News

Port Authority’s plans ‘flawed’

Published

10 years ago

January 22, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Redevelopment plans: Milford Docks • Picture Ade Owens – Flickr

THE DECISION by the County Council to defer a decision on Milford Haven Port Authority’s ambitious plans has given rise to hope that the Authority will now engage properly with local stakeholders and existing tenants before pressing ahead with its planned redevelopment of the marina and docks area. At the meeting in the Milford Town Hall at the end of September, the Port Authority assured the assembled town councillors and members of the public that, upon demolition of the Old Docks Office there would be an exact replica built. The Authority’s Estates Director, Jeff Teague had stated the same in several public meetings: using the phrase “stone by stone and brick by brick”. Over time, that undertaking changed to “preserving the original part of the building”.

At that meeting, Jeff Teague was tackled about the effect of building a cinema on the site and its effect on the Torch Theatre’s widely-praised cinema facility. It emerged that, contrary to previous statements made on the subject, not only had no agreement been reached with the Torch Theatre, but that the idea floated at the meeting by Mr Teague (that the Torch would somehow run the proposed cinema on the marina) had not even been put to the Theatre. Plans placed before the Council, however, show a markedly different approach to the redevelopment of the Old Docks Office. Instead of a sympathetic rebuild, the proposed new building truncates the original in such a way as to leave, in the words of one local, “a potting shed” in its place.

Billa Schleicher of All Pets Vet Care told us: “Rob Peters from Turley, was at the Planning meeting on December 16 as a representative of MHPA. “After his speech, asking for approval of the application for demolition of the Old Docks Office, he was asked by Councillor Jacob Williams why he had specified a partial and not total rebuild. “Mr Peters replied that the existing building has been extended a number of times and the core part of the building, the oldest part of the building, is only the middle five bays.

“But that is not correct: the original part is ten bays long and, more to the point, it is going to be only some doors and windows that will be retained: hardly “brick by brick” as touted to the Town Council.” Billa continued: “I confronted them about this after the meeting – Jeff Teague then told me that they only did what CADW had asked them to do – it was nothing to do with them! My own enquiries suggest that is being very economical with the truth.”

Touching upon a separate concern regarding traffic, Billa said: “The artist impression that graces the front of the application suggests that the development will be a calm, wonderful public space with people strolling along and sitting there enjoying the peace and quiet. A marked area where they can easily cross the road over to the building on the left of the picture, which presumably is the museum.

“What a shame they did not get the dimensions right. What looks like a single lane on the picture would be a double lane, with cars rushing past and delivery lorries passing by to service the supermarket and the other chain retail outlets scheduled for construction; scarcely conducive to trundling along at 10 miles an hour, while people cross the road in a leisurely fashion to visit the museum. The plans are hopelessly flawed.” Billa concluded: “We have seen plenty of different plays, showing plenty of different layouts and several locations for where the Port wants to re-locate our own business. They have actually instructed an architect to design a building for us in the car park close to the Norrard building. The problem is that with so many different versions of plans and different stories being told to different people at different times, how are we supposed to trust them to stick to their end of any deal?”

Crime

Man jailed for growing £500,000 worth of drugs in Pembroke

Published

20 mins ago

November 15, 2024

Court Reporter

A MAN has been jailed after police uncovered a cannabis farm worth up to £500,000 at a former Lloyds Pharmacy in Pembroke.

Amarildo Daja, 27, was arrested during a raid at the vacant Main Street property at around 10:00am on Friday, October 18. Inside, officers found 575 cannabis plants spread across three rooms on the first floor. Daja pleaded guilty to being involved in the production of cannabis and was sentenced to 12 months in prison by Judge Geraint Walters.

***Caged: Amarildo Daja was sentenced to 12 months. (Image: Police)***

RAID AND ARREST

Swansea Crown Court heard that Daja initially tried to flee when officers arrived but returned inside and hid in the ceiling. After being coaxed down with a ladder, he was arrested. Prosecutor Harry Dickens said Daja had been living at the property to tend to the cannabis plants, and the building’s electricity supply had been tampered with to avoid detection.

Two mobile phones were seized at the scene, but one had been wiped, and the other was damaged.

PLANTS AND STREET VALUE

A drugs expert estimated that the plants could produce between 15 and 45 kilograms of cannabis, with a potential street value ranging from £170,000 to over £500,000.

In police interviews, Daja admitted paying a criminal gang to smuggle him into the UK via lorry. He initially worked in London to repay his debt but struggled to make enough money and agreed to work at the Pembroke cannabis farm three months before his arrest.

DEFENCE AND SENTENCING

Caitlin Brazel, defending, said Daja’s involvement in the operation was a mistake and out of character. “He is disheartened to have tarnished his good character,” she said, adding that he was realistic about receiving a custodial sentence.

Judge Walters expressed concerns about the broader issue of criminal gangs operating cannabis farms, stating: “If we want to bring down the Albanian criminal gangs that set up cannabis factories, we are going to have to find the ringleaders rather than just those who arrive on the back of a lorry.”

The judge also noted that Daja’s deportation upon release would be a matter for the Home Office.

***Grow busted: Building was Lloyds Pharmacy, Pembroke. (Image: Martin Cavaney/Herald)***

News

2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards Finalists announced

Published

7 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE finalists for the 2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards have been announced.

In total, 252 nominations were received and, following a selection meeting, the judging panel has named 39 finalists.

Matt Freeman, Manager of Sport Pembrokeshire, said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide nominations.

“Every year it gets harder to narrow the nominations down to three finalists and once again the quality of the nominees was enormously high.

“The number and quality of nominees just shows the strength of the sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire.

All the finalists will be invited to a grand presentation ceremony at Folly Farm on Friday, November 29th, where the winners will be announced.

The ceremony will also reveal the winners of two further categories – the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman’s Special Achievement Award.

The awards are organised by Sport Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire County Council’s sport development team.

They are sponsored by Sport Pembrokeshire, Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio.

The awards aim to recognise those people who have excelled in sport over the last 12 months, or who have given their time to coaching and organising grass roots sport.

Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2024 – Finalists

(In alphabetical order)

Coach of the Year

Francesca Morgan (Swimming)

Philippa Gale (Netball)

Tom Richards (Tennis)

Female Sporting Achievement

Gracie Griffiths (Race Walking)

Helen Carrington (Powerlifting)

Seren Thorne (Shooting)

Male Sporting Achievement

Jeremy Cross (Tennis)

Rhys Llewellyn (Athletics)

Sam Coleman (Powerboat Racing)

Boys (U16) Sporting Achievement

Carter Heywood (Football)

Hugo Boyce (Cycling)

Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Girls (U16) Sporting Achievement

Cerys Griffiths (Swimming)

Chloe John-Driscoll (Shooting)

Ffion Bowen (Football)

Disability Sport Award

Evelyn Thomas (Powerlifting)

Jules King (Crossfit)

Marc Evans (Cricket)

Junior (U16) Disability Sport Award

Finnley Walters (Boxing)

Jac Johnson (Gymnastics)

Lewis Crawford (Boccia)

Unsung Hero

John Laugharne (Rugby)

Owen Shanklin (Pool)

Sue Christopher (Surf Lifesaving)

Team Achievement of the Year

Alan Evans, Andrew Evans & Michael John (Short Mat Bowls)

Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club

Pembrokeshire County Bowls Team

Junior (U16) Team Achievement of the Year

Chaos Thunder U12’s Netball Team

Hakin United AFC u16’s

Neyland Yacht Club Junior Sailing Team

Young Volunteer of the Year

Anna May (Tennis & Surfing)

Caitlin Chapman (Netball)

George Richards (Cricket)

Club Organiser

Nadine Tyrrell (Gymnastics)

Nick Shelmerdine (Cricket)

Paul Hudson (Short Mat Bowls)

Club of the Year

Camrose AFC Women & Girls Football

Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club

Strength Academy Wales Cymru

Pictured above: The 2023 Club of the Year winner – Pembroke Cricket Club.

Crime

Man jailed for Pembroke Dock cannabis farm involvement

Published

9 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Madeline Knox

AN ALBANIAN man, Armando Beti, 37, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Nov 15) for his role in producing class B drugs.

Beti, who has prior convictions in 2022 and 2023, was arrested on October 3, 2024, at 10:00am after police found him hiding in a neighbouring building’s attic. The arrest followed a raid on the former Woolworths building on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, where officers discovered three rooms containing 594 cannabis plants. The crop was described as part of a wholesale operation, with an estimated street value of between £64,000 and £196,000, depending on yield.

Using an aerial drone, police tracked Beti as he attempted to escape by crossing two rooftops. He pleaded guilty immediately after his capture, claiming the cannabis farm was already operational when he arrived 10 days earlier. Beti described himself as merely the gardener, tasked with watering the plants, and alleged he was coerced into the role by individuals he met at an immigration detention centre to repay a debt.

Beti’s defence counsel stated: “He is under no illusion regarding the seriousness of his offending. He is eager to start his prison sentence so he can ultimately reunite with his wife in Albania.”

However, Judge Geraint Walters rejected Beti’s claims, citing a pattern of similar excuses in previous cases. The judge noted that Beti had been convicted in Cardiff in 2022 for cultivating over 600 cannabis plants, during which he also claimed to be a coerced gardener with little knowledge of the operation.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Walters said: “People like you need to understand that judges are not completely naive. We know what is going on. We are well aware of the activities of criminal Albanian gangs in this country, as are you.”

Police believe the operation uncovered in Pembroke Dock is linked to a wider network of organised crime targeting rural locations for cannabis cultivation.