POLICE officers in Milford Haven and Neyland joined forces with Pembrokeshire County Council on Monday (Apr 14) to carry out checks on waste carriers operating in the area.

PC Kate and PCSO Gabs, alongside Matthew from the council’s enforcement team, stopped a number of vehicles as part of a joint operation targeting unlicensed waste transporters.

The officers checked that drivers were carrying the correct waste carrier licences and documentation required by law.

A spokesperson for the neighbourhood policing team said: “It was great to see our road users were compliant and were carrying the relevant documentation.”

The operation is part of ongoing efforts to tackle fly-tipping and ensure responsible waste disposal practices across Pembrokeshire.

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has avoided an immediate prison sentence after police discovered indecent images of children on his mobile phone.

Andrew Davies, aged 36, was arrested after officers attended his home on Brewery Street on November 16, 2022. The court heard he handed over his phone and PIN without hesitation. An initial check revealed child sexual abuse material, leading to his arrest.

A full forensic analysis uncovered a total of 67 indecent images of children, including nine in Category A – the most serious level – along with 14 Category B and 44 Category C images. Some of the images dated back to 2019.

Sian Cutter, prosecuting at Swansea Crown Court, said a further 32 “borderline” images were also found. The material featured children as young as three being restrained and abused.

Davies admitted three counts of making indecent images of children when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. He had no previous convictions.

Appearing for the defendant, Ryan Bowen said: “Mr Davies is under no illusion about the gravity of these offences, which clearly cross the custody threshold. He has taken full responsibility and has not sought to deflect blame.”

The court was told there had been a significant delay in bringing the case to court, and that Davies had not re-offended since the original arrest.

Sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards said: “Viewing child sexual abuse material causes real harm to real children. It adds to their pain and suffering. A particularly serious feature of this case is the very young age of some of the victims.”

She acknowledged the delay in proceedings and accepted there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. Davies, she said, had already faced significant personal consequences as a result of his actions.

Davies was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. He must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 25 rehabilitation activity days.

He will also be on the sex offenders register for 10 years. A further hearing is set to take place on April 11 to consider the imposition of a sexual harm prevention order.

A UK banking company’s appeal against a national park refusal to allow the siting of a cash pod in Tenby’s conservation area, close to its historic town walls, has been dismissed.

The HSBC application for a standalone community cash pod at Tenby’s Five Arches pay and display car park was refused by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners last summer.

The proposed site – in the town’s conservation area – would have been directly opposite St Teilo’s Church, a Grade-II-listed building, and in close proximity to Tenby’s Town Walls, a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

A planning officer report at the time, recommending refusal, said: “The site is therefore highly sensitive. The proposed cash pod would be located within the north-eastern corner of the car park.

“Given its prominent location and its impact upon important views of Tenby Town Walls and the listed Church, and its failure to preserve or enhance the appearance of Tenby’s Conservation Area, it is considered that the cash pod is inappropriate in terms of its siting and design.”

The application was refused on those grounds.

Since the refusal, an appeal was lodged with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), along with an application for costs.

Members of the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee meeting of April 9 heard the appeal had been dismissed.

Following a site visit earlier this year, an inspector appointed by Welsh Ministers dismissed the appeal, saying: “Due to its design, position and orientation, the CCP would be a prominent and unsympathetic structure that would be particularly noticeable from the seafront approach and partially obscure views of the church, although its windows would likely remain visible.

“Although it would be less prominent in views from the town centre approach, it would visibly protrude forward of the church’s front elevation.  This would introduce a discordant feature into the streetscene and visual clutter into the setting of the church and town walls when viewed in both directions along South Parade.

“Furthermore, this intrusion would draw the eye to the CCP and detract from how the three historic assets are experienced together.”

The inspector disagreed with claims there would be a neutral impact, saying: “Rather it would make a negative contribution to the setting of the Church and Town Walls, causing harm to their significance, and fail to preserve the character and appearance of the CA.”

The related application for costs was also dismissed.

At the April meeting, officers told members: “Hopefully the applicants will come back with a better application that doesn’t sit next to a listed church.”