Business
£5billion mobile investment is a ‘boost for Pembrokeshire’ says minister
PRESELI MP Stephen Crabb has called a new £5 billion investment in the UK’s mobile infrastructure a “welcome step forward and a boost for Pembrokeshire.” The local MP has held a number of discussions with Culture Secretary Sajid Javid about mobile coverage in Pembrokeshire ahead of this week’s announcement.
The landmark deal will see the mobile network operators EE, 02, Three and Vodafone, vastly reducing the number of both partial- and total not-spots. Where 63% of Wales now has coverage from all four operators, the deal will increase this figure to 83% by 2017. Complete not-spots will be reduced by over two thirds and partial not-spots halved. Modern mobile data services too will be brought to many areas of Wales for the first time.
Stephen has been raising the problem of not-spots in Pembrokeshire with Culture Secretary Javid and has pushed for the UK Government to seek a deal to improve mobile coverage. As a rural area, the County has suffered from not-spots for some time, with villages like St Ishmaels particularly affected.
Commenting, Stephen Crabb MP said: “This deal is a welcome step forward for rural areas across the country – but will be a particular boost for Pembrokeshire.”
“More and more people are carrying out more of their social and economic activity on smartphones and the longer that not-spots go on, the bigger a problem it will become for Pembrokeshire. This is one of the most pressing issues raised with me by local businesses.”
“Vastly reducing the number of not-spots could be a big boost to the economy and rural communities of Pembrokeshire. I am pleased that the Culture Secretary Sajid Javid has announced this deal following my discussions with him. But we need to see continued progress on this matter in the months ahead.”
Business
Tenby North Beach outdoor mobile sauna plans submitted to planners
PLANS for an outdoor sauna by Tenby’s North Beach have been submitted to Pembrokeshire’s national park.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Tenby-based David Jones, seeks permission for the siting of a mobile sauna unit on a raised concrete hard-standing area above the breakwater wall and slipway at the far north end corner of North Beach, Tenby.
It would be situated below the Park Hotel, North Cliff, the site in private ownership as part of the Park Hotel estate.
A supporting statement accompanying the application says the site has most recently been used as the base for a paddleboard tour and rental business, and has also been utilised to store watercraft and recreational beach equipment.
Of the scheme itself, it says: “We aim to provide a close to nature sauna experience and in so doing make sauna culture’s physical, mental, and social health benefits accessible to the local community and its visiting guests.
“We aim to operate a year-round service that offers an immersive and nuanced experience that only nature and the changing seasons can provide. We aim to provide a sauna service set within a natural setting with direct access for sea bathing as an integral part of the sauna experience. We aim to provide an experience with a low environmental impact and high physical, mental and social gains.”

It adds: “The sauna and changing room will be separate mobile units. This provides practical advantages for siting and maintenance but also as a design strategy to provide a sense of impermanence, transience and movement sympathetic to its natural setting and unique location.
“The sauna unit will feature a wood fired sauna stove, a large glazed picture window and low level LED internal mood lighting reinforcing design principles based on creating low environmental impact and an atmosphere that reaches for a sense of the elemental.
“Externally both units will feature black metal profile roofing, black timber cladding and double glazed windows. A glazed picture window to the east elevation of the sauna unit will take in the impressive town and sea vista.”
The application will be considered by Park planners at a later date.
Recently, a previously temporary grant of an outdoor sauna at Saundersfoot’s harbour was refused a permanent location by Park planners.
Back in June 2024, a temporary two-year permission for a mobile wood-fired sauna at overlooking the sea at Saundersfoot harbour was granted by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee.
Since then, a further application by Kerry Evans of Hwyl Outdoor Sauna to make the siting permanent was submitted to national park planners, which was refused following an officer recommendation at the July committee meeting.
While planners expressed their regret at the refusal of that scheme, one of the issues based on location, they hoped a compromise may be reached with another location in the harbour area.
Kerry Evans has previously stated she is considering appealing the decision on that scheme, which had gained huge local support as well as an online appeal calling for the refusal to be overturned, to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).
Business
Dinas Cross housing scheme application submitted
PLANS to build new homes on land behind a Pembrokeshire village’s fuel station have been submitted, but no affordable housing contribution is being offered.
In an application submitted to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Cardigan-based CAD Properties, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, seeks permission for a new residential development of four homes and an access road on land to the rear of Dinas Cross Service Station, Dinas Cross.
A supporting statement accompanying the application says: “The application site itself comprises a greenfield parcel of Grade 5 land, not considered best and most versatile. The site slopes gently to the north and is bound by hedgebanks and trees on all sides. The land is currently used for grazing. There are no known environmental or historical designations on site.
“This application seeks full approval for four dormer bungalows. The proposed dwellings will comprise four two-bedroom units. The proposal seeks to create a new access off Spring Hill, set back off the highway to allow for visibility. A simple linear layout is proposed to the northern portion of the land, with the remainder retained for agriculture, a communal area and ecological enhancement. The dwellings with front the access road, with front off-street parking and rear private amenity space.”
It says that, while the density of the development is lower than policy, there are “significant constraints on site,” including overhead electricity wires which require a buffer zone, a gas main and root protection areas for existing trees.
It also says no affordable housing contribution is offered, the application submitted alongside a viability report “which highlights that due to constraints and cost of development, delivering affordable housing within this site is unviable”.
It concludes: “This proposal is considered to offer an acceptable form of residential development, making best use of windfall land within the Centre boundary of Dinas Cross. The siting of the access is deemed acceptable for four dwellings and allows the land to be built upon, securing required open-market housing within PCNPA’s jurisdiction.”
The application will be considered by Park planners at a later date.
Business
Llangwm brewery closes after entering liquidation
A SMALL Pembrokeshire brewing company has been formally wound up after its owners concluded the business could no longer continue.
Black Tar Brewing Co Ltd, which was registered in Llangwm, entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation following a meeting of company members on February 27, 2026.
The meeting was held at the Swansea offices of Stones & Co Insolvency Practitioners, where Gareth Stones was appointed to oversee the closure.
The company’s registered address was at Gail Rise in Llangwm, near Haverfordwest, and official records listed its activities as beer manufacturing.
No public details have yet been released about the size of the business, the value of its assets or the amount owed to creditors.
As liquidator, Mr Stones will now take control of the company’s affairs, identify any remaining assets and determine whether funds are available for those owed money.
Creditors are expected to receive further information as the process develops.
The liquidation was initiated by the company rather than through a court order, meaning its members voted to bring trading to an end and place its finances in the hands of an insolvency practitioner.
A public notice connected to the closure directs creditors and other interested parties to Stones & Co for further information.
The winding-up brings an end to the Llangwm-registered brewery, although the company’s recent level of trading and the number of people connected to the business remain unclear.
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Anoldman
December 19, 2014 at 10:46 am
Can someone explain the deal to me. Just what is the Governments input?
heidi
December 21, 2014 at 12:40 am
I have had poor signal for months and don’t like the fact it’s like this but where is this 5 billion coming from Orange, ee, 3 Vodafone then fine go ahead but if it’s coming from taxpayers then no its ridiculous I would rather put up with what I have and make the companies pay to fix the system 5 billion is better spent on NHS, POOR AND HOMELESS, have some common sense
tomos
December 22, 2014 at 5:27 pm
funny how everyone wants to take credit for this – honestly what has this guy done to get a fiver invested in pembrokeshire let alnoe 5 billion PS welcome to the 20th century Pembs