News

Can pay, won’t pay

Published

12 years ago

June 16, 2014

Tom Sinclair

FURIOUS businessmen have reacted angrily to being left high and dry by the collapse of Mustang Marine.

• Local businesses out of pocket

• Claims local traders misled

Representatives from several local businesses owed money by the firm, which went into administration at the beginning of March, have approached the Herald about events that have left them among unsecured creditors owed in excess of £3.1m, who are not expected to get a single penny back. Each of those business people made it clear to the Pembrokeshire Herald that the only reason they extended such long credit lines to the boat building company was the repeated assurances given by senior Milford Haven Port Authority figures and former directors of Mustang Marine that their bills would be paid in all eventualities. One trader, who asked not to be identified told us: “I was told again and again that my business would be paid. I was told it by the Port Authority and told it by the directors of Mustang Marine. If I had not been told that I would be paid and led to believe that the Port Authority would make good on what Mustang owed me, I would have pulled the plug and taken my men off site. I know others were told the same thing.” Another businessman told the Herald: “It stinks. I could end up losing everything I have spent years building up. Mustang Marine were taking money from Svitzer intended for contractors working in the profitable part of the business, and instead of paying them the directors were using that money to prop up the losses Mustang was making elsewhere. “Fair dos to Svitzer, though, when they found out what Mustang Marine were up to, they started paying contractors direct and not through Mustang. If they hadn’t I would have gone bust, and so would’ve other people. I still might have to put the business through. “We (me and other businesses) were told that the Port Authority was behind it and there was no risk of us losing out. I think the whole thing needs investigating.” HSBC Bank and former Mustang Director Huw Lewis will receive around £270K and £296K respectively as secured creditors of the firm A claim by the Port Authority to be treated as a secured creditor in respect of combined loans made to Mustang Marine totalling £384K has been rejected by the Administrators, Grant Thornton, who have run up fees in excess of £190K since their appointment on March 3 to date. Former employees of the firm are owed a total of £104,292. Local businesses that have taken the biggest cash hits include, BDS Contract Services of Hubberston are shown as being owed in excess of a quarter of a million pounds, while Pembrokeshire County Council shows up as being owed over £66,000 by the failed company. Port Engineering of Milford Haven is owed in excess of £57,000 and JP Junior Scaffolding over £41K. None of those businesses were available for comment. The Herald put a question to the auditors about the status of a reported status debt of £329K owed by Mustang Marine to Marine & Port Services Ltd. A check at Companies House showed that it Marine & Port Services Ltd.’s address was a PO Box care of Milford Haven Port Authority and that it had been wound up in 2008. The Herald put a question to the auditors about the status of a reported status debt of £329,000 owed by Mustang Marine to Marine & Port Services Ltd. A check at Companies House showed that it Marine & Port Services Ltd.’s address was a PO Box care of Milford Haven Port Authority and that it had been wound up in 2008. A spokesman for the Grant Thornton told The Herald: “It’s simply a clerical error. Trading with MHPA was historically with Marine and Port Services Ltd.” He added “When trading changed to MHPA the clerical staff at Mustang did not update the ledger account name and continued to use Marine and Port Services when in reality they should have changed the account name to MHPA.” “The liability should be recorded in the books and records as MHPA.”

News

Motorcyclist seriously injured in B4333 crash near Capel Iwan

Published

6 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Van driver charged after two-vehicle collision on Maudlands stretch of road

A MOTORCYCLIST was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following a two-vehicle collision on the B4333 near Capel Iwan on Wednesday morning (Apr 8).

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were called just after 7:00am to the crash on the Maudlands stretch of road. The collision involved a white Mercedes Sprinter van towing a trailer and a black Triumph motorbike.

The rider of the motorbike was taken to hospital by air ambulance, where he remains under treatment for serious injuries.

Police confirmed that the driver of the van, José Fernando Rey Fernández, aged 45, was arrested following the incident. He has since been charged with causing serious injury by careless driving, remanded in custody, and was due to appear before Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court.

The road was closed for several hours while specialist collision investigators carried out enquiries. It reopened at around 3:50pm.

Witness appeal

Officers are appealing for anyone who saw either vehicle before the collision to come forward. They are particularly keen to hear from anyone with dash-cam footage, CCTV, or doorbell video covering the area at the time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police quoting reference DP-20260408-055.

News

Welsh Labour sets out jobs pledge as election battle over economy intensifies

Published

20 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

First Minister Eluned Morgan says renewables, apprenticeships and retraining will drive growth, while warning that rival parties risk business confidence

WELSH LABOUR has set out a fresh pitch to voters on jobs, apprenticeships and green industry ahead of the Senedd election, with First Minister Eluned Morgan claiming her party offers the stability needed to attract future investment to Wales.

During a visit to electrical firm Dec Elec in Aberdare on Thursday (Apr 9), the Welsh Labour leader met staff and apprentices to discuss expansion opportunities linked to renewable energy infrastructure and skills development.

The visit formed part of Labour’s wider economic message for the election campaign, with the party promising a new industrial strategy for Wales, more apprenticeships and a long-term retraining scheme for workers whose industries are changing.

Speaking during the visit, Baroness Morgan said Welsh Labour wanted to “move into the next chapter of the Welsh economy” by investing in what she described as “the jobs of the future”.

She said the party’s plans would include a new industrial strategy, further apprenticeship opportunities in areas such as renewables and planning, and a “Lifelong Retraining Guarantee” aimed at helping workers adapt at any stage of their careers.

Labour has also pledged to create a National Jobs Council chaired by the First Minister, deliver 100,000 all-age apprenticeships over the next Senedd term, and speed up the planning system to support economic development.

Other promises include a new strategy for vocational education and training, targeted support for the South Wales Valleys, backing for Welsh steel through public procurement, and work to unlock major projects in north Wales including Wylfa and the proposed AI Growth Zone.

At the Aberdare visit, third-year apprentice Jordan said his apprenticeship had helped him gain practical skills that would have been difficult to learn in the classroom alone. He said expanding apprenticeships would help more young people gain hands-on experience and improve their chances of finding work.

Labour also used the visit to draw political dividing lines with its opponents. Baroness Morgan claimed Reform UK’s opposition to net-zero projects would put jobs at risk, while also arguing that Plaid Cymru’s support for independence and its approach to renewable energy could deter business investment.

Those claims are likely to be strongly contested during the campaign, with opposition parties expected to argue that their own policies would provide a better route to economic growth, energy security and stronger public services.

The row underlines how jobs, industrial policy and the future of green investment are set to become major battlegrounds in the run-up to polling day.

Welsh Labour is seeking to present itself as the party of economic continuity and managed transition, while opponents are likely to question whether its record in government matches the scale of the promises now being made.

Crime

Man sent to Crown Court over alleged breach of sexual harm prevention order

Published

33 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Carmarthenshire defendant denies deleting internet history contrary to court order

A MAN from Llandeilo has been sent to Swansea Crown Court for trial after appearing before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Ben Barrett, 37, of Maes Y Farchnad, Llandeilo, appeared before the court on Thursday (Apr 9).

The court heard that Barrett is accused of breaching a sexual harm prevention order made by Swansea Crown Court on March 15, 2018.

It is alleged that between October 13 and October 19, 2025, at Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, he deleted the history of internet use without reasonable excuse, despite being prohibited from doing so by the order.

The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court for trial under Section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Barrett gave no guilty indication and the matter was treated as not guilty for the purposes of sending.

He was granted unconditional bail and is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court, The Law Courts, St Helens Road, on Friday, May 8 at 9:00am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.