revenue Project has been used to commission market research and a feasibility study into developing a regular produce and craft market at the hall. The aim is to provide new opportunities for local traders and small businesses.

A mural by Carmarthenshire artist Steve Jenkins has also been added to the exterior of the Memorial Hall. The artwork, inspired by the town’s history, has been described as a colourful and welcoming feature by locals and visitors.

Elsewhere in the town, two high street businesses have received grants to improve the appearance of their shopfronts. The funding is part of the Revitalising Rural Town Centre Fund, which is now open for further applications from eligible businesses.

Minor enhancement works have also been carried out in the town centre to maintain Laugharne’s visual appeal and preserve its historic character.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s rural outreach team, Hwb Bach y Wlad, is continuing to visit Laugharne regularly. Advisors will be at the Memorial Hall on the second Wednesday of each month, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, offering help with council services, recycling bags, and signposting to further support.

A Tourism and Business Roadshow will take place at Laugharne Memorial Hall on Wednesday, April 9. The event is open to local businesses and community groups and will provide advice on funding, licensing, planning, and marketing.

Cllr Carys Jones, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Community Cohesion and Planning Policy, said: “It’s wonderful to see the positive transformations taking place in Laugharne thanks to the Ten Towns Programme and the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. These projects are bringing fresh opportunities to local businesses and enhancing the town’s appeal to visitors.”

Further details about the Ten Towns programme are available on Carmarthenshire County Council’s website.

A NEW community banking service is set to be established in Tenby as part of a decision to relocate the town’s council offices.

Plans to move the town council into a vacant café building to improve access and allow a community hub and banking service to be created has been approved by national park planners yesterday.

Tenby has been left without a high street bank since the closure of HSBC last April.

In an application submitted to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the town council sought permission for a change of use of the café, empty since late 2022, to allow for the relocation of the town council office from its current location off the entrance corridor of the 1970s De Valence Pavilion building, Upper Frog Street, to the vacant cafe area at the front of the Pavilion to increase service provision through a community information hub.

The application also sought permission to install a One Banx machine in association with the Principality Building Society to provide access to cash deposit and withdrawal services across all banks who are part of the Open Banking Network.

In a supporting statement, Tenby Town Council said the new offices “will enable Tenby Town Council to provide office space that is more inclusive; it will be spacious, well-lit and step free, with wide access doors, ensuring people with mobility issues, visual impairment, cognitive challenges and other disabilities find the premises physically accessible,” as well as being visible and directly accessed from Upper Frog Street, in Tenby’s town centre; people with visual impairment no longer needing to navigate through the De Valence Pavilion’s corridor in order to locate the office.

It added: “Tenby Town Council is committed to providing an accessible, welcoming and equitable space for everyone as far as we can, and our new office is designed, and will be run, with this intention.

“While we appreciate there will always be space for improvements, we will continue to learn, adapt and improve the accessibility and quality of our office and public interactions in the future.”

An officer report recommending approval said: “The proposal will enable a community information hub and shared use facility with Principality Building Society to provide financial services. Banking staff would be present Monday to Friday 9.30am–4.30pm with an hour closure for lunch. The building would not be open on weekends.

“The proposal would not impact on the concentration of non-A1 uses in the primary retail area of Tenby due to the site’s existing permitted A3 use. The proposed mixed use of A2 and B1 uses would maintain an active frontage within the primary retail area, contribute to meeting the needs of local communities, and preserve Tenby Conservation Area.”

The application was conditionally approved by park planners.