News

Fees and charges to rise above inflation for Pembrokeshire County Council services

Published

3 years ago

March 16, 2023

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

INCREASING discretionary fees and charges at above inflation rates – including entrance to Scolton Manor – could net cash-strapped Pembrokeshire nearly £50,000 a year, senior members of the council heard.

At the March meeting of the council’s Cabinet members considered a report listing increased fees and yields for land charges, highways searches, street naming and numbering, street works licences, highways charges and admission to Scolton Manor House.

The proposals follow a public consultation that took place in January and February of this year.

Proposals for new Withybush Airport fees and charges will be presented to Cabinet in April.

A report for Cabinet members said: “Fees and charges are a large contributor to the Authority’s projected income stream for 2023-24, with circa £13.5m coming in from discretionary fees and charges and circa £14.1m from statutory fees and charges.

“Services are now looking to increase well above inflation as in some cases fees have not been increased, even by inflation, for many years. During these tough times it is imperative that services look at their fees and charges annually and make at least inflationary increases in line with the budget strategy.”

Pembrokeshire currently has 71 areas which charge for services, with over 1,500 separate fees and charges. Some of these are either statutory fees or are fees set by other bodies.

Full costs are not being recovered in the majority of cases in the discretionary areas, the report said.

It was recommended the entry charges to Scolton Manor House increase from £3.50-£5,50 for adults, from £2.35-£450 for concessions/seniors, from £2.35-£3.25 for children, with family tickets rising from £9.35-£15.

This is expected to net up to £5,000 a year.

Members unanimously backed the increases, with Councillor Michelle Bateman pointing out that the Scolton Manor charges related to accessing the house itself rather than visiting the site.

News

Pembroke Dock man sent to Crown Court over alleged ABH assault

Published

3 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Charge relates to incident in the town last weekend

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Darren Markes, aged 47, of High Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Markes is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

The charge relates to an alleged incident on Friday (Dec 13) in Pembroke Dock, when it is alleged that Markes assaulted a woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial under the Crime and Disorder Act.

Markes was remanded on conditional bail. Conditions include:

Not contacting a witness, directly or indirectly
Reporting to Pembroke Dock police station every Wednesday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Living and sleeping each night at his home address

He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 16) at 9:30am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

3 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

3 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.