Firstly, on behalf of Pembroke Town Council, the Mayoress and I would like to wish everyone in Pembroke and the surrounding areas good health and happiness going into 2015.

This is a time when we reflect on the previous year, we have all spent too much and all our clothes seem a little tighter.

I know that many of us leave 2014 with a sense of worry about the local economy, the sad prospect of losing more vital services and the impact it will have on us and our families. It is a daunting task to enter the New Year with these worries and I hope that everyone does their part in supporting our economy by shopping locally, making the most of what our community does offer and fighting to keep services that we so badly need.

For my part, I hope I can speak for all your representatives when I say, we will stand up for Pembroke, we will stand up for Pembrokeshire and we will most certainly stand up for what's right!

On a more personal note, my recent opportunity to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and see all the school children there, my visit to the Pembroke Christmas market, the immense turnout for Santa's visit to the town and the imminent arrival of a new baby sends me into 2015 with hope, positivity and the belief that there is still strong community spirit to be found in Pembroke. I hope that each of you can take something positive with you into the New Year and strive to make life a little better for yourselves, your families and neighbours.

Again, I genuinely wish you all the best for the New Year, take care and be happy.