Council commits a further £2m after 18 households helped to buy homes during first year

A SCHEME aimed at helping local people buy homes in Pembrokeshire has been extended following what the council described as a successful 12-month pilot.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet unanimously agreed to continue and expand Homebuy Pembrokeshire, which offers eligible buyers an equity loan to bridge the gap between the mortgage they can secure and the cost of a suitable property.

The scheme was launched in June 2025 with £1m raised through the Second Homes Council Tax Premium.

It had initially been expected to support up to 15 households during its first year, but ultimately helped 18 households purchase properties across the county.

A total of £814,000 was invested through the pilot.

Applicants must demonstrate a local connection to Pembrokeshire, meet income and property criteria, and show they can afford the ongoing financial commitments associated with owning a home.

The scheme is primarily intended to help first-time buyers who have savings and can obtain a mortgage, but are unable to afford a suitable property in the area where they live or have established local ties.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Michelle Bateman, said: “Homebuy Pembrokeshire has provided an important opportunity for local buyers to access suitable homes that meet their needs.

“The scheme has made a positive difference to households across the county and supports the council’s wider commitment to increasing housing choice and improving access to affordable housing.”

Following Cabinet approval, the programme will continue with a number of changes intended to reflect current mortgage lending and housing market conditions.

A further £2m has been approved for the scheme over the next two years, subject to satisfactory delivery.

Cllr Bateman added: “This is a clear demonstration of how income generated through the Second Homes Council Tax Premium can be used to support housing opportunities in Pembrokeshire.

“Homebuy Pembrokeshire helps people who have savings and access to mortgage finance, but who are unable to secure a suitable home because of challenging market conditions.”

One household supported through the scheme said: “Using the scheme to purchase a property has massively helped my family, as we have been able to own a property as well as creating a space for us to grow.”

Further information is available from Pembrokeshire County Council’s housing team by emailing [email protected] or calling 01437 764551.

Police found 14 plants, harvested cannabis worth thousands of pounds and evidence of small-scale dealing

A CARMARTHENSHIRE woman has received a suspended prison sentence after allowing a professionally equipped cannabis grow to operate from a shed at her home.

Police attended Lucy Pugh’s property in Llanfihangel-ar-Arth on February 28 last year, where they discovered 14 cannabis plants growing inside the outbuilding.

Swansea Crown Court heard that the shed contained specialist equipment consistent with a professional cultivation operation.

A police drugs expert estimated that each plant could have produced between one and three ounces of cannabis, giving the crop a potential maximum street value of more than £13,000.

Officers also discovered that the property’s electricity meter had been bypassed. National Grid engineers were called to make the electrical supply safe.

A further search of the house uncovered around 800 grams of cannabis in the kitchen which had already been harvested. Prosecutors said the drugs had an estimated value of £7,410.

Messages recovered from Pugh’s mobile phone showed that she had been supplying cannabis to a small number of people.

During her police interview, Pugh said two men from Bristol had installed the growing operation in her shed several months earlier. She admitted knowing the plants were there and said she had not objected to the arrangement.

Her phone also contained messages in which she asked one of the men for advice about caring for the plants.

Pugh, aged 50, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

The court was told she had one previous conviction, dating from 2020, for possession of a Class A drug and drug-driving.

Defending, Craig Jones said Pugh had entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity and had cooperated fully with the police.

He stressed that the cultivation operation had not originally been organised by Pugh and said she had only a limited criminal record.

Sentencing her, Judge Catherine Richards said Pugh had permitted the cannabis operation to be established at her property before making the separate decision to supply the drug.

Pugh was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Prosecutors confirmed that proceedings would be brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act in an attempt to recover any money Pugh had made through her offending.

She is due to return to Swansea Crown Court on November 12 for a proceeds of crime hearing.

Rachael Thomas describes Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi as her ‘third child’ as she hands over leadership of the school to Sion Mason Evans

AN INSPIRATIONAL Pembrokeshire headteacher has said an emotional goodbye to pupils, parents and staff after completing 37 years in education.

Rachael Thomas is stepping down as headteacher of Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA in St Davids, a school she described as her “love, passion and reason for being”.

In a final letter to the school community, Mrs Thomas said she had been dreading the day when she would have to say farewell.

She wrote: “Ysgol Dewi Sant and Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi have been my third child, my love, passion and my reason for being.

“However, it gives me great comfort and pride to leave at this point, with strong leadership and a fantastic team of staff to take it to the next level.”

Mrs Thomas thanked parents and carers for trusting the school with their “most priceless possessions”, their children, and paid tribute to the staff, governors, Diocese, local authority and wider community who had supported her throughout her career.

She said she felt privileged to have worked at “the best school on the planet”, praising its pupils, staff and families for helping to create a nurturing culture based on love and respect.

Under her leadership, the 3-to-16 school has expanded across its campuses and developed a reputation for academic achievement, inclusion, outdoor education, sport and the performing arts.

During the past academic year, pupils helped the school achieve the Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru Bronze Award, the Peace Mala Gold Award, the Careers Wales Gold Award, two Green Flag Awards and a Climate Cymru Challenge Award for protecting and restoring nature.

The school also opened a new secondary learning resource centre and two additional classrooms on its Dewi Campus.

Pupils have enjoyed sporting success at local, regional and national level, with the school becoming Welsh champions and runners-up in tennis and basketball.

There have also been school productions, overseas visits, residential trips and a return visit from the school’s partners in Mahoeleng, Lesotho.

Mrs Thomas said the school remained committed to providing high expectations and opportunities for every pupil.

She wrote: “Pupils feel loved when they walk through the door.

“When they leave, this love continues, hence the knowledge that you never really leave YPDVA and YPDVA never leaves you.”

Several other members of staff are also leaving or changing roles at the end of the academic year.

Mrs Bramley has completed her work as assistant headteacher for teaching and learning but will continue as a supply teacher and lead choir and performing arts activities.

Miss Pullin is leaving to pursue a career with the National Park, while Mr Jeff Thomas is retiring, although the school hopes he will return to support its extended learning programme.

Mrs Brockbank is coming to the end of her time as a learning support assistant on the Dewi Campus, while Father Luke Spencer is leaving his teaching role to pursue his ministry.

The school will welcome a number of new staff in September.

Catherine James will become the new additional learning needs coordinator and assistant headteacher for inclusion, while Amy Morgan will become the school’s first deputy headteacher.

Former pupil Rhys Meredith Barrett will join as a full-time music teacher, and Kieran Mackay will become a teacher of English.

Sion Mason Evans will take over as headteacher.

Mrs Thomas said she was confident her successor would embrace the culture and vision of the school and take it into the next stage of its journey.

She concluded her farewell message with the words associated with St David: “Be joyful, keep the faith and do the little things.”

She signed off simply: “Llawer o gariad.”

The school community is now preparing to begin a new chapter, while recognising the enormous contribution Mrs Thomas has made to generations of children and families in St Davids and across Pembrokeshire.