News

Solva: Concern over County Council’s commitment to village school

Published

10 years ago

November 25, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Solva Village hall: Residents attend meeting about the Save Our School campaign

SOLVA COMMUNITY COUNCIL has expressed grave concerns about the Council’s commitment to retain Solva School and the future arrangements for its running and governance.

In a letter addressed specifically to freshly-minted Cabinet member Myles Pepper and St Davids Councillor David Lloyd but sent to all county councillors, the Community Council has laid bare the extent of the arm-twisting tactics to which the IPPG has resorted in order to railroad its proposals through the Extraordinary Meeting scheduled for Thursday (Nov 26)

The letter states that Council Leader Jamie Adams, who is coincidentally also the head of the Council’s 21st Century Schools Project Board has refused a request made by IPPG councillor Lyn Jenkins that changes to Solva School be subject to further clarification. Jamie Adams is said to have told Cllr Jenkins Solva School will close unless the proposal goes through without amendment.

As the Community Council points out, Cllr Adams’s attitude calls the democratic nature of the consultation into question. Regarding Jamie Adams’s dictatorial attitude, the letter continues to say “that any concerns or issues that were unresolved by the consultation would become a matter for the shadow governing body and that neither he nor the Director would respond to our questions”.

A key area for the Community Council is what it regards as its inequitable treatment by the Leader and Head of Education, as funds are ring fenced for development in Saint Davids while Solva School faces being short of space for its Foundation Phase pupils.

The letter reveals that Cllr Adams, on whose authority he has not made clear, has refused to allow Cllr David Lloyd to read a statement from Cllr Lyn Jenkins because Cllr Lloyd is not a member of Jamie Adams loyal band of placement. Cllr Adams has suggested Cllr Myles Pepper read the statement instead.

The Community Council has pointed out that there has been no consultation as to the status of a VA School in Solva. It goes on to suggest that as the proposal is a material change to the school’s status, a further consultation should take place to examine Solva parents’ areas of concern.

The letter concludes by noting the Community Council’s opinion that “the whole process has been brought into disrepute, with the statements made by the leader suggesting that he is in overall control of this issue and that it is bereft of any democratic principle. The council should start again, consider the county as a whole and come up with a plan which, ensures the development of top-class education for everyone in the county, regardless of where they live, their faith or their age!”

As the School will be changing from maintained to Voluntary Aided status, it is not clear whether the Council is aware of, or has chosen to yet again ignore the regulations governing that process published by the Welsh Government.

The relevant section of the compulsory guidance relate that it is not possible for VA, VC or foundation schools with a designated religious character to become a community school through a change of category proposal. Similarly community schools cannot become VA or VC schools with a designated religious character.

Community schools are not permitted to have a religious character and no alteration may be made to a maintained school that changes its designated religious character or causes it to acquire or lose a designated religious character.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

11 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

11 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

11 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.