Community

Ambleston Community Council discusses local projects, and future improvements

Published

5 months ago

August 19, 2024

AMBLESTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL convened on Monday, July 29, at the Ambleston Memorial Hall, addressing a variety of local issues and planning for the future. The meeting, held at 7:30 pm, was attended by Councillors Dai Ambrey, Carly Skyrme, Kevin Morris, Julian Harries, Gareth Owen, County Councillor David Howlett, and Clerk E Forrest. Apologies were received from Rosie McDonald.

The minutes from the previous meeting on 24th June 2024 were approved and signed. A key update concerned the ongoing situation at Withyhedge Landfill, where a decline in reported incidents on social media was noted. Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) is continuing with its prosecution efforts, with a court appearance scheduled for mid-September.

The council also discussed the upcoming litter pick events scheduled for September, which will cover the areas of Woodstock, Wallis, and Ambleston. Councillor Gareth Owen will coordinate the collection of necessary equipment from Fishguard Leisure Centre, and details will be shared on Facebook.

Councillor Ambrey provided an update on the “Working Better Together” seminar held on 23rd July. The seminar included a discussion on the Boundary Commission report and a separate session for clerks, though attendance for the latter was low.

Two planning applications were discussed, both involving alterations to local properties. The first, application 24/0088/PA, sought to alter the roof height and install photovoltaic features at 9 & 10 Nant yr Eglwys, Ambleston. This application was refused due to the absence of a required bat survey. A similar issue was noted with application 24/0366/PA, a resubmission for a rear extension and conversion of a side barn, which was also previously refused due to the missing bat survey.

A significant discussion took place regarding the Wallis Pond project. Councillors Ambrey and Eirian Forrest recently met with representatives from Nestlé and others to plan the works, which are expected to commence at the end of August or early September, weather permitting.

In other business, the council is progressing with plans to develop an Ambleston Community Council website. A training session with PCC is scheduled for 24th September, with further work to be conducted later in the year. The website is expected to be operational by the end of March 2025.

Councillor Carly Skyrme and Councillor Ambrey also explored the potential for applying for an Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant. However, the Chapel in Ambleston was deemed unsuitable as a venue for development due to its size and lack of facilities. Meanwhile, initial research into solar panel grants has begun, though more work is needed.

Councillor David Howlett shared information on the planned decommissioning of non-compliant streetlights in the area. Four lights in Wallis and one in Woodstock are set to be turned off as part of cost-saving measures.

Additionally, a community issue involving a swarm of bees settling in the Wallis post box was brought to the council’s attention. Despite attempts to resolve the situation, including the placement of a bait box by Howard Prior, the bees remain. The matter will be reported to Royal Mail for further action.

Training opportunities for councillors were discussed, with Councillor Skyrme expressing interest in attending sessions on New Councillor Induction and Understanding the Law. Clerk Forrest will apply for a bursary to cover these training costs.

The meeting concluded with the scheduling of the next council meeting for 23rd September 2024 at 7:30 pm. The council continues to focus on addressing local issues while planning for future improvements in the community.

Community

Drop in sessions to help reshape Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service

Published

3 days ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) is pleased to announce the launch of a series of community drop-in sessions designed to gather feedback from residents and stakeholders. This initiative aims to identify issues and challenges that may impact the delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan 2040 (CRMP 2040).

The CRMP 2040 outlines the Service’s commitment to addressing risks, threats, and challenges faced by communities. These drop-in sessions provide an opportunity for residents to help shape the future of fire and rescue services in Mid and West Wales, ensuring safety and well-being remain a priority.

Shaping the future together

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Iwan Cray said: “We believe the best way to serve our communities is by involving them in the planning process. These drop-in sessions are an opportunity for us to listen, learn, and collaborate with the people we serve.”

The drop-in sessions, details of which are available on the MAWWFRS website, offer a platform for open dialogue. Residents can share their insights, concerns, and suggestions, contributing to the development of a modern Fire and Rescue Service tailored to their needs.

A data-driven approach

The CRMP 2040 adopts a data-driven approach, focusing on prevention, protection, and response to reduce emergencies’ impact and enhance public safety. By tailoring services to community needs, MAWWFRS is committed to building safer and more resilient communities.

Get involved

Community members are encouraged to attend these sessions and provide their feedback. To thank participants, MAWWFRS is offering a chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher. To enter, simply attend a session and complete the survey.

For more information about the plan or the upcoming drop-in sessions, visit the MAWWFRS website or contact the team at [email protected].

About MAWWFRS

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is dedicated to protecting and serving the communities of Mid and West Wales. Through prevention, protection, and response, the Service works tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors.

Community

Landfill odour sparks calls for inquiry and legal action

Published

3 days ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENTS near Withyhedge landfill in Haverfordwest are demanding a public inquiry and considering legal action after foul odours returned just weeks after the site reopened on 6 January.

The landfill, closed last May to address odour issues, was declared fit to reopen by operator RML, which claimed its improvements would protect nearby communities. However, Colin Barnett, of campaign group Stop the Stink, said: “People in Crundale, Haverfordwest, and Spittal are being subjected to horrendous smells again.”

Describing the site as a “stink bomb on steroids,” Barnett supported Conservative MS Paul Davies’ calls for a public inquiry. “We’ve been flanneled by NRW, public health, and Pembrokeshire council. It’s disgraceful,” he said, adding that delays in resolving the issue had left litigation as the only option.

RML, part of Dauson Environmental Group, is owned by businessman David Neal, who has previous convictions for environmental crimes in 2013 and 2017. Last year, another of Neal’s companies pleaded guilty to environmental offences.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) reported receiving 34 complaints since 6 January, with a rise in recent days coinciding with the end of a slurry-spreading ban. However, NRW stated no odours attributable to the landfill were detected and plans to inspect the site with Pembrokeshire council on 29 January.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “I’ll keep a very close eye on this, and if concerns persist, we’ll discuss further steps with NRW.”

RML and the Welsh Government declined to comment.

Community

Public transport users urged to ‘check before travelling’ due to storm

Published

3 days ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TRANSPORT FOR WALES and Network Rail are urging all customers to check before they travel on Friday morning and into the weekend with weather warnings in place across the country.

With Storm Eowyn set to hit Wales and winds reaching 90mph on Friday morning, customers should expect disruptions and are strongly urged to check before they travel.

There will be alterations to rail services, replacement road transport on certain routes and blanket speed restrictions at some locations, meaning journeys could take longer than usual.

Stand by buses are being planned at key locations around the network in preparation for travel disruption.

Across Wales and the Borders, Network Rail have positioned response teams to address any storm related problems to keep disruption to a minimum.

TfW Operations Director Sarah Higgins said: “It’s so important for our customers to plan ahead when looking to travel this Friday.

“While we’ve made a number of changes to our services based on detailed forecasts, storms can still be unpredictable.

“We’ve seen the impact storms can have, with damage to trains and infrastructure sometimes taking weeks or months to repair, so our cross-industry approach will hopefully limit that and keep our colleagues and customers safe. We apologise to customers for any disruption to their journeys as a result.”

Network Rail Wales & Borders Operations Director Rachel Heath added: “Our priority is always keeping safe everyone who travels and works on the railway.

“Unfortunately, there will be some delays and cancellations on Friday, as trains will not run on some lines and there will speed restrictions on other parts of the route.

“We are working closely with our train operator colleagues to ensure we can safely reopen affected lines as quickly as possible and urge passengers to check before they travel.”

Rail service changes:

No services to run on the Conwy Valley Line all day, with replacement road transport in place.
No services to run on the Heart of Wales line all day, with replacement road transport in place.
Speed restrictions at various locations around the network, meaning some journeys will take longer than usual. These include:

  50mph speed restrictions imposed from 0200 to 1500 Friday on the North Wales Coast – Bodorgan to Llandudno Junction.
  50mph restrictions from 0200 to 1200 between Carmarthen to Kidwelly.
  50mph restrictions from 0200 to 1200 between Neath and Swansea.
  50mph restrictions from 0100 – 0800 between Newport and Llanwern.

Customers who have connecting tickets for the following operators who have suspended services due to the adverse weather conditions, we’ll honour tickets dated 24 January on either Thursday 23 January or up to and including Tuesday 28 January.