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Chairman ‘disgraceful’ at AGM

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Council AGM

THE ANNUAL General Meeting of the Local Authority descended into chaos, when opposition members walked out following a controversial decision by the new Chairman, IPPG stalwart Tom Richards, to ignore the nomination of Tony Brinsden (unaffiliated) to the Licensing Committee by another unaffiliated Councillor Vivian Stoddart, electing instead to close nominations made by fellow IPPG Councillor Daphne Bush.

The decision followed on hot on the heels of the IPPG, including Labour turncoat Sue Perkins, blocking the nomination of Alison Lee (Labour) to the post of Licensing Committee Chair and passing the £9K a year Special Responsibility Allowance to IPPG loyalist Daphne Bush.

Cllr Paul Miller stood up and said that the vote had not been properly counted and therefore Cllr Stoddart’s nomination should stand.

The involvement of Cllr Richards in the process was eclipsed by the intervention of CEO Bryn Parry Jones who claimed a vote had been taken, even when he could not provide a tally of those who had voted for, against, or abstained the retention of the existing Licensing Committee deputies.

Backing the CEO, Cllr Richards again refused to accept Cllr Brinsden’s nomination.

His decision prompted a comment from Cllr Miller that the decision reached was “outrageous” and “disgraceful”. Members of the opposition then left the Chamber,

IPPG leader Jamie Adams then rose to offer an entirely spontaneous and sincere apology to IPPG Cllr Richards for Cllr Miller’s words toward him, which in no way was intended to score the type of sarcastic and insincere political point that has become the Leader’s stock-in-trade. As usual, his deputy, Maenclochog minister Huw George, nodded piously alongside him with a look of tight-lipped mock-indignation.

After the meeting, Cllr Vivian Stoddart told the Herald:

“I walked out of the council’s annual meeting on Friday as I could no longer sit through what was the travesty of democracy.

“The Independent Political Group (IPG sic) and their cronies used every tactic to ensure their place men and women were voted on to positions on the council’s committees, regardless of their ability.

“”This might be acceptable if the IPG acknowledged that:  if it votes like a political party, talks like a party, and acts like a party, then the so-called IPG is a political party.

The only problem is that when canvassing support from their electorate, most of the IPG members neglected to tell voters that once they entered the hallowed portal s of County Hall  they would join the majority IPPG party-oops group, and act as the majority party.

“The final straw for me was the breath-taking speed with which the final allocation of vice chairmanships was allocated, and Cllr Tom Richards’ graceless refusal as the new chairman, to accept what was a further nomination. “

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Search for missing Pembrokeshire man scaled back by police

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FOLLOWING nine days of extensive searches on land and sea, we can confirm that the search for missing man Jai has been scaled back.

Police said in a statement: “We launched a search for Jai, aged 40, in the area around Hobbs Point on the morning of Monday, 20 March, following a sighting of Jai and his car, a silver Honda Civic, in the area.

“In the past week we have carried out extensive searches using the force’s specialist search team and police search adviser (POLSA), marine unit, specialist sonar, drones, dog unit, as well as working with South Wales Police’s dive team, the NPAS helicopter and Coastguard.

“A decision was made yesterday to scale back the search, which has been communicated with Jai’s family.

“However, we will act on new information, and officers continue with missing person enquiries.
“We are appealing for people not to put themselves in danger, particularly near the River Cleddau, if they are attempting to look for Jai.

“If you have information that could help with that investigation, please let us know:”

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Pembrokeshire chef, Daniel Jones, wins Pub Chef of the Year 2023

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TALENTED chef Daniel Jones has scooped first prize in the Pub Chef of the Year category at the International Salon Culinaire awards 2023. The finals of the competition took place at ExCel London on 22 March 2023.

Executive chef Daniel is co-owner of JT at the Abergwaun Hotel, the hotel and restaurant in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, recently awarded a 4* rating by Visit Wales. His winning dish of Lemon Sole, Spring Vegetables, Bluestone Ale and Pickled Cockle Vinaigrette with ‘Welshman’s caviar’ (handpicked laver seaweed from the Pembrokeshire coast) came first place amongst the seven finalists, and will be introduced to the restaurant’s menu this summer.

International Salon Culinaire is regarded as one of the world’s top competitions for chefs, with over 100 categories, from pastry to knife skills. The competition has been a platform for chefs of all levels, from the talented young chefs training at college, to those who are well established and firmly on their culinary career journey. Gordon Ramsey won Chef of the Year in 1992, and the awards have over the years seen world-class ambassadors including Michel Roux Jr and, this year, Monica Galetti.

The Pub Chef of the Year category launched in 2022 to celebrate the fine food in the pubs and bars of the UK, and to recognise the hard work, expertise and talent in the kitchens of these establishments.

First place winner Daniel said: “I am over the moon to win the Pub Chef of the Year at the International Salon Culinaire. It’s a great honour to have cooked alongside other great culinary talent, and I’m delighted to have been recognised by the esteemed judges on the panel this year. I’ll be taking my accolade back to my hometown of Fishguard, where I hope I’ve made the community proud.”

No stranger to competition, Daniel competed in Masterchef: The Professionals in 2010 and he reached the semi-finals of the National Chef of the Year awards in 2018.

His modern European restaurant JT At the Abergwaun Hotel is steeped in Welsh heritage, supporting local suppliers and offering ingredients like Welsh lamb and beef, plus the famous Fishguard Duck and chicken, along with a selection of fine Welsh cheeses. The A La Carte menu changes daily, depending on what can be sourced that day, from locally foraged, farmed or fished ingredients like local lobster and spider crab.

Daniel will be introducing all-day dining on Saturdays for all to enjoy – including non-hotel guests – and this summer, JT At the Abergwaun Hotel will launch a seven-course tasting menu to showcase Daniel’s award-winning cooking (including his winning dish!) and the local Pembrokeshire produce which he’s so proud of.

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Tuk Tuk touring business with franchise hopes gets licence plate call turned down

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A SOUTH Pembrokeshire three-wheeler ‘tuk tuk’ tour business, which has hopes of creating a country-wide franchise has had a call for discreet signage on a support vehicle turned down.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing sub-committee, meeting on March 27, considered an application to amend standard terms and conditions of a private hire vehicle.

The application, by Lorraine Niederlag of Begelly-based Tuk Tuk Time, asked for standard external private hire plates to instead be displayed internally for its “usually affluent” clients.

The application for this change of plates asked: “We wish to request the removal of the large private hire licensing plates, in exchange for more discreet internal plates. The intention is to focus on tours that would compliment our tuk tuk tours.”

The applicants said the charming three-wheeler Tuk Tuks were usually kept to south Pembrokeshire tours, and were not really suitable for county-wide day trips; the support car being used for that.

“As our clients are usually affluent, it would be detrimental to arrive in a pre-booked vehicle with such a ‘taxi’ image. In view of all bookings being pre-booked, we cannot see any safety issues for clients by more discreet signage,” the application added.

At the committee meeting, TUK Tuk Time said it hoped to use the support vehicle, bearing the signage “Wales’ premier travel” for some short trips from its campsite to restaurants until the business grew.

Lorraine Niederlag told members it was hoped that Tuk Tuk Tours could eventually become a franchise, with similar three-wheeler Tuk Tuk and support car schemes running in other parts of the country.

She told members that if the small plates call was turned down the support vehicle would be sold.


Cover image: Giving a shout out to the Rainbow Delivery Squad are Lorraine Niederlag, family and staff of Tuk Tuk Time. Picture: Gareth Davies Photography

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