News

Turf cutting at new Pembroke learning campus

Published

9 years ago

July 28, 2016

Tom Sinclair

Participants pictured at the turf cutting ceremony at the Pembroke site.

WORK has officially started on the new 1,463 place 11-18 secondary school and autism centre for 30 learners at Pembroke Learning Campus.

Pembrokeshire County Council Leader, Jamie Adams, performed the official turf cutting at the site.

He was accompanied by Chris Stevens from contractor Bouygues UK and Iwan Davies of property and construction consultancy Gleeds, together with representatives from the school including pupils.

Councillor Adams said: “This is a flagship scheme and – as part of the 21^st Century Schools programme – the largest school project undertaken to date by this Council.

“It will create a learning environment designed to improve the delivery of education in the 21^st Century and will address some of the accommodation issues on the Pembroke site.”

Mr Stevens, managing director of Bouygues UK’s Central, West and Wales region, said: “We are delighted that work has begun on creating this modern, vibrant learning environment that will inspire generations of local children for years to come.”

Project manager for Gleeds, Mr Davies, added: “It’s great to see construction beginning on Pembroke Learning Campus.

“This is a unique project and we’re working very closely with the wider project team to ensure that collaboratively, we create an inspirational and versatile learning campus that best suits the needs of the local community.”

The ceremony was also witnessed by the chair of the governing body, Brian Pratt; headteacher Frank Ciccotti; teacher Rachel Edwards and construction director, Justin Moore.

Also present were pupils Lewys and Ethan Kettle, Joseph Wiggins, Ben James and Chelsea Smythe.

The school is due to move to the new building in September, 2018, when work will commence to demolish the old school and form the new external areas.

All work is scheduled for completion by May, 2019.

The scheme is part of a significant programme of investment being planned by the County Council as part of its £149 million 21^st Century Schools Capital Programme.

The Council underwent a rigorous five point business case process in order to gain approval for 50 per cent match-funding from the Welsh Government.

Charity

Christmas jumper fundraiser raises £360 for youth counselling

Published

13 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A CHRISTMAS Jumper Day fundraiser held by staff at W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd has raised £360 for the Megan’s Starr Foundation, helping fund vital mental health support for young people.

The money, presented to the charity by Carla and Liam, will pay for 10 professional counselling sessions for young people who are struggling and in urgent need of support.

The Megan’s Starr Foundation said the sessions provide a safe space for young people to talk, be listened to, and feel supported at a time when it matters most.

In a statement, the charity thanked the firm and its staff for getting involved, adding that access to timely support can be life changing and can help young people realise they are not alone.

The foundation said it was grateful to everyone at W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd who took part, describing the donation as one that will have a real and lasting impact on local young people and their mental health.

News

Investigation launched after man found dead near Carmarthen railway line

Published

13 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man whose body was found in a field close to the railway track near Carmarthen railway station.

Emergency services were called to the area at just after 8:30am on Saturday (Jan 10). Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police attended alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service.

Witnesses reported seeing police and ambulance vehicles outside the station’s main entrance, with officers also in an adjacent field near a railway bridge.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

A police spokesperson said enquiries are ongoing and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.

No further details, including the man’s age or identity, have been released.

Crime

Former Gwent detective would have been sacked after off duty assault conviction

Published

14 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Ex officer found guilty of gross misconduct following Devon incident and magistrates court conviction

A FORMER Gwent Police detective sergeant has been found guilty of gross misconduct after being convicted of assaulting a man while off duty in Devon.

Joanne Marston resigned from the force shortly before an accelerated misconduct hearing was due to begin at Cwmbran on Monday. The panel went ahead in her absence.

The hearing was told the incident happened in February 2024 while Marston was off duty in Devon. She was later arrested and charged with common assault, and was convicted at Exeter Magistrates’ Court in March last year.

A professional standards investigation concluded she had breached the police standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct. The panel upheld the allegation and found it amounted to gross misconduct.

Had she remained a serving officer, the panel ruled she would have been dismissed without notice.

Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Townsend, who chaired the hearing, said the former officer’s actions were “shocking and unacceptable” and warned that such behaviour damages public confidence in policing.

Marston will now be placed on the College of Policing barred list, preventing her from serving with any police force in the UK.