News
Haverfordwest: Enhancement work underway at Withybush Woods

WORK is underway at Withybush Woods near Haverfordwest to clear its two ponds.
The work is part of a major enhancement project run by Pembrokeshire County Council, which also owns the woodland.
The project aims to improve and protect the woodland and biodiversity, which was part of the Victorian garden of Withybush House, demolished in the 1960s.
Phase one is being completed – the removal of silt and mud from the lower pond.
Phase two – the de-silting of the main upper pond to enable it to return it to its former size – will begin in June.
Cllr Cris Tomos explained that the silt would be drained into the lower pond temporarily.
“The silt and mud in the lower pond has been removed to allow the silt from upper pond to drain into it,” said Cllr Tomos, Cabinet Member for the Environment.
“Once dry, most of the silt will be taken away for use in land restoration while some will be re-used on site in landscaping the ponds.”
Once the ponds are both drained, work will start on the installation of a new, more accessible footpath around the lower pond including a bridge and boardwalk.
Other enhancement features will include the community planting of hundreds of wildflower bulbs, trees and the introduction of features from the historical water garden.
A haven for local wildlife including the resident ducks and swans will be created in part of the lower pond while the enhancement works are taking place.
The enhancement work has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. It has also received funding through the Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme, through the WCVA.
Because of the sensitive nature of this enhancement, work is proceeding with minimal disturbance and impact to the biodiversity of the site, and because of this the project is expected to be completed by Spring 2020.
News
Police investigate assault at Milford Haven property

OFFICERS from Dyfed-Powys Police have been maintaining a presence at a property on Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, as part of an ongoing investigation into an assault.
The Herald understands that the front door of the property has been boarded up with plywood, prompting concern and speculation from local residents.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Officers have been undertaking scene preservation in relation to an investigation of assault.”
No further details have been released at this stage, and it is not yet known whether any arrests have been made.
Residents told The Herald they noticed police activity at the address earlier this week, with officers attending the property and cordoning off the area.
The Herald will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Business
Haverfordwest opticians celebrate 100 years of long service

WALES’ LARGEST Specsavers store is celebrating a series of individual long service milestones, with nine team members collectively marking a century of long service in 2025.
At the heart of the celebrations is Andy Britton, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Haverfordwest, who has worked at the company for 20 years.
Since becoming a partner in 2006, Mr Britton has overseen the store’s transformation from a small site with just four test rooms to a state-of-the-art £1.2 million premises at 21 Riverside Quay. The enhanced store now boasts 14 test rooms equipped with cutting edge technology and a significantly larger team, growing from 11 to 45 employees.
Haverfordwest residents benefit from Mr Britton’s clinical expertise – he holds multiple postgraduate diplomas that allow him to prescribe medication directly to customers, helping to ease pressure on local GP surgeries and hospitals. He has also led the introduction of enhanced services, including glaucoma monitoring, ensuring more people can access specialist care closer to home.
Reflecting on his career, Mr Britton says: ‘It’s been a privilege to serve the Haverfordwest community over the last 20 years. I’m proud of the team we’ve built and the progress we’ve made – all with the aim of delivering the best possible care for our customers.’
Mr Britton’s anniversary was celebrated alongside colleagues Elise Evans, Gareth Riley and Carrie Lewis-Jones – each marking 15 years with Specsavers – as well as other team members celebrating 10 and five-year milestones.
Fellow director, Wayne Jones, was among those celebrating five years with the business, after joining the Haverfordwest store in 2020. He was named a finalist for Optometrist of the Year at the Optometry Wales Awards in 2023 and then in 2024, joined forces with Mr Britton as retail director of the store.
Commenting on the milestone, Mr Jones says: ‘Our team’s experience and dedication are what makes Specsavers Haverfordwest so special. Reaching 100 years of individual long service milestones in 2025 is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s a real testament to the commitment of our colleagues, and we look forward to many more successful years ahead.’
To mark the occasion, the directors hosted an in-store awards ceremony, presenting certificates and bottles of champagne to the nine long-serving team members celebrating.
Specsavers Haverfordwest is open seven days a week. To find out more information about Specsavers in Haverfordwest, request an appointment or browse the online store, visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/haverfordwest.
Additionally, to make eye health accessible to all, the store offers a Home Visits service for those unable to leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness.
Community
Appeal launched as Welsh teenagers missing for nearly a week

POLICE have launched an appeal after two teenagers from Wales went missing almost a week ago.
Isobel and Daniel, both aged 16, were last seen together in the Machynlleth area of Powys on Monday. They are from the Cardigan area of Ceredigion and are believed to have links to both Gloucestershire and Merseyside.
Isobel is described as 5ft 3ins tall with blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a black parka-style coat with a fur-trimmed hood, grey jogging bottoms, and carrying a large black backpack.
Daniel is described as 6ft 1ins tall, with short dark brown hair shaved at the sides. He was last seen wearing dark blue jeans, a black T-shirt, and a black collared coat. He was carrying a large camping backpack in black, red, and grey.
Dyfed-Powys Police is urging anyone with information about their whereabouts to get in touch via the online portal, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by calling 101.
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