News

Haverfordwest: Developer ‘extremely disappointed’ as cinema plan collapses

Published

8 years ago

June 5, 2017

Tom Sinclair

The proposed site: Withdrawn this week

THE COMPANY behind the plans to build a brand new multiplex cinema and retail park in Haverfordwest, Conygar Haverfordwest Ltd, have said they are ‘extremely disappointed’ to have withdrawn the proposal.

The complex would have been built on the site which Sainsburys formerly planned to build on near Slade Lane.

The plans included a five-screen cinema, ten shops and a hotel with 60 beds.

In a letter to the council, the company said “Further to a recent email correspondence, we have been instructed by our client, Conygar Haverfordwest Ltd, to withdraw the above-referenced planning applications, and should be obliged if you would take this letter as a formal request to do so, on their behalf.”

Today (May 5) A Conygar spokesperson expanded further on the reasoning, saying: “We are extremely disappointed to have had to make the difficult decision to withdraw our planning applications for the Slade Lane site in Haverfordwest. The site currently benefits from detailed planning permission for a 95,000 square foot superstore and hence we have already invested £4 million on facilitating the infrastructure.

“In the aftermath of Sainsbury’s decision to abandon their plans for Haverfordwest, the applications we submitted last year sought to alter the development to include a 124,000 square foot retail park, a cinema and a hotel. We already have tenants for this alternative scheme, which would not only deliver employment and opportunity at the site, but also attract visitors and spending to the town centre and wider community. These tenants have space requirements which the town centre cannot provide. We are also confident that this initial injection of economic activity would act as a catalyst to bring forward the main residential development at Slade Lane.

“Over the last 10 years, Conygar has been a significant investor in Wales and South West Wales in particular. We have a number of substantial projects on Anglesey, a large-scale retail scheme in Llandudno Junction (which we are developing in conjunction with Conwy County Borough Council) and we are soon to complete a 106,000 square foot retail development in Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire. This latter scheme was another site that Sainsbury’s chose not to develop. However, in that instance, Carmarthenshire Council chose to encourage our investment in the site, on the basis of the jobs and other local benefits that would be created, and adopted a more pragmatic position in terms of the planning permissions that were needed to bring the scheme forward.

“In Pembrokeshire, apart from Slade Lane, we are progressing a major project in Fishguard, which will see a significant improvement to the existing Port and the creation of a new marina and a residential development, for which we are also presently seeking various permissions.

“Up until last year, we also had a £4.8 million investment in the Martello Quays project in Pembroke Dock. Sadly, however, we were forced to write this off, due to us not being able to reach agreement with Pembrokeshire County Council. It is most unfortunate that we have, again, been unable to find common ground with the Council on Slade Lane, where we believe that our plans would considerably benefit both the residents and the business community of Haverfordwest.

“Conygar has £46 million of cash and no debt. Our shareholders are keen for us to use our funds, not only to develop the investments we already have, but also to find new opportunities both in England and in Wales. We understand that there will be different opinions, locally, on the projects we promote, but it is logical that any institution will choose to invest where the local community welcomes its interest and involvement, without which it is difficult to make progress.

“The Slade Lane site is one of our key strategic ownerships and we remain committed to delivering a successful development to the economic benefit of the entire region.”

Concept of the new cinema: At the existing Wilko site

A second cinema proposal has also been submitted by Fairacre, who own the Wilko shop and the Riverside Quay Shopping Centre.

Their development, which would see the existing Wilko store on Old Bridge partly demolished, would house five cinema screens and four restaurants, as well as an outdoor seating area.

There would be a loss in parking spaces, dropping to 106 down from its current 153.

Crime

Dyfed-Powys Police pays out hundreds of thousands in compensation claims

Published

6 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

NEW figures reveal Dyfed-Powys Police has paid out £324,000 in compensation over the past five years, following nearly 200 claims made by members of the public.

A Freedom of Information requests show a whopping 186 claims were lodged against the force between 2019 and 2024, with compensation payments peaking in 2021/2022 at £138,111. Claims included allegations of unlawful arrest, financial losses, personal injury, and failure in duty of care.

In 2019/2020, 36 claims were made, with nine settled. The following year, 22 claims were lodged, with nine again resulting in payouts. Numbers rose to 38 claims in 2021/2022, with 11 settlements, before dropping slightly in 2022/2023 to 36 claims and eight payouts. However, the most recent figures for 2023/2024 show a significant rise, with 54 claims and seven settlements.

Lucy Parker, a solicitor from JF Law, said: “Claims against police forces highlight the importance of accountability. Issues such as wrongful arrest, assault, and negligence must be addressed seriously.”

Nationally, UK police forces have paid out millions in compensation, with property damage from botched raids cited as a frequent reason.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been approached for comment.

News

Rail passengers in west Wales ‘let down’ by hundreds of train cancellations

Published

6 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RAIL passengers in west Wales are being “let down” following the cancellation of more than 650 Transport for Wales (TfW) trains on routes to Swansea and beyond in just 12 months.

Between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, a total of 654 services were cancelled, impacting key routes to Llanelli, Carmarthen, Pembroke Dock, Fishguard, and Milford Haven. The cancellations have sparked frustration among passengers and raised concerns over the reliability of rail services in the region.

Transport for Wales, which took over day-to-day rail operations from Arriva nearly seven years ago, has faced ongoing criticism for service quality. A Rail User Survey in 2023 revealed that only 72% of passengers were satisfied with TfW services, making it the worst-rated operator in the UK at the time. By comparison, Southern Railway scored 80%.

Recent surveys show some improvements. Between February and September 2024, overall satisfaction rose to 85%, with punctuality increasing to 73% and frequency to 66%. However, these numbers remain below national averages, and the situation in west Wales continues to lag behind other regions.

Passengers in west Wales have long expressed frustration over frequent delays and cancellations. One traveller recounted a 60-mile journey from Cardiff Central to Carmarthen that resulted in an overnight stay in Cardiff due to multiple delays and cancellations. Replacement buses offered little reprieve, with onward journeys stretching well into the early hours.

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Transport, criticised the situation, saying: “These statistics show that Welsh passengers are being let down. Historical underinvestment in our rail network and infrastructure has led us to this position. In order to create a Welsh rail network that works for the people of Wales, it’s vital that decisions regarding Welsh rail are made in Wales.”

Mr Griffiths added: “Only Plaid Cymru fights for the devolution of rail infrastructure to ensure we can secure consistent investment in our network and deliver reliable services.”

Despite some recent improvements in customer satisfaction, the sheer scale of cancellations highlights ongoing issues with rail services in Wales, particularly in west Wales where consistent, reliable transport remains a challenge for many commuters and travellers.

Charity

Tributes paid to former Tenby RNLI crew member Stuart Fecci

Published

7 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TENBY RNLI is mourning the loss of former Shore Crew member Stuart Fecci, who passed away recently. Stuart served aboard the Henry Comber Brown lifeboat until a tragic accident in 1988 resulted in the loss of his hand.

Despite the injury, Stuart remained a dedicated supporter of Tenby RNLI. The Fecci family has deep roots with the station, including Stuart’s son Samuel, who raised over £300 by completing the RNLI’s Mayday Mile walk in 2021.

Deputy Coxswain Jon Lewis, Stuart’s cousin who carries the Fecci name through his mother, paid tribute: “The last time I spoke to him, he greeted me in a packed Tudor Square as the larger-than-life character he was and shouted, ‘Coxswain Lewis!’ before continuing to congratulate me.”

Stuart will be deeply missed by the entire community. The thoughts of everyone at the station are with his wife Sally and his family during this difficult time.