Structural concerns at privately owned property prompt extended traffic restriction

CRACKWELL STREET in Tenby is expected to remain closed to vehicles for approximately another eight weeks while work continues at a privately owned property overlooking the harbour.

Scaffolding has been erected along the building, with the closure originally introduced to allow the structure to be inspected and repaired safely.

Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed that the road closure was first communicated prior to a formal public notice being issued on Tuesday (Dec 3).

The council said the restriction applies only to vehicles, with pedestrian access continuing along the narrow harbour-side street.

In a statement to The Herald, a council spokesperson said the property is privately owned and that the authority is not directly involved in the structural works taking place.

The spokesperson said: “The property is privately owned and therefore questions relating to the structural issues and the work being undertaken should be addressed to the owner.”

However, council officers remain in contact with the owner while the road closure remains in place.

The council added that the restriction on vehicular access was extended from Sunday (Feb 23) for a further period of approximately eight weeks.

No formal safety notice or structural assessment has been issued by the council in relation to the building, and the authority said it is not aware of any impact on neighbouring properties.

Officials also confirmed that pedestrian access along Crackwell Street remains open despite the traffic restriction.

A council spokesperson added: “Council officers are in dialogue with the property owner as works continue relating to ongoing road closure requirements.

“The property owner and engineers are working to remove the scaffold at the earliest opportunity and allow the road to be re-opened to vehicles.”

Crackwell Street, which links Tenby’s harbour area with the town centre, is one of the town’s most distinctive streets, lined with colourful buildings overlooking the harbour below.

The closure has temporarily restricted vehicle access along the route while engineers continue work on the property.

Photos: Gareth Davies Photography Tenby

Case sent to Crown Court as magistrates rule offences too serious

A PEMBROKE man who indicated he intends to plead guilty to a series of child sex offences has been sent to the Crown Court for sentencing.

David Lewis, 42, of Ashdale Lane in Pembroke, first appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on January 30, where he indicated guilty pleas to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

A further charge of attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity was also put to him.

Magistrates ruled the case was too serious to be dealt with at their level and committed Lewis to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing.

The offences relate to online communications with what Lewis believed to be a 12-year-old girl, but which was in fact a decoy account.

Prosecutors said Lewis reached out to the account and continued messaging over several days in November.

During the exchanges he falsely claimed to be 20 years old and sent a photograph of a young male who was not him.

When the decoy account indicated the user was in school, Lewis continued to message and asked if he could see the girl in her school uniform. He also suggested she go to the toilet at school and open her shirt so he could see her.

The court heard Lewis also attempted to get the child to watch adult content and asked about meeting either her or a friend.

Police arrested Lewis on January 29 and took him to Haverfordwest police station, where his mobile phone was seized and linked to the Snapchat account used in the communications. During interview he answered “no comment” to police questions.

Further investigation of his devices uncovered indecent images of children. Officers seized seven devices, one of which contained 261 Category A images, 71 Category B images, and 51 Category C images.

Lewis has as one previous conviction for handling stolen goods. He had been on police bail since August 6 while officers investigated the offences.

At a recent hearing the case was adjourned for four weeks, with the judge indicating a suspended sentence may be considered.

Lewis was granted bail and is due to appear again at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on April 9.

Liberal Democrats claim Welsh Labour failing to deliver after 26 years in power

A LEAKED memo reportedly sent by the Prime Minister to his Cabinet has triggered fresh political debate over the future of devolution in Wales.

The memo, attributed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is said to outline how the UK Government should interact with the devolved administrations across the United Kingdom, including Wales.

The details of the document have not been fully published, but critics claim it suggests that the UK Government could seek ways of working around devolved governments in certain circumstances.

The comments prompted a response from Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, who said the row highlights wider tensions within Labour over how devolution is managed.

Ms Dodds said: “After 26 years of Welsh Labour running Wales and a Labour government now in Westminster, the public is watching Labour argue with itself over devolution instead of getting on with the job.

“Trying to bypass the Senedd from Westminster is the wrong approach. But it’s also clear that Welsh Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay have too often failed to deliver the results people in Wales deserve.”

She added that the Welsh Liberal Democrats believe the problem lies not with the devolved institutions themselves but with how they have been run.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will save devolution from Welsh Labour’s record and restore people’s trust in the Welsh Parliament,” she said. “It isn’t the Senedd that’s broken, it’s Welsh Labour’s management of it.”

The Welsh Parliament, commonly known as the Senedd, has held devolved powers over areas such as health, education and transport since it was established following the 1997 referendum on Welsh devolution.

Welsh Labour has been the dominant governing party in Cardiff Bay since the Senedd was created, either governing alone or in cooperation with other parties.

The alleged memo has raised questions about how the UK Government intends to work with devolved administrations, particularly at a time when the same party holds power in both Westminster and Cardiff Bay.

The UK Government has not yet issued detailed comment on the contents of the leaked document.