News

Property owner breached planning law

Published

11 years ago

November 13, 2014

A MYNACHLOGDDU man was ordered to pay more than £5,500 in fines and costs on September 3 after refusing to answer questions about unauthorised development on his land. At Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Geraint Owens, of 2a Maes Y Bont, Mynachlogddu, was found guilty of failing to respond to a Planning Contravention Notice relating to the property known as 2 Maes Y Bont, Mynachlogddu.

On November 16 2012 a Planning Contravention Notice was served on Mr Owens, requiring him to answer questions in respect of the use of 2 Maes Y Bont, after the National Park Authority’s Planning Enforcement Section became aware of the possibility that the property had been sub-divided into two separate dwellings. Despite numerous requests Mr Owens failed to reply, which left the Authority with no alternative but to commence prosecution proceedings. Having been found guilty of not responding to the Planning Contravention Notice, Mr Owens was fined £700 in respect of the offence plus a victim surcharge of £70. He was also ordered to pay costs of £5,000.

A Planning Contravention Notice may be issued under Section 171c of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). The local planning authority may only serve a notice when it appears that a breach of planning control may have occurred. The Authority issues these notices in order to find out more information, before deciding what, if any, enforcement action to take. An Enforcement Notice was also served in relation to the unauthorised sub-division of the property into two separate dwellings and continues to be monitored for compliance.

Liam Jones, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Principal Planning Officer, said: “The decision taken by the magistrates in this case highlights the importance of property owners working with the Authority when faced with a breach of planning control. “Officers will always attempt to discuss cases and where possible negotiate acceptable solutions. In this particular instance contact was sought on numerous occasions over a significant period of time to resolve the matter without the need for formal action. “Unfortunately Mr Owens chose not to discuss the breach of planning control with officers and disregarded important correspondence. The Authority will not take such flagrant disregard of the planning regulations lightly.”

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

4 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string of alleged offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, 40, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, faces six linked charges arising from incidents reported to have taken place earlier this year. Alcock, who did not enter pleas during the administrative hearings, appeared on several occasions as the court dealt with bail issues and case management.

Multiple assault allegations
The charges listed before magistrates include:
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional strangulation
Common assault of a woman
Criminal damage relating to a domestic incident
Further assault allegations linked to the same complainant
A breach of bail conditions

The court heard that Alcock had previously been granted conditional bail. However, he was brought back before magistrates twice during the same reporting period for alleged breaches of those conditions, resulting in updated bail decisions.

Bail breached — defendant remanded

On two separate entries in the court register, Alcock was listed as having breached his bail, leading magistrates to remand him into custody pending the next hearing. On other dates within the same week, he was again re-released on conditional bail, with strict terms imposed, including restrictions on contact with the complainant and exclusions from certain locations.

He is now remanded on conditional bail with his next appearance set for Swansea Crown Court, where the more serious matters — including the alleged non-fatal strangulation — will be dealt with.

Case sent to Crown Court

Magistrates directed that the case is too serious to be heard locally and must proceed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.

The Herald understands that all listed charges fall under the same prosecution reference, indicating they form part of a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution. No further details were opened in court at this stage.

Crime

Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands

Published

20 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction

A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.

Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.

Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.

He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.

The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.

News

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association – Week Twelve results

Published

38 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Herald Sport

A PACKET week of fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s Friendly League saw key wins at both ends of the table as teams continue to jostle for position going into the second half of the season.

Match results (Week 12):

Hundleton 10–0 Lamphey
Badgers 2–8 St Johns
Reynalton 0–10 Carew
Kilgetty 8–2 East Williamston
Cosheston v Llanteg – postponed
St Twynnells – bye week

A previously postponed fixture was also completed, with St Twynnells drawing 5–5 with Reynaltón.

League table (after Week 12):
East Williamston remain top, having played 10 and won eight, with a strong shots difference of +125. Reynaltón sit second after 11 games with 58 points, while St Johns and Hundleton follow closely behind on 54 points each.

At the mid-table mark, Carew (49 points), St Twynnells (48) and Kilgetty (46) remain tightly grouped. Badgers, Lamphey, Llanteg and Cosheston make up the lower order, though the number of games played varies, leaving room for movement in the coming weeks.

Full standings:

Team	P	W	D	L	S/D	Points
East Williamston	10	8	0	2	+125	72
Reynaltón	11	5	2	4	+35	58
St Johns	10	5	1	4	+32	54
Hundleton	10	5	1	4	-2	54
Carew	9	5	0	4	-25	49
St Twynnells	10	4	2	4	-34	48
Kilgetty	11	5	0	6	-44	46
Badgers	11	3	1	7	-59	45
Lamphey	11	5	0	6	-10	44
Llanteg	8	4	0	4	-5	41
Cosheston	9	3	1	5	-13	40