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‘No suspicious circumstances’ to the death of Roger Williams, say police

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Police presence: Pater Court on Oct 31

Police presence: Pater Court on Oct 31

THE POLICE investigation in Pembroke Dock has concluded that there are no suspicious circumstances to the death of 50-year-old Roger Williams, Dyfed-Powys police have confirmed. A force spokesman told The Herald: “The family of the deceased have been updated and HM Coroner has been informed.”

The spokesman added: “The three people arrested on Friday (Oct 31) [on suspicion of murder] have been released from custody without charge.”

A Home Office post mortem was carried out yesterday (Nov  1).

Paramedics were notified of an unresponsive man at a flat at Pater Court in Pembroke Dock at around lunch time, Friday (Oct 31). Mr Williams was reportedly lying unconscious in the hall way of a ground floor flat at Pater Court.

Speaking on Friday, Mark Whitefoot, the landlord of the Bush Tavern, next door to where Mr Williams died, told The Herald: “I saw the ambulance arrive, at around 1pm, and then saw the gentleman lying in the hall way of the flat. His head was pointing in towards the flat, and his feet were near the doorstep. The door was open and the paramedics were coming to and from the property. His shirt was open; the ambulance crew had obviously been working on him. But he had passed away.”

Tragic: Roger Williams, 50

Tragic: Roger Williams, 50

He added: “A few minutes later the police arrived in a riot van. There were suddenly a lot of police vehicles. Soon afterwards CID came into the pub and asked me to review my CCTV. I of course let them. It was shortly after that they arrested a female – she was really struggling with the officers – she didn’t want to be put into the van. She was practically fighting with them.”

A customer at the bar in his sixties seemed visibly shaken on Friday night. He said: “I know the people involved. I live nearby – I know the guy who has died; I am also very friendly with his brother. I also know some of those arrested.”

“It’s a tragedy”, he said.

Also on Friday night, across the road at Mega-Kebab, the stunned staff told our reporter that he had been told by several customers the name of the person who had died. A customer, who did not want to be named, said that he knew the gentleman; “It was Roger Williams – It’s terrible what has happened. I can’t believe that something like this could happen in Pembroke Dock.”

There was a police presence at the property overnight. Two officers are sat in a police vehicle keeping a watch on the property ensuring that the crime scene will not be disturbed.

Saturday’s Dyfed-Powys Police statement read: “We can confirm that  Roger Williams was found dead  on the afternoon of Friday October 31. Next of kin were informed and are being supported by family liaison officers.”

“We are asking for anyone who may have seen Roger, or been in the area of Pater Court, Bush Street or Law Street Pembroke Dock between 12:30pm and 1:20pm on Friday to speak to the investigation team by calling 101.”

“A Home Office post mortem will be carried out today (Nov 1) to help determine the cause of death. The police investigation is ongoing. Yesterday afternoon, one woman and two men were arrested on suspicion of murder. All three remain in custody and are being interviewed by Police.”

Pembroke Dock resident Paul Dowson, who works for The Herald, said: “I knew Roger Williams. He was a genuinely nice bloke. He will be missed.”

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Business

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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Welsh Water has increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’

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NEW figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Dwr Cymru discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 23,354 hours last year, a 40% increase on 2022. 

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in Welsh waterways.

The party has also called for a halt on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.

The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our nation’s rivers and waterways without consequence.

“It’s beggars’ belief that both the UK Conservative Government and the Welsh Labour government are allowing water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism.

“We as a party are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local waterways. We have also called for a halt on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”

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