News

Public urged avoid Preseli Hills as further snow is forecast

Published

5 years ago

February 11, 2021

THE NATIONAL PARK, Dyfed-Powys Police and Pembrokeshire County Council are urging people to stay home and avoid travelling to the Preseli Hills with more snow forecast in the coming days.

The current Alert Level 4 restrictions in Wales require people to stay at home and not to travel without reasonable excuse. Exercise should begin and end at home and you must not drive to a location away from home for this purpose, unless you need to due to specific health or mobility issues.

National Park Authority North Area Ranger, Richard Vaughan said: “Already this year hundreds of people have headed to Preselis after a period of snow. Despite the fact they should not have been there in the first place, people were trespassing on private land including fields where livestock is present and leaving litter behind for somebody else to clean up.

“There will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the snow on the Preselis once restrictions are lifted, but for now please stay home and protect each other, the emergency services and our farming communities.”

Superintendent of Pembrokeshire Division, Anthony Evans added: “We understand that this is a very difficult time for everyone, and that beauty spots such as the Preseli Hills are particularly tempting, especially with the forecast of snow. But there is very good reason for the level four restrictions and the requirement to stay at home.

“It’s been disappointing for officers carrying out high-visibility patrols in areas such as this, when they’ve seen scenes where hundreds of vehicles are present, and some had travelled considerable distances too. I must emphasise that everyone has a personal responsibility to adhere to Welsh Government essential travel lockdown restrictions at this time due to the risks posed. Where engagement with people fails, fixed penalty notices have and will be issued to blatant breaches.”

Cllr Phil Baker, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “Travelling to the Preseli Hills or anywhere else following snow fall is not essential travel, no matter how tempting. Driving in slippery conditions also makes the chances of being involving in an accident far greater at a time when our health services are already stretched.

“During snow and icy conditions our Winter Maintenance teams will be out gritting roads and inconsiderate parking also makes it far more difficult for them to carry out their important work.

“Please take responsibility for keeping yourself and your family safe by staying home and not putting others at risk should you break down or require rescue.”

For full details of what you can and can’t do under the Welsh Government’s Alert Level 4 restrictions please visit https://gov.wales/alert-level-4.

For the latest covid-19 service updates from the National Park Authority visit www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/coronavirus.

Crime

Carmarthen man admits takeaway burglaries

Published

5 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Court Reporter

Phillip Roberts stole cash from USA Chicken and returned the following day with intent to steal

A CARMARTHEN man has admitted a string of burglaries at the same takeaway business on consecutive days.

Phillip Roberts, 44, of Brewery Road, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to three offences connected to USA Chicken on Blue Street.

The court heard that on June 4, Roberts entered the premises as a trespasser and stole a tip jar containing cash. He also admitted a second burglary at the same business on the same date, during which £50 cash was stolen.

A further offence took place on June 5, when Roberts entered USA Chicken as a trespasser with intent to steal.

Magistrates adjourned sentence for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. The report will consider all sentencing options, including possible committal to the Crown Court.

Roberts was granted conditional bail. He must not enter USA Chicken, Blue Street, and must not contact Mustafa Baksi, either directly or indirectly.

He is due to return to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 1 for sentence.

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service urges public to ‘choose wisely’ as pressures continue

Published

6 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has issued a fresh appeal to the public following the declaration of a critical incident on Friday (June 26), as exceptionally high demand continues to place pressure on crews across Wales.

In a social media post published today (Saturday, June 27), the Trust warned that hot weather is contributing to a rise in ambulance call-outs, including incidents involving heat-related illness, falls, breathing difficulties and existing medical conditions worsened by the heat.

The message comes less than 24 hours after the service declared a critical incident amid unprecedented demand, with ambulance resources stretched across Wales.

The Trust is urging people to call 999 only for serious or life-threatening emergencies, contact NHS 111 Wales for urgent health advice, and use local pharmacies for minor illnesses and ailments.

It said choosing the right service can help ambulance crews reach the sickest patients more quickly while pressures remain high.

Crime

Six arrested after immigration raids at Florentino’s restaurants

Published

7 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIX people have been arrested following Immigration Enforcement raids at Florentino’s Italian restaurants in Tenby and Carmarthen.

Officers visited the Tenby branch in St Julian’s Street on June 18, where two Romanian nationals were identified as allegedly having no right to work in the UK. Both were arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Tenby operation followed an earlier raid at Florentino’s in Carmarthen in February, where four workers — two Romanian nationals, a Bangladeshi national and a Mongolian national — were also arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Herald previously reported in March that the Carmarthen restaurant had been linked to a major HMRC case, after Claudio Cernat Ltd, formerly trading as Florentino’s on Jacksons Lane, was listed over a £278,000 deliberate tax underpayment and a further £186,000 penalty.

Immigration officials say inquiries are now under way to establish who may be liable for employing the individuals. Employers found to have breached illegal working rules can face civil penalties of up to £60,000 per worker.

One of the Tenby workers has already returned, while the other is in the process of returning. Of the Carmarthen workers, two have returned, one was placed on immigration bail and another was de-arrested with a warning.

Immigration Enforcement Lead for Wales, Richard Johnson, said: “I want to thank my officers who showed the highest levels of professionalism under challenging circumstances on these operations.

“Immigration Enforcement teams in Wales continue to work round the clock to ensure businesses play by the rules and those with no right to be in the UK are tracked down and returned at the earliest opportunity.”

The Home Office says illegal working enforcement has increased significantly since July 2024, with raids and arrests rising across the UK and Wales.

No finding has yet been made against the restaurant operators in relation to the latest arrests.

Florentino’s has been approached for comment.