THE INAUGURAL draw for the Lottery took place on December 1, and the Lottery team had the delightful task of reaching out to all the winners to inform them of their early Christmas gift! John Manchester was the fortunate recipient of the top prize. Very happy to receive his win from members of the Lottery team, John shared that it was a wonderful surprise just in time for Christmas.

The next draw is scheduled for January 2nd. If you haven’t purchased a ticket yet, there’s still time – it only costs £5 per month. You can enter through the website https://saundersfootcommunitylotto.org/ or at The Regency Hall. If you’ve already received your number, please remember to set up your standing order, as several numbers had to be returned during the draw due to unpaid entries. The prizes reflect the total amount in the pot each month, so the more players there are, the larger the prizes!

Tickets can also be bought with cash, with a minimum payment of £30 covering six months of tickets. This can be done at The Regency Hall any Wednesday or Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm.

Saundersfoot Community Lottery was set up in October 2024 to help raise funds to benefit the village. Fifty percent of the monthly pot goes to prizes and the rest is used for administrative costs and community events and groups. So, taking part is a ‘win-win’ – there’s the chance of a prize plus players are contributing to keeping Saundersfoot a vibrant village, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

Best of luck to all participants!

Photograph L-R Sue Boughton-Thomas, Emma Price, Sarah Whiddett, John Manchester, Ray Wise, Moira Saunders

Photo credit Gareth Davies Photography Tenby

A FANTASTIC new accessible art trail connecting Fishguard and Goodwick is officially launching this Sunday (Dec 15). The Art Afoot / Celf ar Droed project brings together exciting new artworks, sculptures, and digital creations, seamlessly blending them with existing arts and heritage features.

Event details

• Date: Sunday, December 15, 2024
• Time: 2:00pm
• Meeting Point: Ocean Lab, Goodwick
• Conclusion: 3:30pm at Ffwrn with refreshments

The launch features a guided walk along the trail where visitors can explore new installations, including Gideon’s seahorse, creative wayfinders, and augmented reality sculptures. This family-friendly event is open to everyone and provides a chance to meet the artists and creators behind the project.

What’s new?

• Fresh public art pieces, including sculptures and AR creations.
• Enhanced trail routes connecting the twin towns of Fishguard and Goodwick.
• Promotion and printed maps supported by Pembrokeshire County Council and Visit Pembrokeshire.

Maps will soon be available at Ocean Lab and Fishguard Town Hall, helping visitors navigate the trails and discover these innovative works of art.

This event promises an afternoon of creativity, community, and connection. Don’t miss this unique celebration of art and heritage.

For more information, visit www.artafoot.co.uk.

See you there!

A CALL for Pembrokeshire County Council to spread a little festive cheer by not issuing any court summonses for non-payment of council tax is to be considered by senior councillors.

A Notice of Motion by Independent group leader Cllr Huw Murphy, heard at the December 12 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, asks: “That PCC do not issue any summonses for appearance at magistrates court for non-payment of council tax during the month of December.”

It adds: “At a Corporate O&S meeting on November 14 it was disclosed that since April 2024 PCC have sent out 14,000 reminder letters with regards to council tax (late payment) and issued 4,000 summonses for non-payment of council tax, which clearly evidences the financial pressure many Pembrokeshire residents currently face.

“December is for many families a festive month and although the debt does not go away the avoidance of any prosecutions during the month of December in the lead up to the festive holiday will indicate some empathy by PCC towards its residents under most financial pressure.”

At the December 12 meeting, members agreed the call be sent to the county council’s Cabinet for further consideration.

Cllr Murphy is no stranger to festive cheer calls; last year asking for the council to overturn a “mean-spirited” decision to end the free collection of trees in Pembrokeshire after the festive season.

That 2023 ‘Christmas tree call-in’ motion, supported by councillors Vanessa Thomas, Anji Tinley, Alan Dennison, Elwyn Morse, Michael James and Iwan Ward, was defeated by nine votes to four.