News
Caravan Park’s bid to stop nightclub re-opening fails
THE APPEAL by a caravan park owner against a decision to grant a public entertainment licence for a nightclub in Penally has been dismissed.
The Queen of Clubs in Penally, known as Chequers Nightclub until 1997, is due to open soon. However, Emma Thomas, of Crackwell Holiday Park, which is next to the club, objected.
Similar issues arose when the premises opened as a private members club by The Evolution Experience, in 2003.
The nightclub and the caravan park were previously under the same ownership, but then the club owners sold it off. There were complaints over noise and traffic whenever the club had been open ever since.
The appeal case was heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court and a decision was reached on Thursday (Jan 30).
Emma Thomas explained that one of her main concerns was the road outside the Club and patrons walking down it at night but the owners have already said they have been looking to provide a free shuttle bus or taxi at regular intervals to take patrons safely back to Tenby.
The road situation was just a ‘fatality waiting to happen’, she said.
Representing the Council, Sally-Ann Martin told magistrates that they would need to be satisfied that the Licensing Sub Committee’s decision was wrong if they wanted to stop the club from re-opening.
Magistrates took nearly two hours to reach a decision. When they did, they said that the Police, fire safety officer and Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution control officer were all happy with the application. The caravan park will now have to pay £1000 in costs for the case.
Crime
Sentencing delay for woman who killed baby Mabli in crash
THE SENTENCING of a woman who killed a baby in a crash outside Withybush Hospital has been postponed after she suffered a suspected heart attack.
Bridget Carole Curtis, 70, of Begelly, was scheduled to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday after admitting to causing the death of eight-month-old Mabli Cariad Hall by dangerous driving.
Mabli sustained severe traumatic brain injuries when she was struck by a white BMW while in her pram at the hospital’s front entrance on June 1 last year. She was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and later transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where she died in the early hours of June 25.
Curtis was reported to have suffered a suspected heart attack on the morning of her sentencing and is currently being treated in hospital. The hearing has been adjourned and will resume on December 5.
News
Saundersfoot volunteers turn washed-up plastic into beach art
HUNDREDS of pieces of plastic, once potential pollutants, found a new purpose on Pembrokeshire’s shores as they were transformed into a striking fish-shaped artwork. The temporary installation appeared on Saundersfoot beach, created by volunteers from Saundersfoot RNLI and Julie Davies of The Beach HeART Project.
Originally planning an early morning beach clean, the group found the high tide had left little to collect aside from a few cigarette butts. This gave them an opportunity to get creative, using Julie’s collection of 362 previously gathered plastic items to craft the unique design.
Julie said: “It became an instant talking point for beachgoers, many of whom were amazed by the variety of items used. These included bottle tops, sports drink lids, shotgun cartridges, sun lotion pumps, straws, ice cream spoons, fishing line and rope, foam bullets, sand toys, golf tees, cider keg caps, printer ink caps, a Barbie arm, Kinder eggs, a plastic carrot, and even a 2007 lobster tag from Maine!”
SPARKING AWARENESS
The artwork not only captured attention but also ignited discussions about ocean pollution.
Julie added: “We had some fun debating how anatomically correct the fish was—not helped by dogs who came to investigate and tried to steal the broken balls we used. It was rewarding to see beachgoers taking away even the smallest pieces of plastic they found on their walk.”
FUNDRAISING WITH FISH AND CHIPS
The RNLI Saundersfoot branch is known for its creative initiatives, and its next event continues this tradition. A Fish and Chip Lunch fundraiser will take place at The Hean in Saundersfoot this Friday (Nov 29).
Tickets are priced at £15, covering fish, chips, peas, unlimited bread and butter, and a choice of tea, coffee, or squash. The event will feature a raffle, table quiz, and nautical background music.
Reservations can be made by contacting James on 07824 320145.
Photo caption: Creative reuse: Julie Davies’ fish art made from washed-up plastics caught beachgoers’ attention (Pic: Julie Davies).
Community
Pembrokeshire trains set for major timetable changes
RAIL passengers in Pembrokeshire are being urged to plan ahead as the ‘most significant mainline timetable change in a generation’ is set to take effect in December. The changes promise increased services, better train spacing, and improved connectivity for the county’s rail users.
The new timetable, which comes into force on Sunday, December 15, will see adjustments across south Wales, made possible by the introduction of the state-of-the-art Class 197 train fleet. Transport for Wales (TfW) says these changes will result in additional services, later departures from Cardiff Central and Swansea, and more consistent scheduling with trains leaving at the same time past each hour.
Pembrokeshire passengers will see several significant improvements:
- Milford Haven: Two extra services will run from the station.
- Fishguard Harbour: The timetable will eliminate a six-hour midday gap, with more evenly spaced services to and from the station.
TfW’s journey planner indicates new service times:
- Outbound from Fishguard: A new service at 4:04pm will bridge the current gap between 12:53pm and 7:32pm.
- Inbound to Fishguard: A train arriving at 3:24pm will now fill the gap between 12:22pm and 6:57pm.
- Milford Haven: An additional three trains will run to Carmarthen after December 15.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, highlighted the impact of the changes:
“This is a major change which will make a real difference to customers, who will benefit from a more consistent service. This has been made possible by our £800m investment in new trains, and it’s great to see the results coming through across Wales.”
Colin Lea, TfW’s Planning and Performance Director, emphasized the scale of the changes:
“This is the most significant timetable change in a generation for mainline services. We’ve been working towards this timetable for four years, and the consistency it will deliver will be a massive improvement for many customers.”
TfW also revealed plans for further improvements over the next 18 months, including updates to the North Wales Coast and Cambrian lines, with newer trains and expanded capacity.
Passengers are advised to check the updated timetable in advance. For details on how your journey will be affected, visit TfW’s journey planner at tfw.wales/plan-a-journey.
The Herald understands that these changes are designed to make rail travel more convenient and accessible for all users.
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