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Powys County Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
Presteigne residents to have say over former Kaye site plans
PLANNERS will meet with Presteigne residents next week following news that a derelict site in the town that once housed a car parts manufacturer could finally be developed. After lying derelict for almost 15 years, the former Kaye Presteigne site could be transformed into an area that would include 61 homes, a healthcare facility and a retail store. A pre-application consultation exercise has been carried out by Shrewsbury-based property consultants Berrys, with an outline planning application expected to follow soon. Presteigne county councillor Beverley Baynham says she has now met with both Berrys and the applicant, in order to stress the importance of any future development to the town and its residents. A drop-in event has been scheduled to take place next Monday, June 16. 'Following the pre-planning consultation for the Kayes site I met with the applicant and the planning agent last week where I impressed on them the importance of the proposed development on the community,' Cllr Baynham said on her Facebook page on Tuesday. 'I am pleased to say they have agreed to hold a drop-in session on Monday 16th June from 3pm at (the) East Radnor Day Centre building on Scottleton Street. 'This is your opportunity to tell them what you would and would not like to see progress to a planning application.' Kaye Presteigne made parts for car engines, including steering and braking mechanisms, before entering administration in 2010. The foundry, which was known more fondly as Kaye Alloys or simply as 'The Factory', closed in April 2011, with the loss of 100 jobs; 80 per cent of the company's workforce were thought to have lived in Presteigne. Kaye Presteigne was formed in 2006, saving more than 130 jobs, after the former owners J L French went into administration. There has been a foundry in Presteigne since the 1940s and its closure in 2011 brought down the curtain on more than 60 years of it being one of the largest employers in the area. Soon after, the buildings were demolished and the site has lain dormant ever since. Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Plans have been drawn up by Berrys on behalf of the site owners, Central & Country (Presteigne) Ltd. 'Whilst the site owners have sought to keep the site secure and tidy, the site is an eyesore, significantly detracting from Presteigne's townscape,' said Berrys, in a planning statement. 'As a consequence, while the site owners have sought to keep the site secure and tidy, the site can attract trespass, vandalism, fly tipping and other anti-social behaviour.' It is envisaged that the proposed development will comprise of 61 houses in total, including 18 1-bed, 22 2-bed, 10 3-bed and 2 4-bed homes; and 3 1-bed, 5 2-bed and 1 3-bed bungalows, in addition to the healthcare and retail facilities. 'The initial application is an outline planning application, with all matters reserved aside from access in order to establish the principle of the proposed development,' continued the planning statement. 'A detailed scheme for the site, including layout, landscaping, detailed design and appearance has yet to be drawn up.'
Powys County Times
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
Kaye Presteigne site to be developed after 15 years
THE site of a former car parts manufacturer in Presteigne is being earmarked for development, after lying derelict for nearly 15 years. An outline planning application is due to be submitted for the former Kaye Presteigne site, transforming it into an area that would include 61 homes, as well as a healthcare facility and retail store. Kaye Presteigne made parts for car engines, steering and braking mechanisms, before entering administration in 2010. The foundry, which was known more fondly as Kaye Alloys or simply as 'The Factory', closed in April 2011, with the loss of 100 jobs; 80 per cent of the company's workforce were thought to have lived in Presteigne. Soon after the buildings on the site were demolished and it has lain vacant ever since. A pre-application consultation exercise has been carried out by Shrewsbury-based property consultants Berrys, with an outline planning application believed to be in the offing. Presteigne and Norton Town Council posted details of the 'major' plans on its Facebook page this week and said it will consider the outline application at its June meeting. Plans have been drawn up by Berrys on behalf of the site owners, Central & Country (Presteigne) Ltd. 'The application site is a vacant, previously developed, site in the centre of Presteigne,' said Berrys, in a planning statement it has produced. 'The previous use of the site was as Kaye Presteigne 's alloy foundry. However, soon after the company entered administration (in 2010) the buildings on the site were demolished. 'The site has consisted solely of disused concrete slabs and hardstanding for over a decade. 'Whilst the site owners have sought to keep the site secure and tidy, the site is an eyesore in the centre of the historic former county town of Radnorshire, significantly detracting from Presteigne's townscape. 'As a consequence, while the site owners have sought to keep the site secure and tidy, the site can attract trespass, vandalism, fly tipping and other anti-social behaviour. 'The site's development, and resultant increase in natural surveillance in the area, will therefore help to enhance community safety in the town.' The proposed 61 homes include 18 one-bed, 22 two-bed, 10 three-bed and two four-bed homes, plus three one-bed, five two-bed and one three-bed bungalows. 'At this stage it is anticipated that construction on the site will be undertaken in two distinct phases," the statement adds. 'The first phase will cover development on the site area comprising the commercial uses and dwellings 1-24 and 56-57 inclusive. The second phase will cover development on the remainder of the site. 'The initial application is an outline planning application, with all matters reserved aside from access in order to establish the principle of the proposed development. 'A detailed scheme for the site, including layout, landscaping, detailed design and appearance has yet to be drawn up." Natural Resources Wales' local flood map shows the site as now being free from flood risk. Kaye Presteigne was formed in 2006, saving more than 130 jobs, after the former owners J L French went into administration. There had been a foundry in Presteigne since the 1940s until its closure in 2011.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Con man, wife sentenced for swindling friends in Oklahoma out of investments
An admitted con man has been ordered to prison in Oklahoma for five years for swindling investors in his financial company out of more than $500,000. Brian Kelly Berry, 53, said he was deeply remorseful for his actions. Oklahoma County District Judge K. Nikki Kirkpatrick sentenced him and his wife, Amanda Yvonne Berry, on Tuesday after hearing from victims of their scheme. All had been either friends or had a personal connection to the couple. "It's really appalling," the judge said of the offenses. She noted that the victims felt ashamed, embarrassed, betrayed and even stupid. "You did that to them," the judge said. "It's unreal." The judge ordered the couple to pay $495,341 in restitution. She ordered Brian Berry to spend 13 years on probation after his release and to complete 100 hours of community service. The judge also barred him from getting a license to do financial work. The judge did not send Amanda Berry to prison. The judge instead put her on probation for 18 years and ordered her to complete 100 hours of community service. "I no longer trust people," said one victim, Tracy Johnson. "I am paranoid about everything and everyone." A state multicounty grand jury returned an indictment against the couple in 2022 after an investigation. They were charged with one count of conspiracy and six counts of obtaining money by false pretenses. They pleaded guilty to the felony offenses in January. Amanda Berry, 55, also expressed remorse at the sentencing Tuesday and asked for forgiveness from the victims. Grand jurors alleged the conspiracy lasted from April 2018 to December 2020 and involved a company called Icon Financial Group LLC. The couple had lived in Edmond but relocated to the Florida Keys in 2021. They have been married since 2013. The Oklahoma Department of Securities also investigated the couple and got a judge in 2021 to ban them from offering or selling securities in the state ever again. "The Berrys took advantage of long-term relationships and the trust placed in them − circumstances that often occur in connection with securities violations," the regulatory agency's administrator, Melanie Hall, said after the sentencing. "No matter how well you think you know a person soliciting you for an investment, always do your homework before turning over your hard-earned money." The Department of Securities reported the Berrys formed Icon Financial Group LLC in April 2018 to advise clients in "real estate and financial matters." Most of the invested money went to the Berrys for their personal use instead, the regulatory agency said. One victim on Tuesday talked of seeing humiliating social media posts of the couple living lavishly, being on a boat in Florida and driving a BMW and a Porsche. The two had worked as a team out of an office of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Oklahoma City, according to the Department of Securities. Some victims had legitimate MassMutual investment accounts and were tricked into transferring their funds to Icon. Most of the restitution will go to MassMutual, which reimbursed victims who had been clients. Assistant Attorney General Dane Towery said the Berrys paid some money back during the scheme in an effort to keep it going. During the pandemic, victims were told their money would be safer with Icon. The prosecutor asked for both to be sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 years on probation as well as paying restitution. Brian Berry had asked for only probation to better make restitution. Judge Kirkpatrick was harder on Brian Berry because he has been accused of fraud before, in South Carolina. She told him he had been taking advantage of other people for 20 years. After the sentencing, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said his office will continue to vigorously prosecute financial predators. "Financial fraud of this magnitude causes devastating harm to hard-working Oklahomans who trusted these individuals with their life savings," Drummond said in a news release. "This sentence sends a clear message that white-collar criminals who exploit positions of trust will face serious consequences in Oklahoma." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Con man, wife sentenced for cheating friends in Oklahoma
