WILDLIFE at Pembroke’s Mill Pond beauty spot may be being killed after being deliberately targeted by what appears to be catapult attacks, the town council has said.

The beauty spot close to the town’s castle has long been a haunt of swans and other wildlife, and concerns have been raised recently that several reported deaths of animals may be related to levels of algae present in the pond.

In a statement issued by Pembroke Town Council it said it has received a number of comments and enquiries from concerned residents regarding deceased wildlife recently found at Pembroke Mill Pond.

“We are aware that there has been speculation on social media suggesting that the deaths may be linked to the water quality or algae currently present in the pond. We would like to reassure residents that this is not the case.

“For the past seven years, Pembroke Town Council has employed Aqua Clear to help manage algae growth and control the spread of reeds within the pond. This ongoing work has been highly successful, with algae levels reducing by approximately 45 per cent since the programme began. The pond’s water quality continues to be monitored and remains in good condition.

“Following reports from residents, council representatives visited the pond and retrieved some of the deceased wildlife.

“On examination, it appears that around five different animals had suffered injuries consistent with being intentionally targeted using a catapult. This is an extremely distressing and cruel act against wildlife.

“The matter has been reported to the Wildlife Crime Officers, who are aware of the incident and will be investigating.

“Pembroke Town Council strongly condemns any form of cruelty towards wildlife and would encourage anyone who witnesses this type of behaviour, or has any information that may assist enquiries, to report it immediately. Information can be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“We would like to thank residents for bringing this matter to our attention and for their continued care and concern for Pembroke Mill Pond and the wildlife that calls it home.”

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson said: “Pembrokeshire County Council officers have inspected a deceased bird at the Mill Pond with what appeared to be an obvious head injury. The concerns regarding treatment of wildlife have already been reported to police.

“Hot weather may have exacerbated growth of pond weed and a visual inspection indicates the water is in reasonable health. Further visits will be carried out next week.”

SUPPORTERS of Ysgol Cilgerran’s Church in Wales school have protested at a Pembrokeshire County Council meeting against council plans to remove church status from the school.

Back in May, Pembrokeshire County Council voted to remove Voluntary Controlled (VC) status from the Welsh-medium rural school despite 97 per cent of the responses to a consultation having opposed a change which the church describes as ‘entirely unnecessary’.

The Church in Wales has objected formally to the proposal and has warned it will take legal action on the grounds of “public misrepresentation and unqualified legal assertions made by Pembrokeshire County Council officers,” and “discrimination against faith schooling”.

During Pembrokeshire County Council’s full council meeting of July 16, parents, teachers, and students travelled to County Hall, Haverfordwest to protest.

Their colourful protest signs, made by students, carried messages such as “You can’t fix what isn’t broken”, “Leave our VC status alone”, and “Don’t take away our identity for a few £££”.

One of the protesters, an ex-pupil and governor, Sarah Moore, has said: “I’m here today because I’m horrified that the council are talking about taking the church status away from our school. The church gave that land for the school over 180 years ago.

“97 per cent have voted against this and yet they’re still trying to do it. If we want our children to stay in a church school, the nearest one is Letterston. So where will these children have that good education that they are getting now?”

Kelly Davies, parent and governor, said: “We feel really strongly as parents, the pupils and the community that we’re not happy about them taking VC status away.

“We have really strong links with the church and the school and the community. It just seems that they’re taking this away from us permanently for no reason.”

The Church has said it has deep concern about what it sees as a pattern of the council’s recent actions regarding Church Schools.

In June, councillors voted to close Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, which was damaged by a fire in 2022.

The Church says it is taking formal action in this case.

It has also expressed concerns about VC status being lost for Tenby Church in Wales VC school after councillors backed a consultation on penitential education changes in the Tenby area.

A spokesperson for the Church in Wales said: “The entirely unnecessary threat to the status of this much-loved community school has had an impact on children, families, and the wider community. We are not prepared to allow another thriving rural school to lose its treasured character.

“Ysgol Cilgerran has our full support, and we hope that Pembrokeshire County Council listens to the voices of the community it serves, and chooses not to remove VC status.”

A CALL to apply discretionary powers to help properties that have moved from business rates to potentially facing second homes council tax charges in the tens of thousands is to be considered by senior Pembrokeshire councillors.

At the July 16 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, members considered a notice of motion by Cilgerran councillor John T Davies calling for the council to apply discretionary powers not to retrospectively charge the second homes council tax premium on residential properties that have moved from business rates to residential council tax.

His motion added: “This discretion is applied on municipal years, when the VOA have failed to inform Revenue Services of the change of status within the relevant municipal year.

“Over the last year I have received a number of representations from worried and concerned council tax-payers, who have moved from business rates status to full residential council tax category.

“In these instances, within my electoral area, both the council tax liability and second homes premium have been backdated up to three years by Revenue Services resulting in extortionate sums from £25,000 to £36,000 been charged against families and individuals.

“On all these occasions all have furnished their returns to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) within the required time frame. The VOA subsequently sit on that information up to three years and eventually inform the council’s Revenue Services to revert the status of the property to full residential council tax category.

“This leads to automatically triggering the back dating of both the council tax liability and the second homes premium, which subsequently leads to extortionate sums being demanded of no fault of the council taxpayer.

“This current practice has led to individuals experiencing undue stress and mental health issues, leading to family breakdowns and in some extreme cases, concerns for the personal safety of individuals.

“By adopting this notice of motion, the council will be applying its powers to only backdate the standard council tax liability and waiver the second homes premium for the relevant period, reducing the personal anxiety and stress on individuals and families and demonstrating compassion over compliance.”

Members agreed the matter be referred to a future meeting of the council’s Cabinet for decision.