News

Tourism tax to pass final Senedd hurdle as Pembrokeshire opts out

Published

5 months ago

July 7, 2025

Final vote expected Tuesday – Tax not due to come into force until 2027

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has confirmed it will not implement the controversial Tourism Tax, despite a final vote on the enabling legislation due to take place in the Senedd on Tuesday (July 8).

The Stage 4 vote on the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) (Wales) Bill is expected to pass with Labour and Plaid Cymru support. It would give local authorities across Wales the power to charge a nightly levy on overnight stays—set at £1.30 per adult in hotels, with an 80p rate for hostels and campsites. Councils would also have the ability to add an unlimited “premium” on top of that charge.

However, Pembrokeshire’s Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller has made clear that the council will not be introducing the tax under the current administration, which remains in place until May 2027.

“Our message to local businesses and the tourism sector is simple: this will not affect you before the next election,” Cllr Miller said. “This gives certainty to a sector still recovering from the pandemic and facing significant pressures.”

Local Senedd Member Paul Davies MS, who leads the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, welcomed the council’s decision but warned it could be reversed by future administrations.

“The Tourism Tax is a deeply damaging policy that will hurt Pembrokeshire’s economy,” Mr Davies said. “I’m pleased the council has ruled it out for now, but we will go further—Welsh Conservatives will scrap the tax entirely before it comes into force.”

Welsh Conservative Shadow Finance Secretary, Sam Rowlands MS, added: “Labour and Plaid’s toxic Tourism Tax, according to the Welsh Government’s own figures, will cost tens of millions and hundreds of jobs every year.”

If passed, the legislation would not mandate councils to implement the tax—it simply enables them to do so from 2027. Critics say it could lead to a patchwork of charges across Wales, with confusion for visitors and added pressure on rural and coastal economies that rely on tourism.

The final vote in the Senedd is due to take place at around 5:20pm on Tuesday.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

10 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

10 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

10 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.