News

Centre petition nears a thousand

Published

9 years ago

January 5, 2016

A PETITION, calling on the council to save the Tenby Avenue Centre from closure, has gathered nearly 900 signatures. It was announced at a recent Cabinet meeting that the Council would be going out to consultation on proposals to close the centre. Speaking at the November 30, Cabinet meeting, Cllr Simon Hancock said: “There are certain reasons why we are focussed on this and one of those is that the building requires a significant investment of around £360,000, it has the lowest occupancy rate and there are a significant number regarded as having low level needs.

“We want to engage and consult with those who use the centre. We want to seek views and opinions. Some of the users have attended the centre for many years. We also need to take into account friendship groups and be sensitive to the impact of any change.” A Facebook page has also been set up to help share the petition and many have commented on the importance of the centre. Gwyneth Woolley said: “As a mum of two adults who use the Avenue Centre, they would be devastated if it was closed and they would miss all the dedicated staff who look after them, it is also a life line for me as a carer.

Please sign the Save Tenby Avenue Centre Petition as we need all the help we can get.” On the petition, there is a letter from Kate Schofield, whose twin sister Maggie has attended the centre for many years, who states: “The reason for my concern with this closure is my twin sister Maggie, she is 53 years old and has attended the centre for most of her adult life. She has Down’s Syndrome.

She is not a ‘customer’ or a ‘client’ she is a human being.” She goes on to say: “Social Services made the Avenue Centre her world and now because there has been a much needed rethink people like Maggie and others of her generation should not have their world ripped apart because it’s the current trend.” Alistair Cameron, Liberal Democrat Candidate for West Carmarthen and South Pembrokeshire for the National Assembly for Wales is also opposed to the plans to close the Avenue Centre in Tenby.

The Avenue Centre is a place where adults with learning needs can socialise, make friends and get involved in activities. Alistair said: “The support provided by the Avenue Centre is just the type of support needed to help its users live a fulfilling life which is as independent as possible. This includes activities within the centre such as arts and crafts, computing, advocacy and drama.

The users can also join groups organised by the centre to take part in activities such as a shopping project, a walking group, a gym, the Colby Lodge Gardening Project and bowling. “Unfortunately, the County Council’s Cabinet paper on the future of the Centre provided no details of what support will be given to the adults who currently use it if it closes.

“There is therefore a real risk that many will not be given anywhere near the level of support and benefit they currently receive. This is why I am very concerned about the possibility of the Avenue Centre being closed. “I accept that Pembrokeshire County Council is in a difficult financial position with a cut in its budget of 2.8%.

However, I would strongly urge the Council to think again and pull back from its threat to close this valuable centre. “I strongly encourage residents to respond to this consultation by making clear their concerns over this closure. They can also express their opposition to the closure through the following on-line petition: https://www.change. org/p/pembrokeshire-county-councils- cabinet-save-tenby-avenue-centrepetition.”

The petition can be found by typing in ‘Save Tenby Avenue Centre’ on the change.org website.

Crime

Pembrokeshire businessman sentenced for £150,000 Covid loan fraud

Published

1 hour ago

June 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Director lied on three loan applications after already receiving funds

A PEMBROKESHIRE businessman who fraudulently claimed £150,000 in Bounce Back Loans during the Covid-19 pandemic has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

ZAHID AFZAL, aged 37, of Albert Street, Haverfordwest, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (June 12) to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

Afzal, the director of mobile phone businesses Phone Bits Ltd and Phones Onn Ltd, had already received £52,500 in legitimate Covid loans when he applied for a further three loans—one for Phone Bits and two for Phones Onn—between May and November 2020.

The court heard that Afzal lied on each of the second-round applications, claiming they were the first he had made and exaggerating the turnover of the businesses. Each loan was for £50,000—the maximum permitted under the government-backed Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

The Insolvency Service, which investigated the case, found that the majority of the £150,000 Afzal fraudulently secured was transferred to his personal accounts, in breach of the loan scheme’s conditions.

David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “It is clear from our investigations that Zahid Afzal felt he could continue to apply time and time again for loans he was not entitled to. His sentencing should serve as a reminder to those contemplating fraudulently pocketing taxpayers’ money to think again.”

Afzal’s companies operated phone shops and kiosks in Carmarthen, Shropshire, Andover, and North Devon. The Insolvency Service confirmed that no wrongdoing was found in relation to the original £20,000 and £32,500 loans he obtained for Phones Onn Ltd and Phone Bits Ltd respectively.

The government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme was introduced to support small and medium-sized businesses during the pandemic, offering loans of up to £50,000 at low interest, guaranteed by the Government. Loans were strictly intended for business use only.

The Insolvency Service has confirmed it is now seeking to recover the £150,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Crime

Police investigate ‘threats to kill’ at Milford Haven home

Published

1 hour ago

June 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Financial dispute believed to be behind incident on Marble Hall Road

POLICE were called to a property in Milford Haven this week after reports that persons were threatening to kill the occupant.

The incident, which took place on Wednesday (June 11), led to a visible police presence at an address on Marble Hall Road. Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that officers are investigating.

In a statement, a police spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating a report of threats to kill made at a property on Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, on Wednesday 11 June. Enquiries are ongoing.”

The Herald understands the incident may be linked to a financial dispute over money owed, although this has not been officially confirmed by police.

No arrests have been announced at this stage.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online or by calling 101.

Crime

Two arrested following affray near Milford Marina

Published

1 hour ago

June 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TWO people were arrested on Friday evening (June 6) following a disturbance reported on Pill Road in Milford Haven.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that officers responded to a report of an affray at around 7:45pm. A man aged 30 and a woman aged 28 were arrested near Milford Marina shortly afterwards. Both have since been released on police bail.

Police clarified that, contrary to some rumours circulating locally, no drugs raid took place in connection with the incident.

The Herald understands that the arrests followed a confrontation involving multiple individuals, but police have not released further details, including the identities of those arrested.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police attended to a report of an affray on Pill Road, Milford Haven at around 7.45pm on Friday 6 June. One man, aged 30, and one woman, aged 28, were arrested on suspicion of affray and have been released on police bail.”

Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.