News

Council ‘white elephant’ likely to be sold off

Published

7 years ago

December 19, 2017

IT is ‘highly likely’ that Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cherry Grove building, which was bought for over £2,000,000 in 2011, will be declared surplus to requirements.

Questions have long been raised about the council’s purchase of the building and previous leaders defended their actions saying it would be beneficial and good value for money.

However, at a meeting of the Council on Thursday, December 14, it was revealed that the building is likely to be deemed surplus to requirements.

Cllr Viv Stoddart described Cherry Grove as a ‘white elephant’ and said that the council had been in denial about the building ever since they brought it in 2011.

Cllr Stoddart asked: “The demolition costs of Haverfordwest’s Cherry Grove have been quoted to be £400,000. This figure comes on top of the £3 million costs of acquiring and maintaining the building. Will the Council consider producing a detailed report as to how the Authority blundered into this situation?”

Cllr Kilmister replied: “The purchase of Cherry Grove took place in 2011, it was led by the former head of property acting on the instructions of the former chief executive.

“It is very likely that this building will be declared surplus to requirements and disposed of.

“I share Cllr Stoddart’s concern that a detailed report will not provide us with any benefit. I sincerely hope that we have already learned lessons from this corporate mistake.”

Cllr Stoddart added: “In 2011, when I challenged this purchase, the then leader John Davies said it would improve the authority’s efficiency and it had been brought at a very favourable price.

“The former leader, again when I challenged this purchase, Jamie Adams said ‘Cherry Grove represents good value for money and would be put to good use’.

“At a similar meeting I was chastised by Cllr Adams for quizzing whether this represented value for money and he chastised me saying perhaps I wanted to see the building fall into disrepair and it was important that it should not fall into disrepair.

“I call Cherry Grove the folly on the hill, I hear what you say, we are where we are. In the six years since this white elephant was brought, the previous administration had been in denial about it so would you agree with me that this scandalous waste of taxpayers’ money, if this had happened in the private sector, heads would roll?”

Cllr Kilmister said: “I agree with every word you have said in terms of that. This has been, in my view, a huge corporate error by this authority to purchase the building which is 30% empty at the present moment despite the amount that has been spent on it, it’s extremely unpopular with the people that work in it and it has high running costs. The sooner it comes off our books, the better it will be.

“I’m sure the people did it with good intention, but it is a complete and utter corporate folly, there is no need for that building which is why I have said it is almost certain it will be declared surplus.”

Cllr Jacob Williams also asked about the cost of the building and what its future would be.

Cllr Kilmister said: “The cost of purchasing and refurbishing Cherry Grove was £2,209,000. There are other costs in terms of running it since 2011.

“At a seminar there was significant support for releasing and disposing of Cherry Grove. It is highly likely that the building will be declared as surplus to requirements and disposed of. A Cabinet report to consider this option in the New Year.”

Cllr Jacob Williams said he was supportive of the demolition of the site and added that he felt that the County Hall wasn’t being used to its full capacity.

Cllr Kilmister finished by saying they have certainly never had ‘value for money’ out of Cherry Grove.

Crime

Police arrest suspects following vehicle interferences in Haverfordwest

Published

14 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Tom Sinclair

HAVERFORDWEST police responded swiftly after reports of multiple vehicle interferences in the Tasker Way area on Sunday night/early Monday morning (Nov 4).

Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPPT) conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, gathering evidence and reassuring the community. These efforts led to the identification of two suspects.

Both NPPT and Response teams acted promptly, locating and arresting the suspects, who are now in police custody.

News

Ancient Welsh hymns brought into 21st century with unique collaboration between Lleuwen Steffan and National Eisteddfod

Published

18 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Sarah Jane Absalom

Some of Wales’ long-forgotten hymn tunes are being brought vividly back to life this month, thanks to award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Lleuwen Steffan and her unique collaboration with the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Performing as ‘Tafod Arian’ (Silver Tongue), the collaboration pays homage to the lost voices of the past, and infuses these timeless melodies with some highly contemporary electronic arrangements.

The project originated in 2012 when Lleuwen was working on a music project at St Fagan’s National History Museum where she came across some long-forgotten recordings of hymns which had been left in the sound archives. None of these hymns could be found in the official hymn books nor the older hymnal editions, possibly as the result of their informal, conversational lyrics, or because they often delved into the world of addiction, mental illness and the darker side of the psyche.

But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited by Tafod Arian.

With translations and insights, the tour breathes new life into archive recordings, ensuring these cherished sacred songs rightfully claim their place in today’s spotlight. Lleuwen masterfully combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, seamlessly blending the past with the present, and takes the stage alongside a dynamic quintet of international musicians including Sioned Webb and Gethin Elis from Wales, and Nolwenn Korbell and Brieg Guerveno from Brittany.

Despite the hymns’ long-distant past, the music is firmly in the present as Lleuwen uses various instruments to provide angular electronic accompaniment as well as her soulful vocals and guitar. She provides translations and explanations as she proudly puts the archive recordings of the lost |Welsh hymns on centre stage. As a result, these sacred songs are being passed on orally rather than via the hymn book which is precisely how Welsh folk music was conveyed.

The long-forgotten hymns will be heard once again in all their glory at Tabernacle Chapel, Maenclochog on Sunday, November 17 at 6.30pm.

Crime

Suspended sentence for Goodwick man who sent sexual messages to young girl

Published

18 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Court Reporter

THE FATHER of a young girl sent sexual messages to an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online, Swansea Crown Court heard this week.

An undercover police officer posed as a 12-year-old girl on the website RandoChat, with the decoy’s profile stating they were 18.

James Roberts messaged the decoy on 9 August, stating he was “looking for a naughty girl”.

The decoy promptly informed him that she was 12 years old; however, the defendant continued to send messages referencing sexual acts and self-gratification.

Roberts added the decoy on Snapchat, claiming to be 19 and living in England.

He again sent sexualised messages and, referring to the decoy’s age, said they were “never too young to start sending pictures”.

The defendant also told the decoy that he was having similar sexual conversations with a 14-year-old, Mr Dickens said.

Police attended Roberts’ home in Goodwick on 17 August, and he was arrested. He denied having a mobile phone, claiming he “had sent it off to Samsung to be fixed” but was “extremely vague” when asked for further details. Mr Dickens said no phone was ever recovered by police.

The 28-year-old Roberts pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. The court heard that he had no previous convictions.

Hannah George, in mitigation, said the defendant showed “some degree of remorse” and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

“In the 13 months since he was interviewed there have been no further offences,” she said.

Ms George said Roberts had suffered “significant” shame and embarrassment as a result of the offences, and it had led to him losing his job.

He had previously been diagnosed with PTSD and suffered “deep periods of depression”, Ms George said.

She added that his contact with his young daughter “has been diminished” following these offences.

“You were in contact online with who you firmly believed to be a 12-year-old girl,” said Judge Paul Thomas KC, addressing Roberts.

“You have a two-year-old daughter. Just think how you would feel if a man in his thirties tried to have that sort of conversation with her in 10 years’ time.”

Roberts was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 35 days of an accredited programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement programme days.

He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and was made the subject of a three-year sexual harm prevention order.