News

Badger sett halts developer’s vehicles

Published

9 years ago

August 19, 2016

Disturbed: Badger sett

BUILDING work at a controversial housing development in St Florence has been curtailed following the discovery that developers had broken the law protecting badger setts.

The original development of land at Woodlands Close, St Florence, was narrowly approved by Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, on the casting vote of then Planning Chair, Myles Pepper. The permission for building houses was granted despite the area for development being outside the local development plan (LDP) and in what amounted to open countryside.

A subsequent planning application granted permission for further properties to be built on the same site. Significant local opposition was ignored by County Hall planners, who approved the plans for further building works.

At the time the plans were approved in July 2015, one councillor, East Williamston’s Jacob Williams, said that there was a need for the sort of affordable housing that would be provided as part of the development.

Local member Phil Kidney strongly objected to the plans and was appalled by the absence of adequate local consultation, while Pennar councillor Tony Wilcox described the site visit as ‘bordering on farce’, as members of the Planning Committee were not able to view the whole site.

However, reserved matters were brought back to committee in April this year and further approvals granted for further properties to be built on the same site; bearing out the previous strong reservations of now Council Chair and then Planning Committee member, Tony Brinsden.

The current issue has arisen due to contractors widening a public footpath to permit vehicular access and the consequent disturbance of a large badger sett.

Castle Lane is a footpath and not accessible for vehicles. Along it, there is a main badger sett which starts in the right hand side of the hedge and goes into the land at the rear of Woodlands Close.

When building work first commenced for the first phase of Woodlands Close, the builders/ developers were made aware of this sett by the RSPCA as the building work was very close to one of the entrances.

The sett has eight entrances and is very active.

Badgers are a protected species, and to interfere or disturb a badger sett is a criminal offence.

As the second phase of construction has progressed, work has inched closer to the sett.

Large vehicles have used the footpath, while hedges were cut right back.

The Highways Act 1980, Section 72, provides that permission is necessary from the local authority to widen a footpath.

Despite the absence of any permission, or even an application for permission from the development company, Uzmaston Developments, large machinery was using the footpath in order to access the rear of Woodlands Close and digging had commenced.

The Badger Trust and RSPCA were alerted to the concern and visited the site on July 28, when the digging was stopped by the RSPCA.

The sett was found to have been encroached on all sides within about a metre, and damage had been done to the sett.

Critically, no environmental impact survey was done before planning was granted and a concerned resident told us that their understanding was that there was no explanation either why that step had not been taken.

The Herald understands that the Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer has been informed.

The footpath is currently being used as an access for a property already completed, even though no permission has been provided to permit such a step.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.