News
Haverfordwest: Residents up in arms over proposed parking charges


Packed meeting: Residents at St. Thomas’ hall on Feb 12
A packed public meeting in St Thomas Green Church Hall last night highlighted concerns about proposed car parking charges in the area.
After a notice was ‘inadvertently’ placed in the Western Telegraph a month early, local residents took the opportunity to make their views known. The meeting was chaired by Haverfordwest mayor, Cllr Roy Thomas, and local county councillors Thomas Tudor and David Bryan were on the panel, along with town councillors.
Mayor Thomas pointed out that the land was ‘common to the town’ and that three previous attempts to bring in parking charges had been defeated by the strength of local opposition. He also mentioned the impact that these charges would have, not only on local residents, but on local businesses and people visiting the Doctors’ surgery on Rifleman Lane.
The proposed parking charges are to be on a sliding scale, starting off at 40p for an hour and rising to £1.50 for 24 hours. Residents’ bays were also considered, at a cost of £40 per year.
The meeting was attended by residents, representatives and users of the GP’s surgery, and local businesses. After much discussion, it was agreed to focus on keeping the car park free for all users. An Action Group was formed to encourage people to oppose the scheme. The panel advised those present send their written objections to Mark Owen, the Street Care and Parking Manager, and to sign the petitions that are already in circulation.
News
Emergency services respond to person in water at Milford Haven

EMERGENCY services were called to Milford Haven in the early hours of Friday morning (May 24) after reports of a person in difficulty in the water near Smokehouse Quay.
The incident was reported at around 12:50am, with the individual said to be floating on their back approximately 50 metres from the quay wall. Police officers were first on the scene and began efforts to reach the person.
Angle RNLI was tasked and the crew were preparing to launch when a stand-down message was received just eight minutes later, confirming that the individual had been successfully recovered and was in the care of police officers.
Dale Coastguard Rescue Team also attended the incident. No further assistance was required and the RNLI crew returned to station shortly after 1:15am.
Community
Public invited to explore Pembroke Port at Open Day and Stakeholder Meeting

MEMBERS of the public are being invited to go behind the scenes at Pembroke Port as part of a special Open Day and Annual Stakeholder Meeting hosted by the Port of Milford Haven.
The event will take place on Wednesday, 18 June, at Catalina House, Pembroke Dock (SA72 6JD), offering a unique opportunity to discover the inner workings of one of Wales’ busiest ports.
Running from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, the Open Day will include guided bus tours around the site, giving visitors a rare, close-up look at port operations and activities across the facility. Port staff, local business representatives, and partners from across the supply chain will also be on hand to discuss their work and answer questions.
From 6:00pm to 7:30pm, the Port’s Annual Stakeholder Meeting will be held, where attendees will hear updates from the Chair and Chief Executive, meet members of the Board and senior management, and take part in a Q&A session. Questions can be submitted in advance via email to [email protected].
Throughout the day, visitors can explore the wide-ranging roles of the Port of Milford Haven – from commercial marine services and energy sector support to community initiatives and leisure activities. A number of external organisations will also be present, including emergency services, marine experts, and conservation groups highlighting Pembrokeshire’s diverse wildlife.
Crime
Milford Haven mother sentenced over shocking neglect case

Faeces on walls, maggots in bedding: Judge brands home ”a pigsty’
A PEMBROKESHIRE mother has avoided an immediate prison sentence after admitting to neglecting her children in a home described by a judge as “appalling”.
The woman – who cannot be named to protect the identity of her children – appeared before Swansea Crown Court on two counts of wilful child neglect. The court heard that the conditions inside the family’s Milford Haven property were so dire that social services deemed it unfit for habitation.
The case came to light after repeated concerns were raised by the children’s schools, who had flagged ongoing issues with hygiene and wellbeing dating back to 2019. Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the court that teachers noted a persistent foul smell, dirty fingernails, unwashed lunchboxes, and children frequently arriving at school tired and without sufficient food.
In one disturbing incident, a child told a teacher they were unable to sleep due to maggots in their bed. Another was seen using a mouldy towel after swimming lessons. When asked to describe their home, the children said their mother could not enter their bedrooms because of the mess.
On June 14 last year, officers from Pembrokeshire County Council visited the property following a school referral. What they discovered was described as appalling: faeces smeared on walls and floors upstairs, rubbish and flies in the children’s rooms, and a fridge full of expired food. A broken washing machine blocked the dining room.
Social workers instructed the family to temporarily move in with relatives. However, a follow-up inspection revealed little had changed, and the mother was subsequently arrested.
During police interview, she admitted the situation had deteriorated, claiming she had become “nose-blind” to the smell and had “put her head in the sand like an ostrich”.
Hannah George, defending, said her client was deeply ashamed and had taken steps to improve her situation following the loss of a close family member. The court was told the mother, who is in her thirties and has no previous convictions, had engaged with social services, mental health teams, and completed several parenting courses.
Although she no longer has custody of her children, social services are planning a phased return under supervision.
Judge Paul Thomas KC condemned the conditions as “a pigsty” and handed the woman a 21-month sentence, suspended for two years. She must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days.
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Andrew Lye
February 13, 2015 at 3:26 pm
If we\’re all in this together, its ironic that the one outside County Hall is still free.Are there any other large public car parks in the county, that remain free?
steve sutcliffe
March 2, 2015 at 5:47 pm
This is potentially another nail in the coffin of the town centre. The County Council seems totally oblivious to the need to regenerate the town centres and encourage people to use them by providing free parking. Its ironic that free parking at the edge of town shopping sites is completely full and the shops there are buzzing while the town centres are dying – are the councillors and PCC managers completely blind to economic reality?