AN APPEAL against a refusal of a call to convert an ‘unviable’ former village pub to a house has been dismissed.

In a partly retrospective application refused by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in July 2025, Ms G Key, through agent Evans Banks Planning Limited, sought permission for the conversion of the former Taberna Inn and associated flat, Herbrandston Village, Milford Haven, to one residential dwelling.

A supporting statement through the agent said the property was only operated as a pub for a short time after purchase before closing.

It said the loss of the pub to the village will not be felt as strongly as elsewhere as Herbrandston has an alternative venue, Herbrandston Hub, which opened in February 2020.

Local community council Hebrandston objected to the proposal on the grounds the village has already lost amenities in recent years, with the community hub only open part-time.

The application was refused on grounds including it would “result in the unacceptable loss of an existing community facility,” and “the applicant has failed to demonstrate the potential for continued use of the facility as unviable”.

Since that refusal an appeal was lodged with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) by the applicant.

The inspector, in dismissing the appeal, said planning policy recognising “that public houses can play a vital economic and social role and their loss can be damaging to a local community,” adding the Taberna “constitutes a community facility”.

The inspector’s report said the purchase of the Taberna Inn in March 2020 in a “closed and condemned condition” just before the global pandemic “meant that the property was never operated as a public house, and although the appellant could have reopened the pub following the pandemic, she has chosen not to”.

It added: “As a result, the appellant has been unable to provide any financial information in the form of audited accounts which show the historic trading to help gauge the past performance of the premises or to demonstrate that the public house is not commercially viable.”

It went on to say the appellant’s view the pub is not a valued community asset, was contrasted by residents and the community council opposing the change of use; the Herbrandston Hub opening on a limited time basis, saying “the ability of the Hub to be classed as a viable and direct replacement to the Taberna Inn is questionable”.

It concluded: “Overall, the evidence before me is insufficiently thorough and wide ranging to constitute a solid case for the proposed development in the balance of harm to the community. As a result of this, I am not persuaded that it has been clearly demonstrated that the pub cannot become a viable business in the future.

“I also consider that it has not been demonstrated that there has been a commitment by the appellant, since purchasing the property in March 2020, to ensuring the long-term viability of the Taberna Inn as a going concern over an appropriate period.”

FOSTER Wales Pembrokeshire is committed to building better futures for local children, ensuring they can remain in their communities with the support of dedicated foster families.

As part of this ongoing commitment, Pembrokeshire County Council has announced an increase in foster carer allowances from April 2026.

The updated allowances are designed to better reflect the real cost of providing day-to-day care and to recognise the vital role foster carers play in children’s lives. Full details of the new rates will be shared with foster carers.

Head of Children’s Services, Chris Frey-Davies said: “Foster carers play a vital role in providing stability, care and hope for children who need it most. We want to ensure they receive the right support to carry out this life-changing work, and these enhanced allowances are an important part of that. We are incredibly proud of the difference our foster carers make in Pembrokeshire.”

Pembrokeshire is also introducing a new two-year pilot initiative offering reduced Council Tax payments for eligible foster carers. The foster carers will be contacted directly with information on how the scheme will work.

Anyone considering fostering can benefit from a wealth of local support, including access to specialist teams, dedicated social workers, strong community networks and the opportunity to help children stay close to home.

To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Pembrokeshire, call 01437 774650, email [email protected] or visit https://pembrokeshire.fosterwales.gov.wales/ 

44 CANDIDATES are fighting for your vote in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion in the forthcoming Senedd elections.

For the May 7 elections, Wales will have 16 constituencies instead of the current 40.

Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru created the new constituencies for Wales and the Senedd will have 96 members instead of 60, each constituency electing six members.

For Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, the new Ceredigion Penfro constituency is made up of the Ceredigion Preseli UK Parliamentary constituency and the Mid and South Pembrokeshire UK Parliamentary constituency, stretching from north of Aberystwyth to Angle in the southwest and Llanteg in the southeast.

The new voting system is based on a ‘closed proportional list system’; you vote for a political party (rather than individuals) or an independent candidate, the ballot paper showing the full list of candidates in your constituency.

If a party wins enough votes, they will win one or more seats in the Senedd; if an independent candidate wins enough votes, they will win a seat in the Senedd.

Seats will reflect the percentage of votes each party or independent candidate gets.

The six Welsh Conservatives candidates are: Paul Windsor Davies, Samuel Deri Kurtz, Claire Victoria George, Brian Andrew Murphy, Gill Evans, and Claire Malaina Jones.

Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales has eight candidates: Elin Jones, Kerry Ferguson, Anna Nicholl, Cris Tomos, Colin Nosworthy, Clive Davies, Owain Jones, and Matt Adams.

Wales Green Party has six candidates: Amy Nicholass, Tomass Jereminovics, James Henry Purchase, Morgan Hope Phillips, Rosie O’Toole, and Kezia Autumn Hine.

Reform UK also has six candidates: Susan Claire Archibald, Paul Marr, Michael Timothy Allen, Elisa Bessie Gonzalez Randall, Peter Martin John, and Bernard Holton.

Welsh Labour / Llafur Cymru is fielding seven candidates: Eluned Morgan, Marc Tierney, Joshua Phillips, Margaret Greenaway, Tansaim Hussain-Gul, Luke Davies-Jones, and Peter Huw Jenkins.

Welsh Liberal Democrats have six candidates: Sandra Louise Jervis, Alistair Ronald Cameron, Tom Hughes, Lee Dennis Thomas John Herring, Andrew Christopher Lye, and Maggie Robinson.

One candidate Gwyn Wigley Evans is standing for Gwlad – Gall Cymru Fod Yn Well / Gwlad – Wales Can Be Better, and one, Elizabeth Davies, for Heritage Party – Keep Our Countryside Green.

Also standing as Independents are: Aaron Carey, George Alexander Chadzy, and Paul Haywood Dowson.

Several candidates are listed as: “If a candidate has been a member of any registered political party, other than the party on whose list they appear as a candidate, at any time during the period of 12 months ending on the day on which the notice of election was published (March 23, 2026).”

Those are: Eluned Morgan, Margaret Greenaway, and Tansaim Hussain-Gul all listed under the Co-operative Party; George Alexander Chadzy listed under Advance UK and Paul Haywood Dowson under Restore Britain.

Ceredigion chief executive Eifion Evans is the Constituency Returning Officer; the May 7 polling day running from 7am-10pm.

If you’re aged 16 or over and live in Wales, you can vote in the 2026 Senedd Election.