News

Haverfordwest: More protests ahead of controversial schools reform meeting

Published

10 years ago

May 12, 2016

Tom Sinclair

County Hall on May 12

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL members have faced protest from school pupils this morning as they have arrived for a controversial meeting on schools reform this morning.

The response, due to be debated by Full Council on today (May 12), is to press ahead with plans to compel all of Haverfordwest’s post-16 learners to attend a new sixth form centre co-located at the Pembrokeshire College site.

The recommendation effectively ignores or plays down the responses of over 70% of people who replied to the consultation. In,line with a recent high-handed response given by Council Leader Jamie Adams to Peter Lewis JP, the Council’s attitude is that it knows best.

However, deeply buried in the Council’s response is a brief admission that it cannot identify a single other Welsh local authority which has followed the plan it has adopted for the children of Pembrokeshire.

This weekend, this newspaper reported that the ongoing problems with its consultation on secondary education in Haverfordwest appear to have been added to.

A letter from Price and Sons, solicitors acting for the Tasker-Milward and Picton charity, to Claire Incledon, Legal Services head at Pembrokeshire County Council, claims that the Council’s consultation is hopelessly flawed.

The letter claims that a basic error has been made in calculating the statutory period for consultations. The rules state that there must be 42 days for a consultation, of which 20 must be school days.

The solicitors’ letter, which incorporates an extract of the relevant case law and directs Ms Incledon’s attention to the statutory rules, alleges that the Council provided insufficient school days for the consultation, as it had overlooked an inset day and made an error in calculating the day from which the consultation would run.

If correct, the error would be a complete humiliation for the Council.

In addition, it is difficult to see how councillors could even vote on the potentially unlawful consultation proposal without incurring the risk of legal action that could give rise to potential issues of personal liability for costs.

Given the Council’s blundering approach to legal issues in the consultation thus far, the question arises as to how many councillors, are prepared to take that chance.

Community

Port launches waterway safety competition with monthly prizes

Published

1 hour ago

March 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN has announced the launch of its first Waterway Safety Competition, set to begin in April.

The initiative aims to promote safe and responsible use of the Milford Haven Waterway, one of the busiest and most diverse waterways in Wales. The waterway is used daily by paddleboarders, kayakers, sailors, swimmers, and large commercial vessels, making safety a key priority.

As part of the competition, participants are invited to showcase their own interpretation of the waterway through any creative medium. All art forms are welcome, and entries will be judged monthly.

Each month, winners will receive prizes designed to support water safety, including lifejackets and training sessions.

The Port hopes the competition will encourage greater awareness of safety while celebrating the unique character of the waterway.

For more information or to enter, visit: https://www.mhpa.co.uk/waterway-safety-competition/

News

Reform UK unveils Carmarthenshire Senedd candidates

Published

1 hour ago

March 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

REFORM UK Wales has announced its full list of candidates for Sir Gaerfyrddin (Carmarthenshire) ahead of the Senedd election on Thursday, May 7.

Leading the list is Gareth Beer, the party’s Carmarthenshire chairman, a local businessman, father of four and Kidwelly town councillor. In the 2024 General Election, he came within around 1,500 votes of winning the Llanelli seat — Reform UK’s strongest result in Wales.

Beer said the party had assembled “a strong team of decent, hard-working people” ready to represent the county.

He said: “We have already started campaigning strongly across the constituency, and the reception we are receiving on the doorstep has been overwhelmingly positive.

“People have had enough of the lies they hear from politicians and want to give a new party a genuine chance to make real changes.”

He added that key issues raised by voters included NHS waiting lists, education standards, the economy and the cost of living.

Full candidate list

The Reform UK candidates for Sir Gaerfyrddin are:

Gareth Beer – Businessman, Kidwelly town councillor and Carmarthenshire chairman for Reform UK.

Carmelo Colasanto – County and community councillor with a background in retail, compliance and multinational business operations.

Sarah Edwards – Retired dental professional and smallholder, known for campaigning on rural and environmental issues.

Christopher Brooke – Retired engineer and manager with more than four decades’ experience in manufacturing.

Alan Cole – Former senior corporate leader and business owner who has worked with small businesses across South Wales.

Michelle Beer – Marketing and PR professional and Reform UK county councillor for the Lliedi ward, elected in a 2025 by-election.

The party said the team brings experience from business, engineering, healthcare and public service.

Reform UK Wales said its campaign in Carmarthenshire would focus on reducing NHS waiting times, improving education, supporting small businesses and addressing the rising cost of living.

The party is positioning itself as an alternative to what it describes as the political “status quo” in Cardiff Bay.

News

Police watchdog investigates after gunshot fired inside Milford Haven flats

Published

1 hour ago

March 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A POLICE firearm was discharged inside a block of flats in Milford Haven during an incident on Saturday evening (March 28), it has emerged.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed a single shot was fired at around 6:32pm after officers were called to reports of disorder at Bunkers Hill involving a person believed to be carrying a knife.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now confirmed it has been notified. A spokesperson said the force had made a voluntary conduct referral, which will be assessed before any decision is made on further action.

Police have stated that the firearm was not directed at any individual and that no injuries were reported.

A witness close to the matter told The Herald that the shot was fired as an officer entered the flats and moved up the stairs, with the bullet striking a breeze block wall. This account has not yet been officially confirmed.

When Herald reporters attended the scene on Sunday afternoon, a significant police presence remained, with officers seen going in and out of the building and carrying out checks around the rear of the flats.

The precise circumstances leading to the discharge remain under investigation.

More to follow.