News

Council’s tips on driving in winter conditions in Pembrokeshire

Published

5 years ago

December 29, 2020

WITH colder days ahead, Pembrokeshire County Council has issued the following tips to help drivers prepare their vehicles for winter driving and remain safe.

Remember to prepare your vehicle for winter driving before you set off:

· Check anti-freeze levels
· Top up your screen wash ensuring it is a higher concentrate or it will freeze
· Check tyre pressures
· Keep your lights and windows clean

Winter car essentials: keep an emergency kit in your vehicle including:

· Ice scraper and de-icer
· Mobile Phone
· In car charger or power pack
· Sat-Nav, printed map of an unfamiliar route or road atlas
· Torch and spare batteries
· Blanket, First Aid Kit and warning triangle
· Jump leads
· Snow shovel
· Water and snacks

“Now is a good time for motorists to prepare for winter driving,” said Cllr Phil Baker, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure.

“To keep you, your passengers and other road users safe always take extra care when driving in rain, snow or icy conditions. Our tips will help drivers cope better with the various seasonal weather hazards ahead.

“Always clear your windows and mirrors completely of snow and ice before you set off and set off early as you never know what hazards lay ahead on the road.”

“Remember – as drivers you need to adapt your driving to the different conditions.”

Top winter driving tips:

1. Drive defensively; anticipate the road ahead through observing near, middle and far distance.
2. Keep well within the speed limits; drive to the conditions not the speed limit.
3. Avoid excessive steering and cornering at speed, steer smoothly into bends and corners.
4. Avoid excessive braking, brake gently and use low gears to engine brake.
5. Beware of black ice. Black ice is more prevalent early morning and late at night when temperatures are at their lowest. If the vehicle starts to skid, gently lift off the accelerator and steer in the direction of the skid
6. Avoid overtaking gritting vehicles and snow ploughs, the driver has limited visibility and the road in front of them will be worse than the road behind them.
7. Increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front, stopping distances can increase 10 times that of normal stopping distances.
8. Use second gear when moving off in snow.
9. Select the most suitable gear early when driving up hill, avoids changing gear on the hill and losing momentum.
10. Reduce speed before going downhill, select a low gear and avoid using the brakes.
11. Allow an extra 10 minutes to prepare the car before setting off.
12. Clear snow off of the vehicle before driving off, frozen blocks of snow falling from your vehicle are a hazard to other road users and can slide forward obscuring your visibility.
13. Do not drive off until your windows have fully de-misted and all ice removed.

Crime

Man sentenced for stalking Milford Haven woman

Published

2 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Court Reporter

Restraining order imposed by Haverfordwest magistrates

A MAN has been sentenced after admitting stalking a woman in Milford Haven.

Andrew Richards, 39, of High Street, Neyland, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday (Mar 9).

Richards had previously pleaded guilty to stalking without fear, alarm or distress, contrary to section 2A(1) and (4) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

The court heard that between December 2, 2025 and February 15, 2026, he pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking of Tamsin Matthias and which he knew, or ought to have known, amounted to harassment.

Magistrates imposed a community order running until September 8, 2027.

As part of the order, Richards must undertake alcohol treatment for nine months under the direction of the probation service.

He must also complete up to twenty days of rehabilitation activity as directed by probation.

Richards was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £500 compensation to the victim, £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge.

The court made a restraining order lasting until September 8, 2027.

Under the order, Richards must not contact the victim directly or indirectly and must not post, or cause to be posted, any material on social media or the internet referring to her directly or indirectly.

The court heard a victim personal statement from the complainant, which was read to the court by the prosecutor.

The case was prosecuted by Dennis Davies, with Richards represented by Mike Kelleher.

The hearing was before magistrates Mrs J Morris, Mr C Pattison and Mr J Steadman.

Crime

Man, 80, sentenced for stalking after campaign of unwanted emails and posters

Published

2 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Court Reporter

Restraining order imposed after Haverfordwest case

A MAN has been sentenced for stalking after admitting a campaign of unwanted contact and harassment in Haverfordwest.

Michael Lockheart, 80, of Daisy Lane, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday (Mar 9).

The court had previously heard that between July 27 and September 10, 2025, Lockheart pursued a course of conduct which amounted to stalking.

The offence involved sending numerous unwanted emails after being told to stop making contact, putting up defamatory posters in public places, and sending malicious correspondence to the complainant’s GP and local authority.

Lockheart had entered a guilty plea to stalking without fear, alarm or distress, contrary to section 2A(1) and (4) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, on January 27, 2026.

Magistrates imposed a community order running until March 8, 2028.

As part of that order, Lockheart must undergo non-residential mental health treatment for 12 months under Dr Cormac Duffy, as directed by probation.

He must also complete up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

Lockheart was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation, a £600 fine, £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

The court also made a restraining order lasting until March 8, 2028.

Under that order, he must not seek, approach or communicate with the complainant by any means, directly or indirectly. He must not knowingly enter any address where she is living, and must not post, or cause to be posted, any material online or on social media referring to her directly or by implication.

A victim personal statement was read to the court by the prosecutor.