Local Government

Pembroke diner to be allowed to serve alcohol as late as 2am

Published

8 months ago

September 11, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow a service hatch at a Pembroke diner to serve alcohol well into the early hours, with a call for as late as 5am at weekends, has been allowed in part.

The September meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing sub-committee considered an application for a variation of previous conditions at Parkside Diner, Commons Road, Pembroke.

A previously granted license allows the sale of alcohol from 10am-11pm, with an 11.30pm closure.

The application sought to amend this to include a serving hatch for late night refreshments and sale of alcohol (on and off sales) between midnight and 5am Friday and Saturday, along with sales of alcohol to midnight each other day, and opening hours of 6am-12.30am.

Four objections, along with six letters of support have been received; those objecting include the council’s pollution officer on the grounds of public nuisance, the police’s licensing raising the potential of a “migration of patrons” late at night from the town’s Main Street nightclub, and local county councillor for Pembroke Monkton and St Mary South Cllr Jonathan Grimes.

Cllr Grimes, who raised concerns about the original application, said the call for hours as late as 5am “is totally unsuitable and would lead to a rise in antisocial behaviour”.

“In my role as county councillor, I am frequently approached by residents of the ward with concerns over anti-social behaviour in the area around The Commons in Pembroke as well as the Main Street itself. This is often linked to the drunken behaviour as well as the misuse of drugs.

“I therefore believe that a business selling alcohol late at night in this particular area would only be detrimental to the peaceful existence of the adjacent residential properties and the wider community. It would encourage people to dwell in the immediate vicinity of the premises and possibly encourage drunken behaviour.”

Supporters of the proposals raised comments including: “The Parkside Diner has been open now for over a year and has had no anti-social behaviour issues and no police visits. I live very close and don’t see there being a problem with them serving alcohol later than they already do.”

Another said: “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, like this business in the area and it should be given a chance to operate for the later hours, even if it is for a trial period. If properly managed and it doesn’t cause any visiting anti-social behaviour, then it could be a benefit for the area.”

At the September meeting, Cllr Grimes said his main concern was “public safety and antisocial behaviour that is a blight on Pembroke at the moment,” adding: “Residents have been contacting me about the serving of alcohol to 4-5am, it doesn’t sit well with them or me.”

He said he had “no problem with the business at all,” but stressed: “I just don’t feel drinking alcohol at 5am around the streets of Pembroke is a healthy way for the town.”

Members agreed to amend conditions to allow the sale of alcohol to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, with late night refreshments via the hatch allowed to 4am Friday and Saturday.

They also included conditions that the sale of alcohol via the hatch after midnight must be through sealed containers and that a registered doorman must be present on those days from midnight until 4am.

Local Government

Independent councillor claims Cabinet is ‘fractured’ after Harvey steps aside

Published

23 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

COUNCILLOR Huw Murphy has claimed Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet is “fractured” following Cllr Jon Harvey’s decision not to seek re-election as leader.

Cllr Murphy, a member of the Independent Group, said the decision confirmed what he claimed many councillors already believed — that the Cabinet “no longer retains the confidence of a majority of elected members”.

He alleged that attempts by some Cabinet members to replace Cllr Harvey were aimed at preserving their own Cabinet positions and the additional allowances attached to them.

Cllr Murphy said: “The motto of Pembrokeshire County Council is ‘Ex Unitate Vires’ — in unity, strength. It is abundantly clear there has been no unity or strength in Cabinet for some time.”

He added that removing the leader would not, in itself, resolve what he described as wider Cabinet failure.

Cllr Murphy thanked Cllr Harvey for his service over the past two years and wished him well for the future, but said councillors now had an opportunity to choose “real change” by electing Cllr Anji Tinley as the next leader.

Local Government

Tenby pedestrianisation permit applications to open

Published

24 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENTS and businesses in Tenby’s Walled Town are being urged to apply for vehicle access permits ahead of this year’s summer pedestrianisation scheme.

Pembrokeshire County Council said the annual scheme is due to begin on Monday, July 6, and run until Friday, September 11.

The restrictions will operate daily between 11:00am and 5:30pm.

As in previous years, the Walled Town will be divided into three zones, with each zone having different levels of vehicle access.

Full details of the scheme, including the online application form, will be available from Friday, May 1, on the council’s website at www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/tenby-pedestrianisation

Residents and businesses within the Walled Town are being encouraged to complete the application process as soon as possible once the documents go live.

The council said this will allow enough time for applications to be processed and for any additional checks to be carried out if further information is needed.

Permits are expected to be issued approximately seven to ten days before the scheme begins.

Paper application forms and guidance notes will no longer be delivered to residents and businesses within the Walled Town, meaning all permit requests must now be submitted online.

Permit holders are also being encouraged to continue planning journeys outside the restricted hours of 11:00am to 5:30pm wherever practical, in order to support the smooth running of the scheme.

Further information is available by emailing [email protected].

Local Government

Pembrokeshire council leader Jon Harvey to stand down

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

THE LEADER of Pembrokeshire’s council is to stand down amid denied claims of a ‘coup ‘, with a three-way challenge for the role taking place at the May AGM .

The leader of the council is elected every two years under the council’s constitution, and current leader Cllr Jon Harvey has decided not to stand for re-election.

Pembroke St Mary North member Cllr Harvey became leader in May 2024 after narrowly beating fellow leadership hopeful Conservative group leader Di Clements by 30 votes to 27.

Cllr Harvey replaced Cllr David Simpson as leader.

Three nominations have been received for the leadership battle at the May 15 AGM: Conservative Group Leader Cllr Di Clements, unaffiliated member and current Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Cllr Tessa Hodgson, and Leader of the Independent Group Cllr Anji Tinley.

Former leader of the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council Cllr Huw Murphy, in a statement, has claimed Cllr Havery has been removed in a “coup,” which the leader has denied.

Cllr Murphy, in his statement where he talks about himself in the third person, said: “Cllr Murphy stated that the decision confirms what many councillors already know, in that the Cabinet is fractured and no longer retains the confidence of a majority of elected members.

“He further suggests that efforts by some Cabinet members to replace Councillor Harvey is no more than a bid to maintain their own Cabinet roles and the additional allowances this attracts, which appears to be an act of considerable disloyalty towards the now outgoing Leader.

“Cllr Murphy further commented that the removal of the Leader following what appears to be a coup by other Cabinet members does not resolve many of the issues as Cabinet failure is not the fault of the Leader alone, far from it.

“The motto of Pembrokeshire County Council is ‘Ex Unitate Vires’ (in Unity Strength). It’s abundantly clear there has been no unity or strength in Cabinet for some time, rather a desire to now sacrifice their Leader on the altar of trying to save their own Cabinet positions, which is an unedifying spectacle for many.”

Cllr Murphy concluded by expressing his gratitude for Councillor Harvey’s service over the past two years as Leader, but said that “councillors now had a genuine opportunity to embrace real change in electing Councillor Anji Tinley as the next Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council”.

Cllr Harvey has denied any ‘coup’ taking place, promising a full response to Cllr Murphy’s claims.

He later said: “Honestly, I had to laugh at this statement by Cllr Murphy. I’ve enjoyed my time as Leader immensely and I am proud of my record but I have done a full leadership term.

“The decision to stand down and not seek re-election was mine and mine alone and I’m looking forward to supporting Cllr Tessa Hodgson at the AGM.”