News
Firms vie for £37m school construction contract
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has started pre-qualifying firms to build a secondary school and vocational centre.
The two-storey Pembroke Learning Campus building with a floor area of around 180,000 sq ft will include an autism centre and community learning zone.
The building programme is expected to run for three years. Works, which are expected to start in August 2015.
The Council have described the project as: “The construction of a new build secondary school, vocational and autism centre and community learning zone. The building is predominantly two storeys but also has a lower ground floor covering approximately 2750m2. The works will also include external work to include highways works, car parking, drainage, landscaping and sports pitch provision.”
Pembrokeshire County Council will be under considerable pressure to ensure the tender and documentation process is a transparent one. The Council’s extensive difficulties with holding fair tendering processes and efficiently monitoring projects have been under significant public scrutiny in relation to a number of publicly funded projects that utilised part-external funding.
In particular, the Council has been criticised by external bodies both for overstating the economic benefits of development and adopting opaque and confused management structures for dealing with external funding. Lessons that should have been learned from a comprehensive review of the Council’s mismanagement of Town Heritage Initiative projects conducted by researchers from Oxford Brookes University, were not reflected in the Council’s subsequent management of projects using external public funds.
The Council’s job is not made any easier in this instance by an insistence in the tender documentation that only tenders from Ceridigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire will be considered for acceptance. In addition, the tender will not necessarily go to the cheapest tendering developer.
With a lack of public scrutiny practically assured by the Council’s very restrictive interpretation of guidance about commercial confidentiality, the project could result in a massive payday for a builder/developer with a pre-existing relationship with the Council.
Firms have until January 12 to begin the tender process through the Sell2Wales website.
Business
Thousands of homes in rural Wales gain from faster 4G boost
RURAL Wales is seeing a major upgrade in mobile connectivity, with faster 4G now live in several areas. Seven locations across North, South West, and West Wales are benefitting from new 4G mast upgrades funded by the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN), aimed at closing the digital gap between rural and urban areas.
The upgrades, which went live on Thursday (Nov 14), bring improved 4G coverage to communities including Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch. Local businesses, emergency services, and residents are expected to benefit from faster internet access, which supports daily communication, business opportunities, and economic growth.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for modern life and should be available from Cardiff to the remotest parts of Wales. Today’s upgrades bring us closer to making this a reality.”
SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION
As part of the rollout, Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visited Ebbw Vale to discuss digital inclusion with charity and industry leaders. They met with representatives at BGfm, a digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, to learn about how connectivity impacts daily life in Welsh communities.
Telecoms Minister Bryant said: “We are working tirelessly to make sure rural communities aren’t left behind online.
“These upgrades mean businesses can now operate without connectivity limitations, 999 services are better equipped to respond, and residents and tourists can stay connected across the Welsh countryside.”
ADDRESSING CONNECTIVITY GAPS
An estimated 1.5 million homes across the UK remain without internet access, limiting people’s ability to access essential services such as banking and healthcare. In addition to the SRN upgrades, the Chancellor has allocated over £500 million in next year’s budget for digital infrastructure expansion, targeting these underserved areas.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens highlighted the importance of this investment, particularly for rural Wales, where fast, reliable internet can be transformative.
“Connectivity is critical for day-to-day life in rural areas – from supporting local businesses to ensuring emergency services are just a call away,” Stevens said.
The upgraded masts, previously limited to EE customers and emergency 999 calls, now serve a wider user base, bringing essential internet access to more people without requiring new infrastructure.
Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, said: “With the activation of five new SRN sites, Wales is seeing the tangible benefits of the Shared Rural Network, bringing crucial connectivity to rural communities.”
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN REMOTE WALES
The improvements come alongside a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties, helping future-proof digital access in even the most isolated locations.
The latest upgrades mark another step in the Government’s mission to improve mobile coverage and close the connectivity gap across Wales, creating opportunities and supporting economic growth across rural communities.
News
Milford Haven man admits to downloading indecent images of children
A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced after admitting to downloading over 1,000 indecent images and videos of children, including highly explicit content involving young children. Gareth MacDonald, now 23, appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos across various devices.
The court heard that police visited MacDonald’s home, which was the scene of protests after his arrest, last year following intelligence suggesting that child abuse images had been accessed there.
Officers spoke with MacDonald’s mother at the door before entering to conduct a search.
During the operation, two mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, and two hard drives were seized.
MacDonald initially spoke to one of the officers privately, admitting to downloading the images and saying, “It’s me.” Later, in formal interviews, he revealed that he had grown “bored with legal pornography” roughly a year earlier, knowing that what he was doing was illegal but continuing regardless.
Prosecutor Emily Bennett informed the court that MacDonald’s devices held 15 Category A images, the most severe classification, 26 Category B images, and 960 Category C images. Some content depicted children as young as nine, and the most serious material involved pre-teen children in distressing situations.
Bennett also noted that MacDonald had briefly joined an online group where members self-identified as paedophiles, although he left without sharing any material. Cleaning software was also found on his devices.
Defense counsel Dan Griffiths acknowledged that MacDonald’s actions had crossed the custodial threshold, but argued that there was “a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.” He highlighted MacDonald’s cooperation with police and his willingness to comply with rehabilitation programmes.
Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the sentencing, addressed MacDonald, saying, “For some considerable time, you have accessed this kind of imagery, fully aware of the harm it represents.” He acknowledged that MacDonald largely isolated himself and stayed at home, factors he considered in the sentencing.
MacDonald was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, with a requirement to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and participate in the Horizon programme. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.
News
Welsh teenager jailed for creating 3D-printed gun at home
A TEENAGER who assembled parts for a viable semi-automatic firearm using a 3D printer has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
Owain Roberts, 19, purchased nuts, bolts, steel barrels, and metal rods online, constructing components of an FGC-9 gun with the aid of a 3D printer.
Detectives said that this case marks the first of its kind in Gwent, where Roberts admitted to manufacturing a firearm component. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday (Nov 14).
In April, firearms officers executed warrants at two Newport addresses connected to Roberts. Seized items included a 3D printer, two laptops, six plastic reels, and parts for an FGC-9 firearm.
PC Tom Meazey, from Gwent Police’s East Serious Organised Crime team, stated: “Illegally-held firearms can lead to tragic consequences and devastate innocent people’s lives. To own a firearm, including a printable one, is illegal in the UK without a valid firearms certificate. Roberts’s reckless actions in buying items capable of manufacturing a firearm placed people at direct risk.”
This rare and complex investigation involved support from the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Roberts received a prison sentence of four years and nine months.
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Andrew Lye
December 27, 2014 at 4:48 pm
Only firms from Pembs, Carms and Ceredigion can tender?What a restrictive practise!How many could tender?What if a company from further afield could do it much better and cheaper?I thought we were in times of austerity….I don\’t have much confidence, I\’m afraid.miss as if someone is already lined up.
Andrew Lye
December 27, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Seems as if someone is already lined up.
(that’s what the last line should read)
tomos
December 27, 2014 at 10:57 pm
disagree andrew, good to see Pembs. supporting local businesses and local ppl – not sure it’s legal though after all seem to remember when HUGE contracts were given to foreign companies and ppl complained that these organisations were supporting foreig companies the defence was that it was EU Law to open the process to all and they were having to obey the law but when did PCC ever worry about obeying EU Law 🙂
Anthony griffiths
December 28, 2014 at 12:12 am
We are in austerity caused by these pathetic tories! The state has a moral obligation to provide an acceptable eduacational , modern complex! Down with these rotten tories! Rotten to the core!
John Hudson
December 28, 2014 at 9:25 am
My understanding is that our Councillors “got bounced” into supporting a successful £150m outline bid under the WG’s 21st Century Schools programme. PCC’s bid was the largest award of all Counties, and meant the Council had to stump up 50% of the total capital programme or £75m, subject to detailed projects.
The aim of the programme would appear to be driven by the demographic needs of the future school populations where fewer, larger “centralised” schools are required to avoid surplus places in existing out of date school buildings.
The 21st Century Schools programme is a priority of the Council and will be funded by contributions from the Council’s reserves, originally set aside to support other services, receipts from the sales of Council property assets, any surpluses arising at the end of the financial year, and borrowing.
While new capital school buildings may be “a good thing”, which the council may not have got grant aid for providing, all the processes are now aimed towards delivering the programme, mainly directed by the Welsh Government.
We have already seen a “consultation” in Hakin and Hubberstone where the council drew support from the divined views of future parents and children for a single school, as favoured by WG, which would not support a two school build.
This overall significant project was apparently approved without any real understanding of the financial implications at a time the Council was entering a period requiring severe financial reductions and restrictions in the delivery of its services.
Owen Llewellyn
December 29, 2014 at 7:34 am
With a reputation for self-serving backroom deals and the stench of corruption right through PCC I fear this will be another calamity that, considering the mediocrity of their combined wit, will be incapable of delivering without significant scandal. They are too busy feathering their own nests to think of the rest of us.
John Hudson
December 29, 2014 at 9:39 am
The Council’s Standing Orders relating to Contracts includes the following provision:-
Competitive Dialogue/Negotiated Procedure
The Directives of the EC allow the use of the Competitive Dialogue Procedure and the Negotiated Procedure in certain circumstances. A decision to use either procedure for procurement exercises over the EU Procurement thresholds can be made by the Director/Corporate Head of Service following consultation with the Head of procurement.
Is it right that unelected officers can make such decisions without any reference to or requirement for approval by Cabinet.
Yet another significant authority delegated to the Head of Paid Service conducted in secret.
How many contracts have been awarded in this manner?
Flashbang
December 29, 2014 at 11:57 am
This is way beyond the capabilities of PCC. All I see happening is a series of fiascos, scandals and cover ups from day one if it’s left in their hands. If they can’t even put a roof on a small building without the job being anything but what the contract stipulated then this is going to be the mother of all f***ups.
barry
December 31, 2014 at 11:56 am
That’s what you don’t want andrew lye firms doing it on the cheap thats when the influx of foreign labour comes into effect mate drive wages down and making fat cats fatter think about what your say mush.