News
Suspended sentence for death by careless driving pensioner
A PEMBROKE pensioner whose careless driving caused the death of a driving instructor on the verge of beating cancer has this afternoon (Apr 9) received a suspended prison sentence.
Jean Williams, aged 84, overtook a tractor so slowly she entered an uphill bend still on the wrong side of the road.
Motorcyclist Vanessa McAloon, aged 47, who was approaching from the other way along the A4075 at Penny Bridge, “had no where to go” and lost control after braking hard on her bike.
Mrs McAloon, a qualified driving instructor, fell off and slid into Williams’ Vauxhall Corsa.
Her partner James, who was riding behind her, had no choice but to ride over his own wife.
Swansea Crown Court heard that Mrs McAloon, of Bosherston, had only one more session of chemotherapy to go and was making plans for the future, confident that she was beating the disease.
Williams, of Tudor House, Main Street, was convicted of causing death by careless driving after a trial.
Today, Judge Geraint Walters jailed her for 12 months, suspended for two years, and banned her from driving for two years.
Judge Walters said that on occasions driving too slowly could produce as much of a danger as those who drove at excessive speed.
Williams could have completed the overtaking only if she had driven with determination and purpose. But she had started the maneuvre too late and then driven too slowly.
Helen Randall, prosecuting, read a statement to the court written by Mrs McAloon’s daughter Rebecca Brockhart, who said the family had been hugely relieved to learn that her mother was beating cancer after surgery and chemotherapy.
She said she could no longer bear living in Pembrokeshire because everywhere she went reminded her of her mother.
“Without her we feel empty. I cannot describe the devastation,” she said.
“James saw the accident and was himself injured. He lost his wife, his business and his home. His bungalow has been repossessed and his business has gone bankrupt,” she wrote.
Judge Walters said both Mrs McAloon and her husband had enjoyed motor cycling and on November 27, 2016, had decided to ‘take the scenic way home’ so they could enjoy a glorious, sunny, Autumn day.
“Neither could have imagined how it would all end. Neither seemed to have a care in the world. They were simply enjoying what they enjoyed doing together.”
He told Williams: “They rounded a bend to find your car wholly or largely on the wrong side of the road.
“Putting it simply, she had nowhere to go.
“When her husband rounded the same bend he, too, was confronted with an impossible situation. He has to live with the horror of being unable to do anything except ride over his own wife as she lay in the carriageway.
“The word tragedy comes nowhere close to describing the outcome of your driving.”
Judge Walters said he accepted that Williams had led a blameless life but people had to appreciate that as they got older then everything took longer and that, in her case, included overtaking a tractor.
Jim Davis, Williams’ barrister, said she had not driven since the accident and had no intention of ever driving again.
Business
Expansion for Ashmole & Co with acquisition of Jones Ward Accountants
CHARTERED, Certified Accountants, Ashmole & Co, are delighted to announce their expansion following the acquisition of JonesWard accountancy firm in Carmarthen.
Ashmole & Co Carmarthen has today taken over JonesWard who have closed their office in Lammas Street, Carmarthen. All JonesWard staff, including Ian Jones and James Ward, have transferred over to Ashmole & Co and will be based in the Old School, the Quay, Carmarthen.
JonesWard informed their clients that the administrative burden of running a practice had increased significantly over recent years due to the constant changing money laundering and tax regulations, software requirements and so on. Over the past 12 months it had become more challenging to maintain the level of service they had been used to providing.
Ian Jones said, “We feel Ashmole & Co share the same values as us and have the necessary expertise and resources to ensure we can continue to provide the personal touch and level of service clients have been accustomed to. Myself and James are not retiring but we will be supported by Ashmole & Co’s partners and staff from now on in their Carmarthen office.”
Ashmole & Co partners Sharon George, Carwyn Morgan and Vinal Patel will strive to ensure JonesWard clients will continue to receive the high quality of service they are used to.
Vinal Patel, Partner with Ashmole & Co said, “It is our priority to make the transition as smooth as possible with all employees of JonesWard having already transferred to Ashmole & Co and are now based in our office on the Quay in Carmarthen. We look forward to meeting our new clients and working closely with them to meet their needs in the future.”
Ashmole & Co Chartered and Certified Accountants have been established since 1897 and are one of the largest accountancies and auditing practices in south Wales, now operating from thirteen offices throughout south and west Wales including Swansea, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Ammanford.
Charity
Fundraiser to take on epic 87k steps challenge to raise funds for Withybush
SAM Faulkner is challenging himself to walk 87,000 steps in one day to raise funds for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in memory of his father.
Sam will be walking along the Brecon and Monmouth Canal from Brecon to Rogerstone in Newport.
Sam said: “Since losing my Dad last year, I made a personal commitment to do something to raise money every year for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest who looked after my Dad so well in his final days.
“I will be challenging myself to complete 87,000 steps in a day on July 20th 2024 – 1,000 steps for every year of my Dad’s life. I’ll be walking around 40 miles in about 10 hours.
“Canal walks were always a firm favourite of mine and my Dad’s, with many days spent walking along the Grand Union in Northamptonshire when I was growing up.
“My family and I, and the unit at the hospital, would be beyond grateful for anything supporters could give. Thank you ever so much in advance.”
Katie Hancock, Pembrokeshire Fundraising Officer, said: “We’d like to say a huge good luck to Sam with his challenge. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to raise more funds for the Cardiac Care Unit.
“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”
You can donate to Sam’s fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sam-faulkner-1712508280259?newPage=true&fbclid=IwAR2tyVVQVea0DLQelSsrp7Ie2CKjX0jXGnwndR_tBKL-Av2kv8f5nchEolw
For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk
Business
Dragon LNG explores integration of LNG and CO2 liquefaction processes
DRAGON LNG, based in Waterston, Milford Haven, recently announced a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions.
The company awarded a contract to Worley, global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study.
The study is focussing on exploring the potential benefits of integrating LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
regasification and CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) liquefaction processes at Dragon LNG’s facilities. This integration holds promise for a more efficient operation, with the potential to reduce energy consumption, carbon intensity and the levelized cost of CO2 export not only at the Dragon site but also for Haven industry companies.
If feasible, the technology at Dragon would support wider collaboration with RWE Pembroke Net Zero Centre, whose CO2 would be transported to the Dragon facility for processing before being shipped via non-pipeline transport (NPT) to carbon sequestration sites.
Key aspects to be addressed in the feasibility study include:
- Technical Solutions: Worley will evaluate various technical approaches to seamlessly integrate LNG and
- CO2 liquefaction processes, ensuring optimal energy efficiency and effectiveness.
- Carbon Intensity Reduction: Dragon LNG is committed to sustainability, and the study will assess how the integration of processes can contribute to lowering the carbon intensity of operations, aligning with broader environmental goals.
- Economic Viability: Understanding the financial implications is crucial. The study will delve into the levelized cost of CO2 and other economic factors to determine the feasibility and financial benefits of the proposed integration.
Commenting on the partnership, a spokesperson for Dragon LNG stated, “We are excited to collaborate with Worley on this important initiative. As a responsible energy provider, Dragon LNG is continuously seeking innovative ways to enhance our operations while minimizing our environmental footprint. This feasibility study represents a significant step towards achieving those objectives.”
Worley’s expertise in engineering and consultancy services including in the CO2 and LNG sectors makes them an ideal partner for this endeavour. Their track record of delivering sustainability solutions aligns perfectly with the ambitious goals of Dragon LNG.
This collaboration underscores Dragon LNG’s commitment to driving sustainable practices within the energy sector. By exploring the integration of LNG regasification and CO2 liquefaction processes, the company aims to pave the way for a cleaner, more efficient energy future with their ambition of a net zero terminal by 2029.
-
News5 days ago
Police investigating after woman found dead on beach near Pennar
-
News5 days ago
Police discover body in search for Luke Stephenson, 19
-
News5 days ago
Councillors block Milford Haven boxing event – promoter to appeal
-
Crime6 days ago
Llandissilio man accused of making hundreds of child abuse images
-
News4 days ago
Beautiful, funny and lovely: Family pay tribute to Sian Batchelor
-
Business6 days ago
Lidl GB eyes Pembroke Dock for new larger supermarket
-
News5 days ago
Search efforts continue for missing teenager Luke Stephenson
-
News2 days ago
Body recovered confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, say police