Questions remain over insurance, rebuilding costs and possible legal action by Diocese

PEMBROKESHIRE councillors have voted to press ahead with the statutory process which could lead to the closure of Manorbier Church in Wales VC School, despite warnings of possible legal action, strong community opposition and unresolved questions over the cost of rebuilding the fire-damaged school.

At a full council meeting on Monday (Jun 15), members voted by 30 votes to 23, with four abstentions, to continue with the proposal to discontinue the school.

The decision does not mean the school will close immediately. It allows Pembrokeshire County Council to move to the next stage by publishing a statutory notice. That will trigger a formal objection period before the matter returns for a final decision.

However, the vote followed a lengthy and tense debate in which councillors questioned whether they had been given enough information about the legal, financial and practical consequences of closure.

Legal threat

The school has been operating from Jameston Community Hall since a major fire damaged the original Manorbier school building in October 2022.

In recent days, the St Davids Diocesan Board of Finance, which owns the freehold of the school site, has stepped up its opposition to the closure plan.

Solicitors acting for the Diocese have warned the council that the process is, in their view, procedurally flawed. They have also placed the authority on notice that legal action, including judicial review, may follow if the proposal is ratified.

The Diocese argues that the school should be fully reinstated rather than closed, and says the council cannot simply return a damaged building and walk away.

It has also raised questions about whether insurance money from the fire should be used to restore the site, and whether the council has met its legal duties in relation to maintaining the school premises.

Questions over insurance

One of the biggest unanswered questions is why the school was not insured in a way that has allowed full reinstatement after the fire.

Councillors were told during the debate that major questions remain about the cost of reinstatement, the position of insurers, and the financial liability that could fall on the council if the school is discontinued.

Cllr Huw Murphy raised concerns about how members had reached this point, questioning how the council had ended up in an ongoing dispute with the Diocese.

He also referred to confusion around cost figures, including why councillors had previously been told figures could not be disclosed, before a figure understood to be in the region of £5m entered public discussion.

Several councillors questioned whether members were being asked to make a decision without all the facts in front of them.

Community opposition

The proposal has faced overwhelming opposition locally.

A consultation report showed that 252 responses were received, with 90.48% opposing the proposal to discontinue the school.

Parents, residents and campaigners have argued that Manorbier School is more than a building, describing it as a vital community asset and a nurturing environment for young children.

Objectors say closure would damage village life, reduce the attractiveness of the area for young families and undermine the long-term sustainability of the community.

Concerns have also been raised over transport, narrow roads, parking issues and the loss of the ability for some families to walk to school.

Supporters of the school have repeatedly argued that the fire should not be used as a reason to close Manorbier, and that the proper response should be to rebuild.

Education and learner experience

The Diocese has also challenged any suggestion that the quality of education at Manorbier justifies closure.

In a letter sent to councillors before the vote, the Diocesan Director of Education, Rev’d Canon Chancellor John R Cecil, said Manorbier had received a strong Estyn report while operating from temporary accommodation at Jameston Community Hall.

He argued that the council had not given sufficient consideration to the learner experience, and said managing surplus places did not automatically mean closing schools.

The letter also warned councillors that they needed “accurate and full information” before voting, drawing comparisons with Pembrokeshire County Council’s recent High Court defeat over its Article 4 direction, where judges found councillors had been presented with flawed and incomplete information.

Councillors split

During the debate, a number of councillors voiced concern about the process.

Some questioned whether the Diocese had been properly engaged with, whether the council had fully explored rebuilding options, and whether the legal risks had been properly explained.

Others argued that the council had to make difficult decisions in the context of falling pupil numbers, surplus places in nearby schools and the condition of the Manorbier building.

Council officers have recommended proceeding with the statutory notice, saying the proposal is based on the future sustainability of education provision, the availability of school places, the condition and suitability of buildings and value for money.

But opponents warned that the financial case for closure remains unclear if the council could still face major liabilities linked to the fire-damaged building.

What happens next

The council will now move to publish a statutory notice proposing the discontinuation of Manorbier VC School.

That will open a formal objection period, after which an objection report must be prepared and brought back to councillors before a final decision is made.

The Diocese has not yet confirmed whether it will take legal action following Monday’s vote, but its solicitors have made clear that judicial review remains an option.

For parents and campaigners, the fight is not over.

The key questions now are whether the school was properly insured, what the true cost of rebuilding or closure will be, whether the council can lawfully proceed in the face of Diocese opposition, and whether councillors will ultimately be asked to make a final decision under the shadow of a potential High Court challenge.

A FATHER, son and daughter are preparing to help keep beachgoers safe on the Pembrokeshire coast this summer as part of the same RNLI lifeguard team.

Tom Owen, 52, his son Cai, 19, and daughter Poppy, 17, are all RNLI beach lifeguards in north Pembrokeshire.

Tom joined the North Pembrokeshire team in 2022, with Cai following in 2023 and Poppy joining last year after turning sixteen.

Family effort

Tom is also the oldest lifeguard in the North Pembrokeshire team, but he has decades of experience around the water.

He first worked as a beach lifeguard for the local council in 1992, before the RNLI lifeguard service was introduced in Pembrokeshire in 2008.

Tom said: “I first had the opportunity to work as a beach lifeguard for the local council in 1992 before the RNLI’s lifeguard service was rolled out in 2008. My interest grew whilst in Australia, so I spent a couple of summers out there volunteering mainly for surf lifesaving clubs.

“Joining the RNLI has always appealed to me and now that my children are old enough, I took the opportunity to give it a go. It’s also lovely working alongside my kids. I’m really proud of what they have achieved, although I try not to embarrass them too much.”

Coastal upbringing

Cai and Poppy have grown up on the Pembrokeshire coast and have spent much of their lives in and around the sea.

Both have swum competitively for many years, competing at club and county level, while both are also surfers. Poppy has represented Wales at the Junior Santa Cruz Eurosurf in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Cai said: “My most memorable lifeguard shift with my dad was when we cycled to work together, but on the way home my bike got a puncture.

“Dad cycled home and I had to walk back. But I really enjoy cycling to work in the summer with Dad and having the opportunity to be active and help others.”

Poppy said: “I really enjoyed my first season working on the beaches last year and can’t wait for this one to begin. I have already completed my lifeguard induction and have just finished my A-levels.

“It’s hopefully going to be a great summer working alongside my brother and dad, and in a special year as the charity celebrates the 25th anniversary of RNLI lifeguards.”

‘Give it a go’

Tom said age should not be a barrier for anyone thinking about becoming a lifeguard.

He added: “My age was never a consideration of mine when applying for the beach lifeguard job. I’ve always enjoyed working in a team and having the opportunity to be outside on my local beaches is brilliant.

“It’s hugely satisfying knowing I’m helping to keep others safe.

“I hope other people my age see that lifeguarding isn’t just for youngsters. If you’re still fit and healthy and love being at the beach, just give it a go, you won’t regret it.”

Since the RNLI lifeguard service began in Pembrokeshire in 2008, lifeguards in the county have saved 164 lives, aided 15,513 people and carried out 1,799 rescues.

Photo caption:

Family team: RNLI lifeguards Cai, Tom and Poppy Owen will be helping to keep Pembrokeshire beaches safe this summer (Pic: RNLI).

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed plans to ban children under the age of sixteen from using a range of social media platforms, in what would be one of the biggest changes to online safety rules in recent years.

The move is being presented by the UK Government as a major step to protect children from harmful content, online bullying, exploitation, addictive screen use and unwanted contact from strangers.

Speaking today, Starmer described the announcement as “a big moment for our country” and said the government had a responsibility to act as more children grow up with smartphones and constant access to online platforms.

The ban is expected to apply to major social media services, with reports naming platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X, YouTube and other similar apps as likely to be affected.

Full details of exactly which platforms will be covered have not yet been confirmed, but ministers are expected to set out further information as the proposals move forward.

Age checks expected

A key part of the plan is expected to be stronger age verification, with technology firms required to prevent children under sixteen from creating or using accounts.

The government is also expected to look beyond traditional social media sites, with possible restrictions on features such as livestreaming, disappearing messages, location sharing and contact with adult strangers through messaging, gaming and other online platforms.

The proposals could also include limits on some artificial intelligence chatbots and other services considered unsuitable for children.

Support from parents

The announcement follows months of growing pressure from campaigners, parents and MPs who have argued that children are being exposed to online content and behaviour they are not equipped to deal with.

Supporters of the ban say parents have been left to fight a losing battle against powerful technology companies, addictive algorithms and peer pressure among children.

They argue that a national rule would give parents a clearer boundary and prevent families being forced to make the decision alone.

Concerns over enforcement

However, the plans are likely to face criticism from technology firms, privacy campaigners and some child safety experts.

Opponents are expected to argue that age verification could raise privacy concerns, be difficult to enforce, or push children towards less regulated websites and apps.

There are also questions over how the ban would apply to children who already have accounts, whether parents would be able to give consent, and what penalties companies could face for failing to comply.

Part of wider online safety debate

The UK has already introduced tougher online safety rules through the Online Safety Act, but campaigners have continued to call for stronger action on children’s access to social media.

The proposed under-16 ban would go further than many existing rules and would put Britain among a growing number of countries considering or introducing age-based restrictions on social media use.

Ministers are expected to publish more detail on the legislation, enforcement and timetable in the coming months.

For now, the announcement marks a major shift in government policy and signals a tougher approach towards technology companies over children’s safety online.