Business
Council officer admits licensing advice had no legal basis
A COUNCIL OFFICER who told a licensing sub-committee that a venue’s operation was “an abuse of the Temporary Events Licence system” has now admitted under oath that his advice had no legal basis.
The case concerns an appeal by Steve Bartram, manager of The Hangar in Milford Haven, after the local authority refused a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) at a Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on 1st May. Bartram argues that Pembrokeshire County Council was wrong to stop a charity boxing event and that the councillors involved considered irrelevant information. He also claims the noise complaints came from two Milford Haven councillors, one of whom was listed as the director of another venue in the town at the time of the hearing.
Under cross-examination by barrister Matthew Graham Paul on Wednesday afternoon, 29th May, David Waters, a Pollution Control Officer with 20 years of experience, conceded that his issue was a personal dislike for temporary licences because he couldn’t impose conditions on them.
Waters acknowledged that Parliament had set the annual limit for temporary event licences per person and that neither the law nor Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing policy prevented a commercial premises from applying for a TEN. He also confirmed that the 499-person limit is stipulated in the Licensing Act 2003.
Ironically, while the hearing focused on noise pollution, attendees were acutely aware of loud music from the annual Llanelli Fun Fair outside the court building.
Paul challenged Waters on his personal policy against businesses using TENs. Waters admitted his stance was not written in the council’s licensing policy. When asked about potential conditions for The Hangar, Waters suggested a noise management plan to support licensing objectives.
Paul inquired whether the council could issue a Noise Abatement Notice to a venue with a TEN to control noise pollution. Waters confirmed it was possible but stated they had refrained from doing so as they were working with the venue owner to get the venue properly licensed.
During the hearing, there was a query about the number of noise complaints against The Hangar. Waters admitted there had been no complaints about two previous boxing events but acknowledged he had told Bartram he would object to any future TEN applications due to noise concerns.
The complaints in the court documents had names and addresses redacted. The bench requested unredacted copies to clarify the number and sources of complaints, suspecting multiple complaints from the same household. Three complaints were related to a person needing to wake up early for work after a previous event.
Paul criticised the council for sending additional redacted complaints by email just hours before the hearing. He suggested the council realised they had a weak case and tried to bolster their evidence last minute. The council’s barrister objected to this line of questioning, and Waters did not have to answer.
Arguments also arose about noise levels recorded at an event on 11th May, ten days after the original hearing. Waters explained he could “add decibels” to account for bass and repetitive music, a practice left to his discretion. Concerns were raised that he had added more than necessary.
The court heard that permitted noise levels after 11 pm are 34 decibels adjusted (dBA) if background noise is no higher than 24dBA, or 10dBA above background noise if it exceeds 24dBA. Waters confirmed he told Bartram that the music level was 42db, within the Home Office Code of Practice on Noise, but noted it could still be a nuisance depending on circumstances.
Due to the hearing’s length, the case was adjourned until 17th June at the same venue. At this stage, it appears the council is struggling to defend its decision against The Hangar’s charity boxing event.
Business
Freshways expands UK presence with acquisition of Totally Welsh Dairy
A SURREY-BASED dairy supplier, Freshways Group, has completed the acquisition of Haverfordwest’s Totally Welsh Dairy. This development, which was finalized on September 11, represents a significant expansion for Freshways.
Established in 1990, Totally Welsh Dairy is renowned for its commitment to quality, sourcing its milk exclusively from Welsh farmers within a 40-mile radius of its bottling plant. The company prides itself on sustainable practices, notably its use of reusable glass bottles and its dedication to local packaging solutions.
This acquisition is part of a broader strategy by Freshways, following its earlier purchase of Milk & More from Müller in January 2024. The integration of Milk & More has already enhanced Freshways’ home delivery service and its overall sustainability initiatives.
Bali Nijjar, Managing Director of Freshways, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition: “We are delighted to incorporate Totally Welsh Dairy into the Freshways family. Their dedication to quality and sustainable practices complements our values perfectly. This acquisition not only broadens our product range but also supports local Welsh agriculture and enhances our delivery capabilities, catering to the increasing consumer demand for convenient, eco-friendly dairy products.”
Mark Hunter, Managing Director and owner of Totally Welsh, commented on the sale: “Joining forces with Freshways ensures a promising future for Totally Welsh. It opens new avenues for growth and opportunities for our committed team.”
In response to the rising demand for eco-friendly packaging, Totally Welsh Dairy has recently upgraded its facilities with a new glass bottling line. This enhancement will benefit the doorstep delivery customers of Milk & More.
Business
Work starts on phase two of eco-friendly homes in Carmarthen
MENTRUS DEVELOPMENTS has started work on phase two of ‘Maes y Teirw’, a residential development of 21 eco-friendly homes on the site of a former cattle breeding centre near Carmarthen that has been part-funded by a seven-figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales.
The 2.2-acre brownfield site includes a mix of 17 five- and four-bedroom homes along with 4 three-bedroom affordable properties. All have solar panels and air source heat pumps to ensure maximum energy efficiency.
With good transport links and a range of local amenities, Maes y Teirw is proving popular with families and commuters alike. The first phase of properties is now almost complete with two having sold subject to contract. Work on phase two of the development is underway and internal fixings are expected to be completed during the winter of 2024/25.
Maes y Teirw is the first residential development for Mentrus Developments, a company set-up by Directors Matthew Watkins, Philip Mann and Richard Phillips. Matthew Watkins said: “The literal translation of Maes y Teirw is ‘The Bulls Field’ and our choice of name is important as it reflects the legacy and history of the land.
“As our first residential development, we were looking for a funding partner who knew the local area, took the time to understand our business model and could meet our timescales for development to maximise build time during the summer months. The Development Bank pulled out all the stops to ensure a quick and smooth completion. We’re very grateful for their support.”
Rob Good is a Property Development Executive with the Development Bank. He said: “We work with developers in Wales to provide the funding that they need to progress the development of good quality, sustainable and energy-efficient homes where they are most needed. With high specifications and an excellent finish, Maes y Teirw will offer buyers the opportunity to benefit from modern living surrounded by countryside close to Carmarthen town centre.”
The loan for Mentrus Developments came from the £54.5 million Wales Property Fund II. Financed entirely by Welsh Government, loans from £150,000 to £6 million are available for small and medium-sized developers based in Wales, working on residential, mixed-use and commercial development projects in Wales.
Pictured above: Matthew Watkins, Mentrus; Philip Mann, Mentrus; Rob Good, Development Bank of Wales; Richard Phillips, Mentrus.
Business
Role of Tourism Minister disappears – again
WELSH tourism leaders have once again found themselves in the position where they have to ask a new First Minister to appoint a Minister with explicit responsibility for Tourism, following the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
The Wales Tourism Alliance, together with the Chairs of Welsh Government’s own Regional Tourism Fora wrote to Eluned Morgan when it was unclear what had happened to the express reference to a tourism Minister or Deputy Minister as in the past. The letter was also signed by Wales’s main independent destination management and marketing organisations; Visit Mid Wales, Visit North Wales and Visit Pembrokeshire. Representatives of the primary sectors within the industry, notably accommodation, added their signatures, as did representatives of the rural and retail economies of Wales.
Suzy Davies, Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance said: “It’s a shame we have to make this case yet again. Unlike other nations of the UK, responsibility for tourism as an industry – it’s not just promotion – is retained within Welsh Government. It’s not an arms length body with the ability to make its own partnerships to raise money, or with a route to change leadership without a Senedd election.
“As a result it needs a Minister who has the time and focus to lead, find resources, accept accountability and champion the industry at Cabinet level.
“In the meantime, we welcome Rebecca Evans to her role as Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and look forward to meeting her soon. Tourism has faced yet another difficult year, with the poor weather really not helping to extend the season on top of well-rehearsed challenges around the cost of doing business, the pressure in holidaymakers’ own purses, and a slew of government policies, so we need that champion within Welsh Government.
‘’It will also be a chance for us to reinforce our position that the relationship between governments and the tourism industry should not be about setting fires and putting them out. It’s less exhausting and more productive to give weight to industry voices as we saw during lockdown. We all want our industry to prosper safely, sustainably and responsibly.
“We also hope that looking at policy through the lens of the economy rather than the finance brief will be a help in understanding the value of the tourism ecosystem; its role in a number of areas of government policy, and why it’s so important to protect it from collateral damage as well focusing on Visit Wales’s much-appreciated promotion work.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We recognise the significance of tourism and the visitor economy as a vital industry for Wales. That’s why it has been included in the Economy portfolio. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning will represent the interests of the tourism sector at Cabinet meetings.”
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