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Council pledges crack-down on bad debtors

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countyhallPEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is cracking down on bad payers. In the past 12 months over two dozen County Court Judgements (CCJs) have been obtained against people whose debts range from non-payment of commercial rents to failure to pay for school meals.

Council Leader Jamie Adams said that with the continued pressure on the Authority’s finances, it was redoubling its efforts to pursue its debtors.

He said: “While the Council will always be sympathetic to those who genuinely cannot pay, we will not allow the delivery of vital services to be prejudiced by the irresponsible attitude of the small minority of people who owe money to the Council and refuse to pay it.

“It is imperative that the Council successfully collects all monies owed promptly and effectively as the income is vital in providing resources to continue delivering essential services to our residents.

”In the past year 26 CCJs were successfully obtained against individuals and businesses for non-payment in Pembrokeshire.

“These include arrears for school meals, rents and other property-related debts.”

Councillor Adams revealed one of the most alarming facts was the number of parent’s failing to pay for their children’s school meals with a couple of individual debts totalling over £1,500.

“To date a total of ten CCJs have successfully been obtained in this area and for the next twelve months this figure is going to increase significantly.”

“Bills and invoices will continue to be issued promptly and correctly. In all cases where recovery action is required, the Council will act quickly, fairly and impartially, but with due regard to the social welfare of the human rights of all our customers.”

He added: “I would stress that if people are having genuine difficulty in settling an account, we would prefer to have a conversation with them at an early stage in order to try and resolve the problem rather than let the debt grow and become unmanageable.”

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Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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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)

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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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)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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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.

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