News
Narberth School to be demolished
THE FORMER Narberth School is set to be demolished following a decision made by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet yesterday (Jan 9).
The building was described as ‘shoddy’ and ‘awful’ by the council Leader and it was suggested that a clean site could be more attractive to future developers.
Cabinet members also agreed that the demolition of the site should be completed by March 31.
Once demolished, the site would then be used as a temporary car park.
Council Leader Jamie Adams said: “This redevelopment opportunity has now passed with the selected developer and that arrangement has now been ended by mutual agreement.
“In terms of the old Narberth School, the site as you will recognise is a prominent site in the town and the site is adjacent to the main car park.
“Time has moved on somewhat from when this was first considered and it has been a very long running saga and economic conditions have changed considerably from the first time this was considered and perhaps we need to re-evaluate what our expectations are of this site and what it can deliver.
“I think one of the important aspects with the loss of this development; it’s not just about a commercial opportunity it is the loss of a significant number of affordable homes which is something that Narberth desperately needs.”
Cllr Keith Lewis added: “This is a very difficult situation in terms of development of a retail property at the moment and one thing that I’ve learnt is that even if were to entice a prime retailer there is an expectation because of the level of demand and supply within the retail area that leaves these retailers, almost as a rule, expecting that their investment is de-risked, whereby they expect local authorities and developers to make a significant contribution for their set-up costs.”
He also said that a leisure based development could be considered for the site and asked if the demolition of the site could also be added to the recommendations.
Cllr Elwyn Morse was concerned that the demolition could impact on any offers coming in and that some developers may wish to take the site on as it as.
Cllr Adams felt that a clean site would be better and that the building doesn’t add anything in terms of attractiveness of the site.
Director of Development Dr Stephen Jones said: “It is fair to recognise that it has some sensitivity amongst the local community. There is a group of individuals who went to the school who are very passionate about retaining the façade as part of any development. A cleaner site is obviously easier in terms of encouraging development but I think it is fair to recognise there will be some opposition to the demolition when that happens.”
Cabinet voted unanimously to approve the demolition of the building by the end of March.
Crime
Recycling company brought before Judge after JCB crushes employee
A PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED recycling company has been brought before a district judge after an employee was seriously injured by a JCB loading shovel.
TBS Recycling and Skip Hire appeared before Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court earlier this week when company director, Steven Thomas, pleaded guilty to failing to discharge general health, safety and welfare duties to an employee.
The incident occurred on March 31, 2021, at the TBS recycling and skip hire unit which is situated at the Waterston Industrial Estate, between Neyland and Milford Haven.
“An employee of the company was working on the site when he spotted something caught in the wheel of a four-ton JCB,” commented a lawyer for the Health and Safety Executive.
“He went to clear it and the person who was in the [JCB] driving seat knew he was doing it. But he was distracted and believed the other employee had left. So he lowered the shovel, but it crushed him.”
As a result, the employee sustained crushed ribs and damage to his lungs and breathing.
“But he’s since made a good recovery,” said the Health and Safety Executive lawyer.
Steven Thomas, of Cross Farm, Walwyns Castle Road, Ties Cross, will be sentenced by Judge Layton when he sits at Llanelli Magistrates Court on June 6.
Crime
Pembrokeshire car salesman caught driving on cocaine
A PEMBROKESHIRE car salesman has appeared before a District Judge after being caught driving a cream BMW through Kilgetty after taking cocaine.
Fraser Finlay was stopped by police officers on the night of October 3, 2023, as he drove the vehicle along Clayford Road in Wooden.
The officers’ suspicions had been aroused when the trade insurance which covered his vehicle failed to show up on their system.
A roadside breath test was carried out which proved positive and Finlay, 25, was conveyed to a police custody suite where further blood tests were carried out for analysis.
These showed he had 20ug/L of cocaine in his system; the legal threshold limit is 10. He was also found to have 800 ug/L of the cocaine derivative benzoylecgonine in his system; the legal limit is 50.
“This conviction means that my client is most likely to see an end to his job,” his solicitor, David Williams, informed District Judge Mark Layton sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court earlier this week.
“This is because he works as a car salesman.”
Finlay was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was fined £450 and ordered to pay a £180 court surcharge and £85 costs.
News
Pembrokeshire hostel manager narrowly avoids jail sentence
A FORMER Pembrokeshire homeless hostel manager narrowly avoided a jail sentence this week after a District Judge was shown footage of her kicking a defenceless man as he lay drunk on the floor.
Linda Tysoe, 52, was seen walking over to Shaun Nelmes and kick him repeatedly. She was also seen hurling a can of tomatoes at his head.
As a result, Mr Nelmes sustained extensive lacerations to his face; images of his injuries were shown to the judge.
“The defendant admits the seriousness of her actions and she can see that they look aggressive,” probation officer Charmain Fox told District Judge Mark Layton when he sat at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court earlier this week.
“But over the last seven years, there have been many incidents of a domestic nature where the defendant was the victim. That night, she saw red and her actions were completely out of character.”
The assault took place on the night of October 1 when Mr Nelmes arrived at Linda Tysoe’s home. CCTV video footage shown to the court that was retrieved from her mobile phone showed that he was heavily intoxicated.
“He was extremely intoxicated, so she asked him to leave,” continued Ms Fox.
“When he left, he then tried to gain entry into the homeless hostel which the defendant was managing. She received calls from residents saying that he was outside, so again she tried to remove him but she saw red. She wanted to make clear that his behaviour was completely out of order.”
Ms Fox said that as a result of the attack, Tysoe has now lost her job.
“She is currently living in a caravan outside the family home,” she said.
Tysoe pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm. She was legally represented in court by solicitor Mr Michael Kelleher.
“My client has no previous convictions but she was the victim in previous matters involving the complainant [Shaun Nelmes],” he said.
“At the time this offence was committed, he was on a prison licence for assaulting her.”
Tysoe was sentenced to 16 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months. She was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation requirement days and must pay £85 court costs and a £154 surcharge.
“On October 1 last year your relationship came to an end and clearly something happened that night which caused this vicious and violent incident,” said District Judge Mark Layton when imposing sentence.
“You kicked him on the floor and threw a can at him which is believed to have been a full can of tomatoes that caused significant injury to his face. This crosses the custody threshold.”
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