PUPILS at a leaking Pembrokeshire school, built just nine years ago, which now has more than 500 props holding up parts of its roof, are likely to be forced to relocate while a new roof is put on.

Tenby VC School, a 3–11 English-medium primary school with an additional Learning Resource Centre (LRC) provision, was built in 2016.

Just a few years after its build, there were reports of water ingress.

Initial investigations in 2023 identified the requirement for repairs to the flat roof areas, and in 2024 its solar PV array was removed to reduce the load on the roof following engineer advice.

Last November, a £75,000 feasibility budget to look at ways of tackling roof leaks at Tenby’s VC school, including a complete new roof, was backed by members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet.

At the time, Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham, said: “A number of [areas of water ingress] have been repaired, but unfortunately a number of leaks have resulted in a weakening of the structure and components within the roof construction.”

In response to the findings of the feasibility study, the council has implemented a series of urgent health and safety measures to mitigate immediate risks, a report for members at the November 2025 Cabinet meeting said.

These include the installation of 510 ‘acro’ props to support vulnerable roof areas and the full closure of the Early Years/Playgroup wing, along with regular inspections.

At the meeting, members received a report detailing the findings of the feasibility study, presented by Cllr Woodham, with a favoured option of the replacement of entire roof.

It said: “Considering the recommendation to proceed with [full roof replacement] a comprehensive decant strategy needs to be developed with all stakeholders and the community to ensure educational continuity, meet health and safety requirements and safeguard the wellbeing of pupils and staff throughout the construction period and following information needs to be considered in relation to any decant strategy.”

Cllr Woodham said he was “totally aware of the concern in relation to how this progresses,” adding: “The priority is the wellbeing of the learners and staff at the school, we’ll do everything to move as quickly as we can.”

Members backed recommendations that the School Modernisation Working Group be requested to determine the final preferred outcomes in relation to the Tenby Area, and that those recommendations be presented to full council in December.

They also backed tenders for the works being sought, with a further report to Cabinet, and a comprehensive decant strategy be produced; a report returning to Cabinet by January at the latest.

A CALL for Pembrokeshire to back a multi-millionaire wealth tax to support public services submitted by a former councillor, once accused of being the covert graffiti artist ‘Banksy,’ has not gained enough support for it to be debated.

An e-petition on Pembrokeshire County Council’s own website, by William Gannon, a former Pembroke Dock town councillor, said: “We call upon Pembrokeshire County Council to lobby the Welsh and Westminster Governments to demand an increase in funding for all county councils to be paid for by a UK wealth tax of two per cent on individual assets over £10 million.

“This increased revenue should then be spent by PCC on supporting both working and vulnerable people and services throughout Pembrokeshire.

“Pembrokeshire County Council are struggling to maintain services in the face of rising costs and inadequate funding from the Welsh and UK Governments. Two solutions that PCC have identified for this problem are a rise in council tax and/or cuts to the services provided by PCC.
“These cuts are being felt throughout Pembrokeshire and have already resulted in, for example, the closure of an adult day care facility and the community art gallery in Pembroke Dock and are threatening the survival of Pembroke Dock Public Library.”

It added: “Tax Justice have estimated that the introduction of a wealth tax of two per cent on individual assets over £10 million could raise an estimated £24 billion each year in the UK.

“According to Tax Justice: ‘Setting this tax at a high threshold of £10 million in assets would ensure that only a tiny proportion of the population are impacted – just 20,000 people – yet would raise significant funds for our public services’.”

If a petition gets 500 signatures, the creator will have an opportunity to debate it at a future full council meeting; more than 100 will trigger a debate at a council overview and scrutiny committee.

The e-petition, which closed a few days ago, generated 91 signatures.

Back in 2022 the-then Cllr Gannon resigned from the town council saying the allegations he was the cult artist were undermining his ability to represent his ward.

Two-week closure ahead of major upgrade

GLAN-YR-AFON Library in Haverfordwest is set for a series of improvements next month, with the flagship Riverside facility closing for two weeks to allow the work to take place.

Since opening in 2018, the library has become a major community hub, combining a public library, National-standard gallery, visitor information services and a coffee shop. It averages around 5,000 book issues every month and has hosted a wide range of events and activities for local families.

The gallery has also welcomed high-profile exhibitions in partnership with the National Library of Wales, including Kyffin: Tir a Môr/Land and Sea in 2018, Trysorau/Treasures in 2019, and Trem/Gaze in 2022 – the latter delivered with the National Gallery in London as part of their Masterpiece Tour, featuring Edgar Degas’ Hélène Rouart in her Father’s Study.

Over seven years of operation, staff have gathered regular customer feedback. Visitors have asked for more space in the children’s library, increased digital services such as Wi-Fi printing, and expanded visitor information about Pembrokeshire. Some users have also raised concerns about safety and building layout.

Thanks to Welsh Government funding, an upgrade programme has now been approved to address these issues.

Key improvements

• Children’s library upgrade
The area will become more visible with better seating for adults and children, and extra space for author visits, class sessions and activities.

• New digital and visitor services
Public Wi-Fi printing will be installed for the first time, and the Visitor Information area will be expanded and refreshed.

• Improved building flow and safety
A redesign of access routes aims to create a more welcoming and secure environment:

• The rear entrance will become a fire-exit-only door, with all public access routed via the Coffee Shop or the Skinners Lane side entrance.
• Access gates will be installed to manage entry into the main library areas and reduce anti-social behaviour.
• The small staff pod will be relocated to form a new welcome point, ensuring staff are more visible when visitors enter.

The council says these changes will deliver clearer orientation for visitors, a warmer welcome, better security, and improved access to learning and IT facilities.

Closure dates

The library will close from Saturday 6 December to Saturday 20 December to allow the work to be completed.

All books on loan from Haverfordwest Library will be automatically extended during the closure so that customers do not incur overdue fines. The Coffee Shop will remain open throughout.

The library will reopen on Monday 22 December, closing for Christmas at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve, and will reopen again after the holidays on Friday 2 January.

The project builds on previous Welsh Government investment to help Glan-yr-Afon reach its full potential as a modern, accessible and welcoming community space for Haverfordwest and the wider county.