Openreach’s latest plans to upgrade current broadband to ultrafast connectivity for eligible homes and businesses around Broadhaven, Carew, Dale, Dinas Cross, Lamphey and Monorbier could soon get underway with the support of the UK Government’s Gigabit Voucher scheme.

Openreach has plans for six areas in the county that are in scope for full fibre broadband and eligible residents have already started to pledge Gigabit Vouchers to bring the ultrafast broadband to these communities by applying for and pooling together their free UK Government Gigabit Vouchers to help fund the build.

The broadband upgrades are integral to kickstarting economic growth for local businesses, as well as ensuring that people can access vital services they may need now and in the future. Such as patients improved access to healthcare through virtual appointments and remote health monitoring, to better connectivity that allows people to stay in touch with family and friends to combat isolation.

Ultrafast broadband delivers faster speeds, and it won’t slow down at peak times, meaning no more battling for bandwidth, with the whole family being able to seamlessly surf, stream and download at the same time.   

For the work to go ahead, Openreach need the approximate number of properties in scope to sign up, which is 4,900. In the short space of time where the pledge system has been open, the response has been incredibly positive with the current number of pledges towards the funding goal standing at:

• Broadhaven 64%
• Carew 38%
• Dale 49%
• Dinas Cross 84%
• Lamphey 96%
• Manorbier 32%
•  

Residents can check if they qualify and pledge their voucher on the Connect My Community website.

The decision on the fibre infrastructure build, the scope of premises covered, and the timeline are all subject to technical surveys, as well as the number of vouches pledged by the community.

The validated vouchers do not bear any cost to residents and sufficient take up will enable Openreach to work with a local community to build a customised, co-funded network. The vouchers can be combined to extend the ultrafast, ultra-reliable network to premises in outlying rural areas which won’t be covered by private investment.

Martin Williams, Director of Partnerships for Openreach in Wales, said: “We understand the crucial role that reliable broadband plays in enabling homeworking and supporting businesses in Pembrokeshire. These community partnership schemes offer a fantastic opportunity for communities to access government funding. Combined with Openreach’s investment, this funding can transform broadband infrastructure into ultra-fast, ultra-reliable fibre to the premises”.

Once the pledge target for the scheme is reached, residents need to ensure they then validate their vouchers with the Government so that Openreach can confirm that building work can get underway.

As part of the funding conditions residents are asked to commit to ordering a full fibre service from a provider of their choice for at least 12-months once the new network is available and confirm that they are connected.

Cllr Paul Miller: Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Place, the Region and Climate Change, said:”Thanks to this scheme, we’re thrilled to see the six areas in Pembrokeshire receive even greater broadband coverage.

“This will help to bridge the digital divide and ensure those residents have access to the critical tools they need to succeed in today’s economy. Pembrokeshire County Council is committed to supporting this voucher scheme – and I look forward to seeing further communities across Pembrokeshire reach even greater levels of connectivity.”

Full fibre networks provide more reliable, resilient, and future-proof connectivity; meaning fewer faults; more predictable, consistent speeds and enough capacity to easily meet growing data demands. It is also future proof, which means it will serve generations to come and will not need to be upgraded for decades.

If you live in Pembrokeshire and have any questions about the voucher scheme Visit Openreach’s website for more information on Openreach fibre broadband.

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY AFC Women and Girls marked a milestone last Saturday (Aug 31), with the launch of their Girls Development Centre at a highly successful open day event. The sun shone brightly on a day packed with excitement, camaraderie, and, most importantly, brilliant football.

Girls’ teams from across age groups took to the pitch in friendly matches, delivering standout performances that thrilled spectators throughout the day. Local boys’ teams also participated, adding to the spirit of community and competition. The club expressed their gratitude to the boys’ teams for their sportsmanship and the entertaining football displayed.

A special mention was given to the following clubs for their contribution to the day’s matches:

• Camrose Football Club and Prendergast Villa AFC for the Under-10 girls’ games
• Clarbeston Road AFC and Narberth AFC for the Under-12 girls’ matches
• Johnston FC for the Under-13 fixture
• Goodwick United FC for the Under-14/16 matches

Spectators were treated to a fantastic display of football from all the teams involved, with the club praising the impeccable behaviour and sportsmanship of everyone who took part. The atmosphere was electric, and the games were a joy to watch, with supporters commenting on the high standard of play across the board.

The success of the event extended beyond the pitch, thanks to the contributions of local businesses. Pembrokeshire & West Wales Bouncy Castles provided inflatables, keeping the younger attendees entertained, while Pure West Radio’s Darren was on hand to provide music throughout the day. In addition, Princes Gate Water generously donated refreshments to keep all the players hydrated, and face painting, ice cream, and hot food added to the festivities, creating a carnival-like atmosphere.

The club also gave heartfelt thanks to their fundraising team for their hard work in organising the event, collecting raffle prizes, and ensuring the day ran smoothly. A separate post will acknowledge the local businesses that contributed raffle prizes, demonstrating the strong community spirit that underpinned the day.

First-team players Alaric Jones and Zac Jones were in attendance, showing their support for the girls in the morning, while several U13 boys academy players, including Zach, Owain, Bobby, and Iestyn, assisted throughout the day.

Coaches Arron Thomas, Rhys Mansell, Imi Scourfield, Leanne Jones, Martyn Lewis, and Gareth Owens were recognised for their dedication and commitment to developing the girls, with the club commenting on the remarkable progress made in such a short time.

Haverfordwest County AFC Women and Girls are looking forward to an exciting future, with this event marking just the beginning of their journey. A special thanks was extended to all involved, with the club noting that the future looks bright for the development of girls’ football in Pembrokeshire.

SOLVA AFC has been left reeling after vandals targeted the club’s junior football pitches, causing significant damage to all of the goals. The incident, which occurred overnight, has prompted the club to issue a public appeal for information and left the local community outraged.

The damage was discovered on the pitches near the road, where the goals for the junior teams had been vandalised. The club quickly took to social media to alert the public and to encourage anyone with information to come forward, using police reference DP-20240907-163.

Shaun Barcoe, a local resident, expressed his frustration on the club’s post, highlighting that similar incidents have happened at other local football clubs, including Milford Athletic FC. He noted that although catching the culprit may not undo the damage, he hoped the club could resolve the situation swiftly.

Many other community members shared their disappointment and anger. Heidi Holland, a dedicated volunteer, expressed her sadness, noting how much effort volunteers put into creating a welcoming environment for children and young people. She urged the responsible party to come forward and offer to cover the costs of the damage, so the junior teams wouldn’t suffer due to “a random act of silliness.”

Further concern was raised by local resident Nicola Schoenenberger, who reported seeing police near the football club around 2am with searchlights and a drone. This information was passed on to the authorities, who are actively investigating the incident.

Susan Williams, another local, called the act “spiteful,” expressing her sadness that the children who enjoy playing football are being affected by such mindless vandalism. Others, like Luke Phillips, were hopeful that the shop’s CCTV footage would help identify the individuals responsible.

The police are currently reviewing the evidence, and Solva A.F.C. is urging anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area to come forward. The community remains hopeful that those responsible will be caught and held accountable for their actions.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police or reach out to club officials directly.

For further details or to report any information related to this incident, please contact the police using reference number DP-20240907-163