News
NRW invites feedback on draft decision to issue Withyhedge landfill permit variation
NATURAL RESOURCES WALES (NRW) is seeking public feedback after reaching a draft decision to approve changes to the environmental permit for the Withyhedge Landfill site in Pembrokeshire.
Following what it described as a detailed technical assessment, NRW said it is “minded to” grant a permit variation requested by the site operator, Resources Management UK Ltd. The variation would amend the environmental permit that controls how the site operates (permit number EPR/MP3330WP, application reference PAN-025929).
A four-week public consultation has now opened and will run until Thursday, March 26, 2026. NRW said all responses will be considered before any final decision is made.
The operator is proposing several changes, including alterations to the final shape of the land once the landfill is capped, updates to monitoring and management arrangements for groundwater, surface water and leachate, and the addition of up to 50,000 tonnes of waste soils for restoration purposes under a new waste recovery activity.
The application also includes consolidation and modernisation of the permit, including a review of existing improvement and pre-operational conditions.
NRW said it considers the proposed changes acceptable and believes they could help ensure the site operates without causing harm to the environment or nearby communities.
Residents are being encouraged to provide feedback on issues such as emissions, potential health impacts, environmental risks and how waste is managed at the site.
However, NRW stressed that certain matters fall outside its remit and cannot be considered as part of the consultation. These include planning issues handled by the local authority, such as the site’s location, traffic levels, visual impact, land use, access arrangements and operating hours.
Huwel Manley, Head of South West at Natural Resources Wales, said: “We know the community has a long-standing interest in what happens at Withyhedge Landfill, and we take that responsibility seriously.
“Given the history of the site and the concerns people have previously raised, we promised to take an approach that goes further than our usual consultation process for a permit variation.
“Being ‘minded to’ issue this variation means our specialists are satisfied the operator can meet the required standards, but before we make any final decision we want to hear from the people who live and work nearby. We encourage anyone with an interest in the site to take part in the consultation.”
Details of the draft decision and information on how to submit comments are available via NRW’s Consultation and Engagement Hub.
Crime
Father-of-two banned for three years after second drug-driving offence
A MILFORD HAVEN man has been banned from driving for three years after admitting drug driving for the second time in a decade.
Adam Gilbert-Morris, 34, was followed by police officers as he drove his Skoda Fabia into the Tesco car park in Milford Haven on September 12, 2025. Officers suspected he was under the influence of drugs and carried out a roadside drug swipe, which proved positive.
Further blood tests later confirmed he had 5.7 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is two.
Gilbert-Morris, of Birch Mead, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. He was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries.
Ms Harries told the court there had been no evidence of bad driving or impairment at the time of his arrest.
“He had smoked a single joint around 10 or 12 hours before driving and did not believe it would still be in his system,” she said.
“There was no intentional decision to drive whilst impaired.”
Because the offence was his second drug-driving conviction within ten years, magistrates disqualified him from driving for 36 months.
He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.
Crime
Driver banned after admitting cannabis use day before police stop
A FISHGUARD woman has been banned from the roads after admitting she had cannabis in her system when she was stopped by police in Haverfordwest.
Amy Morgans, 37, was driving her black Volkswagen T-Cross in Fleming Crescent on the evening of December 15 when officers pulled her over.
Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that when officers spoke to Morgans, she admitted she had smoked cannabis the previous day. Subsequent blood analysis confirmed she had 6.6 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in her system, more than three times the legal limit of two.
Morgans, of Gwelfor, Fishguard, pleaded guilty to drug driving and was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries.
Ms Harries told magistrates her client used cannabis regularly to help manage medical conditions.
“She has psoriasis and arthritis, and the cannabis helps ease both these conditions,” she said.
“She used it the night before and drove almost 24 hours later, not realising it would still be in her system.
“The defendant describes this as her hardest lesson, and she’s genuinely devastated to find herself in court today.”
Morgans was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 surcharge.
Crime
Haverfordwest woman banned from road after second drink-drive conviction
Assault on officer followed crash incident
A HAVERFORDWEST woman has been banned from driving after admitting drink-driving for the second time in ten years and assaulting a police officer following a collision.
Rebecca Gau, 39, was arrested on February 4 after officers were called to a road traffic collision on Dale Road, Haverfordwest.
“When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a number of people present and, as they tried to establish what had happened, they saw Rebecca Gau attempting to leave,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.
“As they attempted to speak with her, she kept telling them to give her space and then flung her arm out, striking one of the officers in the face.”
Gau, of Three Meadows, Haverfordwest, was arrested and taken to Haverfordwest Police Station, where she provided a breath sample showing 79 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
The court heard this was Gau’s second drink-drive conviction within ten years, following a similar offence in 2020.
Gau pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker by beating and drink-driving. She was represented by Alaw Harries.
“This offence took place during a particularly difficult time of personal crisis for her,” said Ms Harries.
“She recognises the seriousness and potential danger of drink-driving, but this happened during a very difficult period in her life following the miscarriage of her child. She was unable to regulate her emotions and, in that fragile state, made the regrettable decision to drink and drive.
“She fully accepts responsibility and is extremely remorseful.”
Ms Harries added that Gau suffers from partial deafness and was struggling to hear and understand what officers were asking her to do at the time, which increased her frustration.
Magistrates disqualified Gau from driving for 40 months. She was also fined £240 and ordered to pay a £96 court surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
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