A POPULAR restaurant is taking on one of the town centre’s biggest frustrations with a new initiative designed to ease parking stress and encourage more visitors into the heart of the community.

Stix Noodle Bar has announced a new scheme offering customers money off their bill when they show proof of paid parking in the town.

Under the initiative, diners who present an active parking ticket or parking app booking will receive the equivalent cost of one hour’s parking deducted from their meal bill.

The business says the idea was created in response to ongoing concerns about local parking pressures, while also supporting neighbouring independent traders and encouraging more people to spend time in the town centre.

In a statement released alongside the launch, the restaurant said: “Tired of Haverfordwest’s parking stress? So are we. That’s why we’re doing something about it.”

The team behind the noodle bar is encouraging visitors to “park up, come in, eat well, then go explore some of the brilliant businesses right on our doorstep,” adding that “Haverfordwest is worth stopping for.”

The scheme has already received support from local representatives, including Reform Councillor, Scott Thorley, who praised the move as a practical way to support the town centre economy.

“This is an excellent idea,” he said. “Tackling parking stress while boosting local businesses and footfall in Haverfordwest — this is exactly the practical support our town centre needs.”

YOUNG people across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys are being encouraged to take their next step into training, volunteering and paid work opportunities through Porth Gwyrdd.

Whether you are unsure about your future, struggling to find opportunities, looking to build confidence, or simply wanting to try something new, Porth Gwyrdd offers free, personalised support to help young people aged 16-30 move towards employment and new experiences.

The project supports young people from ethnic minority communities and those with disabilities to access opportunities within growing green sectors, while helping them develop valuable skills, confidence, and experience along the way.

Delivered through a partnership between Antur Cymru, Foothold Cymru, PLANED and Menter Gorllewin Sir Gâr, the project provides one-to-one support tailored to each young person’s interests, strengths and goals.

Young people taking part can access environmental training, volunteering experiences and paid work placements, while receiving guidance from a dedicated job coach. Opportunities range from hospitality and retail to conservation, farming, and heritage roles.

Jon Morgan, Porth Gwyrdd Project Manager, said: “There are countless young people who face additional barriers when trying to access employment and opportunities. Some of these barriers are visible, while others – such as dyslexia, neurodivergence, or the challenges faced by young people from ethnic minority communities – can often go unseen.

“At Porth Gwyrdd, we work alongside young people to help them recognise their strengths, build confidence, and realise their potential in ways that are accessible, supportive, and meaningful to them.”

The project also works closely with employers to create inclusive opportunities, while helping organisations develop a more sustainable and diverse future workforce. Porth Gwyrdd is funded through the Dormant Assets Scheme and distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Young people and employers interested in finding out more, accessing support, or getting involved can visit: www.porthgwyrdd.org.uk

County’s coastline places sixth in UK-wide photo study

PEMBROKESHIRE has been named the most photographed coastal national park in the UK, according to new data from photo curation app Popsa.

The study, which analysed metadata from millions of customer photos uploaded in 2025, ranked Pembrokeshire Coast National Park sixth overall out of the UK’s 15 national parks.

It was the highest-ranked coastal park in the list, ahead of destinations including the Cairngorms, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the Yorkshire Dales and Dartmoor.

Popsa gave Pembrokeshire a Photo Index Score of 28, representing 5.76% of all UK national park photography included in the study.

The company said the county’s 186-mile coastline, with its limestone arches, sea stacks, beaches and hidden coves, offered “photographic variety that few parks can match”.

Barafundle Bay was highlighted as one of the most photographed locations, particularly at low tide, while Skomer Island was noted for its puffin colonies, which attract photographers between April and July.

Wales performed strongly overall, with all three national parks appearing in the UK top ten. Eryri, formerly Snowdonia, ranked fifth, Pembrokeshire sixth, and Bannau Brycheiniog, formerly the Brecon Beacons, tenth.

Together, the three Welsh parks accounted for 16.46% of all UK national park photography in the study.

The Lake District topped the list, followed by the South Downs, the Peak District and the New Forest.

Popsa CEO Liam Houghton said: “Wales has three genuinely world-class national parks and this data shows they are clearly on photographers’ radar.

“But there’s a real gap between the quality of the landscapes and the volume of photos being taken there compared to the English parks.”

The findings suggest Pembrokeshire remains one of the UK’s standout destinations for landscape, wildlife and coastal photography, while also underlining the continued importance of the national park to the county’s tourism economy.