Pembroke Dock’s Anchorage day centre will close in less than a month, after a final decision was backed by senior councillors.

Last month, a successful ‘call-in’ by Independent Group leader Cllr Huw Murphy at an extraordinary meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s social care overview and scrutiny committee, was supported by fellow group members.

The county council is currently changing care provision for older adults and those with learning disabilities, with identified budget saving included in the 2024-’25 budget, and closure of Pembroke Dock’s Anchorage day care centre was agreed by senior councillors at the September 9 meeting of the council’s Cabinet, despite an earlier petition and impassioned pleas to keep it open.

At an earlier full council meeting a plea by local councillors Tony Wilcox and Brian Hall to give the Anchorage a breathing space ahead of a potential service move to an as-yet-unbuilt facility at Pembroke’s South Quay development, expected to open in 2026.

The November 1 Anchorage closure was backed along with wider changes in the service; establishing social enterprise models in Crymych’s Bro Preseli and Narberth’s Lee Davies Centre with effect from April 1 of next year.

The anchorage building is council owned while the other two are not.

After that Cabinet decision, the later ‘call-in’ asked for the decision to be referred back to Cabinet for further discussion on the social enterprise model, with a potential piloting in Bro Preseli, along with what bridging options could be considered for the Anchorage while awaiting the South Quay development.

A report at Thursday’s special Cabinet meeting of October 3, presented by Cllr Tessa Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Safeguarding, said, in relation to the first part of the ‘call-in’: “The Day Centre provision in Crymych and Narberth will remain open under current SLAs until March 31, 2025. A social enterprise will be supported to engage with the local community, service users, their families, and other stakeholders to develop and pilot alternative models of delivery.”

In relation to the Anchorage, it said: “The South Quay development will open in 2026, providing a co-located and integrated health and care setting, with further day opportunities and supported employment options for local residents.

“The Anchorage is open four days a week, providing services from the base 3.5 days with people attending alternative settings on a Friday. With regards to bridging alterations, the Cabinet report on September 9 set out a number of alternatives to attendance at the Anchorage.

“All of these alternatives constitute bridging options for those that wish to attend South Quay from 2026 onwards.”

Those alternatives include day opportunities at the Meadow Park Centre, Community-based activities in the Pembroke Dock Community Hall, and community-based activities at the VC Gallery, Pembroke Dock, the report added.

Members heard the anchorage day centre needed a new ceiling, roof, fire doors and electrics, which would cost some £500,000 to completely refurbish, or £295,000 to bring it up to standard to remain open for two years before the South Quay development was ready, with fears that rate could be even higher.

The council will be exiting service level agreements with the Bro Preseli Day Centre in Crymych and the Lee Davies Day Centre in Narberth and as one of many alternatives, will be working in partnership to promote social enterprise alternatives. Work is now underway to establish a suitable pilot which will see further strengthening of links between PCC and the Third Sector.

The Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station recently marked two significant milestones with a grand reopening after extensive refurbishment and a special visit as part of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary celebrations.

On Saturday, 7th September, RNLI volunteers, supporters, and crew members gathered to celebrate the lifeboat station’s official reopening following major refurbishment work carried out over the winter months. The updated facilities, designed to bring the station into the 21st century, were unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by the children of the operational crew and supporters. This heartwarming gesture symbolised the passing of responsibility to the next generation of lifesavers.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Andy Grey, expressed his pride in the station’s transformation and the success of the event: “The station opening was extremely successful. Not only did the weather hold out, but personnel from the station, including officers and crew, branch members, and shop volunteers, were in attendance, along with guests from our neighbouring RNLI stations. The occasion truly represented the ‘One Crew’ philosophy. To make it even more special, the children of the crew were invited to formally open the new refurbishment of the station. A lovely gesture but also a great memory.”

The upgraded station now provides state-of-the-art facilities, including a modernised lifeboat shop, which will improve working conditions for the dedicated volunteers. Roger Bryan Smith DL, Area Operations Manager, also highlighted the importance of the refurbishment: “I am absolutely delighted that Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station has been refurbished to such a high standard. The crew devote an immense amount of their spare time to training to save lives at sea, and it’s marvellous that they now have such great facilities.”

Among the attendees were Gemma Gill, Coxswain of Fishguard Lifeboat, and Will Chant, Coxswain of St Davids Lifeboat Station, who showed their support and helped with presentations. The day was filled with a sense of community and celebration of the station’s lifesaving mission.

Later that month, on Wednesday, 25th September, Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station received a special visit as part of the RNLI’s bicentennial year. The RNLI 200 ‘Connecting our Communities’ scroll, which bears the lifeboat pledge, arrived at the station as part of its seven-month journey around 240 RNLI locations across the UK and Ireland. The pledge, printed in Welsh, English, and five other languages, celebrates the dedication of RNLI volunteers and their mission to save lives at sea.

Andy Grey, along with other key members of the station, including Shireen Thomas from the shop, Peter Erte from the fundraising branch, and Water Safety Officer Sue Christopher, had the honour of signing the scroll on behalf of the Little and Broad Haven lifeboat community. The scroll, made from materials significant to the charity, will conclude its journey in October on the Isle of Man, where RNLI founder Sir William Hillary was born. Once the journey is complete, the scroll will bear around 700 signatures and be displayed at the RNLI College in Poole.

Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, overseeing the 200th anniversary programmes, said: “The Connecting our Communities relay is one of the most significant events of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary year as it’s all about our people. For 200 years, it is people who have made the RNLI what it is – from our brave lifesavers who risk their lives to save others, to the committed fundraisers and generous donors who fund our lifesaving work.”

By coincidence, the RNLI Porsche 911 Challenge also arrived at the station on the same day. Belinda and James Richardson, who are travelling 8,500 miles in their Porsche 911 to visit all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations within 911 hours, were delighted to encounter the scroll for the first time on their journey. The couple is raising funds for a new D class inshore lifeboat, which is critical to the RNLI’s lifesaving work. In 2023 alone, D class lifeboats saved 96 lives and assisted over 2,000 people in distress.

Andy Grey reflected on the unique timing of the two events: “Today we had a special visit from the RNLI 911 Challenge and the RNLI Scroll. To happen at the same time and on the same day was unique in itself. The beautiful Porsche of the 911 Challenge presented a jigsaw and a special RNLI-themed version of Top Trumps in memory of their visit to all lifeboat stations in the UK. Four members from the station were asked to sign this wonderful scroll, which will be a memory and recognition of the 200-year celebration of the RNLI.”

Jayne George, RNLI Director of Fundraising, expressed her gratitude for the Richardsons’ efforts: “We are so grateful to Belinda and James for taking on this huge challenge and look forward to welcoming them at all our lifeboat stations around the coast. We are only able to save lives at sea thanks to the generous support of people taking on challenges like this.”

As the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea, Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station continues to play a vital role in this enduring mission, with new facilities and a strong community spirit driving them forward into the future.

THE HISTORIC Portfield Fair made a grand comeback this week – and this time the fair is at Rifleman’s Field Car Park, moving away from the recent location at Scotchwell.

The event was graced with the presence of the mayors of both Haverfordwest and Milford Haven, illustrating the fair’s importance to the local heritage and community spirit.

The fair’s opening was marked by traditional ceremonies, including blessings from the Mayor’s Chaplain and a special presentation to the Mayor’s Crier by the Guild of Showmen. The first evening of the fair saw the Mayors and guests enjoying a series of classic fairground rides like dodgems, waltzers, and the twister.

The relocation of the fair has allowed for a more expansive setup, greatly enhancing its presence in the town. The new venue offers ample space for the fair to flourish, accommodating a larger array of attractions and activities that cater to families and visitors of all ages.

The fair will continue through Saturday, with opening hours extending from 6 PM to late on weekdays, and from 2 PM to late on Saturday.

The Haverfordwest Town Council has extended their gratitude to all attendees and participants for a splendid opening night and hopes the enthusiasm will persist throughout the fair’s duration. With such a warm reception and renewed connection to its historical roots, the Portfield Fair is set to remain a key highlight in Haverfordwest’s cultural calendar.

Images courtesy of Tim Evans/Haverfordwest Town Council