News

Cath takes on top planning role

Published

12 years ago

February 6, 2014

A PEMBROKESHIRE planner is to play a key role in her profession this year. Cath Ranson was inaugurated as President of the Royal Town Planning Institute earlier this month.

The mother-of-three from Crymych takes over in the Institute’s Centenary year at a time when planners across the UK and Ireland are facing the demands of difficult economic times, a housing crisis and controversial issues such as fracking. Cath, who has been Development Plans and Conservation Manager for Pembrokeshire County Council since 2009, is looking forward to meeting the challenges during her year in office.

“The Centenary is about both our past and our future,” she said.

“We must use the anniversary not just to reflect on what has gone before in the 100 years of professional planning, but also look to the future in both the medium and long term and try to anticipate and meet the challenges we will face.”

Born and raised in the Midlands, Cath came to Wales initially to study Geology at the University of Wales, Swansea.

Her route into planning began through holiday jobs and a job creation post at West Glamorgan County Council before working for several local authorities in Wales, including the Snowdonia National Park Authority and, for a spell in its early days, the Welsh Government. She has a post graduate diploma in Town and Country Planning at Bristol Polytechnic (now University of the West of England) and a post graduate certificate in Leadership for Collaboration at Bangor University.

Planning, she says, is not merely a process but something to feel passionately about because it affects everybody’s lives – although people are often unaware of it.

“It affects the way that we live and regulate ourselves in society and without it there would be chaos,” she said.

“As planners we plan for and manage new development, to secure the right development, in the right locations and at the right time and to ensure that the community has a voice in such decision making, to deliver development that is sustainable, fair and transparent.”

Councillor Rob Lewis, Deputy Leader said he was delighted with Cath’s new role.

“She is a wonderful ambassador for both planning and Pembrokeshire,” he said.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

12 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

12 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

12 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.