Author Archives: Tess French

The micro world of Pembrokeshire once again finds itself reflected in the macro wider world. What have Pembroke Dock Councillor Peter Kraus and Katie Hopkins have in common? They both find themselves under scrutiny in a world that seems to be changing by the minute, and maybe even in a good way for a change.Continue reading “Kraus – Is That German?”

The fissure that divides Wales is about to get much bigger. Mark Drakeford announced new lockdown lifting measures today, and within moments, social media had gone batty. Wales’s response to the Covid crisis has been one of caution, basing its response on “the science” much more closely, it would seem, than their English counterparts. TheContinue reading “Locking for Trouble”

This week has seen a serious row break out on social media between two elected members of Pembrokeshire County Council. Young, progressive Councillor Joshua Beynon of Pembroke ward, requested that the council light up their county offices in purple as a show of solidarity for the protests taking place elsewhere in the UK and abroad.Continue reading “Civil War – Sir Benfro”

My plan, when I began documenting this journey, was never to be the harbinger of doom for the OPD movement. I was always sticking up for opd on the fb page, telling people that said it was impossible without loads of cash, that it WAS possible and that I was living proof. I’d bought marginalContinue reading “The Show Must Go On”

I found a house available to rent. I looked at my finances. Not a hope. So I looked into Universal Credit, like the council advised me to when they told me I have to leave my super cheap eco residence that I build out of swamp and that costs nothing to live in. Guess what?Continue reading “And Justice for All?”

I’ve been doing a bit of digging since my planning appeal was refused just over a week ago. Not garden digging. But digging into the planning history of the farm track where my land is, and where all my objectors have their properties. I always knew that the bunglow and the holiday home had goneContinue reading “The Book of Revelation”

A couple of months ago the Morning Star ran my article, that begged for my eco home to not be torn down. I had applied for a One Planet Development. Two refusals in, I was at the point of waiting for a planning appeal hearing. Of course, due to Covid-19, the hearing was cancelled theContinue reading “If You Tolerate This…”

There are battles, and then there are battles. Some are worth fighting, some are not. Back when Blair took over the Labour party I wandered off, ignoring politics in my disillusionment, forming a liking for Charles Kennedy, even voting Lib Dems once. When Corbyn rocked up, I couldn’t believe it. I had it in myContinue reading “The King is Dead. Long Live the King”

As my planning appeal hearing was cancelled due to Covid-19, I agreed with the planning inspectorate that I’d be happy to proceed through written representations, as I couldn’t see the crisis ending anytime soon. Pembs county council agreed, and more writing took place, the final comments as it were, having already had the final commentsContinue reading “An Inspector Calls”

It’s human nature to go into shock in an emergency, and it looks like the nation is in shock. Here in Wales it has found it’s perfect manifestation. The public have again been split into opposite camps and the riots are about to begin. As the schools closed and the sun came out, and BorisContinue reading “The Leveller”