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Not guilty plea for assault on mother

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magA 60-YEAR-OLD man appeared in Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after being charged with assault by beating. 

William Mansell of Stratford Road pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault, which is alleged to have been against his mother. Magistrates adjourned the trial until December 3 at 11am. Mansell was released on unconditional bail.

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Business

Last chance to buy high-quality homes at Carmarthenshire site

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ONLY six properties remain for sale at a popular housing development in Cross Hands.

Parc Cerrig – which has easy access to the A48 and M4 – has three and four-bed homes for sale from £284,995 to £344,995. Help-to-Buy Wales is available at Parc Cerrig, meaning customers could buy a home with a minimum deposit of 5%.

The houses have been built by Persimmon Homes, West Wales’ largest developer, which has a five-star ranking from the Home Builders Federation, which means nine-in-ten customers would recommend them to a friend.

Cross Hands is a village close to Carmarthen, while the development is a short walk from a range of amenities, including big brands at the excellent retail park, two supermarkets, a number of independent shops and eateries, schools, a doctor’s surgery, and a cinema. Llanelli and Swansea are 20 and 30 minute drive away, respectively.

Interested buyers are encouraged to act quickly to secure their dream home in this desirable location. With interest expected to be high, potential buyers are advised to act quickly to secure their dream home on this desirable development.

During the housebuilder’s time at Parc Cerrig, Persimmon has overseen the construction of 198 new homes. For more information or to arrange a viewing of the final properties, please visit the Persimmon website at persimmonhomes.com or contact our sales team directly on 01269 503893.

Commenting, Persimmon Homes West Wales’ sales director, Sharon Bouhali, said: “With only six homes remaining at Parc Cerrig, we’re excited to offer this final opportunity to own a high-quality home built by a five-star builder at this development, where families will also benefit from the brand-new primary school and a local community centre.

“Located in the beautiful county of Carmarthenshire, Parc Cerrig is conveniently close to Swansea, Llanelli, the M4, and several coastal towns and their wonderful beaches.

“As we approach the end of our time here, we encouraging potential buyers to act swiftly and secure their dream home in this delightful part of the country.”

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Business

Welsh business activity sees renewed expansion in January

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Output increases for the first time since August 2024
BUSINSESS activity in Wales experienced renewed growth at the start of 2025, according to the latest Cymru Growth Tracker data from NatWest. The findings indicate a fresh rise in output, with business confidence remaining positive as companies entered the new trading year.

The Wales Business Activity Index—a seasonally adjusted measure of month-on-month changes in output across the manufacturing and service sectors—rose to 50.7 in January. This marked a third consecutive monthly increase and the first expansion in activity since August 2024. The figure was up from 48.9 in December, signalling a marginal improvement in business performance.

Business confidence remained strong, while the decline in employment and backlog levels eased. However, inflationary pressures intensified, with costs and charges rising at historically high rates. Firms sought to pass these costs on to customers, resulting in the sharpest increase in selling prices in ten months.

Economic trends and business confidence

Jessica Shipman, Chair of the NatWest Cymru Regional Board, commented: “January data saw a return to output growth at Welsh businesses, with improvements in the sales environment in specific sectors driving expansion. Firms remained cautious about employment but were confident that demand conditions would improve as the year progressed.

“Although cost burdens remained elevated compared to historical trends, Wales recorded the slowest rise in input prices of the 12 monitored UK regions. However, output charges continued to increase, approaching the UK average, as businesses sought to protect their profit margins.

“The Bank of England’s recent interest rate cut has made monetary policy less restrictive, with further easing expected later in the year.”

Comparison with UK trends

Welsh business activity mirrored UK-wide trends, which saw overall expansion in January. However, only four of the 12 monitored UK regions—London, the North East, the South West, and Wales—registered an upturn in activity. Some firms noted increased demand in specific sectors, though the broader sales environment remained subdued.

While new orders in Wales continued to contract, the rate of decline was weaker than the UK average. Of the ten UK regions reporting lower sales, Wales recorded the slowest decline.

Despite these challenges, business sentiment remained positive, with firms anticipating stronger economic conditions and planned capacity expansions. Of the 12 monitored regions, only the North East, Scotland, and Northern Ireland reported weaker optimism.

Employment and inflationary pressures

Welsh private sector firms reported a fifth consecutive monthly decline in workforce numbers in January. While job losses eased, Wales still experienced one of the sharpest reductions in employment among UK regions, with only the East of England and the West Midlands seeing steeper cuts.

Backlogs of work continued to decline, though at a slower pace than previous months. Firms attributed this to lower new orders, allowing them to process outstanding business more efficiently. The rate of backlog reduction remained quicker than both the UK and long-term series averages.

Meanwhile, input prices surged at the fastest rate since April 2024 due to unfavourable exchange rate movements, rising labour costs, and increased supplier prices. However, Wales recorded the slowest rate of cost inflation among the 12 UK regions.

Output prices followed a different trend, with Welsh firms passing higher costs on to customers at a faster rate. Scotland and Northern Ireland were the only UK regions to report a slower rise in selling prices.

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Community

Dylan Thomas Boathouse wins ‘Win an Architect’ initiative

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CULTURAL LANDMARK SECURES DESIGN PRIZE

THE ICONIC Dylan Thomas Boathouse in Laugharne has been named the winner of this year’s prestigious ‘Win an Architect’ initiative, a competition run by Studio Wignall & Moore.

The initiative seeks to support cultural sites outside London by offering a design concept worth up to £12,000, developed by Wignall & Moore’s award-winning RIBA Chartered architects.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Taf estuary, the Boathouse was home to renowned Welsh poet Dylan Thomas during the final four years of his life. It was here that he wrote some of his most significant works, including parts of Under Milk Wood. Now part of CofGâr, Carmarthenshire County Council’s museums and arts service, the Boathouse continues to attract visitors from across the world.

Enhancing visitor experience

The prize will support plans to improve accessibility and enhance the visitor experience by redesigning the entrance, expanding indoor space, and utilising the old harbour’s potential.

Councillor Hazel Evans, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport, and Tourism, welcomed the recognition:

“Winning the ‘Win an Architect’ prize is a fantastic achievement for the Dylan Thomas Boathouse and CofGâr. This support will help us improve the visitor experience while preserving the Boathouse’s unique character.”

The partnership with Wignall & Moore will extend through 2025, focusing on sustainable enhancements that respect the site’s historical importance and ensure its legacy for future generations.

Yearlong series of events

To celebrate the win, a free creative writing workshop led by award-winning poet and playwright Menna Elfyn took place on January 25, marking the start of a yearlong programme of events and workshops at the Boathouse.

Visitors are encouraged to share ideas and help shape the future of this literary landmark. Booking for events is available via CofGâr.

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