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Drive-through Starbucks could be coming to Pembrokeshire

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PLANS for what could be a drive-through Starbucks coffee shop accompanying an electric vehicle charging station at Haverfordwest’s Days Garage, are being recommended for approval next week.

An application – expected to create 20 jobs – by Magic Bean Company Ltd to site an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station and drive through coffee shop on land adjoining Days Garage, Fishguard Road is recommended for conditional approval when it comes before Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, meeting on May 21.

A report for planners says: “There are two principal elements to the proposed development. The provision of an EV charging station with eight charging points and a drive through coffee shop, which will provide 20 full time jobs.

“A further 13 parking spaces are provided to serve the development, including two spaces for people with disabilities. The coffee shop will be situated at the western end of the site opposite the proposed EV charging station, which is centrally located within the site. “

It adds: “The coffee shop building will be single storey with a ‘tower’ feature in the west elevation where the customer collection point will be located beneath a timber finished pergola.”

The report says the existing use of the site as ancillary parking for Days garage “is inappropriate for the locality,” adding it is “located within an area that is characterised by large-scale community, commercial and employment uses, albeit all falling outside the defined Settlement Boundary”.

It adds: “Officers acknowledge that the proposed development will constitute a more effective use of the application site than its existing use for car parking and which will provide 20 jobs.”

10 representations from members of the public have raised concerns about the proposal, issues including: no need for additional coffee shops locally, adverse impact on existing small local coffee shops and that the planning authority should not be supporting “multinational businesses,” and littering and highway issues.

Magic Bean Company Ltd, on its website, says: “Established in 2014, The Magic Bean Company opened our first store and became the first licensee to open a Starbucks Drive Thru.

“Since then, we have gone on to become Starbuck’s only national growth partner covering England and Wales, developing our green electric vehicle Starbucks platform.”

It adds: “All Magic Bean stores are designed by Starbucks to the highest standard, taking pride in the quality and finish of all the stores they have developed.”

 

Crime

Haverfordwest woman denies drug-driving allegations in Fishguard

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A HAVERFORDWEST woman is to stand trial after denying two drug-driving allegations.

Sian Brazendale, 48, of Pedwar, Dingle Lane, Crundale, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 1.

She is accused of driving a grey Peugeot on West Street, Fishguard, on October 31 last year when the proportion of benzoylecgonine in her blood was allegedly 800ug/L, exceeding the specified legal limit.

Brazendale is also accused of driving the same vehicle on the same road and date when the proportion of cocaine in her blood was allegedly 67ug/L, again exceeding the specified limit.

Both charges are brought under Section 5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

The court list records that Brazendale entered not guilty pleas to both charges on March 17.

The case has now been adjourned for trial at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on September 17. The trial is expected to last three hours.

Brazendale was remanded on unconditional bail.

 

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Crime

Teenager accused of burglary and assault after Monkton incident

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A TEENAGER has appeared in court accused of a burglary and assault following an incident in Monkton, Pembroke.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 1.

The defendant faces an allegation of burglary of a dwelling with attempted grievous bodily harm, contrary to the Theft Act 1968.

The charge states that on June 23, at Monkton, the defendant is alleged to have entered a dwelling as a trespasser and attempted to inflict grievous bodily harm on a person inside.

The teenager is also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, relating to the same date and area.

No pleas were recorded on the court list.

The case was adjourned to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for further case management on August 4. A trial has also been listed for August 10.

The defendant was remanded on conditional bail.

Bail conditions include a daily curfew between 8:00pm and 6:00am, a ban on entering specified areas of Monkton, and a condition not to contact two named people either directly or indirectly.

The youth must also comply with intensive supervision by the Youth Justice Team and attend at least two appointments a week as directed.

The defendant cannot be identified because Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 applies.

 

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Community

Haverfordwest sailor leads crew on final Atlantic crossing of round-the-world yacht race

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A PEMBROKESHIRE sailor is leading a team of non-professional crew members on the final ocean crossing of one of the world’s toughest yacht races.

Lou Boorman, from Haverfordwest, is skipper of Team Tongyeong in the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race.

Her team has now departed Washington, DC, and is heading across the North Atlantic to Oban in Scotland, marking the last major ocean crossing of the global race.

The Clipper Race is unusual because it takes people from all walks of life and trains them to become ocean racers. No previous sailing experience is required.

Each of the ten identical Clipper Race yachts is led by a professional skipper and first mate, with up to 22 non-professional crew members on board. The teams race around the clock for up to 30 days at a time, covering a global route of around 40,000 nautical miles.

Lou has been leading Team Tongyeong since the race began in Portsmouth last August. The team has been representing the South Korean city of Tongyeong throughout the competition.

Speaking ahead of the final Atlantic crossing, Lou said: “It doesn’t feel quite real that we’ve nearly sailed around the world and are one hop across the ocean to home waters!

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. A huge challenge. We’ve had three podiums so far and are hungry for more.”

At the time of the release, Team Tongyeong was leading the current stage of the race.

The route from Washington, DC, to Oban is just over 3,000 nautical miles and will see crews face changing weather systems, strong Atlantic currents and the unpredictable conditions that make ocean racing so demanding.

Lou said the challenge had not only been about sailing, but also about leadership.

She said: “In addition to the sailing and the conditions, the challenging part has been about people management and leadership. I’ve had to be a strong leader. That’s what my team expects and needs from me. So the development in this race is incredible.”

She added: “I think it’s going to leave a big hole in my life, leaving this team and leaving the boat. I’m going to have to fill that gap in my life fairly quickly. I’ll miss it too much!”

After ten months at sea, and with just over three weeks of racing remaining, the arrival in Oban will mark a major milestone as the fleet returns to UK waters.

Oban is due to welcome the Clipper Race fleet from Friday, July 10, with a programme of public events allowing visitors to see the yachts and meet the race crews and professional skippers.

From Oban, the teams will race for the final time in the 2025-26 edition, finishing in Portsmouth on Saturday, July 25, where the overall leaderboard positions will be confirmed.

Applications are already open for the 2027-28 edition of the race, which is due to begin next summer.

 

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