News

Community campaigns to buy Trecadwgan Farm – a County Council farm near Solva

Published

7 years ago

June 10, 2019

CAMPAIGNERS in and around the community of Solva and the St Davids Peninsula are working hard to stop Pembrokeshire County Council from selling off this historic county farm at public auction in July, in order for the community to raise funds for a community asset transfer.

Solva community council, who are unanimously supportive of the vision for a community farm at the site said:

This Council, support the proposed purchase of Trecadwgan farm as a community project supporting the principles of food sovereignty, agroecology and biodynamic principles and practices. This Council also felt that given the current circumstances and recent declaration of a climate emergency by PCC, this project would naturally support any carbon reduction schemes and green projects. We do not feel that the sale of the farm would be securing value for money and would mean the loss of a potentially valuable community asset.

We would ask that PCC remove the farm from auction immediately and undertake discussions to support this unique and vibrant project.

Dating back to the 15th century the farmhouse is being sold with 13 outbuildings and 11 acres. The community benefit group have a vision for the site becoming a hub for the area that can offer skills training and be a location for many land-based social enterprises. One of the campaigners Rupert Dunn noted “There is a unique opportunity for the community and supporters both near and far to become joint purchasers of this historically important farm. Given the sensitivity of the issue of the sell-off of county farms across the UK, this case has national significance and raises a spotlight to our local authority to act with vision and to work together with communities. ” Rupert continued “I have spoken to many food, craft, training and agricultural based projects and there is great enthusiasm, the local community council at Solva are in full support”

The group is now forming a constituted Community Benefit Society registered with the FCA and will be looking to issue community shares in the development. A Pembrokeshire champion of community cooperatives, Cris Tomos of PLANED who has supported many community share offers commented ” The community and enterprise vision for Trecadwgan farm is fantastic and would see the opportunity for people to gain new skills and employment. It will be crucial to now form the new society as soon as possible with an inaugural board of directors to set up the community business”

Anyone wishing to show solidarity with the campaign or are interested in supporting the new community scheme are invited to attend the public meeting in Solva Memorial Hall at 6.30pm on Friday the 14th of June. There will be an opportunity to hear from people with a connection to the farm, form the new board and also have people putting their names down for being part of subcommittees to focus on finance, marketing, legal and other issues.

There will also be family-friendly activities held at the farm from 11am-5pm on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th June including: elderflower cordial making, gardening, scything and green woodworking as well as food to share and a chance to shape the vision for a community farm.

Crime

Scaffolder banned after cannabis smell reported from van

Published

10 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A SCAFFOLDER has been banned from driving for 14 months after an off-duty police officer smelt cannabis coming from his Volkswagen Transporter as it travelled through Slebech.

The report was made to police at around 10.30am on February 15. When officers located the vehicle, they discovered it was being driven by 46-year-old Christopher Bennett.

Further blood tests showed Bennett had 16.8 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

This week Bennett, of Queensdown Gardens, Brislington, Bristol, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by Alaw Harries.

“The defendant is remorseful for his actions and recognises the seriousness of the offence,” Ms Harries told the Bench.

“He suffers significant pain following operations to his shoulders and has been prescribed codeine. But this causes drowsiness, so he began self-medicating using cannabis.

“On the day of the offence, he was in worse pain than usual, so he used cannabis earlier than he normally does.”

Ms Harries said the conviction would have serious financial consequences for Bennett, who works as a self-employed scaffolder.

“His driving licence is fundamental to his livelihood,” she said.

“The financial consequences are going to be significant to him, as well as to those who are dependent on him.”

Magistrates fined Bennett £600 and ordered him to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Crime

Estate agent banned after drug-drive crash in Milford Haven

Published

10 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Alison Walker had nearly five times the legal benzoylecgonine limit in her system

A PEMBROKESHIRE estate agent has been banned from the road after admitting driving through Milford Haven with nearly five times the legal limit of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Alison Walker, 59, was arrested on February 2 after her white MG was involved in a two-car collision on Great North Road, Milford Haven.

“Fortunately there were no injuries, just damage to the vehicles,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Walker was arrested and asked to provide blood samples. These showed she had 240mcg of benzoylecgonine in her system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

Walker, of Woodland Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

He told the bench that prior to the offence, Walker had been employed as an estate agent.

“She has a good relationship with her boss, and as soon as this conviction is dealt with and her sentence has been served, he will be happy for her to return to her employment,” he said.

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates disqualified Walker from driving for 20 months.

She was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. Walker must also carry out a 12-month community order, during which she must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Crime

Pembroke Dock motorist banned after driving with cocaine in system

Published

11 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving with more than seven times the legal cocaine limit in her system.

Naomi Grant, 47, was stopped by police on the night of February 6 as she drove her Vauxhall Astra along the A477 near Pembroke Dock.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Grant, of Cheriton Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, was taken for further tests.

Blood analysis showed she had 74mcg of cocaine in her system. The legal limit is 10mcg. She also had 1,200mcg of benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, where the legal limit is 50mcg.

This week Grant, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug-driving when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.

She was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who told the court that his client is currently prescribed a considerable amount of medication for a number of medical issues.

“She also has her own personal assistant as a result of her medical needs,” he said.

“She has done everything that has been asked of her in relation to this offence and has engaged with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to help her move forward.”

Magistrates disqualified Grant from driving for 12 months and fined her £120.

She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.