News

Pembrokeshire dairy farm animal welfare improvement bid

Published

2 years ago

February 15, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

AN APPLICATION to modernise a north Pembrokeshire dairy farm close to the Ceredigion border, improving animal welfare, has been backed by county planners.

At the February 13 meeting of Pembrokeshire’s planning committee, an application by Owen Jones for a new cow housing building, including covered feeding and loafing yards and associated works, at Pantygrwndy Farm, Pantygrwndy was recommended for conditional approval.

The farm itself is sited near the A487 Fishguard- Cardigan Trunk Road, approximately a mile south of St Dogmaels and three miles north of Eglwyswrw.

A report for members said: “The application seeks full planning permission for the erection of a new cow housing and covered feeding building. The building would allow for welfare improvements by modernising the cubicle housing for the dairy herd and providing on-farm housing of younger cattle.

“The building would have a footprint of approximately 59.5 metres in length and 44.3 metres in width. With a roofscape comprising two shallow dual pitches the building would rise to a maximum ridge height of 6.5 metres (above slab level) falling to an eaves height of 4.4metres to span the 2600sqm footprint.

“This space would accommodate 228 cattle cubicles, loafing and covered feeding areas.”

It added: “Notwithstanding the large scale of the building, given its well related position immediately next to the existing complex of farm buildings its visual impact would not be significant and can be satisfactorily absorbed into this open countryside agricultural setting.”

Moving approval, Cilgerran county councillor John Davies, representing the neighbouring ward, said Pantygrwndy was “a farm who wants to modernise and become more efficient,” and “deal with the challenges faced by dairy farms”.

Cllr Davies added: “We, as members, can take some positive reassurances that NRW have given a positive green light for this application; we should welcome these kinds of investments, they are difficult to deliver financially.

“There are a new generation of farmers coming through to meet the challenges.”

The application, seconded by Councillor Brian Hall, was unanimously approved.

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

16 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.