Community

Public meeting by The Cleddau Project aims to address river pollution

Published

2 years ago

January 14, 2024

IN A MOVE to combat the ongoing environmental problems affecting the Cleddau, The Cleddau Project has announced a crucial public meeting. Scheduled for 6.45 pm on Friday, 26th January 2024 at Haverfordwest Rugby Club, the event is aptly titled “The Cleddau is in Trouble: What’s Wrong and What Can Be Done About It”.

This urgent meeting emerges in response to decades of pollution tormenting the Cleddau, threatening the very essence of Pembrokeshire’s hidden waterway. From the confluence of the Eastern and Western Cleddau Rivers at Picton Point, forming the Daugleddau Estuary, to its journey south to St Anne’s Head, the river’s health and habitats are in dire straits.

The Cleddau Project, an assembly of proactive local residents, is committed to reversing this downward spiral. Their approach is multifaceted, involving local communities, groups, and organisations. The aim is to foster a deeper connection with the river, promoting care for its waters, and instilling a sense of local stewardship through positive, practical actions.

Key initiatives include:

A major Citizens’ Science project for comprehensive water monitoring across the Cleddau catchment.
The development of an educational programme targeting primary schools, culminating in a children’s exhibition in summer 2024.
A user-friendly online platform, “Report Pollution”, enabling the public to report water pollution incidents directly to National Resources Wales.

The Cleddau Project’s endeavours extend beyond these initiatives. The group is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of the waterway, creating citizen-led science projects for long-term strategising, designing educational resources for schools, and establishing an effective pollution reporting system.

Moreover, the group is poised to challenge water regulators and the Welsh Government, holding polluters accountable and advocating for immediate action to halt the pollution and restore the river to a healthy state.

The upcoming meeting is not just a call for awareness but a rallying cry for action. The Cleddau Project invites all concerned citizens of Pembrokeshire to join this pivotal meeting. It’s a moment to unite, learn, and contribute to a cause that is not only about saving a river but preserving a way of life for current and future generations.

Community

Haverfordwest sailor leads crew on final Atlantic crossing of round-the-world yacht race

Published

24 minutes ago

July 2, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE sailor is leading a team of non-professional crew members on the final ocean crossing of one of the world’s toughest yacht races.

Lou Boorman, from Haverfordwest, is skipper of Team Tongyeong in the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race.

Her team has now departed Washington, DC, and is heading across the North Atlantic to Oban in Scotland, marking the last major ocean crossing of the global race.

The Clipper Race is unusual because it takes people from all walks of life and trains them to become ocean racers. No previous sailing experience is required.

Each of the ten identical Clipper Race yachts is led by a professional skipper and first mate, with up to 22 non-professional crew members on board. The teams race around the clock for up to 30 days at a time, covering a global route of around 40,000 nautical miles.

Lou has been leading Team Tongyeong since the race began in Portsmouth last August. The team has been representing the South Korean city of Tongyeong throughout the competition.

Speaking ahead of the final Atlantic crossing, Lou said: “It doesn’t feel quite real that we’ve nearly sailed around the world and are one hop across the ocean to home waters!

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. A huge challenge. We’ve had three podiums so far and are hungry for more.”

At the time of the release, Team Tongyeong was leading the current stage of the race.

The route from Washington, DC, to Oban is just over 3,000 nautical miles and will see crews face changing weather systems, strong Atlantic currents and the unpredictable conditions that make ocean racing so demanding.

Lou said the challenge had not only been about sailing, but also about leadership.

She said: “In addition to the sailing and the conditions, the challenging part has been about people management and leadership. I’ve had to be a strong leader. That’s what my team expects and needs from me. So the development in this race is incredible.”

She added: “I think it’s going to leave a big hole in my life, leaving this team and leaving the boat. I’m going to have to fill that gap in my life fairly quickly. I’ll miss it too much!”

After ten months at sea, and with just over three weeks of racing remaining, the arrival in Oban will mark a major milestone as the fleet returns to UK waters.

Oban is due to welcome the Clipper Race fleet from Friday, July 10, with a programme of public events allowing visitors to see the yachts and meet the race crews and professional skippers.

From Oban, the teams will race for the final time in the 2025-26 edition, finishing in Portsmouth on Saturday, July 25, where the overall leaderboard positions will be confirmed.

Applications are already open for the 2027-28 edition of the race, which is due to begin next summer.

Charity

Milford Haven Round Table receives £6,000 boost for carnival and fireworks

Published

30 minutes ago

July 2, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Town council donation will support two of the town’s biggest community events, with further funding for Santa visit

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL has presented a £6,000 donation to Milford Haven Round Table to help support this year’s Milford Haven Carnival and Free Fireworks Extravaganza.

The cheque was presented by the Mayor of Milford Haven, Councillor Mark Woodward, at the Lord Nelson Hotel on Thursday, June 25.

The donation was agreed at a meeting of the full council on Monday, June 8, in recognition of the work carried out by Milford Haven Round Table in organising major community events for the town.

A further £500 will also be donated to the Round Table for its annual support with the Visit of Santa to Milford Haven.

Milford Haven Town Council said it was proud to support the Round Table and hoped the strong relationship between the two organisations would continue for many years to come.

The council added: “Thank you all so very much for giving up your time to put these fabulous events together for our beloved town.”

Community

Milford Haven Carnival organisers appeal for help from residents

Published

14 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN ROUND TABLE is asking residents in Hakin and Hubberston to help keep roads clear ahead of this Saturday’s Carnival Procession.

Organisers say the event is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with a large number of floats, lorries and support vehicles expected to make their way through Hakin before the procession begins at Waterloo Square.

Residents living along Gelliswick Road, Rectory Avenue, Glebelands and Picton Road, particularly near the junction with Observatory Avenue, are being asked to avoid double parking or parking on pavements where possible between around 11.45am and 1.00pm.

The route being used by the floats and support vehicles is shown on the map.

Some of the vehicles involved are large, and organisers say keeping the roads as clear as possible for the short period will help ensure the procession reaches Waterloo Square safely and on time.

Milford Haven Round Table said the carnival “belongs to the whole community” and thanked residents for their continued support.

They added: “Your understanding and cooperation, even for this short time, will make a huge difference and help make this year’s Carnival another fantastic day for our town.”

Residents are also being encouraged to share the message with friends, family and neighbours who live along the affected roads.