News

Double ‘no’ from Dr Jones

Published

11 years ago

February 11, 2015

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.

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.

Community

Concern grows after child hospitalised following Tenby sea swim

Published

4 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PARENT SAYS BOY BECAME SERIOUSLY ILL AFTER SWIMMING DURING FAMILY VISIT

CONCERN is growing in Pembrokeshire after a parent claimed their child was admitted to hospital after swimming in the sea at Tenby.

The post, shared in a local Tenby Facebook group, said the family had visited the resort between Monday and Thursday, with the boy swimming in the sea on Tuesday (May 6).

His parent wrote: “My son swam in the sea on the 6th and the next morning came down with terrible sickness and diarrhoea — he’s been very unwell since and has tonight been admitted to hospital.”

They added: “It’s terrible we can’t swim in our seas and rivers safely anymore. Please be aware.”

The post prompted hundreds of reactions and dozens of comments, with many people expressing sympathy for the family and others raising wider concerns about sewage pollution and water quality around the Pembrokeshire coast.

One commenter said: “This is a national disgrace, please put in a written complaint to Dŵr Cymru and Natural Resources Wales.”

Another asked: “Why were there no signs put up on the beaches to warn people it was unsafe to swim in?”

Others claimed they or family members had suffered illness after swimming at locations including Tenby, Amroth, Newgale and Coppet Hall.

One person wrote: “I got sepsis from a cut in Newgale surfing. Took six weeks in hospital and seven months recovery and still not right to get over it.”

Another said: “Please check with your son’s doctors regarding E.coli and a condition called HUS, which can develop from E.coli. My daughter swam at Amroth in 2022 after a sewage incident in the area and became seriously ill.”

No medical evidence has been published linking the latest reported illness directly to seawater exposure, and there is currently no official confirmation that conditions at Tenby caused the child’s illness.

However, the post has reignited anger over sewage discharges, pollution alerts and the information available to visitors and local people before entering the water.

Lydstep warning

The concern follows a recent warning at Lydstep Haven after Natural Resources Wales informed Pembrokeshire County Council of an “abnormal situation” which could temporarily affect bathing water quality.

Pembrokeshire County Council said officers from its Pollution Control Team had placed warning notices at various locations around the beach, temporarily advising against bathing while the matter was investigated.

Some residents questioned whether warnings were clear enough, particularly during busy holiday periods.

One commenter wrote: “Why aren’t there any warnings to holiday makers and visitors to our local area? It’s not fair that they find out information after someone becomes ill.”

Another said: “There should be notices and announcements on the beaches if there is an outage.”

Others pointed out that Surfers Against Sewage’s water quality app was not showing an active alert for Tenby itself, and suggested some online comments may have confused the current Lydstep warning with previous pollution notices affecting beaches in the Tenby area.

Protest at Broad Haven

The issue comes less than a week before campaigners stage a Surfers Against Sewage paddle-out protest at Broad Haven.

The protest is due to take place on Saturday, May 16, at 1:30pm, as part of a UK-wide day of action calling for an end to sewage pollution in rivers and seas.

Surfers Against Sewage says communities across the UK will gather on beaches, riverbanks and in the water to demand stronger action on sewage pollution.

The campaign group said: “We are sick of it. Sick of the lies, sick of the greed and sick of a system that’s rigged against us.”

A large banner has already been placed on Broad Haven seafront encouraging people to attend the protest.

Tourism concerns

The row has also raised concerns about the potential impact on Pembrokeshire’s tourism industry, with Tenby, Broad Haven, Newgale and other seaside communities heavily dependent on visitors during the spring and summer months.

One commenter wrote: “Not very good for a holiday destination is it.”

Another said: “Tourism will be massively affected by incidents like this, and people’s health and lives are being put at risk.”

Others called for stronger action from Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.

The Herald has approached Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water for comment.

Community

Milford Haven remembers those lost at sea

Published

6 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

National Fishing Remembrance Day marked by Port

MILFORD HAVEN came together on Sunday (May 10) to remember those who have lost their lives at sea.

The Port of Milford Haven joined the Fishermen’s Mission, Stella Maris – Apostleship of the Sea and members of the local community for a National Fishing Remembrance Day service at St Katherine’s and St Peter’s Church.

The service was followed by a gathering at the Fisherman’s Memorial on The Rath, where those who never returned home from the sea were remembered.

Canon Chancellor John Cecil and Reverend Paul Osunyikanmi led what was described as a moving service of remembrance.

The Port of Milford Haven said it was honoured to take part in the event, paying tribute to fishing families and the wider maritime community.

The annual day of remembrance holds particular significance in Milford Haven, a town with deep fishing and seafaring roots.

Local Government

Jonathan Grimes becomes 647th Mayor of Pembroke

Published

7 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

JONATHAN GRIMES has said he is “incredibly proud and deeply honoured” after becoming the 647th Mayor of Pembroke.

Cllr Grimes, county councillor for Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, thanked those who had placed their trust and confidence in him.

He said: “With the support, commitment and dedication of Pembroke Town Council and our wonderful community, I am confident we can meet every challenge together, celebrate our successes, and continue building a brighter and more inclusive future for Pembroke.

“It is a true privilege to serve as Mayor, and I look forward to working alongside the people of Pembroke in the months ahead.”

Cllr Grimes said he was also looking forward to attending this afternoon’s service at St Mary’s Church in Pembroke for the Blessing of the Bells.

He added that he hoped to meet as many people as possible as the town celebrates the return of the historic bells.