WORKS at Haverfordwest’s police station which aim to improve safety and access have been approved by county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, through agent Ridge & Partners LLP, The Police & Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys Police Dafydd Llywelyn sought permission for works at Haverfordwest Police Station, Merlins Hill.

The proposed development includes new plant to replace existing plant on the roof, with additional proposed walkway and guardrail to provide access.

Additionally, a proposed CAT ladder to provide secondary access to existing roof walkway, with new external plant to be located on the ground floor car park, which are to be enclosed in a mesh security cage.

No adverse comments on the proposal were made by Haverfordwest Town Council.

An officer report recommending approval said the applicant “advises that replacement of the existing plant on the roof, with additional proposed walkway and guardrail to provide access, CAT ladder to provide secondary access to existing roof walkway and a new external plant to be located on the ground floor car park, with mesh security cage will provide better energy efficiency, safety and improved access within the ground of Haverfordwest Police Station,” adding: “This would have positive economic, social and environmental effects.

“Although the proposed development is positioned within the curtilage of the existing police station, the replacement of the existing plant on the roof will be subservient, and to the same scale and form as existing, the new walkway and access will improve accessibility and safety to and from the roof, and the installation of the new ground floor plant will be screened by a mesh cage, which is located in an area which is screen by adjacent existing buildings.”

The application was conditionally approved by officers under delegated powers.

A CALL to allow 1970s-approved holiday lets near a Pembrokeshire reservoir beauty spot to become permanent homes, as no condition preventing that change was imposed, has now been approved.

In a certificate of lawfulness application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mark Rees, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, sought permission for a change of use of two short-term holiday lets, Lake and Swallows, at Ivy Court Holiday Cottages, Llys Y Fran, to permanent/sole residence dwellings.

An application for a certificate of lawfulness is normally used to allow an applicant to keep a development if they can provide proof of use over a prolonged period.

A supporting statement said: “The application properties consist of a pair of semi-detached units, used as holiday accommodation. There are no planning conditions limiting occupation and therefore it is contended that the use of the dwellings as permanent units of accommodation would be lawful.”

It said two planning permissions dating back to the late 1970s relate to the site; conversion of existing outbuildings to pottery and showroom, guest wing and four cottages, and holiday cottages and pottery showroom.

It added: “Both planning permissions included other elements of work throughout the site, some of which does not appear to have been implemented, including the conversion and alteration of the adjoining single storey element and the conversion of Lake and Swallows, largely as they currently exist.

“Importantly, neither of the planning permissions discussed above include conditions limiting the occupation of the dwellings to holiday unist and no other planning permissions relating to the properties have come to light.”

It concluded: “Based on the evidence available, it appears that the accommodation has lawfully used for short term holiday use, use class C6, and that there is no limitation as to how the properties can be used. As such it would appear that changing from Use Class C6 to Use Class C3 would also be lawful.”

An officer report recommending approval said: “Planning permission was granted in 1978 for the conversion of outbuildings within the site complex for use as holiday cottages. The outbuildings subject of this application have been converted and are in use as holiday lets which is evidenced by the supporting planning statement and through a search of the business website.”

It added: “The building subject of this application was granted planning permission for use a holiday accommodation and no conditions were imposed to restrict the use. As such, planning permission for use of the two cottages as full-time residential use would not require a further planning application.”

A certificate of lawfulness for the change of use was issued by planners.

A CALL for Pembrokeshire County Council to join other west Wales authorities in calling for its pension funds to be divested from companies profiting from genocide is to be heard by councillors.

Recently, a call for Ceredigion County Council to stress it does not wish to be involved in companies connected with Israel during the ongoing Gaza crisis through its pension fund was backed by councillors.

A notice of motion before Ceredigion County Council’s meeting of October 23, proposed by Cllr Endaf Edwards, said: “The ongoing and deeply concerning conflict in Gaza has led to significant loss of innocent life and widespread humanitarian suffering.

“Despite a temporary ceasefire in January 2025, hostilities have resumed, and conditions on the ground continue to deteriorate.”

It asked five points: a commitment to ethical governance and global justice; to express it does not wish to be associated with companies potentially complicit in war crimes or human rights violations; to write to the Welsh Pension Partnership, conveying these concerns and requesting a review of current investments; to request that the Dyfed Pension Fund and Welsh Pension Partnership strengthen their ethical investment policies; and to call on the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee and Welsh Pension Partnership to regularly review and publicly report on progress toward divestment from unethical holdings.

Following that, a petition was submitted on Pembrokeshire County Council’s own website, making a similar call.

The Pembrokeshire petition, started by Sarah Davies of Solidarity with Palestine Pembrokeshire, reads: “We call upon Pembrokeshire County Council to pass a resolution calling on Dyfed Pension Fund to divest our pension money from companies profiting from genocide.

“As residents of Pembrokeshire, we are deeply concerned that the Dyfed Pension Fund (DPF) invests millions of pension fund money in companies complicit in Israel’s genocide, occupation, and apartheid against Palestinians. In addition, DPF uses the multinational asset management firm BlackRock to manage 40 per cent (£1.4 billion) of its total assets. BlackRock has been cited in a recent UN report as profiting from genocide.
“Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and other Welsh councils have already committed to divestment. We call upon Pembrokeshire County Council to use its influence to urge Dyfed Pension Fund to divest from these companies.”

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.