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Council criticised over Riverside plans

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The Riverside Market: Showing ‘temporary’ plywood fascias

The Riverside Market: Showing ‘temporary’ plywood fascias

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has been criticised over its handling of Haverfordwest Library’s relocation to the Riverside Market after it has been suggested that the projected cost of the move could be wildly inaccurate.

According to the data used to calculate the cost of relocating the library to a number of locations, the Riverside option was the cheapest in a central location. The projected total cost of works, including abnormal, came to £1,019,810.97, giving a total cost per square metre of £946.90. This compared favourably with the former site of Ocky White’s, which had a larger area, although concerns were raised about the layout. The estimated costs for work on that site came to £1,676.58 per m2.

The cost of locating the building in the North Wing of County Hall, a larger site, came out at £598.57 per m2, but it was thought that locating the library ‘out of the town centre’ at County Hall would reduce footfall in the town centre. This also applied to the Dew Street Library. A brief visit to Google Street Maps shows that County Hall is 0.3 miles from the centre of Bridge Street, with an estimated walking time of five minutes. The Library on Dew Street is also a five minute walk, though this may not take the hill into account.

It was pointed out when these figures were discussed that they were subject to further surveying work. However, The Herald has learned that a survey of the Riverside Market was in fact carried out some five years ago, when the market traders were told that thebuildingneeded £1.3m of necessary works carried out, in addition to £1.7m worth of desirable works.

Bearing in mind that this survey is five years old, and that no major works have taken place in this time, it would be reasonable to assume that the fabric of the building has deteriorated further, meaning the costs could be even higher. Our reporter was told that the structural steel over the river was meant to be painted every five years. This task had been carried out once, around 20 years ago. When the fascias were removed for the steel to be painted some years ago, the metal was said to be in too poor a condition to paint. A temporary plywood cladding was installed, and remains to this day. Our reporter was shown a number of sites where the roof was leaking – apparently an ongoing problem.

In a meeting held with traders a week before the library relocation was discussed by the cabinet, Michael Cavanagh of the Cultural Services Department is said to have told representatives of the market committee that the actual cost of the works would be double what was quoted.

If we assume that all of the £1.7m of ‘desirable’ work would have been undertaken with the idea of improving the Riverside as a retail venue – by no means a given – and therefore does not apply to the redevelopment of the venue as a library, then this still leaves £1.3m of ‘necessary’ work. This generous assessment, when added to the original estimate, would lead to a figure of £2,319, 810.97, or £2,153 per m2. It is possible that some of the work could be counted twice, though as it was explicitly pointed out that further surveying was needed when the report was presented in January, this seems unlikely.

When the Herald asked Pembrokeshire County Council about this, we were told that the previous survey was ‘historic’, and ‘was not prepared for the same purpose or on the same basis. It was undertaken in the context of a major redevelopment proposal for the town centre’.

Regarding the projected costs a council spokesman said: “ As part of the options appraisal work that led to the Riverside Market being identified as the best location for a new County Library and Information Centre, external Quantity Surveyors provided an estimate of £1,019,810.97. However, this did not include some costs that we anticipate may be required as part of the development, such as replacement of the roof. It also did not include costs associated with relocating the market traders. The full costs of the scheme cannot be identified until the project brief has been finalised, and this work is currently underway as stated in the recent Cabinet report.”

We were also told that the Cultural Services Department had been aware for some time that the costs would by far exceed this figure, and had been told that £2.3m was available for the project.

The earlier assertion that the Riverside Market had not received any major works in recent years was based on talks with many of the traders, who expressed their dissatisfaction with the council’s management of the market, especially in the last 18 months since the plans for relocating the library were first discussed.

It was claimed by more than one person that the council’s treatment of the market over that period amounted to a managed decline, or ‘death by a thousand cuts,’ as one stallholder memorably put it. Half of the market has been empty for some time. Another stallholder said that reports in local media claiming that the market’s closing was only a matter of time when the issue was first raised had meant that people were unwilling to take on any of the vacant units. They added that no particular effort seemed to have been made by the council to fill any of the vacant units. These have now been blocked off by barricading one of the walkways.

This perceived mismanagement has affected the businesses of all the traders we talked to. The Herald was informed that eighteen months ago, when the relocation plans were first discussed, the market had 95% occupancy, which compared very favourably to Haverfordwest town centre as a whole. This has nosedived since – apparently as a result of traders moving elsewhere due to uncertainty about the market’s future, and new traders being unwilling to move in because the council was unwilling to give long-term assurances. The large number of vacant premises and the appearance of the market have both undoubtedly contributed to significantly reduced footfall.

The council has said that help will be given to traders looking to relocate, including two years of business rates relief. This does not take into account the paucity of ‘like for like’ premises in the town centre, which would mean that established businesses would have to move away from their client bases. Apparently, businesses moving to larger premises would receive less assistance. It can be assumed that this would be classified as business expansion rather than the lack of a more suitable property.

The Council was keen to clarify this issue: “The relocation package is on a like-for-like basis so if a trader elects to take a larger unit, the Council will provide support based on a similar-sized unit. This is not a reduced level of financial assistance, it is an apportioned level of assistance.”

Traders expressed their concerns about suitable properties available, and the lack of communication from the council. One trader told us that a ‘mini market’ had been considered for Bridge Street, and that four properties had been viewed. However, no further details had been made available, leading some of the businesses to accuse the council of not answering basic questions pertaining to their future.

As has been pointed out, the uncertainty surrounding the market has led to decreased trade. This has meant that some businesses have found themselves in rent arrears. The council has told businesses in arrears that they face eviction if the money is not paid soon, and that they will not be entitled to any assistance with relocation. Whether or not the council has been honouring the terms of the rental agreement by allowing the market to deteriorate is another question.

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Rugby Weekly – Tenby’s promotion push continues

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It’s crunch time for all rugby clubs around the county, whether promotion is their aim or fighting relegation or even just trying to improve their league position, it’s now or never. 

Last weekend saw an important win for Fishguard in division two west which should put any relegation fears to bed completely. James Griffiths added an impressive 18 points for the Seagulls as they defeated Nantgaredig 33-19. 

Elsewhere in the second division, Milford were beaten 32-8 by a good Lampeter outfit. The Mariners are still a little too close for comfort with the drop zone but should have enough quality to see them safe. 

At the other end of the table Tenby sit in second place and have played fewer games than leaders St Clears and third place Lampeter. They won impressively again last weekend, beating Pontyberem 64-19 at Haywood Lane. Fletcher Broadhurst impressed with two tries as did Hywel Baker who also grabbed himself a brace. Another excellent performance in an outstanding season so far in which promotion would be the absolute icing on the cake. 

In Division Three West, Pembroke were well beaten by Laugharne 74-15 in which the outstanding Liam Price and Nico Setaro both crossed the whitewash 4 teams a piece. The latter also added 7 successful conversions. 

There was a local derby at Pill Parks where Llangwm hosted Pembroke Dock Quins and it was an exciting clash. The visitors won narrowly 28-23, Craig Barnett and Gethin Bradney both scored two tries for the Quins. The Wasps battled hard and will be proud of their performance, Gethin Thomas impressed for the hosts with two tries of his own but it wasn’t enough to secure the points. 

St David’s hosted the high flying Cardigan outfit and were unable to score in reply to the visitors 20 points, with it ending 20-0. The Saints however won’t be losing too much sleep over it as they have had a great season so far. 

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Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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