£141.6m scheme could transform education in the town

A MAJOR step forward has been taken in the long-awaited Milford Haven Schools Redevelopment project after Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet approved the Outline Business Case for the £141.6 million scheme.

The decision, made on Wednesday (May 27), means the business case can now be submitted to the Welsh Government for consideration.

The ambitious project would see a new combined campus built on the current Milford Haven School site, bringing an English-medium primary school together with the secondary school, with some shared facilities.

The plans also include a 40-place Flying Start centre and a specialist Learning Resource Centre for 24 pupils with additional learning needs.

A new Welsh-medium primary school is also planned for Milford Haven, providing Welsh language education in the area.

Alongside the schools redevelopment programme, a new leisure centre will be created. Thornton Sports Hall is set to be demolished as part of the wider changes.

The next stage will be for the council to submit a Full Business Case to the Welsh Government before final approval can be given and construction can begin. Contractors are expected to be on site next year, with the new school buildings due to open in 2030.

The scheme has been discussed for many years, with local families, pupils, staff and the wider community waiting for meaningful progress towards modern education facilities for the town.

There has also been criticism locally over the slow pace of the process, including concerns about Welsh Government bureaucracy and the requirement for repeated business case approvals before funding decisions are finalised.

However, the Cabinet decision marks a significant milestone for one of the largest education projects ever proposed in Pembrokeshire.

If delivered, the redevelopment has the potential to transform education, childcare, Welsh-medium provision, additional learning needs support and leisure facilities for future generations in Milford Haven.

PLANS to turn a former joke and fancy-dress shop in a Pembrokeshire seaside town to office space for an estate agent have been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Giles Birt of Birt and Co, through agent David J P Morgan RIBA Architect, sought permission for a change of the of the former Griggles shop, Ventnor House, Warren Street, Tenby to office use.

The application included a new first floor office space, replacement windows and shopfront, and repairs to fabric.

Griggles, a joke and fancy-dress Mecca in the town for decades, closed back in 2019 when Roland Grigg retired after running the shop since 1970.

Tenby Town Council supported the change of use proposal, but Tenby Civic Society had raised concerns that timber windows would be preferable within the conservation area, and asking for a potential restriction of working hours to protect residential amenity, and also raising concerns about a potential increase in parking issues.

After amended plans were produced, the Civic Society said: “The additional detail to front shop windows and reduction to first floor rear extension are welcome. The latter is still somewhat dominant to the two adjoining properties amenity; careful site inspection is needed and may well have produced this amendment.

“We remain enthusiasts for wooden windows here particularly for the characterful front elevation, including the upper floor. We note however that these upper floor dormers are not suited to sash format, and are common to other adjoining properties. Detail changes fit character and location and are welcome.”

An officer report recommending approval said: “Further to [an] objection received in terms of potential loss of privacy and light, revised plans have been received. The existing ground floor has been set back some 500mm from the southern boundary with Fern Cottage and conventional windows and a door substituted for the former patio windows.

“At first floor level, the proposed full-width extension has been set back by some 2.2 metres and a single window set off-centre to the west to avoid overlooking the rear windows and garden of Fern Cottage.

“The resultant stepped elevation is not regarded as overbearing and the exposed flat roof at first floor level is to be accessed only for maintenance so as to avoid potential for loss of amenity for neighbours.”

A BY-ELECTION is set to be held in Pembroke Dock Market Ward following confirmation that the required requests have been received to fill a vacancy on Pembrokeshire County Council.

The poll, if contested, will take place on Thursday, July 9.

The Notice of Election is due to be published on Thursday, June 4, with nominations open between 10:00am and 4:00pm from June 4 to June 12.

The count will take place on the morning of Friday, July 10.

Pembrokeshire County Council Chief Executive, William Bramble CBE, confirmed the timetable in an email to county councillors.

He said further details about the nomination process would be included in the Notice of Election, which will be made available on the council’s website.

Anyone requiring further information has been advised to contact Sian Waters, Electoral Services Manager, by emailing [email protected] or calling 01437 775714.