A PETITION entitled ‘Save the coastal path from Hakin Point to Pointfields’ launched last week, and it currently has over 500 signatures. 

The Herald published an article last week, about the lack of repairs made to the coastal path from Hakin Point to Pointfields, which has been closed in excess of two years.

The petiton, which is directed at Pembrokeshire County Council’s Chief Executive, Ian Westley, states: “Pembrokeshire County Council have said they do not want to spend their money on repairing something, which as they seem to believe, is not their responsibility. They say, they are only responsible for the path’s surface, and due to it being in such a poor state, there is no path for them to fix.

“There is a water main that runs directly beneath this path, and Pembrokeshire County Council say that it is Welsh Water’s problem.

“After speaking with Welsh Water, they seem to think the residents are the ones who should repair it. However, because the land doesn’t belong to them, their insurance doesn’t cover the repairs. Therefore, even though it is affecting their homes, they cannot help fix the path.”

Soon after the petition launched, many Milford Haven locals, and people from further afield signed the petition, leaving comments as they were doing so.

Paulene Moore from Penzance, Cornwall, signed the petition and left a comment, saying: “Such a beautiful coastal walk, which has been enjoyed by so many and is now spoilt by having to do a detour. It holds many happy memories for me and so many others. So bad.”

Ross Edwards from Neyalnd also said: “I used to live in Wellington Road and used to play on the path as a kid. Was gutted to see it closed the last time I went for a walk down there. Love to see it open again. Some of my best memories as a kid was playing down Pointfields and going to Hakin Point.”

Christina Spencer from Milford Haven, said: “Pembrokeshire County Council should stop shirking and accept its responsibility. We should all campaign vigorously, we cannot let big organisations ride roughshod over the council taxpayers they are employed to serve.”

Local Sally Hicks launched the petition in the hope that something would be done to help fix the coastal path. She said: “I am absolutely amazed at the huge support from folk far and wide – in fact all over the world – all who have links to Milford Haven and particularly Pointfields, from childhood days and families using the path over all these years.

“I would urge folk to still sign and share if they haven’t already done so. Thank you all for supporting this, and desperately hope there will be light at the end of the tunnel!”

Pembrokeshire County Council were given the opportunity to express their thoughts on the petition, however they did not wish to do so as they had already spoken to The Herald about the issue the previous week.

If you would like to sign the petition, you can do so by visiting: https://www.change.org/p/t-save-the-coastal-path-from-hakin-point-to-pointfields