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Double ‘no’ from Dr Jones

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TWO requests made by county councillors to call-in planning applications to the planning committee are to be heard this morning (Friday) by the authority’

Director of Development: Dr Steven Jones.

Director of Development: Dr
Steven Jones.

s Planning Delegation Panel.

The ad-hoc panel meets only when applications are submitted by councillors wishing to remove planning applications from the scheme of delegation – which are determined by officers, and bring them to the Planning and Rights of Way Committee – which are decided by councillors.

Councillor David Howlett who represents the Wiston ward has applied to call-in an application on a plot of land in Spittal.

Cllr Howlett says that the environmental consequences of the application at the site of the former Golden Hill Garage are potentially important. In his supporting statement the Conservative representative also states: “the weight of comments made by the Planning Inspectorate on a very similar application should be heard in a public arena”.

The council’s Director of Development, Dr Steven Jones disagrees with Cllr Howlett that the application should go to the planning committee and would rather it stays in the hands of his officers for determination, under his delegated powers and recommends councillors of the Planning Delegation Panel to refuse Cllr Howlett’s request to allow the application to go to the committee.

In his recommendation, Dr Jones says: “the application does not raise demonstrable issues that could be considered as meeting the relevant criteria for referral to the Planning and Rights of Way Committee”.

Dr Jones also wants another councillor’s call-in request to be rejected by councillors at this morning’s meeting. East Williamston representative Cllr Jacob Williams has made a request to call in an application at the former Pentlepoir School site which the council sold last year to a private developer.

In his call-in request Cllr Williams says that he has been approached by constituents with great concerns about drainage matters and part of the plans which has the potential for overlooking. Cllr Williams says he shares their concerns which would see dominant houses close to the border of the school’s former playing field adjoining a previously existing cul-de-sac of detached bungalows, and believes this could raise privacy and overshadowing issues.

Cllr Williams also refers to a “perceived lack of consistency with the council’s approach” to the site which the authority allowed to “languish in a state of disrepair for years”, and says: “a public examination of this application by the planning committee will go some way in reassuring my community that their views – which do not oppose the fundamental idea of the site being developed – are going to be listened to and considered, and that they will be seen to be”.

Cllr Williams had originally asked Dr Jones if he would call in the application under his own delegation but Dr Jones refused to do so, and now also recommends the application not to go to committee, saying that he considers “there are no grounds for the application being considered by the committee”.

The final decision over whether the two applications will be allowed to be heard by the planning committee will be made by the small panel of four Councillors: Reg Owens, Rob Summons and Tom Richards, all of the ruling Independent Plus Group, and Councillor Paul Miller, the Leader of the Labour Group.

Both Cllrs Howlett and Williams are able to attend the meetings and argue their cases but are not allowed to vote, similarly the Chairman of the planning committee, Cllr Myles Pepper, is also able to attend and address the panel if he wishes, but cannot vote.

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Business

Stena announces redundancy plan amid uncertainty for Pembrokeshire

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FREIGHT carrier and ferry operator Stena Line, which runs services between Fishguard and Pembroke Dock, has announced plans to cut up to 80 staff members following an internal review.

Uncertainty looms over whether any of these redundancies will impact staff operating our local ferry services.

Stena CEO Paul Grant shared the news in an email to employees on Monday, citing a need to “future proof the company.” He explained that an internal assessment revealed the company’s current organisational structure as “too big and expensive” compared to its revenue.

The decision comes amid rising costs and increased competition in the freight and travel sectors.

According to Mr. Grant, “Cost pressure due to higher inflation has led to our customers having less money to spend, and with the introduction of the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), increasing our prices, we see a decline in volumes for both travel and freight.” Additionally, disappointing sales during the summer season and unmet market growth expectations for 2024 contributed to the restructuring.

The program, designed to strengthen Stena’s long-term business viability, includes a reduction of costs, prioritization of investments, and staff cuts that will primarily impact support functions and consultants. The workforce will be reduced by 80 positions by early 2025, along with 30 consultants also set to leave the company. Discussions with unions and work councils are expected to last several months, with all affected staff to be informed of their status by January 31, 2025.

In response to this announcement, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has demanded a meeting with Stena Line to clarify the impact of these cuts, particularly on their members.

TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust expressed disappointment over the handling of the announcement, stating: “Our members are shocked by this news and outraged that Stena has chosen to sidestep established industrial relations processes. Stena must meet with us urgently to clarify who is at risk and address the potential impacts on our members.”

The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at securing Stena Line’s future amid sustainability challenges. CEO Niclas Mårtensson acknowledged the difficult decision, stating, “Stena Line has been a successful company over the past few years; however, we need to ensure a lower cost base to be able to future proof the company. With 40 vessels in Europe and the Mediterranean, we have significant sustainability challenges ahead of us, and this program will enable us to make necessary investments for the future.”

The TSSA’s letter to Stena reiterates the union’s commitment to supporting affected employees and calls for an immediate discussion to clarify the situation, especially for staff at Fishguard who may be impacted.

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News

UK government to appoint first Wales Crown Estate Commissioner

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FOR the first time, the UK government will appoint a Crown Estate Commissioner dedicated to advising on matters in Wales, further integrating Welsh interests in board-level decisions. This move supports existing efforts to ensure that Wales benefits from the push for clean energy, following an agreement facilitated by the Welsh Secretary.

An amendment to the Crown Estate Bill, with cross-party backing from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats, and crossbenchers, will be accepted at today’s Lords Report Stage (Nov 5). This change mandates the appointment of a Wales-specific Commissioner through the Public Appointments process, with input from the Welsh Government. The appointee will bear “an additional responsibility” to represent Welsh conditions and interests, amplifying Wales’s voice within the Crown Estate.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has collaborated with the Treasury, The Crown Estate, House of Lords members, and the Welsh Government to secure this legislative advancement. The Crown Estate, instrumental in drawing international investment to Wales, supports projects like Floating Offshore Wind in the Celtic Sea, which promises cleaner energy and job creation.

The introduction of a Wales-specific Commissioner strengthens The Crown Estate’s mission to serve the entire UK while averting potential market fragmentation and protecting international investor confidence critical to the net-zero transition.

In a related effort, Great British Energy, the government’s new public energy firm, recently partnered with The Crown Estate to expedite renewable energy advancements. This initiative could attract up to £60bn in private investment, boosting the UK’s journey toward energy independence.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens stated: “This is a landmark step toward ensuring that Welsh prosperity is at the heart of the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower. Our nation stands to benefit hugely from investment in floating offshore wind, and we now have the representation we need to help seize that moment. This demonstrates how Wales benefits directly from its two governments working together, and I’m grateful to Lord Livermore, The Crown Estate, and others for helping to make this happen.”

Sir Robin Budenberg CBE, Chair of The Crown Estate, said: “In seeking to increase the number of Commissioners from eight to twelve, The Crown Estate welcomes the opportunity now presented by this amendment to bring even more direct knowledge and understanding of the areas in which we operate and further strengthen our ability to deliver benefit to the whole of the UK.”

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Crime

Arrests made after large-scale cannabis operation raided in Pembroke Dock

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POLICE in Pembroke Dock have uncovered yet another large-scale cannabis operation, as part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal farms in the area. On Monday (Nov 4), Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at a property on Dimond Street, where officers found over 500 cannabis plants in a sophisticated cultivation setup.

Two men, aged 26 and 34, have been arrested in connection with the investigation and are currently in police custody. The raid follows a series of similar operations in Pembrokeshire, targeting properties used for illegal drug cultivation.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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