News

Badger and a question of honour

Published

10 years ago

March 4, 2015

badgersquestion READERS: Badger finds himself in an unusual position today. Admittedly a position not quite as unusual as the one involving a snorkel, a small rubber chicken on a spring, and a set of bagpipes which made last weekend so entertaining; but a very odd position, nonetheless. There have been times (many times), readers over columns (many columns) in which Badger has suggested that if the combined integrity of certain members of the IPPG were converted into manure, the resultant odour would not manage to stink out a matchbox. Now, readers, integrity comes in many guises: Badger always had a soft spot for the late Rev Dr Ian Paisley. Badger eschewed the late Doctor’s anti-Catholicism and immoderate social views, but there is always something attractive about absolute certainty and fixity of purpose. You did not have to agree with anything Ian Paisley (Lord Bannside) did and said to know that there was a man totally sincere in his beliefs and possessed of the will and integrity to persuade others to follow him. And that sincerity led him to reach a conclusion to his political career that caused him to understand that there is, indeed, “a time for war, a time for peace”. Badger never thought that the day would come that in a certain black-hearted and bleak way he would ever say that in a Council vote, Brian Hall acted with integrity and consistency. Not least as the only thing that Councillor Hall (Pembroke Dock: Market) has in common with the late Ian Paisley is an inclination towards a certain shouty, puce-faced rage. Along with John Allen Mirehouse (Hundleton), whom Badger respectfully suggests needs a long run up and a following wind to catch up with current events, Brian Hall was one of only two IPPG councillors to stand up for the position their group has maintained since time immemorial.

The third councillor to back Bryn, Owen James (Scleddau), who palpably dances to a tune only he can hear, is unaffiliated. Daphne “Brains” Bush; David Pugh, the grants guru: and John “Cwrnbetws” Davies, Stalin to Jamie’s Krushchev, abstained. Of course, readers, Daphne might have been confused in the no confidence vote by the two IPPG voters ahead of her in the alphabetical list being Adams (For) and Allen-Mirehouse (against) and just picked the middle option. The other two are, by and large, yesterday’s men. Badger wants you to be very clear about this readers: apart from this paper’s revelation about his conduct towards councillors and the content of East Williamston blogster Jacob Williams’ website, no new information has reached the public domain about Bryn’s conduct since the last time the !PPG rallied around him to save his skin. Moreover, The Herald had the guts to publish a story about Bryn’s behaviour by following up a story that was known in County Hall for some time before it hit our front page. In other words, readers, it is not Bryn’s faults and flaws that have caused the MPG to abandon him but public knowledge of the same. Think about it readers: what has changed to compel Jamie Adams to drop the !PPG’s pilot? What has come to the !PPG’s attention that has changed their minds about whether or not Bryn retains their confidence? Nothing. There was no moment on the Road to Damascus. No blinding light that led them to the paths of righteousness. The IPPG made the same sort of decision that any political party would make:

even a political party which is not a political party. Faced with the little boy shouting that their emperor had no clothes, the IPPG voted to try and save its own skin. Now readers, Brian Hall is not the Messiah. In fact, Brian is notorious for being a very naughty boy. But Brian, who has been close to Bryn Parry Jones for many years, did not abandon Bryn for reasons of expediency. Brian stood by his man. And for that, Badger can sort of respect Councillor Hall. Brian Hall is wrong but he showed more spine than the hordes of the IPPG who played follow-my-leader after Jamie’s tortuous and tortured address. Brian Hall is wrong but, compared to others in the IPPG, he had the courage to be unpopular. Reverend Huw George, the Minister of Mirth and Pancakes (please, readers, watch last Friday’s webcast for more on this Batter of Faith; you will not believe your very eyes and ears!), will be familiar with John 15:13. In Badger’s King James Version of the New Testament, the verse goes something like “Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

The !PPG’s conduct reminds Badger of a famous political quote. In 1962, Harold Macmillan, the Tory Prime Minister, sacked seven of his Cabinet in an attempt to bolster his administration’s rapidly declining popularity and enhance its electoral chances. Even the loyal Selwyn Lloyd, then Chancellor of the Exchequer was thrown to the wolves. The Liberal politician Jeremy Thorpe, freely adapted the biblical text for political purposes. He opined: “Greater love bath no man than this: that a man lay down his friends for his life.” And so it was with the IPPG and Bryn. Theologians have found inventive ways to re-interpret the Bible. Some of the Ten Commandments are apparently negotiable, although – as a non-believer – Badger would hesitate to say which. Perhaps the Maenclochog Mystic can tell Badger which of The Commandments are open to flexible interpretation. When he exhorts his congregation to follow the precepts of “the good book”. perhaps Huw likes to skip over John 15:13 as one of those more “problematic” passages. However Huw chooses to mangle his words and play with their sense. Badger has concluded that there is more likely to be honour among thieves than honour (or a sense of shame) within the IPPG. Apart from — and in a very
limited sense Brian. A man called Brian.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

6 mins ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

News

Protest in Lampeter to save Wales’ oldest university

Published

33 mins ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Wales’ oldest university staged a march and demonstration last Friday (Dec 20) in a bid to highlight the plight of the Lampeter campus.

The protest, organised by the Lampeter Society, brought together former and current students, along with local residents, to oppose plans by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) to relocate humanities courses to Carmarthen next September.

The rally began at Lampeter Rugby Club at 10:30am, with demonstrators marching to the university campus. Despite the timing—on a weekday and so close to Christmas—organisers reported a strong turnout.

Ieuan Davies, one of the organisers and a Lampeter alumnus from the 1980s, said: “We wanted to show support for the students whose education is being directly affected by these plans, and to remind decision-makers of the devastating impact this will have on the local economy and culture.”

Established in 1822, Lampeter is Wales’ oldest higher education institution. In 2009, it merged with Trinity College Carmarthen and later joined with Swansea Metropolitan University to form UWTSD.

The proposed relocation of the humanities faculty has sparked concerns about the long-term sustainability of higher education in Lampeter. Campaigners argue that losing the faculty would mark the end of over 200 years of academic heritage in the town.

The Lampeter Society has also launched a petition calling on the university and the Welsh Government to create a ‘viable, sustainable plan’ for the campus’s future. The petition requires 10,000 signatures to trigger a debate in the Senedd and can be accessed at https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246410.

Community

Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire

Published

15 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AN OLD millpond at the heart of the Wallis and Ambleston community, and a site of Special Scientific Interest, has now been improved to benefit water quality and increase biodiversity in an area of South Wales, thanks to funding from Nestlé Waters UK.

Wallis Pond was created in 1836 as part of the tributary of the Wester Cleddau River to supply water to a local mill. Back in 1978, it was restored and later re-opened by HRH King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales.

Over the years, the pond had become completely silted up, restricting the waters passage and the pond’s ability to retain water, resulting in a reduced diversity of habitat in and around the millpond.

Pembrokeshire County Council, Heavyside Landscapes and Nestlé Waters UK have come together to restore the millpond with regulatory guidance from Natural Resources Wales and support from the Ambleston Community Council.

The project saw the pond re-dug and de-silted, and the old sluice gate replaced to re-establish the millpond. With the pond now able to hold more water, it is hoped to help build resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area.

Retention of flows in the pond for a longer time should help reduce silt build-up and prevent nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from travelling downstream in the Cleddau catchment, helping to protect water quality, improve aquatic habitats, and encourage eels, otters, damselflies, and other wildlife species.

Restoration of Wallis Pond is one of the projects that Nestlé Waters is working on as part of its efforts to help regenerate local water cycles and create a positive water impact everywhere the company operates.

Matthew Faulkner, Factory Manager at the Nestlé Waters site in Princes Gate, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Wallis Pond restoration work, aimed at delivering long-lasting benefits in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle at source Princes Gate and Nestlé Pure Life waters. This beautiful landscape is not only our home, but also home to some incredible flora and fauna which are vital for keeping the area rich and thriving in biodiversity.

“We’re working hard to protect this land and the water beneath our feet. Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility, and caring for it takes the whole community. That’s why we’re grateful to be working with partners on this project that will hopefully have a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community.”

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services at the Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “We welcome this funding to enhance the biodiversity in Wallis Pond which can be enjoyed by the residents of Ambleston, the wider communities in Pembrokeshire and the visitors to our fantastic county.

“This is an excellent example of partnership working that has significant benefits for the environment and the wellbeing of generations to come.”

Eirian Forrest, Clerk at the Ambleston Community Council, said: “We are grateful to Nestlé Waters UK for the funding and wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this project, especially the Pembrokeshire County Council team, for pushing the project forwards.

“The Community Council are delighted that the work has finally been done and look forward to the positive impact it will have on biodiversity. We have already received many positive comments from members of the community. The improved pond encourages locals to take a walk around the area, as well as sit down to watch and enjoy the wildlife.”