Four people have been charged following a number of incidents at a protest at Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli on Sunday, Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed. On Tuesday afternoon, the police force released a statement disclosing that a 32-year-old man from the Llanelli area had been charged with public order and drug possession.
A 52-year-old woman, also from the Llanelli area, was charged with public order, while a 36-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, both also from the Llanelli area, were charged with obstructing police. The police force said that all those that had been charged had been bailed and were set to attend court at a later date.
They also said that no arrests had been made since Sunday, July 9. In the statement, the police force added: "Officers remain at the scene to facilitate peaceful protest, where they are continuing to engage with all parties and offering reassurance to the community." You can get more Llanelli news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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It comes as groups of protesters have been gathering outside the Llanelli hotel since last Friday, after controversial plans to house asylum seekers in the venue were announced. The Home Office plans to house 241 asylum seekers at the hotel.
The protests started on Friday, July 7, and Sunday saw more protests against plans for the asylum seekers to be moved into the 77-bed site. It had been expected that the asylum seekers would arrive at the hotel on Monday, with more people gathering to oppose the plan. Last month, 95 staff at the hotel were told their jobs would be terminated on Monday, July 10.
The council has said the change will harm the town's economy and cost more than 25% of its hotel rooms, as well as impacting on weddings and tourism. In the meantime, there have been complaints about the removal of a section of a hedge bank on the boundary of the Stradey Park Hotel.
Carmarthenshire County Council has now responded to these complaints. On Tuesday, Councillor Ann Davies, the cabinet member for planning policy and rural affairs, said: "Following complaints received relating to the removal of part of a hedge bank bounding the Stradey Park Hotel, along its boundary with Pentrepoeth Road, Furnace, the council is currently investigating the position with respect to potential breaches of planning regulations, taking into account any safety concerns. Once the investigation has concluded within the next day or so, the council will consider what the appropriate next steps may be."
