News

Local activists will be in London for mass climate demonstration

Published

1 year ago

March 12, 2023

A LARGE group of residents from Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire are preparing to take part in the mass climate demonstration in London on 21st to 24th April, according to organisers.

The demonstration has been nicknamed ‘The Big One’, The Herald has been told.

Sarah Wright, who was previously on the Cardigan Town Council and a teacher at Coleg Ceredigion, is one of those going. She explained, “The Big One is designed to be a non-disruptive, all inclusive, family friendly demonstration of the breadth and depth of concern amongst ordinary people about the climate crisis. There will be tens of thousands of people demonstrating outside the Houses of Parliament on Friday 21st April, with many returning every day until Monday 24th. The police have been consulted in the arrangements from the start. We want to get the Government’s attention, not to disturb the public. I’m a grandmother and I intend to be there to speak up for a better future for my grandchildren. Unless the UK Government takes radical action the future will be very bleak for all of us, and especially for young people.”

Bus transport has been hired to take people to London for the day from Pembrokeshire, south Ceredigion and Carmarthen, and the bookings show that places are going fast. Similarly, rooms at a hostel have been booked for those who can stay for the whole 4 day demonstration, and this has over half the beds booked already.

Jane Mansfield, a retired nurse, is one of the organisers of the transport and the hostel, and she said, “The bookings show that lots of people are coming who have perhaps never been on a demonstration before, but they feel ‘now is the time’ as the effects of climate change become more and more obvious. We hear about it from world scientists, we see its effects on the news from across the world, with wildfires, floods, storms, rising sea levels, and astonishingly high temperatures. And we see it all around us in the changing climate affecting our lives. I am a gardener and see how the normal seasonal patterns to our weather have changed; it is now a lot more unpredictable. This has big consequences for our food production not just in my garden, but around the globe as we have seen in the shops this winter.”

The demonstration will bring together many movements such as The West Wales Climate Coalition, Friends of the Earth, CND, local Resilience groups and Extinction Rebellion, as well as many individuals of all ages and backgrounds who may not belong to any particular organisation. Banners have been seen in Cardigan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, St.Davids, and Fishguard, declaring ‘April 21st – Unite to Survive’ and ‘Yr Hinsawdd – yn ein dwylo’ (The Climate – in our hands). Many feel that the UK Government is leading us in the wrong direction, actively making the climate worse by granting new licences for coal, oil and gas. The Government’s own climate advisors are saying that they’re not on track to reach net zero in time.

“I am a volunteer at the Cardigan Oxfam shop and we are very aware of how it is a question of climate injustice,” explained Philippa Gibson, who will also be going to the demonstration. “Those in the developing world, such as many African countries, are feeling the effects of climate disaster first and most deeply, although they are the ones who have contributed the least to the problem, as their carbon emissions are tiny compared with those of us in developed countries. ”

Anyone interested in joining the bus to the demonstration, or just finding out more, can contact [email protected] 07717 391611

Business

Port of Milford Haven now official ‘a great place to work’

Published

1 min ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT of Milford Haven has been officially accredited as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation. As the first Port Authority in Britain to secure this Certification™, it is a significant achievement.

“We are very proud to be Great Place to Work-Certified™,” said Vidette Swales, HR Director at the Port of Milford Haven. “It means so much that our employees have reported a consistently positive experience with their colleagues, their leaders and their jobs. Offering a positive employee experience is not only beneficial for the people who work with us but is also key for our continued business success.”

Tom Sawyer, CEO at the Port of Milford Haven added: “Our team is operating the UK’s leading energy port, and it is of the utmost importance that we do that safely, responsibly and effectively. We’re striving for excellence and aim to provide a world class service to our customers as well as supporting sustainable coastal communities for the prosperity of future generations. Our employees are clearly at the centre of this which is why I’m delighted that they feel supported in their role. I’m especially proud that this Certification™ demonstrates our core values of Safety, Excellence, Collaboration and Sustainability so perfectly.”

“We congratulate the Port of Milford Haven on achieving their Certification™,” said Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place to Work® UK. “Organisations which put the employee experience at the heart of their business gain their employees’ trust and, in turn, are truly able to build a great workplace culture that delivers outstanding business results.”

Find out more about careers at the Port of Milford Haven here: www.mhpa.co.uk/about/careers-at-the-port/.

News

Fresh questions over fire that ravaged Manorbier school

Published

39 mins ago

May 3, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A senior Pembrokeshire councillor is to be quizzed on what progress has been made in recouping a £200,000 insurance excess paid by the council following the 2022 fire at a Manorbier school.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire on October 11, 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

Pupils and staff were successfully evacuated with no injuries, and a “school from school” was set up in Jameston Village Hall, after a brief period of sanctuary at the nearby Buttyland caravan site.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s insurers have previously said the fire was accidentally started while “hot works” were being carried out by contractors to renew an adjacent flat roof, but, as has previously been stressed, no liability had been accepted to date.

Councillors have previously heard the majority of costs were likely to be met from the council’s insurers, with the caveat of the unknown issue of liability and its effect on the £200,000 insurance excess.

A submitted question, by Councillor Aled Thomas, to be heard at the full council meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council on May 9, will ask Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham “to update the chamber on what progress the Cabinet have made in recouping the £200,000 insurance excess paid following the devastating non-fault fire at Manorbier school”.

Councillors have previously been told by Cllr Woodham: “The legal issues are not straightforward but will be robustly taken forward.

“At this stage it’s still subject to legal discussion. The excess will be covered by a fund the council holds for insurance excess.”

He said that, if liability was found or accepted, the council would “pursue for the full maximum claim of the costs associated with the fire”.

Crime

Dafydd Llywelyn retains his post as our local commissioner

Published

42 mins ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE result of the election for the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner election has been declared.

Plaid’s Dafydd Llywelyn retains his role as commissioner. He has held the role since 2016.

The result of the election is as follows:

Justin Mark Griffiths (Lib Dem) 7,719
Ian Harrison 19,134 (Con)
Dafydd Llywelyn 31,323 (Plaid)
Philippa Thompson (Lab) 18,353

Before the election, Dafydd Llywelyn promised: “As your current Commissioner, operational, front-line policing has, and always will come before party politics. I have a strong track record of delivering on my promises and of listening to the communities of Dyfed Powys. I am proud of what I have achieved since 2016, but there is still so much to do.

“I am an approachable individual and I believe in listening to all members of the community in order to shape a successful police force.

“Since 2016, I have increased resources whilst also retaining the lowest council tax levels in Wales. During that time, we’ve seen:

150 more Police Officers;

150 more Police Staff;
A CCTV system that is monitored 24/7 by police staff;
A dedicated rural crime team;
A focus on county lines drug dealing to target organised crime;
Investment in Youth Offending Teams to divert young people away from crime;
A new Offender Diversionary Scheme to reduce re-offending.

If re – elected:

I will safeguard Neighbourhood Policing resources retaining a visible local policing presence;
I will invest in the Communications Centre to ensure an accessible service;
I will continue to put the victim at the heart of the service and develop a truly victim led service;
I will work with operational staff to keep local police stations open;
I will invest in a new and refreshed School Police programme to deliver early intervention and preventative work;
I will prioritise working in partnership with organisations and agencies to safeguard the most vulnerable in society.

“Your safety is my top priority. I want to ensure that the Dyfed Powys Police Force remains one of the safest places to live in Wales and England.”