News

Narberth retailers continue to fight

Published

11 years ago

January 28, 2015

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (PCC)are under fire from a local Narberth pressure group who intend to carry on their fight to prevent a major new development. Herald readers will remember that just before Christmas, a campaign had started to prevent the Old Primary School building from being converted into a brand new retail structure that would potentially house a new Sainsbury’s store. On Monday of this week (Jan 12), a consultation meeting took place at County Hall, hosted by Narberth Councillor Wynne Evans.

In the closed meeting, and in attendance, were three representatives of the developers, Abbeymore Estates, the architect of the proposed structure, a PCC officer, as well as eight people representing the Narberth Future Forum (NFF), whose principle interest is, they claim, the prosperity of the town, in particular its independent traders, and its welfare.

Speaking with the Herald, Simon Montgomery of NFF, said: “We queried why there had been no public consultation. “We were then told about the developer having booked the Plas Hyfryd to conduct a full public consultation. It took some pushing to find out why that meeting had been cancelled; apparently a banner had appeared in town encouraging people to support their independent shops because we didn’t want chain stores in Narberth. “Wynne Evans stated that he had felt that the meeting should be cancelled because there might be aggressive opposition. Wynne Evans is a county councillor. He is not in a position to make such a judgement.”

Mr Montgomery went on to say: “Some aspects of the application, we understand, have now been altered; there is to be no day nursery or betting shop. “The meeting set up to discuss the future of the town with regard to the development proposed at the site of the Old Primary School is the biggest change to the profile of the town in a generation. If it is confirmed that this is to be the only form of public consultation that is to take place, then Narberth Future Forum and the town will now make a consideration in the matter.

“There has been no public consultation – none at all. An injunction to stop Pembrokeshire County Council from further consideration of the application could now be made by Narberth Future Forum if it decides that this is the right course of action for the town. “This is the most important development project that the town has seen for as long as people can remember. The project will radically change the profile of the town. “There is a good argument to be made that the application cannot now be considered. Utter farce, incompetence and stupidity may today have seen the end of the application to develop the site at the Old Primary School in Narberth in its current form.

“The fundamental inability, not just of the developers, but also of Pembrokeshire County Council to understand their obligations and duties is breath taking. The town, silent until now about the utter shambles that has characterised this development process, is unlikely to remain silent much longer”. He went on by suggesting a possible course of legal action to prevent the development, saying: “How long would it take a QC to argue the case that there has been no public consultation of any description with regard to the development? Quite possibly much less time than the hour allocated by Pembrokeshire County Council to offer this presentation to the eight invited people today from one organisation.”

He finished by stating: “We have moved from an utter shambles to farce today. Narberth is a proud town. It has a community sense that is unshakeable. If the developers cannot take the town seriously and begin to engage with the community, over what is a crucial issue for the future of Narberth, then they will only have themeless to blame if this project grinds to a halt before it has begun”.

In response, a spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council told The Herald: “The Council’s preferred bidder for the former Narberth school site is a development partnership between Abbeymore Estates and Knox and Wells Ltd, although it is the latter with whom the legal contract will be signed. “Prior to being chosen as the preferred development partnership, both developers were comprehensively assessed and shown to have strong track records in retail development. Furthermore, the development partners have been open and transparent in stating that they have a contract with Sainsbury’s as the anchor retailer for this scheme.

This is standard practice for developers”. The spokesperson went on to address the NFF, saying: “In response to Simon Montgomery’s comments, we would point out that the site has been derelict since the school became vacant. “Following Cabinet’s agreement to dispose of the property, a development brief was prepared and shared with representative organisations within Narberth. The development brief clearly outlines an opportunity for a retail-led mixed use development and the site was marketed on that basis for some time.

“In 2010-11, the consultation process for the Local Development Plan (LDP) commenced and there was significant consultation with the local community. The LDP consultation featured the need for additional retail development within Narberth, hence the site being designated for such a scheme within the LDP. “Developers are entitled to undertake whatever level of consultation they feel appropriate although there is no statutory requirement for this. The planning application was advertised in the press and a range of representations have been received, including Narberth Future Forum; Chamber of Trade; Town Council and various individuals. All such representations are taken into account as part of the statutory planning process”.

Crime

Man accused of Milford Haven burglary and GBH remanded to Crown Court

Published

13 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared in court charged with burglary and inflicting grievous bodily harm, following an incident at a flat in the town earlier this week.

Charged after alleged attack inside Victoria Road flat

Stephen Collier, aged thirty-eight, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, Dec 5). Collier is accused of entering a property known as Nos Da Flat, 2 Victoria Road, on December 3 and, while inside, inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man named John Hilton.

The court was told the alleged burglary and assault was carried out jointly with another man, Denis Chmelevski.

The charge is brought under section 9(1)(b) of the Theft Act 1968, which covers burglary where violence is inflicted on a person inside the property.

No plea entered

Collier, represented by defence solicitor Chris White, did not enter a plea during the hearing. Prosecutor Simone Walsh applied for the defendant to be remanded in custody, citing the serious nature of the offence, the risk of further offending, and concerns that he could interfere with witnesses.

Magistrates Mr I Howells, Mr V Brickley and Mrs H Meade agreed, refusing bail and ordering that Collier be kept in custody before trial.

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court

The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court under Section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Collier will next appear on January 5, 2026 at 9:00am for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing.

A custody time limit has been set for June 5, 2026.

Chmelevski is expected to face proceedings separately.

News

Woman dies after collision in Tumble as police renew appeal for witnesses

Published

14 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for information after a woman died following a collision in Tumble on Tuesday (Dec 2).

Officers were called to Heol y Neuadd at around 5:35pm after a collision involving a maroon Skoda and a pedestrian. The female pedestrian was taken to hospital but sadly died from her injuries.

Dyfed-Powys Police has launched a renewed appeal for witnesses, including anyone who may have dash-cam, CCTV footage, or any information that could help the investigation.

Investigators are urging anyone who was in the area at the time or who may have captured the vehicle or the pedestrian on camera shortly before the collision to get in touch. (Phone: 101 Quote reference: DP-20251202-259.)

News

Greyhound Bill faces fresh scrutiny as second committee raises “serious concerns”

Published

14 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE PROHIBITION of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Bill has been heavily criticised for a second time in 24 hours after the Senedd’s Legislation, Justice and Constitution (LJC) Committee published a highly critical Stage 1 report yesterday.

The cross-party committee said the Welsh Government’s handling of the legislation had “in several respects, fallen short of the standard of good legislative practice that we would normally expect”.

Key concerns highlighted by the LJC Committee include:

Introducing the Bill before all relevant impact assessments (including a full Regulatory Impact Assessment and Children’s Rights Impact Assessment) had been completed – a step it described as “poor legislative practice, particularly … where the Bill may impact on human rights”.
Failure to publish a statement confirming the Bill’s compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The committee has recommended that Rural Affairs Minister Huw Irranca-Davies issue such a statement before the Stage 1 vote on 16 December.
Inadequate public consultation, with the 2023 animal-licensing consultation deemed “not an appropriate substitute” for targeted engagement on the specific proposal to ban the sport.

The report follows Tuesday’s equally critical findings from the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee, which questioned the robustness of the evidence base and the accelerated legislative timetable.

Industry reaction Mark Bird, chief executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), described the two reports as leaving the Bill “in tatters”.

“Two consecutive cross-party Senedd committees have now condemned the Welsh Government’s failures in due diligence, consultation and human rights considerations and evidence gathering,” he said. “The case for a ban has been comprehensively undermined. The responsible path forward is stronger regulation of the single remaining track at Ystrad Mynach, not prohibition.”

Response from supporters of the Bill Luke Fletcher MS (Labour, South Wales West), who introduced the Member-proposed Bill, said he welcomed thorough scrutiny and remained confident the legislation could be improved at later stages.

“I have always said this Bill is about ending an outdated practice that causes unnecessary suffering to thousands of greyhounds every year,” Mr Fletcher said. “The committees have raised legitimate procedural points, and I look forward to working with the Welsh Government and colleagues across the Senedd to address those concerns while keeping the core aim of the Bill intact.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The Minister has noted the committees’ reports and will respond formally in due course. The government supports the principle of the Bill and believes a ban on greyhound racing is justified on animal welfare grounds. Work is ongoing to finalise the outstanding impact assessments and to ensure full compatibility with the ECHR.”

The Bill is scheduled for a Stage 1 debate and vote in plenary on Tuesday 16 December. Even if it passes that hurdle, it would still require significant amendment at Stages 2 and 3 to satisfy the committees’ recommendations.