News

Prince of Wales application deferred

Published

8 years ago

July 5, 2016

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THE MANAGEMENT of the Prince of Wales night club in Tenby will find out this week if its application for extended hours has been granted.

It was heard at a meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Licensing Sub Committee on Friday, July 1.

The committee were asked to determine the application but could not reach a decision.

The club currently opens to 3am but the owner, Mr Mark Thomson, wants to extend opening hours for some nights to 4am in order to compete with The Sands night club in Saundersfoot.

Mark Thomson said: “The Prince of Wales is a small night club with a wide ranging customer base. The Prince of Wales is open to 3am and The Sands in Saundersfoot is open to 4am.

“Most of them don’t stay to the end and are attracted to the presence of an extra hour.

“The decision is assisted by taxi drivers as this will provide extra business for them and the additional hour will enable us to offer the same.

“We have applied for this additional hour but the manager will make a decision to open past 3am if it is viable.

“The proposed variation is to increase the flexibility of the premises whilst reducing crime and disorder, by allowing customers to gradually disperse by extending licensable hours.”

However, there have been a number of complaints regarding noise, drunken behaviour and violence.

Tenby Town Clerk, Mr Andrew Davies said: “Upper Frog Street is a narrow street with a number of business premises.

“Issues regarding The Prince of Wales has been raised on several occasions by residents and we always encourage them to address the licensing authority.

“People were not fully aware of this application so the Town Council informed residents that this was coming before the council.

“It is evident that there are problems and with the volume of complaints received there is a situation that is not amenable to residents in the area.

“There are problems on the streets outside and when people have been to a night club, when they go outside their perception of noise levels is not the same.

“There is a distinct correlation between the hours of the premise and anti-social behaviour and this will only be extended if the application is granted.”

Objecting to the plans, Mr Richard Williams said Upper Frog Street was ‘like the wild west’ and that he and his wife had been woken at 2.30am by the sound of a woman screaming adding that they could not get back to sleep as they were worried for the life of somebody.

Mrs Lyn Field-Thomas said that she once spotted a woman urinating on her front door whilst police were watching.

She said: “If they stay open until 4, it is not fair to the people who live there. It is a nightmare in Upper Frog Street and I dread the summer coming.”

Mr Thomson added that there were no objections from the police and said they were responsible operators that would not do anything to jeopardise themselves or others.

Crime

Former Pembroke Dock mayor admits child abuse image charges

Published

7 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AT Swansea Crown Court on Friday (May 10), former Pembroke Dock Mayor Terry Judkins has pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children.

Judkins, who held office as mayor from May 2021 until his resignation in November 2021, faced multiple charges related to child abuse images.

The court heard that Judkins was charged with creating two Category C indecent images of children and possessing a prohibited image of a child during a period spanning from September 27, 2018, to August 5, 2021.

The 55-year-old admitted to these offences in a hearing that has drawn considerable attention.

However, Judkins denied charges related to possessing extreme pornographic images that depicted bestiality, covering a timeline from January 2010 to August 2021.

Prosecutor Helen Randall indicated that the Crown would pursue a trial on these allegations given Judkins’ not guilty plea.

Additional charges against Judkins include making 52 Category A indecent images of children within the same dates as his earlier admissions.

The former mayor has been granted extra time to consider his plea on this charge, with a future court appearance scheduled for a later date.

This case has cast a shadow over Judkins’ brief tenure as mayor. He resigned last year citing personal reasons and extra work commitments.

News

Welsh rally star eyeing second British championship success

Published

14 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Tom Sinclair

OSAIN PRYCE is eyeing his second British Rally Championship (BRC) title after a recording a superb victory in the Severn Valley Stages.

The Welsh star and co-driver Rhodri Evans finished 20 seconds ahead of Irish driver William Creighton, with championship leader Chris Ingram claiming third place.

The result left Pryce 15 points adrift of Ingram after two rounds and boosted his chances of adding to his 2022 British title success.

Pryce was excellent in his Ford Fiesta Rally2, wowing the sizeable crowds who lined iconic stages such as Hafren Sweet Lamb and Myherin.

The Welshman established an early lead over Ingram before withstanding a charge by Creighton to claim his first BRC victory since Rally Yorkshire in 2022.

“It’s a big relief – I’m so happy to get the win,” Pryce said. “We had a dodgy couple of stages at the end, and to be honest, it was so slippy, but I drove at a pace where I was comfortable.

“I did lose some time, which in the end wasn’t too bad, but we certainly had some hairy moments just trying to keep it on the road. Credit to everyone who’s got me here. Top job from Rhodri too – that’s his first-ever win!

While Ingram currently leads the standings by four points from Creighton, the Irishman could be the biggest threat to Pryce’s title hopes.

He is still getting to grips with his new Ford Fiesta Rally2 car, but has recorded back-to-back second place finishes to force his way into contention.

Bettors in Creighton’s homeland have backed their compatriot to emerge victorious this season, forcing bookmakers to cut his odds to win the title.

Several of the best Irish betting sites also make him the favourite to win the upcoming Jim Clark Rally in Scotland later this month.

However, Pryce will fancy his chances of claiming another victory as he strives to follow up his impressive 2022 British title success.

The Welshman won four of the seven events that season to clinch top spot by an emphatic 19-point margin from Keith Cronin.

With two of the final four rallies of the season set to be staged in Wales, Pryce could be a good bet to upset the odds over the next few months.

He has previously won Rali Ceredigion and the Cambrian Rally, which should give him the confidence he needs to secure another British title.

Farming

King Charles III is new Royal Welsh Agricultural Society patron

Published

15 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Tom Sinclair

KING CHARLES III has continued a royal tradition by agreeing to become the new patron of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS).

As Prince of Wales, he consistently supported the RWAS, having visited the Royal Welsh Show seven times from 1969 to 2019 and he opened the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in 2001.

“To have the monarch as our patron is very special,” said Aled Rhys Jones, RWAS chief executive. “We are immensely grateful to His Majesty for continuing his support to the society.

“He is a true champion of rural matters and has a deep affection for Wales. His support as patron will be a great endorsement to the work we do in promoting Welsh agriculture.”

The decision follows a review of the patronages of the late Queen, the former Prince of Wales and the former Duchess of Cornwall. The letter from Buckingham Palace to the RWAS read: ‘His Majesty would be delighted to accept’.

The Queen was patron of the RWAS for 70 years and showed great support. Her support reflected her long-lasting interest in Welsh agriculture, horticulture and rural affairs.

The Queen’s first official role with the RWAS was as Princess Elizabeth in 1947, when she was honorary president. She undertook a triumphant tour of the showground during a visit to the Royal Welsh Show, held in Carmarthen.

The late Queen had followed her late father, George VI, and her grandfather, George V in accepting the patronage.

King George V first became patron as Prince of Wales in 1907 and formally as King in 1911. His Silver Challenge Cup for the best Welsh Cob then became known as the George Prince of Wales Challenge Cup, one of the most famous cups presented at the Royal Welsh Show annually.