News
Pembrokeshire Volunteering Awards 2024 celebrating helpers across the county
VOLUNTEERS across Pembrokeshire were honoured at a gala dinner and awards ceremony held on November 28 at The Queen’s Hall, Narberth. The event, organised by PAVS (Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services) and supported by South Hook LNG, showcased the extraordinary efforts of local volunteers.
The Queen’s Hall provided a stunning setting for the evening, with decorations prepared by the venue’s team alongside PAVS staff. Around 80 volunteers and their guests enjoyed a meal by Block and Barrel, followed by a captivating performance by the Preseli Voices Community Choir.
Seven awards categories celebrated
The ceremony featured seven award categories, each highlighting the dedication of Pembrokeshire’s volunteers. Jessica Bickerton, Chief Officer of PAVS, introduced the finalists, praising their outstanding contributions to their communities.
Mariam Dalziel, South Hook LNG’s PR Manager, said: “Congratulations to all nominees. To be a part of these awards is to be part of something incredibly special, celebrating the tremendous effort of volunteers across our county. At South Hook, we are proud to continue our support for these awards, working with PAVS to highlight the positive impact volunteering brings to our community.”
Special guest presenters handed out each award, with winners later sharing their inspiring stories in interviews with Toby Ellis of Pure West Radio. These stories are available on the radio station’s website.
Winners and finalists
Young Volunteer (under 25)
- Winner: Zoe Jones – POINT Youth Centre
- Highly Commended: Charlie Evans – Milford Youth Matters
- Presented by: Anna Mullarkey, Stakeholder Engagement & Communications Manager, Port of Milford Haven
Mike Beckett Award (youth group aged under 25)
- Winners: POINT Youth Forum
- Highly Commended: Youth Ambassador Team – Sandy Bear Bereavement Charity
- Presented by: Gwen Beckett
Trustee/Board Award
- Winners: Andrea Farmer and Isobel Hall – Sandy Bear Bereavement Charity
- Highly Commended: Julie Fulton – Pembrokeshire People First
- Presented by: Claire Incledon, Chair of Trustees, PAVS
Long Service Award
- Winner: Paul Guisbourne-Hilton – Various charities
- Highly Commended: Julie Fulton – Pembrokeshire People First
- Commended: Kathleen Llewellyn – Paul Sartori Foundation
- Presented by: Cllr Marc Tierney
Individual Over 25
- Winner: Sue Canham – Royal Voluntary Service
- Highly Commended: Nadine Farmer – Sandy Bear Bereavement Charity; Neil Houghton – Redberth Croft CIC
- Commended: Cerian Goodbourn – Sea Trust Wales; Valerie Harrold – Paul Sartori Foundation
- Presented by: Neil Wooding, Chair, Hywel Dda University Health Board and WCVA
Mary Sigley Award
- Winner: David Bundock – Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority
- Highly Commended: Paul Guisbourne-Hilton – Various charities
- Presented by: Tom Dyer, Pure West Radio
Group Over 25
- Winner: ‘Found it @ Frame’ Volunteers
- Highly Commended: Esteam Volunteers
- Commended: West Wales Walking for Wellbeing
- Presented by: Mariam Dalziel, South Hook LNG
For more information about volunteering in Pembrokeshire, contact [email protected] or call PAVS at 01437 769722. Details are also available at www.pavs.org.uk.
Uplifting performances, heartwarming stories, and the celebration of remarkable individuals made this year’s event a memorable tribute to Pembrokeshire’s volunteers.
Community
Clean up starts after storm causes chaos across Pembrokeshire
PEMBROKESHIRE has been hit hard by a powerful storm, bringing widespread disruption to roads, power lines, and infrastructure. Authorities are working tirelessly to manage the impact and ensure public safety.
Key routes across the county have been shut due to fallen trees, hazardous debris, and damaged structures. Among the most significant closures are:
- Cleddau Bridge: Closed to all high sided vehicles due to safety concerns.
- A478 Pentlepoir to New Hedges: Impassable until further notice.
- A40 Treffgarne to Wolfscastle: Blocked by a large tree, awaiting clearance once the red weather warning is lifted.
- B4327 Dale Road: Closed near Walwyn’s Castle due to a large tree obstructing the road.
- Wiston to Clarbeston Road: Closure enforced due to live power cables making clearance unsafe.
Additional closures include sections of the A4075, B4332, and multiple rural roads across the county. Motorists are urged to exercise caution and use alternative routes where possible.
Ongoing clearance efforts
Local teams and specialist contractors are battling challenging conditions to reopen key routes. Notable progress includes:
- Clearing trees and debris from the B4329 near Scolton Manor and Withybush Road in Haverfordwest.
- Removing hazards along the B4330 and surrounding areas, including multiple trees down near Mathry and Wolfscastle.
Power Outages and Structural Damage
Over 2,300 properties in Pembrokeshire are without power as National Grid crews work to restore services. Vulnerable residents are receiving priority support, and the public is encouraged to check on their neighbours during the outages.
Reports of structural damage include:
- Flying roof tiles in Howarth Close, Milford Haven.
- Shop signs down in Charles Street, Milford Haven
- Tree toppled, Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven
- A collapsed wall on College Road, Neyland, leading to footpath closures.
- A garage canopy hazard at Begelly, now cleared by emergency teams.
Advice to residents
Pembrokeshire County Council has urged patience as they handle a surge in reports of fallen trees and hazardous conditions. Residents are encouraged to report new issues by calling 0345 6015522.
The public is also reminded to avoid unnecessary travel and to keep clear of dangerous structures and fallen power lines.
Power cuts and safety
National Grid has confirmed 23 separate incidents affecting electricity supply. Repairs are ongoing, but the situation may persist in some areas for several hours. Residents can report power outages by calling 105.
The Herald’s coverage continues
The Pembrokeshire Herald will continue to provide live updates as the storm unfolds. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for the latest developments.
Business
Welsh Government rejects Council’s tourism tax plea
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has rejected a request from Pembrokeshire County Council to reconsider its 182-night rule on holiday letting.
In a letter to the local authority from Wales’s Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford, the Welsh Government said it would not reconsider its approach until it had two years’ data on its effects.
The Labour government introduced the 182-night rule to target property owners who casually rent properties and pay neither the increased Council Tax premium on second homes nor Small Business Rates. By encouraging owners to release properties onto the for-sale market, the government wants to increase the availability of homes in Wales’s holiday hotspots. It’s a blunt tool, and there have been predictable but unforeseen consequences (at least by the Welsh Government). The rule’s introduction has reduced the number of properties upon which owners pay either the enhanced rate of Council Tax for second homes or pay business rates.
A LETTER TO MARK
On October 17, Pembrokeshire’s county councillors instructed the Council leader to write to the Welsh Government asking for a reduction in the 182-night rule.
Although councillors agreed an increase in the previous threshold was welcome, many felt the letting target was too high for many viable businesses.
The letter to the Welsh Government said: “Whilst 182 days is certainly achievable in some of our main tourist towns such as Tenby, Saundersfoot, and Newport, it was very difficult to achieve this in other parts of the county, particularly away from the sea.”
The letter said the rule is having a detrimental effect on Pembrokeshire’s vital tourism industry.
Council Leader Jon Harvey’s letter also said: “We do not wish to implement any local policy decisions that would conflict with Welsh Government, and, as such, I am formally writing to you to ask the Welsh Government to consider reducing the 182 days let threshold for self-catering properties to qualify for Non-Domestic Rates.”
DRAKEFORD SAYS “NO”
In a reply from Mark Drakeford, which was circulated to all Council members, the Welsh Government refused to reconsider its position ahead of the next tourism season.
Mr Drakeford said: “The primary aims of our changes to local taxes are to ensure property owners are making a fair contribution and to maximise the use of property to the benefit of local communities. This could include benefits arising from increased occupancy for short-term letting or the release of some properties for sale or rent as permanent homes for local people.
“As a consequence of the changes, self-catering properties are classed as non-domestic only if they are being used for business purposes for the majority of the year. This provides a clearer demonstration that the properties concerned are being let regularly and are making a substantial contribution to the local economy.”
Mr Drakeford claimed that information from businesses engaged in holiday letting showed the Welsh Government’s approach was having the effects Cardiff Bay desired. That seems contrary to data provided by the Wales Tourism Alliance and the figures produced for Pembrokeshire County Council’s budget.
Confirming the Welsh Government has no plans to reconsider its position, Mark Drakeford said: “We understand that there may be a period of adjustment, as some property owners consider their options and determine how to respond. It will be important to allow time for the changes to embed before drawing any firm conclusions.
“The initial impact on the number of self-catering properties classified as non-domestic will be known after April 2025, when two years will have elapsed since the changes took effect. This is when the Valuation Office Agency is expected to have completed a full round of routine compliance checks.”
Claiming that reconsidering the position would cause “uncertainty” in the private letting sector, Mr Drakeford wrote: “There are no plans to undertake a formal review in the short-term, nor in isolation from the broader package of measures within our three-pronged approach to tackling the impact that large numbers of second homes and holiday lets can have on communities and the Welsh language.”
That’s not only a “no”, it’s a “no” with knobs on.
YOU ALREADY HAVE ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED
Mark Drakeford doubled down on his “no” by claiming Pembrokeshire County Council already had all the tools it needed to address the problems caused by the tourism tax.
He said: “We have extended the exceptions to council tax premiums to include properties with a planning condition which specifies that the property may only be used as a holiday let or prevents its permanent occupation as a person’s sole or main residence. We have also provided
guidance for local authorities on the use of discretion to tailor their arrangements to reflect local circumstances.”
Quite how designating a property for a holiday let allows its release onto the local housing market where homes for local families are in short supply is unaddressed.
The Finance Secretary continues: “Where a self-catering property does not meet the letting criteria and is not subject to a planning condition, the Welsh Government has provided local authorities with as much discretion as possible to consider the approach to take for the benefit of your communities.
“We consider our local taxation regime will help local authorities to incentivise the right balance between capacity within the self-catering tourism sector, and [its[ economic benefits and supporting viable communities of local residents to live and work in these areas.”
If, as Mark Drakeford claims, Pembrokeshire County Council has all the powers and options it needs to address the issue, there will, no doubt, be a flood of information coming from the Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Joshua Beynon, to show members precisely where the rabbit that should be in the hat is hidden.
News
Pembrokeshire County Council prepares for severe weather impact
THE COUNCIL says it has initiated emergency preparedness plans as the county braces for severe weather conditions this weekend. Additional staff are on standby to tackle potential issues across the highways network and in local communities.
Key measures announced include:
- Facility closures: All council-operated facilities, including leisure centres, libraries, parkland, and Waste and Recycling Centres, will remain closed on Saturday, December 7.
- Public transport suspension: Bus services will be halted, and Transport for Wales has been informed of the disruption.
- Cleddau Bridge restrictions: High-sided vehicles are advised to avoid the Cleddau Bridge, which may face a full closure overnight and throughout Saturday due to high winds.
- Emergency shelter: An emergency night shelter has been opened and will remain operational until Monday, December 9, to support those in need.
- Community support: Care providers and care homes have implemented contingency plans to safeguard Pembrokeshire’s most vulnerable residents.
The council urges residents to remain vigilant and stay updated via Pembrokeshire County Council’s social media channels over the weekend.
For more information and updates, monitor local news outlets.
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