Community

Local dance school triumphs at World Championships

Published

5 months ago

August 23, 2024

IN a remarkable achievement, the Kelly Williams School of Dance has brought home a world championship medal, securing third place in the prestigious UDO World Street Dance Championships 2024. The competition, held in Blackpool from 14th to 18th August, featured top talent from over 40 countries, making the school’s accomplishment particularly noteworthy.

The dance school’s intermediate under-16 team made history by being the first from Kelly Williams School of Dance to finish in the top three. The team’s success marks a significant milestone for the Pembroke Dock-based school, which has competed in the championships nine times previously but had never progressed past the preliminary stages before this year.

Kelly Williams, the school’s founder and head coach, expressed her overwhelming joy at the team’s achievement. “It is a dream come true. This was our ninth championships. We’ve placed once before but never went past the preliminary stages. However, this year we finished second in the prelims and third place in the final,” she said. “We have pushed for years and years. I’ve cried tears of joy all week long. The mood at the school is electric. No one could believe it. We have been celebrating non-stop. It’s unbelievable.”

The competition saw the school participating in several categories, including Duo, Battle Dance, Quads, and Juniors, showcasing the depth of talent within the school. In addition to the team’s success, several soloists from the school made it to the finals in their respective categories:

Lexi Dooner – 2nd place, under-12 Intermediate
Skyla Jone – 2nd place, under-12 Beginner
Grace Glanville – 5th place, under-16 Beginner
Imogen Scourfield – 5th place, under-18 Intermediate

In the duo category, Lexi Dooner and Ollie Glanville achieved third place in the under-12 advanced competition, while Kelci Francis secured eighth place in the Litefeet battles.

The Quads category also brought success for the school, with Kelci Francis, Imogen Scourfield, Grace Glanfield, and Danny Rolls finishing third in the over-18 open category. Meanwhile, the team of Lexi Dooner, Ollie Glanville, Megan Garrett, and Olivia Roberts claimed fifth place in the under-14 open category.

The junior team narrowly missed out on a top 10 finish, placing twelfth overall.

Reflecting on the achievements, Kelly Williams said, “As a coach and mother, I am beyond proud of these hardworking dancers. They have represented our country, our school, and themselves outstandingly. What they have achieved this week is something we’ve only ever dreamed of until now. This year was special and something that will stay with me forever.”

The school has extended its gratitude to all supporters and sponsors who have helped them throughout this journey. Kelly also took to the dance school’s Facebook page to express her pride in every dancer who participated, stating, “Every single one of these dancers has danced impeccably on these big stages, and whether they got through rounds or not, I couldn’t be happier with how they performed.”

For those interested in learning more about the Kelly Williams School of Dance or joining their classes, further information can be obtained by calling 07880 625360.

Community

Landfill odour sparks calls for inquiry and legal action

Published

7 hours 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

8 hours 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.

       London Northeastern Railway
       LUMO
       TransPennine Express
       Northern
       Grand Central
       Avanti

Community

Mid and West Wales Fire Service launches recruitment drive

Published

9 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE MID AND WEST WALES FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE has announced it is halfway through its recruitment window for Wholetime Firefighters. The service is actively seeking individuals from diverse backgrounds to join their ranks and contribute to the safety and well-being of communities across Mid and West Wales.

Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas KFSM emphasised the evolving nature of the firefighter’s role, stating, “The role of a Wholetime Firefighter goes far beyond tackling fires, road traffic collisions and water rescues. Modern-day firefighters play a crucial part in educating the public and working to prevent risks to life and the environment.”

The MAWWFRS is keen to attract applicants with a wide range of skills and experiences, recognising the diverse challenges faced by today’s fire service. “We encourage people from a variety of backgrounds to apply, emphasising the diverse skill set needed for this challenging yet rewarding career,” added Thomas.

This recruitment initiative is seen as a vital step in ensuring the service has the necessary personnel to respond effectively to emergencies and maintain safety standards across the region. The MAWWFRS covers a vast area, encompassing nearly two-thirds of Wales, making it the third largest Fire and Rescue Service in the United Kingdom.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to visit the MAWWFRS website for detailed information on fitness requirements, the application process, and how to apply. The online registration window closes at 12pm on Monday, 27th January 2025.

As the service continues its mission to create safer communities, this recruitment drive offers an opportunity for individuals to become part of a team that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

Citations:
[1] http://eastwoodacademy.co.uk/docs/How%20to%20write%20a%20newspaper%20article.pdf
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid_and_West_Wales_Fire_and_Rescue_Service
[3] https://midwestwalesfire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s5689/HR%20People%20and%20Well-Being%20Update%20Report.pdf
[4] https://nickdale.me/2023/05/31/how-to-write-a-newspaper-article/
[5] https://www.gov.wales/find-your-local-fire-and-rescue-service
[6] https://www.mawwfire.gov.uk/eng/join-us/current-vacancies/
[7] https://www.superprof.co.uk/resources/questions/english/broadsheet-articles.html
[8] https://www.mawwfire.gov.uk
[9] https://www.mawwfire.gov.uk/eng/join-us/
[10] https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/mid_and_west_wales_fire_and_rescue_service