News

Pembrokeshire community transport service in funding boost

Published

11 months ago

April 29, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

FUNDING of more than £213,000 for a Pembrokeshire community transport charity group, which supports some of the county’s most vulnerable residents, has been backed by senior councillors.

At the April 28 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet members were asked to continue offering financial support to Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations (PACTO) to support their work to develop and support community transport services in Pembrokeshire over the next five years.

The current funding arrangement with PACTO, of £175,968 over a five-year period, came to an end on March 31.

It was recommended to award a five-year grant at a cost of £40,170 in 2025/26 (£213,268 over five years, including an annual inflationary increase estimated at three per cent.

Over the past five years, PACTO accounts show the council £175,968 core funding has enabled it to secure a total income of £1,439,205.

PACTO is currently in the second year of a major three-year project funded through the Motability Foundation, valued at £1 million.

In a report presented by Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett, who described PACTO as “the glue that knits community transport providers together,” members heard local registered charity PACTO supports and represents the Pembrokeshire’s community transport sector, run by the third sector on a not-for-profit basis to support some of our most vulnerable residents.

“Community transport services in Pembrokeshire currently provide around 50,000 passenger journeys each year, helping to fill gaps in the public transport network, support community groups with their transport needs and assist elderly, disabled and other vulnerable people who struggle to access mainstream public transport,” the report said.

It added: “PACTO does not directly operate community transport services. Its role is to provide support to community transport operators to improve and extend the services they offer, to work with communities and community groups towards addressing unmet transport needs, and to provide information and advice to service users about the services that may be able to assist them.

“Pembrokeshire County Council has provided core funding to PACTO since 2004. The funding has enabled PACTO to provide a range of support and development activities.”

It said the withdrawal of funding could lead to the risk of a loss of many of the services supported, as well as a knock-on effect on council budgets through some of the services enabled.

Cllr Sinnett said, of the option of withdrawing funding: Whilst it would save that £40,000 it would leave us very vulnerable to either stepping in in support of our community transport providers with our limited staff time,” adding: “And PACTO do things we can’t do.”

Members unanimously backed the award.

PACTO, on its website, describes its services as: “Pembrokeshire’s Community Transport services help people and groups who don’t have access to their own transport and who don’t have or can’t use conventional public transport services.”

Local services

Local services provided by third sector operators and community groups include the following.

Royal Voluntary Service, who run the Pembrokeshire Country Car service.

Green Dragon Community Transport, who run dial-a-ride and town rider minibus services across the county and operate wheelchair accessible cars.

Pembrokeshire Voluntary Transport, who operate the Fflecsi service in north west Pembrokeshire and provide wheelchair accessible minibuses and cars for community groups and disabled individuals.

Narberth and District Community and Sports Association, who operate the Bloomfield Dial-a-Bus services for villages around Narberth.

Manorbier Community Transport, who provide a community minibus for local community groups.

VC Gallery, who use a community minibus and car to help service users access their projects and activities.

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.