A CALL for Pembrokeshire to support the Crown Estate assets in Wales being devolved to its people is to be considered by full council after being backed in principle by senior councillors.

Proceeds from those go to the Crown Estate, funding the Royal Family and contributing to the UK Treasury.

Responsibility for the Crown Estate is already devolved to the Scottish Government, which has previously been reported as generating £103.6 million into the public coffers in Scotland in 2023.

A notice of motion, previously submitted to the March meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, then sent to the April 28 meeting of the council’s Cabinet, by Plaid Cymru councillor Michael Williams said: “We ask PCC to support the proposal for the Crown Estate assets to be devolved to the people of Wales, so that profits can be used to invest in the economy and communities of Wales.

“A poll in 2023 showed that 75 per cent of the population were in favour of taking control of the assets of the Crown estate rather than the profits going to the Treasury and the Crown.

“Local authorities are under huge financial pressure and placing the Crown Estate in the hands of Wales would be a significant step to address the lack of investment in our local government.

“We call upon the Welsh Government to ask Westminster to devolve the assets and revenue of the Crown Estates as a matter of urgency, as was done in Scotland in 2017.

“We demand that Wales is treated fairly and accepts management of the Crown Estate land for the benefit of the people of Wales.”

At the April meeting, Leader Cllr Jon Harvey said he was supportive of the motion, moving a recommendation it be referred to full council with a recommendation of adoption.

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett, the other Plaid Cymru member of the council, said: “Not many people will be surprised I support this 100 per cent. It’s very much about equity and fairness, why should Wales be treated any different to Scotland?”

Of the 22 local authorities in Wales, only Pembrokeshire and Torfaen have not passed a similar notice of motion to date, Cllr Sinnett said.

“It would seem very strange for us to not support a campaign that seeks to bring any sort of funding to Pembrokeshire; Welsh Government is supportive of devolution, it seems to be an issue in Westminster,” Cllr Sinnett added.

Members backed the recommendation, with one vote of dissention, Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller.

Councillors have previously heard the Crown Estates derives nearly £60,000 from some 16 leases in Pembrokeshire.

The £59,005 includes £26,600 for foreshore lease agreements, £8,520 for the land around Haverfordwest’s Riverside Market, and £12,800 for a sailing centre and care park at Cosheston Pill near Pembroke Dock.

Late last year councillors in neighbouring Ceredigion backed a call for the Crown Estate assets to be devolved to the people of Wales, following a notice of motion by Cllr Catrin M S Davies, seconded by Cllr Alun Williams.

Tenby lifeboats and rescue helicopter respond to morning emergency

TENBY’S two lifeboats launched shortly before 8:30am on Monday (May 5) to assist the Welsh Ambulance Service with the evacuation of a pregnant woman from Caldey Island.

The inshore lifeboat was first to arrive, putting crew members ashore to locate the woman and assess her condition. Meanwhile, the all-weather lifeboat transported a paramedic towards the island.

Due to tidal conditions, the paramedic and her equipment were transferred from the all-weather lifeboat to the inshore lifeboat, which then landed them safely on the island. Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 187 from St Athan was also dispatched and arrived shortly after.

After a joint assessment by the lifeboat and helicopter paramedics, it was decided the safest and most comfortable way to evacuate the woman was by air, rather than risking a transfer between vessels in choppy seas.

Once the patient was safely airlifted to hospital, both lifeboats were stood down and returned to station, arriving back in Tenby by 10:30am.

THERE’S glamping and there’s off the scale glamorous camping which is what we have here, says UK property auction expert Sean Roper.

“You ain’t seen anything until you take a look at what we have on offer in our May property sale in the way of luxurious holiday living.”

Sean, of South Wales-based Paul Fosh Auctions, is selling a glamping ‘pod’ which he reckons is simply out of this world.

Sean says: “The moonlight dome tent we have on offer is glamping taken to a completely different level.

“The dome, which is at Redberth, near the historic seaside resort of Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, is bursting with all you could possibly need for a luxury seaside break.

“Set in a beautiful holiday site of Redberth Gardens we have a very popular open plan dome tent which we’ve listed with a guide price of £36,000-plus.

“Accommodating a maximum of four guests, with one double bed and a sofa bed, the dome has a private shower room and a fully fitted kitchen.

“It’s served by an enclosed external decking area with outdoor furniture and sunken seating area with projector screen and swing. There’s also an ice barrel and a very useful al fresco pizza oven.

“This turn key investment is being sold with all internal and external furniture and fittings including a quite awesome sunken hot tub. It also has a gorgeous seating area with a fire pit and BBQ for guests to enjoy.

“The property is fully managed and what’s more there are onward bookings. As an example of what can be achieved with bookings for the moonlight dome tent last year generated £51,426.”

The moonlight dome tent along with more than eighty other varied properties is listed for sale at Paul Fosh Auctions which starts at 12 noon, on Tuesday, May 20 and ends from 5pm on Thursday, May 22.

www.paulfoshauctions.com