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.

Business

Sir Michael Moritz tops Welsh Rich List as Sunday Times reveals UK’s wealthiest in 2025

Published

1 hour ago

May 16, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Drop in UK billionaires but rising young fortunes for Wales

SIR MICHAEL MORITZ and his wife Harriet Heyman have retained their crown as the wealthiest individuals in Wales, topping the Welsh list in The Sunday Times Rich List 2025, which was published online today (Friday, May 16) and will appear in this Sunday’s print edition of The Sunday Times.

The Cardiff-born venture capitalist and his American novelist wife are worth an estimated £4.43 billion, despite a recent £168 million dip. They lead the list of the top 20 richest people in Wales, compiled as part of the newspaper’s annual 76-page special on Britain’s richest individuals and families.

***Douglas and Dame Mary Perkins, founders of the high-street opticians chain Specsavers***

Hot on their heels is tech entrepreneur Simon Nixon, with a fortune of £1.95 billion — up £70 million on last year. Pembrokeshire is also represented in the top ranks, with Douglas and Dame Mary Perkins, founders of the high-street opticians chain Specsavers, valued at £1.54 billion. The couple famously launched the company from a ping-pong table in their spare bedroom.

This year’s Rich List reveals the largest drop in UK billionaires in its 37-year history, with the number falling from a peak of 177 in 2022 to just 156 in 2025. The combined wealth of the 350 people featured is now £772.8 billion — a 3% decrease on last year.

While the overall number of billionaires is shrinking, there has been a surge in younger millionaires. For Wales, 39-year-old sports retail entrepreneur Alex Loven leads the under-40 category with an estimated wealth of £262 million. Entry to the 40 Under 40 section now requires a staggering £100 million — nearly double last year’s threshold.

Robert Watts, compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List, commented: “Our billionaire count is down, and the combined wealth of those who feature in our research is falling. We’re also seeing fewer of the world’s super-rich choosing to live in the UK. But at the same time, we’re still uncovering remarkable stories of self-made wealth — from new tech and AI ventures to everyday products like jogging bottoms and radiators.”

The list also highlights rising frustration among entrepreneurs and business leaders about the direction of economic policy. Watts noted that even long-standing British business owners and young tech innovators are warning of the effects of tax changes introduced in the 2024 Autumn Statement.

Among the familiar names still featured are Sir Elton John, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Lewis Hamilton, and film director Sir Christopher Nolan. The entry level for the Rich List remains at £350 million.

The Rich List also includes The Sunday Times Giving List, which tracks philanthropic giving. This year, the 100 most generous individuals donated £3.7 billion to charity. Welsh businessman Steve Morgan alone contributed millions and called for “braver philanthropic giving to tackle systems, not symptoms.”

The top 5 richest in Wales (2025):

Sir Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman – £4.43bn (venture capital and philanthropy)
Simon Nixon – £1.95bn (technology)
Douglas Perkins and family – £1.54bn (opticians – Specsavers)
Sir Terry Matthews – £1.34bn (telecoms)
David Sullivan and family – £1.12bn (property)

Top under 40 in Wales:

Alex Loven – £262m (sports retail)

The full list of the 350 richest individuals in Britain and further analysis is available online at: https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list
Source: The Sunday Times Rich List 2025

Crime

Haverfordwest man cleared of rape and sexual assault charges

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2025

Court Reporter

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been found not guilty of rape and sexual assault following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

RICHARD MURRAY, aged 46, of Hill Street, had faced three charges relating to an incident in Narberth in August 2022.

He was accused of orally raping a woman, sexually assaulting her by touching without consent, and causing her to engage in sexual activity against her will.

Murray denied all the allegations.

After just over an hour of deliberation, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts.

Murray was released from the dock and expressed his thanks to the jury as he left the courtroom.

Judge Paul Thomas KC thanked the jury before discharging them.

News

Injured visitor rescued from Caldey Island by Tenby lifeboat crew

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A PERSON was rescued from Caldey Island on Tuesday afternoon (May 13) after suffering serious injuries in a fall.

Tenby RNLI launched both its all-weather and inshore lifeboats shortly before 3:30pm following reports that someone had fallen and was believed to have broken their ankle.

Due to tidal conditions, the larger lifeboat was unable to land. Instead, crew members trained in casualty care were deployed from the inshore lifeboat and made their way ashore to assist the injured individual.

After providing initial assessment and pain relief, the casualty was helped to the jetty and transferred onto the lifeboat for the short journey back to the mainland.

On arrival at Tenby lifeboat station, the person was handed over to waiting Welsh Ambulance Service paramedics and taken to hospital for further treatment.