News
Cabinet ignore councillor’s request
CABINET members discussed the possibility of merging Hakin and Hubberston schools into one, but ignored a request from another councillor at a Cabinet meeting on Monday.
Councillor Vivien Stoddart’s request for a second option to be considered was ignored. Cllr Stoddart asked that the director consult on a second option to maintain the status quo but only one option was discussed.
This was in contrast to the next item on the Cabinet agenda which gave nine options to be considered for Ysgol Dewi Sant in St David’s. Councillor James Adams even added a tenth option to that list after rushing through the solitary option on the previous item.
Cllr Stoddart gave a copy of an e-mail to the Herald which she had sent to all the cabinet members in the hope they would discuss it. Her
message reads:
“Two years ago, Hakin infants and Junior Schools joined together to create Hakin Community School. This amalgamation was based on the promise of a new school, but they continue to operate on two sites. This is not satisfactory. Hakin needs and deserved a new school. This is not
in doubt, and a new school will be welcomed by everyone.
“I read that you are being recommended, with regard to Ysgol Dewi Sant, that the director consult on options for the future. One of the options is to keep the status quo. The focus of the initial consultations for the future of Hakin and Hubberston schools was the question: ‘Should Hubberston VC School join with Hakin Community School?’
“It was this question that was at the heart of the early summer consultation with parents, staff and governors of both schools. The response of the overwhelming majority of the school community in Hubberston was to decline the invitation to join with Hakin. They wish to maintain the status quo.”
At the meeting on Monday, councillors gave their opinions but the email from Cllr Stoddart was not even mentioned. Councillor Ken Rowlands
said:
“We must consider the benefits that will come to the area.”
Councillor James Adams added:
“What must be remembered is that this is an investment in children, other areas have delivered first class schools.
“Both schools are doing well at the moment and there is nothing to suggest that a larger school wouldn’t continue that success”.
After the meeting Cllr Vivien Stoddart said:
“I was disappointed that Cabinet on Monday ignored my request for a second option with regard to the possible amalgamation of Hakin and Hubberston schools.
“I emailed all Cabinet members last week asking that, in addition to the recommendation before them, that ‘consultations be held on merging the
two schools to provide a single all-through English medium Church in Wales voluntary controlled primary school,’ they also consider consulting on a second option of retaining the status quo.
“My request was not even mentioned when Cabinet approved the single recommendation on the table before them. My suggestion had disappeared in to a County Hall black hole of silence.
“This was a discourtesy to all those of Hubberston school’s community, who took the trouble to attend consultation meetings, and the 30-plus parents who wrote to the director of education expressing their opposition to the merger.”
In the report put before the council
it says:
“The provision of a high quality new school would enable the two schools to pool their range of expertise and experience to provide educational experiences of the highest quality and effectively meet the broad range of individual needs of all pupils currently”.
A consultation period will now begin but the plans are likely to come under strong opposition.
Crime
Woman sentenced after being found ‘drooling’ in parked car following drug use
Motorist admitted being in charge of vehicle while unfit through drugs
A WOMAN has been sentenced after being found “drooling” in a parked car after taking a cocktail of drugs.
Police and ambulance crews were called by a concerned member of the public who reported seeing a man and woman apparently unconscious inside a Suzuki Alto parked in Kilgetty on October 16.
“The male and female appeared to be unconscious and were drooling from their mouths,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“The engine wasn’t running, but the member of the public was concerned that when they roused, they might attempt to drive away.
“She thought it was possible they had taken an overdose.”
When police arrived around 30 minutes later, they found the pair still slumped over in the back seat of the vehicle.
“They were still drooling and appeared unconscious,” continued Ms Vaughan.
“When officers spoke to Elizabeth King, it was obvious she was confused and inconsistent about the events.”
Subsequent drug tests showed that King, 32, of Meadow View, Station Road, St Clears, had several drugs in her system, including cocaine, benzoylecgonine, EME, pregabalin and norcocaine.
King pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drugs.
Representing her in court, solicitor Tom Lloyd told magistrates that the defendant is a recovering heroin addict.
“Despite this addiction, she has managed to remain of previous good character,” he said.
“This is the first time she has appeared before the court.”
King was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £32 surcharge. Her driving licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.
Crime
Dock man sentenced for threatening sister on social media
Court hears of grenade and sword threats during family dispute
A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sentenced after threatening to throw a grenade at his sister and hack her head off with a sword.
Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that Charles Bianchy, 37, became angry after believing his mother was giving money to his sister but not to him.
“He felt he wasn’t being afforded the same luxury and began sending his sister communications on social media,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court.
“His social media posts made threats towards his sister, stating he would smash her head on a kerb, use it for target practice and throw a grenade at her. He also said he would hack her head off with a sword, and called her a nonce and a c***.”
Ms Vaughan said the defendant’s sister, Daisy Bianchy, urged him to remove the posts and warned that she would contact the police if he refused.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Daisy Bianchy said she believed the incident had been a wake-up call for her brother.
“I think this has given him a bit of a scare,” she said. “He was saying all these things, but you can’t make such unpleasant comments in public these days.”
Bianchy, of Pembroke Street, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to sending communications threatening death or serious harm.
He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who told the court the defendant suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and experiences hallucinations, anxiety and episodes of psychosis.
“He certainly didn’t intend to carry out any of these threats, as throwing a grenade is something you can only do if you’re in the army,” said Mr Kelleher. “He’s deeply remorseful for what he did.”
Magistrates fined Bianchy £120 and ordered him to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs. An 18-month restraining order was also imposed preventing him from contacting his sister.
Crime
Tenby carer banned after drug-driving in Milford Haven
Motorist over cannabis limit during routine police check
A TENBY carer has lost her driving licence after being caught drug-driving in Milford Haven.
Samantha Jones, 40, was stopped by police on the afternoon of November 23 as officers carried out routine vehicle checks on Robert Street, Milford Haven.
After providing a positive roadside drugs swipe, Jones was asked to give a blood sample. Analysis later showed she had 2.3 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in her system. The legal limit is 2 micrograms.
Jones appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week where she pleaded guilty to the offence.
She was represented by solicitor Fenn Richards, who told the court the defendant had used cannabis for several years to help her sleep.
“She’s tried other medications but they haven’t worked,” said Ms Richards.
“She had taken cannabis the night before and didn’t think she would still be over the limit. But this has been a bit of a wake-up call for her, and since the incident she’s reduced her intake and wants to completely stay away from it.”
Jones, of Heywood Court, Tenby, was fined £346 and ordered to pay a £138 court surcharge and £85 in costs. She was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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