News

Neyland town councillor welcomes water testing of the Cleddau

Published

4 years ago

May 11, 2022

NEYLAND Town Councillor, Andrew Lye has welcomed the fact that Pembrokeshire County Council will be taking water samples from the River Cleddau, in Neyland, as part of their community bathing water project for this coming season.

Pollution Control Inspector, Scott Findlay has confirmed Neyland will be on the list, along with several other sites across the county.

These samples will be taken weekly, running concurrently with the school summer holidays with preliminary samples taken beforehand. Samples will be tested for E.coli and Enterococci.

Cllr Andrew Lye raised the issue of the standard of the water in the River Cleddau after much publicity in the media about tonnes of raw sewage being dumped into waterways in England, for 3.1m hours in 2020, through storm overflow pipes that were only supposed to be used to relieve pressure on the sewage system during extreme weather.

Figures also showed that Welsh rivers had 106,094 sewage spills in a year for 872,976 hours.

Cllr Lye said “I was concerned as I enjoy seeing young people jumping off the temporary pontoon by the Neyland Yacht Club, in the summer. It reminded me of the fun I had as a child, in the river where I grew up in Wiltshire. I remember reading that the Cleddau was named as one of the river named as being polluted. I was concerned that youngsters could be swimming in polluted water and felt we needed to know if the water was safe. Obviously, I hope it is safe.”

Cllr Lye added “The issue of the dumping of raw sewage into waterways is important to us all. I understand that the problem is exacerbated by pollution from farmland, leaking into the river system. Pembrokeshire is a tourist hot spot and every year, Pembrokeshire beaches get the highest number of Blue Flags for any county in Wales. In 2021, of the 45 beaches that were recognised, 11 were in Pembrokeshire. Blue Flags are awarded to recognise the highest level of cleanliness and water quality and celebrates the best beaches. It is therefore vitally important that the Cleddau’s water quality is excellent and safe for those swimming in it.”

Pembrokeshire County Council are proposing to record the results of the water testing it conducts across the County, including Neyland, on a digital dashboard where they will be available for anyone to view on the PCC website.

The Council feels that these samples will help provide information for all users of the bathing waters to make informed decisions on safe and responsible water use.

Cllr Lye added “The lure of playing in the water on a hot summer’s day has not changed since I was young. We all like cooling off in water, whether it is in a swimming pool, one of our many excellent beaches on our doorstep, or jumping into a river. I hope that the results of water sampling by PCC Pollution Inspectors show that the water is safe. I took the photograph to show a sample of water taken from the Cleddau. But is it safe to swim in? I haven’t a clue. That is why it is imperative that the experts test it regularly, so that parents know that their children are safe and won’t catch e-coli poisoning, or something else, just because they thought the waters were safe. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Community

New town map unveiled in Fishguard

Published

1 hour ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW town map has been installed in the heart of Fishguard to help residents and visitors discover more of what the area has to offer.

The map, created by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick’s in-house graphic designer, has been placed on the Abergwaun Hotel tunnel, near Offshore Surfwear’s new shop.

The group said it was “incredibly proud” of the finished result and thanked the building owner for allowing the map to be installed on the premises.

Visit Fishguard & Goodwick is now hoping to create a similar map for Goodwick and is asking for help from a centrally located building owner who may be willing to host it.

Anyone who can help, or knows of a suitable location, is being asked to get in touch with Visit Fishguard & Goodwick.

Community

Tenby Summer Spectacular cancelled amid council row over harbour access

Published

7 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Organisers say popular charity events cannot safely go ahead without clear powers to control crowds

TENBY ROUND TABLE has announced that this summer’s Tenby Summer Spectacular events have been cancelled until further notice amid a dispute with Pembrokeshire County Council over crowd control at the harbour.

The events, which were due to take place on Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 30, have been a major feature of Tenby’s summer calendar for decades, drawing large crowds to the harbour for entertainment, food, drink and fireworks.

In a statement, Tenby Round Table said the decision had been made “with enormous sadness” and claimed it had been forced on organisers because of unresolved issues over the safe management of pedestrian access.

The organisation said it needed the council’s Public Realm department to use statutory powers to temporarily restrict pedestrian access through the event area when capacity is reached.

Organisers said the matter had first been raised with the council in September 2025 and again formally in writing in May 2026.

They said volunteers had attended meetings, commissioned professional health and safety consultants and worked on Event Management Plans, but claimed the council had still not provided a clear answer.

Tenby Round Table said: “PCC’s Public Realm department has had nine months to answer one question on safe and controlled access to the harbour. It has not done so.”

The group also alleged that recent written responses from the council contained factual inaccuracies and misleading statements about the relevant legislation.

It added that the council’s legal advice was understood to be provisional and still under internal review.

The cancellation is currently described as provisional, with organisers giving the council a final deadline of June 25 to provide what they describe as a clear, accurate and legally grounded answer.

Tenby Round Table said that if this is provided, it will do everything possible to reinstate the events.

The group said the Summer Spectacular had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, sports teams, community groups and worthy individuals since it began.

It said the cancellation would be a devastating blow to those who benefit from the funds raised.

The statement added that organisers are still working with Dyfed-Powys Police and other relevant authorities ahead of a council licensing committee meeting in July, which is expected to consider whether the event licence should be renewed, amended or withdrawn.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.

Charity

Sea shanties and street food bring crowds to Cardigan RNLI festival

Published

7 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SUNSHINE, sea shanties and street food helped draw hundreds of visitors to Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station on Saturday (Jun 20).

The station’s Sea Shanty and Street Food Festival brought together families, supporters and visitors from across the region for a day of maritime music, food and community spirit.

Traditional sea shanty groups performed throughout the event, with songs echoing around the lifeboat station, while street food vendors served a range of refreshments.

The event also gave visitors the chance to learn more about the lifesaving work carried out by the RNLI and its volunteer crews.

Cardigan RNLI thanked the performers, food vendors, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who helped make the day a success.

Bruce Harris, Launch Authority and event organiser, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to support the station, enjoy the entertainment, and celebrate our maritime heritage.

“The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, and contributed to such a memorable event.”

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.

The charity operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 146,700 lives.