Community

Local harpist serenades outside Pembroke Castle to support St. Mary’s bell restoration

Published

3 months ago

August 26, 2024

ON MONDAY(Aug 26), Pembroke was treated to a delightful and unexpected musical experience as local harpist Jess Ward performed outside the historic Pembroke Castle. In a touching display of community spirit, Ward played her harp and sang to raise funds for the ongoing restoration of the bells at St. Mary’s Church, a project close to the hearts of many Pembroke residents.

The bells, which have been a part of the town’s soundscape for centuries, were recently removed from the Norman tower of St. Mary’s Church due to safety concerns. The oldest of these bells dates back to 1763, and their silence has left a noticeable void in the town. The St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Ringers, led by Tower Captain Anne R. Bunker, have been working tirelessly to raise the £200,000 required to restore and reinstall these historic bells. To date, a significant portion of the funding has been secured, but approximately £16,000 is still needed to complete the project.

Onlookers gathered as the soft melodies of Ward’s harp filled the air, complementing the backdrop of the castle’s stone walls and evoking a sense of timelessness. Her performance was not only a reminder of the town’s rich cultural heritage but also a call to action for the community to come together and support the bell restoration project.

“I spent a rather lovely hour or so listening to Jess Ward playing harp and singing beautifully outside Pembroke Castle,” remarked Will Scott, a Pembroke resident. “It was a moving experience, knowing that the music was in aid of bringing back our bells, which have been such a vital part of our town’s identity.”

In a letter addressed to Pembroke residents, Anne R. Bunker expressed the importance of the bells, not just as historical artefacts, but as integral to the town’s special moments. The restoration project aims to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the bells’ sounds, and that the skills of bell ringing are not lost.

“Through a lot of hard work, we’ve secured the majority of the funding for the restoration of the bells,” Bunker stated. “We would like to get the bells ringing again as soon as possible, before the ringing skills are lost and so our town can again have bells to mark its special moments.”

Bunker encourages even small donations, such as £1 a month, to help secure the bells for hundreds of years to come. For those interested in contributing, donations can be made directly to the St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Restoration Project Fund.

As the town rallies around this cause, the sight and sound of Jess Ward playing outside Pembroke Castle serves as a poignant reminder of the community’s resilience and the shared desire to preserve Pembroke’s rich history. With continued support, it is hoped that the bells will soon ring out once more, marking the town’s special moments as they have done for centuries.

To donate to the St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Restoration Project, you can make a bank transfer directly to the project’s dedicated fund. Here are the details:

Bank Account Name: The St Mary’s Pembroke Bell Restoration Project Fund
Sort Code: 30-16-20
Account Number: 07358466

Additionally, if you are a UK taxpayer, the project fund can claim Gift Aid on your donations, which increases the value of your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you.

If you wish to know more about the project or discuss other ways of contributing, you can contact Anne R. Bunker, the Tower Captain of St. Mary’s Pembroke Bell Ringers, on 07977 541520.

Your support will help restore the bells, ensuring they continue to be a part of Pembroke’s heritage for generations to come.

(Images and video by Martin Cavaney)

Community

Rent in Pembrokeshire rises 7% over past year

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2024

Design Team

NEW figures reveal that private rental costs in Pembrokeshire have climbed by 7% in the past year, with the average monthly rent reaching £625 in October. This is a significant increase from £582 a year earlier and represents a 22% rise over the past five years, where the average rent was estimated at £511.

The data, collected by Rent Officers Wales as part of the Housing and Regeneration Division, highlights growing pressure on tenants amidst rising costs. The collection aims to cover approximately 15% of the rental market by gathering data from landlords and letting agents.

Across Wales, the average monthly rent has risen 8% year-on-year to £766. Cardiff recorded the highest rental cost in the country at £1,062 per month, while Powys had the lowest at £556.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, commented on the challenges faced by renters in a press statement sent to The Pembrokeshire Herald. She said: “Getting good news about your rent is about as common as discovering your housemates have washed up for you, or your landlord suggesting you get a dog. For many, the only way out of the endless cycle of rising costs is to buy, but that’s far easier said than done when rents absorb so much of your income.”

The situation is compounded by a lack of available rental properties. Nathan Emerson, chief executive at Propertymark, explained: “As we continue to see further increases in rental prices across the UK, our members emphasize the lack of rental stock versus an ever-growing number of tenants. Selling up or turning to the short-term letting market has become a more attractive option for landlords due to challenging legislative changes and increased financial liabilities.”

Breakdown of Rental Costs in Pembrokeshire

The figures show a range of costs depending on property type and size in Pembrokeshire:

– A one-bedroom property: £462 per month

– A two-bedroom property: £576 per month

– A three-bedroom property: £732 per month

– Homes with four or more bedrooms: £934 per month

By property type:

– Detached houses: £768 per month

– Semi-detached houses: £653 per month

– Terraced houses: £629 per month

– Flats or maisonettes: £521 per month

In October, the average rent for private properties across Great Britain stood at £1,307 per month—up 9% compared to the same period last year. This equates to an increase of £105 per month.

As landlords adapt to changing regulations and financial pressures, the shortage of rental properties continues to push prices higher, creating further challenges for tenants across Pembrokeshire and beyond.

Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

Community

Council warns of icy conditions as temperatures drop

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ROAD users in Pembrokeshire are being urged to exercise caution tonight as temperatures are forecast to dip below freezing.

Pembrokeshire County Council has announced that road surface temperatures could reach as low as -2°C, with the possibility of sleet or snow on higher ground. In response, precautionary salting of the county’s primary routes will be carried out this evening and overnight.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Road users are advised to take care if travelling on untreated roads.”

Motorists are reminded to plan ahead and drive carefully, particularly in areas that may not have been treated.