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Mustang creditors furious

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creditors furiousANGER is growing amongst creditors of insolvent Pembroke Dock company Mustang Marine.

Local companies that have extended credit to the boat building firm have been left vulnerable, and in financial difficulty.

The Herald understands that other Pembrokeshire businesses are owed £330,000, with one firm claiming that they are owed nearly £70,000.

Speaking on the grounds of anonymity, the director of one local firm said: “We felt safe doing business with Mustang because it was listed as a subsidiary company of Milford Haven Port Authority.”

He added: “The Port Authority is sitting on a bank balance of millions of pounds, there is a moral responsibility to sort this mess out. That would provide economic and social benefits as it will prevent companies such as mine from laying off staff.”

The Milford Haven Port Authority Act 2002 says that the Port Authority’s right to invest in local firms ‘may be exercised if, and only if, in the opinion of the Authority the exercise of the powers is likely to provide economic, social, cultural or environmental benefits to all or some of the population of Pembrokeshire or any part of Pembrokeshire.’

Questions have been raised by the Welsh Government in Cardiff regarding the Port Authority’s responsibilities to local firms, but last week, Alec Don, Chief Executive of the Port Authority said: “The Port of Milford Haven is a 50% shareholder and remains a separate corporate entity to Mustang Marine. The Port is not liable for Mustang’s debts. Any specific questions about that business, including queries about creditors, must be directed to the administrators Grant Thornton.

“As a Trust Port we continually look to invest in growth and economic activity in the Port. On this basis, and in good faith, the Port of Milford Haven invested in Mustang Marine. The company approached us with a firm business plan and orders that required our support and investment to achieve.

“Any investment we make has to be balanced with our central commitment to keep the UK’s largest energy port operating efficiently, and safe for everyone who uses the waterway.

“This is a difficult time for all those involved in Mustang. Our priority now is to get new and sustainable businesses established as quickly as possible, both for employees and for businesses up and down the Haven who rely on this busy working port.”

MP’s questions

Simon Hart MP has written to Port Authority raising questions about the organisation’s responsibilities to local firms who are out of pocket. He spoke exclusively to the Pembrokeshire Herald yesterday about his concerns.

Simon Hart said: “The fact that Pembrokeshire companies are owed hundreds of thousands of pounds seems to have been glossed over. They cannot talk about growth and activity on the one hand and then refuse to even consider the plight of local people left out of pocket on the other. These people undertook work for Mustang as they felt comfortable that the company was part of a larger trading operation of which the Port was a central part.”

He added: “As far as the port accounts are concerned, Mustang was listed as a trading subsidiary. The Authority’s responsibilities are a legal question that I have put to chief executive, Alec Don. If you have a trading subsidiary then this is a different position, in my view, than if you are a minor shareholder. The Port Authority has always referred to Mustang as a subsidiary company. Every conversation that I have had about Mustang has been with Alec Don. He was very much sewn in the structure at Mustang. At the very least, the Port Authority should explain why it thinks it has no obligation at all to the many local creditors.

“I know that local companies did business with Mustang because they felt comfortable that it was part of a bigger organisation. Nothing was ever done to suggest that MHPA had no responsibilities. Rather than just say it’s not our problem, Alec Don should explain what the true legal position is.”

“The Port Authority’s employees have been embedded in the company. Frankly, I can understand why creditors may want to challenge the assertions of the Port Authority.”

Simon Hart concluded: “A question that I would like to ask is – Who in the Port Authority did the due diligence over the purchase of 50% shares in Mustang? Alec Don should explain very clearly, after the Port Authority has had such an intimate relationship with the company, why is it that now they are distancing themselves.”

Help for workers

Rebecca Evans, AM for Mid and West Wales, has welcomed an update from the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science on the situation facing Mustang Marine and its workforce. In a letter to Assembly members, the Minister said: “The administrator is currently exploring all options for securing the future of operations at the site within the Enterprise Zone. My officials are working with the administrator and a number of potential third party investors to seek to secure the long term viability of the company. Those discussions are on-going and I will update members of the outcome of those commercial discussions as soon as I am able.

“As a government, we are determined to do all that we can to support the employer and its workforce at this difficult time and are working with the administrator to provide support and advice to any of the workforce in Wales facing redundancy through our ReAct scheme.”

Mrs Evans continued: “The news that Mustang Marine in Pembroke Dock had gone into administration with the loss of 66 jobs was a bitter blow for the area.

“I am glad that the Welsh Government is working closely with the administrator to try and find a secure way forward for Mustang Marine, and to ultimately save the remaining jobs. I sincerely hope that the Welsh Government’s work with the administrator leads to a positive outcome.

“I recently asked the First Minister what support and assistance will the Welsh Government offer to those 66 workers facing redundancy, and he told me that ‘those threatened with redundancy will be offered ReAct support and advice.’ I am glad that this is in place.

“I look forward the next update from the Minister, and hope for good news.”

ReAct is the Welsh Government’s Redundancy Action Scheme which has been put in place to help people affected by redundancy gain new skills and encourage recruiting employers to employ a worker who has been made redundant.

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Crime

Waste dumped at recycling centre leads police to drug factory near Cardigan

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Man jailed after drug discovery sparked by vigilant staff

A TIP-OFF from staff at an Aberystwyth recycling centre has led to the discovery of a large cannabis factory in a derelict property near Cardigan — and landed a 20-year-old man behind bars.

Manuel Nerguti was sentenced to six months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (July 11) after pleading guilty to producing a class B drug.

The court heard that on May 1 this year, workers at the Aberystwyth recycling centre reported a suspicious delivery: four to five bags of cannabis stalks, apparently dumped by men in a hired Ford Transit van.

Police acted quickly and intercepted the van later that afternoon on the road between Aberystwyth and Cardigan. Nerguti and two other men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, but were released without charge at the time, as no grow site had been located.

However, a month later, acting on new intelligence, Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at a derelict house in Bridell, near Cardigan. Inside, they discovered a sophisticated cannabis cultivation operation: 260 mature plants spread across five rooms and an attic, with the electricity supply illegally bypassed.

During the raid on June 7, Nerguti attempted to flee but was found hiding behind a washing machine in the garage.

He was charged and later pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.

Detective Constable Sam Garside, who led the investigation, praised the recycling centre staff for their quick thinking.

He said: “This result is thanks to the staff at the recycling centre for recognising that criminal activity was taking place and for alerting police quickly.

“We rely on the public to inform us of anything suspicious going on in their communities and we encourage people to get in touch if they suspect anything. We were able to use our local knowledge and police intelligence to execute a successful warrant and shut down an illegal cannabis factory.

“We are committed to continuing our drug operations across Dyfed-Powys and bringing offenders like Nerguti to justice.”

Police estimate the cannabis seized had a potential street value of up to £242,000.

More information on Operation Scotney — Dyfed-Powys Police’s campaign to tackle cannabis cultivation — including how to spot signs of a drug grow, can be found on their website.

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Pembrokeshire County Council group to review ‘climate emergency’

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A CALL for a group to review Pembrokeshire County Council’s decision to declare a climate emergency some six years ago has been backed by councillors.

In May 2019, the council declare a climate emergency following a notice of motion by Cllr Joshua Beynon calling on the authority to back the global consensus that climate change poses a risk to the well-being of future generations.

He had urged county councillors to back a motion to take “bold, decisive action” to fight “truly, catastrophic” climate change.

He called on the council to commit to becoming a zero-carbon local authority by 2030.

At the July meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a notice of motion by Cllr Mike Stoddart called for the establishment of a working group to review the decision made by the council to declare a climate change emergency.

Cllr Stoddart’s motion said: “Given the turbulence on the global financial markets; the parlous state of the UK’s public finances; Pembrokeshire County Council’s projected funding gap; and the government’s softening of its policies on the switch to EV vehicles and heat pumps, this council establishes a seven person, politically balanced working group to review the authority’s decision to declare a climate emergency at its meeting on May 9, 2019.

“The working group will be asked to: (a) examine the effect of the emergency declaration on the level of council tax in Pembrokeshire and particularly the extent to which any such increases militate against the authority’s anti-poverty policies.

“(b) The cost of decarbonising the council’s housing stock and the effect this has had on the authority’s ability to finance the building of new housing.

“(c) The extent to which the council’s decarbonisation programme has contributed to a reduction of the risk of runaway global temperature increases, and (d) any other effects that the working group considers may have adversely impacted the wellbeing of the residents of Pembrokeshire.”

Cllr Stoddart’s notice of motion was previously supported at the June meeting of the council’s corporate overview and scrutiny committee, with a recommendation to full council in July meeting, to reinstate the Net Zero Working Group to review the contents of the notice of motion and, subject to the outcome of this review, review the future delivery of the Net Zero Action Plan.

Cllr Stoddart’s call was backed by Cllr Steve Alderman, and Cllr Rhys Jordan, who said: “I fully support this, it couldn’t come sooner; around England and Wales councils are looking at this, there’s been a huge push for a ‘net zero’ agenda at any cost, I don’t think we’re in a position to drive that.”

Cllr Aaron Carey said: “We’ve set ourselves some lofty goals, but we haven’t got the money to back it up.”

Members overwhelmingly agreed to back the June committee recommendations.

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Urgent appeal to save 1,000 hens in Pembrokeshire and beyond

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British Hen Welfare Trust seeks homes before Friday deadline

AN URGENT appeal has been launched to find homes for more than 1,000 hens due to be rehomed next weekend – including from a rescue centre in Boncath, Pembrokeshire.

The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) is coordinating the rehoming effort on Saturday (July 26), aiming to rescue ex-caged hens from slaughter and instead place them into loving homes. The appeal also covers rehoming centres in Locking, near Bristol, and Kineton in Warwickshire.

The charity says the hens have come to the end of their commercial egg-laying lives, but remain healthy and can thrive as pets. However, they must be rehomed by Friday (July 25) to avoid being needlessly killed.

“This is a time-sensitive and visual story that resonates locally,” said Andy Hill, Marketing & Communications Officer for the BHWT. “These hens have worked hard their whole lives and deserve a second chance.”

The organisation recently marked the rehoming of its one millionth hen – which was adopted by King Charles III – and the upcoming effort is part of its continued mission to improve hen welfare across the UK.

Local spokespeople are available for interview, and high-resolution images are available for media use.

For more information or to register interest in adopting hens, visit: www.bhwt.org.uk

Image for illustration purposes only

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