News

Development rules could be relaxed

Published

11 years ago

June 23, 2014

FOLLOWING concerns that some people are being priced out of the housing market, rules on development could be relaxed.

The National Park met in Tenby on Wednesday to discuss implementing new planning guidance. If it is accepted it will come in to effect on July 1 and will then be renewed after the first three months. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park has a target of building 35 affordable homes each year, but the authority has found that only an average of three are being built. Providing building plots or sites earmarked for only affordable housing are just some of the solutions being considered. The homes, including social or council, will be for sale or rent at below market rates so they are affordable to those on a lower income. The Office for National Statistics revealed that the average gross full time salary for Pembrokeshire was just under £20,000 in 2012. That was compared to £22,500 for the rest of Wales and nearly £27,000 across Britain. A new document on planning guidance said that between 60 and 100 more homes are needed each year and also added there was a backlog of around 460 affordable homes within the National Park’s boundaries in 2008. Between 2007 and 2013 only 21 of the 289 homes that were built in the park were classed as affordable. Guidelines were adopted in 2010 but consultants are working with Pembrokeshire County Council, estate agents, landowners and housing associations to revise them. Head of park direction Martina Dunne said: “What we are proposing in the current economic climate is a more flexible and streamlined system to help meet local housing need but which also allows room for negotiations with developers and landowners about affordable housing contributions.” As a result of the new guidance planners will be able to be more flexible on issues such as the design of the site and the mix of affordable and full-cost housing if it proves to be a more financially viable development. Developers may also be encouraged to make plots available for self-build projects if they are unable to build the affordable homes. Social housing grants from the Welsh Government would also be available Ceri Dunstan of Shelter Cymru said the homeless charity welcomed steps to increase the supply of affordable homes as long as schemes enjoyed community support and preserved the character of the local area. “It’s not just a matter of building lots of houses – we need sustainable communities where people are able to live and work,” she said. “This is why we also believe it is vital that developments in areas such as Pembrokeshire, where house prices have far outstripped average salaries, should remain affordable in perpetuity, not sold on the open market where they are no longer community assets.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.