A MILFORD HAVEN resident, Chelsea Smith, is set to launch a new addiction recovery support group in Hakin this October. The group, which is part of the UK SMART Recovery programme, aims to help individuals struggling with addictive behaviours and those in recovery, by providing a supportive and non-judgemental environment.

Chelsea, who has been in a succesful recovery from opioid dependency for over ten months, expressed her desire to give back to the community and support others who are going through similar challenges. “I’ve been helped so much by similar sessions, and I feel it’s time to share my experience and help others,” she said. “Recovery is a long journey, and I’m still on it myself, but I want people to know that they’re not alone.”

The meetings, which will take place at The Church of the Holy Spirit, Court Rise, Hakin, Milford Haven, every Thursday at 6:30 pm, are open to anyone struggling with addiction, whether they are currently using, newly out of rehab, or have been in recovery for some time. Chelsea emphasises that the group welcomes all forms of addictive behaviours and encourages people to attend, even if they are unsure whether they have a problem.

“Walking into a support group for the first time can be daunting,” she acknowledged, “but this group is a safe space where everyone is accepted, no matter their background or where they are in their recovery journey.”

Chelsea’s post on social media has already gained attention, with many expressing their admiration for her openness and willingness to help others. In her heartfelt message, she said, “One share could genuinely help save a life. It just takes someone who is suffering to see this and decide to walk in.”

The group officially launches on 3rd October 2024, and Chelsea is encouraging the local community to spread the word to ensure that those who need help know where to find it.

For more information on the SMART Recovery programme, visit smartrecovery.org.uk, or contact the helpline on 0330 053 6022.

About SMART Recovery UK:
SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) Recovery is a science-based addiction support programme that focuses on building motivation, coping with urges, managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and living a balanced life.

Meeting Details:

• Location: The Church of the Holy Spirit, Court Rise, Hakin, Milford Haven, SA73 3PG
• Time: Every Thursday, starting 3rd October 2024 at 6:30 pm
• Facilitator: Chelsea Smith (DBS checked)
• Contact: For more information, call 0330 053 6022 or visit the website above.

A £2.6M scheme to redevelop a derelict ‘eyesore’ motel close to the Pembrokeshire seaside village of Newgale with the promise of creating 18 jobs has been submitted to national park planners.

Nick Neumann of Newgale Holidays wants to redevelop the former Roch Gate Motel to a mixed commercial and community use hub called ‘The Gate,’ including a village shop/post office, bistro/restaurant, conference facilities and business units together ancillary works, and a separate tourism development of up to 25 holiday lodges.

The vacant derelict former motel – dubbed an “eyesore” in previous applications – closed back in 2008 and has a history of later approved planning schemes, including as a bespoke hotel and an affordable housing scheme, but none have come to fruition.

The new proposed development was the subject of a pre-application consultation last autumn, and has now been revised following “feedback received from the Park Authority on planning issues and from relevant consultees and third party representations,” a supporting statement says, adding: “the applicant has now had time to review and revise the proposal to address any concerns raised and is now supported by further technical documents.”

Since that consultation changes to the submitted scheme include external appearances on the main building, the removal of a drive-thru element, and an additional two business units.

At the time of last year’s consultation, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd said: “The former motel site has laid vacant for several years and is now derelict and largely abandoned. Despite an application being granted for its redevelopment as a bespoke hotel and a more recent application for an affordable housing scheme being recommended for approval by the authority (subject to the completion of a legal agreement) neither of these schemes have materialised.

“These schemes were submitted by the previous owner of the site and clearly failed to deliver.

“The application proposal comprises different business, commercial, community and tourism elements. Since purchasing the site more recently, the applicant seeks to present a different and exciting mixed-use redevelopment on the site which would be of significant benefit to the local community.

“The authority has previously accepted that the site is unlikely to return to its previous use as a motel/hotel. Roch has sadly recently lost its only village shop/post office and fish and chip shop. The shop/post office closed in the last 12 months and the fish and chip shop several years ago.

“The proposed business/community hub would include the provision of a replacement village shop/post office, a bistro, rooms that would be available for conferences and local community uses, together with three small business units.”

The statement added: “In addition to the business/community hub, it is also proposed to create a modest tourism development comprising up to 25 holiday lodges on part of the adjacent field to the southwest. This tourism development forms part of the overall business plan for the site and to provide an income stream in support of the main redevelopment site.”

Speaking after the amended application was submitted, Mr Neumann has said: “The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. However, PCNPA raised some policy concerns, which we have been addressing over the past six to nine months.

“In response, we have made a few adjustments to the scheme. These include minor changes to the external appearance of the main building to ensure it more closely aligns with the traditional architecture of Pembrokeshire. Additionally, we have removed the drive-through element to reduce littering and cut down on vehicle emissions, ensuring a cleaner environment and promoting sustainability to the benefit of everyone within our community. In its place we have added two more business units to further support local business enterprises and start-ups.

“We have listened to the feedback, taken action, and fulfilled all the statutory requirements. Now, we are hopeful that the proposal, along with our formal planning application, will be viewed favourably by both PCNPA planners and the wider community.”

He finished: “If you share our vision to transform the current derelict site into a vibrant community hub with a £2.6m investment, bringing 18 full-time jobs and much-needed local amenities then we urge you to voice your support. Now is the time to let the planners know how much the development means to our community. Together we can make this vision a reality.”

The application will be considered by park planners at a later date.

A SUCCESSFUL ‘call-in’ by the leader of Pembrokeshire’s main political opposition group could see a breathing space for Pembroke Dock’s Anchorage day centre, due to close in little over a month.

The ‘call-in,’ made by Independent Group leader Cllr Huw Murphy at the September 23 extraordinary meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s social care overview and scrutiny committee, was supported by fellow group members.

The county council is currently changing care provision for older adults and those with learning disabilities, and closure of Pembroke Dock’s Anchorage day care centre was agreed by senior councillors at the September 9 meeting of the council’s Cabinet.

This follows a series of engagement events at The Anchorage, outlining the reasons and the options in continued service, part of which is much-needed building maintenance costs at the centre, set against a background of increasingly tight budgets, councillors have heard.

The Anchorage Day Care Centre in Pembroke Dock has been a “safe and happy place” for adults with learning difficulties and additional needs for decades.

In more recent years it has expanded to support elderly dementia sufferers, but numbers attending the centre have declined, especially post-Covid, previous reports for councillors have said.

At the July meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, members received a petition calling for the council to keep the centre open, with an impassioned plea by Peter Welsh for the centre to remain open.

Despite a plea by local councillors Tony Wilcox and Brian Hall to give the centre a breathing space ahead of a potential move to an as-yet-unbuilt facility at Pembroke’s South Quay development, the matter was brought to the September meeting of the council’s Cabinet, when its closure was backed “with effect from November 1, 2024,” along with, as part of wider changes in the service, establishing social enterprise models in Crymych’s Bro Preseli and Narberth’s Lee Davies Centre with effect from April 1, 2025.

The anchorage building is council owned while the other two are not.

After that Cabinet decision, the ‘call-in’ was submitted, saying: “This call in is requested to further examine the financial savings that is claimed will occur through closure (Anchorage) of one day centre and moving two other day centres (Lee Davies & Bro Preseli) to a social enterprise model. Further scrutiny is required to establish the robustness of the proposed social enterprise models to provide an adequate service to replace that currently in place through PCC.”

Speaking at the September 23 meeting, safeguarding champion Cllr Murphy said it would be “a dereliction of duty” if he “did not speak up,” adding: “Listen and do the right thing and return this to Cabinet and we will work with you.”

Cabinet Member for Social Care & Safeguarding Cllr Tessa Hodgson, who had presented the previous reports said the council had listened to concerns raised, saying that while the service was a statutory provision, buildings were not, and the changes were from a need to ensure the service was sustainable, with more than 3,000 adult social care users in the county.

She told members the number of service users attending the Anchorage had declined, with “people making a free choice to access services differently”.

“It’s not about us imposing solutions on people, it’s about us working with them to plan for the future,” she told committee members.

Following a call by Cllr Anji Tinley, committee members agreed, by six votes to five, for the September 9 decision to be referred back to Cabinet for further discussion on the social enterprise model, with a potential piloting in Bro Preseli, along with what bridging options could be considered for the Anchorage while awaiting the South Quay development.

The ‘call-in’ will be considered at a future Cabinet meeting.