RESIDENTS and businesses in Pembroke Dock are invited to attend a pop-up advice surgery this Friday at the Tesco store in Pembroke Dock, hosted by Samuel Kurtz MS.

The event is part of the Member of the Senedd’s ongoing commitment to community engagement offering an informal and accessible way for people to engage, ask questions, and receive help on a range of matters.

Samuel Kurtz MS said: “These drop-in surgeries are vital for ensuring open communication and staying connected to the day-to-day experiences of local people.”

The event follows the successful campaign for a new banking hub for the town, with attention now turning to the next phase, including delivery, location, and how the hub will operate to support local residents and businesses.

Samuel added: “This is a major step forward for Pembroke Dock. After a year of campaigning and strong community support, we now have the green light for a banking hub. This event is about keeping people informed on what comes next and making sure the hub works for everyone it is intended to serve.”

The drop-in session will give people the opportunity to receive updates on progress, understand the next steps, and ask questions about what the banking hub will mean in practice for the community.

No appointment is needed, and people can drop in at any time during the session.

PAUL DAVIES MS and Samuel Kurtz MS visited Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity at its new base in Narberth on Friday 20^th March, highlighting the organisation’s expanding role in supporting children and families across Pembrokeshire and Wales.

The charity recently relocated its administrative headquarters to Narberth as part of plans to strengthen its services and reach more families in need. Founded in Pembrokeshire, Sandy Bear has grown significantly in recent years, now supporting more than 1,000 children and young people annually across Wales.

During the visit, the Pembrokeshire Conservative Members of the Senedd met with staff and volunteers to hear first-hand about the increasing demand for specialist bereavement support, as well as the impact the charity is having on young people navigating grief.

Sandy Bear provides one-to-one and group support to children and young people, helping them understand loss, express their emotions, and build resilience for the future.

Speaking after the visit, Paul Davies MS said: “I have always been incredibly supportive of the vital work that Sandy Bear undertakes, and it was interesting seeing their new base in Narberth. It represents an important step forward allowing them to reach even more children and ensure that no young person has to face grief alone.”

The move to Narberth, based at The Old School community hub, reflects the charity’s continued growth and its focus on making the best use of resources to invest in frontline services.

Samuel Kurtz MS added: “Charities like Sandy Bear play a crucial role in supporting emotional wellbeing and preventing longer-term challenges for young people. It is essential they are recognised and supported to continue this life-changing work.”

Martin Jones, the BDM and Finance Lead for the charity said: “Last week was a special milestone for Sandy Bear as we welcomed Samuel Kurtz MS, Paul Davies MS, and their teams to our new Narberth office. It was a privilege to also have Rev. Robert Moore bless the space. Thank you to Sam, Paul, and Rob for taking the time to visit us and for their unwavering commitment to making our communities better every day.”

Sandy Bear’s mission is to ensure that no child grieves alone, providing compassionate, specialist support at some of the most difficult times in a young person’s life.

Independent candidate says five-year delay is “simply not good enough”

AN INDEPENDENT Senedd candidate has called for urgent action to restart progress on the long-promised reopening of St Clears railway station.

Carl Peters-Bond, who is standing in Caerfyrddin and also serves as Mayor of Kidwelly, has urged the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales to finally deliver on commitments first made more than five years ago.

The station, located on the West Wales line between Carmarthen and Whitland, was closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts, which saw widespread reductions to the UK rail network. Its reopening has been the subject of local campaigns for decades, with supporters arguing it would reconnect rural communities to the national rail system.

In 2020, the project secured funding through the UK Government’s New Stations Fund, with Carmarthenshire County Council leading initial development work. The announcement was widely welcomed as a significant step towards improving transport links in west Wales.

However, despite early progress including feasibility studies and design work, the scheme has yet to move into construction. No confirmed timetable for delivery has been published.

Carl Peters-Bond said: “People in Carmarthenshire were told in 2020 that St Clears station was coming back. Five years on, we have vision documents, glossy strategies and endless consultations, but not a single shovel in the ground. It’s simply not good enough.”

He contrasted the delay with major transport investment elsewhere, adding: “While hundreds of millions are being invested in Cardiff and the Valleys through the Metro, and billions have gone into HS2, still labelled as ‘England and Wales’ infrastructure, communities like ours are left waiting.

“Carmarthenshire deserves its fair share of investment, and St Clears station should be at the front of the queue.”

Supporters of the scheme say a reopened station could help reduce reliance on cars along the busy A40, while improving access to employment, education and healthcare for residents in surrounding rural areas. It is also seen as an opportunity to boost tourism by making west Wales more accessible by rail.

Carl added: “Transport for Wales talks about improving connectivity in West Wales, but plans do not get people to work, school or hospital. Trains do. It is time for delivery, not more documents.”

As part of his campaign, he has pledged to push for a clear timetable, hold decision-makers to account on delays, and press for greater investment in the county’s transport network.

He added: “Carmarthenshire has waited long enough. If elected, I will make sure St Clears station is not forgotten again. Our communities deserve action, not another decade of promises.”