News
Reminder to vote as elections draw near
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is urging locals to mark election day on their calendars so their votes can be heard.
Nominations for the local government elections to be held on May 4 are now closed.
Out of the 60 county electoral divisions, 47 are contested and out of the 115 community councils, as warded, 18 are contested.
Poll cards have been sent to voters who have a contested election in their electoral area while those areas with no contest have not been sent poll cards.
If householders have not received a poll card it may be because there is no election in their area or because they are not registered to vote.
Householders are urged to ensure they are registered to vote. The law dictates that only those on the Electoral Register are eligible to vote.
The deadline for ensuring you are included on the Register is Thursday, April 13.
To register to vote, visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote before that date.
Other key dates to remember are:
- deadline to submit postal vote applications is 5 pm on Tuesday, April 18
- deadline to submit applications to vote by proxy is 5 pm on Tuesday, April 25
If, after 5 pm on April 25 anyone is unable to vote in person because they have a medical emergency or find they cannot attend the polling station because of work reasons, they can apply to vote by emergency proxy.
Completed applications must reach the County Council’s Electoral Services office at Cherry Grove, Haverfordwest SA61 2NZ before 5 pm on Thursday, 4th May.
The office can be contacted by phone on: 01437 775844 or email: [email protected]
The local election results will be available on the County Council’s website: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/elections following the counting of votes on Friday, May 5.
County Council and Town and Community Council nominations may also be viewed from this page.
News
Council works to reduce empty properties in Carmarthenshire
CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council is reducing the number of empty properties within the county through the introduction of the Empty Properties Framework.
Combining enforcement, the implementation of council tax premiums on empty properties and providing support to help owners bring empty properties back into use, the Empty Properties Framework aims to:
• Reduce the number of long-term empty homes across the county
• Increase the supply of affordable housing to meet demand
• Tackle issues relating to property nuisance, blight and the impact on communities
The following case study is an example of how Carmarthenshire County Council is supporting communities and owners to bring empty properties back into use.
An empty property was reported to the Council with loose rendering falling onto a neighbouring driveway and refuse/waste material in the garden. Investigations revealed that the property had been recorded as empty for seven years and was privately owned by a limited company.
The property was visited by the Council’s Empty Homes Officers and scored as high risk (Category A), requiring enforcement. The owners responded positively to the notice served and assisted with the Council’s formal inspection of the property, during which various category 1 (the most serious) hazards were identified.
As a result, statutory notices were served on the property. These notices provided varying timeframes for work to be carried out. In the event of non-compliance, the Council may choose to undertake works, recovering all costs from the owner.
The owner complied with the work which posed an imminent risk and then sold the property at public auction. The Improvement Notices remained with the property when sold. Upon purchase, the new owners immediately began work to improve the property and this is progressing well.
Cllr Linda Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes said: “The introduction of the Empty Homes Framework aims to be bold in bringing about the improvement and occupation of empty homes, increasing the supply and use of housing to all.
Carmarthenshire County Council is committed to reducing the number of empty properties in the county, with various methods of support in place to assist owners of these properties to bring them back into use including financial assistance, subject to eligibility.”
From 1st April 2024, council tax premiums were also introduced on properties empty for more than 12 months to encourage owners to reflect on whether they could make better use of their property.
For more information on the support available to owners of empty properties visit the Council’s website – Carmarthenshire.gov.wales/housing
News
Free disability sports event heads to Pembroke Leisure Centre
PEMBROKE Leisure Centre will play host to a free disability sports and physical event later this month with lots of sports and activities to try.
The insport series, in partnership with Disability Sport Wales, Sport Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Leisure is an inclusive sport and physical activity event.
It offers opportunities for disabled young people (ages 5 years+) and adults across Pembrokeshire and friends and family are welcome.
On offer to try are: boxing, boccia, swimming (on a separate first come first serve booking basis), football, wheelchair rugby, target shooting, adaptive bikes, cricket, golf, multisport, and more.
The event takes place Pembroke Leisure Centre, on Wednesday May 29th between 10am-2pm.
Booking for the event and swim places is required.
For more information please contact: Jess West from Sport Pembrokeshire byemail [email protected] or by calling 07795305871.
News
Police attended Mount Estate following reports of man’s death
EMERGENCY SERVICES were called to the Mount Estate in Milford Haven on Friday (May 10) following reports that a man had sadly died.
Police remained at the property whilst investigations were carried out.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police told The Herald on Thursday: “We received a report of a sudden death of a man, at a property in The Mount, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire shortly before 9am Friday.
“Officers attended, and sadly confirmed the man had died at the property.
“His next of kin have been informed.”
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