News

Plans for housing development in Pembrokeshire village met with objections

Published

10 months ago

February 26, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PROPOSED housing development in a Pembrokeshire village, which has seen lengthy objections from the local community council, is to be decided by officers rather than councillors after a call for it to do so failed.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Urban Style Homes Ltd is seeking permission for a residential development of six dwellings with associated landscaping and access on land next to The Green, High Street, St Florence.

A supporting statement through agent RPC Design & Architecture Ltd says the proposed development of five two-storey four-bed detached properties and an affordable single-storey bungalow includes a new access from High Street and associated landscaping and civil works for a private access road, with each dwelling having private off-road parking for two cars plus garage parking.

St Florence Community Council has “overwhelmingly objected” to the scheme on the grounds including it would lead to “an urbanised street-scene,” parking provision and highways, “there appears to have been little or no consideration given to the needs of local people,” and describes the designs are “repetitive and overpowering in scale”.

The application is due to be decided by planning officers, but, at the request of local county councillor Cllr Rhys Jordan, a call for it to be decided by councillors was brought before the county council’s planning delegation panel meeting of February 25.

It was recommended a decision on the scheme remain delegated to officers; a report for members outlining a list of criteria where it could be decided by committee, which it said were not met.

Cllr Jordan, in his call, said local residents were “not opposed to development,” recognising “the need for sustainable growth,” but felt this scheme would “harm the character of St Florence and the conservation area,” and the danger of setting a precedent on future developments.

He said local residents felt “let down” by previous planning decisions in the area, adding: “Allowing this application to proceed without public debate would erode trust”.

Cllr Clare George supported Cllr Jordan’s call, formally moving it be decided by committee as an opportunity for “public scrutiny,” with neighbouring county councillor Phil Kidney supporting: “There’s a lot of public interest, it more than warrants a public hearing”.

However, fellow committee member Cllr Tessa Hodgson was against that call, saying she could not support it as the three criteria for members to decide the scheme had not been met.

The call for councillors to decide the scheme was defeated by four votes to two, meaning officers will decide on the scheme at a later date.

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

44 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

59 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include: