WELSH CONSERVATIVE Member of the Senedd, Russell George, has been suspended from the party’s group in Cardiff Bay after being charged with gambling-related offences.

Craig Williams, former MP for Montgomeryshire has also been charged.

In a statement issued on Monday morning (Apr 14), the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS, said: “Having been informed that Russell George MS has been charged with gambling related offences, I have taken the decision to suspend him from the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd.

“The suspension is a neutral act pending the outcome of the justice process.

“There will be no further comment at this time.”

Mr George, who has represented Montgomeryshire in the Senedd since 2011, previously stepped back from the Welsh Conservative shadow cabinet in 2024 after it emerged he was under investigation by the Gambling Commission over alleged bets on the timing of the next UK General Election.

At the time, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies confirmed that Mr George had received a letter from the Gambling Commission and said: “Russell George has stepped back from the Welsh Conservative shadow cabinet while these investigations are ongoing.

“All other members of the Welsh Conservative Group have confirmed that they have not placed any bets.”

Mr George also issued a public statement in 2024, saying: “Whilst I will cooperate fully with the Gambling Commission, it would not be appropriate to comment on this independent and confidential process.

“I have stepped back from the Shadow Cabinet while the investigation is ongoing. I have done this as I do not wish to be an unnecessary distraction to their work.”

The latest development marks a significant escalation, with the Gambling Commission’s investigation apparently resulting in formal charges.

No further details of the specific charges have yet been released, and it is not known when Mr George is due to appear in court.

Mr George’s constituency, Montgomeryshire, has also been in the spotlight recently after Craig Williams—formerly the area’s MP—was himself investigated for placing bets on the date of the General Election. Mr Williams had the Conservative whip withdrawn in Westminster as a result.

Ellie Reeves MP, Chair of the Labour Party, commenting on the Gambling Commission charging 15 people, including Russell George, Member of the Senedd for Montgomeryshire, and Craig Williams, former MP for Montgomeryshire, with offences relating to betting on the General Election, said: “This is a very serious development. The British people will expect that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing faces the full force of the law.

“Kemi Badenoch must make crystal clear that anyone found guilty of using insider information to cheat the system to try to enrich themselves has no place in the Conservative Party. No ifs, no buts.

“Labour is turning the page on 14 years of Conservative chaos and scandal and we’re turning our country round through our Plan for Change. Only Labour can be trusted to deliver security for working people and the renewal Britain needs.”

The Herald will provide updates as the case develops.

AN APPLICATION to site a campsite on a rural Pembrokeshire field has been refused by county planners.

South Gloucestershire-based Christopher Nash sought permission from Pembrokeshire County Council for the establishment of a tourist touring caravan and camp site with associated facilities on land at the B4341 to Broad Haven, Haverfordwest, the works having started in May 2024.

A supporting statement for the touring caravan and tent campsite, just over a kilometre west of Portfield Gate, through agent Planix.UK Planning Consultants Ltd said: “The proposal seeks to provide tourism accommodation while being sensitive to the site’s rural context and Pembrokeshire’s planning policies, particularly those promoting sustainable development and tourism.”

The scheme includes a caravan and tent pitching area, a static caravan as a reception and office, and related facilities including a WC, shower and hardstanding, along with landscaping works.

An officer report recommending refusal said: “In terms of connectivity, the site can be accessed via an existing footpath from the Portfield Gate, although this ceases approximately 450 metres to the west of the site, with no safe footway towards Broad Haven.

“However, due to the distance from the settlement being in excess of a kilometre the site is not visually related to the settlement in terms of being seen as part of the same landscape via existing built form, and is not considered to be well related to Portfield Gate as set out with the LDP.

“Notwithstanding this, as required evidence has not been put forward that the development would provide a community facility or a service such as a shop, which is not otherwise available in the settlement, and which would be open for the community to use.”

It added: “An argument has been put forward within the submission that there is a fallback position that under permitted development rights via membership to the Caravan Club, the applicant has the ability to establish a certified camping and caravan site.  Although this is acknowledged, this suggested fall-back position is not considered to hold significant weight to be considered a material consideration.

“In addition, any exemption whilst being a member of an exempted organisation such as the Caravan Club would not allow for any operational development to take place and would limit the number of tents or touring caravans allowed as part of the exemption.”

It went on to say: “The proposed siting of a static caravan, a welfare building, access track and hardstanding area within the site is considered an incongruous addition within the countryside without robust justification.

“Although some screening is suggested to the northwest of the site details of this has not been provided therefore it is unclear if the screening would mitigate against the identified unjustified visual intrusion.”

The application was refused on grounds including being located in the countryside away from any settlement, visual intrusion, access and highway issues, it would “increase the volume of foul discharge from the site which is within the catchment of the River Cleddau Special Area of Conservation (SAC),” and the absence of a Green Infrastructure Statement.

PLANS to convert a former gallery and shop in a Pembrokeshire town’s conservation area to a sandwich bar have been approved despite initial concerns raised about late-night antisocial behaviour.

In an application to Pembrokeshire planners, Luke Lawrence sought permission for the change of ues of the vacant former Eastgate Gallery, 132 Main Street, Pembroke to the sandwich bar, which will also offer supplementary hot food.

An officer report said: “There are no external alterations to the building. The takeaway is proposed to be open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm.  The application proposes that two to three full-time equivalent employment opportunities would be created.”

One objection to the scheme, supported by Pembroke Town Council, was received, raising concerns over the potential of the business being open late at night and potential antisocial behaviour associated with that.

The report added: “The application proposes a change of use to an A3 takeaway with opening hours extending into the evening compared with the previous use as a gallery and shop. This has the potential to negatively affect neighbouring amenity in terms of noise potentially being produced in the evening. In the surrounding area, there are a mixture of facilities, including a pub, chip shop and shop – some of which operate at a later time than that proposed for the takeaway.”

However, the report confirmed the applicant’s agent had confirmed the 8pm close, the report adding: “On this basis, it is considered that permitting these hours for the takeaway would be acceptable, as it is unlikely to have an impact on noise levels over and above those of the nearby buildings. Conditions are recommended to ensure that the business does not operate any later into the night.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.