News

Monkton protesters talk to top brass

Published

7 years ago

July 13, 2017

Tom Sinclair

Protest: Outside Pembroke Dock police station

THIS MORNING (Jul 13) at 9:30am, around one hundred protesters returned to the council offices in Pembroke Dock for a meeting with police and Pembrokeshire County Council spokespersons. On arrival, they were informed that there was not enough space within the building and a handful of protesters would be allowed in.

The group, lead again by Charlie Price, declined this offer, and moved to outside the police station, where they told officers that any meeting would have to take place outside in public for all of the protesters to participate in.

With the protesters assuring the police that the protest would remain peaceful, the group cheered as it was announced that Superintendent Ian John and Kerry Macdermott, Head of Housing and Revenue Services for Pembrokeshire County Council, would be arriving shortly.

Supt. John said: “The two residents of that flat, as it stands, neither of those two people, were actually currently on the sex offender’s register.”

“The facts are, they were not on the sex offender’s register. It would be inappropriate for me to go into specific detail, but what I will say, the lady who moved in with the gentleman who is the tenant of the flat, was not required to record her movements, as she would have been if she was on the sex offenders register.

“She was not placed there. She placed herself there.”

Supt. John then went on to warn about the dangers of so-called sex offender registers which can be found on the internet, which were not official police sources and potentially ‘not current or accurate’.

Mr Macdermott said: “It is no different to having a relationship and your partner moving in. That’s what has appeared to have happened her.

“For whatever reason, the tenant has allowed that person to move in with him.

“I also manage the housing benefits as well, so I can speak with knowledge, there are many cases where a single tenant, and there is another tenant who moves in as a partner, we would not necessarily put them as joint tenants for a whole raft of legal reasons.

“She wasn’t declared as living at the property and the tenancy was not changed.”

The group then described an alleged incident in which they claimed to have ‘ran out’ a paedophile from his home the night before (Jul 12), who drove to the police station and slept in the car park.

Supt John responded by warning against any vigilante actions: “Let me just say, for anyone who commits any criminal offences, we will deal with it. If anybody at all considers taking the law into their own hand, that is the wrong thing to do, you know that.

“We have a good relationship with the people in Monkton. We want to work with everyone and keep everyone safe, but there are laws in this country which protect people.

“It is not up to me or you which punishment or control people have, we have to work together safely, and I’m telling you we will continue to do that.

“It is your duty as citizens to work together with us. By talking about taking the law into your own hands… you are putting yourself at risk.”

He then went on to reassure the group that since Tuesday night, Dyfed-Powys Police had conducted extensive research into the woman’s situation: “The circumstances of the individual we are talking about have been thoroughly looked in the last 24 hours. Prior to that we had some contact with her locally, but what we did not know was the details of that background.”

Mr Macdermott then offered financial support to the group, who earlier in the morning had been talking about raising funds for charity: “If you set up a committee with Pearl on the committee, there are certain funds we can make available to you. I am prepared to come down and help you, help raise funds, and provide monies for charities.”

Mr Price, and many of the members of the group, saw this as an attempt of ‘paying off’ their cause, and declined: “We appreciate the offer, we are glad to know you are willing to sit down and talk to use. One thing we don’t want is the council to pay us off, so thank you for your offer, but we don’t need your money.”

Annalee: Not happy with the sex offenders register

A local resident, Annalee, then spoke of her experience with the sex offenders register after he daughter was sexually assaulted: “Fifteen years ago my daughter was sexually assaulted by a cousin. He only got put on the sex offenders register for five years, because he admitted doing the crime and was 15. He did his five years, and then went into the army.

“He used a different name – that wasn’t policed. He’s come out of the army, re-offended, and is now back on the sex offenders register for another five years.

“The law needs to change. If the law was how it is in England and Scotland, and there was more of a punishment, perhaps he wouldn’t have come out of the army and re-offended.

“I went to court 18 months ago after he was caught re-offending, it was a court in England, the Judge couldn’t believe why he was only on the register for the severity of the case against my daughter for just five years.”

Following the conclusion of the meeting, Cllr Pearl Llewellyn said: “I am here for Monkton. I support you 100%, but this has to be a peaceful demonstration – you won’t get anywhere with shouting.

“Charlie has excelled himself yesterday and today – he is a good spokesperson, he’s talking from the heart and means every word he says, but you have to know what you’re asking and what you’re talking about.

“I have to take advice from police and the council – I was told by Pembrokeshire County Council not to get involved or to come to these meetings, but I have, because my daughter lived in Monkton.

“Thank you all for coming down and being very patient.”

The event concluded with the announcement that a further protest would be held at County Hall in Haverfordwest tomorrow (Jul 14).

Charity

Pembrokeshire charities shortlisted for Welsh Charity Awards

Published

8 mins ago

November 24, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE Pembrokeshire organisations have been shortlisted for this year’s Welsh Charity Awards, set to take place on Monday (Nov 25) at the National Museum Cardiff.

The event, which coincides with the start of Welsh Charities Week, celebrates the contributions of charities, community groups, and volunteers across Wales. Representing the county are Milford Haven’s Megan’s Starr Foundation and Milford Youth Matters, alongside Narberth-based SPAN Arts.

The awards, organised by WCVA (Wales Council for Voluntary Action), are the only event dedicated to honouring the voluntary sector in Wales. A record 239 nominations were received this year.

Megan’s Starr Foundation

MEGAN’S STARR FOUNDATION, founded by Nicola Harteveld, is nominated in the Health and Wellbeing category, sponsored by Leaderful Action. The charity supports young people in Pembrokeshire facing mental health challenges, providing free counselling, peer support, and skill-building programmes.

The team said: “This nomination celebrates the heart and soul of our work. Every young person, volunteer, and family member who finds hope and belonging at Megan’s Starr is part of this incredible journey.

“Winning would inspire us to dream bigger, support more, and build a stronger, compassionate future together.”

Harteveld was Volunteer of the Year at last year’s awards.

Milford Youth Matters

MILFORD YOUTH MATTERS has been shortlisted for Fundraiser of the Year, co-sponsored by Thomas Carroll and Zurich Municipal. A fundraising team of seven young individuals, aged 15, has raised £10,000 annually through events such as a charity golf day, reshaping perceptions of young people in Milford Haven.

A spokesperson said: “This nomination recognises the dedication and hard work of our team, who have raised vital funds while developing skills and confidence to reach their full potential. We are extremely proud of their commitment.”

SPAN Arts

SPAN ARTS, based in Narberth, is a finalist in the Welsh Language category, sponsored by Mentrau Iaith. The organisation delivers bilingual arts programmes that celebrate community identity, inclusivity, and accessibility.

Director Bethan Touhig-Gamble said: “SPAN is based in an incredible bilingual county, where the Welsh language is part of the shared culture and identity. To have the work of our volunteers, trustees, staff, and creatives recognised is truly rewarding.”

WCVA Chief Executive Lindsay Cordery-Bruce said: “We’re delighted to have had a record number of nominations this year – 239 in total. That’s testimony to the quality work undertaken by volunteers, community groups, and charities across Wales. I couldn’t be more excited to meet the finalists on Monday and find out who’s scooped the top awards.”

The Welsh Charity Awards highlight the difference made by charities and volunteers across the country. For a full list of finalists, visit the Welsh Charity Awards website.

(Cover image: Milford Youth Matters receive a cheque from Tesco)

News

Body found in search for missing man during Storm Bert

Published

17 mins ago

November 24, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A BODY has been discovered by police searching for a man who went missing in a river during Storm Bert.

Although formal identification is yet to take place, the family of Brian Perry, 75, has been informed of the discovery.

Mr Perry was reported missing after he was swept away in the River Conwy near Trefriw, Conwy county, around 4:30pm on Saturday. He had been walking with his wife and their dog in an area severely affected by floodwater, North Wales Police said.

Chief Inspector Simon Kneale confirmed that Mr Perry’s family is receiving support from officers. He described the situation as “a particularly difficult time for this gentleman’s family.”

Storm Bert’s impact across Wales

Storm Bert has brought widespread disruption across Wales, with homes and roads submerged under floodwaters and dozens of flood warnings issued. The storm has caused extensive damage, lifting cars off their wheels and leaving communities grappling with its aftermath.

In South Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf council declared a major incident due to severe flooding. Pontypridd has been one of the hardest-hit areas, with residents on Sion Street forced to bail out their homes after floodwaters surged without warning on Sunday morning.

Steve West, a businessman in Pontypridd, described the flooding as overwhelming. “We just have to wait for the water to recede and then help clear out the shops,” he said. Flooding has also been reported on Mill Street, with properties severely affected.

Emergency response and landslides

Rest centres have been established for displaced residents at Ystrad Sports Centre, Pontypridd Library, and Sobell Leisure Centre in Aberdare. Despite the council distributing thousands of sandbags, council leader Andrew Morgan said the intensity of the weather had been “simply overwhelming.”

In addition to flooding, landslides have caused further disruption. The A4106 Bwlch Road between Treorchy and Nantymoel was closed after a landslip scattered debris across the highway. A similar incident in Merthyr Tydfil forced the Brecon Mountain Railway to cancel its special Christmas services.

Power outages and water issues

Over 1,300 properties in South and West Wales were without power on Sunday morning, according to the National Grid. Welsh Water advised more than 10,000 residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf to boil their tap water after identifying quality issues at the Tynywaun water treatment works.

Weather warnings remain in place

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for strong winds across several counties, including Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire, until 9:00pm on Sunday. While the worst of the rain is expected to ease by the afternoon, up to 40mm of rainfall may still affect some areas, particularly over higher ground.

As Wales begins to recover from the devastation caused by Storm Bert, emergency services and communities continue their efforts to address the extensive damage left in its wake.

News

Flooding wreaks havoc across large areas of Wales

Published

20 mins ago

November 24, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FLOODING has wreaked havoc across large areas of Wales following relentless rainfall overnight and into this morning. Weather warnings remain in place, and numerous roads have been closed due to hazardous conditions. Affected residents and motorists are urged to stay informed and avoid travel where possible.

TRANSPORT CHAOS

A railway line in the Cynon Valley has been submerged, with images showing Cwmbach train station entirely underwater. Severe flooding has also been reported in the Rhondda, Pontypridd, Blackwood, and Ebbw Vale. Roads across the region, including the A465 and sections of the A5 and A494, are impassable, with diversions causing significant delays.

COMMUNITIES HIT HARD

Residents on Sion Street, Pontypridd, face some of the worst conditions. Photos show householders using buckets and bins to bail out floodwater, as emergency services work tirelessly to assist. Berw Road, also in Pontypridd, has seen similar devastation, with businesses and homes overwhelmed by water. Cardiff’s Bute Park has been closed due to the risk of flooding.

In Blackwood, the local rugby club and surrounding areas are submerged, leaving vehicles stranded. A restaurant in the town, Bistro 8, remains closed due to rising waters.

MAJOR INCIDENTS DECLARED

Rhondda Cynon Taf council has declared a major incident, citing “significant flooding” across the area. Emergency centres have been opened, and sandbags distributed to mitigate further damage. Merthyr Tydfil council also reported several inaccessible roads and is providing evacuation centres for affected residents.

TRAGIC LOSS AND RESCUES

In England, a man in his 60s tragically lost his life after a tree fell on his car during Storm Bert. Meanwhile, in Trefriw, north Wales, a man remains missing after going running with his dog as floodwaters rose. Emergency services have located the dog but continue to search for the man.

WEATHER WARNINGS AND ADVICE

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain, covering areas including Cardiff, Swansea, and Powys. Earlier warnings for strong winds have been lifted. Natural Resources Wales reports nearly 50 flood warnings and 60 flood alerts across the country.

Residents are urged to prepare by following flood preparedness advice, which includes having sandbags ready and signing up for weather updates. Affected train services have been replaced with buses, and delays are expected to continue.

CALLS FOR ACTION

Plaid Cymru MS Heledd Fychan has called for more action to prevent recurring flooding, pointing to lessons unlearned from the devastating floods of 2020 during Storms Ciara and Dennis. She pledged ongoing support for affected communities and promised to campaign for better flood defences in the Senedd.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Gwent Police, alongside emergency services and local councils, have warned against unnecessary travel and advised against driving through floodwaters. Residents are reminded to report floods to their local councils and to dial 999 in emergencies.