News

Oil waste plans postponed

Published

11 years ago

January 5, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Pyrolysis plant: The kind proposed by Barcud Energy Ltd.

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a pyrolysis unit at Waterloo, Pembroke Dock has been withdrawn from consideration by the County Council’s Planning Committee on December 16. The application will be considered at a later date. The planned development at the Ledwood’s Engineering site proposes to generate ‘syngas’ by thermal treatment of oil sludge, and another by-product called filter cake. The gas produced would then be burned to produce electricity to be sold to the National Grid. Oil waste will also be stored on the site. The planning application also refers to the storage and burning of office waste, stating the burning of such waste will be forthcoming from a contract with “a local provider”. It is not clear which sole provider (as specified in the planning application) has either taken an option or committed to such a contract.

Very few organisations in the locality produce the volume of waste that could support such an operation as a sole customer. The applicant is shown as a Mr Peter Beaton of Barcud Energy Ltd, whose address is listed at 110 Whitchurch Road Cardiff, the location of an accountancy practice. Mr Beaton is one of five current directors of the company, which last filed accounts showing it as dormant in June 2013.

The Herald understands that one County Councillor, Pembroke Dock Market Ward representative Brian Hall, has attempted to allay the fears of those who are against the construction of the pyrolysis plant. It is alleged that Mr Hall has personally approached some residents in Waterloo and told them that their environmental concerns are misplaced. Councillor Hall sits on the County Council’s Planning Committee. The development proposed would occupy in excess of 2,100 square metres, process 17,500 tonnes of waste and – it is claimed – create a dozen full time equivalent jobs.

A report from Natural Resources Wales has directed that a raft of assessments be carried out before planning permission can be granted. There is no sign on the County Council’s planning portal that those works have been factored into the planning application as it stands. Fears have been expressed that the height of the flue stack would direct particulate smoke pollution towards Cosheston and further up the Haven waterway. In addition, residents have expressed serious concerns about the volume of traffic to and from the site from what is an already busy road, leading to and from Pembroke Dock’s ferry port.

The Herald spoke with Friends of Earth Cymru, and a spokesperson expressed grave concerns about the health effects of pollution from the plant: “There is not enough detail provided in the application about the public health impact of the plant. Children, the elderly and those with existing complaints, such as asthma, could be badly affected.

“The area around the Haven is already a hotspot for respiratory illness and problems as a result of existing pollution. This could make it worse.” Speaking before the proposal was withdrawn from consideration, local Councillor Sue Perkins, in whose ward the proposed development would take place, told us: “I have been collating the views of my constituents and Pembroke Dock Town Council in relation to this planning application and hope to be addressing the planning committee in person as the local member. At this moment in time I am currently finalising the responses which I have received.”

Speaking as a concerned town resident, Pembroke Dock Central Ward Town Councillor, Margaret Murton told The Herald: “We neither want nor need this development. It will be detrimental to Pembroke Dock. “We have asked a series of questions and they have not been answered. These plants are usually placed near refineries. Appropriate power cabling is available very close to Valero. This plant will need new cabling. There are pre-existing issues with the condition of the ground upon which this is intended to be built, especially with methane gas emissions. “Why on earth has it been placed near a residential area?”

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

13 minutes 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

19 minutes 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 of alleged offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, 40, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, faces six linked charges arising from incidents reported to have taken place earlier this year. Alcock, who did not enter pleas during the administrative hearings, appeared on several occasions as the court dealt with bail issues and case management.

Multiple assault allegations
The charges listed before magistrates include:
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional strangulation
Common assault of a woman
Criminal damage relating to a domestic incident
Further assault allegations linked to the same complainant
A breach of bail conditions

The court heard that Alcock had previously been granted conditional bail. However, he was brought back before magistrates twice during the same reporting period for alleged breaches of those conditions, resulting in updated bail decisions.

Bail breached — defendant remanded

On two separate entries in the court register, Alcock was listed as having breached his bail, leading magistrates to remand him into custody pending the next hearing. On other dates within the same week, he was again re-released on conditional bail, with strict terms imposed, including restrictions on contact with the complainant and exclusions from certain locations.

He is now remanded on conditional bail with his next appearance set for Swansea Crown Court, where the more serious matters — including the alleged non-fatal strangulation — will be dealt with.

Case sent to Crown Court

Magistrates directed that the case is too serious to be heard locally and must proceed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.

The Herald understands that all listed charges fall under the same prosecution reference, indicating they form part of a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution. No further details were opened in court at this stage.

Crime

Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands

Published

35 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction

A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.

Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.

Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.

He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.

The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.