Ombudsman to investigate complaint after Milford Haven business blocked from regularising outdoor space

A FORMAL investigation is now under way into a senior Pembrokeshire councillor who cast the deciding vote to block a rival wedding and events venue from having its outdoor dining area approved.

Cllr Guy Woodham, Chair of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Planning Delegation Panel, has been referred to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales following a complaint from Lee Bridges, the manager of Imperial Hall Limited, based on Hamilton Terrace in Milford Haven.

Bridges claims that Cllr Woodham breached the Members’ Code of Conduct by failing to declare relevant interests in two nearby venues — both of which operate in the same commercial space as the Imperial. These include:

• The Pill Social Centre, where Cllr Woodham is listed as Treasurer. The venue markets itself as a community hub offering weddings, parties, and live events.
• The Torch Theatre, where Cllr Woodham is Senior Manager – Business. The venue includes a licensed bar and offers private hire for functions and entertainment.

The complaint alleges that these roles constitute a personal and potentially prejudicial interest, which should have been declared prior to voting on planning application 24/0740/PA, submitted by Imperial Hall for retrospective permission to retain an upgraded outdoor dining space.

The vote on whether the application should proceed to the full Planning Committee was tied — and Cllr Woodham used his casting vote to prevent it from being heard by councillors. The application was later refused by officers on 4 June.

When asked whether Cllr Woodham had declared any interest in the matter, Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed:

“It is the responsibility of individual members to determine whether they have an interest that requires declaration under the Code of Conduct. In this case, no such declaration was made by Cllr Woodham.”

The Council added that where concerns about such matters arise, they are for the Ombudsman to consider independently.

Planning officers refused the application on the basis of the wall’s visual impact on the Grade II listed building, overlooking concerns, and the absence of a Green Infrastructure Statement.

But the decision has sparked outcry from the business community and local residents, who say the improved outdoor space is a positive visual and functional upgrade to what had previously been an overgrown area. The application was supported by Milford Haven Town Council, but never reached a public hearing.

A planning process clouded by confusion

The Herald has also learned that the process was further complicated when the Welsh Government initially objected to the development, mistakenly believing that the wall encroached on the A4076 trunk road pavement, which it owns and manages.

Lee Bridges said he was contacted directly and issued formal documents alleging that part of the development had been built on public land.

“I told the council I was nearly broke, as I was at that time” said Bridges. “We’d just come out of Covid, I’d spent everything improving the venue, and my solicitor was adamant we hadn’t encroached. I told them: ‘Take me to court if you think you’ve got a case.’”

In the end, the Welsh Government quietly dropped the issue, and it became clear that no paving slabs had been disturbed — and that the footway was now wider than before, once the overgrown hedge had been removed.

Bridges told The Herald that council officers had previously suggested that once the land ownership issue was resolved, planning permission should not be a problem. That assumption proved incorrect.

“We simply want to be treated fairly,” he added. “This decision has cost our business. We were told there would be no objections, and we’ve been left with the sense that there are different rules for different people.”

Under the Members’ Code of Conduct for Wales, councillors must declare any interests where they are an officer, committee member, or trustee of a body that could be affected by a council decision. If the interest is deemed prejudicial, they are expected to withdraw from the meeting and not participate in the vote.

The Ombudsman will now investigate whether Cllr Woodham’s involvement — given his roles at the Pill Social Centre and Torch Theatre — constituted a failure to comply with the Code.

When contacted by The Pembrokeshire Herald, Cllr Woodham said he was unable to provide a statement while the matter is under investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

The applicant, Lee Bridges and Guy Woodham are both community councillors, sitting on Milford Haven Town Council.