News
Tickets go on sale for Pride Festival
MEET the three famous Welsh faces supporting Pride Cymru 2014 – Wales’ largest celebration of equality and diversity.
Welsh actress, Lu Corfield best known for playing Freya Wilson in BBC One’s soap opera ‘Doctors’, is the latest addition to those backing Pride Cymru. Lu Corfield said she was honoured when asked to become a Patron. “Having grown up in Wales and as a keen advocate for LGBT rights, this is an event that literally hits close to home. I am incredibly proud to support an organisation that strives tirelessly to secure a future where there is genuine equality for all.” In an interview with Digital Spy, in March 2012, Lu announced that she was bisexual and proud of her sexuality. She works regularly with young adults and teenagers in workshops designed to stamp out abuse and encourage acceptance. She also recently appeared in the Diversity Role Models Calendar to show her support for the prevention of homophobic bullying in UK schools. Ian ‘H’ Watkins, the former star of million-record selling pop sensation Steps has also become a Patron for the charity organisation Welsh singer and actor, Ian ‘H’ Watkins commented: “This event is very close to heart and I am thrilled to be asked to be a patron. Pride Cymru does amazing work tackling homophobia and hate crime.” In a personal account filmed for BBC Wales’ Week In – Week Out, Ian described growing up gay in the Rhondda ‘a nightmare’, and came out while entering Celebrity Big Brother in 2007, with stars such as Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty. Pride Cymru Trustee member, Lisa Power said: “Ian understands what it’s like to be a young LGBT person growing up in Wales. His successful entertainment career shows that you can realise your dreams, whoever you are and wherever you start from. He and Steps have done a lot to support LGBT causes over the years and he’s a great role model. We hope to welcome him to the Parade and Event this year.” International rugby referee, Nigel Owens who has been a Patron for the organisation in recent years is also proud to show his continuing support. Nigel has campaigned to stamp out sexual discrimination in sport since coming out as gay in 2007. Nigel Owens, said: “The new name of the LGBT Mardi Gras event shows that we’ve achieved so much in Wales in terms of equality. We’ve still got a way to go, but we’re getting there. The event is like a rugby match, when I got up on that stage last year you could see and hear the crowds roar. That’s Welsh pride right there. Pride Cymru really unites all types of communities together. No matter who you are. It’s a brilliant day out for all and I’m extremely proud to be part of it by showing my continuing support.” Previous Patrons include television producer Russell T. Davies, singer Charlotte Church and rugby player Gareth Thomas. Pride Cymru (previously known as Cardiff Mardi Gras) returns to the grounds of Coopers Field, Cardiff on Saturday 16th August 2014, kicking off midday with an impressive line-up of live main stage acts, including British boy band Union J, Big Reunion’s 90s girl group, Eternal, Misha B, Nicki French and local indie artists and cabaret performances that represent the last four decades of smash hits. The inaugural parade will also return for its third year running, themed as ‘Welsh Pride is…’ to embrace the festival’s new name. Advanced tickets for Pride Cymru are on sale at: http:// seetickets.com/go/PrideCymru14 Pride Cymru (Cardiff-Wales LGBT Mardi Gras) is in its fourteenth year running. It costs over £250,000 to stage the event, part funded by sponsors, managed by a group of volunteers. As a registered charity, the core aim of the celebration is to combat homophobic and transphobic hate crime to make Wales a safe place for all.
Crime
Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property
A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.
Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.
The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.
The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.
The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.
News
Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’
THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”
The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.
Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”
NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.
“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.
“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”
The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”
This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.
Community
Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed
RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.
The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.
Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.
With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.
“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”
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