News
Haverfordwest: Children’s Climate Change Strike invades County Hall
PEMBROKESHIRE children quit the classroom and demonstrated outside County Hall on Friday, participating in the children’s climate strike.
Local activist Vicky Moller was on scene and sent us this report:
“The Children’s climate strike was like a step into a different future for Pembrokeshire. A Llarge crowd gathered outside the council offices, mostly children – armed with homemade banners and placards. It was such a great turn out!
“Plaid Councillor Cris Tomos, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Welsh Language, came outside to address the crowd.
“No-one quite knew what was going to happen at the protest or who to be the first to ask questions. It was quite a surprise when he came over and joined the protest and led chanting in English and Welsh.
“Next Kristina Wray took over leading the demonstration. A very lively lady, she had brought a gang from Pembroke Dock calling themselves the Pembrokeshire Yellow Vest.
“Many were self-described ‘social services victims’, saying that they were all united with the children ‘because we all want the same thing.. A future for our children’.
“Then Cllr Tomos and a council officer called Clare Thomas invited a few of us in to have a meeting. But too many wanted to come in so it was decided to take us into the council chamber.
“The children filled it every seat For about an hour, the youngsters questioned the council – questions about topics such as cycle ways happiness and wellbeing, renewables, farming, carbon, planning, and democracy.
“Cllr Tomos answered in his colourful sing-song way, demonstrating that he knew lots about each topic, and its relevance to Pembrokeshire. He did not criticise the Council but he agreed three times to take things forward with different cabinet members (on homes and solar panels, cycle paths and the council changing to buying renewable power)
“He also arranged a next meeting with us and promised to make sure there were more cabinet members there to answer and to discuss what the council is doing.
At the end Soo Hutchinson led the protest through the streets of Haverfordwest – flanked by a giant green dragon with climate first written on it in tall letters.”
Vicky Moller added: “Anna Bean and the organisers should be proud of this inspirational unexpected young people take over of the corridors of power.”
News
Council’s Planning Enforcement Team demolish ‘illegal development’
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has taken direct action to remove a lean-to that was built against a neighbour’s listed building without consent.
Paul Mason built the lean to without planning permission or listed building consent from the Council contrary to section 43 of Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
As a result, the Council issued a Listed Buildings Enforcement Notice on June 17th 2021.
The notice related to ‘the construction of a rendered blockwork outbuilding within the curtilage of 1, Newport Road, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, and the attachment of this building to the neighbouring property at 1, Glyn-y-Mel Road, Lower Town, Fishguard.’
The notice required demolition of the outbuilding and removal of all the resultant materials from the site and reinstatement of the gable end wall of 1, Glyn-y-Mel Road, to its former condition within three months.
Mr Mason appealed against but a Planning Inspector from Planning Decisions Environment Wales subsequently dismissed the appeal and upheld the Council’s enforcement notice on December 22nd 2022.
The Inspector considered that the outbuilding had a detrimental effect on the special character and setting of the listed buildings and that its removal was necessary to restore the architectural character of the listed building to its former condition.
After the appeal, the Council brought a prosecution for non-compliance with the requirements of the Notice.
Mr Mason pleaded guilty on the day of the trial on December 7th 2023 and was required to pay a fine, costs and victim surcharge.
Following prosecution, the owner failed to carry out the demolition of the outbuilding and so the Council’s Planning Enforcement Team stepped in and undertook direct action by way of contractors to remove the illegal outbuilding.
The outbuilding was removed on March 6, 2023 and the architectural character of the listed building has been restored.
The cost of the demolition will be recovered from Mr Mason.
Following the action, Cllr Jon Harvey, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, said: “It is sad that this situation had to get to this point and this is the first time in more than 10 years that the Council has been forced to take direct action.
“However, it was clear that the defendant was not willing to comply with the terms of the enforcement notice requiring removal so we have taken the necessary action.
“I thank our teams involved, including the Planning Enforcement and Legal officers and hope this action demonstrates our commitment to enforcing breaches of planning control and upholding the integrity of the decision making process.”
News
Man remanded in custody following alleged assault in town centre
A PEMBROKE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged assault against a woman in Pembroke town centre last Thursday.
Morgan Ralph, 38, is accused of assaulting a female, occasioning her actual bodily harm during the alleged altercation on March 14.
Ralph, who appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday morning via a video link from Swansea Prison, pleaded not guilty to the offence.
His solicitor Tom Lloyd, informed magistrates that Ralph was acting in self defence during the alleged incident.
The matter was adjourned to May 23 when Ralph, of St Oswalds, Main Street, Pembroke, will be tried before Haverfordwest magistrates.
He was remanded in custody.
News
Retaining wall collapse in Haverfordwest crushes van
A RETAINING wall at Spring Gardens Lane, behind the site of the former Pembroke House Hotel in Haverfordwest, has collapsed following a period of heavy rainfall, causing damage to vehicles parked in the vicinity.
The incident has left two vans damaged, one severely.
The collapse of the wall sent debris sprawling across the car park, illustrating the force of the collapse and the substantial volume of water contributing to the structural failure.
Witnesses described hearing a loud rumbling noise before discovering the aftermath of the collapse.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
The collapse serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and the importance of maintaining and monitoring ageing infrastructure.
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