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Community

Youngsters ‘get smashed’

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Councillor Rob Lewis and youth worker Nick Hudd, together with members of the emergency services: With the young drivers that attended the workshop

Councillor Rob Lewis and youth worker Nick Hudd, together with members of the emergency services: With the young drivers that attended the workshop

A HARD-HITTING, live action crash scene, aimed to show the effects of dangerous driving, has been played out to youngsters in Milford Haven.

The realistic simulation called ‘Get Smashed’ took place at Milford Haven Youth Centre. It’s the fourth time the multi-agency event, held in conjunction with the fire service, police and ambulance service, has taken place in the town.

Over time, the message has evolved to be as realistic and graphic as possible, with feedback from previous events showing this to be the most effective way of getting through to new, or soon to be new, drivers.

Statistically, young drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident with inexperience and high speeds often a factor.

Statistics in Pembrokeshire show that over the past five years:

25 young people were killed or seriously injured.

The 16-24 age group account for 20% of all fatalities, 28% of all serious casualties and 28% of all slight casualties during this period.

Over a quarter of all personal injury RTCs in the last five years involve a young person (aged 16-24 years).

Over 380 young people were injured in a car, 120 of whom were passengers.

One in four collisions involve a young male driver.

Get Smashed aims to buck that trend, says Community Youth Worker for Pembrokeshire County Council Nick Hudd, who organised the event alongside partner organisation Milford Youth Matters.

“We use real life scenarios based on incidents that have happened in Pembrokeshire,” he said. “Those attending are able to relate to it better and we find it’s more effective.”

The day starts with attendees being shown a video called ‘Could you live with yourself?’ that reflects on the fatal crash in 2006 of motorcycle passenger Karen Boulcott.

In the video, her husband, Dr Mark Boulcott, who was steering the bike when it was hit, describes the timeline of events before, during and after the crash.

“It’s a poignant film in that it occurred because a car being driven by a young driver struck them and this is our target audience,” added Nick.

“It really hits home.

“Following this, a real life scenario is played out where the emergency services attend a collision between two cars and cut out its occupants.

“It’s a sensory experience involving dramatic sights, smells and sounds and it really hits home.

“The youngsters see windows smashed, doors cut off and people stretchered away and although the victims are played by actors from Pembrokeshire College, the attendees are visibly moved.”

Cabinet member for Transportation, Cllr Rob Lewis, believes it’s a vital event on the calendar.

“This event hits hard and that’s the intention. We want the youngsters to see the effects that speed can have when driving.

“They see the damage it can cause and how the trauma victims and their relatives suffer.

“It’s a powerful scene to take in.

“One fatality on our roads is too many and if this course can help the youngsters understand the consequence of their actions, then it’s an event that is here to stay.”

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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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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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Community

Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire 

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AN OLD millpond at the heart of the Wallis and Ambleston community, and a site of Special Scientific Interest, has now been improved to benefit water quality and increase biodiversity in an area of South Wales, thanks to funding from Nestlé Waters UK. 

Wallis Pond was created in 1836 as part of the tributary of the Wester Cleddau River to supply water to a local mill. Back in 1978, it was restored and later re-opened by HRH King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales.  

Over the years, the pond had become completely silted up, restricting the waters passage and the pond’s ability to retain water, resulting in a reduced diversity of habitat in and around the millpond.  

Pembrokeshire County Council, Heavyside Landscapes and Nestlé Waters UK have come together to restore the millpond with regulatory guidance from Natural Resources Wales and support from the Ambleston Community Council. 

The project saw the pond re-dug and de-silted, and the old sluice gate replaced to re-establish the millpond. With the pond now able to hold more water, it is hoped to help build resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area.   

Retention of flows in the pond for a longer time should help reduce silt build-up and prevent nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from travelling downstream in the Cleddau catchment, helping to protect water quality, improve aquatic habitats, and encourage eels, otters, damselflies, and other wildlife species.  

Restoration of Wallis Pond is one of the projects that Nestlé Waters is working on as part of its efforts to help regenerate local water cycles and create a positive water impact everywhere the company operates. 

Matthew Faulkner, Factory Manager at the Nestlé Waters site in Princes Gate, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Wallis Pond restoration work, aimed at delivering long-lasting benefits in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle at source Princes Gate and Nestlé Pure Life waters. This beautiful landscape is not only our home, but also home to some incredible flora and fauna which are vital for keeping the area rich and thriving in biodiversity.  

“We’re working hard to protect this land and the water beneath our feet. Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility, and caring for it takes the whole community. That’s why we’re grateful to be working with partners on this project that will hopefully have a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community.” 

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services at the Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “We welcome this funding to enhance the biodiversity in Wallis Pond which can be enjoyed by the residents of Ambleston, the wider communities in Pembrokeshire and the visitors to our fantastic county. 

“This is an excellent example of partnership working that has significant benefits for the environment and the wellbeing of generations to come.”  

Eirian Forrest, Clerk at the Ambleston Community Council, said: “We are grateful to Nestlé Waters UK for the funding and wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this project, especially the Pembrokeshire County Council team, for pushing the project forwards. 

“The Community Council are delighted that the work has finally been done and look forward to the positive impact it will have on biodiversity. We have already received many positive comments from members of the community. The improved pond encourages locals to take a walk around the area, as well as sit down to watch and enjoy the wildlife.”   

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