NEW roofs, structural upgrades and solar panels have been installed across three residential blocks at Fleming Crescent as part of a major housing improvement scheme.

Pembrokeshire County Council said the project has delivered safer, warmer and more energy-efficient homes for residents, with the full replacement of roofs serving 54 flats.

The works also included structural improvements designed to support the long-term performance of the buildings, alongside the installation of solar panels to help improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and lower energy costs for tenants.

The council received a funding contribution from the Welsh Government through the Optimised Retrofit Programme, which supports energy-efficiency improvements alongside wider investment works.

The scheme was completed on schedule, with W B Griffiths & Son Ltd appointed as the main contractor.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Michelle Bateman said: “Delivering a project of this scale on schedule is a significant achievement.

“The new roofs and external upgrades will help reduce future maintenance issues and improve the long-term resilience of the buildings, while the solar panels form an important part of our wider decarbonisation programme.

“By working closely with W B Griffiths & Son Ltd, we have delivered high-quality improvements that will benefit tenants both now and in the future.

“Pembrokeshire County Council continues to invest in housing improvements across the county, ensuring homes remain safe, modern, energy efficient and fit for the future.”

The project has also received national recognition after being shortlisted for a Constructing Excellence in Wales Award.

Neil Griffiths, Managing Director of W B Griffiths & Son Ltd, said: “We are proud to have delivered this important project at Fleming Crescent to a high standard and within the agreed timescales.

“The combination of full roof replacement and solar panel installation will provide long-term value, improve the performance of the buildings and support better outcomes for residents.

“It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council on this scheme.”

SEVEN candidates are to stand for a Pembrokeshire council seat made vacant following the death of veteran councillor Brian Hall, including a former councillor who was once barred from holding any form of public office for three years.

Before he passed away in April, Councillor Brian Hall had held the Pembroke Dock Market ward seat since 1996, and had many council roles over the years including the planning committee, on the Cabinet from its inception in 2002 until March 2007 and between 2012 and 2022, and had chaired several Overview and Scrutiny Committees including Environment, Services and Corporate.

Following Cllr Hall’s death, the-then leader of the council Cllr Jon Harvey said: “Brian was a council stalwart and had been working for, and demanding better, for his constituents for nearly 30 years.

“His enthusiasm for his home patch was unmatched and there was little of Pembroke Dock’s history that he could not tell you about. The loss of Brian from the chamber will be felt by all members of council across the board.”

Presiding Member of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Simon Hancock said: “Brian was a larger-than-life character who was passionately devoted to Pembroke Dock and his constituents. He never let an opportunity pass without mentioning and advancing the interests of his hometown. We extend sincere condolences to his family.”

Since that seat became vacant, seven hopefuls have now put their names forward to represent the Market ward, with an election being held on July 9.

Those standing are: Hayley Wood (independent), Lee Herring (Welsh Liberal Democrats), Jamie Street (Welsh Conservative), Claire Francis-Boswell (independent), Chloe Louise Richards (Plaid Cymru), Ryan Morgan (Reform UK), and Paul Haywood Dowson (independent), but listed as a member of Restore Britain since March of this year.

Back in 2022, the-then Cllr Dowson, representing Pembroke Dock Central as a UKIP councillor, was barred from holding any form of public office for the next three years after being found guilty of bullying, providing fabricated evidence to the Ombudsman and of misleading the public at a case tribunal convened by the president of the adjudication panel for Wales.

Mr Dowson more recently stood as an independent candidate in this year’s Senedd elections for the new Ceredigion Penfro constituency, gaining 88 votes out of a total of 89,402 votes cast.

THE FINAL decision to close fire-ravaged Manorbier school has been given the go-ahead, despite a heartfelt last-minute plea by local councillor Phil Kidney to keep it open.

Back in March, Pembrokeshire County Council members backed a recommendation that the Director of Education at Pembrokeshire County Council be authorised to publish a statutory notice to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales voluntary controlled school.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire in October 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

After that, a ‘school from school’ was set up in Jameston Village Hall.

It had been hoped the school would be rebuilt, but last year councillors backed a report of the School Modernisation Working Group which, amongst other recommendations, included a statutory consultation on proposals to discontinue Manorbier Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School.

The decision attracted strong local opposition, with more than 1,500 people signing a petition on the council’s own website calling for the school to be rebuilt.

The formal consultation for the discontinuation of Manorbier closed last December.

However, many of the council’s figures, especially on the level of surplus places at the school, have been strongly disputed.

At a special extraordinary council meeting held on June 15, members were asked to consider a report on a summary of 62 objections received in respect of the proposal to discontinue Manorbier VC school, which included options to end that discontinuation or to launch a fresh consultation.

However, it was recommended, in a report present by deputy leader Cllr Paul Miller, who now also has responsibility for education, for the discontinuation be proceeded with.

At the meeting, local councillor Phil Kidney, who has been a staunch supporter of the keeping the school open, thanked the campaigners who fought for it and the dedication of the staff, including headteacher Sharon Davies.

Cllr Kidney said: “The way this authority has treated her and the staff is quite frankly amazing; we have all let these good people down.

“We’ve all let these people down, the way this council has handled this situation is appalling; from day one not one of the executives came up to see these children, no-one came out; if that was Haverfordwest or Tenby they’d be all over the place.”

He said the wording of the consultation had seen more mentions of St Florence [ the alternative school for pupils in the event of a discontinuation] than Manorbier, describing it as “like a brochure for St Florence”.

He also warned the Diocese of St Davids, which had always pressed for the school to be rebuilt, would not allow the council to “walk away from our liabilities lightly”.

“We’ve been promised by two leaders and the chief executive: ‘Don’t worry we’ll rebuild,’ sometimes you’ve got to be big enough an honour your promises; do the right thing today, vote for Manorbier and keep it open.”

Members later heard the diocese had, in a letter received by councillors, made “damning accusations the council is being biased against voluntary controlled schools,” with Cllr Jamie Adams saying the council administration should be “ashamed of this debacle”.

Cllr Miller said his only consideration was “the future welfare of the children,” adding: “I do not think 20 children educated in a welfare centre in Jameston is the best for them.”

He said that no pupils would have to travel more than 2.1 miles for their education as a result of a closure, Cllr Kidney disputing that figure more like 3.5 miles.

Cllr Miller said the wording in from the letter from the diocese “which had a dog in the fight” was a one-sided legal argument, adding the council had actually opened VC schools.

Cllr Aled Thomas, chair of the working group which had presented the proposals in the first place, said: “The whole thing is an omnishambles, a total mess of how it’s been handled, but we are where we are.

“The important thing to remember is the future for these children, there will be kids in that school that have never been taught in a classroom setting. Tough decisions are never going to be easy; not a single one of us got elected wanting to be in this position.

“I’m no friend of the administration but we need to look at it holistically.”

Members, by 30 votes to 23, with four abstentions, supported the final steps to close the school.

Posting after the decision, the Friends of Manorbier School said: “Today is a difficult day, as the final decision to close Manorbier Primary School has now been made.

“There were some heartfelt comments and statements during the council meeting. The children, staff, parents and wider community have been waiting far too long for a decision. While this outcome was not unexpected, it is still hard to hear those final words spoken aloud.”

It added: “There are still questions that need to be asked, but the fight to keep the school open has come to an end. Our focus must now be on supporting the children and their families as they prepare for the transition ahead. The staff, too, finally have an answer.”