News
First section of ‘Active Travel Route’ opens
THE FIRST phase of a scheme to link two Pembrokeshire towns with an ‘active travel route’ has opened.
The planned 17-kilometre route between Narberth and Haverfordwest will incorporate traffic-free sections and quiet roads and will follow existing highways, tracks, bridleways and public footpaths.
Wherever possible it will be multi-user – that is accessible to walkers, cyclists, the mobility impaired and equestrians. The first of the Pembrokeshire County Council three-phase project was opened recently by the Authority’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure, Phil Baker.
A section between Eagle Lodge and Blackpool Mill was completed with Welsh Government funding. Work on phase two between Eagle Lodge and Narberth via Canaston Wood and Carding Mill Lane is scheduled to start later this year.
Councillor Baker: “Both Narberth and Haverfordwest are designated active travel settlements and the scheme will not only provide an important link between numerous communities but also provides opportunities for staff to access a number of employment sites by sustainable means.
“We have enjoyed working with our partners and look forward to completing the remainder of the project with them.”
Sustrans – the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle – identified the link between the towns for inclusion in the National Cycling Network (NCN). It has been supporting the County Council to
develop the route by conducting studies and providing engineering and ecology expertise.
Elena Bianchi, network development manager at Sustrans Cymru said: “We are very happy to celebrate the opening of this section of the path. It shows how collaboration and engagement are key to making sure we create high quality traffic-free infrastructure suitable for all users.
“We consider this opening as a major achievement in the context of our Paths for Everyone Programme which aims at making the National Cycle Network safer and more accessible for everyone.
“During this process, we have learnt a lot and we will be happy to make this learning available for the future phases of the project and for other similar projects around the UK.”
For information on local cycle routes go to Cycle Pembrokeshire on the County Council’s website: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/cycle-pembrokeshire
Crime
Banned for sleeping in car whilst over the drink drive limit
A MOTORIST caught sleeping in a BMW in MIiford Haven town centre has appeared before magistrates for being in charge of a motor vehicle when he was over the legal alcohol limit.
Police officers discovered John Steele, 30, soon after 5.30pm on March 9 when he was asleep in his red BMW which was parked in a car park at Hamilton Terrace.
“The engine was running and the lights were on,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton who was sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.
“Officers smelt alcohol, he was intoxicated and he was slurring his words.”
Officers were unable to carry out a roadside breath test as a result of them not being in possession of a breathalyser at the scene of the incident. Steele was conveyed to a police custody suite where two samples of breath were subsequently taken, the lowest giving a reading of 44 mcg.
Steele, who is employed as a machine technician in Selby, pleaded guilty to the charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle while he was above the alcohol limit.
He was fined £400 and ordered to pay a £160 court surcharge and £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.
Crime
Shop worked kicked police officer before attempting to bite her
CHRISTMAS festivities turned sour for Haverfordwest shop worker Bryonny Smith after she kicked an on-duty police officer before attempting to bite her.
Police officers, including a firearms officer, were called to an address in Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, shortly after midnight on December 27. There they discovered Smith, 23, hiding in a garden.
“She was escorted to an unmarked police car but she kept banging her head and tried to bite the officer,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton when he sat at Haverfordwest magistrates court earlier this week.
“The defendant then kicked out at the officer, making contact with her lower right leg.”
Meanwhile probation officer Julie Norman said that the offence was committed after Smith had spent Christmas at her boyfriend’s home in Milford Haven.
“An argument broke out and things got out of hand,” she said.
Smith, of Fleming Crescent, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting an emergency worker by beating.
She was sentenced to a community order during which she must carry out ten rehabilitation activity requirement days and was fined £150. She was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to the police officer, £85 costs and a £114 court surcharge.
“Biting an officer and assaulting an officer is something that this court does not tolerate,” commented Judge Layton when passing sentence.
“If you come before this court again on a similar charge, you’ll get a custodial sentence.”
Crime
Twelve weeks in jail for stealing computer tablets from McDonald’s
A HAVERFORDWEST man has been jailed after stealing two computer tablets from the counter at the town’s Mcdonald’s restaurant.
Asa Wandelt entered the Haverfordwest branch of Mcdonalds on April 7, walked up to the counter and placed a computer tablet valued at £150 inside his jacket. CCTV footage then showed Wandelt walking out of the restaurant.
Once again on April 16 Wandelt returned to Mcdonalds and stole yet another computer tablet which had been placed on the counter. Once again, he concealed it inside his coat before leaving the restaurant.
This week Wandelt appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to two charges of theft.
Probation officer Julie Norman said the offences were committed whilst Wandelt was the subject of a post-sentence supervision following his release from prison for previous offences.
”He’s disengaged with services over the past few weeks and is not addressing his drug use nor his misbehaviour, issues” she said.
Ms Norman went on to say that Wandelt was recently evicted from the Silverdale hostel in Johnston where he had been granted emergency accommodation following his release from custody. His eviction was the result of his behavioural issues.
District Judge Mark Layton sentenced Wandelt to 12 weeks in custody. He was also ordered to pay a total of £300 compensation to Mcdonalds, a £134 court surcharge and £85 costs.
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