Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

News

Serial rogue trader and fly tipper prosecuted

Published

on

A ROGUE trader has started a prison sentence of 19 months after admitting a series of charges following a prosecution by Pembrokeshire County Council Trading Standards, Public Protection Division.

Ashley Price pleaded guilty to 16 charges and appeared before Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, November 25.

The catalogue of offences, dating from February 2019 to January 2022, included theft, fraud, fly-tipping incidents and multiple counts under consumer protection legislation.

The investigation also involved officers from Dyfed-Powys Police and the Waste Management Team of Pembrokeshire County Council.

The court was told that Price, of Waterston Road, Milford Haven, took money from some customers and did not complete work; carried out poor work at other homes and refused refunds; failed to provide paper work and routinely gave false information.

As well as regularly changing the name of his business he often gave his name as Andrew Price.

The first victim was a woman who paid Price – trading as Coast & Country Property Maintenance – £1,100 to replace guttering and soffits.

Price took the money but failed to return to do the work and could not be contacted. Trading Standards officers initially tried to contact Price to provide business advice but he failed to attend an arranged meeting.

Another couple from Carmarthenshire engaged Price trading as New Look Roofing to carry out work on their leaking roof and paid £1000. But it soon became obvious that the work was substandard as some of the plastic boards he had fitted began to fall off the next day. A refund was demanded.

Price claimed at one point someone had been impersonating him despite the victim clearly recognising him as the person who had carried out the work.

The couple were promised a refund of £600 but this never materialised.

In October 2020 police officers received a report of a significant fly-tipping incident in Herbrandston, where a bathroom suite had been dumped.

An address label led police to a couple in Milford Haven who said a man had done some work for them and removed the items for £100. Price was linked to the crime by a flyer he gave the couple for New Look Roofing.

In January 2021 trading as New Look Landscapes, Price cold called at a property in Haverfordwest and agreed to cut down a tree and repair a porch roof for a man. The repair was later found to be substandard. Whilst at the property Price also offered to replace the front door and door frame for £1000. The money was paid but Price never returned.

The same month trading as A & C Roof Care Price cold called at two properties in Narberth and carried out roof repairs. He failed to give paperwork including the statutory cancellation notice.

Most recent charges relate to an elderly vulnerable man who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease who had engaged Price to carry out work on a chimney and replace a garage door in September 2021.

Work was started to take part of the chimney down but not completed despite multiple transfers of several hundred pounds to Price.

Price never handed over any paperwork which was believed to have been a deliberate tactic to confuse an elderly and vulnerable man.

In January 2022 the victim was approached again and had some roof tiles replaced. He contacted the police and Price was arrested.

The court was also told about another fly-tipping incident that Price admitted.

In August 2021 a substantial amount of waste was dumped on land at Walwyn’s Castle and examination of the rubbish by officers from Pembrokeshire County Council Waste Management found details of a business in Cardigan.

The business was contacted and it was confirmed Price had attended to remove the waste.

In mitigation Price’s barrister informed the court was told that Price had no disqualifications and that the offences were committed whilst Price was in a previous relationship when he was using cocaine.

His barrister went onto say that Price was now in a settled relationship and had a young baby.

Price was sentenced to 19 months in prison and will serve at least half of that time. The Court also made a Deprivation Order in respect of the van seized from Price.

Cllr Michelle Bateman, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, paid tribute to the joint working between Pembrokeshire County Council departments and Dyfed-Powys Police.

“This goes to show that no matter how complex the cases, we will continue to investigate rogue traders alongside partners and take them to court.

“Crimes such as those Ashley Price committed have a real impact on the victims who are left to pick up the pieces of shoddy work or left out of pocket when he failed to turn up to do the work he promised.

“Fly-tipping also has a major impact on our communities, blighting our countryside and beauty spots and costing the Council and therefore Council Tax payers to clear away.

“I hope this case acts as a warning to others who would act in the same way.”

 

Community

Manorbier fire scandal: Council’s payout just £63,777 after school destroyed

Published

on

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has accepted an insurance settlement which leaves it with just £63,777.07 after the catastrophic fire which destroyed Manorbier School.

The figure, confirmed in a director’s decision notice dated Tuesday (Jun 23), is likely to appal parents, taxpayers and campaigners who have fought to save the village school.

The council accepted the insurer’s full and final settlement offer of £263,777.07.

But after a £200,000 excess was deducted, the net payment to the authority was only £63,777.07.

Before the fire: Primary school in Manorbier

The fire broke out on October 10, 2022, during roofing works at the school. The council’s own document states that the blaze followed the use of flame torches and caused extensive damage to the original school building and adjoining schoolhouse, destroying the pitched roof structures.

Nearly four years later, the school has been discontinued, the building has not been rebuilt, and the insurance payout left to the council is less than the price of many family homes in Pembrokeshire.

The revelation raises devastating questions about how a public building used by young children could be left so exposed.

It also raises wider concerns about whether other schools and council-owned public buildings in Pembrokeshire are properly insured against catastrophic loss.

Firefighters tackling the blaze on October 10, 2022 (Pics: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Council leader calls for review

Council leader Cllr Tessa Hodgson has now written to Dr Norma Barry, chair of the Governance and Audit Committee, formally requesting a wider review of the authority’s insurance arrangements.

Cllr Hodgson: Wants ‘formal, thorough and more general review’

In her letter, Cllr Hodgson said it was “difficult to explain and to understand” how there could be such a wide gap between the value of the damage to the asset and the value of the settlement figure.

She asked the committee to undertake a “formal, thorough and more general review” to provide assurance that insurance arrangements across the authority are “fit for purpose and robust”.

That request will now place the council’s insurance policies, risk management and decision-making under intense scrutiny.

Bishop of St Davids: The Church has been critical of the local authority’s handling of the fire

Church dispute

The issue is made even more explosive by the fact that Manorbier School is a Church in Wales voluntary controlled school.

The Church has previously made clear that it expects the building to be reinstated, and solicitors acting for the Diocese have already accused the council of using the school closure process to avoid responsibility for rebuilding the fire-damaged premises.

The Diocese has demanded full structural reinstatement and has warned that legal action, including judicial review, could follow.

If the Church continues to insist that the school must be returned to its pre-fire condition, the council could yet face a much larger bill than the £63,777.07 it will receive from the insurer.

Contractor questions

There are also unanswered questions about the roofing contractor working at the site when the fire broke out.

The council document states that the fire occurred during roofing works following the use of flame torches.

Former Schools Overview and Scrutiny Committee chair Cllr Huw Murphy has questioned where the contractor’s public liability insurance was, and why the consequences of the fire appear to have fallen back on the council.

He said there were “serious concerns” over the lack of insurance cover in place for such a catastrophic incident.

Cllr Murphy said the fire not only rendered the school unusable, but also destroyed an attached schoolhouse, leaving a tenant requiring rehousing by the local authority.

He said: “If there was a template on how not to deal with a catastrophic incident then Pembrokeshire wrote it for Manorbier.”

Wider public concern

The Manorbier case now raises a stark question for every parent in Pembrokeshire: if another school suffered a major fire tomorrow, would the council be able to rebuild it?

A large insurance excess may not be unusual for a local authority, but residents will want to know whether the council had the right cover, the right reserves, and the right legal protections in place.

Had Manorbier School been rebuilt, Pembrokeshire would at least have retained a valuable public asset capable of serving future generations.

Instead, the community has lost its school, the building remains unrestored, and the council is left with a net insurance payment of just £63,777.07.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council whether all school buildings are insured for full reinstatement value, what excesses apply, whether any claim has been pursued against the contractor or its insurers, and what legal advice has been received in relation to the Church in Wales’ position.

 

Continue Reading

News

Heatwave disruption: Train cancellation warning for Pembrokeshire travellers

Published

on

Rail operators urge passengers to check before travelling as extreme heat threatens delays and cancellations across Wales

RAIL passengers from Pembrokeshire are being warned to expect disruption this week as soaring temperatures place pressure on Wales’ railway network.

Transport for Wales, Great Western Railway and Network Rail have all issued warnings as an extreme heat alert remains in force across much of Wales, with temperatures forecast to reach the high 30s in some areas.

While no services in Pembrokeshire have been cancelled, passengers travelling to Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol and London are being advised to check before travelling and allow extra time for their journeys.

Transport for Wales has already suspended services on two routes in south Wales due to the forecast conditions, while further disruption is expected elsewhere on the network.

Rail operators say extreme temperatures can cause overhead power lines to sag, increase the risk of trackside fires and, in severe cases, lead to rails buckling. Temporary speed restrictions may also be introduced, resulting in delays and cancellations.

Jake Kelly, deputy chief executive of Network Rail, said: “Extreme heat can have a significant impact on the railway, so safety must come first.

“We’re asking passengers to check before travelling and only travel if absolutely essential during the peak of this weather event.”

Great Western Railway has also advised customers to travel only if necessary on Wednesday (June 24) and Thursday (June 25).

The operator said reduced timetables may be introduced during the hottest parts of the day, with fewer trains running and journey times taking longer than normal.

To help passengers affected by disruption, ticket restrictions have been relaxed, allowing some tickets to be used on alternative travel dates.

Passengers are being urged to carry water, plan ahead and check the latest service information before setting off.

 

Continue Reading

Education

Pembs parents watch closely as Carmarthenshire schools shut in extreme heat

Published

on

PEMBROKESHIRE parents are being urged to check school messages as neighbouring Carmarthenshire prepares to close all secondary schools on Wednesday and Thursday because of extreme heat.

The move in Carmarthenshire has raised questions across west Wales about whether schools in Pembrokeshire could also be affected as temperatures continue to rise.

All secondary schools in Carmarthenshire are set to close for two days, with some primary schools also deciding to shut. There has been no blanket closure decision for primary schools in that county.

In Pembrokeshire, no county-wide secondary school closure announcement has been made at this stage.

Parents should check directly with their child’s school for the latest information, including texts, emails, school apps, websites and social media pages.

The situation may vary from school to school, depending on building conditions, ventilation, classroom temperatures and local circumstances.

The closures in Carmarthenshire come as Wales faces exceptional weather conditions, with concerns about pupil and staff welfare during the heatwave.

Many school buildings, particularly older sites, can become extremely hot during prolonged periods of high temperature.

A Wales-wide picture is now emerging, with schools in several counties considering closures, early finishes or remote learning.

For Pembrokeshire families, the key message is not to assume schools are closed unless official confirmation has been received.

The Herald will continue to monitor updates from Pembrokeshire schools and the county council.

 

Continue Reading

Community6 minutes ago

Manorbier fire scandal: Council’s payout just £63,777 after school destroyed

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has accepted an insurance settlement which leaves it with just £63,777.07 after the catastrophic fire which destroyed...

News9 hours ago

Bus overturns in major incident near Kidwelly

All passengers rescued as emergency services remain at scene A BUS overturned on the A484 between Kidwelly and Ferryside on...

Community1 day ago

Tenby Summer Spectacular cancelled amid council row over harbour access

Organisers say popular charity events cannot safely go ahead without clear powers to control crowds TENBY ROUND TABLE has announced...

News1 day ago

Motorcyclist dies after four-vehicle crash on A40 in Carmarthenshire

A MOTORCYCLIST has died following a four-vehicle collision on the A40 between St Clears and Whitland. Dyfed-Powys Police said the...

News1 day ago

Rhun ap Iorwerth urges new deal for Wales after Starmer quits

First Minister says next Prime Minister must focus on greater powers, fair funding and respect for Wales’ democratic mandate FIRST...

News2 days ago

How Labour’s landslide victory unravelled in just two years

Prime Minister announces resignation after losing support within his own party as Andy Burnham emerges as overwhelming favourite to take...

News2 days ago

Long Course Weekend set to bring thousands to Pembrokeshire

Three days of swimming, cycling and running will once again transform Tenby into one of the UK’s biggest endurance sporting...

Community2 days ago

The gentle giant behind the tattoos

Pembrokeshire security worker Josh Davies praised for professionalism, kindness and proving first impressions can be wrong JOSH Davies is hard...

Charity3 days ago

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at...

Community3 days ago

Lord Rhys emerges from the mist in St Davids

Giant puppet begins historic journey marking 850 years since the first Eisteddfod MIST swirled around St Davids Cathedral on Friday...

Popular This Week