Community

Creative writing flourishes in Pembrokeshire

Published

10 years ago

May 30, 2014

There are many published writers with links to Pembrokeshire including Brian John, Robert Nisbet, Phil Carradice and Sarah Waters. So it’s perhaps no surprise that Creative Writing is more widely recognised as a serious subject within education and the community in West Wales.

Creative writing workshops are available for school children aged 5-18 with an aim to encourage creativity and storytelling. Some of those offered include comic and poet Ian billings and children’s author Alan Durant. This September will see the first Creative Writing A level become available in UK schools and more courses have also appeared for adults throughout Universities and educational establishments due to increased demand. Pembrokeshire College in Haverfordwest offer an 8 week beginners course on Creative Writing for just £60. While Pembrokeshire county council provide Creative Writing classes in Pembroke Dock, Tenby, Fishguard and Haverfordwest. At the centre of this hive of creativity, are a number of community run writing groups. Sian Walker, a poet from Pembroke Dock, set up the Narberth poetry in August 2012. She says she chose the Queens hall as a venue because it is in the heart of Pembrokeshire and appeals to a wider catchment area. The poetry group averages 12 people each meeting, from a range of backgrounds. They meet from 7.30-8.30 on the last Thursday of every month. There is no charge but members are asked to kindly leave a donation. The aim of the group is to provide a relaxed atmosphere in which people can share their work and gain support from fellow writers. ‘Although we call it a poetry group, short story writers, scriptwriters…anyone is welcome. We also welcome guest writers, who come along to share their work with us.’ Some of the writers that have visited, include travel writer Tom Anderson and Irish poet Kevin Connelly. Connelly visited as part of the WISPA tour (Welsh/Irish poetry spoken word and poetry appreciation), an event which began earlier this year to promote and connect Welsh and Irish writers. Connelly said of Narbeth, ‘It reminded me of my own group in Duncannon, County Wexford. The atmosphere was completely relaxed and the people so welcoming and supportive.’ Jackie Wilson currently runs the Fishguard Acorn writers’ support group which offers ‘inspirational support for Pembrokshire writers’ and has its own website and monthly newsletter. In 2009 Jackie, along with fellow members of the group, set up Acorns publishing, in order to independently publish the groups work. They currently have 8 titles available through their website and Amazon. The group was originally set up in 1994 by the Royal Oak landlord, Dai Crowther, a former miner and teacher from Fishguard. Dai was known as an author, poet and singer songwriter. He finished his first novel just before he died and also published Dragon tales, his version of a group of traditional stories based on the Mabinogion. The acorns meet on a Monday evening from 7pm, offering a ‘warm, friendly environment with support and encouragement for anyone who write whether professionally or for pleasure.’ They share work for constructive feedback, discussions and writing exercises. They occasionally hold workshops and attend literary festivals as well as holding performance evenings. They aim to keep in contact with other groups in West Wales to share their experiences. Their members, affectionately called ‘acorns,’ write everything from short stories and poetry to songs and memoirs. It costs just £1 to become a member. There are also community led writing groups in Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest, details of which can be found on the Literature Wales website. For more information you can contacts: www.literaturewales.co.uk www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk www.acornswriterssupportgroup.org. uk

Community

Rent in Pembrokeshire rises 7% over past year

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Design Team

NEW figures reveal that private rental costs in Pembrokeshire have climbed by 7% in the past year, with the average monthly rent reaching £625 in October. This is a significant increase from £582 a year earlier and represents a 22% rise over the past five years, where the average rent was estimated at £511.

The data, collected by Rent Officers Wales as part of the Housing and Regeneration Division, highlights growing pressure on tenants amidst rising costs. The collection aims to cover approximately 15% of the rental market by gathering data from landlords and letting agents.

Across Wales, the average monthly rent has risen 8% year-on-year to £766. Cardiff recorded the highest rental cost in the country at £1,062 per month, while Powys had the lowest at £556.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, commented on the challenges faced by renters in a press statement sent to The Pembrokeshire Herald. She said: “Getting good news about your rent is about as common as discovering your housemates have washed up for you, or your landlord suggesting you get a dog. For many, the only way out of the endless cycle of rising costs is to buy, but that’s far easier said than done when rents absorb so much of your income.”

The situation is compounded by a lack of available rental properties. Nathan Emerson, chief executive at Propertymark, explained: “As we continue to see further increases in rental prices across the UK, our members emphasize the lack of rental stock versus an ever-growing number of tenants. Selling up or turning to the short-term letting market has become a more attractive option for landlords due to challenging legislative changes and increased financial liabilities.”

Breakdown of Rental Costs in Pembrokeshire

The figures show a range of costs depending on property type and size in Pembrokeshire:

– A one-bedroom property: £462 per month

– A two-bedroom property: £576 per month

– A three-bedroom property: £732 per month

– Homes with four or more bedrooms: £934 per month

By property type:

– Detached houses: £768 per month

– Semi-detached houses: £653 per month

– Terraced houses: £629 per month

– Flats or maisonettes: £521 per month

In October, the average rent for private properties across Great Britain stood at £1,307 per month—up 9% compared to the same period last year. This equates to an increase of £105 per month.

As landlords adapt to changing regulations and financial pressures, the shortage of rental properties continues to push prices higher, creating further challenges for tenants across Pembrokeshire and beyond.

Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

Community

Council warns of icy conditions as temperatures drop

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ROAD users in Pembrokeshire are being urged to exercise caution tonight as temperatures are forecast to dip below freezing.

Pembrokeshire County Council has announced that road surface temperatures could reach as low as -2°C, with the possibility of sleet or snow on higher ground. In response, precautionary salting of the county’s primary routes will be carried out this evening and overnight.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Road users are advised to take care if travelling on untreated roads.”

Motorists are reminded to plan ahead and drive carefully, particularly in areas that may not have been treated.

Stay tuned to The Herald for updates on road conditions and weather warnings.