News

Pembroke: Bus driver hit and killed woman ‘he failed to see’

Published

10 years ago

November 25, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Picture by Mike Hillen/Herald

AN EXPERIENCED bus driver failed to see a pedestrian using a crossing in the centre of Pembroke and killed a woman “liked by all and loved by many.”

There was still no explanation why driver Stuart Heeps did not see Mrs Margaret Hanks until it was too late even though she would have been in full view for at least seven seconds.

Heeps, aged 55, of Appley Terrace, Pembroke Dock, today admitted causing death by careless driving and was jailed for 14 months, suspended for two years.

He was also banned from driving for three years and told to take an extended driving test before getting his licence back.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Heeps had been a specialist driver in the army and a bus driver for the last nine years.

Brian Simpson, prosecuting, said on March 7 Mrs Hanks, aged 75, had been walking along Northgate Street by the Mill Pond Bridge. She crossed the road on a pedestrian crossing and had almost reached the pavement on the far side when Heeps drove into her without braking or swerving.

The crash was caught by CCTV cameras and footage of the impact was shown to the court, with the agreement of Mrs Hanks’ family.

Heeps had been driving at between 17mph and 21mph in a 30mph area and did not react at all to Mrs Hanks being in front of him.

She suffered “catastrophic” head injuries and was declared dead while in an ambulance at the scene.

Heeps became so distraught he had to be comforted by passers by.

He said at the time, “She came from no-where.”

Mr Simpson said Heeps should have been able to see Mrs Hanks for 79 metres after turning into Northgate Street. He told police he had checked the exit of a car park and “scanned around” but did not see Mrs Hanks until she was on the ground.

Heeps’ barrister, Jonathan Tarrant, said he fully accepted his responsibility for the death of Mrs Hanks and had told him, “It was my fault. It was a personal failing.”

Heeps himself, added Mr Tarrant, would welcome an explanation as to why he had not seen Mrs Hanks even when she must have been right in front of his bus.

The court heard a victim impact statement from Mrs Heeps’ husband of 55 years, Derek. He said his wife had been “full of life,” a woman who would sing at the top of her voice at Haven Church, Pembroke.

He said he had lost the will to carry on with his own life and that his wife was deeply missed by her son Richard and daughter Marie, and her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Judge Huw Davies said Heeps’ driving had come “not far short” of dangerous and not just careless. There had been plenty of time for Heeps to see that someone was using the crossing but he had not reacted at all “and you just knocked her down.”

“This was a dreadful accident for which you bear the entire blame. Even you cannot explain why you did not react as you must have done times without number over the years.

“For one reason or another you allowed your attention to wander. It would have been simplicity itself to have braked and allowed her to continue crossing the road.

“The consequences have been desperately sad and Mrs Hanks’ husband is a very different man to the one he was before losing his wife.

“Margaret Hanks was liked by all and loved by many and they have struggled to cope with an irreplaceable loss.”

*Judge Davies criticised the Crown Prosecution Service for the way the case had been prepared. It was sub standard, he said, particularly for a case involving a fatality.

He said he did not criticise Mr Simpson but those in the CPS who “hid behind his presence while he took the flak.”

It appeared, he added, that the CPS took an early indication of a guilty plea as an excuse to stop doing any more work.

Farming

Basic Payment Scheme 2025 balance paid to 95% of Welsh farmers

Published

8 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Final year of BPS as transition to Sustainable Farming Scheme begins

The WELSH Government says more than ninety-five per cent of farm businesses have now received their full or balance payment under the final year of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), ahead of the introduction of the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in 2026.

Announcing the update on Friday (Dec 12), Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, confirmed that over 15,400 Welsh farm businesses have been paid £68.7m. This comes on top of the £160m issued in BPS advance payments since 14 October.

Final round of BPS payments

The Basic Payment Scheme, which has been the backbone of farm support in Wales for a decade, provides direct income support to help farmers plan and manage their businesses. BPS 2025 marks the last year in which full BPS payments will be made before the scheme begins to be phased out.

The Cabinet Secretary said officials would “continue to process the outstanding BPS 2025 claims as soon as possible,” adding that all but the most complex cases should be completed by 30 June 2026.

Payments issued today represent the main balance due to farmers following earlier advances, giving many businesses the cash flow they need during the quieter winter period—traditionally a challenging time in the agricultural calendar.

Shift to Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026

From 1 January 2026, the Welsh Government will begin rolling out the Sustainable Farming Scheme, a major reform to how agricultural support is delivered. The SFS will reward farmers for environmental outcomes such as habitat management, carbon reduction and biodiversity improvements, alongside continued food production.

The government has argued that the new scheme is essential to meeting Wales’ climate and nature targets while ensuring long-term resilience in the sector. However, the transition has been closely watched by farming unions, who have raised concerns about the administrative burden, income stability, and the speed at which BPS is being phased out.

Mr Irranca-Davies reaffirmed the government’s stance, saying: “This government is steadfastly committed to supporting Welsh farmers to sustainably produce quality food. This is demonstrated today in our payment of the BPS 2025 balance payments and will continue throughout the transition period.”

Sector reaction

Farming unions are expected to scrutinise the detail of today’s announcement, particularly around remaining unpaid cases. Last year, late payments led to frustration in parts of the sector, with unions calling for greater certainty as the industry faces rising input costs, supply chain pressures and continued market volatility.

The move to the SFS remains one of the most significant agricultural policy changes in Wales since devolution. Ministers insist the shift is designed to support both food production and environmental stewardship, while critics warn the transition must not undermine farm viability—especially for family-run livestock farms that dominate rural areas such as Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

What happens next

Farmers still awaiting their BPS 2025 balance will continue to be processed “as soon as possible”, the Welsh Government said. Officials will also publish updated guidance on the Sustainable Farming Scheme ahead of its launch.

The coming year will therefore become a pivotal moment for Welsh agriculture, as the long-standing BPS framework—which provided over £200m annually to Welsh farmers—makes way for a new results-based model that will shape the industry for decades to come.

News

Improved train timetable launches across Wales

Published

8 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Extra services, later trains and boosted Sunday routes as £800m rail investment takes effect

An improved train timetable has come into force across Wales today (Sunday, 14 December), with Transport for Wales (TfW) introducing more frequent services, stronger connections and additional late-night trains on key routes.

The winter timetable update brings one of the most substantial uplifts in recent years on the Wales and Borders network, forming part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing £800 million investment in brand-new rolling stock and reliability improvements.

More trains and later journeys

Among the upgrades, passengers will see:

A new hourly additional service between Chester and Wrexham, effectively doubling the frequency on one of the region’s busiest commuter corridors.
An extra train in each direction every day on the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Shrewsbury.
Three later last trains from Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil, supporting shift workers and the night-time economy.
A new hourly Sunday service on the Coryton line in Cardiff.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said improved connectivity was “absolutely vital” for economic growth and passenger confidence.

“These changes will make a real difference to customers, who will benefit from more services and greater connectivity,” he said. “This has been made possible by our £800m investment in brand-new trains for the Wales and Borders network.

“We will see the doubling of trains between Wrexham and Chester and a later service from the capital to valley communities. In South Wales, people will continue to benefit from simpler, fairer fares through TfW’s Pay As You Go service, and its forthcoming introduction in North Wales will help even more passengers access easy, transparent pricing.”

Full details of the updated timetable are available at: tfw.wales/service-status/timetables

News

Wrecked guard boat still under watch off north Pembrokeshire coast

Published

8 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Tidal changes monitored after dramatic early-morning rescue

A GUARD VESSEL that ran aground off the north Pembrokeshire coast in the early hours of Thursday morning (Dec 11) remains under close observation as tides continue to shift.

The Resolute, a 24-metre guard boat understood to be working for an offshore wind project off the Irish coast, had been sheltering in worsening weather when she was pushed onto rocks near Aber Hywel, Dinas, shortly after 3:25am.

Four crew members were onboard when the vessel grounded in rough seas and a strong southerly wind.

Major rescue effort launched

The crew issued an emergency alert, prompting a full multi-agency response.
A coastguard rescue helicopter, both Fishguard RNLI lifeboats, and coastguard teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene.

Turbulent air made a winch rescue impossible and Fishguard’s all-weather lifeboat was unable to get close due to cliffs and submerged hazards. The inshore lifeboat was instead deployed to attempt a transfer in extremely challenging conditions.

During the evacuation, the third crew member descending to the vessel’s life raft slipped, fell into the water and was swept away. Speaking afterwards, RNLI crew member Cedwyn Rogers said the team immediately switched into “hyper-focused” mode as training took over.

Despite the casualty drifting, helm Warren Bean — a volunteer with more than 30 years’ RNLI experience — manoeuvred the lifeboat alongside, allowing crew to haul the man to safety. The remaining crew member was then retrieved, and all four were taken aboard the all-weather lifeboat and brought ashore to Fishguard.

All rescue units were later stood down.

Vessel still stranded and taking on water

The Herald understands that the Resolute remained aground on the rocks yesterday and was taking on water. The crew were later assisted back onboard by a local fisherman to assess damage on behalf of the vessel’s operators.

Management representatives from Ireland were due to arrive to draw up a recovery plan, including arrangements to remove fuel to prevent any potential environmental impact.

Further inspections have been taking place today as the team evaluates the next steps.

Coastguard statement

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “At 3.28am on Thursday morning, HM Coastguard was made aware of a vessel with four persons onboard aground on rocks at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. RNLI lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene. The four people aboard were rescued by lifeboat, and the helicopter was stood down. The vessel, which is still aground, is being monitored as tidal conditions change.”