News
Secret session discusses unlawful Bryn payments

IF you were one of the people trying to find out how controversial Council fat cat Bryn Parry Jones had responded to a Council request to pay back the unlawful payments he received, tough luck! Despite the fact the contents of the letter responding to the Council’s request were already in the public domain, the discussion of how public money had been spent on a public servant was held in private. Conservative group leader David Howlett told the Herald: “With David Bryan, I voted for a public debate which was lost and so we went into private session. We supported a Plaid amendment that it would be foolish to pursue court action due to costs but expressed regret that the money was not being returned. “Some IPPG members supported this and had Labour members also supported it, we would have won. Because Labour did not support the Plaid amendment, we had another vote to take no further action, from which I abstained. “Labour’s stance meant the end result was no further action would be taken. I have to ask whether (Labour leader) Paul Miller sees this as a result, because that is what he and his group made sure happened.” Labour leader Paul Miller told us: “On principle, the Labour group decided not to accept anything less than the Chief Executive being forced to pay back the money unlawfully paid to him. “The vote today is not the end of the matter. “I still firmly believe that the Council must take action to get the money back.” Accepting a request from Bryn Parry Jones’ union Councillors chose to discuss Bryn’s letter, which told his employer to get lost, behind closed doors and with the cameras turned off. That union’s request was backed by the Council’s Head of Legal Services, who said: “Members have strong feelings about this issue, it is the case, in my opinion, that all employees of the Council do have a legitimate and reasonable expectation, both in employment terms and in accordance with their human rights, that their relationship with their employer should be conducted in appropriate confidence. “ The letter’s content was reported online and reveals: • Bryn gave the unlawful payments he received to his wife for her to invest; • Bryn claims his employer acted unlawfully by ceasing to make unlawful payments to him; • Bryn alleges that he has suffered a detriment by not receiving the unlawful payments. In addition to the above, Mr Parry Jones relies upon advice given to the Council that it was doubtful whether he could be compelled to disgorge the unlawful payments back to his employer. That element of his response is likely to cause particular controversy, as the Council’s CEO did not contribute to the cost of the legal advice he now relies upon to buttress his refusal to repay the money he received from the Council. Mr Parry Jones, whose Porsche sports saloon is paid for and insured by Council Tax payers, claims that he was entitled to rely upon the unlawful payments continuing to help plan his retirement and alleges a breach of contract by the Council in failing to make contributions to his pension. However, if the Council had continued to make unlawful payments to its CEO then it would itself have been acting unlawfully. Mr Parry Jones’ suggestion that he should have continued to receive the unlawful payments not only flies in the face of reason, but also suggests that he would have preferred the Authority to spend more Council Tax payers’ money defending his RIGHT to receive unlawful payments in the High Court. Again, at NO cost to himself. In addition, the whole scheme was hatched in order to help the CEO avoid tax on his massive publicly funded pension. The Council did not force Mr Parry Jones to accept the unlawful payments. Instead, he voluntarily entered the scheme in order to avoid future tax payments on his seven-figure pension pot. That scheme was hatched after Westminster government changed the Local Government Pension Scheme rules when it became clear that the system of tax relief was being abused by a minority of senior officers across the UK. The Pembrokeshire Herald asked the County Council to comment both on the letter’s content and the fact that it had been leaked. A Council spokesperson told us: “The letter to which you refer is marked private and confidential. It is not appropriate for us to comment on its contents.”
News
Milford Haven gas imports at risk as Iran votes to close Strait of Hormuz

Qatari tankers could be blocked from reaching Wales if Gulf tension escalates
IRAN has voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to cut off LNG supplies to Milford Haven and raising the stakes in an already volatile Middle East crisis.
The vote, passed by Iran’s parliament on Sunday (June 22), comes in retaliation for recent US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. While the decision has not yet taken effect, and must still be approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, the symbolic move has sent shockwaves through global energy markets.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow but vital shipping lane between Iran and Oman through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports flow. This includes the majority of Qatar’s LNG shipments—gas that arrives in Wales via Milford Haven, one of the UK’s most strategically important energy ports.
Senior Iranian military commanders have warned that retaliation is “already under way” and that the closure of the strait remains on the table as a military and economic weapon. General Esmail Kowsari of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard told Iranian media: “Closing Hormuz is under consideration… Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy.”
A direct threat to Wales

Milford Haven’s two LNG terminals—South Hook and Dragon—receive regular shipments from Qatar’s Ras Laffan port. With Qatar entirely reliant on free access through Hormuz, any disruption, even temporary, could choke off Britain’s most reliable source of imported gas.
“This isn’t a theoretical risk,” a senior UK energy analyst told The Herald. “If the Strait closes, Qatar can’t deliver, and Milford Haven’s supply is directly impacted. It’s a sharp reminder that our energy security is still tied to global flashpoints.”
Shipping industry sources have reported increased GPS interference, spoofing signals, and navigation issues in the Gulf, raising concerns about potential Iranian sabotage or electronic warfare. Some LNG tankers have already begun rerouting or delaying travel through the area.

Economic impact already being felt
Global oil prices surged past $100 per barrel on Monday, while UK gas futures climbed sharply in early trading. Analysts warn that if the closure proceeds, prices could leap to $120 or more, with ripple effects across heating bills, manufacturing costs, and inflation.
“If Qatari tankers are forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, it would add two weeks to shipping times and increase insurance and fuel costs,” said energy security expert Dr Leila Marwood of King’s College London. “That cost ends up hitting British consumers directly—especially in winter.”
Milford Haven’s terminals are equipped with local storage capacity, and contingency plans are being reviewed to manage supply shortfalls. However, alternative sources such as US or African LNG come with longer delivery times and higher prices.
Strategic wake-up call
Milford Haven plays a vital role in Britain’s energy infrastructure, with capacity to handle over 30% of the country’s gas needs during peak periods. Any sustained disruption would place further strain on a system already navigating post-Brexit import pressures, North Sea production decline, and the global transition to renewable energy.
One local port expert told The Herald: “This isn’t just about Iran or Israel—it’s about what’s coming through our own port here in Pembrokeshire. If tankers stop arriving in the Haven, the knock-on effect will be felt across the UK.”
Although the Iranian vote is not yet legally binding, Western intelligence officials warn it reflects a dangerous shift in Tehran’s posture—and that military escalation in the Gulf could trigger action at short notice.
As diplomatic efforts intensify behind the scenes, Milford Haven remains in the spotlight. The port may be thousands of miles from the Strait of Hormuz, but its future—as well as the UK’s winter gas reserves—may soon be shaped by events in the Persian Gulf.
Community
West Wales activist recalls fear and resolve after Gaza march derailed in Egypt

Jim Scott from Mathry describes stressful journey, adapted plans, and Egyptian fears over diplomatic fallout
A PEMBROKESHIRE campaigner who travelled to Egypt this month to join the Global March to Gaza has shared his personal account of a fraught and ultimately curtailed international effort to demonstrate solidarity with Palestinians trapped under siege.

Jim Scott, from Mathry near St Davids, was among a small group of UK and Welsh activists who travelled to Cairo with the hope of reaching the Rafah crossing—via Ismailia and the Sinai desert—to hold a peaceful humanitarian presence near Gaza’s border.
The march, which attracted thousands of participants from more than 54 countries, was intended as a symbolic act calling for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. But on the ground, Scott says, the effort quickly became complicated by shifting instructions, heavy surveillance, and growing pressure from Egyptian authorities.
“A moral imperative”

“I spent a week wrestling with the decision,” Scott told The Herald. “It felt like a moral imperative. I didn’t know if I was going or not—then I started planning, and the act of planning became part of the commitment.”
He flew to Cairo in early June and connected with other participants via local and international chat groups. At least eight to ten people from Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, including members of CND Cymru, had joined the international delegation.
Scott said that the original plan—to take organised buses from Cairo to Al Arish and walk approximately 30 miles through the Sinai desert to Rafah—began to shift around June 13 as questions emerged about whether the Egyptian government would permit the action to proceed.
“The bus plan hadn’t disintegrated exactly—it had adapted,” he said. “There was a lot of uncertainty about whether we would be allowed to reach Rafah, so the guidance started to change.”
Changing plans and regional detours

On June 14, Scott and his travelling companion Jo Barrow—who works as a teacher in Iraq—opted to take an alternate route to Ismailia by heading north from Cairo via Zagazig, avoiding heavily monitored roads.
“We realised that taking the main highway would likely bring us into contact with checkpoints,” he said. “Our route wasn’t risk-free, but it was more discreet.”
As they travelled, group chats lit up with reports of growing interference. “From the 13th and 14th onwards, we started hearing that people were being stopped, some had their passports taken, and the situation was getting more difficult. There was fragmentation. People were getting stuck, some were being turned back.”
“No tourists permitted to remain”

After arriving in Ismailia, the pair received location instructions for a tourist resort rumoured to be able to accommodate 4,000 marchers. But confusion and logistical disarray followed.
“We reached Ismailia after dark and ended up being redirected from our accommodation,” Scott said. “We were getting two to three hours of sleep a night. The sense of being watched hadn’t stopped.”
The next day, while near the resort, Scott and Barrow were approached by police. Initially, the officers were courteous, but then one delivered a translated message using a phone:
“I am the Egyptian police. No tourists are permitted to remain in this area. You have to go back to Cairo immediately or you will be arrested.”
They complied and were instructed to book a hotel in Cairo to confirm their travel. The pair left Ismailia and returned to the capital, where the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense.
“By that point, UK organisers were reportedly being detained in cafés, and it was clear downtown Cairo was no longer safe,” Scott recalled. “We relocated south of the city. It was stressful—people felt they could be arrested at any moment. The surveillance was constant, and hotels were passing information to authorities.”
Egyptian fears over diplomatic fallout

Scott said conversations with Egyptian locals offered insight into the government’s motivations.
“The word on the street from Egyptian people was that the authorities were genuinely fearful for our safety. They felt that if Israel opened fire and foreign nationals were killed, it would trigger a huge diplomatic crisis—and devastate Egypt’s tourism industry, which is vital for the country.”
He said locals acknowledged that foreign protesters were being treated more gently than Egyptian citizens would have been. “One said to me: ‘They treat you like babies compared to how they treat us.’”
According to Reuters, over 400 activists were deported and dozens more detained. The march was officially cancelled on June 16.
Scott returned to the UK on June 20. Barrow returned to Iraq the next day.
“Far more than a performative action”
Despite the disruption, Scott believes the effort had a lasting impact.
“This was far more than a performative action,” he said. “We had no choice but to act and fill a void. When governments fail to uphold international law, ordinary people have to step in.”
In a letter to Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell and Eluned Morgan MS before departing, Scott wrote: “I feel I must act where you have not acted. The UK Government has failed to stop a genocide and has, in fact, been complicit by continuing to authorise arms sales and military cooperation with Israel.”
He welcomed Morgan’s later remarks acknowledging that Welsh citizens had travelled to Egypt for the march and said it was important to have that public recognition.
“For some people watching back home, it wasn’t just another protest. It was their loved ones out there. That helped build awareness in a new way.”
Community
Five call outs for Angle RNLI in just one week

ANGLE RNLI volunteers have had a busy week, with five shouts in just seven days — including two late-night launches, a drifting boat, and two separate incidents on the Cleddau Bridge.
Late-night lifeboat launch after drifting boat reported
In the early hours of Sunday morning (June 22), the crew were woken at 1:54am to reports of a vessel drifting near Lawrenny Quay. The all-weather lifeboat launched swiftly and began searching the area, deploying the smaller Y boat up the Cresswell River while the main crew combed the Carew River and Lawrenny moorings.
With nothing spotted, they pushed on up the Cleddau as far as Llangwm. Thankfully, no one was found in danger, and the crew were stood down around 4:20am. Tenby and Broad Haven Coastguard teams were also on scene carrying out searches from the shoreline.
False alarm near Wards Pier
On Wednesday evening (June 18), lifeboat crew already training at the station were sent out after reports of two 12-year-olds in the water off Wards Pier. They launched quickly and arrived on scene to find no sign of anyone in difficulty — just a few fishermen who hadn’t seen anything.
After a short coordinated search with Dale Coastguard and police, the call was confirmed as a false alarm. The crew were back at the jetty by 7:30pm.
Yacht breakdown sparks rescue mission
On Monday morning (June 16), at 10:19am, the Angle crew were called out to assist a 37-foot yacht with three people on board, drifting three miles south-west of St Ann’s Head with engine failure.
The yacht was under sail but unable to reach safety. A tow was passed, and the lifeboat took the vessel to Hobbs Point, transferring to an alongside tow for the final stretch. The mission was completed by 1:00pm, and the lifeboat was made ready for its next job.
Two separate shouts to Cleddau Bridge
There were also two call-outs to the Cleddau Bridge — one on Saturday afternoon (June 21) and one this evening (June 22) at 5:23pm — both for incidents where police requested assistance. In both cases, the crew were preparing to launch but were stood down before hitting the water, after officers confirmed the incidents had been safely resolved.
Volunteers always ready
The RNLI crew at Angle remain on call 24/7, ready to respond no matter the time, weather or nature of the call. As this week shows — whether it’s a drifting boat, missing children, or a stricken yacht — they’re always ready to answer the call.
Brave volunteers: Ready at all hours to keep our coastlines safe (Pic: RNLI Angle)
-
Crime6 days ago
Neyland man to appear in court facing child sexual offence charges
-
Crime6 days ago
Charges of extreme pornography and indecent images of children
-
Crime5 days ago
Neyland man admits making indecent images of children
-
Crime1 day ago
Milford Haven woman and inmate to appear in court following drugs raid
-
Crime5 days ago
Oil refinery worker caught drink-driving on wrong side of the road
-
News5 days ago
Councillor accused of conflict of interest over planning vote on rival venue
-
Crime6 days ago
Rosemarket man avoids jail after breaching court order and stalking victim
-
News5 days ago
Sentence reduced for driver who caused baby’s death outside Withybush Hospital
Roy
August 1, 2014 at 4:00 pm
The ruling IPPG kid themselves they have “turned the corner” and are improving services through “safeguarding” (from whom?) On the pension Bryn has become a liability – avarice and arrogance taking precedence in equal measure. We have the grants scheme in Pembroke Dock, there is more to it than just a slum landlord making a few bob, why else do they try to cover it up? Who’s in charge of the council and hence attempts at cover up?
We have child abuse, possibly it could have been stopped 6 years before it was, who was directly warned about this?
Bryn has had a very distinctive style of management over a number of years, the chickens are coming home to roost, and there are many more chickens still to roost!
Who drives to work in an expensive sports care, on the taxpayer?
Most councillors are well meaning and have good intent. They have simply tolerated this man because they try to tell themselves the bigger picture looks better. He is now a political liability far beyond what any potential cost of getting rid of him amounts to. Dismiss him and fight him in court if need be, or do they need to wait for the next turd to drop on county hall?
woody
August 2, 2014 at 9:55 am
Good luck PCC and EMF in getting any money back, either from Bryn or Mccosker. There isn\’t a crow bar on earth big enough to prise a penny out of there greedy grabbing hands.
tomos
August 4, 2014 at 8:42 am
Is Mccosker the infamous second person who benefitted from the illegal payment?
I’m also guessing these two are on some sort of final salary pension scheme so Mr Mccosker pensions will have been based on an illegal final salary ?