News
Face masks compulsory in shops from Monday
First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced today (Friday, Sept 11) that face masks will be made compulsory in shops and indoor public spaces from Monday, September 14.
Drakeford will announce the new rules at a press conference to be held at 12:30pm.
The First Minister also announced plans to emulate England’s ‘rule of six’ by limiting the number of people who can meet up.
Masks are already compulsory on public transport in Wales and Drakeford is expected to announce the full details regarding exactly where face coverings will be expected to be worn later.
Reactions to this announcement have been varied with some welcoming the move whilst others see compulsory face masks as somehow infringing their human rights.
These changes will not apply in Caerphilly County Borough Council area, where local restrictions have been introduced, including a suspension on extended households meeting indoors, to control a sharp rise in coronavirus cases and protect public health.
The First Minister said: “We said back in August that if coronavirus reached a certain threshold in Wales we would revisit it and today we will go to a position in Wales where 20 people in 100,000 in Wales are suffering from coronavirus, having reached that threshold we will be making the use of face coverings mandatory.”
With a local lockdown in force in Caerphilly and other areas nearby, RCT, anticipating a rise in the number of cases, Drakeford’s announcement is seen by many to be a perfect response to a situation that could escalate quickly unless something is done.
Community
Woman rescued from coast path after ankle injury
Coastguard teams called to Dinas Island near Pwllgwaelod
A WOMAN was stretchered from the coast path near Pwllgwaelod after suffering an ankle injury.
HM Coastguard Fishguard was tasked at 5:22pm on Friday, June 27, alongside HM Coastguard Teifi, to assist the casualty on Dinas Island.
The teams attended the scene near Hendre Farm Campsite and Cottages and, with help from the landowner, were able to quickly locate the injured woman.
Her injured limb was immobilised before she was carried by stretcher to her nearby car, where family members were able to take her on to hospital.
Fishguard Coastguard thanked the landowner for their help.
Entertainment
This Ain’t Texas organisers admit Carmarthen festival ‘didn’t go exactly as planned’
ORGANISERS of a country music festival held in Carmarthen have thanked visitors for their support while admitting that parts of the event “did not go exactly as planned”.
This Ain’t Texas Festival took place at the United Counties Showground on Saturday (Jun 27), promising live country music, line dancing, American BBQ, street food, western-themed stalls and family-friendly entertainment.
The event was part of a UK-wide tour, with the Carmarthen date promoted as a Nashville-style day out for families and country music fans.
But after the event, a number of attendees took to social media to raise concerns about queues, parking, food options and the overall organisation of the day.
In a statement posted online, organisers said: “Thank you, Carmarthen. What a day.
“Firstly, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came out and made this event so special. The support, energy, and positive feedback we’ve received across the country has been incredible, and we’re truly grateful for every single one of you.
“That said, we also know that not everything went exactly as planned. We’ve received some constructive feedback from attendees, and we want you to know that we’ve listened carefully.”
Some visitors said they had enjoyed the atmosphere, music and line dancing, while others said the event had fallen short of expectations.
One attendee said the day had been “very disappointing” after booking early-bird tickets and looking forward to the festival for months.
Another visitor said the bar queue was long, adding that they had queued for more than an hour, although they still felt the ticket price had been good value.
Others called for more food choice, including vegetarian options, and said parking and space on site would need to be reviewed if the event returned on a larger scale.
There was also praise for the local line dancing element, with one attendee saying it had “definitely added to the experience”.
The festival had been advertised as a one-day country and western-themed event, with live tribute acts, dancing, food, drink, stalls and activities.
Community
Civic service brings Pembrokeshire towns together in Haverfordwest
A CIVIC service has been held at St Mary’s Church in Haverfordwest, bringing together civic leaders, councillors, cadets and community representatives from across Pembrokeshire.
The Mayor’s Civic Service took place at 11:00am on Sunday, 28 June 2026, at the historic High Street church, one of the county town’s most familiar landmarks.
The service was hosted by Haverfordwest Town Council and attended by the Sheriff of Haverfordwest, Cllr Dani Thomas-Turner, Deputy Lord Lieutenants, the mayors of Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Neyland and St Davids, members of the Guild of Freemen, the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet and the Mayoral Cadet.

St Mary’s Church has stood at the heart of Haverfordwest for more than 800 years. Built in about 1200, its size and position have made it one of the town’s dominant historic buildings.
Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner said the occasion had been “truly special and humbling”.
He said: “It was an honour to gather in one of our town’s most historic and beautiful buildings, a church that has stood at the heart of our community since the 12th century, bringing people together in faith, service and reflection.”

Cllr Thomas-Turner and the Sheriff thanked all those who attended, saying the presence of civic representatives from neighbouring towns reflected the “strong spirit of friendship and partnership across Pembrokeshire”.
They also paid tribute to fellow town councillors, the Guild of Freemen, and the cadets who supported the service.
Cllr Thomas-Turner added: “Days like today remind us that civic life is about more than titles and chains of office. It is about service, community, friendship and working together for the good of our towns and our county.”
He said the event had been a proud day for Haverfordwest, adding: “Haverfordwest truly is the Best in the West.”
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