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News

King’s statue a step closer

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Screen Shot 2016-02-02 at 10.23.30A MINIATURE statue of King Henry VII was unveiled in Pembroke on Saturday, January 16. 

There has been a long standing quest for a statue of the king who was born in Pembroke Castle in 1457. Progress is at last being made in the quest as Saturday’s event saw the unveiling of the Henry VII maquette (miniature of the statue).

The event was organised for Pembroke Town Council by the Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society and the large numbers attending gave evidence of the great public interest in this project.

Proceedings were opened by the Mayor of Pembroke, Cllr Pauline Waters who thanked all those present for attending and these included the deputy Chair of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Keith Lewis, Cllrs Arwyn Williams and Daphne Bush, Pembroke Dock Mayor Cllr Peter Kraus, Neyland Mayor Cllr Margaret Brace and Consort Terry plus Pembroke Town Councillors.

The statue project is a partnership between Pembroke Town Council and PCC which has undertaken to match fund the £20,000 that has to be raised through its Town Centre Support Programme.

She then introduced sculptor Harriet Addyman, of Autodromo Narberth, who had been commissioned by Pembroke Town Council to produce the maquette.

Harriet told the audience she had been delighted to receive the commission as it was high time that Henry was celebrated in the place of his birth.

She added that the research phase of developing the maquette had been an amazing journey, and she had been fascinated to learn so much more about the life of Henry VII.

Linda Asman, Project Leader and Chair of the History Society, then gave an illustrated talk on the early life of Henry and traced his march to Bosworth which began at Mill Bay, near Dale, on August 7, 1485.

She and her husband Stuart had followed the route last year (albeit in a vehicle) and photographed the towns and villages where Henry’s army had camped during the progress to Bosworth.

That journey ended with the defeat of Richard III and the birth of a new Royal dynasty – a dynasty born in Pembroke.

A statue of Henry is long overdue but Linda stressed that we should be campaigning for a national visitor centre dedicated to Henry VII here in Pembroke to equal that of Richard III in Leicester: the Ricardians have had much publicity and we need to tell the other side of the story.

A home video followed which was taken in 1985 of the celebrations in Pembroke Castle to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Henry’s accession to the throne – many local people could be could be recognised participating.

The event officially marked the launch of the fundraising campaign to raise the money for the statue. The History Society has made a good start by raising £314 on the day with a coffee morning, raffle and book stall.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so to The Henry VII Statue fund c/o Pembroke Town Clerk, Pembroke Town Hall, Main Street, Pembroke SA71 4JS, Tel: 01646 683092. Email: suzie@pembstowncouncil.plus.com

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News

Firefighters Rescue Sheep Caught in Barbed Wire in Haverfordwest

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FIREFIGHTERS came to the rescue of a sheep that had become entangled in barbed wire near Bethany Road, Haverfordwest, on Friday morning (February 21).

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service received the call at 9:38 am, and a crew from Haverfordwest Fire Station quickly responded. Upon arrival, they found the sheep trapped after attempting to force its way through the wire.

To prevent further distress or injury, firefighters used small tools to carefully free the animal. Once released, the sheep rejoined its flock unharmed.

The crew left the scene at 10:10 am.

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News

Haverfordwest’s ‘Instagrammable’ footbridge faces further frustration and delay

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PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has confirmed that the construction of Haverfordwest’s controversial ‘Instagrammable’ footbridge has been delayed once again, with its completion now pushed back to at least September 2025. The project, originally designed to improve pedestrian access and enhance the town’s visual appeal, has been met with growing scrutiny over rising costs and the justification for its design.

Delays and cost increases

The footbridge is a key part of the Haverfordwest Public Transport Interchange (HPTI) scheme, a wider regeneration project aimed at improving connectivity and accessibility in the town. The project was originally budgeted at £5.7 million, but concerns have been raised over whether additional delays could push costs even higher.

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council outlined the reasons for the latest setbacks, stating:

“There has been a delay in fabrication modelling due to the time required to clarify and resolve technical queries related to the complex design and methodology for fabrication and installation. Additionally, there has been a delay in crane availability, which has further impacted the timeline.”

Criticism over the project’s priorities

The bridge has been a point of controversy since its announcement, particularly regarding its design focus. Councillor Rhys Jordan, who was among the first to publicly criticize the project before leaving office in October 2023, raised concerns about the emphasis on making the bridge visually appealing for social media rather than prioritizing functionality. Cllr Jordan said:

“The focus on an ‘Instagrammable’ design raises serious questions about whether this is the best use of public funds. While aesthetics are important, the people of Haverfordwest need practical infrastructure that meets their daily needs.”

His comments ignited wider debate about the project’s priorities, with some residents and local business owners questioning whether resources could have been better allocated to other infrastructure improvements.

Political and public reactions

The Welsh Conservative group, led by Councillor Di Clements, has also expressed concerns over the project’s financial management and delays. While acknowledging the need for regeneration in Haverfordwest, the group has called for greater transparency regarding the rising costs and timeline extensions.

“Residents deserve clear answers on why this project continues to face setbacks and whether further delays will result in additional costs. We need assurances that this investment will truly benefit the town and not become an expensive vanity project,” a spokesperson for the group stated.

Impact on local businesses

Local business owners have voiced frustration over the ongoing delays, with some reporting a decline in foot traffic due to construction disruptions. The bridge, once completed, is expected to improve access to key areas of the town, but the prolonged construction phase has left many questioning when they will see the benefits.

Commuters have also expressed concerns about accessibility, with some calling for alternative pedestrian routes to be improved while construction continues.

What happens next?

Despite the delays, Pembrokeshire County Council maintains that the bridge will ultimately be a valuable addition to the town’s infrastructure. However, with completion now expected in late 2025 and lingering concerns over costs, the project remains under intense public and political scrutiny.

Residents and stakeholders are now waiting to see whether the council can meet its revised timeline—or if further setbacks will once again push the bridge’s completion even further into the future.

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Crime

Man banned from contacting woman after series of ‘serious’ assaults

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A 26-YEAR-OLD man has been ordered to stay away from a woman after carrying out a series of “unprovoked” and “serious” attacks.

Daniel Lloyd, of Bridge Street, St Clears, was charged with three counts of assault by beating.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges.

Llanelli Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Lloyd assaulted the woman on three separate occasions—twice in Carmarthenshire, on July 31 and August 20 last year, and once in Shropshire on August 16.

Each incident was described in court as an “unprovoked and serious attack.”

Lloyd was sentenced to 12 weeks, suspended for 12 weeks, at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on February 5.

He must pay £600 in compensation to the victim, who was granted a one-year restraining order.

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