PEMBROKE TOWN COUNCIL has appointed Cllr Jonathan Grimes as Mayor Elect for the coming year.

His wife, Cllr Deborah Grimes, will serve as Mayoress, while Cllr Aden Brinn has been elected as Deputy Mayor Elect.

Speaking following his appointment, Cllr Grimes said the role was a great honour.

“Becoming Mayor of Pembroke honestly means so much to me. This town has given me such a strong sense of community, and to be given the chance to serve it in this way is something I will never take for granted.

“While no community is without its challenges, what gives me confidence is the strength and character of our people. Pembroke is home to hardworking, compassionate, and community-minded individuals who care deeply for one another and for the place we are proud to call home.

“There is also much to look forward to, with the ongoing regeneration project and a busy summer ahead. We have energy, ideas, and a real sense of pride in both our history and our future.

“I am excited to get started, working with you all and doing my part to help Pembroke continue moving in the right direction. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me. I am immensely proud to call Pembroke my home, and it is an even greater honour to serve as your Mayor for the year ahead.”

Business shut down temporarily as court order imposed following repeated offences

A CARDIGAN takeaway has been forced to close temporarily after immigration officers discovered illegal workers during a raid.

Officers from Immigration Enforcement visited Romino’s Pizza & Kebab in Finch Square on Wednesday (Mar 5), where two men from Turkey were found working without the legal right to do so.

The Home Office confirmed that this was not the first time the premises had been targeted. During three previous visits, a total of six illegal workers had been identified, resulting in fines totalling £135,000 for those responsible.

Following the latest visit, officials issued an illegal working closure notice, preventing access to the premises and banning any paid or unpaid work from taking place on site.

Such notices allow authorities to shut down a business immediately for up to 48 hours where illegal employment is identified.

Court order imposed

The following day, Thursday (Mar 6), Immigration Enforcement applied to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court for a formal illegal working compliance order, which was granted.

The order places strict conditions on how the business operates and can remain in force for up to twelve months.

These measures can include restricting access to the premises, requiring full right-to-work checks on all staff, and allowing immigration officers to carry out further inspections.

Such orders are typically used where previous enforcement action has failed to bring businesses into compliance.

Takeaway reopens amid investigation

The Herald understands the takeaway reopened on Monday (Mar 10) and began advertising for new staff the same day.

However, further action may follow, as the Home Office has also requested a review of the premises licence by Ceredigion County Council on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder.

Government warning

A Home Office spokesperson said illegal working damages legitimate businesses and local wages, while also supporting organised immigration crime.

They added that enforcement activity is increasing nationwide, with a significant rise in arrests, and warned that further action will be taken against employers who break the law.

Wales warned to act fast as damning report reveals staff trauma, delayed care and deadly gaps

THE UK’s healthcare system came perilously close to collapse during the Covid-19 pandemic, a major public inquiry has found, with Wales now facing pressure to act on urgent recommendations.

A landmark report published on Thursday (Mar 19) lays bare the scale of the crisis, concluding that hospitals across the UK – including in Wales – were pushed to “intolerable strain”, with some patients receiving lower levels of care and others left untreated altogether.

The findings come as First Minister Eluned Morgan welcomed the report and confirmed the Welsh Government will respond within six months.

System “ill-prepared” for pandemic

The inquiry found the UK entered the pandemic in a weakened state, with staff shortages, too few hospital beds, and ageing infrastructure already placing pressure on services.

Healthcare systems “coped, but only just,” the report states, warning that collapse was only avoided due to the “almost superhuman efforts” of NHS staff.

Many workers suffered severe mental health impacts, with burnout and post-traumatic stress widespread across the workforce.

Patients died alone

Among the most distressing findings was the impact of strict hospital visiting rules.

Thousands of patients died without family by their side, while relatives were often forced to say goodbye over the phone or by text.

The report highlights how restrictions, though intended to save lives, caused lasting trauma for families across Wales and the UK.

Missed treatment and cancer delays

The inquiry also exposes the devastating knock-on effect on non-Covid care.

Planned operations were cancelled, screening programmes paused, and patients avoided hospitals out of fear – leading to delayed diagnoses and, in some cases, avoidable deaths.

Cancer treatment performance worsened, with late diagnoses contributing to increased mortality.

“Fundamental flaws” in response

Investigators identified serious failings in how the pandemic was handled, including:

• Early guidance that underestimated airborne transmission
• Shortages of PPE, leaving staff exposed
• Poor communication with vulnerable patients
• Inadequate planning for emergency and critical care capacity

These issues, the report says, put both patients and staff at greater risk.

NHS 111 and ambulances overwhelmed

Emergency systems also struggled to cope.

Demand for NHS 111 surged beyond capacity, while ambulance delays increased – even for life-threatening calls.

The report warns future pandemics could see similar failures unless urgent reforms are made.

Long Covid and hidden impact

The long-term effects of Covid are still being felt, with inconsistent care for Long Covid patients and ongoing uncertainty around treatment.

Meanwhile, millions of people who needed routine care remain affected by the backlog created during the pandemic.

Welsh Government response

First Minister Eluned Morgan said the Welsh Government would respond “openly and constructively” to the findings.

She acknowledged the significant impact on patients, staff and families and confirmed Wales will address the inquiry’s recommendations within the required six-month timeframe.

Urgent warnings for the future

The inquiry makes ten key recommendations, including:

• Expanding hospital and emergency capacity
• Improving infection control guidance
• Strengthening support for healthcare workers
• Better data systems to identify vulnerable patients

It warns that without action, the NHS may not withstand the next pandemic.

“We may not be so lucky next time”

In one of the report’s starkest conclusions, Baroness Hallett warned that healthcare systems came dangerously close to failure.

If the crisis had lasted longer – or hit harder – the NHS could have collapsed entirely.

The message is clear: Wales and the UK must prepare now, or risk repeating the same mistakes.