CLLR THOMAS TUDOR has welcomed progress on the new Glan-yr-Afon Riverside Public Transport Interchange in Haverfordwest, saying the development will help support the future regeneration of the county town.

Cllr Tudor, who represents the Castle Ward, visited the site with Pembrokeshire County Council officers and said he was optimistic about the role the interchange could play in making Haverfordwest a more attractive place to live, work, visit and invest in.

He said: “As county councillor for the Castle Ward, it was very pleasing to visit the Glan-yr-Afon Riverside Public Transport Interchange and see the progress being made.

“I believe the interchange will help Haverfordwest become a more multi-functional town centre, supporting residents, businesses, visitors and public transport users.

“It has the potential to contribute to a thriving commercial and residential location, with a stronger sense of place and a more vibrant community. I am very optimistic about the future development of Haverfordwest as the county town of Pembrokeshire.”

The new development includes parking over three floors, bus bays, disabled and parent-and-child spaces, EV charging points, motorcycle bays, cycle hoops, a taxi rank with EV infrastructure, public toilets, a Changing Places facility, indoor waiting areas, customer information screens, lifts, stairwells, and secure office space for council staff and police use.

Caption:

Cllr Thomas Tudor at the Glan-yr-Afon Riverside Public Transport Interchange in Haverfordwest.

Church says council could face judicial review over fire-hit school

A BITTER row over the future of Manorbier Church in Wales VC School has escalated dramatically, with the St Davids Diocese threatening legal action against Pembrokeshire County Council over plans to close the fire-damaged village school.

In an extraordinary intervention ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Monday (Jun 15), solicitors acting for the St Davids Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) accused the council of running a “procedurally flawed” consultation and warned that councillors risk judicial review if they press ahead with proposals to discontinue the school.

The legal letter, sent by Carreg Law and marked “urgent”, claims the council is using the closure process to avoid responsibility for rebuilding the school following the devastating fire in October 2022.

The future of the school has been hanging in the balance since the blaze forced pupils to relocate to temporary accommodation at Jameston Community Hall.

Legal warning to council

The Diocese, in a letter from Bishop Dorrien Davies, has formally objected to the proposed closure and says the school should instead be fully reinstated.

Lawyers acting for the Church claim the council has failed to respond adequately to previous correspondence dating back to 2023 and warned that Pembrokeshire County Council could face legal claims arising from the handling of the fire and its aftermath.

The letter states: “Our client formally objects to the proposed closure, demands full structural reinstatement of the school premises and places Pembrokeshire County Council on notice that the statutory consultation on the proposed closure and decision-making process undertaken to date is procedurally flawed.”

The Diocese argues that the council has a statutory duty to maintain the school and says any insurance money arising from the fire should be used to restore the building to its pre-fire condition.

It also alleges the council’s actions have left the Diocese exposed to mounting costs because the school remains structurally compromised.

Claims of ‘pre-determination’

The legal challenge goes further, alleging the closure process was effectively decided before the consultation had finished.

Lawyers claim council human resources staff began redundancy consultations with school staff in February 2026, before elected members had formally decided the school’s future.

According to the Diocese, this suggests the public consultation was “a perfunctory exercise rather than a genuine consideration of alternatives”.

The Diocese also accuses the authority of withholding key financial information relating to rebuilding costs, despite repeated requests.

Community opposition highlighted

The intervention comes after council consultation figures showed overwhelming opposition to closure.

Of 252 responses received, more than ninety per cent opposed plans to shut the school.

Parents and campaigners have consistently argued that Manorbier School provides a nurturing environment for children, particularly those requiring additional support, and warned that closure would damage the wider community.

The issue sparked protests outside County Hall in Haverfordwest when councillors met on Thursday (Mar 5) to consider the proposal.

Demonstrators held placards urging the council to save the school, with many arguing that promises had been made to rebuild after the fire.

Church accuses council of discrimination

In one of the strongest claims contained in the letter, the Diocese alleges Pembrokeshire County Council is showing hostility toward Church in Wales education.

The DBF argues that the proposed closure of Manorbier, alongside separate issues affecting other faith schools, demonstrates what it describes as a “systemic pattern” of undermining faith-based education in Pembrokeshire.

Lawyers claim this could amount to discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 because religion and belief are protected characteristics.

The letter also criticises the council for allegedly failing to engage properly with the Diocese over the future of the site and says decisions should not be made without a full understanding of legal and financial liabilities.

Judicial review threat

The Diocese has urged Cabinet to halt the closure proposal and instead enter into negotiations over restoring the school building.

However, if councillors proceed with plans to discontinue the school, the Church says it is prepared to seek judicial review.

The letter warns: “Should the Cabinet proceed to ratify the statutory proposal to discontinue the school on what we say are illegal and discriminatory grounds, our client reserves its rights to pursue all available legal remedies including but not limited to an application for Judicial Review.”

Council officers have previously recommended moving forward with a statutory notice to discontinue the school, arguing that closure is the most sustainable option based on falling pupil numbers, spare capacity at nearby schools, the condition of the building and value for money.

But with legal action now looming, the battle over the future of Manorbier School appears far from over.

UPDATE:

Late on Friday (Jun 12), councillors were sent a further letter from the Diocese of St Davids urging them to think carefully before Monday’s vote. The Church questioned whether a required Community Impact Assessment had been properly undertaken or disclosed, argued Manorbier’s educational standards could not fairly be criticised following a positive Estyn report in 2023, and warned members to ensure they had been given ‘accurate and full information’ before making a decision. The letter also referenced Pembrokeshire County Council’s recent High Court defeat over its Article 4 direction, where judges found councillors had been presented with flawed and incomplete information

Seven candidates confirmed for Market ward by-election following death of long-serving councillor Brian Hall

AN INTENSIVE CARE nurse from Pembroke Dock has been selected as Plaid Cymru’s candidate in a seven-way contest for a vacant seat on Pembrokeshire County Council following the death of long-serving councillor Brian Hall.

Chloe Richards, who works as a Clinical Practice Educator in the Intensive Care Unit at Withybush Hospital, will contest the Pembroke Dock: Market by-election on Thursday (Jul 9).

Richards lives in the ward and volunteers to encourage young people into nursing careers. She is also a trade union representative with the Royal College of Nursing Wales and sits on the organisation’s national steering committee for critical care.

Speaking after her selection, Richards said she was proud to stand for Plaid Cymru and paid tribute to the late Brian Hall, who had represented the community since 1996.

She said: “I am proud to stand as a Plaid Cymru candidate for the Pembroke Dock: Market by-election. I have lived in the ward since I was a teenager and know the community and its people well.

“Unfortunately, this election comes at a sad time. I would like to pay tribute to Brian Hall, who served this community as a dedicated County Councillor since 1996.

“As a nurse and as an active member of the Royal College of Nursing, I have learned how to represent people, campaign for change, and speak confidently on behalf of others. These are exactly the skills I will use to serve Pembroke Dock on Pembrokeshire County Council. I am committed to making a real difference to our community.”

Ceredigion Penfro MS Elin Jones backed Richards’ candidacy, saying: “Chloe is an excellent candidate for Pembroke Dock: Market. She already represents her colleagues in the nursing sector at a national level, and she is determined to be a strong voice for residents in the ward where she lives.”

Richards joins a crowded field of candidates contesting the by-election.

The full list of candidates published following the close of nominations is:

Paul Haywood Dowson – Independent
Claire Francis-Boswell – Independent
Lee Herring – Welsh Liberal Democrats
Ryan Morgan – Reform UK
Chloe Louise Richards – Plaid Cymru
Jamie Street – Welsh Conservative
Hayley Wood – Independent

The seat became vacant following the death of Councillor Brian Hall in April. Hall had served as county councillor for the ward for almost 30 years and was widely respected across the political divide.

Applications to register to vote must be received by midnight on Monday (Jun 23). Postal vote applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on Tuesday (Jun 24), while applications to vote by proxy must be received by 5:00pm on Wednesday (Jul 1).