PAUL MARR has pledged to be a strong voice for communities across Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, drawing on decades of frontline experience in public service.

A Prison Service veteran and former NHS manager, Mr Marr led an award-winning Drug Intervention Programme and has worked closely with police, probation, social services and healthcare professionals.

His career has involved supporting offenders, people battling addiction, vulnerable residents and those facing complex mental health challenges.

Mr Marr said: “Throughout my career, I have seen people at their absolute worst, but I have also seen the power of compassion, support and opportunity to change lives.

“I believe this experience gives me a unique understanding of the challenges many people face and how we can work together to improve lives and strengthen our communities.”

Mr Marr said it would be “a privilege and an honour” to represent the people of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire in the Senedd.

He said his priorities would include tackling anti-social behaviour and crime, working closely with local police, and addressing environmental concerns including pollution in local seas and waterways.

He added: “I have already spoken with residents about concerns over waste on our streets, environmental pollution and community safety.

“These are issues that directly affect people’s quality of life, and I am committed to working with local agencies and organisations to ensure meaningful action is taken.”

Mr Marr, who is also a passionate advocate for veterans and disabled people, said he would press for improved support services and ensure vulnerable groups are not overlooked.

He said: “I have a personal commitment to supporting veterans and people living with disabilities, and I will continue to advocate strongly on their behalf wherever I can.”

Mr Marr said his approach would be to represent all residents, regardless of how they voted.

He added: “Most importantly, I am here to serve the people regardless of how they voted.

“My priority is to listen, help where I can, and work tirelessly to ensure Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire remain safe, strong and supportive places for everyone.”

Reform MS says Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion must not be treated as an afterthought

CLAIRE ARCHIBALD MS has met senior representatives of Hywel Dda University Health Board to discuss proposed changes to stroke services across west Wales.

The Reform MS for Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion said she understood why many residents were concerned whenever specialist services appeared to be moving further away from rural communities.

Under the proposal, suspected stroke patients would continue to be assessed, scanned and given urgent treatment locally before being transferred to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen, where a new specialist stroke unit would be created.

The health board says the model would provide a level of specialist stroke care not currently available across the constituency, with the aim of improving access to round-the-clock expertise.

However, concerns remain over transfer times, inter-hospital transport, rehabilitation, and the impact on patients and families living in rural areas.

Ms Archibald said: “My priority is clear: people in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion must have access to the safest and best possible stroke care, without rural communities being treated as an afterthought.”

She said she had raised questions directly with health board representatives and would continue to scrutinise the plans.

She added: “This is not something I will approach with shouting or point-scoring. Stroke care is too important for that.

“I will listen carefully, ask the difficult questions, challenge where needed, and work constructively with the Health Board to get the best outcome for local people.”

Ms Archibald said she would meet the health board again to discuss Bronglais, Withybush and local services in more detail.

She also said she would hold the Welsh Government to account in the Senedd over funding for rural healthcare.

The proposals form part of Hywel Dda’s wider review of clinical services, which has already prompted strong debate across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire over the future shape of hospital care.

PLANS to diversify a National Trust campsite on the Pembrokeshire coast, with seasonal siting for campervans and ‘landpods’ are expected to be approved by the national park.

In an application recommended for delegated approval at the June meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, the National Trust seeks permission for a change of use of land for camping, the seasonal siting of five ‘landpods’ and 20 campervans and associated works at Gupton Farm, near Freshwater West.

The application is before the committee rather than being decided by planning officers as it is an application recommended for approval which is a departure from the adopted Local Development Plan 2.

An officer report recommending approval says the site currently operates as an established seasonal campsite under a National Trust exemption certificate.

“The existing campsite has operated for approximately 10 years and currently accommodates seasonal tent camping and a limited number of campervan pitches utilising existing site infrastructure including shower and toilet facilities, sewage treatment infrastructure, access tracks and parking areas.

“The proposal seeks to formalise and diversify the existing operation by allowing greater flexibility in accommodation type and pitch management whilst maintaining the existing overall site capacity of a maximum of 100 people and 50 pitches per night.”

It adds: “The submitted information confirms that the proposal does not seek to increase overall occupancy levels at the site but instead proposes a redistribution of accommodation types through increased campervan provision and the introduction of seasonal landpods. The landpods are proposed as free-standing seasonal structures with no permanent drainage or utility connections and would be removed from the site during December, January and February.”

It says that, while the scheme represents a departure from planning policy “due to the sensitive coastal landscape location,” officers consider “that the seasonal nature of the proposal, the established exempted camping use, the absence of any increase in overall site capacity, the landscape-led design approach and the significant biodiversity and visitor management benefits weigh in favour of the proposal”.

The report adds an original pre-application proposal conflicted in part [with policies] “due to the scale and sensitivity of the site location,” officers advising there could be scope to support “a reduced-scale, clearly seasonal proposal where robust landscape mitigation, ecological enhancement and visitor management justification could be demonstrated”.

It said the submitted application sought to address those concerns; the scheme which incorporates “significant landscape and biodiversity enhancement measures” is “specifically designed as a seasonal and reversible form of development, with the Landpods removed from the site outside the operational season and stored within an existing onsite barn”.

The report later says: “On balance, it is considered that the proposal would not result in unacceptable harm to the special qualities of the National Park and that the material considerations in favour of the proposal outweigh the identified policy tensions in this instance. The principle of the development is therefore considered acceptable subject to appropriate planning conditions.”

It is recommended to delegate conditional approval to officers following the end of a public advertisement period for a policy departure.