COUNCILLOR Michele Wiggins and Councillor Roy Thomas, both respective outgoing Mayors for Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest, are proud to announce that they have had a truly successful year of raising funds and awareness for the Paul Sartori Foundation.

Councillor Michele Wiggins dedicated a great deal of her time supporting and championing her chosen charities, The Paul Sartori Foundation and Forever 11 throughout her mayoral term and raised £1,700 for each charity. 

With equal dedication and spirit, Councillor Roy Thomas, supported by Mayoress Shirley Thomas, raised £2,172.50 for the Foundation, as well as raising money for charity Sandy Bear.

Throughout the year, both mayors have hosted afternoon teas, coffee mornings, sponsored walks, bingo evenings, and much more, in what has been a really special year of community spirit. 

The Paul Sartori Foundation’s Community Relationship Officer, Rosie-Faye Hart said: “As respected and prominent figures in the community, the support of the town mayors has had a significant impact on community awareness and participation, as well as ensuring that the safe continuation of these vital services are maintained through important community fundraising partnerships.”

These partnerships are not just about raising funds, but also raising the profile of the charity, spreading the word about the hospice at home services, and telling people about the fact that the services are free at the point of use. 

Without this kind of community support and spirit, the Foundation would not be able to help so many of those in need across Pembrokeshire.

Being chosen as Charity of the Year means that Paul Sartori can make a significant impact in a truly collaborative way, with communities as the focus. 

If you would like to choose Paul Sartori as your Charity of the Year in the future, they would be delighted to hear from you and support you in any way they can. Email Rosie-Faye on [email protected] or call Head Office on 01437 763 223.

THOUSANDS of homes and businesses in Milford Haven can now access Full Fibre broadband following a £2.1m investment by Openreach.

The upgrade means around 7,000 properties in the town are now able to move to faster and more reliable internet connections, with 85% of premises in the area covered by the new network.

Openreach says many residents and businesses may still be using slower connections because the upgrade is not automatic. Customers need to place an order through their chosen broadband provider to switch to Full Fibre.

Martin Williams, Partnership Director for Wales and the South West, said: “Most of Milford Haven is now covered by Full Fibre, but many residents and businesses still haven’t made the switch. It’s not automatic – you need to place an order with your chosen broadband provider.

“The difference in speed and reliability can be significant, especially for busy households or people working from home. We want to make sure everyone knows what’s available and how to get it.

“Openreach is committed to building the best Full Fibre network, and doing it sustainably. Through our Let’s Reach Zero strategy, we’re working to reduce carbon emissions, use fewer resources, cut waste, and protect nature wherever we operate.”

Full Fibre is designed to offer faster downloads, more stable connections and better performance when several devices are being used at the same time.

Openreach says the service can support modern online use including streaming, gaming, video calls, home working, online banking and running a business.

The company’s Full Fibre network now reaches 22 million homes and businesses across the UK. It plans to extend this to 25 million by the end of 2026, with the potential to reach 30 million by 2030 if investment conditions remain supportive.

Residents can check whether their property is able to upgrade by using Openreach’s Full Fibre checker.

SENEDD Member for Ceredigion Penfro, Paul Davies, has called on Ceredigion County Council to urgently review its policy on car parking charges, following growing concerns from local businesses about the negative impact charges have on trade and town centre footfall.

Mr Davies wrote to the Leader of the Council on May 18, to highlight the challenges faced by businesses across Ceredigion’s towns, where rising parking costs are seen as a deterrent to people visiting local high streets. He urged the local authority to listen carefully to the concerns being raised and to review these charges.

In his letter, Mr Davies wrote: “I’m writing to raise concerns regarding car parking charges across Ceredigion, and to urge the local authority to do all it reasonably can to minimise these costs for individuals spending time in towns throughout the county.

“This is a serious issue for local businesses, many of whom have made it clear that car parking charges risk deterring people from visiting our high streets and towns. Any resulting decline in footfall would have immediate and damaging consequences for local trade and, more broadly,for the county’s economy.

“At a time when our high streets are already facing significant challenges, | believe it’s unacceptable that additional financial barriers have been introduced. The Council should be actively supporting its high streets and town centres and encouraging people to visit, not implementing measures that make doing so more difficult and less affordable.

“The concerns raised by both residents and businesses are justified and cannot be ignored. The Council must act on these concerns and urgently review the decision to introduce or increase car parking charges, with a view to reducing their impact.”

Many locals have voiced their concerns on social media, commenting on the “outrageous” cost of parking and the cost of public toilets, claiming that Ceredigion County Council are to blame for the loss of footfall in the area. 

Mr Davies said: “Car parking charges add yet another barrier to people visiting our towns and high streets and can be detrimental to local businesses, at a time when many businesses are already facing significant economic pressures.

“Our high streets are the backbone of our communities and play a vital role in the local economy. If people are put off visiting because of the cost of parking, then businesses will inevitably suffer. This is not only short-sighted but risks causing long-term damage to the vibrancy of our towns.

“The Council must act on the valid concerns being raised and review its parking policy as a matter of urgency. The focus should be on encouraging footfall, supporting local trade, and ensuring that our town centres remain accessible and affordable for everyone.”