News

Minister gives approval to school reorganisation proposals

Published

9 years ago

September 12, 2016

shutterstock_299655935 THE CABINET SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, Kirsty Williams AM, has approved proposals to reorganise education in Fishguard and St David’s.

The Minister’s approval follows consultation with pupils, parents, staff, governors and other various consultees during the autumn of 2015 and the subsequent publication of a Statutory Notice in November 2015.

The Minister’s approval paves the way for the following:

The closure of Ysgol Dewi Sant, Ysgol Bro Dewi VA and Solva CP Schools on August 31 2018;
The establishment of a new 3-16 Church in Wales VA school in St David’s with effect from September 1 2018, utilising the sites of the constituent schools;
A reduction in the age range of Ysgol Bro Gwaun to 11-16 with effect from September 1 2018;
The establishment of a new Learning Resource Centre for pupils with Complex Learning Needs at Ysgol Bro Gwaun;
The establishment of a new sixth form centre as part of a formal collaboration between the County Council and Pembrokeshire College for post 16 pupils of the above schools.

In parallel with the above, work will soon commence on the building of new premises at Ysgol Bro Gwaun and work is ongoing to develop the 3-16 model across the three school sites in the St David’s area as part of the Council’s 21st Century Schools Programme.

To accommodate post-16 learners from Ysgol Dewi Sant and Ysgol Bro Gwaun, work on an Advanced Learning Centre is already underway at Pembrokeshire College. Funded by Pembrokeshire College and Welsh Government, the £6.6m new build will open in September 2017 and will support and promote inspirational teaching in sector leading learning environments.

Cllr. David Lloyd, Chair of Governors of Ysgol Dewi Sant and Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The approval of the proposals for Ysgol Bro Gwaun, education provision in St David’s and the new A Level Centre in Haverfordwest by the new Minister Kirsty Williams following ten months of intense scrutiny is a mark of how well received the Authority’s carefully considered plans were.

“It is a landmark decision, which provides a source of considerable optimism for the future of educational provision in the county offering the real possibility of raising our pupil outcomes to rank amongst the highest in Wales. I am excited by the challenge ahead. We are on the march, I have no doubt.”

College Principal Sharron Lusher commented: “What we are planning represents a huge investment in education in Pembrokeshire. Our new Advanced Learning Centre, alongside further improvements to the College campus, will benefit all our learners and builds on our commitment to providing the best educational opportunities possible for the young people of Pembrokeshire.”

Cllr Jamie Adams, Leader of the Council, said: “The Minister’s decision is an important milestone in reorganising secondary education provision in Pembrokeshire. The Council and the local communities made a strong, evidence-based case for change and the impact will be felt by all learners in the Fishguard and St David’s areas. The decision ensures that secondary education provision will be maintained, albeit within a different delivery model.

“These proposals have faced many challenges during the last 12 months or so, but the Minister’s decision vindicates the Council’s desire to change the shape of provision in Fishguard and St David’s for the better and the contribution of the communities in developing a model in partnership with the Council that both addressed the challenges and secured a future for the next generation.”

Crime

Repeat drug-driver banned for three years after Pembroke stop

Published

4 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist was over legal limits for both cannabis and cocaine metabolite, court hears

A 35-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire motorist has been disqualified from driving after being caught behind the wheel while over the legal drug-drive limit.

Police received information on November 11 that David Webb had been driving a Kia Sorento along Buttermilk Lane, Pembroke, after taking drugs.

When stopped by officers, Webb admitted he had smoked cannabis the previous night. A roadside drug swipe tested positive, and subsequent blood analysis at the police station revealed 101 micrograms of benzoylecgonine — a cocaine metabolite — per litre of blood, along with 2.3 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The legal limits are 50 and 2 micrograms respectively.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this was Webb’s second drug-driving conviction, following a previous offence in October 2023.

Webb, of Strongbow Walk, Pembroke, was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order requiring him to complete 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Driver banned after refusing breath test despite admitting drinking

Published

5 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist also damaged police cell blanket after arrest, court hears

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has been banned from the roads after repeatedly refusing to provide a breath sample despite admitting he had been drinking alcohol.

Police were called to Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, on the evening of January 3 following a report from a member of the public who was concerned about a man sitting in a car who appeared to be under the influence.

Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that officers found the man, later identified as Sean Cook, appearing intoxicated while sitting in the vehicle.

“He appeared to be intoxicated and said he was listening to the radio,” she said.

Cook told officers he was not fit to drive because he had consumed alcohol. He was asked on three separate occasions to provide a breath test but refused each time.

The court heard he was obstructive throughout the encounter and refused to answer questions about his alcohol consumption.

Following his arrest, Cook was taken to Haverfordwest Police Station where he damaged a custody cell blanket by pulling out its stitching.

Cook, aged 58, of Glenview House, Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and causing criminal damage.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, which includes 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and a 120-day Alcohol Abstinence Monitoring Requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation for the damaged blanket, a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Telecom vandal admits causing £33,000 damage to Pembroke Dock network

Published

5 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Fibre cables cut in early-morning incident that triggered major service disruption

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has admitted causing more than £33,000 worth of damage to a telecommunications network after cutting through fibre optic cables in the early hours of the morning.

Mickey Probert, aged 37, was seen lifting a drain cover in Wavell Crescent at around 3.50am on January 23, 2024, before entering an underground chamber and cutting through fibre infrastructure belonging to OGI.

Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that Probert had accessed a telecom footway chamber and cut through micro ducting and fibre cables.

Suspicions were raised when a nearby resident was woken by loud clanging noises and saw a man acting suspiciously near green utility boxes.

“The witness saw a male bend down in front of the boxes, lift the covers and shine a headtorch towards the ground,” she said.

Following a description provided by the witness, police arrested Probert. A search of his property uncovered wire cutters, a headtorch and a woolly hat.

The total cost of the damage to the OGI network was calculated at £33,767.98.

Defence solicitor Tom Lloyd said his client was unable to explain his actions but was extremely remorseful.

“He has a lot of things going on that haven’t properly been explored,” he told the court.

Probert, currently of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

Given the seriousness of the offence, District Judge Mark Layton declined jurisdiction, meaning sentencing must take place at a higher court.

Probert will now be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on March 10. The court requested an all-options probation report ahead of the hearing.