News
Popular Tenby Hotel served improvement notices
A LONGSTANDING hotel in the popular seaside town of Tenby has been served with improvement notices following several complaints.
The Royal Lion Hotel, Tenby, has received an online bashing over “disgusting” and “unhygienic” rooms.
A number of disgruntled customers have taken to Facebook to speak of their disgust after they checked into the hotel, with many refusing to stay after being faced with their rooms.
Some customers claimed that beds have collapsed from brushing past them, filthy carpets, rubbish strewn across the room and a likeness to a construction site.
Along with the Facebook posts, images have been shared which show the hotel to be in disrepair and a far cry away from the rooms which are advertised.
A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson confirmed to this newspaper that they had received complaints from guests at the hotel and several visits had been made to the premises from the Council’s Public Protection Team.
In a statement they said: “Pembrokeshire County Council can confirm that, in response to complaints received, officers from the Council’s Public Protection Team have made several visits to the Royal Lion Hotel, Tenby over the last two weeks.
“Improvement notices have since been served on the Hotel by the Council’s Food Safety and Standards Team.
“A Health and Safety inspection is also due to be carried out.
“The Council continues to engage with the Hotel operators.”
One guest, Natasha Hart, told this newspaper that the hotel showed “no cleaning standards, let alone standards that complied to Covid regulations.”
“It looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in decades. There was so much ingrained dirt, there was rubbish under the beds, popcorn everywhere.”
Natasha and her partner paid £102 for a stay at the hotel, which they described as a “construction site”.
She added: “The reception area was covered in ladders, paint tin and tools and I had to watch my children very closely to ensure they didn’t go near anything that was a danger to them.”
“One of my children walked around the room, brushed past one of the beds and the thing collapsed. I could not believe it.
“They said to me mummy look at the state of it.”
Natasha, from Port Talbot, Neath, her partner and two small children had booked their stay at the hotel so they could spend a family day at Folly Farm.
Natasha and her family tried to get a refund from the hotel, but have yet to be successful.
Crime
Unanimous verdict in Ceredigion sexual assault case
A CEREDIGION man has been convicted to three years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her own bed after the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.
27-year-old Suroj Bk, from Llangrannog, was sentenced this week following a week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court (May 1).
On 7 October 2023, Dyfed-Powys Police received a report that Bk entered the victim’s home and sexually assaulted her while she lay in her bed.
When the victim realised what was happening, she kicked Bk out of her bed and called the police.
Upon receiving the report, officers quickly attended the victim’s home and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area using police dogs and scenes of crime officers.
Evidence gathered from scene, together with extensive local enquiries, led officers to arrest Suroj Bk the next day (8 October).
While Bk was in custody, detectives, crime scene investigators, and digital forensic officers worked tirelessly to uncover the evidence that ultimately placed Suroj Bk at the scene.
After hearing the evidence, the jury took less than two hours to agree a unanimous guilty verdict.
The detective in charge of the case has praised the victim for her ‘tremendous courage’ in reporting the assault to police.
“Incidents of this nature are thankfully very rare within Ceredigion, and I’d like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident, and that the identification and arrest of suspect was done quickly and efficiently,” said Detective Inspector Sam Gregory.
“The victim in this case demonstrated tremendous courage in reporting to police, and while this investigation was not straightforward in its nature, it was through the expertise and tenacity of forensic officers, working together with the investigation team, and the victim, that led to this successful prosecution.
“I hope the sentence given to Suroj Bk sends a clear and strong message that Dyfed-Powys Police takes reports of sexual offences seriously.
“We will listen to you, and we will work tirelessly to get justice.”
On Wednesday, 1 May 2024, Saroj Bk was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and a five-year restraining order, and he will be on the sex offenders register for life.
If you have been a victim of a crime such as this, report it to Dyfed-Powys Police either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.
In an emergency, always call 999.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.
News
Body recovered confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, say police
DYFED-POWYS police have said today that the body found on Wednesday, May 1, has been confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, who was reported missing from the Pembroke Dock area on April 14.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We will continue to support the family and will assist with issuing a tribute publicly if the family wish to do so.”
In a statement, his family said: “Luke was a joyful and funny young man and always wanted to help others. He was a loving son, brother, grandson and uncle, and will be forever missed.
“We have lost a huge part of our family, and our loss is shared by his many friends who also loved him dearly.
“We would like to thank the local community for the overwhelming support we have received.”
Business
Port of Milford Haven now official ‘a great place to work’
THE PORT of Milford Haven has been officially accredited as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation. As the first Port Authority in Britain to secure this Certification™, it is a significant achievement.
“We are very proud to be Great Place to Work-Certified™,” said Vidette Swales, HR Director at the Port of Milford Haven. “It means so much that our employees have reported a consistently positive experience with their colleagues, their leaders and their jobs. Offering a positive employee experience is not only beneficial for the people who work with us but is also key for our continued business success.”
Tom Sawyer, CEO at the Port of Milford Haven added: “Our team is operating the UK’s leading energy port, and it is of the utmost importance that we do that safely, responsibly and effectively. We’re striving for excellence and aim to provide a world class service to our customers as well as supporting sustainable coastal communities for the prosperity of future generations. Our employees are clearly at the centre of this which is why I’m delighted that they feel supported in their role. I’m especially proud that this Certification™ demonstrates our core values of Safety, Excellence, Collaboration and Sustainability so perfectly.”
“We congratulate the Port of Milford Haven on achieving their Certification™,” said Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place to Work® UK. “Organisations which put the employee experience at the heart of their business gain their employees’ trust and, in turn, are truly able to build a great workplace culture that delivers outstanding business results.”
Find out more about careers at the Port of Milford Haven here: www.mhpa.co.uk/about/careers-at-the-port/.
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