#haverfordwest — Public Fediverse posts

Update reported Oct. 23rd, 2026: Cheapest petrol in #Haverfordwest has fallen from 172.9p to 171.9p a litre. Cheapest diesel: 196.9p a litre, reported Oct. 16th, 2026.

See all prices in #Haverfordwest: https://CheapFuelNearMe.uk/fuel-prices/haverfordwest/?utm_source=mastodon

Update reported Oct. 20th to 22nd, 2026: Petrol in #WestWales is cheapest in #Llanelli at 164.9p a litre and most expensive in #Haverfordwest, where the best price is 172.9p.

Llanelli: https://CheapFuelNearMe.uk/fuel-prices/llanelli/?utm_source=mastodon
Haverfordwest: https://CheapFuelNearMe.uk/fuel-prices/haverfordwest/?utm_source=mastodon

Twilight for freight flow in southwest Wales http://dlvr.it/TW0WhR #Haverfordwest #ImpalaTerminals #Intermodal #MilfordHaven

Twilight for freight flow in southwest Wales http://dlvr.it/TW0Vvt #Haverfordwest #ImpalaTerminals #Intermodal #MilfordHaven

Update reported Oct. 15th, 2026: Cheapest petrol in #Haverfordwest has fallen from 173.9p to 172.9p a litre. Cheapest diesel: 197.9p a litre, reported Oct. 15th, 2026.

See all prices in #Haverfordwest: https://CheapFuelNearMe.uk/fuel-prices/haverfordwest/?utm_source=mastodon

Update reported Oct. 13th to 14th, 2026: Petrol in #WestWales is cheapest in #Cardigan at 166.9p a litre and most expensive in #Haverfordwest, where the best price is 173.9p.

Cardigan: https://CheapFuelNearMe.uk/fuel-prices/cardigan/?utm_source=mastodon
Haverfordwest: https://CheapFuelNearMe.uk/fuel-prices/haverfordwest/?utm_source=mastodon

Update reported Oct. 12th, 2026: Cheapest petrol in #Haverfordwest has risen from 173.9p to 174.9p a litre. Cheapest diesel: 199.9p a litre, reported Oct. 7th, 2026.

See all prices in #Haverfordwest: https://CheapFuelNearMe.uk/fuel-prices/haverfordwest/?utm_source=mastodon

WITHYHEDGE: Landfill overfilled by six metres gets its permit rewritten to fit

Withyhedge Landfill, blamed for months of stink across north Pembrokeshire, has been handed a new permit that writes its past overfilling into the rules.

Natural Resources Wales approved the variation on Thursday. The regulator’s own decision document shows the site at Rudbaxton, near Haverfordwest, had been filled up to six metres higher than the approved profile along its northern edge, an estimated 406,500 cubic metres of extra waste.

The new permit raises the total volume of waste allowed on the site from 6,596,560 to 6,916,867 cubic metres. NRW says the extra 320,307 cubic metres “accounts for some of the overfill identified” and “is not a request for additional future waste capacity”.

Worst-performing site in Wales for two years running

The decision document is blunt about the operator’s record. NRW says warning letters and enforcement notices over odour and other pollution left Withyhedge “ranked as the worst-performing permitted installation in Wales in both 2023 and 2024”, with further investigations into compliance still running.

Operator Resources Management UK Ltd told NRW it had no relevant convictions. After consultation responses challenged that, the regulator asked it to look again. RML filed an updated declaration, and NRW says that while the company itself has no convictions, “relevant persons associated with the applicant have convictions that are relevant”.

NRW says none of that merited refusal. It weighed the poor record against the operator’s cooperation, including shutting the site voluntarily between May 2024 and January 2025 for improvement works and “heavily investing in the site’s infrastructure”.

Nicholas Bettinson, NRW’s permitting service manager, said: “We recognise the impact previous odour issues had on local communities and understand why people feel strongly. Our role is to regulate in line with the law. Where an application meets the required standards, we are obliged to issue the permit.”

He said the approved variation “has secured stronger regulatory controls and enhanced environmental protection measures at the site”. NRW says its investigation into permit breaches continues separately.

What changes on the ground

Beyond the levels, the permit lets RML bring in up to 50,000 tonnes a year of soil and stone classed as recovered waste, to build landfill cells and restore the site. NRW says it is satisfied that counts as recovery rather than disposal.

The operator has six months to rewrite its environmental management system, including its odour, landfill gas and leachate plans, and submit it to NRW for approval. Leachate is the liquid that drains through buried waste. Monitoring of groundwater, surface water and landfill gas has also been revised.

The site also keeps its permission to take up to 5,000 tonnes of asbestos waste a year in a dedicated cell, something residents told NRW the application had not made clear. NRW says that was already allowed and the variation does not change it, but the operator must now meet strengthened conditions, including a year of dust monitoring along the site boundary, before any asbestos cell is built.

NRW says none of the approved changes should increase odour or noise, though it acknowledges noise complaints came in while the application was being decided. Public Health Wales told the regulator it foresaw “no adverse risks to public health” from the variation.

240 objections, a school and the council

Forty-six people responded to the first consultation, including the Stop the Stink campaign group. When NRW published its draft decision, 240 more wrote in.

Governors of Spittal Church in Wales School told NRW the odour between late 2023 and June 2024 had hit outdoor learning, pupils’ wellbeing and the school’s reputation. They asked for the monitoring equipment installed at the school to stay long term. NRW says off-site monitoring “does not form part of the environmental permit”.

Pembrokeshire County Council objected that the new levels conflict with the contours approved under planning permission, “creating a situation that is not capable of lawful compliance”. The council also told NRW the operator needs to apply for fresh planning permission. NRW’s reply: that is not relevant to its decision.

NRW says planning and permitting are separate systems, that it has a legal duty to grant a variation that meets the rules, and that waiting for a planning decision would have left it open to an appeal for non-decision.

Complaints about lorry traffic, tourism and the visual impact of the site were ruled outside the scope of the permit.

‘Actions, not words’

Paul Davies, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd for Ceredigion Penfro, said: “After everything communities surrounding Withyhedge have already endured, words about stronger controls will not be enough.”

He said: “Residents have lived with unacceptable odours, disruption and months of uncertainty. They have attended meetings, submitted evidence, responded to consultations and repeatedly raised concerns about what has been happening at this site. They now deserve more than assurances.”

He went on: “NRW has made the decision to approve this variation and it must therefore demonstrate that the tougher controls it describes are rigorously monitored and enforced. There can be no return to the situation local communities experienced previously and no tolerance of further breaches of environmental regulations.”

He said he would be “pressing for that investigation to be concluded thoroughly and transparently, and for appropriate action to follow where breaches are established”, adding: “The burden is now on NRW and the operator to rebuild the confidence of local communities, and that will be achieved through actions, not words.”

What the operator says

RML, part of the Dauson Environmental Group since March 2022, says it closed the site temporarily in May 2024 for engineering works and reopened in January 2025. The company says it has spent more than £10m on the site since the closure.

It says that since reopening “no confirmed off-site odour” has been linked to the landfill during routine regulatory inspections, and points to a July 2024 NRW compliance statement in support.

That sits awkwardly beside the regulator’s own count. Figures NRW gave the Pembrokeshire Herald show 211 odour complaints about the site between January and September this year, and the decision document records noise complaints received while the variation was being decided.

RML says the site is permitted to take 250,000 tonnes of waste a year, operates from 7am to 5pm five days a week, and takes waste from along the M4 corridor including Pembrokeshire. It expects the landfill to run for another 10 to 15 years.

The company says it has paid for AQMesh air quality monitors around the site since August 2024, funds the council’s independent monitoring and runs a community fund.

The decision comes weeks after NRW lifted its suspension on the AMG Resources site in Llanelli, blamed for the summer’s fly plague. Councillors there have since launched a petition to move or shut that site.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

LLANELLI: Petition launched to move or shut the site blamed for summer’s fly plague
Glanymor councillors want the AMG Resources site reviewed, relocated or closed.

LLANELLI: Waste ban lifted as watchdog says AMG site no longer fuelling fly swarms
NRW withdrew its suspension notice but kept an enforcement notice in place.

Bridgend man sentenced for illegal waste operations and ordered to repay £322,500
Three illegal waste sites across Wales and a Proceeds of Crime order.

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TRADING STANDARDS: Garden clearance pair admit fraud and pressuring customers into paying up

Customers who hired two Merlins Bridge men for garden and ground clearance work were given false claims about how much needed doing, asked for money again and again, and pressured into agreements they were then discouraged from cancelling, according to Pembrokeshire County Council.

Two men from Merlins Bridge have now admitted fraud and consumer protection offences over it, and will learn their sentences next month.

Billy Lovell, 38, and Timothy Lovell, 36, both of Under The Hills, pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court on 18 September to seven offences between them.

The council, whose Trading Standards team brought the case, says the offences were committed across west Wales, including in Crymych, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest, and that the victims were vulnerable people left out of pocket and distressed.

When the pair first appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates in June they faced 26 charges between them, over alleged frauds totalling almost £80,000, the court heard. The alleged victims included a couple from Sardis, a woman from Mathry, and two men from Penygroes and Ty Croes in Carmarthenshire.

Both were bailed on condition they did no gardening or landscaping work. The council’s statement does not say what happened to the charges that were not admitted.

What Billy Lovell admitted: one fraud, three failures to tell customers their rights

Billy Lovell admitted one count of fraud. The council says it covered dishonestly making false representations for financial gain: false claims about the amount of work required, and repeatedly taking money for that work.

He also admitted three counts of misleading omissions under consumer protection law. In plain terms, the council says, he failed to give customers information they were legally entitled to, including their right to cancel, under the Consumer Contracts Regulations.

What Timothy Lovell admitted: pressure tactics that distorted customers’ decisions

Timothy Lovell pleaded guilty to two counts of aggressive commercial practices and one of an unfair commercial practice, under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.

The council says those offences included aggressive practices which distorted customers’ ability to make informed decisions, and a failure to meet the standards of professional diligence expected of traders.

‘Sustained pressure and manipulation’

Cllr Aaron Carey, the council’s cabinet member for public protection, said the case had vulnerable people at its heart who “suffered both financially and emotionally”. “Victims were subjected to sustained pressure and manipulation, leaving them distressed and facing significant financial losses,” he said.

The guilty pleas showed “the serious consequences that can follow when individuals seek to exploit members of our communities for financial gain”, he added, and should “serve as a warning to anyone considering similar conduct”.

Cllr Carey said the council would “pursue offenders robustly” where evidence of this type of offending exists. “We are committed to protecting residents from rogue traders and unfair trading practices, particularly those who target vulnerable people,” he said.

The two men will be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on 16 November.

The court has dealt with a run of Trading Standards prosecutions this year, including a Neath roofer jailed for 32 months in July after turning gutter cleans into around £40,000 of fraudulent roofing work.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

‘Garrulous charmer’ who turned gutter cleans into £40,000 of ruined roofs is jailed
The Neath roofer a judge called a classic example of a rogue builder.

Builders jailed after defrauding Ystalyfera pensioners out of life savings
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Rogue traders crackdown targets the gutter-clean con that fleeced valley pensioners
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NatWest unveils refurbished Haverfordwest branch after £225,000 investment

NatWest has unveiled its newly refurbished branch in Haverfordwest following a major upgrade. The bank invested £225,000 to…
#EuropeSays #Britain #Europe #EU #NatWest #Haverfordwest #NatWestHaverfordwest
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https://www.europesays.com/britain/113692/ NatWest unveils refurbished Haverfordwest branch after £225,000 investment #Haverfordwest #NatWest #NatWestHaverfordwest

The sky above the airport was the colour of a TV tuned to a dead channel ... 😉

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Carer’s life upturned after losing her temper in moment of madness at work

The 61-year-old carer claimed the witnesses who saw her didn’t like her and had fabricated the allegation against…
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https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/686148/

Carer’s life upturned after losing her temper in moment of madness at work

The 61-year-old carer claimed the witnesses who saw her didn’t like her and had fabricated the allegation against…
#NewsBeep #News #Mentalhealth #AU #Australia #courts #Haverfordwest #Health #MentalHealth #Pembrokeshire #premium #SwanseaCrownCourt
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/793819/

Carer’s life upturned after losing her temper in moment of madness at work

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#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Mentalhealth #courts #Haverfordwest #Health #MentalHealth #Pembrokeshire #premium #SwanseaCrownCourt
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HAVERFORDWEST: ‘So, so proud’ — the 24-year-old skipper who led her round-the-world crew back onto UK soil

A 24-year-old skipper from Haverfordwest has led her round-the-world crew back onto UK soil — steering their yacht into Oban at the end of a 3,300-nautical-mile Atlantic crossing.

Lowri “Lou” Boorman skippers Team Tongyeong in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race — a crew of everyday people who swapped their normal lives for one of the world’s biggest endurance challenges, with around 40 per cent of those taking part having never sailed before signing up.

The fleet’s arrival in Oban is its first UK landfall in more than ten months of racing, at the end of a stage that brought the crews across the North Atlantic from Washington DC.

And there was plenty to celebrate on the dockside — Boorman’s team crossed the line in second place, marking the moment with champagne beneath the west coast of Scotland’s hills.

“I am so, so proud to be skippering this team,” she said.

Boorman has competitive sailing in her blood. She started at just eight years old through her local RYA OnBoard scheme — and by 16 had claimed British, Irish and Welsh female champion titles on the international stage, as the Tenby Observer reported when her Clipper appointment was announced last year.

She is also the youngest person ever to skipper the Round Britain and Ireland Race — and described her appointment as one of just three new Clipper Race skippers as a “huge professional and personal goal”.

“There are no ‘pink jobs’ or ‘blue jobs’ on the boat,” she said at the time. “I am capable of doing every role and I am 5ft 2. If I can do everything, I know every single one of my crew can do all of those jobs as well.”

The sailing challenge sees eleven teams of non-professional sailors race identical 70-foot ocean yachts almost 40,000 nautical miles around the world — six ocean crossings over eleven months, having set out from Portsmouth last August.

Among those offering congratulations on the pontoon was Sir Robin Knox-Johnston — the Clipper Race’s chairman and co-founder, and the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world.

For some of her crew, the arrival carried extra weight. Circumnavigator Gav Lee returned to UK waters for the first time since last August, after almost eleven months sailing around the world.

“Back on home soil, at last. I feel confident, fitter, and more alive,” he said. “A lot of people say it’s life changing, but for me it’s definitely more life affirming. What an adventure we have been on.”

More than 700 people are taking part across the race — facing everything from hurricane-force winds to the isolation of the North Pacific, and living aboard a stripped-back yacht with up to 23 others.

Oban marks the beginning of the end of the journey, with the fleet now back in home waters ahead of the race’s closing stages.

When her appointment was announced, Boorman said she couldn’t wait for “the magic of the sea, the stars, the storms” — adding: “I feel free and at my happiest at sea.” On Friday, that sea brought her and her crew home.

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TGJONES: Rescue plan approved — seven south-west Wales stores now wait on landlord rent deals as up to 150 closures loom

The rescue plan that could close up to 150 TGJones stores has been approved by the High Court — leaving seven south-west Wales branches waiting to learn their fate.

Branches at Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre, Carmarthen’s Guildhall Square, Llanelli, Neath, Bridgend, Tenby and Haverfordwest were all named as potentially at risk when the closures were announced in May.

None of the seven has been confirmed for closure — and each store’s future now hinges largely on its landlord. Under the approved plan, rents will be cut by between 15% and 75% on hundreds of stores, while around 120 landlords will receive no rent at all for up to three years.

Landlords who refuse the new terms can end their leases instead — and that is where most of the closures are expected to fall.

In Swansea, that puts the decision in the hands of Centurion Group — the Quadrant’s owner, which is separately preparing to name new tenants for the former Debenhams in the city.

Mr Justice Hildyard approved the plan on Wednesday (1 July), describing it as complex and far-reaching. He said his biggest concern had been the financial hit to landlords, but he was persuaded the rescue was, objectively, the lesser of two evils.

The approval caps a turbulent few weeks in which landlords revolted over the plan and bailiffs reclaimed a Midlands store. Property giant British Land had branded the proposals fundamentally unfair, before dropping its opposition after winning concessions.

The court heard the retailer was on the brink of insolvency, facing a cash shortfall of nearly £8 million within days if the deal was not approved.

Tom Smith KC, for TGJones, told the hearing the business was “highly distressed” and “running on fumes at the moment”.

He said the chain would have run out of cash in April, had it not been for a £10 million loan from owner Modella Capital and the deferral of liabilities — including the £8.4 million owed to HMRC revealed in creditor documents in May.

The approved plan brings a further £15 million loan from Modella, alongside the rent cuts and redundancies across stores and the company’s support centre.

Up to 150 of the chain’s 451 stores are expected to close, with the plan forecasting the business will be left with around 302 — depending on how many landlords walk away rather than accept lower rents.

The chain employs 4,700 people, and hundreds of jobs are expected to go, though no redundancy figure has been confirmed. WH Smith has already refused to fund enhanced redundancy payments for staff who lose their jobs — leaving those affected facing the statutory minimum.

The stakes reach beyond the shops themselves: the Quadrant, Neath and Carmarthen branches all host Post Office counters, a threat that prompted the Deputy First Minister to write to the chain over the Neath branch in May.

The Post Office and Toys R Us, which runs concessions inside some stores, both supported the restructuring in court.

Modella — which rebranded the stores from WHSmith after buying the high street business last year — admitted last month the retailer was almost completely broken, blaming years of under-investment by the previous owner and the loss of the 234-year-old name, which was a condition of the sale.

Chief executive Alex Willson welcomed the ruling, saying: “This decision allows us to move ahead with our turnaround strategy.”

Wales has 26 of the chain’s stores, and the south-west Wales branches anchor some of the most prominent pitches on their high streets — the entrance to the Quadrant in Swansea and Guildhall Square in Carmarthen among them.

The wait comes with the region’s high streets already under pressure — Llanelli, Neath and Swansea are among the towns watching Shoe Zone review its local stores, and Swansea’s flagship M&S closed in May.

WHSmith itself lives on at airports and railway stations, where the travel stores kept the historic name.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Seven south-west Wales stores at risk as chain announces 150 closures
The full list of at-risk branches across the region, from Swansea’s Quadrant to Haverfordwest.

Bailiff threat and tax debts cast fresh doubt over south-west Wales stores
TGJones owes £8.4m to HMRC as WH Smith refuses to fund enhanced redundancy for at-risk staff.

Deputy First Minister raises alarm over Neath Post Office threat
Sioned Williams MS wrote to TGJones over the Post Office counter hosted in the at-risk Neath branch.

Landlords revolt and bailiffs reclaim a Midlands store
How the restructuring battle turned bitter in the weeks before the court ruling.

HAVERFORDWEST: Young carer’s quiet dedication earns her a national shining star award

A young carer from Haverfordwest has been honoured on the national stage for the dedication she shows looking after her family.

Meghan Smyth, an A-level student, won the Young Shining Star Award at Action for Children‘s Stephenson Awards, held at a ceremony in London.

Meghan helps care for her sister Mia, and was recognised for balancing those responsibilities at home with her education and her own life.

The award celebrates children and young people who go above and beyond in difficult circumstances.

Judges praised her positivity, kindness and determination, and the difference she has made to those around her.

She said winning had come as a surprise.

“I feel really proud and surprised to win this award,” she said. “Being a young carer can be tough sometimes, but I just try to do my best every day.”

She added that she hoped it would send a message to others in the same position.

“It means a lot to be recognised, and I hope it shows other young carers that they’re not alone and that what they do matters.”

The Stephenson Awards bring together young people, carers and supporters from across the UK to mark stories of courage and achievement.

Vikki Phillips, services coordinator for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire at Action for Children, said Meghan embodied the spirit of the award.

“Her strength, compassion and quiet determination are an inspiration to everyone who meets her,” she said.

She said the charity was proud to support young carers across Wales, and that the award shone a light on the role they play and the resilience they show every day.

The awards are named after Action for Children’s founder, the Reverend Thomas Bowman Stephenson.

The charity supports thousands of young carers across the UK, offering practical help, emotional support and the chance to thrive despite the challenges they face.

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Paddleboard firm owner who caused four deaths on River Cleddau loses appeal bid to cut sentence

The former paddleboard firm owner who caused the deaths of four people on a river in south west Wales has lost a bid to challenge her prison sentence.

Nerys Bethan Lloyd, a 39-year-old ex-police officer from Port Talbot, was jailed for 10 years and six months last year after admitting the gross negligence manslaughter of four people on the Western Cleddau river in Haverfordwest.

Three Court of Appeal judges have now refused her bid to bring an appeal against that sentence, rejecting her lawyer’s argument that it was “manifestly excessive.”

Lady Justice May said it was “not arguable” that the term was excessive, adding that the sentencing judge “clearly had all the mitigating features in mind.”

The four — Paul O’Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers and Nicola Wheatley — died after the group set off in flood conditions on the river in October 2021.

Several of those who died had close links to the Swansea Bay area. O’Dwyer was from Port Talbot, the same town as Lloyd, while Wheatley was from Pontarddulais. Powell was from Bridgend and Rogers from Merthyr Tydfil.

The group of seven participants, led by Lloyd and co-instructor O’Dwyer, set off after 9am on October 30, 2021, having had no safety briefing beforehand.

There had been heavy rain in the days before, and the court that later sentenced Lloyd heard the river was in flood with a visibly strong current.

The paddleboarders went over a weir and were sucked into a recirculating flow of water — described as similar to a washing machine — from which the ankle leashes attached to their boards made it harder to escape.

O’Dwyer initially got out of the water safely but re-entered in an attempt to rescue the others. He, Rogers and Wheatley died at the scene, while Powell died in hospital about a week later.

The case has moved through the courts over more than a year, and we have followed it at each stage.

In March last year, Lloyd admitted the gross negligence manslaughter of all four paddleboarders when she appeared before Swansea Crown Court.

She was then jailed for 10 years and six months in April, when the court heard she had not been qualified to lead a paddleboard tour of that kind, and the sentencing judge criticised an “abysmal” approach to health and safety.

The judge, Mrs Justice Stacey, said Lloyd’s interest “seemed to be more in an exciting route than safety,” and that she had shown “a blatant disregard for a very high risk of death.”

Lloyd had trained as a firearms officer after joining South Wales Police, and the judge said she would have been “well-versed” in the importance of risk assessments.

It later emerged that Lloyd had been sacked by South Wales Police in November 2021 — a month after accepting a caution for fraud relating to a vehicle insurance claim — over a matter the force said was unrelated to the paddleboarding deaths.

At the sentencing, the families of those who died gave impact statements describing the depth of their loss, and the judge paid tribute to their “dignity and courage in the midst of overwhelming grief.”

A Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor said Lloyd had not been qualified to take inexperienced paddleboarders out in such conditions, while a Dyfed-Powys Police senior officer described the tragedy as “completely avoidable.”

A Health and Safety Executive inspector said the victims had placed their trust in Lloyd to deliver a safe paddle, but that through her “incompetence, carelessness and complacency” she had failed to assess the obvious risk at the weir.

The refusal of the appeal bid brings to a close the latest stage of a case that has run through the courts since her first court appearances last year.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Paddleboard company owner jailed for 10 years after deaths of four in River Cleddau incident
Our report from the sentencing, where the judge criticised an “abysmal” approach to safety.

Paddleboard company owner admits manslaughter of four in River Cleddau incident
How Lloyd pleaded guilty to the gross negligence manslaughter of all four paddleboarders.

Jailed paddleboard company owner sacked from police after insurance fraud investigation
Lloyd was dismissed by South Wales Police months after the deaths over an unrelated matter.

HYWEL DDA: Stroke patients in west Wales face major shake-up as health board prepares to launch new consultation — with Glangwili set to become the region’s only 24-hour acute unit

Stroke patients across west Wales could face much longer journeys for specialist care under plans being put out to public consultation — with Llanelli‘s Prince Philip Hospital set to lose its acute stroke capability if the preferred option goes ahead.

Hywel Dda University Health Board will decide at its public board meeting on 28 May whether to launch a second round of consultation on the future of stroke services — the one area it couldn’t reach agreement on when it made decisions on eight other fragile services at an extraordinary meeting in February.

Under the preferred option now being put forward, Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen would become the region’s only 24-hour acute stroke and rehabilitation unit.

Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest and Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth would all become treat-and-transfer sites — meaning patients would receive initial stabilisation there before being transferred to Glangwili, or directly to a thrombectomy centre in Cardiff or Bristol.

Bronglais would also have a stroke rehabilitation unit under the plan.

The health board says the current setup is dangerous. Stroke services are currently spread across four hospital sites and there is no specialist cover seven days a week — meaning patients are not always getting the standard of care they should.

The preferred option was not one of the original ideas put out to consultation. It emerged from two alternative suggestions — Option 106 and Option 210 — put forward by members of the public during the first phase. The board felt that neither worked on its own, but combined, they could.

The proposal is a significant one for Llanelli. The town has already seen its Minor Injuries Unit downgraded as part of the same Clinical Services Plan process, and local councillors have been vocal about the cumulative impact of service losses at Prince Philip.

Councillor Sean Rees warned last year that Llanelli “cannot afford to lose any more” of its healthcare services, and raised specific concerns about what the stroke changes would mean for Prince Philip — including the added pressure of patients being transferred in from Ceredigion if Bronglais was downgraded.

The board’s chair Dr Neil Wooding said the second consultation was a direct result of what communities told the board during the first phase.

He said: “Thank you to everyone who has already given their time and provided feedback in the first phase of our Clinical Services Plan consultation, which has enabled us to reach this point. While we were able to take decisions on eight of the nine fragile services included in our Clinical Services Plan earlier this year, no decisions about the future model for stroke services have been made.”

Lee Davies, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning, said: “We know how important stroke services are to our communities, and we are committed to taking the time needed to understand people’s views on the preferred option and the other options already consulted on, before any final decisions are made.”

He added: “We need to change our current service to ensure that people in our communities have the best possible outcomes and chance of recovery from a stroke.”

The consultation will ask whether people support the preferred option — and if not, which of the previously consulted-on alternatives should be considered instead. People will also be able to flag equality and Welsh language concerns.

If approved on 28 May, the consultation opens the same day and runs until 26 July 2026. The board will then weigh all the evidence from both phases before making a final decision later this year.

The public board meeting on 28 May will be broadcast live online, with board papers already published on the Hywel Dda website.

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Councillor warns against further service losses in Llanelli amid health board consultation
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Llanelli’s minor injuries unit to become 12-hour urgent care treatment centre — no return to 24-hour service
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Hywel Dda to explore more than 100 new ideas for local health services
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TGJONES: Seven south-west Wales stores at risk as chain announces 150 closures

Seven TGJones stores across south-west Wales are facing the chop.

Up to 150 stores nationwide are set to close under a major restructuring plan announced by the chain’s owner – with hundreds of jobs at risk.

The stores affected by the decision include some of the most familiar names on south-west Wales high streets:

• The Quadrant Shopping Centre, Swansea
• Wind Street, Neath
• Parc Trostre Retail Park, Llanelli
• The Rhiw, Bridgend
• Guildhall Square, Carmarthen
• High Street, Tenby
• Riverside Quay, Haverfordwest

It has not yet been confirmed which individual stores will close.

But the announcement leaves staff at all seven branches facing a nervous wait.

The chain – formerly WHSmith – operates 480 high street stores nationally, with 26 of them in Wales.

Private equity owner Modella Capital said the restructuring was an “essential part” of the company’s turnaround plan.

The firm bought the WHSmith high street business in March 2025 – a £40 million deal that did not include the WHSmith brand itself.

Stores were quickly rebranded under the new TGJones name – a name with no prior public recognition.

Modella Capital is now blaming that “forced” rebrand for damaging consumer awareness.

A spokesperson said the decision to close stores had not been taken lightly.

“While we continue to believe in the strength of the core business, TGJones has experienced highly challenging trading conditions over the past year, along with many other brick-and-mortar retailers,” they said.

The company also blamed rising operating costs “as a direct result of government policy” and recent “geopolitical events.”

“The restructuring plan is designed to protect the substantial core of the store estate and create a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to serve customers for years to come,” the spokesperson added.

Modella Capital said no final decisions had yet been made about the impact on staff, and the company was aiming to preserve “as many jobs as possible.”

“We want to be clear, however, that the plan may result in the closure of some stores and the loss of some roles,” the spokesperson said.

The TGJones restructure comes hot on the heels of another high-profile Modella Capital collapse.

The private equity firm shut all 154 UK and Ireland Claire’s stores last month – putting around 1,300 staff out of work.

Modella Capital placed Claire’s into administration after what it called an “alarmingly” low Christmas trading period.

It has now committed more than £35 million for the TGJones restructuring effort.

For Swansea shoppers, the timing is grim.

The Quadrant store sits within a shopping centre already undergoing significant change. The Quadrant’s former Debenhams anchor unit was bought by Swansea Council after the chain’s collapse, stripped out, and recently sold to the centre’s new owners Centurion Group, with three major new tenants expected to be confirmed.

And Swansea’s flagship Marks & Spencer store on Oxford Street is due to close on 30 May – meaning the city centre will lose yet another major retailer in the same month TGJones announces its restructuring.

The Carmarthen store on Guildhall Square is similarly prominent in the town’s main retail area, while the Neath, Llanelli, Bridgend, Tenby and Haverfordwest branches all anchor parts of their respective high streets.

The full list of which TGJones stores will close is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

SWANSEA: Morriston Hospital becomes first in Wales to perform pioneering heart procedure using cutting-edge pulse technology

Morriston Hospital’s cardiology team has broken new ground by becoming the first in Wales to treat patients using a revolutionary new technique that destroys malfunctioning heart cells with ultrafast electrical pulses – in a development that could cut waiting times and reduce the risk of complications for thousands of patients with a common heart condition.

The team, led by Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist Dr Dewi Thomas, successfully treated a patient with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) using a system called Volt Pulsed Field Ablation – a first for Wales and one of the earliest uses of the technology anywhere in the UK.

AF affects around two million people in the UK, causing an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rhythm. Symptoms include fatigue, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties and dizziness – and if left untreated, the condition significantly increases the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart failure.

The Volt system, developed by healthcare company Abbott, uses ultrafast electrical pulses to precisely destroy targeted malfunctioning heart cells. Unlike previous ablation techniques – which used thermal energy to either heat or freeze tissue – the new approach is designed to eliminate the risk of injuring healthy tissue surrounding the heart, representing a significant step forward in both patient safety and procedural efficiency.

Dr Thomas said the procedure had already been performed under general anaesthetic but that future cases could be carried out with patients awake and sedated. “This will result in even shorter procedure times in future, allowing us to treat more patients on an operating list, reducing waiting times for patients and saving money for the health board,” he said.

He described AF as a very common and serious problem, and the Volt system as a powerful new tool. “It won’t completely replace our current approaches to AF ablation, which we’ve been performing very safely and effectively for many years,” he said, “but there are certain patient groups which certainly stand to benefit from this new procedure.”

Dr Thomas added that ablation as a treatment had been refined over more than two decades. “The Volt PFA system represents a milestone in that evolution and we’re really pleased and proud to bring it to Wales, and to be one of the earliest adopters of this technology in the UK.”

The first patient to benefit from the procedure was Glynne Morgan, who lives near Haverfordwest. Mr Morgan had been diagnosed with AF after suffering from chest pains following a bout of flu, and described how his quality of life had deteriorated significantly in the years before his treatment.

He said he had struggled with breathlessness performing even basic tasks and had been unable to do the outdoor activities – cycling, swimming and running – he had previously enjoyed. “I could sleep most of the day,” he said. “I couldn’t do the sort of outdoor things that I used to do, like gardening or cutting the grass.”

Following the procedure, Mr Morgan praised Dr Thomas and his team unreservedly. “From everything under Dr Thomas right throughout his team to the nurses, it was really exceptional,” he said. “It was very straightforward, no pain, and I hope it becomes the standard format for future heart ablations for other heart sufferers.”

He added: “It’s like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I’ve been so much better. My wife’s been walking the dogs for me because I wasn’t even able to do that – she’s glad I can get back to walking them now!”

Swansea Bay University Health Board said it hoped the new procedure would, in time, reduce waiting lists and deliver savings for the health board, as well as improving outcomes for AF patients across the region.

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Haverfordwest alert: Police probe report of attempted child abduction near Primary School

Dyfed Powys Police say the incident happened at around 3.55pm on Tuesday, March 24, on Scarrowscant Lane near Furzy Park in Haverfordwest.

A 12-year-old girl was walking alone close to Waldo Williams CP School, when she was approached by two men in a car.

Officers say the passenger got out of the vehicle, spoke to the child and then placed his hands on her arm.

He then let go and returned to the car, which drove off towards Furzy Park.

Thankfully, the girl was not injured and was able to get home safely, where she told her parents what had happened.

Police say they were quickly alerted and enquiries have been ongoing since.

Dyfed Powys Police have released a statement following the incident urging the public to get in touch if they have more information.

“We are appealing for witnesses to a reported incident of attempted abduction in Haverfordwest.

“At approx. 3.55pm on Tuesday March 24, a 12-year-old child, who was walking along Scarrowscant Lane, near to Furzy Park, was approached by two males in a vehicle.

“The passenger of the car is reported to have exited the vehicle and spoken to the child and then placed his hands on her arm. He then let go and returned to the vehicle, which was driven off in the direction of Furzy Park.

“The child did not sustain any injuries, and returned home and informed their parents, who alerted police.

“The driver did not exit the car at any point. The vehicle involved is described to be similar to an Audi A4, in a shiny blue colour.”

Police say the man who got out of the car is described as white, around 5ft 11in tall, with short dark brown hair and a brown beard, and believed to be in his 40s.

He was dressed in a black t-shirt, black jogging bottoms and white trainers.

There is currently no description available of the driver.

The police spokesperson added:

“Local officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries since this matter was reported and are now appealing for anyone who may have information that could assist our investigation.

“Anyone with information about the incident, or who might have dashcam footage of the vehicle, is asked to get in touch.”

Police say enquiries are ongoing as they work to identify those involved and establish exactly what happened.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

https://www.europesays.com/uk/836040/ More than £115m to improve local transport across Wales | Welsh Government #‘high #Brecon #Britain #Cabinet #Caerphilly #CJCs #Commission #Conwy #Delivering #Fund #Funding #government #GreatBritain #Haverfordwest #March #North #Penrhyn #Printable #projects #Transport #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales #Welsh

Predator jailed for 21 years after ‘abhorrent’ attacks on woman and children

Talha Ahmadzai, 33, who had been living in Haverfordwest after arriving in the UK from Afghanistan, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (March 16) after admitting a string of serious crimes committed in February last year.

The offences involved three victims — a woman, a young girl and a boy.

Ahmadzai pleaded guilty to multiple charges including three counts of rape, rape of a child under 13, attempted rape of a child under 13, causing a child to watch a sexual act, assault by beating and cruelty to a person under 16.

He was handed an extended sentence totalling 21 years and seven months, including 19 years and seven months in custody followed by a further two years on licence.

The court heard he must serve at least two-thirds of his prison term before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.

An indefinite restraining order was also imposed, banning him from ever contacting his victims again.

‘Catalogue of abhorrent offending’

Sentencing, Judge Huw Rees described Ahmadzai’s crimes as a “catalogue of abhorrent offending of the utmost seriousness”.

Prosecutors told the court the attacks came to light after the adult victim reported what had happened, prompting a police investigation.

During interviews, Ahmadzai initially denied the allegations and claimed the sex had been consensual.

But the court heard he later made deeply troubling remarks to officers, reportedly stating that “women won’t have sex without force”.

He also questioned the authority of UK courts, suggesting the acts he had committed “were not offences” in his home country.

‘Sexually preoccupied’ and high risk

The court heard Ahmadzai had been “sexually preoccupied for a long time” and held “entrenched views”, with a pre-sentence report concluding he poses a high risk to the public.

Evidence presented suggested he had previously suffered serious mental health issues and had been hospitalised before the offences, with his defence saying his behaviour followed a psychotic episode.

Defence barrister David Singh told the court his client had no previous convictions and had since received treatment.

However, Judge Rees said there was effectively no mitigation for the seriousness of the crimes.

Police praise victims’ bravery

Detective Inspector Sarah Totterdale, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said the sentence reflected the severity of Ahmadzai’s actions.

She said: “Ahmadzai is clearly an incredibly dangerous and cruel individual, and the sentence he has received reflects this.

“I would like to commend the bravery and dignity shown by his victims, who courageously gave their evidence of their horrendous ordeals.

“To do so and relive their experience must have been incredibly traumatic.”

She added that thanks to the victims’ evidence and the work of detectives, Ahmadzai is now “no longer a danger to the public”.

Deportation to be considered

The court heard Ahmadzai may face deportation once he has served his sentence.

Judge Rees said the case would be referred to the Home Office to consider his removal from the UK.

Dyfed-Powys Police said support is available for anyone affected by sexual violence and urged victims to come forward and report offences.

New £Multi-Million School Facilities Open for Pupils with Additional Needs

The first phase of a huge redevelopment at Portfield School in Haverfordwest has now been completed — giving pupils aged 3 to 19 access to modern classrooms, specialist facilities and new outdoor spaces.

The project is funded by the Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council, and aims to deliver a modern learning environment tailored to the needs of children who require extra support.

The new building includes specialist sensory rooms, upgraded outdoor activity areas and flexible teaching spaces, designed to help pupils develop academically, socially and emotionally.

Headteacher Sarah Hartley said the new facilities are already making a huge difference.

She said: “We are delighted with the new school provision for our pupils. It’s a significant step forward in creating an inclusive and supportive environment where every young person can thrive.”

Construction firm Morgan Sindall worked alongside the council to deliver the project as part of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, which aims to modernise schools across Wales.

But the work isn’t finished yet.

The next phase of the redevelopment is already underway, which will see further upgrades including:

• Refurbishment of the former Tasker Milward H block for post-16 pupils
• Demolition of the existing primary building
• A new respite care unit
• Refurbishment of Holly House

Council leader Cllr Jon Harvey said the project represents a major investment in the future of specialist education in the county.

He said the new facilities will give pupils “the high-quality, nurturing environment they deserve.”

JAILED: Newport duo locked up for ‘brazen’ £43k West Wales golf club raid

Mikael Bourkhari, 45, and Simon Dickey, 38, were both handed prison sentences at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (March 2) following their “devastating” overnight raids.

The pair had previously admitted to the burglary spree which targeted both Haverfordwest and Carmarthen golf clubs in back-to-back hits.

The court heard how police were first alerted at 12.45am on Sunday, January 18, when an intruder alarm was triggered at Haverfordwest Golf Club.

Officers arrived just six minutes later to find a “forcible break-in” had occurred, with the club shop stripped of high-value equipment.

It was estimated that several golf clubs, worth between £100 and £500 each, had been snatched, with the total value of the Haverfordwest haul reaching a massive £36,000.

While police were investigating the first scene, a red Vauxhall van was identified as a vehicle of interest, sparking a cross-county hunt for the burglars.

Officers in Carmarthenshire were alerted and, while patrolling Carmarthen Golf Club as a precaution, discovered that the duo had already struck again.

The front door of the Carmarthen club had been smashed in, with around £7,000 worth of clubs stolen and £5,000 in damage caused to the building.

The pair were finally intercepted by Roads Policing Officers shortly after 2am on the A48, despite having fitted fake number plates to their getaway van.

Inside the vehicle, police discovered a “suspiciously large number” of golf clubs and bags, leading to the immediate arrest of the two men.

The duo, who initially gave fake names to officers, later confessed to the crimes, and all stolen items were successfully recovered and returned to the clubs.

At Swansea Crown Court, Boukhari was sentenced to two years and six months behind bars, while Dickey received a sentence of two years and eight months.

Detective Constable Kate Williams of Dyfed-Powys Police slammed the “brazen” actions of the pair, who targeted hard-working local business owners.

“Today’s result underlines the fact that if you travel into the Dyfed-Powys area to commit crime, you will be caught,” DC Williams warned.

CARMARTHEN: Glangwili to become regional hub as health bosses centralize emergency surgery and stroke services

Hywel Dda University Health Board has approved controversial plans to remove emergency general surgery from Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, downgrade stroke services at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, and transfer specialist critical care patients from Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli to Glangwili.

The move will see patients from across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Llanelli travelling to Glangwili for urgent treatment, raising questions about capacity, waiting times, and pressure on ambulance services in Carmarthenshire.

What Does This Mean for Llanelli and Carmarthen?

Under the new plans, Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli will lose its intensive care unit, with critically ill patients being transferred to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. An Enhanced Care Unit will be established at Prince Philip to provide care for “less sick patients” locally.

The health board confirmed that this will make permanent the current temporary patient transfers between hospitals, which have been in place due to staffing pressures.

Glangwili Hospital will also take on significantly more emergency surgery cases from across the region, with health bosses arguing that centralizing services will address “fragile” staffing levels and improve standards of care.

However, the decision has sparked concerns about whether Carmarthen’s hospitals can cope with the additional demand, particularly given existing pressures on emergency departments and ambulance services.

Lee Davies, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning at Hywel Dda, said:

“Our priority is always to deliver the highest standards of care for our patients across Hywel Dda and our neighbouring communities. As our teams develop the implementation plans, we will take account of feedback shared during the consultation and look at how we can minimise any negative impacts.”

He added:

“We understand the concerns that communities have raised, particularly in relation to accessing services in a largely rural part of Wales. Our aim is to deliver better care across our healthcare system, and we remain committed to working with partners to reduce the impact on patients who may need to travel further.”

Health Board: Changes Needed for ‘Safe, Sustainable’ Services

Health bosses argue the changes are necessary to address long-standing staffing pressures and ensure care is “safe, sustainable, accessible, and kind.”

Dr Neil Wooding, Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said:

“As a Health Board, our ambition is for people to live healthier lives for longer by supporting people to keep well and preventing ill health. The decisions made today help us to address some of the services that are the most fragile and need to change to be able to deliver healthcare that is safe, sustainable, accessible, and kind.”

He added:

“These decisions are not easy but as a Board we have a duty to ensure that our services provide the best outcomes for our patients and that they meet the highest standards.”

The health board confirmed the changes follow a public consultation in the summer of 2025 which received over 4,000 responses. The critical care changes (Option 246) were suggested by the community during the consultation process.

‘Second-Class Citizens’: Welsh Conservatives Slam Centralization

The move has been met with a furious backlash from the Welsh Conservatives, who have accused the health board of treating Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion residents like “second-class citizens.”

Peter Fox MS, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, said:

“This will be concerning news for patients and families in Ceredigion and across mid and West Wales. Downgrading emergency general surgery services in the area will mean longer journeys for urgent care, increasing pressure on patients, families and ambulance services.”

Local Senedd Member Paul Davies MS said:

“I’m appalled that Hywel Dda University Health Board has voted to remove general emergency surgery services from Withybush hospital – but I’m not surprised. The Health Board is obsessed with removing services from Pembrokeshire and has spent years downgrading and removing services from Withybush hospital.”

He warned that removing the services “critically undermines the sustainability of Withybush hospital’s A&E department” and vowed to urge Welsh Government Ministers to intervene.

Samuel Kurtz MS added:

“Residents in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion are being treated like second class citizens, as it is always us in the West that has to see our services cut. The salami slicing of services is exactly what the Labour government have wanted, and the health board are delivering. This is a sad day, and residents will rightly be angry and concerned.”

Impact on Carmarthenshire Ambulance Services

The centralisation of services is also expected to place additional pressure on ambulance services operating in Carmarthenshire, as patients from Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Llanelli will need to be transported longer distances for emergency treatment.

What do you think of the changes? Will Glangwili be able to cope with the additional demand? Have your say below.

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£43k golf club burglary spree hits Haverfordwest and Carmarthen as Newport duo admit overnight raids

Two men from Newport have pleaded guilty after a rapid series of break‑ins at Haverfordwest Golf Club and Carmarthen Golf Club in the early hours of Sunday 18 January, leaving tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of damage and stolen equipment across two counties.

Police race to Haverfordwest alarm as break‑in unfolds

Officers were first called at 12.45am when an intruder alarm sounded at Haverfordwest Golf Club. Police arrived within six minutes to find the clubhouse forced open, alarms blaring and the shop stripped of high‑value golf clubs worth up to £500 each.

Around £36,000 of equipment had been taken.

As officers secured the scene, control room staff began tracking vehicles in the area — quickly identifying a red Vauxhall van as a possible getaway vehicle.

A Dyfed‑Powys Police spokesperson said:

“The alarm was still sounding when officers arrived, and it was immediately clear the building had been deliberately forced open.”

Carmarthen club hit minutes later in escalating spree

With intelligence shared across county borders, Carmarthenshire officers patrolled Carmarthen Golf Club as a precaution — only to discover it had also been targeted.

The front door had been smashed in, a yellow crowbar left behind, and around £7,000 of clubs stolen. Damage to the building was estimated at £5,000.

An officer involved in the response said:

“The speed of the second break‑in showed this was a coordinated, fast‑moving burglary spree.”

Fake plates, fake names — but police close in

Shortly after 2am, Roads Policing Officers spotted the suspect van travelling along the A48 towards Pont Abraham. Despite fake number plates, the vehicle was stopped and found loaded with golf clubs and bags.

The driver and passenger initially gave false names — “Richard Smythe” and “Michael Hale” — before admitting their real identities in custody.

They were further arrested for obstructing police.

A Roads Policing Officer said:

“The van was full of golf clubs. There was no doubt we had the right people.”

All stolen items were recovered and returned to the clubs.

Pair appear in court and admit all charges

Mikael Bourkhari, 45, and Simon Dickey, 38, both from Newport, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court on Monday 19 January. They pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of obstructing police. Both were remanded into custody until sentencing on 2 February.

Detective Sergeant Sophie Lambert of Dyfed‑Powys Police said:

“Crimes like this have a profound impact on the community, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on their business.”

She added:

“This was a fantastic example of teams across different locations working together to stop these criminals in their tracks.”

DS Lambert said the case should act as a warning:

“We will take robust action against anyone seeking to break the law in our force area.”

A wide sandy beach stretches out along the Pembrokeshire Coast near Haverfordwest, offering sweeping coastal views of the sea and distant headlands. Large rocks are scattered along the shoreline, creating a rugged charm that invites nature photography and quiet seaside escapes. The area is part of the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, renowned for its unspoilt scenery and wildlife. Gentle waves roll in under a bright sky, making it a perfect spot for walkers and those seeking a tranquil connection with nature. #PembrokeshireCoast #SandyBeach #CoastalViews #NaturePhotography #SeasideEscape

Taken Jul 2013

#UKCountryPic #Photography #MastoGPT #PembrokeshireCoast #SandyBeach #CoastalViews #NaturePhotography #SeasideEscape #WhitesandsBay #Haverfordwest #Wales #UnitedKingdom

Pembrokeshire blind veteran, 84, to spend Christmas with 30 fellow ex‑Service men and women after facing festive season alone

Chris Raine, 84, from Haverfordwest, will be heading to Blind Veterans UK’s rehabilitation centre in Rustington after realising he would otherwise be alone, with his closest relatives living hundreds of miles away in Yorkshire and Scotland.

“I’ve packed all my Christmas jumpers”

Chris says he can’t wait to join other blind veterans for a week of company, activities and festive fun.

“It’s lovely to be spending Christmas in Rustington,” he said. “I’ve got all of my Christmas jumpers and shirts packed. It’s really nice to spend Christmas with other blind veterans, and I’m especially looking forward to catching up with a good friend of mine, 90‑year‑old Colin from Milford Haven.”

The veterans will enjoy Christmas films, crafts, a trip to the panto, a traditional lunch with all the trimmings and even a festive quiz.

A lifetime of service — and a sudden loss of sight

Chris joined the RAF in 1957 and spent nearly 40 years serving around the world as a radio radar technician. His sight loss came suddenly, after he noticed worrying changes to his vision while driving. An optician quickly diagnosed wet macular degeneration.

“At the first appointment they told me I would no longer be able to drive,” he said. “It was upsetting, but I knew it was the safest thing for me and other people.”

Support that changed everything

Chris discovered Blind Veterans UK in 2019 and says the charity transformed his independence.

“When I first got in touch, I went for a welcome week and found out about the support I could get, including an iPad and training to use it,” he said.

Covid meant the training had to be done remotely, but Chris says the device has become a lifeline.

“I don’t have to see anything. I just talk to it and put my finger on it and it tells me where I am and what I’m doing. I can read library books, check emails and much more. It’s marvellous.”

“No one should feel alone at Christmas”

Kellie Darcy‑Pattenden, Centre Manager at Rustington, said the charity works hard to make Christmas special for veterans who might otherwise be isolated.

“Christmas can be a difficult time for those who might be on their own,” she said. “Our centre becomes a home away from home, full of festive cheer, companionship and a chance to indulge a little. Most importantly, it’s about being surrounded by people who understand and share the same experiences.”

A message to other veterans

Chris hopes others living with sight loss will reach out for help.

“If any veterans have been given a sight loss diagnosis, they should definitely get in touch with Blind Veterans UK,” he said. “Having a network of other blind veterans to meet and talk to is more beneficial than anything. It makes a real difference.”

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Millions pledged to revive Welsh centres — Swansea, Port Talbot, Haverfordwest, Porthcawl and Bridgend among winners

Town and city centres across Wales are in line for a major facelift after the Welsh Government unveiled a £19.6m cash package. The funding, part of the Transforming Towns and Placemaking programmes, will target empty shops, tired public spaces and stalled developments — with South West Wales councils among the biggest winners.

Swansea’s Biophilic Living gets fresh cash

Swansea Council has secured more than £559,000 for the commercial and retail elements of the flagship Biophilic Living scheme, which promises 50 affordable homes alongside shops and offices in a nature‑inspired design.

A further £1.36m is earmarked for the Mowbray Yard redevelopment, creating a new green courtyard space in the heart of the city centre.

Port Talbot facelift for Aberafan Shopping Centre

In Port Talbot, up to £840,000 will fund a redesign of the public realm outside the southern entrance of the Aberafan Shopping Centre, aiming to boost footfall and modernise the tired frontage.

Haverfordwest Wilko site transformed

Pembrokeshire County Council will receive more than £1.27m to redevelop the former Wilko store in Haverfordwest, part of the Western Quayside regeneration. A smaller grant of £100,000 will also support works at 16‑18 Bridge Street.

Porthcawl seafront gets new events space

Bridgend Council has secured £600,000 to create a new events space on the Hillsboro South site in Porthcawl, a key part of the seafront regeneration plans.

Wyndham House overhaul for Bridgend town centre

Bridgend will also benefit from £1.78m to acquire and refurbish Wyndham House, with housing association Valleys to Coast planning to transform the building into its new HQ alongside apartments and commercial units.

Welsh Government hails “heart and soul” of communities

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government Jayne Bryant said the funding would “breathe new life into our high streets, support local traders, and create the vibrant, welcoming spaces that our communities deserve.”

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Rogue builder now living in Pembrokeshire ordered to repay £8k after botched driveway

Christopher McFarlane, 48, abandoned a driveway project in Leamington Spa after pocketing £8,000 upfront, leaving the property resembling a “poor‑quality sandpit”. The mess was so severe the victim’s partner, who has mobility issues, sometimes had to be carried over the rubble to leave the house.

McFarlane, now of Mathry near Haverfordwest, concealed the fact he was bankrupt when he took the money in December 2018. He began work in February 2019 but walked away weeks later, never returning. A survey revealed the driveway had to be completely redone, costing the victim more than £16,000.

The couple said in a statement:

“As disabled homeowners, we placed our trust in someone who took advantage of our goodwill at a time when we needed help, not harm.

The stress and disruption caused by McFarlane’s actions have taken a heavy toll over the past five years.

This conviction means a great deal to us. We’re incredibly grateful to the Insolvency Service for their tireless efforts in pursuing this case and securing restorative justice.”

McFarlane failed to attend an interview under caution during the Insolvency Service investigation. He appeared at Coventry Magistrates’ Court on 4 December, where he was handed a two‑year conditional discharge and ordered to repay £8,000 at £500 per month from February 2026. If he fails to pay, he faces arrest and possible imprisonment.

Mark Stephens, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

“Christopher McFarlane only revealed his bankrupt status to the victim when he was trying to recoup his losses.

“He made such a mess of the driveway that the victim’s partner had at times to be carried over the rubble when she needed to leave the address.

“The Insolvency Service exists to tackle financial wrongdoing, and protecting the public from those who have previously been unable to repay their debts is a key priority for us.”

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Rogue builder from Porthcawl jailed
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#bankrupt #construction #debt #driveway #Haverfordwest #InsolvencyService #Mathry #RogueBuilder

https://www.europesays.com/uk/551474/ Man who brutally murdered Welsh toddler dies in prison #Britain #Courts #Crime #GreatBritain #Haverfordwest #Pembrokeshire #SouthWestWales #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales

Haverfordwest man banned for seven years after RSPCA rescues “extremely thin” rottweilers

Dogs found “extremely thin”

Llanelli Magistrates Court heard how Shaun Robert Ferguson, 44, of Camrose, Haverfordwest, allowed his dogs Prince and Trixie to become dangerously underweight while he was living in Plymouth. Police seized the animals after concerns were raised about their condition.

A vet who examined the pair described them as “extremely thin,” with both showing signs of long‑term starvation lasting at least three to four months. Prince, the larger of the two, weighed just 27.7kg, while Trixie weighed 26kg. Both had a body condition score of 1 – the lowest possible rating.

The court was told that Prince had been eating plastic and other foreign objects in a desperate attempt to survive, while Trixie had not passed any faeces for 12 hours after being taken into care, suggesting she had not eaten for a long period.

Sentence handed down

Ferguson was found guilty in his absence of two animal welfare offences. Alongside the seven‑year ban on keeping animals – which he cannot appeal for five years – he was handed a 24‑month community order, ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity days, fined £300, and told to pay £1,000 in costs.

RSPCA response

RSPCA Inspector Miranda Albinson, who led the investigation, said:

“There is never an excuse to neglect or mistreat animals. Owners have a duty and responsibility to ensure the needs of their animals are met, this includes making sure they have a suitable diet and appropriate treatment and care.”

Both dogs have since been signed over to the RSPCA and are being prepared for rehoming.

Local impact

The case has shocked many in Pembrokeshire, where Ferguson is from. The RSPCA says it hopes the sentence will serve as a reminder that animal neglect will not be tolerated, and that those responsible will face prosecution.

#animalAbuse #animalNeglect #Camrose #Dogs #Haverfordwest #mistreatedAnimals #Rottweiler #RSPCA

https://www.europesays.com/uk/522103/ Town’s petrol station to get major expansion #Britain #GreatBritain #Haverfordwest #Pembrokeshire #SouthWestWales #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales

#photography #haverfordwest #pembroke our new #bridge

#ukcountrypic #photography #mastogpt #pembrokeshire #coastalview #seasidescenery #naturephotography #cliffside #yrhafan #fortroad #haverfordwest #wales #unitedkingdom #silentsunday

Taken Jul 2013

This image captures a serene coastal view in Solva, Pembrokeshire, with rolling green hills leading to rugged cliffs that meet the calm, blue sea under a clear sky. In the foreground, a well-kept garden with colorful flowers and a wooden fence adds charm to the picturesque landscape.

#ukcountrypic #photography #MastoShort #Haverfordwest #Wales #UnitedKingdom

[TEST POST - PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING LOOKS WRONG]

Taken Jul 2013

A serene, sandy beach with gentle waves, rocky cliffs, and a grassy hill under a clear blue sky.

🧵 1/3 #Photography #Pembrokeshire #Cymru #EU #EUBRD #PalkyWorld fell asleep on the 349 #Haverfordwest / #Dymbich .. didnt I. Ended up in #Lamphey #Llandebi . But #blueflagspotters I noticed this. And the #church .! All those #EUblue plaques Have been removed in #Engerland ✊🏾💖🇪🇺

#photography #freepalestine #palestineaction #haverfordwest #pembrokeshire #cymru @wood5y @JackTheCat @Mastodon @fediforum @rolle @BlippyTheWonderSlug @RejoinEU

#morning #travel "nothing to see here!" #pembroke #bus 🚌 #349 #tenby 🔄 #haverfordwest 09.20 #madness #justsaying

Thank you to #haverfordwest #parkrun recommended for those holidaying in Pembrokeshire. Dragged myself round in 32.23 with no "tactical" walk break. So pretty good for me. 32 minutes, 31 minutes... progress is coming

#nowplaying On my mind as us locals #haverfordwest #pembroke watch our skyline destroyed by construction co's ripping out #Georgian houses to build neo-modernist concrete piles of shite. Pursuing the #regeneration agenda , funded by the #Welsh #Cymru #HMG et al. Lots of brown envelopes changed hands. I have the data. The #toon #GhostTown by the #TheSpecials #followdamoney

#LINO #HenryTufnell #MP #manofthepeople & #stoopid. He only does one morning a month in his constituency office #Haverfordwest (Swan Square) and he's so arrogant he parks his #Mercedes opposite. No wonder #Labour is screwed in these parts. Plus, he's still not talking my calls. Can't imagine why the cunning stunt. #Bollox2Brexit #EatTheRich ✊ 💖 🇪🇺 😎

#HenryTufnell #MP #LINO #Haverfordwest #Pembroke I forgot to mention 'absentee landlord'. Mummy and Daddy (in his circle that's #Mama & #Dada) have 20,000 acres near #Tenby . It takes up all his time. #Welsh #Grey #Partridge are very rare 'don't you know, old chap'. Who said 'shooting parties' ? A veritable cunning stunt.

#photography #HenryTufnell #MP #LINO #Haverfordwest #Massage #Politics This is our 'arri's office (man of the people). It's to let, with one 'sitting tenant'. He's not been seen for 3 months. Meanwhile his co-tenant is always open and very busy. #justsaying

"The SIBA Wales Beer Festival will run from Friday, September 19th to Saturday, September 20th at HAVERHUB" #beer #haverfordwest #haverhub https://welshbusinessnews.com/2025/04/14/cheers-to-new-beginnings-sibas-first-ever-wales-beer-festival-will-take-place-this-autumn/

#pembroke #haverfordwest 'Fame' 'for all the wrong reasons'. Trying to show my pic of the weir but limited bymas.to I live local. Arrogance and hubris fairly common in these parts I'm afraid.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/23/paddleboard-instructor-nerys-lloyd-jailed-deaths-river-cleddau-wales?CMP=share_btn_url

#work #office #fediverse #library That's me from at #home where I'm finally getting half decent upload speeds. The local, #Pembroke, has no #wifi & the #park has no #benches. Go figure. The 'office' is #Haverfordwest . A beautiful working space! Crap #photocopier though! n.b. The #british and #ucl libraries spoilt me ! 😎

#elites #class #ukpol @HenryTufnell m.p. ( #labour ?) #pembroke #haverfordwest Please take note.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/01/zero-self-awareness-second-home-owners-council-tax-england

Paddleboard company owner admits manslaughter of four in River Cleddau incident

Nerys Lloyd, 39, a former police officer from Port Talbot was the owner and sole director of paddleboard tour company, Salty Dog Co Ltd.

She has today pleaded guilty to the gross negligence manslaughter of Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, following their deaths in Haverfordwest Town Weir on 30 October 2021.

Lloyd also pleaded guilty to a Health and Safety at Work Act offence at Swansea Crown Court today.

The four victims were part of a Stand Up Paddle (SUP) paddleboarding tour – organised by Salty Dog Co Ltd – and Lloyd was present as an instructor on the day of the tragedy alongside fellow instructor Mr O’Dwyer, who was killed.

On 30 October 2021, there had been heavy flooding and severe weather warnings were in place. The river was running fast, and the weir was in an extremely hazardous condition.

As the group approached the weir, the three participants were pulled over the top into its base and became trapped.

Instructor Mr O’Dwyer, who initially exited the river safely, re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue the others but was immediately dragged over the top. The four victims died as a result of drowning/immersion.

An expert concluded that the tour should not have taken place while encompassing the weir and that Lloyd did not have a suitable qualification, and her planning and supervision was inadequate.

The prosecution followed a joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Lisa Rose, Specialist Prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division, said: “This was an avoidable tragedy. Despite going to check the state of the river before departing on the tour, Nerys Lloyd failed to inspect the weir.

“The majority of participants had limited experience, and Lloyd was not qualified to take paddleboarders out in such hazardous conditions.

“There was no safety briefing or formal risk assessments, and the participants were not advised that they would be traversing a weir or instructed on options to get out of the water.

“Final decisions to continue with the event were Lloyd’s decision, and as a result she held complete and entire responsibility.

“I hope these convictions provide some sense of justice for those affected and our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the victims at this time.”

(Lead image: RNLI)

#CPS #CrownProsecutionService #DyfedPowysPolice #Haverfordwest #manslaughter #PaddleBoarding #RiverCleddau #StandUpPaddleboarding

I couldn't believe my eyes! #Starrmer in a box! #LINO A snappy snap, mobile phone #photograph I took in #Haverfordwest #Pembrokeshire today. 😁

#Photography #Food #India #Haverfordwest #Curry O joy, the #Tamil #Grocers in town is reopening after a refit. Actually they were on final kitting out but I'm not easily put off & the door was open. So adding to my stocks, bulk cardomens (green), ghee, & basmati rice. More will be purchased next week!