Local Government

‘We’re treated like schoolkids’: Bin workers lift lid on chaos at Pembrokeshire Council

Published

6 months ago

September 10, 2025

Staff shortages, overloaded routes and low morale blamed for recycling crisis

A PEMBROKESHIRE bin worker has spoken exclusively to The Herald, describing “a shambles” inside the county’s waste service as missed recycling collections mount across Milford Haven, Hakin and beyond. His account has since been independently verified by another member of staff who contacted us by phone, confirming the same issues across the service.

The revelations come after widespread disruption at the end of last month (Aug 29) left streets across Milford without collections for the second or third week running. Pembrokeshire County Council has cited “operational issues” including vehicle breakdowns and staff shortages, and urged households to keep recycling bags out until Monday (Sept 1) when crews “aim to recollect.”

***Uncollected waste: Bags and boxes have been left on the roadside as crews struggle to keep up (Image: PCC)***

Inside the routes

Frontline staff told The Herald that crews are being forced to take on far more properties each day than intended.

One worker said: “Routes were designed for 750 to 800 houses. Some of us are now covering 1,200 plus, then being told to help mop up other routes on top. We’ve been told since Christmas 2023 that routes would be restructured, but nothing has changed — and more new estates have been built in that time.”

They described the physical toll of filling lorries to capacity and the demoralisation of being pushed to do more: “It’s head down all day, necks and shoulders taking a hammering. When we finish our route we’re told to go back out and do more. Holidays are refused, and lads need long weekends just to recover. Morale is on the floor.”

Management criticised

Workers were scathing about the current leadership of the service.

One said: “During the pandemic we worked through with a different management team and there were no major issues. Now it’s army-style management. There’s no interaction. Our head of service, Craig Meachem, we’ve barely seen him in two years. We raised grievances, he came to one meeting out of six. It’s do as I say and that’s it.”

The same worker claimed: “He said at a scrutiny meeting he rolled his sleeves up and helped. That happened once, for two hours. Our old manager would be in at 6:00am with us, driving routes and loading when needed. Nothing like that now.”

Vehicles and welfare

***Mounting pressure: Crews say they are at breaking point*** ***(Pic: PCC)***

While council leaders blame vehicle breakdowns, staff said that was only part of the story.

“There are days we’ve had five lorries ready but no crews to man them. They’ve even tried to send out a truck with just a driver. We refused — they promise help but it never turns up.”

Working conditions were also described as inadequate.

“In hot weather there’s no water supplied — we rely on residents giving us a drink. In wet weather we sweat inside our gear, then there’s one small drying cabin for 20 people, one shower for 100 staff. Most of us sit in the lorries with heaters on. Other councils let supervisors make welfare decisions. Here they’re reprimanded. We’re even locked in the compound until a supervisor lets us out, like schoolkids.”

Mental health strain

Staff say morale is collapsing under the strain, with sickness becoming a vicious circle.

“We are being totally demoralised. The only option for many is to go sick, which just makes things worse for those left. We tried to communicate, but management stopped listening.”

They also highlighted abuse from the public: “We’ve been assaulted, sworn at, had things thrown at us. Management wonders why there’s a mental health problem.”

Recruitment and turnover

According to workers, staff churn is worsening the crisis.

“They’ve taken on about 50 people in the last year, most lasting two days. One lasted one day and couldn’t even tie their bootlaces. It just puts more pressure on the rest of the crew.”

Streets missed

Over the last ten days, locals responding to The Herald’s call for information listed more than 30 streets where collections were missed, including Coombs Drive, Picton Road, Pill Road, Vicary Crescent, Dairy Park Grove, St David’s Close, Observatory Avenue, Silverstream Drive, Murray Road, Yorke Street, Hubberston Court, Wentworth Close, Hilton Avenue, Waterloo Road, Court Rise, Nubian Crescent and Mills Drive in Neyland.

Council response

Pembrokeshire County Council issued a statement to The Herald in response to the allegations. A spokesperson said:

“With the assistance of the public, Pembrokeshire County Council has consistently been among the top recycling authorities in Wales over recent years and together we can continue to improve recycling rates. We recognise there have been instances of missed collections over recent weeks, and we wish to apologise to the public for the disruption and thank them for their patience and support.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Waste and Recycling crews who are working extremely hard and doing their best every day to provide a safe and effective collection service while minimising disruption.”

The council added that:

Routes are “planned to consider vehicle size, crewing, population density and depot locations” and were designed with support from WRAP Cymru. It said it “does not consider routes to be overloaded” but confirmed that further reviews are planned.
In the last 12 months, 15 staff have left and 15 have been recruited, with all vacancies currently filled.
Staff welfare is supported through HR policies, engagement events, a dedicated HR officer for mental health, and new welfare facilities at the Eco Park depot.
The council said it updates its dedicated webpage with information when collections are disrupted, and aims to return within 48 working hours.
Disruptions, they added, represent “less than 1% of the five million collections” carried out each year.

The council also pointed to “financial challenges” facing the authority and said the summer tourist season had added to pressure on frontline services.

The statement concluded: “We would like to thank the communities of Pembrokeshire for their patience and continued support.”

Education

New facilities open at Portfield School as redevelopment reaches key milestone

Published

21 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST phase of a major redevelopment programme at Portfield School in Haverfordwest has been completed, marking a significant step forward in specialist education provision in Pembrokeshire.

The project has been jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, which aims to deliver modern, high-quality learning environments for pupils across Wales.

Developed in partnership with construction firm Morgan Sindall, the scheme has focused on accessibility, sustainability and the creation of spaces tailored to a wide range of learning and therapeutic needs.

Portfield School supports children and young people aged three to nineteen with additional learning needs. The new facilities provide modern, flexible and inclusive spaces designed to support pupils’ development while helping meet growing demand for specialist education provision in the county.

Headteacher Sarah Hartley said the new accommodation represented an important step forward for the school community.

She said: “We are delighted with the new provision for our pupils at Portfield School. It represents a significant step forward in ensuring every pupil has access to an inclusive, supportive and inspiring learning environment where they can thrive.

“As Headteacher I am incredibly proud of how well the pupils have transitioned into the new site and adapted so quickly to their new learning environment. I am very excited to be working alongside a dedicated team of staff who share the same passion for inclusive education. Together we will build a school community where every young person can flourish.”

The new building includes specialist facilities such as sensory rooms and improved outdoor areas designed to promote physical activity, social interaction and emotional wellbeing.

Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle said the development would help support learners with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

She said: “All learners deserve environments that nurture, challenge and support them. I am pleased to support learners with additional learning needs in Pembrokeshire through our Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. The specialist spaces will help us meet a wide range of needs and ensure every learner feels valued and able to thrive.”

Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Jon Harvey, described the completion of the first phase as an important moment for the school and the wider community.

He said: “This is an exciting moment for the school, the families we support, and the wider community. The new facilities will provide pupils with the high-quality, nurturing environment they deserve, and the first phase brings us closer to delivering the full vision for this exceptional school.”

Robert Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Wales, said the company was proud to help deliver the project.

He said: “It’s a real privilege to hand over the new Portfield School SEN facilities. This milestone reflects the hard work and commitment of our Morgan Sindall team, and it has been fantastic to work with Pembrokeshire County Council to bring the project to life.

“The new facilities will make a lasting difference, providing children with a high-quality learning environment that offers the support pupils need to thrive and be inspired.”

Work on the next stage of the redevelopment has already begun. This will include refurbishment of the former Tasker Milward H Block for post-16 pupils, demolition of the existing primary school building, reinstatement works, the construction of a new respite care unit, and refurbishment of Holly House.

The overall scheme represents a long-term investment in specialist education and aims to ensure that children with additional learning needs across Pembrokeshire have access to the support and facilities they require.

Local Government

Nearly 50 homes to be built at Cardigan estate

Published

22 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCILLORS have approved plans for a new housing development of 48 homes, including ten affordable properties, on a west Wales estate.

The scheme at Maes y Dderwen in Cardigan was granted planning permission at the March 11 meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s Development Management Committee.

The application, submitted by TID Holdings Ltd through agent Trevor Hopkins Associates Ltd, forms part of the third phase of development at the Maes y Dderwen estate.

In total, the scheme will deliver 48 homes, ten of which will be affordable units in line with the council’s policy requiring 20 per cent affordable housing.

Cardigan Town Council supported the application but requested that a higher proportion of affordable housing be included.

One member of the public objected to the plans, arguing the development represented an overdevelopment of the site. Concerns were also raised about whether there was sufficient local demand for the homes, suggesting they could be purchased by buyers from outside the area, as well as raising questions about the impact on local infrastructure.

However, planning officers advised councillors that outline permission for residential development at Maes y Dderwen had first been granted in 1992, and the site has been subject to several planning applications since then.

The latest proposal includes 38 open-market homes comprising six three-bedroom bungalows, twelve four-bedroom detached houses, ten three-bedroom semi-detached houses, four three-bedroom terraced homes, and six two-bedroom flats.

The affordable housing element will consist of six three-bedroom semi-detached houses, one three-bedroom detached house, and three terraced homes, including two two-bedroom properties and one three-bedroom unit.

Planning officers said the mix of housing types would help meet a range of local housing needs.

The report stated that the inclusion of bungalows was “particularly positive” as it supports accessibility and lifetime homes principles, providing suitable housing for older residents and people with mobility needs. Flats and smaller terraced homes would provide options for first-time buyers and smaller households, while larger detached and semi-detached properties would help meet family housing demand.

The scheme also includes provision for communal accessible open space and a natural play area.

Responding to objections, the report noted that the site is allocated for housing within the development plan and that the proposed density is below recommended guidelines.

Officers added that planning policy cannot control who ultimately purchases the homes and confirmed that no statutory consultees had raised concerns about infrastructure capacity.

Members of the committee unanimously approved the development, subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement and approval of the associated play space.

Local Government

Changes approved to final phase of Saundersfoot housing scheme

Published

2 days ago

March 15, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

Affordable housing proportion rises as apartment plans replaced with family homes

AMENDMENTS to the final phase of a housing development in Saundersfoot have been approved, reducing the overall number of homes while increasing the proportion of affordable properties on the site.

Morgan Construction (Wales) Limited, through agent Evans Banks Planning Limited, sought permission to reconfigure the third phase of a residential development at Whitlow, Narberth Road, Saundersfoot.

The application was recommended for approval and came before members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s Development Management Committee at its March meeting.

The original scheme, granted permission in 2023 and already partly built, allowed for a total of 54 homes. Under the revised proposals the number will be reduced to 47.

A planning officer’s report explained that the development is being built in phases. Phase one consists of 16 market homes, while phase two includes 19 affordable properties.

The application concerned the final stage of the project, known as phase three.

Under the original consent, phase three would have delivered 19 one- and two-bedroom apartments located in the centre of the site. However, the revised plans replace those flats with a mix of houses.

The new layout will include two three-bedroom detached houses, three two-bedroom detached bungalows, four two-bedroom terraced townhouses and three three-bedroom terraced townhouses.

This change reduces the number of homes in phase three from 19 apartments to 12 houses.

Although the number of affordable homes across the development will remain unchanged, the reduction in market housing increases the proportion of affordable properties on the site from 35.1 per cent to 40.4 per cent.

The applicants told planners that demand for the previously approved apartments had been limited. They said there was already a considerable supply of such properties in the lower part of Saundersfoot, while demand locally appeared stronger for homes suited to young families and for older residents wishing to downsize into smaller bungalows.

The report added that without the changes the final phase of the development could remain unbuilt, leaving future residents living on a partially completed site.

Committee members agreed to grant delegated approval to planning officers, subject to the completion of legal agreements covering planning obligations.

These include provisions to secure the affordable housing in perpetuity, along with financial contributions towards library services, recreational open space and sustainable transport.