News

Family face Pembrokeshire beach hut council tax premium

Published

7 months ago

May 29, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow a Pembrokeshire beach hut, used by visiting family members for decades, to continue to be used without incurring charges under the second homes council tax premium, has been granted.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Christopher Evans, of Llangoedmor, sought approval for a Lawful Development Certificate for a beach hut for holiday use only at Argo Fach, Poppit Sands, near Cardigan.

The applicant wished to secure a Certificate of Lawfulness for use of the property as a beach hut, in order to seek an exemption from the second homes council tax premium.

For a Certificate of Lawfulness to be granted, an applicant must demonstrate that the use has been continuous and without interruption for a period of at least 10 years.

Late last year, Pembrokeshire councillors voted to drop the council tax premium on second homes from 200 per cent, effectively a treble rate of council tax, to 150 per cent.

Prior to that, second-home owners in the county were charged a 100 per cent (or double rate) premium.

An officer report recommending a Lawful Development Certificate be issued said there was no reason to doubt the applicant’s claim that the property known as Argo Fach has been in use as a beach hut and not for residential use.

It goes on to say that Argo Fach “an extended wooden beach hut that is very modest in size, scale and facilities,” at the rear of Poppit Sands car park, with its usage going back many years.

It adds: “The application form indicates that the use (as a beach hut) began more than 10 years before the date of the application, in 1954, as a beach hut for family use in the summer. The cover letter discusses the start of use as a beach hut, presumed to be 1954 and most likely arranged by the applicant’s father (who was a solicitor) on an assumed 100-year lease.”

It says the applicant states that, other than for during childhood and then returning to retire in 2000, he has lived outside of Wales and had little do with the running of the property, which his mother looked after.

“The application states that the property is used when family visit the beach and is occupied for two weeks of the year when family members visit from Essex,” it adds.

It concludes: “Based on [a sworn affidavit], the Authority’s recent research, and the submitted evidence, it is reasonably clear that from 1954, the beach hut known as Argo Fach has been in use as a hut to support beach and social activity. The Authority therefore has no reason to doubt what is said in the application.”

A Certificate of Lawfulness was issued by park planners.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

6 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

6 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

6 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.