News

Explosive email leak reveals deepening crisis in Neyland Town Council

Published

10 months ago

February 3, 2025

THE TURMOIL within Neyland Town Council has taken a dramatic turn following the leak of an explosive email chain exposing bitter infighting, accusations of bullying, and allegations of misconduct at the highest levels of local government. The emails, exchanged between councillors and the town clerk, reveal a toxic atmosphere of hostility and personal attacks, further calling into question the ability of the council to function effectively.

Shocking accusations emerge

The leaked emails showcase a series of heated exchanges between Cllr Steve Thomas, Town Clerk Libby Matthews, and other members of the council, including Cllrs Brian Rothero and Ellen Phelan. In one of the most explosive messages, Matthews directly accuses Thomas of causing “trouble and destruction wherever you go,” and calls his actions “selfish and disgusting.”

The emails also contain deeply personal attacks, with one councillor being accused of narcissism and others being labelled as bullies. Matthews, in an emotionally charged statement, alleges that the behaviour of certain councillors was so damaging that it led to a period of severe personal distress. She claims she was subjected to relentless criticism and had considered resigning as a result of the hostile environment.

Allegations of mockery and intimidation

The controversy escalates further with allegations from Cllr Thomas that he has been mocked. He accuses Cllr Mike Harry of making derogatory comments and another councillor of saying they would be “happy to see him jump off the Cleddau Bridge.” These claims, if proven, could have serious consequences for those involved.

Cllr Thomas also claims that repeated complaints about mistreatment have been ignored, further intensifying concerns about governance within the council. In one email, he argues that the misuse of council social media to target individuals has exacerbated the toxic culture, accusing the leadership of abusing its position of power.

Battle over legitimacy and power

Another core issue exposed in the emails is the battle over council procedures and the legitimacy of recent meetings. Cllrs Rothero and Thomas insist that previous Extraordinary Meetings were called lawfully, while Matthews and her allies dismiss them as invalid. The emails reveal a power struggle over who has the authority to set the agenda and whether certain councillors are being deliberately shut out of decision-making.

In one particularly scathing email, Matthews refuses to acknowledge Cllr Thomas as a legitimate member of the council, stating, “I am not your clerk. I will not be forced into contact with my abusers anymore.” Such a statement highlights the severity of the fractures within the council and raises concerns over how governance is being handled in Neyland.

The impact on Neyland residents

With the ongoing disputes consuming the council, residents of Neyland are left wondering whether their representatives are capable of focusing on local issues. The email chain suggests that council meetings have become battlegrounds for personal vendettas rather than forums for addressing community needs.

The financial struggles of Neyland CIC, a community interest company that has reportedly lost £82,000, were mentioned in the exchanges but appear to have been sidelined by the ongoing personal feuds. The legitimacy of upcoming council meetings, including the scheduled Ordinary Meeting on February 3, is also in question as tensions continue to escalate.

Calls for intervention

As the email scandal unfolds, there are increasing calls for an external investigation into Neyland Town Council’s operations. Some residents and councillors are demanding that the Pembrokeshire County Council Monitoring Officer step in to assess whether governance rules have been broken and if any members should face disciplinary action.

One thing is clear—Neyland Town Council is in crisis. The leaked emails have lifted the lid on an institution plagued by division, hostility, and a total breakdown in communication. Whether the council can recover from this latest scandal remains to be seen, but the damage to its reputation may take years to repair.

News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines
docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon last week, marking the start of physical
deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock on
shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 26th November, bringing tower sections and other heavy
components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the
existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, has arrived in Pembroke Port today is
due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-
loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through
Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the
latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived last week yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are
expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be
blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with
a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG
terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to
power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven
throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock.

Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

The Weather conditions are currently were favourable for this morning’s the arrival of
the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are
expected to begin early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-
bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery
programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.