News
Pembrokeshire man fined £510 for speeding in BMW
MARTIN EDWARD LANGDON, a 38-year-old resident of Cawdor Close, Haverfordwest, faced consequences for his actions as he was fined £510 and received three penalty points on his license for speeding in his BMW 116D.
On May 5, 2023, Langdon was caught travelling at 39mph in a 30mph zone at the junction with New Road, Aberddulais. The area, known for its busy residential setting and proximity to local schools, necessitates strict adherence to speed limits to ensure public safety.
Langdon chose not to attend the hearing at Cardiff Magistrates Court on November 14. However, he submitted a guilty plea under the Single Justice Procedure, a process used for minor offences where a single magistrate can make a decision based on written evidence.
Magistrates imposed a fine of £300 on Langdon, in addition to costs of £90 and a victim surcharge of £120. The total of £510 must be paid by December 12 this year. His driving licence was also endorsed with three penalty points. The court took Langdon’s guilty plea into account when imposing the sentence.
Neath Port Talbot, the area where the offence occurred, has seen a significant number of road traffic incidents in recent years, many attributed to speeding. Local authorities have been actively campaigning to raise awareness about the dangers of speeding.
The speeding remains a significant contributor to road accidents and fatalities. According to local police data, [insert local statistics on accidents due to speeding], highlighting the need for stringent enforcement of traffic laws.
While Langdon was unavailable for a direct comment, his representative stated, “Mr. Langdon regrets his actions and fully accepts the court’s decision. He is committed to more responsible driving in the future.”
Community
Homeless people in Pembrokeshire at risk as heatwave continues
HOMELESS people in Pembrokeshire are being offered extra support as Wales continues to face extreme heat.
The Wallich, which runs rough sleeping outreach and drop-in support in Haverfordwest, said people sleeping rough, living in cars, or staying in poor quality temporary accommodation are among those most at risk during the heatwave.
Outreach teams are helping people stay safe by offering water, sun cream, hats, wet wipes and other essentials.
Jamie-Lee Cole, Strategic Communications Lead for The Wallich, said: “People on the streets and living in poor quality or temporary housing are the most affected by climate change.
“They are the most exposed to extreme weather events like a heatwave, as well as heavy rain and cold in the winter.”
The charity said it is also offering advice on dehydration, sunstroke, worsening health conditions, wounds, and the added risks of drug and alcohol use during hot weather.
People are being encouraged to use cooler public spaces, such as libraries and support centres, during the hottest parts of the day.
The Wallich said some councils in Wales have activated Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, but called for all local authorities to include specific heatwave plans.
Ms Cole added: “It’s a sign of the times unfortunately that extreme heat will feature year on year, and we must make sure there are adequate and cool daytime spaces for people experiencing homelessness to access.”
The charity is also supporting people sleeping in cars, warning that vehicles can become dangerously hot.
Members of the public in Pembrokeshire are being urged to check on anyone they are worried about.
Ms Cole said: “If someone looks unwell and you feel safe to approach them, ask if they’re okay.
“Encourage them to move into shade or a cooler space. Alert emergency services if you think someone needs help in the heat.
“Offer people experiencing homelessness a cold drink and a chat, just like you would anyone else in your community.”
Community
Local engineering student wins £5,000 South Hook scholarship
A FORMER Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi pupil has been awarded a £5,000 scholarship by South Hook LNG.
Henry Raymond, who is in the second year of a five-year Chemical and Environmental Engineering degree at the University of Nottingham, is the latest recipient of the company’s annual scholarship award.
South Hook said Henry had shown strong academic performance, a clear work ethic, and a keen interest in the role of engineering within the energy sector.
The scholarship is aimed at supporting local students as they progress in higher education, particularly in engineering, science and business-related subjects.
Applicants are assessed through a written application and an informal interview, with the award forming part of South Hook LNG’s wider commitment to supporting education and young people in the local area.
Henry was invited to South Hook earlier this year, where he was presented with a certificate and the £5,000 award. The funding will help with student costs over the remainder of his studies.
Henry said: “I’m very grateful to South Hook to have received this award. The financial support will make a huge difference to life as a student, and it’s incredible to have this kind of backing from a major player in the energy industry.”
South Hook LNG’s General Manager, Hamad Al Samra said: “We are pleased to have once again received applications from so many committed and capable young people.
“The team involved in the selection process at South Hook were particularly impressed by Henry’s dedication and commitment to his chosen subject.
“We are pleased to offer our support and wish him the very best in his future studies.”
South Hook LNG’s Scholarship Programme encourages applications from local students seeking higher education in engineering, science or business-related disciplines.
Details of how to apply for the 2026/27 award will be available on the company’s website during September.
Scholarship success: Henry Raymond, South Hook LNG’s 2026 scholarship recipient, with members of the South Hook team involved in assessing the applications.
Farming
Rural Wales ‘left out’ of net zero debate, warns carbon entrepreneur
A WELSH carbon entrepreneur has warned that rural Wales risks being left behind in the national conversation about net zero.
Cai Matthews said farmers and land-based businesses are too often treated as people who will be affected by climate policy, rather than as people who can help shape it.
Writing for the Institute of Welsh Affairs’ welsh agenda, Mr Matthews said much of the debate around a “just transition” in Wales focuses on cities, heavy industry, transport, digital jobs and renewable energy.
He said those areas matter, but warned that they do not reflect the reality of a country where most of the land is rural or agricultural.
Mr Matthews said: “Farmers in Wales are visible in the just transition conversation primarily as potential victims of it.
“They are not framed as producers of economic value in the green economy. They are not framed as innovators.”
He said rural communities are often overlooked because their problems are less visible than the closure of a factory or the loss of thousands of jobs in one town.
Instead, he said, pressure builds quietly through low farm incomes, reliance on subsidy, mental health strain, and young people struggling to see a future on family farms.
Mr Matthews argued that Welsh farmland should be seen as a major economic asset in the climate transition.
He pointed to agroforestry, soil improvement, biodiversity work and biochar as examples of land-based climate work that can remove carbon while also supporting nature.
He said farmers could earn additional income by selling verified carbon removal alongside food production, but warned that the system must be designed fairly.
Carbon markets, he said, were not a complete answer to the problems facing rural Wales, but could provide a valuable second income stream if farmers were not priced out or exploited by outside platforms.
Mr Matthews said the danger was that companies and organisations outside Wales would build the infrastructure, take the value, and leave farmers with only a small share.
He said Wales should instead build its own system, rooted in Welsh law, Welsh land and Welsh communities.
Mr Matthews, who works with Clo Carbon Cymru, said the Well-being of Future Generations Act should give Wales a strong foundation for this work, but only if its principles are turned into practical action.
He said the next Welsh Government should recognise that some of the work needed for a just transition is already happening on the ground.
He added: “The question for the next Welsh Government isn’t whether it can architect a just transition from the top down.
“It’s whether it can recognise the one being built from the ground up, and decide to stand behind it.”
The intervention comes as farming unions continue to argue that rural Wales must not be sidelined in climate, biodiversity and land-use policy.
Mr Matthews said the issue was not simply about asking for more investment in rural areas, but about recognising farmers as active partners in building Wales’ future economy.
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