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Council clears STP consultation

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Unhappy reader: Cllr Sue Perkins

Unhappy reader: Cllr Sue Perkins

AN INVESTIGATION into the conduct of the council’s controversial consultation on the future of secondary education has found no evidence that pupils were pressurised into providing set responses by teaching staff.

The investigation arose from a single complaint.

Instead of allowing the school to carry out its own investigation into the complaint, as is the procedure with other grievances concerning teaching staff, the Council launched its own investigation. When we asked why the council was carrying out the investigation, we were told: “The complaint was in relation to a consultation exercise that the council is running, and Sir Thomas Picton is a school maintained by Pembrokeshire County Council. We are entitled to investigate just as we would investigate a complaint about any other institution or service that the Council is responsible for.”

The council sent out 108 questionnaires to pupils at STP, but only 25 were returned. The subsequent statement regarding the investigation said: “The complaint was that at a school assembly, pupils were given a partial and one-sided presentation on the education review by pupils from the Joint School Councils, after which they were told to fill in the consultation form. No specific members of staff were named in the complaint.”

Extrapolating the figures the council has depended on in reaching its conclusions from the miniscule number of responses received, 6 pupils thought teachers had not given a balanced view of the options, 8 indicated some concern about the process, 10 said they were told they had to fill out the form (a voluntary action) and only 1 pupil said they were not left to fill in the consultation as they wanted.

Sir Thomas Picton has 1,250 pupils.

The council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Safeguarding, Councillor Sue Perkins, said: “We are satisfied that whatever may, or may not, have happened in the school, pupils have responded to the consultation as they wished. Consequently the investigation will go no further, and the consultation forms from the pupils at Sir Thomas Picton School will be analysed in the normal way as part of the Council’s response to the consultation. The council is committed to ensuring that all points of view are heard in the debate on the future of secondary education in the county and to treating different points of view with respect.”

She added that using the lessons learnt from the matter, the CYPRO will be issuing guidance to all schools in the county on best practice in engaging pupils in any future consultation exercises.

However, The Herald has been told by a well-placed source, on condition of anonymity: ‘STP wanted to issue a joint Statement with PCC. However, as the wording could not be agreed PCC went ahead anyway with their statement and THEN informed STP it had been done’.

Cllr Perkins has also responded angrily to a Herald article. In an email sent to other councillors, Cllr Perkins claims The Pembrokeshire Herald said she had ‘lied’ to councillors. We are happy to clarify, as we did in our original article, which it appears Cllr Perkins has not read from the content of her email to fellow councillors, that: ‘An error in information provided to Cabinet member Sue Perkins, the IPPG’s spokesperson on education, meant that she INADVERTENTLY (emphasis added to assist Cllr Perkins) misled councillors at a key meeting that discussed the council’s plans for education in Pembrokeshire’.

We are happy to clarify this matter for Cllr Perkins and invite her in the future to contact us directly with any observations or complaints she has about The Herald’s coverage of her role in the reorganisation of secondary education in Pembrokeshire.

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Community projects celebrate their UK Government funding successes

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A CELEBRATION event brought together 25 community projects that have benefited from more than £1.3million in UK Shared Prosperity Funding in Pembrokeshire.

Pembrokeshire County Council facilitated the development programme for third sector organisations and social enterprises which covered three intervention areas across the County – capital projects, green infrastructure and social action.

The diverse range of projects including community facilities, youth projects, growing sites, environmental awareness action, pet therapy, museums and more.

Project leads came together at HaverHub, Haverfordwest on January 22nd to celebrate and discuss the outcomes of their work, with the majority having exceeded targets with some breath-taking achievements highlighted.

Some key successes already evidenced include the improvement or creation of around 25,764m² of publicly accessible spaces, 934 community events or activities supported and 2228 volunteering opportunities created/ supported, with final reports still to be submitted.

SPF Communities Coordinator Heidi Holland said: “This network of organisations has strengthened and benefited from opportunities to come together, visit other projects, share good practice and willingness to develop collaborative approaches as a legacy moving forward to impact on future generations.”

Among those at the event were Cilrath Acre, Sandy Bear, Cleddau Project, Milford Haven Maritime and Heritage Museum, West Wales Rivers Trust, Point – Fishguard and Goodwick Youth Project and Menter Iaith Sir Benfro.

Cllr Paul Miller, Cabinet Member (SPF Lead), said: “It was great to see such a wide range of projects, from right across Pembrokeshire, who have benefited from the SPF Communities Funding. SPF funding will re-launch in April 2025 and we look forward to being able to support more organisations across the county delivering meaningful improvements in their communities.”

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News

Grandmother jailed for killing baby girl in Withybush Hospital crash

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A GRANDMOTHER has been sentenced to four years in prison for causing the death of eight-month-old Mabli Cariad Hall in a tragic crash outside Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest.

Bridget Carole Curtis, 71, of Begelly, appeared at Swansea Crown Court, where she admitted to causing death by dangerous driving. She was also banned from driving for eight years and must pass an extended test to regain her licence.

Tragic: Baby Mabli Cariad Hall died in 2023 after being hit by a car driven by Bridget Curtis (Image: DPP/WNS)

The devastating incident occurred on June 21, 2023, when Curtis’s white BMW struck Mabli’s pram at the hospital entrance. The baby, described as “bright” and “beautiful,” suffered severe traumatic brain injuries. Despite being airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and later transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Mabli passed away four days later, on June 25.

The court heard that Curtis had been searching for her handbag on the rear seat while the engine was running. Dash cam footage showed her car mounting a kerb and traveling 28 metres at a top speed of 29mph, hitting a tree after striking the pram. Data revealed the throttle was fully open for four-and-a-half seconds, with no brakes applied.

A family shattered

Flowers at the scene of the accident (Image: BBC)

Mabli’s father, Rob Hall, sustained injuries in the crash, which occurred as the family visited the hospital to say their goodbyes to Mr Hall’s mother, who was receiving palliative care. The court heard a heart-wrenching victim impact statement from Mabli’s mother, Gwen Hall, who said: “I don’t know who I am anymore… my heart breaks constantly.” She described watching helplessly as her baby died in her arms.

Mr Hall said Curtis’s actions had “ripped my baby out of my hands,” adding he has replayed the horrific moment “over and over again.”

‘Grossly reckless’ actions

Swansea Crown court where the case was heard (Image: BBC)

Judge Geraint Walters described Curtis’s driving as “grossly reckless,” emphasizing the devastating and irreversible consequences. “Mabli died senselessly and needlessly, and her death has changed lives forever,” he said.

Prosecutor Craig Jones told the court there was no evidence Curtis had suffered a medical episode, but rather what was described as a panic attack. The court heard she was previously of good character, with a clean driving record.

Curtis, who voluntarily surrendered her licence after the crash, expressed deep remorse in a letter read to the court. “I am so deeply sorry,” she wrote. “The sadness and grief will be with me ’til my dying day.”

Her defence barrister, John Dye, said Curtis now suffers from PTSD and depression, with frequent flashbacks of the incident.

In sentencing, Judge Walters acknowledged that Curtis had not intended harm but underscored the gravity of her actions. “You are responsible for the life-changing devastation,” he concluded.

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Crime

Farmer cleared of restraining order breach at Haverfordwest court

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A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been found not guilty of breaching a restraining order after being accused of referencing a protected individual in a Facebook post.

Philip Stoddart, 58, of Monkhill Farm, St Ishmaels, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 20) to face the charge. The prosecution, led by Ann Griffiths on behalf of the crown, alleged that between December 4 and December 13, 2023, Stoddart made a Facebook post that, by inference, referred to a person he was prohibited from contacting under a restraining order imposed by Swansea Crown Court on April 16, 2021.

The restraining order, issued under Section 360 of the Sentencing Act 2020, barred Stoddart from making any form of contact with her.

Prosecutors argued that the Facebook post constituted a breach of the order, contrary to Section 363 of the same act.

Stoddart denied the allegations and entered a not guilty plea during a prior hearing on October 1, 2024.

Magistrates Professor N. Negus, Mr. J. Steadman, and Mrs. J. Morris presided over the trial, which concluded on Monday.

After reviewing the evidence, the bench found Stoddart not guilty, dismissing the case.

The dismissal brings to a close legal proceedings that had been ongoing for over a year.

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