A major £500,000 fund-raising drive has been launched to salvage Milford Haven’s 50-metre outdoor swimming pool.

Following a five-year consultation initiative to bring the modern outdoor swimming facility back to the town, the Milford Haven Lido Park Society is now poised to launch a community share offer later this Spring, 

Chairman Michael Allen said the project had recently seen a breakthrough after what many viewed as a period of inactivity.

“We’ve been working on this for nearly five years,” Michael Allen told The Pembrokeshire Herald. “There have been many unkept promises around the site in the past, but we’ve been quietly working with the council to advance the community asset transfer.”

The group hopes to transform the site into a major community and tourism facility centred around a 50-metre outdoor pool, alongside an infant paddling pool and splash play area.

Community investment drive

The society is preparing to launch a community share offer in April, and aims to raise £500,000.

Residents and supporters will be able to invest from £100 upwards, which is a funding model already applied successfully ithroughout Pembrokeshire to support community shops, farms and chapels.

Mr Allen said the offer would be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, ensuring a secure framework for investors.

“We want to raise half a million pounds to show Pembrokeshire County Council we have the capability to manage the site,” he said.

The funding will help the society secure control of the site through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT).  However, Mr Allen acknowledged there was no guarantee the transfer would be approved.

A long-term vision

If successful, the society estimates it will ultimately require around £20 million to transform the site into a year-round facility capable of attracting visitors and boosting tourism.

“It’s not easy,” Mr Allen admitted, “but other lidos across the UK have done it.”

Future funding could come from organisations such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund, government programmes and major charitable donations.

Summer heating and cold water swimming

The proposed pool would be heated during the summer months using a ground-source heat pump, but not during the winter.  This would allow the site to support the growing cold-water swimming community.

“Heated swimming pools are a national challenge because of energy costs,” Mr Allen explained.

The plans also include a smaller heated rehabilitation pool, which would operate all year round.

The project has also secured support through a Perthyne grant, administered by Bryn Teg Consulting, to explore using the existing building as a Welsh-language community hub.

The facility would operate as a café open to all, but run primarily through the Welsh language with the help of volunteers from local groups including Hwb Aberdaugleddau and Caffi Pal (Friends Café).

Mr Allen said the project had recently secured cross-party backing from local politicians, including local MP Henry Tufnell. Sennedd Member, Paul Davies, Cris Tomos Chris and Scott Thorley.  Support has also been expressed locally by town councillors and community organisations including Milford Youth Matters and the VC Gallery.

The society stresses the pool will not rely on town or county council funding, but will operate as a community-owned asset.

Michael Allen went on to say that the number of new lido projects opening across Britain has increased significantly in recent years.

“The opening of lidos is accelerating,” he said. “That means creating a credible business plan is far easier now because there are successful examples to follow.”

Historically, the original pool used water from the Cleddau Estuary, which was then returned to the river, however Mr Allen said that ensuring the project meets environmental regulations remains one of the project’s most complex elements.

“By law the water cannot cause any harm to the environment,” he said.

Despite the challenges ahead, the society remains determined to bring outdoor swimming back to Milford Haven.

“There will be no visual eyesores,” he added. “We want this to be something the whole community can be proud of.”

PLANS outlined in Reform UK’s Welsh manifesto have sparked debate over how the party’s energy policies could affect the future of Milford Haven’s rapidly expanding role in the UK’s energy transition.

The party’s manifesto, launched on Thursday (Mar 5), includes proposals to ban new onshore wind farms and large-scale solar developments in Wales — a stance which has drawn criticism from the renewable energy industry.

RenewableUK Cymru warned that such policies could undermine investment in the country’s growing clean energy sector, potentially affecting thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of planned investment.

Freeport and floating wind ambitions

The issue is particularly relevant for Pembrokeshire, where Milford Haven sits at the heart of the Celtic Freeport, a major economic initiative designed to transform the area into a hub for green energy and advanced manufacturing.

Central to those plans is the development of floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea, with ports such as Milford Haven expected to play a key role in assembling, servicing and supporting large turbine installations.

Industry leaders believe the Celtic Sea wind projects could bring tens of billions of pounds of investment into Wales over the coming decades, alongside thousands of jobs in engineering, manufacturing and port services.

Supporters say the Freeport could position Pembrokeshire as one of the UK’s most important centres for the renewable energy supply chain.

Renewable industry response

Responding to Reform’s manifesto, RenewableUK Cymru director Jess Hooper said restricting renewable energy projects would be a mistake at a time when Wales has major opportunities in the sector.

She said: “Homegrown renewable energy has been a shield, not a burden. Investing in a renewable energy system is a sensible and pragmatic choice for billpayers.

“The manifesto commitment to ban new onshore wind and solar would only lead to higher bills, weaker energy security, and Wales would miss out on the huge opportunity to secure new jobs and investment.”

The organisation estimates that Wales could secure £10bn of business investment and create around 8,000 jobs through renewable energy projects if development continues at scale.

Offshore wind not directly targeted

However, Reform’s manifesto does not propose banning offshore wind developments, which form the core of the Celtic Sea plans.

Floating wind projects are widely expected to be developed far out to sea, using specialised turbines anchored to floating platforms.

As a result, analysts say the Freeport strategy centred on offshore wind could still move forward even if onshore wind and solar projects were restricted.

Energy debate intensifies

Reform argues its policies are designed to protect rural landscapes and reduce energy costs by shifting the focus away from what it describes as “subsidy-heavy” renewable schemes.

The party says Wales should prioritise reliable and affordable energy sources while ensuring the country benefits economically from its natural resources.

But critics say limiting renewable development could weaken investor confidence and slow the growth of Wales’ emerging clean energy sector.

Pembrokeshire at the centre of the debate

With Milford Haven already home to the UK’s largest LNG terminals and now positioning itself as a centre for offshore wind development, Pembrokeshire finds itself at the centre of a growing political debate about the future of Wales’ energy system.

As the Senedd election campaign gathers pace ahead of polling day on Thursday (May 7), the question of how Wales balances energy security, environmental policy and economic growth is likely to remain a key issue — particularly in communities like Milford Haven where the stakes are especially high.

PLAID CYMRU has launched its manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, setting out a programme the party says would deliver a “new direction” for Wales after more than two decades of Labour-led government.

Party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth unveiled the manifesto earlier this week, outlining proposals focused on strengthening public services, boosting the Welsh economy and increasing powers for Wales.

The launch marks a key moment in the campaign ahead of the Senedd election on Thursday (May 7), with Plaid positioning itself as a credible alternative government.

Health and public services

Improving the NHS in Wales is one of the central themes of Plaid Cymru’s manifesto.

The party says it would prioritise reducing waiting times and invest in expanding the healthcare workforce.

Plaid also wants to strengthen community healthcare services and improve access to treatment in rural areas.

The party argues that long waiting lists and growing pressure on hospitals show the need for major reform of the Welsh health service.

Economic plans

The manifesto sets out a range of economic proposals aimed at supporting Welsh businesses and creating new jobs.

Plaid Cymru says it would focus on developing green industries and renewable energy projects while also strengthening local supply chains.

The party also proposes measures designed to help small businesses and boost economic development in rural communities.

Housing and communities

Housing affordability is another major focus.

Plaid says it would expand the supply of affordable homes and introduce stronger measures to address housing shortages in many parts of Wales.

The party has also repeated its calls for greater control over housing policy and planning decisions in order to better respond to local needs.

Welsh language and powers for Wales

The manifesto also places strong emphasis on protecting and promoting the Welsh language.

Plaid Cymru says it would introduce policies designed to increase the number of Welsh speakers and strengthen the use of Welsh in public services and education.

The party has also reaffirmed its long-standing support for greater powers for Wales, arguing that decisions affecting Wales should increasingly be made within the country.

‘A government ready to lead’

Speaking at the launch, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the manifesto demonstrated that the party was ready to take responsibility for governing Wales.

He said: “This manifesto offers a clear plan to build a stronger, fairer Wales.

“For too long Wales has been held back by a lack of ambition and a failure to deliver real change.

“Plaid Cymru is ready to provide the leadership Wales needs.”

Election campaign intensifies

The manifesto launch comes as campaigning intensifies ahead of the May election.

Labour has governed Wales since the creation of the Senedd in 1999, but opposition parties hope voter dissatisfaction with public services and the cost of living could reshape the political landscape.

With Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and Reform UK all seeking to challenge Labour’s dominance, the election is expected to be one of the most competitive since devolution began.