News
Being homeless in Pembrokeshire
By Tess Delaney
I HAD reason recently to get in touch with the homeless unit at Pembrokeshire County Council.
I spoke to a nice lady, and they can help me.
As I’m responsible for my son, we can be accommodated at the hostel in Pembroke. The thing is, I used to work at the Prince’s Trust, with kids that lived at the hostel, and there is no way on earth I’m taking my kid there.
Not happening.
And Pembroke? A forty-five-minute drive from my land, which I have to visit twice each day to tend my livestock. Given that one of the reasons for a Council officer’s refusal of my OPD planning permission was it involved too much driving, that’s a solution to a problem created by the Council which seems absurd, to say the least.
So now what?
Luckily, having procured a gig here at your favourite local newspaper, I’ve got a few more resources available.
So, let’s have a look, shall we?
Looking around at the prices of properties available to rent can leave one feeling pretty bereft.
What I want to know, is how does anyone afford these rents?
The cheapest two-bedroom I can find close to my land is in Clunderwen.
It looks fabulous in the pictures, but I know it’s rough because someone I know used to live there.
It’s a pretty little place, with a good amount of space, but the garden is shared – which isn’t mentioned in the particulars of course – and there are usually snails in the front room.
The fridge has to live in a cupboard under the stairs because the kitchen isn’t big enough, and there’s a washing machine, but it doesn’t work.
My point is, anything close to affordable is slightly sketchy.
It’s weird when you’re renting, and you lie there in bed, looking up at someone else’s peeling paint on the ceiling, unable to do anything about it because they don’t want you to, and you’re not really inclined to, being that your contract is at most a year long.
And who in Pembs is in a position to buy? Really? Are there any first-time buyers left? And what do they buy? There’s not much on the market locally for under 100k. How do people raise mortgages?
Some people have to rely on parents or suchlike, but some don’t have that kind of help. And there are no council houses because they all got sold.
I remember my grandad refusing to buy his council house. “They’re social houses for people in need” he used to say. The next people to live there bought it. Now, it’s a private let, with rent as high as any other three bed in that particular town.
I’ve put my name down on the council house register because the council are basically not giving me a lot of choice.
It’s daft.
I own and work on land that I have to leave at night times. I’m there all day. What’s the big deal about where you actually sleep? Why does that constitute home? What is home?
I can’t be homeless when I’ve got more of a potential home than someone who is actually proper homeless, but they’re telling me I’m homeless.
Define homelessness.
When I bought my land I tried to rent a house nearby.
Even though there are loads of empty and dilapidated properties, none are available for use. I put a shout out on the local Facebook page and got not one reply.
A week or so later, someone put a post on the same page, asking for a holiday let for their family to use at Christmas. About thirty people replied, with photos of lovely little houses that looked small enough to be affordable to a local family to rent. But they’re all holiday homes.
Every single one.
It’s no secret that many villages in our county are made up almost entirely of holiday lets and second homes.
Our prices are inflating all the time, especially when bright sparks at the Daily Mail publish articles on how you can get a house in Pembs for half the price of Cornwall, so why not move to Pembs, and buy up all the housing stock?
It wouldn’t be so bad if the housing stock got replaced, but every time someone puts a planning application in for affordable homes, or even any homes, the vigilantes come out, insisting on keeping as big a radius as possible around them, even though they’re usually people that moved here to retire, and all they’re really worried about is their property prices and the feeling that any new builds will spoil their postcard.
It’s an endless circular mess, and to be honest, who of you, reading this, would rather take your kid to the hostel than move onto your land illegally and face court? If that’s the choice, I know what I’ll be doing.
I’m lucky in that my son’s dad is letting me, as well as the kid, crash at his place while I look for somewhere, or get planning at appeal, whichever comes first.
So, ultimately, if you don’t have an ex that’s a brilliant dad and not only takes responsibility for the kid, but for me too, and steps in to help in this way, what do you do?
If you don’t have friends offering you places to stay, like I’ve had, you have the hostel as an option, and that’s it.
How can there be, as reported recently, so many homeless people wandering around Tenby that the Tenby Chippy is giving out free meals? How did that happen? When did that happen?
There was no homelessness back in my school days in Tenby. If there was one homeless person they were almost a curio, like that guy who used to wander around Whitland and tragically, and almost unnoticeably, died in that fire.
Now we have so many homeless that they’re noticeably cold and alone in a place like “Fair and Fashionable” Tenby, relying on the kindness of the chip shop?
According to the council’s reasoning, I’m eligible for free chips. Perhaps I’ll gather up everyone down there and let them live on the field.
It’s always an option…
Crime
Three more arrested after 18-year-old dies in Gorseinon crash
Five people are now in custody following a collision involving a car and an off-road motorcycle
THREE more men have been arrested after an 18-year-old died following a collision between a car and an off-road motorcycle in Gorseinon.
South Wales Police were called to Pen Cae Crwn Road at around 12:58pm on Thursday, where the teenager, who is believed to have been from Swansea, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second man, aged 19, was taken to hospital with injuries.
Two 18-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday.
Police confirmed on Friday that a further three arrests had been made.
A 33-year-old man from Gorseinon was arrested on suspicion of murder.
A 38-year-old man from Gowerton and a 38-year-old man from Mount Pleasant were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
The latest arrests bring the total number of people detained in connection with the investigation to five.
Several roads in the area remained closed on Friday morning while officers continued their investigation.
Cordons had been removed from some streets, although traffic cones, road signs and police tape remained at the roadside.
Gorseinon Rugby Club chairman Ian Murphy said the local community had been left in “deep shock”.
He said: “For youngsters to get involved in a tragedy like this is shocking and disturbing, very disturbing for us all.
“Everybody was talking about it. All the roads were closed by police and ambulances, so it took a while for it to sink in what was going on.
“We were aware that there might have been a chase involving a car and a motorbike, and the full tragedy unfolded from there.”
South Wales Police has not confirmed the circumstances leading up to the collision, and enquiries remain ongoing.
Health
Hywel Dda patients waited average of 64 weeks for hip surgery
Freedom of Information figures show more than 1,600 patients remained on the health board’s hip replacement waiting list in May
PATIENTS awaiting elective hip replacement surgery under Hywel Dda University Health Board waited an average of 450 days during the 2025/26 financial year, according to newly released figures.
The average wait was equivalent to just over 64 weeks, significantly longer than the treatment times set out under Welsh NHS targets.
The figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted to the health board by private healthcare marketplace My Medical Gateway.
In Wales, the stated aim is for 95% of patients to begin treatment within 26 weeks of referral, with no patient waiting longer than 36 weeks.
Hywel Dda confirmed that 1,608 patients were on its waiting list for hip replacement surgery as of May 28, 2026.
The health board also said 16 patients had been removed from the waiting list during the 2025/26 financial year after choosing to undergo treatment privately.
Hip replacement surgery is most commonly offered to people experiencing severe pain, stiffness and reduced mobility, often after other treatments such as physiotherapy, pain relief, injections and lifestyle changes have failed to provide sufficient relief.
Sara Gezdari, Head of Investor Relations at My Medical Gateway, said prolonged waits could have a serious effect on patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing.
She said: “Many people join NHS waiting lists after already spending months or years attempting to manage their condition through physiotherapy, pain relief medication, injections and lifestyle modifications.
“By the time surgery is recommended, they are often already struggling. The true impact of waiting is measured not in weeks but in declining quality of life.”
She said patients waiting for surgery could experience increasing pain, disrupted sleep, reduced mobility, loss of independence, social isolation and worsening mental health.
Long waits could also have financial consequences, particularly for people whose employment relies on physical mobility.
Ms Gezdari added: “Many patients continue working despite severe symptoms. As pain worsens, productivity often falls. Some reduce their hours. Others leave work entirely.
“The consequences can be particularly significant for self-employed individuals who depend upon physical mobility to earn a living.”
My Medical Gateway said private hip replacement surgery in the UK typically costs between £12,549 and £14,950.
The company, which connects UK patients with private hospitals in the European Union, said the average price offered by many European providers was approximately £9,088.
However, travelling abroad for medical treatment can involve additional considerations, including travel costs, insurance, post-operative care and arrangements if complications arise.
The Freedom of Information response was returned by Hywel Dda University Health Board on June 8, 2026.
Education
Saundersfoot graduate secures teaching job before completing degree
Local school placements helped Millie Brace gain the experience and connections needed to begin her career at Templeton Primary School
A SAUNDERSFOOT student is celebrating after graduating from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and securing a teaching job in Pembrokeshire before completing her degree.
Millie Brace graduated this week with a BA in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status from UWTSD’s Carmarthen campus.
She will begin her first teaching post at Templeton Primary School in September.
Millie said the opportunity to remain close to home and complete placements in Pembrokeshire schools had been a major factor in her decision to study at UWTSD.
“I chose UWTSD because it allowed me to stay close to my family and continue living at home while studying, which was important to me,” she said.
“Another key reason was the opportunity to complete local teaching placements.
“I knew how competitive teaching jobs can be in Pembrokeshire, so gaining experience in local schools was a great way to build professional connections and develop an understanding of the schools and communities I want to work in.”
Her placements allowed her to gain experience in a range of classrooms and helped her develop the confidence needed to apply for teaching roles.
“Before graduating, I was delighted to secure a teaching position at an amazing primary school in my local area,” she said.
Millie praised the support she received from university staff, school mentors and teachers during her final placement at Lamphey Primary School.
“Although I had not previously taught that particular year group, I received fantastic support from my class mentors and staff at Lamphey Primary School,” she said.
“Their knowledge and experience, combined with the research and understanding I developed through my course and assignments, greatly increased my confidence.”
Millie said the flexibility of the degree allowed her to explore subjects linked directly to her classroom experience and professional development.
“My favourite thing about the course was the flexibility of the assignments,” she said.
“They allowed me to explore topics that genuinely interested me and focus on areas that reflected my personal development targets from placements.
“This made the work feel relevant to my experiences in the classroom and helped me connect theory with practice.”
She also valued the sense of community at the Carmarthen campus and the friendships she formed with other student teachers.
“One of the biggest challenges during my studies was adapting to different placement schools and managing the increasing expectations placed on me as I progressed,” she said.
“Each school had its own routines, approaches and learning environments.
“What helped me most was the support of other student teachers. We shared resources, exchanged ideas and helped each other with lesson planning and preparation.”
Outside her studies, Millie continued to enjoy the Pembrokeshire coastline, spending her spare time paddleboarding, walking her dog and learning to surf.
She said she would recommend UWTSD to anyone considering a career in teaching.
“The course provided excellent placement opportunities, allowing me to gain valuable experience in local schools and build professional connections that helped me secure a teaching job before graduating,” she said.
“I have also made friends for life, and the relationships I built have been one of the most rewarding parts of my university experience.”
Millie will now take the next step in her career when she joins Templeton Primary School at the beginning of the new academic year.
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