Community

Train enthusiasts let off steam

Published

10 years ago

November 12, 2014

Tom Sinclair

Wood burner: Engineering enthusiasts on an American loco

P E M B R O K E S H I R E MODEL ENGINEERS played host to no less than nine visiting engines on Saturday (Sep 20) when members of The Swansea Model Engineering Club came to visit them at their half mile long track behind The Meads Sports Centre in Priory Road Milford Haven. The visitors each brought their 5 inch gauge models along with them with an exception to Bill, who brought his 3 and a half inch gauge LNER 0-8-0 Q6. As he passed the photographer he said: “Look no hands!” A Co-Co GWR Class 52 diesel-hydraulic was also on the scene thanks to Ken.It was by far the longest engine on the track at almost 6 feet in length. The Co-co classification simply means that each bogie holds 6 wheels. Ken’s engine is powered by batteries although the full sized engines are diesel hydraulic. This taken aside, if out to the test it is a very capable engine and can easily and consistently pull a load that exceeds half a ton. The members had a drive of different engines whilst swapping around. Also at the event was Bobbie, who is a PME member and anyone that went to the exhibition in Milford Haven last September would have seen Bobbie’s engine on the PME display. For this visit Nick brought his 0-6-0 ‘Simplex’. Martin Evans was the original designer for the ‘Simplex’. It is an extremely popular design for model engineers as a basis of variations such as lengthening and adding extra axles. Completed in LMS colours, Nick’s engine was almost unmodified and performed all day without fault, much to Nick’s pleasure! Lunch was in the form of fish and chips which was organised for the visitors and members. Some of the drivers were enjoying themelves so much that they ate on the go! Also to bring a ‘Simplex’ was James. He spent all day driving around the track with the engine performing faultlessly. His driving skills and care and attention with the maintenance of his engine is a credit to James. His engine is in a spotless condition! Able to pull loads of over a ton is the 6100 Class GWR 2-6-2 tank engine which was brought along by the ever casually dresses, Ivor. The engine performed without a fault and Ivor informed that it weighs just over 170kg. This is no toy, all engines are working engines in their own right! Taking a different approach on driving was John on his 2-6-0 Mogul, he was laying rather than sitting and his driving trolley has been made specifically for this. The overcast weather did not become a problem and the fun carried on all afternoon. Soon the day came to an end, fires were dropped and engines packed away. The end of the day saw everyone gather in the clubhouse to catch up with old friends and finish off the refreshments provided by the wives of the members.

Community

£5.25m Welsh Government funding to benefit unpaid carers

Published

2 days ago

February 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

UNPAID carers in Wales will continue to receive additional support to take well-earned breaks from their caring role, Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden has said.

The Minister has also confirmed funding is being made available to continue support for carers on low incomes to buy essential items.

The Short Breaks Scheme and Carers Support Fund will receive £3.5m and £1.75m respectively for 2025/26 from the Welsh Government.

These schemes are in addition to the duties that local authorities are under to provide appropriate support for carers.

The Short Breaks Scheme is on track to deliver, or exceed, the target of 30,000 additional short break opportunities by March 2025. Its extension will continue to help unpaid carers in Wales take breaks from their responsibilities to support their wellbeing.

The funding can be used, for example, for short holidays, activity days and cinema trips. It can also support carers in pursuing a hobby or sport.

Recent findings suggest only 14% of the adult carers who have benefitted from the scheme had also accessed a break from elsewhere in the last 12 months, demonstrating the crucial role it is playing. 80% of those benefitting from the scheme are providing more than 50 hours of care a week.

The Carers Support Fund provides emergency financial support for unpaid carers of all ages on low incomes to pay for essential items. This could be food, a household item or a utility bill. In addition, the fund also provides information to help people manage finances and ensure they are claiming all benefits and entitlements.

Almost half of unpaid carers accessing the schemes in the past three years were not previously known to services and so the schemes show the significant added value as a gateway to other forms of support.

Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden said: “Unpaid carers play a crucial role in providing care for their family members and friends.

“I am delighted we are providing funding for the coming year to help more unpaid carers take short breaks as there is good evidence they can have a big impact on wellbeing.

“We also know many unpaid carers experience financial pressures because of their caring role and the Carers Support Fund will continue to provide crucial additional assistance for carers on low incomes.”

Carers Trust Director for Wales, Kate Cubbage, said: “We’ve heard from thousands of unpaid carers that the Short Breaks Scheme has given them their first access to a break from caring and that grants through the Carers Support Fund have been essential to keep food on the table and heat in their homes.

“These programmes are needed now more than ever, as costs rise and our partners in health and social care face increasing pressures. Our colleagues in statutory services tell us that modest investments in these transformative programmes make a difference to sustaining carers in their vital caring role and prevent the need for further intervention from acute services.

“As the National Coordinating Body for the Short Breaks Scheme and the organisation leading delivery of the Carers Support Fund, Carers Trust welcomes Welsh Government’s commitment to safeguarding these vital programmes with an assurance of funding for another year.

“This funding will enable local carer organisations and delivery partners to reach thousands more unpaid carers with a much-needed break from caring and with protection from the sharpest end of poverty into 2026.”

Community

Port issue warning over damage to Milford Beach access route

Published

2 days ago

February 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT of Milford Haven has issued a warning regarding a wall collapse on the hot water slip access to Milford Beach.

Residents and visitors are urged to stay clear of the affected area and avoid using this access route while investigations and repairs are carried out.

Please share this message to help ensure public safety.

Thank you.

Community

Feed the Community Event Attended by Local MS

Published

2 days ago

February 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SENEDD Member Paul Davies has recently visited the Feed the Community initiative at the Haverhub in Haverfordwest. Feed the Community is supported by Haverfordwest Town Council and organised by Councillor Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner and Councillor Dani Thomas-Turner. The project, which supported by several local organisations, invites residents to the Hub where free hot meals are provided and there are free activities to get involved in.

Mr Davies said, “Feed the Community is a fantastic initiative and it’s great to see the local community working together to create these inclusive and welcoming events.”

He added, “It’s a great way for local businesses and charities to engage with residents and build bridges in the community. The event was so well attended, and I was delighted to talk to residents, business representatives and volunteers. The atmosphere at the Hub was very positive and I was delighted to see it all for myself.”