News
Premier Inn ‘arsonist’ remanded in custody
A 26-YEAR-OLD Narberth woman has been remanded in custody, charged with causing the fire at the Premier Inn hotel in Haverfordwest on Sunday morning, as well as other offences.
Gina Tranter of Redstone Court, Narberth, gave no indication of plea when she confirmed her name and address at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning (Jan 21).
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard Jones explained the CPS case: “The defendant went to the Hunt Ball in Haverfordwest with her boyfriend on Saturday night, the boy had not paid her much attention and she felt rejected. They went back to the Premier Inn where they were staying. The boyfriend shut the door and wouldn’t let her into the room. Following that, she went down to reception. She was drunk. We believe that she may have taken cocaine as well.”
The prosecutor continued: “The hotel receptionist wanted her to leave the hotel so the police were called. The police attended and drove her home. She got home and took the keys to her mother’s car. She went into her garage and got a can of petrol. She then drove back to Haverfordwest and sent a text to her boyfriend saying ‘you’ll be sorry’.
Mr Pritchard Jones said: “On arriving back at the hotel, she went to one of the external fire doors and poured the petrol onto the facia of the door and she set it alight with a cigarette lighter. There were 133 guests in the premier inn. There was one person who was staying the hotel who was trained in firefighting. He got some equipment and put the fire out. The incident was recorded on CCTV. It is clear that it is the defendant who set the fire.”
He added: “She made a call to a friend of hers, Mr. Evans, at 6.32am. She called her friend saying: ‘I have poured petrol on the Premier Inn, I am in deep trouble. I have got to go on the run.'”
The court heard that the defendant is of clean character with no previous convictions or cautions.
Wearing a grey sweatshirt Tranter was remanded in custody to appear at Swansea Crown Court on January 27.
Tranter is facing four charges in total. Arson when reckless as to whether life could be endangered, taking a vehicle without consent, driving a vehicle with no insurance and failing to provide a breath test.
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
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Adam John
January 22, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Lock the stupid cow up and throw away the key. At least she got sacked.
danielle b
January 22, 2015 at 9:35 pm
what a silly little girl.all because her boyfriend wouldn’t pay her attention.attention seeking moron.
ancientbritton
January 24, 2015 at 11:02 am
Brain dead moron