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End of the road for Chequers

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Venue to be redeveloped: The club with a chequered history

Venue to be redeveloped: The club with a chequered history

THE PLANNING inspectorate has over turned a decision of Pembrokeshire County Council, who had refused permission to owners Rob Davies and Hettie Jones to convert former Chequers nightclub into holiday apartments. The inspector, Mr Gareth Rennie, decided to override the Council’s decision as the area would benefit from new holiday accommodation in a recognised tourist area.

The site previously had permission for holiday apartment development but with the adoption of the new Local Development Plan in 2013, Pembrokeshire County Council felt this use would not be compatible with their new policies and refused to renew their decision, and most disconcertingly for the appellant they felt that the former use of the building as a night club had been totally abandoned.

However, Mr Rennie agreed with Hayston’s argument at the planning hearing that the current use was active as a boxing club and public house was likely to start operating again soon, therefore the building had not been abandoned and had an entertainment use. A presentation was also made to show how the other reasons for refusal were overcome and that the reuse of this building for a quality holiday complex would be a significant improvement to both the appearance of the building and regeneration of the area.

The applicant, Mr Rob Davies said: “I am delighted with the successful appeal and hope this will still allow a quality investment into the redevelopment of Chequers to the benefit of Pembrokeshire tourism.” In his report, the planning inspector said: “The holiday units are suited to this rural location, would make a positive contribution to the local economy, and would help prevent the further deterioration of the appeal building.”

Managing director of Hayston, Andrew Vaughan-Harries said of the decision: “We are thrilled to have won this appeal, and pleased that Mr Davies will now be able to develop this site into something far more attractive and useful to both local residents and visiting tourists.” John ‘The Dentist’ Vaughan, a former DJ who worked at the venue said: “I am saddened whenever I hear of these old local independent clubs being demolished. It marks the end of an incredible era.

To me, that is what the demolition of a club like this is – it is a devastating blow to individuality and the importance of music.” The club was closed down by authorities in 1997 following a drugs raid which led to the arrest and conviction of the then licensee Dafydd Gittins for drugs offences. He was jailed but later his conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal who said that the police ‘at best exaggerated and at worst lied’ in order to get the conviction. In 2003 local businessman Thomas Sinclair, now the editor of The Herald, ran Chequers as a private members club after the council refused to grant a new public entertainment licence for the venue. At the time multiple attempts by the council to close the club down again, including at the High Court failed.

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Police ask motorists to avoid A44 trunk road due to heavy snowfall

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DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued an appeal to motorists to avoid a 25 mile section of the A44 trunk road between Aberystwyth and Llangurig due to it being impassable due to heavy snowfall.

In a warning issued at 4am on their social media accounts the police said: “Please avoid the area and find alternative routes for your journey.”

Meanwhile, last night The Nags Head in Lampeter uploaded pictures of the snowy scenes in the area, and were encouraging customers to come in and sit next to their ‘nice warm fire’.

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Egg and farm shop to open at award-winning west Wales farm

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A SCHEME for a self-serve egg and farm shop at an award-winning 32,000-chicken Ceredigion farm, to allow it to receive a UK Shared Prosperity fund grant, has been approved by county planners.

Ben Edkins, of Edkins Eggs, Coed Farm, Cilcennin sought permission to site a self-serve farm shop on an existing yard area at the site.

A supporting letter submitted through agent Morgan & Flynn Architectural Services described it as “a more advanced version of an egg stand, with honesty box, which has been a staple for people producing eggs for centuries”.

It added: “This method of selling eggs has already proven to be a hit with communities in Ceredigion, given the success of the already established egg dispenser located in Aberystwyth town centre.”

Family-owned Edkins Eggs, which supplies multiple businesses across the area with eggs, including Aberaeron’s Y Seler, Hive, Harbourmaster, and Costcutters, has been awarded a grant to cover the cost of part of the proposal, on the condition that planning approval is granted, the statement added.

“The grant, which is a UK shared prosperity fund for the Mid Wales region as part of the ‘Cynnal Y Cardi Fund’ provided by Ceredigion County Council was granted in December 2023.

“For this grant to be claimed, it is required that planning permission is granted, the construction is completed and also the egg dispensers are implemented by December 2024. This gives the applicants a 12-month window from the point of the grant awarded to completion of proposal.”
The building itself will include a solar panel array providing the power for the egg dispensing unit and lighting, and it is hoped to create one extra job at 227-acre Coed Farm, home to 32,000 chickens producing free range eggs, 90 beef cattle and 200 sheep.

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A green infrastructure statement by the agent added: “The creation of this building to house the self-serve farm shop to enhance the established family-owned business ‘Edkins Eggs’, which also has provisions to allow for other local companies producing items such as vegetables and honey to sell their products, will provide a facility for the local community to purchase locally produced goods directly from the supplier.

“This will not only provide an enhanced shopping experience in terms of being able to purchase directly from the farm, which could act as an educational benefit especially for children, but also provide the additional facility of a small-scale shop to the local area, whereas currently the community would either have to travel to the service centres of either Aberaeron or Felinfach.”

The application was conditionally approved under delegated powers.

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Entertainment

John Singer Sargent’s ‘Fashion & Swagger’ to light up the Torch

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IN an unparalleled celebration of one of the late 19th century’s most revered portrait artists, the Torch Theatre is set to host “John Singer Sargent – Fashion & Swagger” on Tuesday, 16 April, at 7:30 pm. This innovative exhibition, brought to life by Exhibition on Screen, delves into the remarkable artistry of John Singer Sargent, whose portraits are celebrated for their intricate depiction of his subjects’ persona, attire, and the subtleties of their presentation.

The event promises an insightful exploration of Sargent’s influence on modern art, culture, and fashion, featuring interviews with a diverse group of curators, contemporary fashion icons, and style influencers. Filmed at prestigious venues like the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Tate Britain in London, the exhibition unveils Sargent’s extraordinary ability to capture the essence of his subjects’ identities, social standings, and the complexities of gender through his art during a pivotal time of cultural transformation.

Phil Grabsky, one of the producers behind this compelling film, shared his enthusiasm for spotlighting Sargent’s genius, stating, “As filmmakers, both director David Bickerstaff and I have been thrilled to make this film about Sargent, someone I consider a truly astounding artist.” Grabsky further reflected on the curious case of Sargent’s fading recognition despite his once-celebrated status and affirmed Exhibition on Screen’s commitment to revitalizing interest in artists who deserve renewed attention.

The exhibition promises a fascinating juxtaposition of over 50 of Sargent’s paintings with authentic items of clothing and accessories donned by his subjects, offering audiences a unique passage into the artist’s creative realm. It underscores how Sargent’s subjects, often hailing from affluent backgrounds, entrusted him with their public images — a theme that resonates with the ongoing dialogue around the construction of identity in the public eye.

Tickets for “John Singer Sargent – Fashion & Swagger” are available for £13. Those interested can secure their spots by visiting www.torchtheatre.co.uk or contacting the Box Office at 01646 695267.

For further details and imagery, or to arrange press inquiries, please reach out to Anwen Francis (Marketing, Press & Communications) via email at [email protected] or phone at 07854 772640.

ENDS

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