News

Not just any barbecue at the Point

Published

12 years ago

September 10, 2014

Tom Sinclair

Charcoal making: Point Youth Club Fishguard members with Ranger Richard Vaughan.

YOUNG people from Fishguard have been getting a taste of the great outdoors this summer as part of a joint project with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

National Park Authority staff have been working with the Point Youth Club in Fishguard to produce barbecue charcoal made from surplus logs supplied by Cilrhedyn Woodland Centre, which is owned by the Authority.

National Park Authority Ranger (North) Richard Vaughan said: ‘It takes roughly two days to make charcoal and the young people have helped with every stage of the process.

‘Authority staff have worked with the Point on a range of outdoor projects over the years including the John Muir Award, Duke of Edinburgh Award tasters days, 60 4 60, the Point Garden and Clay Oven Project, National Park coastal walks, camping and conservation work. But we have never tried this before and it worked fantastically well.’

The young people helped to cut the logs, lay them in a drum, light the surrounding fire and seal the kiln (a large drum).

The following day the charcoal was removed from the kiln, ready to use for a barbecue which was enjoyed at the Point afterwards.

Point Youth Worker Jetse Martin, who was involved in the project, said: ‘This was a great project for the young people; it took them out of their comfort zone and helped them gain new life experiences that they otherwise may never have had.

‘You could see that all the young people involved really enjoyed the experience and the satisfaction of bringing charcoal home that they had made had a positive effect on their confidence and self-esteem, which was great to see.’

Point Manager Zoe Davies said: ‘It is great to be able to offer the young people a chance to learn to get active outdoors, to use the natural environment to learn how to handle risks and how to use their own initiative to help solve problems and to co-operate with others. It has been a very successful and popular summer activity.’

Cilrhedyn Woodland Centre is owned and managed by the National Park Authority, and sources wood from a 250-hectare sustainable woodland in the Gwaun Valley.

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.