News
Pembrokeshire becomes latest council to consider devolution of Crown Estate
SENIOR councillors will consider a bid for Pembrokeshire to become the latest council to support the devolution of Crown Estate assets to Wales.
15 local authorities are currently backing calls for this economic asset to be placed in Welsh hands.
The latest to join the campaign are Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil (both on March 5), and Isle of Anglesey (March 6), bringing the total across Wales to 15.
The Crown Estate owns 65 per cent of Wales’ riverbeds and beaches, as well as more than 50,000 acres of land – valued at over £603m.
Proceeds from these go to the Crown Estate, funding the Royal Family and contributing to the UK Treasury.
Responsibility for the Crown Estate is already devolved to the Scottish Government, which has previously been reported as generating £103.6 million into the public coffers in Scotland in 2023.
A notice of motion submitted to the March 6 meeting by Plaid Cymru councillor Michael Williams said: “We ask PCC to support the proposal for the Crown Estate assets to be devolved to the people of Wales, so that profits can be used to invest in the economy and communities of Wales.
“A poll in 2023 showed that 75 per cent of the population were in favour of taking control of the assets of the Crown estate rather than the profits going to the Treasury and the Crown.
“Local Authorities are under huge financial pressure and placing the Crown Estate in the hands of Wales would be a significant step to address the lack of investment in our local government.
“We call upon the Welsh Government to ask Westminster to devolve the assets and revenue of the Crown Estates as a matter of urgency, as was done in Scotland in 2017.
“We demand that Wales is treated fairly and accepts management of the Crown Estate land for the benefit of the people of Wales.”
Members agreed the matter be referred to the council’s Cabinet for further consideration.
Earlier in that meeting, a submitted question by Independent Group leader Cllr Huw Murphy on the subject was heard.
He asked: “Can PCC provide the annual income the Crown Estates derive from Pembrokeshire as the Crown Estates map indicate that the majority of the Pembrokeshire Coastline to include much of the Milford Haven waterway is owned by the Crown Estates?”
Responding to that question, Cabinet member for finance Cllr Joshua Beynon said the total amounted to £59,005, including £26,600 for foreshore lease agreements, £8,520 for the land around Haverfordwest’s Riverside Market, and £12,800 for a sailing centre and care park at Cosheston Pill near Pembroke Dock.
Late last year councillors in neighbouring Ceredigion backed a call for the Crown Estate assets to be devolved to the people of Wales, following a notice of motion by Cllr Catrin M S Davies, seconded by Cllr Alun Williams.
Community
Major milestone reached in £8.3m Tenby station upgrade
PASSENGERS at Tenby railway station are set to benefit from step-free access as a major £8.3 million upgrade moves into its next phase.
Network Rail, working with contractor AmcoGiffen, is delivering the scheme as part of the UK Government’s Access for All programme. The project will introduce a new footbridge with lifts, providing full step-free access between both platforms.

Bridge removed as work progresses
Earlier this month, engineers removed the station’s existing footbridge using 220-tonne and 60-tonne cranes. A temporary walkway has now been installed to allow passengers to continue moving between platforms while construction continues.
The milestone was marked by a visit from local schoolchildren, who were given the chance to watch the crane operation and learn more about careers in engineering.
Complex infrastructure work underway
Behind the scenes, teams have carried out significant work to relocate and recommission signalling and telecommunications equipment. New ducting has also been installed, and cabling rerouted to support the upgraded infrastructure.
Work will continue over the coming months, with the new accessible bridge and lifts expected to be completed in autumn 2026.

Improving access for all
The Tenby project forms part of a wider national programme to improve accessibility across the rail network. Since its launch in 2006, the Access for All scheme has upgraded more than 200 stations across Britain.
Theo Smith, Senior Portfolio Manager at Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “This is an important milestone for Tenby and the local community, bringing us closer to a station that everyone can use with confidence.
“We’d like to thank passengers and residents for their patience as we continue these major improvements.”
James Gough, Customer Operations Director at Transport for Wales added: “It’s great to see real progress being made at Tenby. This investment will make a lasting difference for both local people and visitors.”
Business
Taxi fare shock in Milford Haven as drivers switch to meters
TAXI passengers in Milford Haven are facing a sudden jump in fares, as drivers increasingly switch on their meters and charge full council-approved rates.
One Herald reader said a short return trip from Milford Haven to Neyland cost £30 — around double what he expected to pay.
But drivers insist the prices are not new — they are simply the official tariff now being applied.
Under Pembrokeshire County Council rules, the standard daytime fare starts at £4 for the first mile (£5 after 6pm), rising by around £3 per mile thereafter. Waiting time is also charged, meaning even short return journeys can quickly add up.
Higher rates apply in the evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays.
End of the £3 taxi
Milford Haven has long been known for cheap taxis, with short in-town journeys often costing as little as £3 — far below official rates.
That was down to competition, older vehicles, and the need to keep prices low in a town where many rely on affordable transport.
Drivers say those days are now over.
One local driver told The Herald: “People got used to cheap fares, but that was never the real price. Now we have to use the meter or we’re losing money.”
Fuel costs biting
Most taxis run on diesel, now around 170p per litre locally. For drivers covering long distances each day, the increase has hit hard.
Global tensions in the Middle East have pushed up oil prices, feeding directly into higher fuel costs in the UK.
With fare increases requiring a lengthy council process, many drivers say they have no option but to charge the full tariff.
Vulnerable hit hardest
The change is being felt most by those who rely on taxis the most.
Elderly residents, people on low incomes and those without access to a car are now facing higher everyday travel costs.
There has been no recent increase in Pembrokeshire’s official taxi fares, which have remained broadly unchanged since 2022.
The difference is simple: drivers are now charging them.
As one put it: “We’re not putting prices up — we’re just finally charging what we’re supposed to be charging.”
Charity
Lidl colleagues back Sandy Bear charity with community donation
Support for bereaved children among local causes chosen in Pembroke Dock
LIDL colleagues in Pembroke Dock have chosen a Pembrokeshire children’s bereavement charity to receive a community donation as part of the retailer’s expanded investment programme across Wales.
Staff at the store selected Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity as one of two local organisations to receive a £500 donation. The charity provides specialist support to children and young people up to the age of 25, helping them cope with loss and rebuild confidence.
Sandy Bear was chosen in recognition of its work supporting bereaved families across Pembrokeshire, including more than 20 families in the Pembroke area.
Ben Rees, shift manager at the Pembroke Dock store, said the scheme allows staff to support organisations making a real difference locally.
Martin Jones, business development manager at Sandy Bear, said: “Behind every child we support is a story of loss that no family should have to face alone. Support from local businesses like Lidl means we can continue to be there when families need us most, helping children understand their grief and find a way forward.”
Colleagues also selected Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen Mind, which provides mental health support through community programmes and wellbeing initiatives across the region.
The donations form part of Lidl GB’s wider community investment programme, which has supported more than 145 causes in Wales since 2022, contributing over £188,000 to local charities.
Alongside financial donations, charities linked to Lidl stores also receive support through the retailer’s ‘Feed it Back’ scheme, run in partnership with Neighbourly. The initiative redistributes surplus food, providing the equivalent of more than 2.3 million meals in Wales since 2016.
Lidl GB chief executive Ryan McDonnell said the programme empowers staff to support causes that matter most to their communities.
The retailer says its wider community work in Wales includes investment in initiatives such as its Foodies programme, which promotes healthy eating in schools and has reached more than 25,000 children across the country.
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