News
‘Disagreement with landlord’ means that Haverfordwest Debenhams will close
FORTY FIVE staff will lose their jobs following the announcement that the Haverfordwest branch Debenhams will close on November 10.
According to a member of staff calling from the score, who did not want to be named, the store was supposed to remain open.
However, the Herald understands, failure to reach an agreement with the landlord over a proposed rent deduction means that landlord now wants Debenhams to leave.
The retailer says the store closures will start next year and 1,200 staff across the UK will be affected by the first phase.
A spokesman told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “Following the decision to redevelop the site, our store will close in November. We are keeping our colleagues and customers informed and thank them for their understanding.
“We had hoped to keep the store open, but the landlord has decided to use the space for other purposes. The nearest Debenhams store will now be at Carmarthen.”
50 branches have been earmarked for closure. Debenhams is the largest department store chain in the UK, with 166 stores and roughly 25,000 employees. In Wales, there are stores in Haverfordwest, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Swansea, Cardiff, Bangor, Wrexham, Newport, Merthyr and Llandudno.
The chain has passed through a pre-pack administration process, which allows a company sell itself or its assets, as a going concern, without affecting the operation of the business. Yet this will see shareholders lose their investments in the company.
Mike Ashley, founder and owner of Sports Direct, held a near-30% stake in the company, which had cost around £150m to build up, and on Monday (Apr 8), Debenhams rejected a £150m rescue offer from Sports Direct.
In April a £200m offer was also rejected, as it would have seen Mr Ashley made Chief Executive and the lenders were suspicious of his intentions. Many thought that Ashley hoped to merge Debenhams and House of Fraser, which he acquired in 2018 after it entered administration.
Three years ago Debenhams was worth £900m, as of this week it is now worth £20m.
Three profit warnings were issued last year, and 2018 also saw a record pre-tax loss of £491.5m. The chain also has a debt pile of £622m.
Crime
Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property
A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.
Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.
The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.
The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.
The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.
News
Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’
THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”
The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.
Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”
NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.
“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.
“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”
The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”
This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.
Community
Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed
RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.
The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.
Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.
With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.
“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”
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