News
£20,000 Boom for Pembrokeshire Sailors to Open Second Centre in Lydstep
PEMBROKESHIRE Performance Sailing Academy is first to take advantage of revamped
fast-track loan process for loans up to £25,000 from the Development Bank of Wales
Watersport and sailing enthusiasts will be setting sail from Lydstep when the Pembrokeshire
Performance Sailing Academy opens a second centre this Easter.
Using the recently updated fast-track loan facility from the Development Bank of Wales , Richard has
secured £20,000 to purchase two sailing boats and a powerboat for a second site at the Bourne
Leisure Caravan Holiday Village in Lydstep. Customers will have access to on-site showers and toilets,
as well as the Haven café.
As the leading Royal Yachting Association (RYA) sailing and powerboat training centre in south west
Wales, the Pembrokeshire Performance Sailing Academy provides training for entry level enthusiasts
and high performance sailing.
Based at Llanion Cover near Pembroke Dock, the Pembrokeshire Performance Sailing Academy is
run by ex-forces instructor Richard Owens. He established the business in 2013 having previously
competed at European and National level as a Coach with the Army Sailing Association.
Director and Chief Instructor Richard Owens said: “We were given the chance to open a second centre
in Lydstep but we needed access to quick finance so that we could grasp the opportunity quickly. The
fast-track loan from the Development Bank means that we can invest in new equipment and diversify
our business in to the tourism market; providing exciting opportunities for growth and creating new work
for local freelance sailing instructors.
“Although a relatively small amount of money, this £20,000 loan from the Development Bank will make
a big difference to our potential and the livelihoods of local people who rely on us for work. It’s a win-win
all round and, importantly, the new fast-track process means that it has been really quick.”
The fast track loan from the Development Bank of Wales is available to all businesses that
have been trading in Wales for over two years. Funding was previously limited to £10,000
but loans of up to £25,000 are now available with a decision made in just two working days.
A statement of assets and liabilities is required as opposed to a full business plan. Interest is
fixed for the term of the loan.
Emily Wood is an Investment Executive with the Development Bank of Wales. She added:
“Our fast-track loans are now available up to £25,000 with a decision made within two days.
This funding is ideal for businesses that have been trading for over two years and are ready
to scale up, invest in additional stock, develop products or need a helping hand with
cashflow. We’ve been delighted with the response so far from businesses’ like the
Pembrokeshire Performance Sailing Academy. The businesses that we support like the easy
on-line application process coupled with having a person rather than a computer making a
decision. Having the support from our local teams is making a real difference.
“Richard has a great business that is highly regarded by the sailing and watersport community. The
opening of the second centre in Lydstep is natural progression and, as a tourist destination, will
complement the main centre in Llanion as a year-round operation. We’re looking forward to our first
visit!”
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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