A NEWPORT man has been fined thousands of pounds after admitting a series of harbour safety offences following a vessel collision in Milford Haven.

Nolan Orford, aged 51, Bishton Village, Newport, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 5).

The court heard that the offences took place on June 4, 2025, when Orford was navigating a vessel named Andy 02 within the Milford Haven Waterway.

Prosecutors, acting on behalf of the Milford Haven Port Authority, said Orford failed to comply with directions lawfully given by the harbourmaster under the Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1983 and the Milford Haven Byelaws 1984.

The first offence related to the manner in which the vessel was navigated. The court was told that Andy 02 was manoeuvred in such a way that it caused damage, danger or inconvenience to other users of the Haven, resulting in a collision with another vessel.

Orford also admitted failing to report the collision to the harbourmaster immediately after the incident, despite being the master of the vessel and required to do so under harbour regulations.

A further offence concerned an act affecting the safety of navigation in the Haven, after Andy 02 struck a vessel that was on its moorings.

Orford had originally denied the charges but changed his pleas to guilty on February 17.

Magistrates fined him £1,125 for the first offence and a further £1,125 for the third offence relating to the safety of navigation.

He was also fined £750 for failing to report the collision.

In addition, Orford was ordered to pay £6,000 in prosecution costs and a £1,200 surcharge to fund victim services.

The court made a collection order and allowed the total amount to be paid at a rate of £100 per month starting from April 2.

The offences were brought under Section 23 of the Milford Haven Conservancy Act 1983 and various Milford Haven Byelaws governing navigation safety within the Haven.

A HAKIN resident accused of repeatedly breaching a community protection notice has had his case adjourned after failing to attend court due to illness.

Tania Evans, of James Street, Hakin, Milford Haven, was due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 5).

The defendant, who was not present and is not in custody, faces six charges brought by Pembrokeshire County Council relating to alleged breaches of a community protection notice.

The court heard that the allegations relate to repeated incidents at a property in Hakin between October and December last year.

Evans is accused of failing to comply with the conditions of a community protection notice by allowing excessive noise and disruptive behaviour to occur at the address.

According to the charges, Evans allegedly failed to ensure that loud music, abusive shouting, excessive noise, or intimidating behaviour by himself or visitors to the property did not create an unreasonable disturbance for people living nearby.

The alleged breaches are said to have taken place on six occasions: October 28, December 3, December 9, December 23, December 25 and December 31, 2025.

In one of the later incidents, it is further alleged that Evans failed to ensure people at the property did not act in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress in the neighbourhood through amplified music, shouting or intimidation.

Each charge relates to an alleged breach of a community protection notice issued under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Community protection notices are powers used by local authorities and police to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour that has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.

Magistrates were told that the defence requested an adjournment because the defendant was unwell and unable to attend court.

The bench granted the request but warned that the case would proceed if Evans failed to attend the next hearing.

All six matters were adjourned to Thursday, April 2 at 11:00am at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

A major £500,000 fund-raising drive has been launched to salvage Milford Haven’s 50-metre outdoor swimming pool.

Following a five-year consultation initiative to bring the modern outdoor swimming facility back to the town, the Milford Haven Lido Park Society is now poised to launch a community share offer later this Spring, 

Chairman Michael Allen said the project had recently seen a breakthrough after what many viewed as a period of inactivity.

“We’ve been working on this for nearly five years,” Michael Allen told The Pembrokeshire Herald. “There have been many unkept promises around the site in the past, but we’ve been quietly working with the council to advance the community asset transfer.”

The group hopes to transform the site into a major community and tourism facility centred around a 50-metre outdoor pool, alongside an infant paddling pool and splash play area.

Community investment drive

The society is preparing to launch a community share offer in April, and aims to raise £500,000.

Residents and supporters will be able to invest from £100 upwards, which is a funding model already applied successfully ithroughout Pembrokeshire to support community shops, farms and chapels.

Mr Allen said the offer would be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, ensuring a secure framework for investors.

“We want to raise half a million pounds to show Pembrokeshire County Council we have the capability to manage the site,” he said.

The funding will help the society secure control of the site through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT).  However, Mr Allen acknowledged there was no guarantee the transfer would be approved.

A long-term vision

If successful, the society estimates it will ultimately require around £20 million to transform the site into a year-round facility capable of attracting visitors and boosting tourism.

“It’s not easy,” Mr Allen admitted, “but other lidos across the UK have done it.”

Future funding could come from organisations such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund, government programmes and major charitable donations.

Summer heating and cold water swimming

The proposed pool would be heated during the summer months using a ground-source heat pump, but not during the winter.  This would allow the site to support the growing cold-water swimming community.

“Heated swimming pools are a national challenge because of energy costs,” Mr Allen explained.

The plans also include a smaller heated rehabilitation pool, which would operate all year round.

The project has also secured support through a Perthyne grant, administered by Bryn Teg Consulting, to explore using the existing building as a Welsh-language community hub.

The facility would operate as a café open to all, but run primarily through the Welsh language with the help of volunteers from local groups including Hwb Aberdaugleddau and Caffi Pal (Friends Café).

Mr Allen said the project had recently secured cross-party backing from local politicians, including local MP Henry Tufnell. Sennedd Member, Paul Davies, Cris Tomos Chris and Scott Thorley.  Support has also been expressed locally by town councillors and community organisations including Milford Youth Matters and the VC Gallery.

The society stresses the pool will not rely on town or county council funding, but will operate as a community-owned asset.

Michael Allen went on to say that the number of new lido projects opening across Britain has increased significantly in recent years.

“The opening of lidos is accelerating,” he said. “That means creating a credible business plan is far easier now because there are successful examples to follow.”

Historically, the original pool used water from the Cleddau Estuary, which was then returned to the river, however Mr Allen said that ensuring the project meets environmental regulations remains one of the project’s most complex elements.

“By law the water cannot cause any harm to the environment,” he said.

Despite the challenges ahead, the society remains determined to bring outdoor swimming back to Milford Haven.

“There will be no visual eyesores,” he added. “We want this to be something the whole community can be proud of.”