News

Wales to lose £800m if Britain votes for Brexit, warns MP

Published

9 years ago

June 21, 2016

Nia Griffith MP NIA GRIFFITHS MP, Labour’s Shadow Welsh Secretary, has today warned that Wales would lose nearly £800m in funding for jobs and skills training if Britain votes to leave the European Union.

New figures from the House of Commons Library show that Wales is currently receiving nearly £800m of European funding to pay for training, apprenticeships and job-creation schemes like Jobs Growth Wales. This funding would not be renewed in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

Nia Griffith MP said told The Herald: “Thousands of Welsh people have benefited from jobs and apprenticeships which are a direct result of EU funding, and upskilling our workforce is vital if we are to compete effectively in the modern world. We would lose every penny of these funds we vote to leave the EU on Thursday.

“This would have a crippling effect on a whole range of training and apprenticeship programmes, not to mention initiatives like Jobs Growth Wales which has created 15,000 jobs for young people in the last four years alone.

“These vital EU funds are only available to countries that are members of the EU, so voting to leave will cut off support for our young people and harm the whole Welsh economy.”

According to Labour, new analysis by the House of Commons Library has found that Wales will receive €1,006m (£797m) from the European Social Fund between 2014 and 2020. This funding is awarded every four years and is only available to EU member states.

The party says that this funding supports a number of projects to alleviate poverty and create jobs, including Jobs Growth Wales which has provided unemployed young people with a job for 6 months paid at or above the National Minimum Wage.

Jobs Growth Wales has helped 15,000 young people into good-quality, meaningful employment since 2012. Over 80 per cent have completed their opportunities within the private sector.

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

2 days 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

2 days 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.