PEMBROKESHIRE’S Nestlé bottling plant was given the once over by local MP Henry Tufnell this week when he visited the Waters & Premium Beverages bottling site in Princes Gate near Narberth.

The visit marked Tufnell’s first visit to the factory since his appointment as MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire in July, 2024.

He met factory manager Matthew Faulkner, and engaged with staff, learning about the company’s commitment to stewarding water resources and helping to regenerate local water cycles.  He also learned about the plant’s operations, sustainability initiatives and its on-going commitment to local employment.

“It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Tufnell to our factory,” commented Matthew Faulkner, “as his visit provided a wonderful opportunity to introduce our team and showcase our factory and what we do.

“We take pride in being part of the local community and are committed to supporting local initiatives and helping create a positive water impact locally.”

The workforce at the bottling site consists of more than 120 employees, including specialists in production, warehouse operations, quality, safety, and water management, with the majority residing within a 20-mile radius of the factory.

A UK banking company’s appeal against a national park refusal to allow the siting of a cash pod in Tenby’s conservation area, close to its historic town walls, has been dismissed.

The HSBC application for a standalone community cash pod at Tenby’s Five Arches pay and display car park was refused by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners last summer.

The proposed site – in the town’s conservation area – would have been directly opposite St Teilo’s Church, a Grade-II-listed building, and in close proximity to Tenby’s Town Walls, a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

A planning officer report at the time, recommending refusal, said: “The site is therefore highly sensitive. The proposed cash pod would be located within the north-eastern corner of the car park.

“Given its prominent location and its impact upon important views of Tenby Town Walls and the listed Church, and its failure to preserve or enhance the appearance of Tenby’s Conservation Area, it is considered that the cash pod is inappropriate in terms of its siting and design.”

The application was refused on those grounds.

Since the refusal, an appeal was lodged with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), along with an application for costs.

Members of the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee meeting of April 9 heard the appeal had been dismissed.

Following a site visit earlier this year, an inspector appointed by Welsh Ministers dismissed the appeal, saying: “Due to its design, position and orientation, the CCP would be a prominent and unsympathetic structure that would be particularly noticeable from the seafront approach and partially obscure views of the church, although its windows would likely remain visible.

“Although it would be less prominent in views from the town centre approach, it would visibly protrude forward of the church’s front elevation.  This would introduce a discordant feature into the streetscene and visual clutter into the setting of the church and town walls when viewed in both directions along South Parade.

“Furthermore, this intrusion would draw the eye to the CCP and detract from how the three historic assets are experienced together.”

The inspector disagreed with claims there would be a neutral impact, saying: “Rather it would make a negative contribution to the setting of the Church and Town Walls, causing harm to their significance, and fail to preserve the character and appearance of the CA.”

The related application for costs was also dismissed.

At the April meeting, officers told members: “Hopefully the applicants will come back with a better application that doesn’t sit next to a listed church.”

WELSH CONSERVATIVE Member of the Senedd, Russell George, has been suspended from the party’s group in Cardiff Bay after being charged with gambling-related offences.

Craig Williams, former MP for Montgomeryshire has also been charged.

In a statement issued on Monday morning (Apr 14), the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS, said: “Having been informed that Russell George MS has been charged with gambling related offences, I have taken the decision to suspend him from the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd.

“The suspension is a neutral act pending the outcome of the justice process.

“There will be no further comment at this time.”

Mr George, who has represented Montgomeryshire in the Senedd since 2011, previously stepped back from the Welsh Conservative shadow cabinet in 2024 after it emerged he was under investigation by the Gambling Commission over alleged bets on the timing of the next UK General Election.

At the time, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies confirmed that Mr George had received a letter from the Gambling Commission and said: “Russell George has stepped back from the Welsh Conservative shadow cabinet while these investigations are ongoing.

“All other members of the Welsh Conservative Group have confirmed that they have not placed any bets.”

Mr George also issued a public statement in 2024, saying: “Whilst I will cooperate fully with the Gambling Commission, it would not be appropriate to comment on this independent and confidential process.

“I have stepped back from the Shadow Cabinet while the investigation is ongoing. I have done this as I do not wish to be an unnecessary distraction to their work.”

The latest development marks a significant escalation, with the Gambling Commission’s investigation apparently resulting in formal charges.

No further details of the specific charges have yet been released, and it is not known when Mr George is due to appear in court.

Mr George’s constituency, Montgomeryshire, has also been in the spotlight recently after Craig Williams—formerly the area’s MP—was himself investigated for placing bets on the date of the General Election. Mr Williams had the Conservative whip withdrawn in Westminster as a result.

Ellie Reeves MP, Chair of the Labour Party, commenting on the Gambling Commission charging 15 people, including Russell George, Member of the Senedd for Montgomeryshire, and Craig Williams, former MP for Montgomeryshire, with offences relating to betting on the General Election, said: “This is a very serious development. The British people will expect that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing faces the full force of the law.

“Kemi Badenoch must make crystal clear that anyone found guilty of using insider information to cheat the system to try to enrich themselves has no place in the Conservative Party. No ifs, no buts.

“Labour is turning the page on 14 years of Conservative chaos and scandal and we’re turning our country round through our Plan for Change. Only Labour can be trusted to deliver security for working people and the renewal Britain needs.”

The Herald will provide updates as the case develops.