News

Major investment at Bluestone

Published

9 years ago

December 23, 2016

Bluestone National Park Resort: 300 new jobs to be created by 2020

BLUESTONE has announced 300 new jobs, a £10m investment and 30% ownership for staff in new development plans for the resort.

Bluestone National Park Resort has secured a multi-million pound loan from Barclays, which will see a major investment in new all-weather facilities and the creation of 300 additional jobs in the county by 2020.

The deal will also see the majority shareholding passed from investors to staff and management, and a further 30% shareholding transferred to an Employee Benefit Trust (EBT).

Designs are currently being drawn up for a £7.5 million Eden Project-style Sky Dome at the luxury resort, which is expected to open in 2018.

This follows the proposed £2.5 million transformation of the disused 19th century Blackpool Mill into a Victorian-themed attraction, which has just been submitted for planning.

Over the next three years, the number of year-round jobs will increase by 300 to more than 1,000, with all eligible staff set to benefit from dividends via the EBT.

Andrew Probert, on behalf of the investors, who are retaining a stake in the business, said: “We are delighted by the success of Bluestone over the last few years and that is testament to the hard work and vision of its management and employees. I am pleased that this can be recognised through the new ownership structure.

“We are excited to be continuing to be part of the future of Bluestone and believe that it has established a fantastic reputation in the market which sets it up for future success.”

Bluestone Chief Executive William McNamara OBE said: “Our original vision for Bluestone, which began some two decades ago, has been realised over the past three years.

“Staff are the heart of the customer experience at Bluestone and therefore our success as a business overall, so I’m delighted that our plans for an Employee Benefit Trust have become a reality.

“The EBT will reward staff for their incredible loyalty and commitment and ensure they have a new opportunity to be recognised for the outstanding job they do for our business. We now have our sights firmly set on the future and our staff will continue to play a key part of this vision.”

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.