News
Milford Haven: No planning application made for Blackbridge
THE COMPANY behind a controversial scheme to burn biomass fuel, including waste, at a site in Milford Haven has yet to submit a planning application, The Herald can reveal.
At a public presentation in Milford Haven last month Egnedol, claimed that the pyrolysis plant would begin operation in summer 2017. However, a letter from the Monitoring Officer for Pembrokeshire County Council’s Planning Department has disclosed that: ‘A planning application will not be submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council. ‘The proposal is for Development of National Significance and therefore the application will be made to the Welsh Government. No application to Welsh Government has been made as yet’.
In neighbouring Carmarthenshire, an application for a smaller pyrolysis plant was rejected by the County Council’s planning committee, after it emerged that the technology being used was untested, there had been no proper assessment of the potential for pollution, and that the company promoting the scheme had never constructed such a scheme before submitting its plans. Egnedol has claimed success with its technology elsewhere, including in the UK, but has never produced a single jot of evidence to support its claims.
In relation to pyrolysis plants being used to generate electricity, four applications in England have been granted, three rejected, while one was withdrawn shortly before an appeal hearing relating to its refusal. However, no permit applications had been made in relation to the plants’ capacity to burn waste, and that all the applications for those permits – in both Scotland and England – had been pulled around the same time. No other plants of this type are, therefore, either built or operational in the UK.
Judge says majority verdict may be accepted after jurors report deadlock at Swansea Crown Court
A JURY has been told to continue its deliberations in the trial of a Milford Haven man accused of historic child sex offences after indicating it could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Thomas Kirk, aged 50, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, is on trial at Swansea Crown Court accused of oral rape and sexual assault of a child. The offences are alleged to have taken place in Pembrokeshire between 2007 and 2009, when the complainant was aged between thirteen and fifteen.
At midday on Wednesday (Dec 18), the jury returned to court to say they were unable to reach a verdict on which all jurors agreed.
Judge Paul Thomas KC told the jury that while he would be prepared to accept a majority verdict if at least ten jurors were in agreement, he still wanted them to continue deliberations in an effort to reach a unanimous decision.
The jury was then sent back out to continue considering its verdict.
The trial continues.
DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for information to help locate a man from the Ammanford area who is wanted in connection with a harassment offence.
Alan Tait, aged 69, is being sought by officers as part of an ongoing investigation.
Police believe he may currently be in the Derbyshire area, but say he also has links to South Wales and Gwent.
Anyone with information that could assist officers in locating him is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.
THE BLUESTONE FOUNDATION, the charitable arm of Bluestone National Park Resort, has marked a significant year of community investment after raising and distributing more than £60,000 to support projects across Pembrokeshire in 2025.
Run in partnership with the Pembrokeshire Association for Voluntary Services (PAVS), the Foundation has continued to expand its reach, backing a wide range of charities and community organisations working at the heart of the county.
During the year, the Foundation’s Community Fund delivered three rounds of grants, supporting projects focused on wellbeing, inclusion, creativity, and environmental protection.
Environmental organisations including BlueGreen Cymru, Greener Growth CIC and Sea Trust Wales received funding, alongside wellbeing and inclusion groups such as ASD Family Help, Get the Boys a Lift, No Shame Foundation and Silbers CIC.
Creative, youth and heritage organisations including Little Grebe Creative CIC, Pater Hall Community Trust, Milford Haven Community Society, Urdd Gobaith Cymru and VC Gallery also benefited.
In total, £32,968.57 was awarded through the Community Fund in 2025.
Fundraising events held at the Blue Lagoon Water Park generated a further £19,500 in unrestricted income. Under the Foundation’s funding model, 75 per cent of that money is passed directly to charities, with the remaining 25 per cent placed into a flexible fund to support causes that fall outside the Community Fund’s criteria.
Flexible funding totalling £4,500 was used this year to support initiatives including Sport Pembrokeshire’s Fit and Fed project, refurbishment work at Martletwy Young Farmers Club hall, Bloomfield Bus and Green Dragon Bus services, and Nacro’s Christmas appeal, providing food, warm clothing and essential items to people in crisis.
The Foundation also supported the PATCH Christmas Toy Appeal, encouraging staff and visitors at Bluestone to donate gifts for families referred to the charity during the festive period.
In addition, more than one hundred fundraising events across the region were supported through prize donations from the Foundation, including over 200 family passes to the Blue Lagoon Water Park, 32 overnight spa breaks and nine Bluestone holiday breaks.
Marten Lewis, Chair of the Bluestone Foundation said: “This year’s achievements reflect the heart of who we are at Bluestone. The Foundation exists to uplift the people and places that make Pembrokeshire such a special community.
“The impact of our partners, grant recipients and fundraising efforts in 2025 shows what is possible when we work together, and we are proud to see the difference it continues to make across the county.”
Looking ahead to 2026, the Foundation has confirmed continued support for Sport Pembrokeshire’s Fit and Fed project and will act as gold sponsor of the DPJ Foundation’s Macchu Picchu trek.
Five further Blue Lagoon fundraising events are already scheduled between February and August, supporting Local Cadets, Belles Story, Martletwy YFC Hall, Blue Horizons Coastal Adventure and Friends of Portfield School.
Tickets for those events are available via the Bluestone Foundation’s Eventbrite page.
For more information about the Bluestone Foundation, visit the Bluestone website.
Community gathers to remember Corrina Baker
Lanterns and balloons released in emotional acts of remembrance FAMILY, friends and members of the local community came together to...
Teenager charged following rape allegation at Saundersfoot nightclub
Incident reported at Sands Nightclub in early hours of Sunday DYFED-POWYS POLICE is investigating an allegation of rape following an...
Milford Haven man jailed after drunken attack on partner and police officers
A MILFORD HAVEN man who launched a violent drunken assault on his partner before attacking two police officers has been...
Court hears historic child sex abuse claim emerged after ‘tarot reading’
Judge reminds jurors there is no standard timeframe for victims to come forward as trial reaches final stage A JURY...
Rape allegation investigated at Saundersfoot nightclub
Police appeal for witnesses after incident reported in early hours of Sunday DYFED-POWYS POLICE are investigating an allegation of rape...
Milford ground worker denies historic child sex abuse charges at Crown Court
Accused tells jury claims did not happen as trial hears evidence about alcohol use and alleged controlling behaviour A MAN...
Three inmates deny murder of Lola James killer at Wakefield prison
THREE prisoners have denied murdering child killer Kyle Bevan, who was found dead in his cell at HMP Wakefield. Bevan,...
Dyfed-Powys Police reassure communities after Bondi Beach mass shooting
Officers monitor local tensions following terror attack on Jewish event in Sydney DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued reassurances to communities across...
Search under way in Pembroke Dock for missing man Lee
Coastguard, RNLI and rescue helicopter launched as fears grow he entered the water A MAJOR search and rescue operation is...
Search under way in Pembroke as man reported missing
Rescue teams battle worsening weather ahead of amber rain warning A MULTI-AGENCY search and rescue operation is under way in...
-
Crime21 hours ago
Milford Haven man jailed after drunken attack on partner and police officers
-
News4 days agoDyfed-Powys Police launch major investigation after triple fatal crash
-
Crime3 days ago
Man sent to Crown Court over historic indecent assault allegations
-
Crime2 days agoMan charged with months of coercive control and assaults
-
Crime19 hours ago
Teenager charged following rape allegation at Saundersfoot nightclub
-
Crime5 days ago
Man spared jail after baseball bat incident in Milford Haven
-
Crime3 days agoMilford Haven man admits multiple offences after A477 incident
-
Crime2 days agoWoman ‘terrified in own home’ after ex breaches court order
Penny Joubert
March 14, 2016 at 7:48 am
What IS going on then? This company has virtually no assets and the whole set up was conducted in a very suspect way. Why would a company say they had bought a large piece of land and intended this horrendous development based on unsound financial processes and weird and wonderful untruths? There was talk of foreign investors etc etc and a multi million pound purchase investment before planning application had even been submitted!! Scratching the surface of this proposed project left one feeling that it was a very elaborate hoax, but one which could, if effected, have disastrous impact on the local area and environment.
This project should be investigated to locate the true meaning of its function. Money laundering? Distraction whilst something more distasteful happens elsewhere? Some investigative journalism wouldn’t go amiss.
Peter Warrender
March 14, 2016 at 10:27 am
There is so much scientific evidence on-line to the health risks and dangers of Biomass plants world wide. I hope the proposals of these polluting, forest destroying monstrosities are dropped. We should demand truly renewable clean energy projects/jobs for Pembrokeshire.
Flashbang
March 14, 2016 at 11:06 am
Who in PCC sold them the land so cheaply? There are a lot of questions that need answers and Jamie Adams should be held accountable as he was leader when the sale went through.
Owen Llewellyn
March 15, 2016 at 4:44 am
The whole scheme is a festering lump of something that could be politely described as male bovine biomass.
Mayday
March 15, 2016 at 9:33 pm
The land was sold by the Welsh Government not PCC. Designating the site as National Significance unfortunately puts the planning decision with them too. Objectors should be lobbying our current MPs and future AMs to make sure they are aware of concerns. Orthios have similar projects proposed for Anglesey and Port Talbot and a similar inexperience backed by Chinese investment funds. If these biomass plants are such great things why aren’t they being built in China, Jordan (Egnedol funds source) or Greece/Morocco (source of wood chips). I’m sure these places need electricity, cheese and prawns too. A cynic might suggest the developers are just looking to extract a large lump of EU funding before collapsing.
car Lyric
July 19, 2017 at 12:50 pm
How adorable
isai fritz
October 8, 2025 at 9:22 pm
Looking forward to your next post! Watch equidia quinté — live horse racing, Quinté+ analysis, pronostics, replays, and results. HD streaming with expert commentary and a comprehensive programme guide.