News

Applications open for restrictions business fund grants

Published

5 years ago

December 20, 2020

APPLICATIONS are now open to the Restrictions Business Fund introduced to support business sectors impacted by the additional Covid-19 restrictions put in place by the Welsh Government on 4th December.

The fund is primarily directed at the hospitality, tourism and leisure related sectors.

The purpose is to aid businesses into the New Year with cash flow support to help them survive the economic consequences of the restrictions put in place.

Hospitality businesses – including cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and accommodation providers such as hotels – which received the NNDR firebreak grant from Pembrokeshire County Council should receive payments via the Restrictions Business Fund into their bank account before Christmas.

If no payment has been received by Christmas then an application will be required. A form for this will be live from Monday, 4th January.

There are two elements to the fund being administered by Pembrokeshire County Council:

The ERF Restrictions NDR Business Fund
ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant

Potential applicants are asked to read the details and eligibility criteria https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support and ensure they apply to the correct fund and only if they are eligible.

Under the ERF Restrictions NDR Business Fund there are three grants available.

Grant A: Businesses in the hospitality sectors that are in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) and have a rateable value of £12,000 or less will be eligible for a £3,000 payment. Tourism, leisure and supply chain businesses qualifying for SBRR will also be eligible for support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.

Grant B: Hospitality businesses with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000 being eligible for a £5,000 payment if they are forced to close. Tourism, leisure and supply chain businesses in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.

Grant C: Hospitality businesses with a rateable value of between £51,001 and £150,000 being eligible for a £5,000 payment if impacted by the restrictions. Tourism, leisure and supply chain businesses in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.

For more information and to apply to the ERF NDR Restrictions Fund, see: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support/restrictions-business-fund

ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant

The Council will continue delivering the Lockdown Discretionary Grant to businesses and sole traders that have been directly impacted by the additional restrictions stated on 4th December.

As with the firebreak, this grant will continue to be targeted at businesses that are not on the NDR system and therefore not eligible for the NDR linked grants.

A discretionary grant of £2,000 is available to assist businesses that have been forced or required to close as a result of the restrictions.

The grant is also available to businesses which are able to demonstrate that the restrictions will result in at least a 40% reduction in their estimated turnover for December 2020 as compared to December 2019 (or September 2020 if not trading in December 2019).

Applications for the ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant will be dealt with on a first come first served basis. This may lead to applications not being appraised after they have been submitted if the fund is fully committed.

For more information and to apply to the ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant, see: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support/restrictions-business-fund-discretionary-grant

It is reiterated that the Restrictions Business Fund outlined above relates to the restrictions put in place on 4th December and not those announced earlier this week and due to come into force later in December.

For more details on the Restrictions Business Fund see: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support

Given the Christmas and New Year break and volume of applications expected, applicants are kindly asked to be patient as the details are processed.

All payments for successful applications will be received within 30 days.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

8 minutes 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 serious allegations following his appearance in the latest magistrates’ court register.

David Guy, 49, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared in court facing multiple charges, all of which have now been deemed too serious for summary trial.

Multiple charges listed in register

The new magistrates’ register shows Guy charged with several offences arising from the same case file. Although individual charge descriptions were not expanded in open court, the register confirms the allegations include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second assault charge
Criminal damage
A further interpersonal violence allegation
A public order offence

All entries relate to the same incident and prosecution reference, presented as a multi-count case.

Defendant remanded into custody

Magistrates ruled that their sentencing powers were insufficient and sent the entire case to Swansea Crown Court for trial.

Guy was remanded in custody, with the register stating: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A hearing date will now be fixed administratively by the Crown Court. Until then, Guy remains remanded.

The Herald will provide updates once the Crown Court listing is confirmed.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

14 minutes 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 of alleged offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, 40, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, faces six linked charges arising from incidents reported to have taken place earlier this year. Alcock, who did not enter pleas during the administrative hearings, appeared on several occasions as the court dealt with bail issues and case management.

Multiple assault allegations
The charges listed before magistrates include:
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional strangulation
Common assault of a woman
Criminal damage relating to a domestic incident
Further assault allegations linked to the same complainant
A breach of bail conditions

The court heard that Alcock had previously been granted conditional bail. However, he was brought back before magistrates twice during the same reporting period for alleged breaches of those conditions, resulting in updated bail decisions.

Bail breached — defendant remanded

On two separate entries in the court register, Alcock was listed as having breached his bail, leading magistrates to remand him into custody pending the next hearing. On other dates within the same week, he was again re-released on conditional bail, with strict terms imposed, including restrictions on contact with the complainant and exclusions from certain locations.

He is now remanded on conditional bail with his next appearance set for Swansea Crown Court, where the more serious matters — including the alleged non-fatal strangulation — will be dealt with.

Case sent to Crown Court

Magistrates directed that the case is too serious to be heard locally and must proceed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.

The Herald understands that all listed charges fall under the same prosecution reference, indicating they form part of a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution. No further details were opened in court at this stage.

Crime

Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands

Published

30 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction

A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.

Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.

Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.

He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.

The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.