News

Applications open for restrictions business fund grants

Published

5 years ago

December 20, 2020

APPLICATIONS are now open to the Restrictions Business Fund introduced to support business sectors impacted by the additional Covid-19 restrictions put in place by the Welsh Government on 4th December.

The fund is primarily directed at the hospitality, tourism and leisure related sectors.

The purpose is to aid businesses into the New Year with cash flow support to help them survive the economic consequences of the restrictions put in place.

Hospitality businesses – including cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and accommodation providers such as hotels – which received the NNDR firebreak grant from Pembrokeshire County Council should receive payments via the Restrictions Business Fund into their bank account before Christmas.

If no payment has been received by Christmas then an application will be required. A form for this will be live from Monday, 4th January.

There are two elements to the fund being administered by Pembrokeshire County Council:

The ERF Restrictions NDR Business Fund
ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant

Potential applicants are asked to read the details and eligibility criteria https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support and ensure they apply to the correct fund and only if they are eligible.

Under the ERF Restrictions NDR Business Fund there are three grants available.

Grant A: Businesses in the hospitality sectors that are in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) and have a rateable value of £12,000 or less will be eligible for a £3,000 payment. Tourism, leisure and supply chain businesses qualifying for SBRR will also be eligible for support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.

Grant B: Hospitality businesses with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000 being eligible for a £5,000 payment if they are forced to close. Tourism, leisure and supply chain businesses in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.

Grant C: Hospitality businesses with a rateable value of between £51,001 and £150,000 being eligible for a £5,000 payment if impacted by the restrictions. Tourism, leisure and supply chain businesses in the same rateable value bracket will also be eligible for this support if they have greater than 40% reduction in turnover during the restriction period.

For more information and to apply to the ERF NDR Restrictions Fund, see: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support/restrictions-business-fund

ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant

The Council will continue delivering the Lockdown Discretionary Grant to businesses and sole traders that have been directly impacted by the additional restrictions stated on 4th December.

As with the firebreak, this grant will continue to be targeted at businesses that are not on the NDR system and therefore not eligible for the NDR linked grants.

A discretionary grant of £2,000 is available to assist businesses that have been forced or required to close as a result of the restrictions.

The grant is also available to businesses which are able to demonstrate that the restrictions will result in at least a 40% reduction in their estimated turnover for December 2020 as compared to December 2019 (or September 2020 if not trading in December 2019).

Applications for the ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant will be dealt with on a first come first served basis. This may lead to applications not being appraised after they have been submitted if the fund is fully committed.

For more information and to apply to the ERF Restrictions Discretionary Grant, see: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support/restrictions-business-fund-discretionary-grant

It is reiterated that the Restrictions Business Fund outlined above relates to the restrictions put in place on 4th December and not those announced earlier this week and due to come into force later in December.

For more details on the Restrictions Business Fund see: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/business-advice-and-support

Given the Christmas and New Year break and volume of applications expected, applicants are kindly asked to be patient as the details are processed.

All payments for successful applications will be received within 30 days.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

11 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

12 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.