LUCY HINKSMAN has been officially appointed to Haverfordwest Town Council as the newest representative for Castle Ward.

Cllr Hinksman was welcomed to the council this evening by fellow members, including Cllr Josh Odlin, Deputy Mayor Cllr Adam Benson-Davies, and the Sheriff of Haverfordwest, Cllr Dani Thomas-Turner.

She brings experience from her work with People First and is known locally for her advocacy on inclusion, equality, and ensuring people’s voices are heard.

Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner welcomed the appointment, saying Lucy’s commitment to supporting people and strengthening the community would make her a strong asset to both Castle Ward and Haverfordwest.

He said he looked forward to working with her as the council continues its work for the town.

Labour, Plaid Cymru and Green members leave chamber as political tensions boil over in first major clash of new Senedd term

A HEATED row erupted in the Senedd after a Reform UK Member of the Senedd made remarks that prompted politicians from Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party to walk out of the debating chamber in protest.

The dramatic scenes unfolded during a debate when Reform MS Joe Martin criticised the state of education in Wales, making comments about literacy standards that opponents said were insulting and disrespectful.

Video of the exchange quickly spread across social media, drawing strong reactions from supporters and critics alike.

During his speech, Martin referred to concerns about educational attainment in Wales and questioned the performance of the Welsh education system. However, opposition members accused him of crossing a line by mocking Welsh pupils and making remarks they considered offensive.

As tensions rose, members from Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party left the chamber in a coordinated walkout, signalling their disapproval of the comments.

The incident marks one of the most significant confrontations since the newly elected Senedd first convened following the May election.

Growing political divide

The walkout highlights the increasingly confrontational atmosphere that has developed between Reform UK and the other parties represented in the Welsh Parliament.

Reform entered the Senedd with a significantly larger presence following the election, fundamentally changing the political landscape and creating a more divided chamber than in previous terms.

Supporters of Reform argued that Martin was highlighting genuine concerns about educational standards and literacy rates in Wales, while opponents maintained that criticism of government policy should not come at the expense of pupils and communities.

The exchange quickly became a major talking point online, with clips attracting thousands of views and generating fierce debate about standards of political discourse in Wales.

Education remains key battleground

Education is expected to remain one of the most fiercely contested issues during the current Senedd term.

Recent years have seen repeated concerns raised about educational performance, attendance levels and attainment gaps, while Welsh Government ministers have defended ongoing reforms and investment in schools.

The latest clash demonstrates how debates over education are likely to become increasingly political as parties seek to define themselves ahead of future elections.

While walkouts are relatively uncommon in the Senedd, Wednesday’s protest underscored the strength of feeling among opposition members and provided an early indication of the battles that may lie ahead in the new parliamentary term.

The incident is likely to fuel further debate both inside and outside the Senedd over political standards, educational performance and the direction of Welsh public policy under the new political landscape.

Council admits demand exceeds supply as housing issues contribute to hospital discharge delays

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has acknowledged that there is not enough suitable accessible housing in the county to meet demand, with more than 400 people currently waiting for accommodation that meets their needs.

The admission came in response to questions from The Pembrokeshire Herald about housing, health and accessibility in Pembrokeshire.

The council revealed that 403 people are currently registered on the Pembrokeshire Accessible Housing Register waiting for accessible social housing.

Of those, 81% are in the highest-priority gold band, while 62% require one-bedroom accessible accommodation.

The authority also disclosed that 111 cases are currently awaiting occupational therapy assessment through to approval of assessed works under Disabled Facilities Grants and discretionary disabled assistance grants.

The figures highlight growing pressure on housing services in a county with an ageing population and increasing demand for homes that can accommodate people with disabilities, mobility problems and long-term health conditions.

A council spokesperson said: “Within Pembrokeshire, we recognise that there are challenges around unsuitable housing, often linked with an ageing housing stock across all tenures of accommodation.

“We recognise that poor and inaccessible housing can be a contributing factor to ill health and increased demand on housing, health and social care services.”

Hospital discharge concerns

The council also confirmed that housing-related issues can affect hospital discharge planning.

Officials said there had been an increase in housing-related discharge delays in recent years, often because people leaving hospital require home adaptations or alternative accommodation that better suits their needs following changes in their health or mobility.

The spokesperson said: “There are concerns related to housing-related delays which impact hospital discharge planning locally.

“There has been an increase in housing related delays due to a range of factors, including the need for suitable accommodation following changes in an individual’s health or functioning, which subsequently can lead to a need for home adaptations, or alternative accessible accommodation sourced.”

The council stressed that housing-related factors still represent a relatively small proportion of overall discharge delays in Pembrokeshire.

Shortage recognised

Asked whether enough suitable housing exists locally for older residents and people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, the council accepted that current provision falls short of demand.

The spokesperson said: “Given the numbers we have on our Accessible Housing Register as well as the ageing population in the county, we acknowledge that there is insufficient suitable accessible housing to currently meet demand.”

The authority said the issue has already been identified within the Local Housing Market Assessment 2023 and the Pembrokeshire Housing Strategy 2024-2027.

Working to improve provision

The council said its Occupational Therapy Service works closely with housing providers across Pembrokeshire to assess needs and support the delivery of appropriate housing solutions, including adaptations to existing homes and the development of adapted properties.

For social housing tenants requiring adaptations, needs are assessed by occupational therapists, with work either carried out by landlords or, where necessary, alternative accommodation sought.

The authority also said that new social housing developments are designed to meet Lifetime Homes standards under Welsh Government housing requirements.

Housing and social care teams work together to help shape the type and design of new homes being developed in the county, using information from the Accessible Housing Register to identify future demand.

The comments come amid growing national concern over the impact of unsuitable housing on health, independence and demand for public services, particularly as Wales’ population continues to age.

This is a cleaner local government/housing story that stands on its own and avoids repeating the earlier Welsh Government/NHS-focused piece.