News

Student slams council behaviour

Published

11 years ago

May 7, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Conduct complaints: Jamie Adams

THE CONDUCT of Council Leader Jamie Adams during debates has again been the subject of complaints by members of the public.

In its report of the meeting held on January 29, The Herald reported how one outraged parent in the public gallery said: “If a pupil behaved like that it would be seen as disruptive behaviour. What sort of message does head-shaking, smirking and sighing theatrically when someone says something you disagree with, give kids about the appropriate way to behave?”

It seems as though Cllr Adams remains incapable of controlling himself when views contrary to his own are expressed. In a letter to Council Chair Tom Richards, Millie Thomas, Deputy Head Girl of Tasker-Milward School relates how she, too, witnessed Jamie Adams’ shenanigans during the debate held on Tuesday April 14, where the council debated Cllr Paul Miller’s motion to cease the ongoing controversial consultation on post 16 education.

The letter states that: “As a member of the Sixth Form in Tasker-Milward I was very disappointed to see the behaviour of several members in the meeting.”

Drawing attention to the conduct of Cllr Sue Perkins, Millie addresses Cllr Perkins’ claim made in the Chamber that she ‘listened to all of the other councillors when they spoke’.

The letter goes on to say, “Cllr Perkins did listen to all of the councillors: unfortunately manners truly are not Cllr Perkin’s strong point. Throughout everybody speaking in favour of the motion Cllr Perkins sat there whilst shaking her head continuously. Now, as a 17 year old student, if I know that is disrespectful I believe she should understand that too. Cllr Perkins is obviously heavily involved in the changes in education and I find it very disrespectful in the way she presented herself that day.”

Highlighting the conduct of both Cllr Perkins and Jamie Adams, as people spoke about their feelings on the motion, Millie states: “(They) were fairly far away from one another in the chamber, leaning back far in their chairs to pull faces at one another about what other Councillors were saying. I’m not completely sure what they were shouting at each other because I was far away, but obviously it was negative and again disrespectful.”

Noting that some councillors appeared more equal than others, the Deputy Head Girl’s letter goes on to note that the cut off time for five minutes was disregarded for some councillors but not for others. Addressing Cllr Richards directly, she writes: “As Chair of the council I believe it is up to you to not seem biased towards some more than others. Cllr Jamie Adams and Cllr Susan Perkins spoke a lot more than others and this is not fair. I think their behaviour needs to be addressed, manners cost nothing and they need to be respectful like everyone listening to their opinions. They acted very immaturely and disrespectfully and I hope that in the future this is addressed in the chamber, in County Hall.”

Millie concludes by saying: “I do hope their behaviour is acted on or addressed.”

The Herald invited Cllrs Richards, Perkins and Adams to respond to Millie Thomas’ letter.

A council spokesperson told us: “Council Chairman Cllr Tom Richards has been away. He will be responding by letter to Millie as soon as his schedule allows.”

Cllr Jamie Adams responded to Millie, saying: “Thank you for copying me in to your email to Cllr Richards.

“I am disappointed by your comments and will review the webcast to reflect upon my demeanour at the meeting. As for timing, again I will review the matter in the same way and form a view on the time allocated to myself and others. I would just add that the Council Chamber is a dynamic environment as you’ve witnessed where strength of opinion and emotion can often be reflected in many ways. The viewing gallery does not give you a panoramic view of the expressions and gestures of all members. Thank you again for expressing your views.”

Cllr Sue Perkins told us: “I haven’t had any direct contact from Millie, but I’m more than happy to respond personally to her on any of the points she has raised if she’d like to get in touch with me directly. I’m very glad that she and so many other young people in Pembrokeshire are participating in the consultation and look forward to receiving as many views as possible before the process ends on May 5.”

News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

16 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines
docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon last week, marking the start of physical
deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock on
shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 26th November, bringing tower sections and other heavy
components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the
existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, has arrived in Pembroke Port today is
due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-
loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through
Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the
latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived last week yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are
expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be
blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with
a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG
terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to
power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven
throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock.

Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

The Weather conditions are currently were favourable for this morning’s the arrival of
the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are
expected to begin early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-
bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery
programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.