Community
Council could force long-term empty Pembrokeshire home sales
A CALL for Pembrokeshire councillors to back potential enforced sales of problem long-term empty properties in the county has been put on hold as the paperwork was not 100 per cent complete.
At Pembrokeshire County Council’s Policy and Pre-Decision Overview and Scrutiny Committee of June 10, members were asked to recommend the council’s Cabinet approve an Enforced Sales Policy and Procedure for Long Term Problematic Empty Properties.
In Pembrokeshire, long-term empty properties and second homes pay a premium on council tax rates.
Second homes in Pembrokeshire have a council tax premium of 150 per cent above the standard rate, while long-term empty properties are now charged at a 300 per cent premium for those empty over two years, replacing a more complicated sliding scale rate used previously.
A report for members at the June meeting said: “A principal motivation for producing this policy is to improve the ability to deal with empty properties and create new homes. An additional consideration, however, is that it will also have wider corporate benefits in relation to aiding in the regeneration of commercial empty properties, debt recovery for outstanding works and court costs which can be significant in relation to works that may need to be carried out.”
It said, as of April 2023, there were around 1,000 residential properties in Pembrokeshire which had been empty for six months or more, along with “numerous empty non-residential properties that also remain empty for significant periods of time thus contributing to potential detriment to the amenity and appearance of our communities”.
It added: “Long-term empty properties are considered a waste of a valuable resource which could be added to the pool of much-needed housing in the county. They can also frequently become blights to neighbourhoods by becoming targets for antisocial behaviour, trespass, vandalism and arson.
“Pembrokeshire County Council wishes to work with the owners of empty properties to encourage them to bring their properties back in to use, and to provide information and advice on the assistance schemes available to owners of long-term empty properties, both residential and commercial.
“There is opportunity also to bring empty commercial buildings back into use through conversion into residential or improvement for re-use for non-residential purposes.”
It went on to say that legislation available would be used to deal with problematic long-term empty properties, and to recover outstanding debts which have been placed as land charges in “circumstances where the present owner is either unwilling or unable to comply with legal notices issued by the council, or the ownership is unknown whereby works in default have had to be undertaken on properties and a legal charge lodged to reclaim this charge”.
“Pembrokeshire County Council will consider the appropriateness of pursuing an enforced sale as part of a wider consideration of all available options to achieve the goal of bringing long-term empty properties back into use. Each case will be treated on its merits.”
It said any enforced sales would be “essentially a debt recovery process which recoups debts owed to the council with a threshold of £1,000 placed to trigger the procedure, with any costs incurred by the council in the process also recoverable.
“At no time will the council take ownership or responsibility for the property,” it stressed, adding: “Should the owner repay the council debt before the enforced sale process is completed, then the process is stopped, and the property remains with its current owner.”
It finished: “The policy is only one of a range of tools for dealing with empty properties and utilising the policy would be a last resort. The work carried out by officers prior to considering using the enforced sales route will provide an opportunity to support owners and individuals to ensure they are dealt with in a fair and sympathetic manner.”
At the meeting itself members were told the item had been withdrawn from the agenda, to return to the September committee, with new vice-chair Cllr Aled Thomas expressing his disappointment.
“I was expecting to come here today to talk this over, we all agree it’s a big issue, could we have a flavour of why it was removed? It feels like it’s pushed back with little or no explanation.”
Chair Cllr Simon Hancock said a “cast iron assurance” had been made that the matter would be heard at the September meeting, an issue having arisen the previous day, with more work needed on the report for members.
He said it was “right and proper” that any report for members was “100 per cent” before any further discussions.
The agenda item was withdrawn from the meeting, earmarked to return to the September committee.
Community
The gentle giant behind the tattoos
Pembrokeshire security worker Josh Davies praised for professionalism, kindness and proving first impressions can be wrong
JOSH Davies is hard to miss.
With tattoos across his head, face, neck and hands, he is the kind of man people notice before they know anything about him.
But those who know him, work with him, or have simply crossed paths with him after a long night on duty, tell a very different story.
They describe him as a gentleman. A grafter. A man with a big heart. Someone who would do anything to help another person.

Now Josh, who completed his Door Supervisor course with RM Training and Security Solutions last year, is being praised for the way he has built a career in the security industry and become a valued member of the team.
The Pembrokeshire-based company said Josh had gone “from strength to strength” since gaining his licence, working across licensed venues, events, customer-facing roles, response duties and other security work.
A spokesperson for RM Training and Security Solutions said: “From day one, Josh showed a natural ability for the security industry.
“Since gaining his licence, he has thrown himself into every opportunity presented to him, working across a variety of roles including licensed venues, events, customer-facing positions, response duties, and much more.

“There genuinely seems to be nothing Josh cannot turn his hand to. His willingness to learn, adaptability, reliability, and positive attitude have made him a valued member of the RM team.”
But it is not only his employers who have noticed.
After RM Training shared Josh’s success story online, dozens of people came forward to praise him, with many saying his appearance should never be mistaken for the man underneath.
One woman said she had met Josh on a Sunday morning after he had finished a night shift.
She said: “He was an absolute gentleman. Someone you would say from first impression of meeting, nice guy, good guy.”
Another person, who said she had known Josh since he was young and treated him like a son, said: “I can’t thank him enough for what he has done for me in my life. He is one in a million.
“People look at him like a big boy, but he has got a heart and he will do anything to help anyone.”
Others described him as a “great bloke”, “absolute gentleman”, “sound bloke”, and someone who was “built to be a doorman”.
In an industry where first impressions, calm judgement and public confidence matter, RM Training said Josh’s professionalism had become one of his strongest qualities.
The company added: “What stands out most is his professionalism. Whether dealing with members of the public, clients, colleagues, or challenging situations, Josh consistently demonstrates the highest standards expected within our industry.
“He represents both himself and RM Training & Security Solutions exceptionally well at all times.
“We are incredibly proud to have Josh as part of the team and look forward to watching his continued growth and success within the security industry.”
Security staff are often seen only when something goes wrong, but much of the work involves preventing problems before they happen, reassuring the public, supporting event organisers, and knowing how to deal with difficult situations calmly.
Josh’s story has struck a chord because it challenges the quick assumptions people can make.
To some, the tattoos may be the first thing they see.
To those who know him, they are simply part of a man who has worked hard, taken his chance, and earned respect through his attitude and actions.
One supporter summed it up simply: “Life loves a grafter.”
Photo caption:
Josh Davies has been praised by RM Training and Security Solutions and members of the public for his professionalism and kindness (Pics: DarthMartyMedia).
Community
Artist explores memory, community and changing rural life in new Cardigan exhibition
A NEW exhibition exploring memory, belonging and the changing face of rural life is opening in Cardigan.
West Wales artist Sue Dewhurst will present From the Outside Looking In at Oriel Cardi Bach, with the exhibition running from June 27 to July 30.
The collection brings together several new series of work reflecting on the people, places and traditions that shaped Dewhurst’s childhood in the 1970s.
At the heart of the exhibition are the Chapel Girls, a group of paintings focusing on women who might once have filled the chapels that dominated Welsh village life. In Dewhurst’s work, they are now seen finding new forms of belonging through shopping trips, bingo halls, dating apps, bottomless brunches and everyday rituals, while redundant chapels stand silent around them.
The exhibition also includes A Bit of a Do, a series inspired by weddings, family parties and village hall celebrations.
Among the familiar characters are the mysterious woman in her best hat who appears at every gathering, the accountant calculating buffet logistics, the retired nurse dancing barefoot long after everyone else has gone home, and Harry, a grumpy gent with a mysteriously missing fingertip that nobody dares ask about.
Dewhurst’s Ghost Town series will also feature, exploring the changing landscapes of northern mill towns and communities transformed beyond recognition. These works sit alongside expressive coastal paintings inspired by New Quay and the Ceredigion coast.
A further installation of miniature “party paintings” will be presented like treasured relics rescued from a forgotten village hall or working men’s club. Wrapped with handwritten stories and nostalgic memorabilia, the pieces invite visitors to remember people and moments that might otherwise disappear.
Sue said music also plays an important role in the exhibition.
She said: “Music is so evocative for me and can instantly transport me back to a certain point in time.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the lives we don’t usually celebrate – the women who held communities together, the odd characters who turned up at every family occasion, the places that shaped us and the memories that linger long after buildings and traditions have changed.
“This exhibition is really about looking back with affection and humour, while recognising that we are all, in one way or another, trying to find where we belong.”
Originally from Lancashire and now based near Llandysul, Dewhurst has spent more than thirty years working in the arts. She previously ran Oriel Haywire in Llandysul before its closure around eighteen months ago.
From the Outside Looking In opens at Oriel Cardi Bach, Cardigan, on June 27 and runs until July 30.
Visitors are invited to rediscover familiar faces, forgotten stories and the beauty found in ordinary lives.
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Community
Bongo Clive brings rhythm and smiles to VC Gallery celebration
LEARNING DISABILITY WEEK MARKED WITH MUSIC, LAUGHTER AND INCLUSION IN PEMBROKE DOCK
THE VC GALLERY in Pembroke Dock was filled with music, laughter and energy as visitors came together to celebrate Learning Disability Week.
The event saw popular entertainer Bongo Clive lead a lively session of singing, drumming and participation, with those attending joining in throughout the day.
The gallery said the session had created a joyful atmosphere, with music helping to bring people together and celebrate inclusion, creativity and wellbeing.

A spokesperson for The VC Gallery said: “The smiles said it all. A huge thank you to Bongo Clive for bringing your incredible energy, enthusiasm and positivity to The VC today. You certainly had everyone moving to the beat.”
Learning Disability Week celebrates inclusion and the abilities, creativity and individuality of people with learning disabilities.
The Pembroke Dock event highlighted the role of community spaces such as The VC Gallery in supporting wellbeing, friendship and confidence through shared creative activities.
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