A CALL to convert a financially unviable disused former antiques shop on the edge of Crymych to residential accommodation has been given the go-ahead by county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Clare Griffiths, through agent Josh Macrae, sought a change of use of a disused shop with ancillary accommodation above, at Ty Ebrill, Clares Shop, on the edge of the village, to an ancillary accommodation unit.

A supporting statement said: “Siop Clare is a mixed-use building in the curtilage of the main dwelling on the site, Ty Ebril, it comprises a small flat above a disused shop below. The flat, constructed in 2007, is comprised of a single modestly sized living space and bedroom area, with a bathroom; the flat is accessed by a set of stairs to the rear of the building. Since its construction the flat has been used as ancillary accommodation for family members of the owners of Ty Ebrill.

“The disused retail premises below is comprised of an open plan shop area with a conservatory attached, the conservatory was previously used as a flower preparation area.

“The shop was in use for a number of decades; it was operated by the current owner since 2003 and was previously an antiques shop, but has been disused since it was closed 2019 as it was no longer financially viable and the owner had changed career. Due to the shop being located within the curtilage of the main dwelling it has not considered suitable for the shop to be leased to another party.”

It added: “The change of use will require a minimal amount of work to covert the disused shop and modestly sized flat into a small dwelling. The dwelling would be suitable for single occupancy, a small household, or as continued ancillary accommodation for the main dwelling, this would create the opportunity for multi-generational living on the site should the owner sell Ty Ebrill.

“As there is a high demand for housing in the Pembrokeshire area it is felt that the proposal would be suitable and would allow the building to become a viable dwelling, creating a potentially low-cost home in the area.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.

AN EMERGENCY call for councillors to fight a “total failure of the people of Pembrokeshire” downgrading of services at Withybush hospital has been backed.

At the March meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, an emergency notice of motion by the council’s 11-strong Conservative Party group demanded that the Welsh Government immediately reverses the decision to cease emergency general surgery at Withybush Hospital.

Last year, Hywel Dda University Health Board consulted with its communities on options for change in critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, stroke, radiology and urology.

At a recent two-day meeting, the board, amongst its many other decisions, backed changes into emergency general surgery which will see no emergency general surgery operations taking place at Withybush, but a strengthening of the same-day emergency care (SDEC).

At the March council meeting, the Conservative council group, led by Cllr Di Clements, proposed a motion which read: “This council requests that the Labour Welsh Government intervenes in Hywel Dda University Health Board’s recent decision to cease emergency general surgery at Withybush hospital and immediately reverses their decision.

“We believe removing this service critically undermines the sustainability of Withybush hospital’s A&E department.

“Also, the decision by the Health Board does not take into account the impact and potential serious risks it will have on Pembrokeshire residents.”

Cllr Clements’ supporting statement, which included a call for Leader Cllr Jon Harvery to write to the First Minister and Welsh Government, said Pembrokeshire residents “have seen continual downgrading of services over the years, and this has been detrimental to all residents,” adding: “We believe this recent decision is life threatening to those who need emergency surgery and a matter of resident’s safety.”

At the meeting, Cllr Michael John said “there had been an erosion of services for many years,” supporting Cllr Clements’ call, but proposing the addition of calling on the health board to meet with councillors.

Newly-elected Fishguard county councillor Billy Shaw, himself a former biomedical scientist who had worked at Withybush, said the service under Hywel Dda University Health Board had become “Carmarthenshire-centred”.

Following the request by Cllr Clements, Leader Cllr Jon Harvey agreed to any letter writing, saying he had “fought long and hard to return services to Withybush”.

He gave the personal example of an operation he had over a decade ago at Withybush, saying if he had had to travel to Glangwili he had been told he “wouldn’t be here today, as simple as that”.

“There’s been an erosion of services year-on-year, it’s just not acceptable.

He finished: “It’s important we show the health board and Welsh Government we care for our residents.”

Cllr Rhys Jordan said: “It’s a total failure of the people of Pembrokeshire, Hywel Dda has taken emergency services away Pembrokeshire and once again it will be the people of Pembrokeshire that pay the price; it’s our families, our neighbours, our elderly and children.”

He added: “What does that say about how we are managed? Pembrokeshire can be managed with less, that we should be grateful for less; Pembrokeshire is not a second-class Wales.

“This decision must be reversed. Pembrokeshire deserves better than being failed again and again.”

Members backed Cllr Clements’ call, with Cllr John’s amendment added.

Welsh Labour has said that, if it wins the May Senedd lections, it will commit to a new multi-billion-pound west Wales hospital, a proposal described as a “pre-election distraction” by Conservatives.

The long-mooted hospital plan, previously proposed in St Clears and Whitland locations, was put on hold by the health board for financial reasons.

Over 90% opposed closure as insurance settlement falls short of rebuild cost

THE FUTURE of Manorbier Church in Wales VC School has been sealed after Pembrokeshire County Council voted to move forward with plans to close the school – more than three years after a fire destroyed the building and initially raised hopes it would be rebuilt.

The decision was taken during a meeting of full council on Thursday (Mar 5), where members agreed to publish a statutory notice to discontinue the school.

The move follows a consultation which revealed overwhelming opposition to closure. Of the 252 responses received, more than 90% were against shutting the school.

Despite that opposition, council officers recommended proceeding with closure, citing falling pupil numbers, surplus school places in the Tenby area and the financial implications of rebuilding the fire-damaged site.

Introducing the report, Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Guy Woodham acknowledged the difficult circumstances surrounding the decision.

“I want to once again thank the headteacher, governing body, staff, learners, families and the community for supporting the school so admirably during these very challenging times,” he told councillors.

The school building was severely damaged by fire in October 2022, forcing pupils and staff to relocate to temporary accommodation at Jameston Community Hall, where the school has continued operating.

Rebuild hopes raised

In the months following the fire, the council appeared to signal that rebuilding the school was the likely outcome.

In March 2023, cabinet backed what it described as “positive steps towards rebuilding” Manorbier School and approved funding for a feasibility study into reinstating the building.

Council reports at the time stated that full reinstatement of the school was the “preferred option.”

Pupils were moved to Jameston Community Hall with the expectation that the school would continue operating there while rebuilding work was completed.

However, after the feasibility work was carried out and a wider review of education provision in the area was undertaken, the council’s approach changed.

Insurance settlement shortfall

During Thursday’s debate, councillors were told the financial reality of rebuilding the school had proved more challenging than first anticipated.

Cllr Woodham said the insurance settlement offered following the fire fell “far below the estimated cost of reinstating the school to a suitable operational standard.”

That gap between the insurance settlement and the cost of rebuilding was a significant factor in the council’s reassessment of the school’s future.

Cllr Woodham also acknowledged that the earlier cabinet decision had led many residents to believe rebuilding was inevitable.

“There may have been a general perception that a decision had been made to reinstate the school,” he told the chamber.

However, he said the 2023 decision had only been to carry out feasibility work and develop a business case.

Falling pupil numbers cited

Council officers also pointed to demographic pressures affecting the wider school system in Pembrokeshire.

The authority says there has been a decline in the pupil population, alongside an increasing number of schools with surplus places.

Officials told councillors that long-term planning decisions must be based on the viability of permanent school sites rather than temporary arrangements.

Forecasts presented to the council suggested there was insufficient long-term growth in pupil numbers to sustain Manorbier School.

Community fears

Many parents and residents had argued the school remained viable before the fire and could still thrive if rebuilt.

Campaigners also raised concerns that closing the school would harm the local community and undermine efforts to attract young families to the area, particularly given recent housing developments nearby.

Transport and road safety concerns were also raised during the consultation, with some residents warning that pupils could face longer journeys on narrow rural roads if the school closed.

Church opposition

The proposal also drew objections from the Diocese of St Davids, which warned about the loss of a Church in Wales school in the area.

A letter from Bishop Dorrien Davies opposing the closure formed part of the consultation evidence presented to councillors.

Earlier this year the bishop visited pupils and staff at the school while they were based in temporary accommodation, praising the quality of teaching and pastoral care despite the difficult circumstances.

What happens next

Thursday’s decision does not immediately close the school but authorises the Director of Education to publish a statutory notice to discontinue the school.

If the process proceeds as expected, the school will eventually close and pupils will be transferred to other schools in the area.

The council has not yet confirmed the value of the insurance settlement or the estimated cost of rebuilding the school, figures which may now come under further scrutiny following the debate.