Business

Carew scrap yard was ‘dangerously near water source’

Published

10 years ago

October 27, 2014

Tom Sinclair

Scrap yard: Did not have correct permits

A BUSINESS trio adopted an attitude of brinkmanship and ran the risk of poisoning thousands of people in Pembrokeshire, a judge heard today.

George Jones, his partner Jennifer Frearson and his son Nening Jones, operated a scrap metal business at Carew Airfield in breach of regulations and close to a water source used as a reserve for supplies of drinking water.

Judge Paul Thomas said at today’s sentencing hearing they ignored letters and advice in the pursuit of “staggering” amounts of money that may have exceeded £1.2m.

Although no actual harm was caused, he added, all three had followed a cavalier attitude of brinkmanship and “pushed matters to the limit.”

George Jones, 57, and Frearson, aged 46, both of Strawberry Fields, Clayford Road, Kilgetty, and Nening Jones, 34, of Sageston near Tenby, admitted or were found guilty after a trial of operating a scrap metal facility without a permit, duty of care offences and failing to keep adequate records.

JONES NEARLY JAILED

George Jones, who had a previous conviction for contravening environmental health regulations, was told by Judge Thomas he had come close to being sent to prison.

He was instead made the subject of a two year community order and told to carry out 260 hours of unpaid work for the community. Frearson and Nening Jones received 12 month orders and told to carry out 160 and 50 hours of work respectively.

Enviroventure Ltd was fined a nominal £1 for each of four offences.

Swansea crown court heard that “further consequences” could follow once a Proceeds of Crime investigation had been completed. That will reveal how much the trio made from the venture and what could be confiscated by way of money and assets.

Danger to water-source: Waste could have polluted drinking water

Danger to heath: Waste could have polluted drinking water

Judge Thomas told the defendants, “The regulations for such matters are there not because someone wants to be picky but for the protection of the environment and, by extension, the welfare of people living in the area.

“There was no actual harm here but there was a risk of harm.”

George Jones, he added, had come across during his trial as a dishonest man.

He had recruited Frearson, added Judge Thomas, as “a face, a patsy” to cover his involvement. And he had used his son Nening Jones as his “apprentice.”

The court heard that Frearson “had absolutely no knowledge” of how to run a waste management operation.

‘BEING A DIRECTOR HAS RESPONSIBILITIES’ – JUDGE THOMAS

But Judge Thomas said that becoming a company director “was not just something that looks good on a passport” but brought with it responsibilities.

Mary Youell, South West Operations Manager for Natural Resources Wales, said after the hearing that the scrap metal operation was still functioning, but in compliance with the regulations.

She said NRW was only too keen to work with companies in the recycling of materials and in the proper disposal of waste. But the regulations had to be abided by.

“We hope the outcome of this case will send out a positive message to the waste industry, that Natural Resources Wales supports legitimate business and will not tolerate those who seek to profit by breaking the law, risking harm to local communities or damaging the environment.

“The motivation behind the crime was financial. The site did not have the necessary permissions and consequently the infrastructure to protect the environment and it undercut legitimate, permitted sites,” she added.

The POC investigation is expected to be completed by March, when a further court hearing will take place.

£660K IN CASH PAYMENTS

The Environment Agency told The Herald: “Officers carried out site visits between May and October 2011 and found numerous breaches of the ELV permit held for the Scrapyard area. This involved the depollution of vehicles on site which did not have the required infrastructure to do so; inappropriate storage of batteries; drainage issues; areas of the site where bunding and concrete was not being maintained.

A spokesman added: “Waste materials such as tyres, waste vehicles and oil drums were also observed being stored outside of the permitted area. Numerous oil spillages were also observed on site. Waste tyres, scrap metal and general skip waste were also stored at the Workshop and Northern Yard areas without an environmental permit and outside the terms and conditions of any registered exemptions. Approximately £660K was paid in cash to Enviroventure Ltd for sale of scrap metal originating from the Scrapyard for the period when they did not hold an environmental permit or exemption to operate a general scrapyard from the site and for the sale of scrap vehicles when they were not compliant with their ELV permit.”

“A total of 20 charges were brought against Enviroventure Ltd and Nenning Jones combined for offences relating to operating outside the terms of an environmental permit and also operating and knowingly causing / permitting the operation of a regulated facility without the benefit of an environmental permit between 1 June 2011 and 31 December 2011.”

Business

UK government commits £3.27m to mental health support in Port Talbot

Published

6 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Funding aimed at helping steelworkers stay in or return to work

MORE than £3 million is being invested by the UK Government and Neath Port Talbot Council to boost mental health services for Tata Steel workers, their families and the wider Port Talbot community.

The £3.27 million package, announced by Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens on Wednesday (March 27), forms part of the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board’s wider £80 million support fund. Over £50 million has already been allocated to help steelworkers and supply chain businesses as the company moves to greener steelmaking.

The new funding will focus on mental health and wellbeing – an area identified as crucial for helping those affected by the transition to secure and sustain employment.

Services set to benefit include:

Recruitment of additional counsellors to support affected workers
Grants and resources for existing mental health provision
Expansion of peer and community support networks such as Men’s Sheds and She Sheds
Support in schools for children impacted by changes at Tata Steel
Specialist advice on welfare and debt for affected families
Suicide prevention and awareness training for council and trade union support staff

The funding is flexible and could be increased depending on demand.

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:
“The past 18 months have been incredibly difficult for the steelworkers of Port Talbot, their families and the wider community. We said we would back them in whatever ways were needed.
“We are helping people learn new skills, but we also need to help protect people’s mental health. Well-being is crucial to getting back into work and staying in work.
“By boosting direct support services, we are investing in the people of the area and supporting growth in the local economy.”

Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans MS added:
“Working alongside our Transition Board partners, we will continue to ensure the right assistance is in place for those impacted, as well as providing opportunities for growth, investment and employment wherever they arise.”

Neath Port Talbot Council Leader Cllr Steve Hunt welcomed the funding, saying:
“We know the impact of change at the steelworks is being felt deeply across the area, particularly in Port Talbot where most households are affected in some way.
“This is a vital addition to the support already being delivered as we adapt to the future of steelmaking and prepare for the new opportunities brought by developments like the Celtic Freeport.”

Martyn Wagstaff, a local mental health advisor, said:
“It’s really important that anyone struggling with their mental health asks for help.
“This funding means that people in Neath Port Talbot will be able to access more support when they need it.”

The Transition Board will announce further funding for regeneration and job creation projects in the coming months, with tens of millions of pounds still to be allocated.

Business

UK’s largest semiconductor facility secures major investment

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Newport factory to support 500 new jobs and play vital role in EV supply chain

WALES is set to benefit from a £250 million investment into its advanced manufacturing sector, as US tech giant Vishay Intertechnology commits to expanding operations at the UK’s largest semiconductor facility in Newport.

The investment is a major vote of confidence in Wales’s industrial capabilities and will further strengthen South Wales’s status as home to the world’s first Compound Semiconductor Cluster. It comes as part of the UK government’s Plan for Change to grow the economy, support skilled jobs, and enhance national resilience in critical sectors.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will visit the Newport site today (Thursday, March 27) to formally welcome the investment, which will boost production of Silicon Carbide semiconductors—an essential component in electric vehicles (EVs). These next-generation chips enable faster battery charging, improved energy efficiency, and extended driving ranges.

The development is expected to directly create over 500 high-value, highly-skilled jobs in Newport and support hundreds more across the wider supply chain. The project is backed by the UK’s Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF), which supports innovation and domestic supply in critical technologies such as semiconductors.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Under this government, the UK is open for business. This is exactly the type of investment that will help us grow the economy, create highly-skilled jobs, and boost opportunity across the country, as we deliver on our Plan for Change to get more money into working people’s pockets.”

The investment follows the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, where she announced a “new era of security and national renewal.” The Office for Budget Responsibility has upgraded growth forecasts for 2026 and beyond, with households expected to be £500 better off per year by the end of this Parliament compared to under the previous government.

The announcement marks a major step in the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing. From 2010 to 2023, the UK saw the fastest growth in manufacturing productivity per job among G7 nations.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
“This is a huge vote of confidence in the Welsh economy and our plans to make Britain the destination of choice for investment in the industries of tomorrow. Vishay’s investment will help secure a domestic supply of semiconductors for our world-leading automotive and clean energy sectors—key drivers of long-term economic growth.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added:
“This massive investment by Vishay and the UK Government is a huge boost for Wales’s world-leading semiconductor industry. It will build on the success of our advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and defence sectors—creating and supporting hundreds of skilled, well-paid jobs across South Wales.”

Vishay’s Chief Operating Officer for Semiconductors and Chief Technology Officer, Roy Shoshani, said:
“This is an exciting moment and the beginning of our growth journey in the UK. With a skilled workforce and strong government backing through the Industrial Strategy, the UK has an opportunity to lead in advanced semiconductor manufacturing—enhancing economic security and helping deliver Net Zero.”

The investment coincides with the Chancellor’s participation in the Invest in Women Taskforce roundtable in Wales, which has secured over £250 million in funding commitments for female entrepreneurs.

The Automotive Transformation Fund—delivered in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC)—has already helped unlock more than £6 billion in private sector investment for the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles. In addition, the Autumn Budget committed over £2 billion to capital and R&D funding for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing over the next five years.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said:
“This significant investment in compound semiconductors is a huge contribution to the innovation and advanced technology necessary to drive the future of UK automotive. British-made next-generation semiconductors will create jobs, support supply chains, and enhance the UK’s strategic capabilities.”

Business

Pembrokeshire consultant shortlisted for UK Startup Award

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2025

Tom Sinclair

CERI CRICHTON, a Pembrokeshire-based business consultant specialising in supporting charities and social enterprises, has been nominated for the UK Startup Awards in the Business, Consulting & Management StartUp of the Year category.

In just two years, her consultancy business, The Round House, has helped organisations secure nearly £1 million in funding, supporting vital initiatives that drive social change.
Ceri founded The Round House to ensure small charities and social enterprises receive the kind of practical, hands-on business support that larger organisations often take for granted.

Her work focuses on building financial confidence, strengthening governance, and helping organisations plan for long-term sustainability.

Her expertise spans fundraising, business planning, project management, and governance, enabling charities and social enterprises to grow, innovate, and deliver impactful work in their communities.

Among the organisations she has supported are Get The Boys a Lift, SNAP Specialist Play, Pembrokeshire Action for the Homeless, VC Gallery and Pembroke Town Walls Trust, along with many others that benefit from her tailored approach.

Speaking about her nomination, Ceri said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for this award. At The Round House, its all about collaboration and fresh thinking to help charities and social enterprises do what they do best. There are a lot of pressures facing the third sector right now, and I feel proud to support the hard work of my wonderful clients across South Wales. It’s amazing to see the difference focus and funding can make, and I feel privileged to be part of that work.”

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, the creator of the UK StartUp Awards, said: “New businesses are the driving force behind any thriving economy, generating employment, pioneering innovation, and contributing to prosperity across the UK. This year’s finalists embody the very best of entrepreneurial spirit – spotting opportunities and, through dedication, skill, and resilience, turning them into thriving ventures that are making a tangible difference. More importantly, all the winners will go on to represent their region at the 2025 UK National StartUp Awards final later this year”.

The UK StartUp Awards was launched to recognise the booming start-up scene across the UK. The Awards celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs driving change in their industries.
The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. The winners from each region will then be invited to the first UK final taking place at Ideas Fest, the Glastonbury for Business festival in Hertfordshire on 12th September 2025.

Ceri’s nomination reflects her outstanding contributions to the non-profit sector, from securing critical funding to guiding organisations toward long-term sustainability.
The awards take place on Thursday, June 19th in Cardiff.