News

Strikes: Pembrokeshire schools and classes to close this week

Published

3 years ago

January 29, 2023

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

SEVEN Pembrokeshire schools will close and 16 will be partially closed during Wednesday’s strikes by teachers.

A series of strikes by National Education Union (NEU) members are to go ahead after talks failed to achieve a breakthrough in a dispute over pay.

Discussions between Education Minister Jeremy Miles and unions failed to resolve the dispute.

They were offered a one-off payment but union officials said the proposals did not meet pay demands.

The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) is taking industrial action short of a strike, including only doing some tasks in core hours and not covering striking staff.

Pembrokeshire schools facing partial closure include Haverfordwest High VC School, Ysgol Harri Tudur, and Tenby’s Ysgol Greenhill.

Failure: Discussions between Education Minister Jeremy Miles and unions failed to resolve the dispute.

In a letter to parents, Haverfordwest High VC School headteacher Jane Harries said: “After undertaking a full risk assessment I am writing to inform you that next Wednesday, February 1, Haverfordwest High will only be open for pupils in Year 11 and Year 12.

“In addition, pupils in Year 13 who are scheduled to complete internal examinations on the morning of February 1 should attend their examination as scheduled.

“This is due to the number of staff potentially involved in the planned industrial action by members of the NEU teaching union.

“Pupils in these Year Groups (11 and 12) should attend school and follow their usual timetable. A reminder that those pupils in Year 11 who study triple GCSE Science will be sitting their Biology Part B write up under examination conditions at 11.30am. Pupils will need to bring work and revision materials to use in the event of any of their teachers not being in school.

“Sorry but it is not possible for us to notify you of what classes will be affected, but I can assure you that any classes affected will be supervised whilst pupils undertake private study.

“Unfortunately, the school will be closed to pupils in years 7-10. School buses will run as normal, and the catering team will provide meals onsite with a direct payment made to those entitled to free school meals pupils. I will continue to review these arrangements and inform you of any changes if they are necessary.”

Earlier this week, a Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson said it was anticipated that as many as 30 of the county’s 60 schools could be closed.

“There are approximately 360 staff who are eligible to take part in the planned industrial action. This is around a third of our teaching workforce.

“We anticipate some closures in our secondary schools and a number of primaries. This is county-wide and we expect schools to be planning for those in the next couple of weeks.”

Closures on Wednesday, 1 February:

• Waldo Williams Primary School

• Coastlands

• Stepaside CP School

• Mary Immaculate RC School

• Portfield

• Gelliswick VC School

• Broad Haven

Partial closures

• Pembroke Dock Community School

• Ysgol Gelli Aur

• St Francis RC School

• Ysgol Ger y Llan

• Haverfordwest High VC School

• Pennar Community School

• St Oswalds VA School

• St Mark’s VA School

• Ysgol Glannau Gwaun

• Ysgol Harri Tudur

• Prendergast

• Fenton

• Milford Haven Community School

• Ysgol Greenhill

• Goodwick

• Hook

Wednesday, 1 February is the first of four planned strike days over pay by teachers and support staff – the others are 14 February, 15 March and 16 March.

The unions, councils and Welsh government say they want to keep talking to try to resolve the dispute.

David Evans, Wales Secretary of the NEU union, confirmed unions had been offered a “one off non-consolidated payment”.

But said it “doesn’t go anywhere near meeting ours and the other unions’ demands”.

Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and Minister for the Welsh Language in the Welsh Government, said: “I want to assure the education workforce that I am listening to your concerns and remain committed to working with unions and local authorities to seek a resolution.

“As a government we believe that disputes should be resolved by negotiation.

“During the meeting we discussed a one-off cash payment over and above the 2022-23 pay award and a series of non-pay issues, including a commitment to address workload issues.”

Bruce Sinclair is the Local Democracy Reporter for Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion

Crime

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

Published

15 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

16 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

17 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.