Community
Concern Fortune’s Frolic in Haverfordwest being used for rough sleeping
A POPULAR Haverfordwest beauty spot has attracted rough sleepers and numerous complaints after the council decided to “rewild” the area.
Fortune’s Frolic, on the banks of the Western Cleddau near the Pembrokeshire County Council offices, is popular with local dog walkers and families.
The tranquil grassy area marks the start of a circular walk from Haverfordwest town centre towards Higgons’ Well and St Ismael’s church. But Councillor Di Clements said she had received numerous complaints from local residents who say Fortune’s Frolic has become unusable.
Some people have been using the spot for rough sleeping in their tents and human waste is being left in the site.
Cllr Clements, county councillor for Martletwy, represents constituents in nearby Uzmaston and said people had come to her asking why the grass had been allowed to get so long and the area left seemingly uncared for.
She met with Uzmaston community council and PCC officers in June to discuss how the management arrangements of Fortune’s Frolic had changed and the future vision for the amenity area.
Despite agreeing on the plans to reduce mowing to increase biodiversity, Cllr Clements said complaints were still being made.
She told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “It used to be a place where dog walkers and families would go for picnics but now the grass is so long, people avoid it. It’s such a shame. While I understand the statutory requirement of PCC to increase biodiversity, we now have a once well used amenity area being used less and less and attracting complaints.”
She is eager for local residents, the community council and PCC to reach an understanding and agreement on the future of Fortune’s Frolic and has arranged a meeting for September 2. Officers from PCC will be present at the site to explain why a change of approach to management of green amenity spaces is needed.
There are plans to create an additional mowed area somewhere in the site to compensate for the rewilded area. But this has yet to be implemented.
Furthermore, there are plans to plant additional wildflower plugs this Autumn (e.g. knapweed, ox-eye daisy etc) to give the site more of an initial boost of colour as well as planting trees to contribute towards natural succession of trees at the site.
Anyone interested can attend the meeting at Fortune’s Frolic on September 2 at 2pm. Meet just by the entrance. Contact Cllr Clements for further detail. 07918745380
Climate
Push to speed up planning process ‘risks sidelining public opinion’
CHANGES to planning law risk sidelining the voice of the public in decisions on significant new energy projects, Senedd Members warned.
Plaid Cymru’s Luke Fletcher said accountability in planning decisions will be undermined by new regulations on major projects, known as developments of national significance (DNS).
Mr Fletcher told the Senedd the regulations will raise the threshold at which energy projects are decided by Welsh ministers from 10MW to 50MW, marking a fundamental shift.
The shadow economy secretary said: “Projects that could have considerable impacts on communities, landscapes and ecosystems will now receive less scrutiny, with the decision making process potentially expedited at the expense of … thorough democratic oversight.
“While we recognise the need for efficiency in the planning system, this cannot come at the cost of transparency and community involvement.”
Mr Fletcher told the Senedd that energy projects under 50MW can have profound effects, so it is vital communities have a meaningful voice.
“Yet these regulations risk sidelining that voice in the interests of speed and convenience,” he warned as he called on the Welsh Government to reconsider the reforms.
Raising concerns about the transfer of decision-making powers from Welsh ministers to appointed inspectors, he said: “Public confidence in the planning process depends on a system that is not only efficient but fair, transparent and open to challenge.”
He supported action to meet net-zero targets but said this must be done in a way that respects the rights of communities and safeguards the natural environment.
Mr Fletcher told the debating chamber or Siambr: “By prioritising speed over scrutiny, these regulations fail to strike that right balance.”
But Rebecca Evans, Wales’ economy secretary, said: “I’m afraid Plaid Cymru seems to have completely misunderstood the regulations which are being debated today.
“The application and determination process doesn’t change at all with the delegation of determinations to inspectors. The community engagement statutory consultees and the policy framework all remain exactly the same.”
Ms Evans, who is responsible for planning and energy, added: “Just to emphasise again that there is no change whatsoever to requirements around community engagement….
“So, the fundamental objection that Plaid Cymru has … doesn’t have any foundation at all.”
She said the regulations are an interim arrangement until the Infrastructure Act, which was passed by the Senedd this year, comes into force in September 2025.
The consenting process for major infrastructure projects will be overhauled under the Act, with the DNS system replaced by a streamlined regime.
The Senedd voted 36-12 in favour of the regulations which will come into force in January.
Community
Museum ‘optimistic’ after budget announcement
NATIONAL museum chiefs expressed optimism despite one of the most difficult years in its history and “major flooding” of the gallery in Cardiff during recent storms.
Jane Richardson, chief executive, told the Senedd’s culture committee that Museum Wales was excited for the future after the Welsh Government’s draft budget announcement.
She said: “We’re in a very, very different place today than we were a year ago…. we’ve been through an extraordinarily difficult year, one of the most challenging in the museum’s history.”
She stated the museum received a 3.5% or £900,000 uplift in day-to-day revenue spending, adding that employer national insurance hikes will cost about £500,000 over the year.
“We really needed about £2m as a standstill position so it is a bit of a shortfall,” she warned as she appeared before the committee for annual scrutiny on December 11.
Ms Richardson said the museum fared better on capital allocations for long-term investment, with an indication of £8m for museums in Cardiff, Swansea and Llanberis.
She told the committee: “It’s fantastic news, that money will make a really big difference. The concern we will have is how quickly we will be able to draw down that money.”
Ms Richardson, who was appointed in November 2023 shortly before a 10% cut to the museum’s budget, called for more flexibility on the museum’s project-based funding.
She pointed to the example of £1.3m announced by the Welsh Government in May for urgent repairs at National Museum Cardiff, with a grant letter arriving on December 10.
She said: “About ten days ago we had major flooding in the ground floor and into the natural science galleries. Those were spaces we didn’t know were a risk until the day of that flood.
“We desperately needed to undertake surveys to understand where the water’s coming in. So, the business case bounces back and forth over a period of time.”
Last year, Ms Richardson revealed staff were on standby overnight to move priceless art due to the risk of damage and four buckets were placed outside her office door to catch rain.
Labour’s Alun Davies, a former minister, raised concerns about the “horror show” public bodies continue to face in dealing with the Welsh Government.
He said: “It seems to me that this is almost some sort of bureaucratic nightmare.”
Ms Richardson said business cases of £2m or more can take a year to 18 months as she called for project funding to be incorporated within the museum’s core grant.
Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan, who worked at the museum until her election in 2021, pressed the executive about redundancies over the past year.
Ms Richardson said the museum lost one in six staff, with 144 roles made redundant.
Asked about morale, she replied: “It has been a difficult year and there have been some dark times for our colleagues but, on the whole now, I would say morale is improving significantly.
“And there is a real sense of excitement looking forward … there’s a strong team ethos that we’ve come through together.”
Ms Richardson told the committee the museum has listened to, and sought to address, concerns about fewer people being left with the same amount of work.
The chief executive, who has dealt with four ministers in one year, confirmed site closures, further redundancies and entry charges are no longer on the table following the budget.
But she suggested charges will be introduced for underground tours at Big Pit after a trial. “That goes beyond the traditional free entry model for a museum,” she said.
Mr Davies raised concerns about fees creating a barrier to access, saying it amounts to an entry charge because most people go to Big Pit to go underground.
Ms Richardson replied: “It’s very difficult to be an organisation that has its budget cut so radically and is told it cannot generate income from the very few opportunities it has.”
She added: “I don’t have any concerns about whether this will be the right thing to do and I will be recommending it to the board on behalf of the team at Big Pit who feel the same.”
Community
More than one in four in Wales face a struggle to afford Christmas
NEW polling by StepChange Debt Charity reveals a worrying trend this festive season: more than one in four people (26%) in Wales are finding it difficult to afford Christmas. The survey also shows that over one in twenty (6%) plan to turn to credit to cover holiday expenses.
The study, conducted by YouGov, highlights broader national issues across Great Britain:
- Over a third (35%) of households with children are struggling to meet Christmas costs.
- One in twelve people (8%)—around 4 million—intend to rely on credit to fund festive spending.
- Of those using credit, nearly four in ten (38%) will choose Buy Now, Pay Later services, a rise from 36% last year.
StepChange anticipates a surge in people seeking help with debt in January, urging anyone facing financial challenges to seek advice early.
Financial strain grows
Richard Lane, Chief Client Officer at StepChange, said: “The Christmas period is often especially difficult for those already facing financial hardship. The pressure to create a perfect holiday often leads to overspending, and turning to credit can cause further strain as the new year begins.
“With rising energy bills and high housing costs squeezing budgets, many households have little left for festive spending.
“If you’re considering borrowing through credit cards, Buy Now, Pay Later, or other forms of lending, it’s vital to evaluate whether repayments will be manageable. Loved ones wouldn’t want you to jeopardize your financial health out of generosity. Support is available, and it’s never too early to seek help if you’re concerned about debt.”
Managing festive finances
StepChange has shared three practical tips for staying on top of holiday finances:
- Set a budget
Assess your disposable income and determine what you can realistically afford to spend. Planning ahead can prevent unnecessary debt. - Shop smart
Focus on items you genuinely need and watch for deals. A clear shopping list can help avoid impulse purchases. - Be cautious with credit
High-cost borrowing, such as short-term loans or Buy Now, Pay Later schemes, can lead to financial stress if repayments become unmanageable. Consider whether the short-term gain is worth the long-term impact.
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