News

Ceredigion: Liberal Democrats hold seat

Published

10 years ago

May 8, 2015

Re-elected: Liberal Democrat Mark Williams

MARK WILLIAMS has once again been elected as the MP for Ceredigion. The Liberal Democrats proved popular amongst the voters across the county gaining 35.85% share with 13,414 votes.

Second place went to Mike Parker for Plaid Cymru who gained 27.65% of the vote with 10,347.

Henrietta Hensher for Conservative managed to bag 4,123 votes with 11.02% share and spoke of how ‘hectic’ it has been juggling politics and business commenting: “Any MP who says they sleep the night before is a big fat liar, I was awake at 4am, 3am and 2am.”

UKIP’s Gethin James came in ahead of Labour’s Huw Thomas by just over a couple of hundred votes gaining 10.23% share with 3,829 crosses to his name. The Herald caught up with Mr James prior to the results when he said that he was expecting a 10% share in Ceredigion which he thought was realistic compared to the 2.6% in the last election. “It will probably increase four fold.”

When asked if he would do it again he did not hesitate in saying yes but would like to see more people on the ground but that’s difficult with a budget as little as £1,200.

Mr James agreed that he’s had some negative experiences whilst canvassing but said: We are a bit like Marmite, if people don’t like us, they’re quite happy to tell us.”

Huw Thomas for Labour gained 9.66% of the vote with 3,615 overall. He said he was pleased with the increase in votes for the party since the last Parliamentary Election when Richard Boudier received 2,210.

Daniel Thompson for The Green Party told the Herald that he thinks the outcome was a positive move forward for the Green Party. The ‘Greens’ received exactly three times more votes than last time with 2,088 votes gaining a 5.58% share.

Mr Williams did not want to comment before the results and it was said that he does not like to turn up too early to these things because the nerves get the better of him. During his speech he thanked polling staff for their hard work, he thanked Dyfed-Powys Police for their support on the evening and also thanked his fellow candidates and wished them well for the future. He then went on to thank Elizabeth Evans, his campaign manager who he had joked earlier in the evening often gets mistaken for his wife and finished by saying: “It’s one thing to win by a big majority which is a huge honour and privilege in itself. I will do my best for everybody in this county, as I have done for the past few years, and I look forward to the months and years ahead.”

Ceredigion is the only Lib Dem constituency in Wales.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.