PLAN for a gymnasium and café occupying the majority of Pembroke Dock’s ferry terminal building have been submitted.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Lee Brookes of Westside Fitness Ltd, through agent William Beynon, seeks permission for a change of use of part of the existing ferry terminal building, Pembroke Dock to a gymnasium and café.

Details accompanying the application are currently sparse but a supporting statement dealing with a flood consequence assessment, by Francis Saint Ltd, says: “It is proposed to convert part of the existing Pembroke Dock Ferry Terminal Building (75 per cent) into a Gymnasium and café area while retaining the remainder of the building for its current use (25 per cent).”

It adds: “The building, however, lies in a Zone 3 flood area, as shown on the Flood Maps For Planning, and shown to be potentially at risk of tidal flooding during a one-in- 200-year event, with 100 years of climate change. Francis Sant were, therefore, asked to undertake a Flood Consequence Assessment to evaluate the risk. Even with 100 years of climate change the site is not at risk of flooding from a river or from surface water, during a 1 in 1000-year event.

“In addition, the site is also not expected to be at risk from reservoir failure and the risk of ground water flooding is considered to be low.”

It goes on to say: “Located within the Haven, the site is protected from the more severe wave action. In addition, the plateaux to the north of the site would provide additional protection causing the waves to break onto the plateaux before reaching the building. Any water or spray reaching the building or the surrounding area is likely to flow back into the Haven posing a minimal risk to the development.

“As the building already exists there will be no loss of flood storage capacity, even if the building was at risk of flooding, and, as a surface water drain is already in place, there will be no increase in the rainfall runoff rate.”

The application itself, along with any further documentation, will be considered by county planners at a later date.

A CALL for an all-weather horse-riding arena and self-catering ‘pods’ near Pembrokeshire’s historic Lamphey Bishop’s Palace & Lamphey Court has been refused.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, James White sought permission for a 20 by 40 metre all-weather turnout and horse-riding arena along with two accommodation pods at Lower Lamphey Park, The Ridgeway, Lamphey, near Pembroke.

The proposed site forms part of a walled garden and agricultural land to the south of Lower Lamphey Park under 500m from Scheduled Monument, Lamphey Bishop’s Palace, Lamphey and inside the boundaries of Registered Park and Garden, Lamphey Bishop’s Palace & Lamphey Court.

The walled garden is located approximately 75m to the south of Grade-II-Listed Buildings, Barn at Upper Lamphey Barn and Grade-II*-Listed Building, Four Mediaeval House at Upper Lamphey Park Farm.

The application was supported by local community council Lamphey, but Natural Resources Wales (NRW) raised concerns regarding the location of the proposal within a Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) catchment.

The council’s landscape officer – objected, saying there was an “under-representation of site features for the walled garden, lack of cultural appreciation of building and landscape qualities of the garden and lack of design input to the horse area”.

An officer report recommending refusal said an initial description in the application of the ‘pods’ being temporary had, by email from the applicant, being confirmed as not, being secured to the ground with waste connections, their intended use being self-catered units.

The application was refused on the grounds the pods would “result in an unjustified and harmful impact on the character and appearance of the open countryside,” and, due to the lack of a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) it is not possible to conclude that there would not be an adverse effect on the historic environment.

It was also refused for reasons including insufficient information provided to conclude that increases in nutrient inputs in the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC can be ruled out, and in the absence of an appropriate habitat and protected species survey “the proposal fails to demonstrate that the development would not adversely affect protected species, thereby reducing biodiversity”.

Cardigan café-bakery honoured in Artisan Bakery of the Year category at Welsh awards

CRWST in Cardigan has been recognised for excellence in the Artisan Bakery of the Year category at the Welsh Café and Bakery Awards 2026.

The popular bakery shared the news with customers this week, saying the recognition was a proud moment for the business and its team.

Crwst paid tribute to its bakers, praising their hard work and consistency in producing bread and baked goods each day while also developing new products, including its croissants.

The business also thanked its loyal customers for their continued support, from those queuing up and sitting in to those taking food away and returning again and again.

In a message posted online, the team said the support of customers had played a major part in the bakery’s success.

Crwst added its thanks in Welsh, saying: “Diolch.”

The announcement was accompanied by what the bakery described as an “oldie but goldie” group photograph of the team.