News
More complaints about ATEB parking tickets at Dew Street car park
THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD has received a letter from Andrew Phillips, a concerned parent. He contacted this newspaper to complain about the unexpected and, in his opinion, unfair parking charges imposed by ATEB at the Dew Street car park in Haverfordwest.
The incident occurred during a Christmas concert at St Mary’s Church, where Mr. Phillips, accompanied by his little boy, parked in what was once a free car park, assuming Sundays were exempt from charges.
Shockingly, he said, a £60 fine arrived at his doorstep, a bitter pill to swallow during the already challenging festive season.
Mr. Phillips, who is registered blind, emphasised that he utilised a disabled badge and attended the charity concert, expecting a sense of community support from ATEB, a housing association supposedly dedicated to the welfare of Pembrokeshire residents. Instead, he expressed his disappointment in what he perceived as ATEB’s greed, questioning if the fines were a means to fund their library project.
This recent incident sheds light on a broader issue that has plagued Haverfordwest for some time.
Last year, ATEB’s decision to introduce pay and display at the Dew Street old library car park stirred controversy. The local newspapers, including The Herald, reported that only two out of 17 properties adjacent to the site were granted pick-up and drop-off access, with a mere 15-minute grace period.
ATEB justified this by stating these two properties had a legal right of way.
In response to community concerns, ATEB clarified that other properties with a legal right to access, evidenced in house deeds, could apply for a grace period on a case-by-case basis. However, this solution did little to assuage the growing discontent.
The Dew Street car park, once a symbol of free parking in Haverfordwest, became subject to charges following ATEB’s acquisition from Pembrokeshire County Council in late 2022.
An additional hiccup arose when incorrect tariffs were displayed on the signage in October 2022. ATEB acknowledged the error, attributing it to a miscommunication with ATEB’s contractor, ParkingEye, and assured the public that corrections were underway.
The introduction of parking charges, coupled with mismanagement of tariff displays, has left the community disillusioned.
As locals brace themselves for the end of an era and the imposition of up to £150 annual parking permits, questions arise about the impact on the less fortunate during these challenging financial times.
The Dew Street car park, once a communal space, is now marred by frustration and resentment. As ATEB continues its development plans for the old library complex, the community is left to grapple with the unintended consequences of parking charges that seem to disproportionately affect those who can least afford them.
In the spirit of the season, as families come together to celebrate, the community of Haverfordwest finds itself divided by parking woes, a bitter reminder that the joy of the holidays can be overshadowed by the burden of unexpected fines.
The cry for fairness echoes in Andrew Phillips’ letter, urging a closer look at the impact of ATEB’s parking policies on the people of Pembrokeshire.
Many are asking why does there need to be parking charges at all?
ParkingEye is also striking elsewhere in west Wales. People parking in a Cardigan town centre car park are now in danger of receiving a £100 notice following the introduction of the Parkingeye system in Coleg Ceredigion.
Crime
Police arrest suspects following vehicle interferences in Haverfordwest
HAVERFORDWEST police responded swiftly after reports of multiple vehicle interferences in the Tasker Way area on Sunday night/early Monday morning (Nov 4).
Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPPT) conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, gathering evidence and reassuring the community. These efforts led to the identification of two suspects.
Both NPPT and Response teams acted promptly, locating and arresting the suspects, who are now in police custody.
News
Ancient Welsh hymns brought into 21st century with unique collaboration between Lleuwen Steffan and National Eisteddfod
Some of Wales’ long-forgotten hymn tunes are being brought vividly back to life this month, thanks to award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Lleuwen Steffan and her unique collaboration with the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
Performing as ‘Tafod Arian’ (Silver Tongue), the collaboration pays homage to the lost voices of the past, and infuses these timeless melodies with some highly contemporary electronic arrangements.
The project originated in 2012 when Lleuwen was working on a music project at St Fagan’s National History Museum where she came across some long-forgotten recordings of hymns which had been left in the sound archives. None of these hymns could be found in the official hymn books nor the older hymnal editions, possibly as the result of their informal, conversational lyrics, or because they often delved into the world of addiction, mental illness and the darker side of the psyche.
But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited by Tafod Arian.
With translations and insights, the tour breathes new life into archive recordings, ensuring these cherished sacred songs rightfully claim their place in today’s spotlight. Lleuwen masterfully combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, seamlessly blending the past with the present, and takes the stage alongside a dynamic quintet of international musicians including Sioned Webb and Gethin Elis from Wales, and Nolwenn Korbell and Brieg Guerveno from Brittany.
Despite the hymns’ long-distant past, the music is firmly in the present as Lleuwen uses various instruments to provide angular electronic accompaniment as well as her soulful vocals and guitar. She provides translations and explanations as she proudly puts the archive recordings of the lost |Welsh hymns on centre stage. As a result, these sacred songs are being passed on orally rather than via the hymn book which is precisely how Welsh folk music was conveyed.
The long-forgotten hymns will be heard once again in all their glory at Tabernacle Chapel, Maenclochog on Sunday, November 17 at 6.30pm.
Crime
Suspended sentence for Goodwick man who sent sexual messages to young girl
THE FATHER of a young girl sent sexual messages to an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online, Swansea Crown Court heard this week.
An undercover police officer posed as a 12-year-old girl on the website RandoChat, with the decoy’s profile stating they were 18.
James Roberts messaged the decoy on 9 August, stating he was “looking for a naughty girl”.
The decoy promptly informed him that she was 12 years old; however, the defendant continued to send messages referencing sexual acts and self-gratification.
Roberts added the decoy on Snapchat, claiming to be 19 and living in England.
He again sent sexualised messages and, referring to the decoy’s age, said they were “never too young to start sending pictures”.
The defendant also told the decoy that he was having similar sexual conversations with a 14-year-old, Mr Dickens said.
Police attended Roberts’ home in Goodwick on 17 August, and he was arrested. He denied having a mobile phone, claiming he “had sent it off to Samsung to be fixed” but was “extremely vague” when asked for further details. Mr Dickens said no phone was ever recovered by police.
The 28-year-old Roberts pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. The court heard that he had no previous convictions.
Hannah George, in mitigation, said the defendant showed “some degree of remorse” and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
“In the 13 months since he was interviewed there have been no further offences,” she said.
Ms George said Roberts had suffered “significant” shame and embarrassment as a result of the offences, and it had led to him losing his job.
He had previously been diagnosed with PTSD and suffered “deep periods of depression”, Ms George said.
She added that his contact with his young daughter “has been diminished” following these offences.
“You were in contact online with who you firmly believed to be a 12-year-old girl,” said Judge Paul Thomas KC, addressing Roberts.
“You have a two-year-old daughter. Just think how you would feel if a man in his thirties tried to have that sort of conversation with her in 10 years’ time.”
Roberts was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 35 days of an accredited programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement programme days.
He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and was made the subject of a three-year sexual harm prevention order.
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