News

Haverfordwest: Retailer and Pembrokeshire Council in war of words

Published

7 years ago

June 22, 2018

Dangerous: The steps to the car park are very steep, unlit and often slippery

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has become embroiled in a war of words with a discount retailer just days before a deadline to sign a land transfer agreement.

An alley next to Poundland in Haverfordwest has been at the centre of contentious planning and anti-social behaviour issues for years.

The alley is frequently the source of complaints involving drug taking, litter, dog mess and lack of access for people with limited mobility.

Pembrokeshire Council is keen to redevelop the alley which includes building on a small section of land to the rear of Poundland.

The redevelopment will see the alley extended through Poundland’s backyard allowing pedestrians to access Castle Lake car park, without having to traverse steep, unlit and often slippery steps up towards the castle.

Pedestrian and disabled access to the car park is currently via an archway on the High Street next to West Wales Properties.

Lisa Evans runs El Sabor, a popular Latin American restaurant at the entrance to the alley in Castle Square. She said the alley is used by gangs of teenagers and people using it as an outdoor toilet.

The Council says it has allocated £240,000 to complete the work, of which £100,000 has been allocated through the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

The THI scheme is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Cadw, but the money must be spent by next March.

Alley: Frequent reports of anti-social behaviour including drugs, urination and litter

Pembrokeshire Council says that if Poundland ‘fails to sign’ the agreement before the end of this month (June), ‘there is a real risk that the scheme will not be able to progress’.

In a statement to the Herald, Pembrokeshire Council said: “Unfortunately, not all of the land required to complete this development is in the ownership of Pembrokeshire County Council”

“Despite terms having been agreed with Poundland for some time, they have yet to formally sign the transfer agreement which would allow works to commence on site.”

The Cabinet Member responsible, Councillor Paul Miller, said: “The Council are committed to this scheme and are in a position to commence work on site within weeks of the required land transfer being signed.

“Unfortunately, however, our ability to complete the scheme is entirely reliant on Poundland doing what they have promised to do for months – sign on the dotted line”

“While the previous administration committed to the use of compulsory purchase powers, they never actually took this forward and, as a result, there is no longer the time available to complete that process.

“This leaves us in a position where we are completely dependent on Poundland and frankly, it’s not a great position to be in.”

When asked for a response to the Council’s statement, Poundland responded: “We lease the land, we don’t own it.

“We’re surprised at [Councillor Miller’s] remarks, as all parties – the Council, owners and ourselves – know we’re working to sign a tripartite agreement ahead of the deadline.”

When pressed on whether the agreement is likely to be signed before the end of this month, Poundland declined to give any further information.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.