News

Pembroke Dock: Residents say no to waste facility

Published

7 years ago

June 5, 2019

RESIDENTS and Pembroke Dock Town Councillors have said they do not want a waste transfer facility in the town.

At a meeting of the Town Council on Thursday (May 30), members discussed the plans having previously met with the Port Authority while Natural Resources Wales have also held a consultation evening in the Town.

It is planned to store waste which will be used to produce energy. Usually this is processed baled waste and loose processed wood waste. It would contain non-hazardous waste from homes and businesses, which can be used as fuel to produce electricity in offsite energy-from-waste facilities.

All waste sites must have a permit before they can operate. To be granted a permit the operators must show that they have the right infrastructure, management techniques and equipment to deal with the waste in the proposed area.

In a statement released in May, Andrea Winterton, Operations Manager from NRW said: “The Milford Haven Waterway, as well as being a key hub for the energy industry, is a rich habitat for wildlife, and part of the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation.
“Our experts will now begin their assessment, but local knowledge is incredibly valuable to us. All comments we receive as part of our consultation will be considered when it comes to making our decision.”

Many at the meeting said there were a number of unanswered questions and Cllr Josh Beynon said he didn’t think anybody in the building would be able to answer them. He suggested a meeting be set up with members of the Council and the Port Authority for them to outline their plans to members of the public.
Some people said the smells coming from the site when it was previously operated had put tourists off and that there had been problems with flies.

Cllr Beynon read out an email from the Council’s Strategic Project Manager who said that since August 2018 the site had been used as a waste transfer station for orange bags and that there was no processing of materials on the site.
It also said that since PCC had taken over the facility, NRW had been happy with the current practice.

Cllr Paul Dowson said he had visited the Port Authority but said that they didn’t seem to know an awful lot about what was being planned.
He added that there didn’t seem to be any details and that unless they didn’t invite the Port to a meeting it would just be a ‘rubbish tip that smells’.

Cllr Dowson went on to say: “The Port Authority have a long lasting legacy of not being very good with the truth. They have denied the operation, the staff have been told not to mention it. What are they up to? There are so many grey areas and we are a long way off before saying we do support it.
“Pembroke Dock isn’t the waste bin of Wales. I will be opposing this and we have to represent the views of the people of the town of Pembroke Dock.”

One resident, Peter Cox, spoke of the proximity of the rubbish to South Pembrokeshire Hospital and said they had to put fly traps up outside it because they didn’t have the resources to do so.

Another said that looking for information was like an ‘iron curtain’ adding: “This was thrown out from Swansea, if Swansea don’t want it, why the hell are we going to have it?”

Cllr Murton added that when RDF operated the site previously it was a ‘scandalous disgrace’ and that she was ‘delighted’ when it was closed down.
Cllr George Manning said: “We need to meet with PCC and the Port to explain their plans in more detail. We don’t want it in Pembroke Dock. This is not the place to have it, just 300 yards from the town centre. We have to use the Dock as it should be used.”

Chris Page said he had difficulty downloading documents from the NRW website during the consultation and that the Port needed to explain their plans before a permit was given.
Another resident said that when they moved to the area from Suffolk there were no flies but when RDF operated the site they were getting more and more flies.

Cllr O’Connor said: “It has been made very clear, we have to be united as a council and say no to waste dumping in Pembroke Dock.
“If they want to store waste somewhere, find somewhere suitable because Pembroke Dock says no.”
Others commented that they didn’t want to be ‘prisoners’ in their own home and that Pembroke Dock would become the ‘capital of waste’.
One person from the Shipwright Inn said that tourism was really good but added they had seen some families walk out because of the smell saying it was not only ‘embarrassing’ for them but for the town as well.

Some at the meeting spoke of doing a protest if it went ahead and making a petition against putting waste on the site.
Mayor, Cllr Gordon Goff concluded by saying: “Nothing will be passed by the Town Council until all the questions are answered. This is Pembroke Dock not Pembroke Dump.”
A spokesperson for Natural Resources Wales said: “We are currently assessing an application for an environmental permit for a waste facility, reference PAN-003929, from Milford Haven Port Authority. The application is for:

The temporary storage of baled fuel derived from waste, namely Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF), pending onward transfer.
The temporary storage of wood waste pending onward transfer
The maximum amount of RDF, SRF or wood proposed to be stored is to be less than 9000 tonnes at any one time
The annual throughput of waste proposed is 80,000 tonnes per annum.

“Our public consultation window, which has now closed, has generated responses from both technical consultees and members of the public. We are in the process of assessing the responses and all relevant comments will be taken into consideration.

“We will endeavour to reach a draft decision as quickly as possible, however we do need to make sure that all required information is gathered and assessed appropriately

“We will only grant an environmental permit if we believe that the application achieves the standards of the environmental legislation and the operator has the ability to meet the conditions of the permit. Any permit we may grant will include appropriate conditions to protect human health and the environment.”

Speaking after the meeting, Andy Jones, Interim CEO, said: “We met with Pembroke Dock Town Council a few weeks ago to discuss our application to NRW for a temporary waste storage permit. The feedback we received at the time was largely positive. The meeting prompted further questions from individual councillors which we have responded to and since there has been no response to the answers provided we assumed we had addressed any concerns. We are surprised, therefore, to read that Town Councillors have said, in their most recent meeting on 30th May, that they are not supportive of our plans.

“The comments made by Town Councillors are generally referring back to memories of an unpleasant and unacceptable experience during the previous operation which was not run by ourselves, but by a third party. This time we are confident things will be different. If we didn’t have this confidence we would not be making this application.

“The following mitigation measures will be put in place. It is important to note that these were not in place during the previous operation:

Minimum 8 layers of bale wrap

Fine mesh net covering bales

Contact insecticide distributed on board around stack

5m screen surrounding stack with netting = secondary fly net and site screen

Pesticide control regime primarily focusing on larvicides

Stock tracking e.g. oldest bales shipped first

Stringent acceptance and monitoring procedures

Odour neutralising technology

Bale reception procedure to identify non-compliant waste

“As a Trust Port, we exist to create opportunities for the people and businesses of Pembrokeshire. We are a catalyst for economic growth and our mission is to build prosperity across the Haven. As we have mentioned before, our staff are local people, many of them living near the Port and very much part of the community. We, as much as the Town Council and local residents, do not want Pembroke Dock to be the waste bin of Wales. This is not, and will never be, what we are proposing. We are very proud of Pembroke Port’s historical significance as a Dockyard, and we are simply trying to expand trade to increase our abilities as a Port and provide more jobs for the local community. But, we are in competition with other Ports who transport the same waste bales generated across the UK. We must be able to compete with these Ports or jobs will be lost to those areas that are able to deliver the services needed in today’s society.

“We are ultimately trying to raise Pembroke Port’s profile in the industry so that it is recognised, in its own right, as a port that has the capacity and capability to handle a variety of trades. When speaking with colleagues in the industry about Pembroke Port, it is clear that its profile has been overshadowed by Milford Haven’s reputation as a well-regarded oil and gas port. The more trades we can attract to Pembroke Port, bearing in mind there are limitations due to our location and hinterland, the more opportunities we will have to promote what the Port can offer.”

CLARIFICATION FROM COUNTY COUNCIL

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) would like to clarify the following facts surrounding this proposal and permit application by the Port Authority.

“Pembrokeshire County Council has had no involvement with the application, the proposed activities will not involve waste collected by Pembrokeshire County Council, and it should be noted that our residual waste is contracted to an Energy from Waste facility, in Cardiff, up until 2027.

“It is felt that the confusion may have arisen due to the fact that Pembrokeshire County Council has a Waste and Recycling Transfer Station at Gate 4, Pembroke Port. The operations and permit surrounding this facility were transferred to Pembrokeshire County Council in August 2018 following the termination of the RDF processing contract.

“Since August 2018 PCC have used the facility as a Waste Transfer Station for Dry Mixed Recycling (Orange Bags), Food Waste, Glass and Residual Waste collected in Pembrokeshire. Materials are delivered to site in recycling and refuse collection vehicles, bulked in internal designated bays before being loaded onto artic vehicles prior to onward transportation to reprocessors. No processing of materials is undertaken on site and there is no external storage of waste at this location. Since Pembrokeshire County Council took on the facility at Gate 4, and the operations within, NRW have confirmed they are happy with the current operating practices.

“We are in the process of reviewing the operations of the site and are about to submit a permit variation surrounding our operations at Gate 4 Pembroke Port. This variation is actually requesting to remove the permit activities surrounding RDF production and storage as this is not an operation which PCC are planning on undertaking in the future. All current and future plans are focused on short term bulking of material prior to onwards transportation to other facilities in Wales or the wider UK.”

Finance

Young people urged to claim share of £1.6bn in forgotten savings

Published

8 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HUNDREDS of thousands of young people are being urged to check whether they are entitled to forgotten savings held in Child Trust Fund accounts.

The UK Government has launched a new drive to reunite young adults with more than £1.6bn in unclaimed savings, with more than 750,000 matured accounts still unclaimed.

Child Trust Funds were set up for children born between September 1, 2002, and January 2, 2011, with Government payments made into accounts to give young people a financial asset when they reached adulthood.

Around 6.3 million accounts were opened, mostly by parents or guardians, with some set up directly by HMRC where no account was opened.

The average unclaimed account is worth around £2,200.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury Rachel Blake MP has now convened a new Child Trust Fund Taskforce, bringing together government and providers to improve tracing and encourage more young people to access their money.

Members include OneFamily, Coutts, Nationwide, HSBC UK, Pilling, The Coventry, Sheffield Mutual, Unity Mutual, Forester, Healthy Investments and The Share Foundation.

Ms Blake said: “Too many young people are missing out simply because they are not aware of where their Child Trust Fund is or how to access it.

“We are acting to fix that by bringing government and industry together, improving coordination and making it easier for people to find and claim what’s rightfully theirs.”

HMRC chief executive JP Marks said many young people had an average of £2,200 waiting to be claimed.

He said: “This is their money, and we want to do all we can to help them find and access it.

“If you think you have one, you can use the Find my Child Trust Fund tool on GOV.UK to find out where your account is held.”

Accounts began maturing on September 1, 2020, when the oldest eligible young people turned 18.

Anyone born between September 1, 2002, and January 2, 2011, can search for their account for free on GOV.UK using their National Insurance number.

Those aged 18 or over can access the funds immediately.

Local Government

Seven candidates contest Pembroke Dock Market Ward by-election

Published

8 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

VOTERS in Pembroke Dock’s Market Ward will head to the polls on Thursday, July 9, to elect a new county councillor, with seven candidates standing.

The by-election has attracted candidates from across the political spectrum, alongside three independents, with priorities including healthcare, education, regeneration, cleaner streets, social care and community services.

Independent Hayley Wood says her campaign is centred on listening to residents and ensuring their concerns are represented. She has pledged to support community groups and volunteers, improve transparency and accountability, protect local services, including healthcare, and work collaboratively for the benefit of Pembroke Dock.

She has also highlighted dog fouling as a priority, calling for targeted patrols, mobile CCTV in problem areas and closer working with residents to identify hotspots.

Independent Paul Haywood Dowson is highlighting what he describes as a strong record of campaigning on local issues. He says he helped defeat proposals for a waste storage site at Pembroke Port, opposed plans for a fuel tanker depot on Criterion Way, tackled problems linked to a rogue landlord at the former Coronation School and Commercial Row, worked to remove fly-tipping and overflowing bins, and campaigned on issues surrounding Penally Camp.

Independent Claire Francis-Boswell is focusing on community involvement and volunteering. She says she has worked alongside organisations including Pater Hall Community Trust, Pembrokeshire Pride, Pennar Hall, Friends of Pembroke Pool, the neighbourhood policing team and the town council.

She highlighted her continued work with Pembroke Dock’s Warm Rooms initiative, describing it as an important source of support for vulnerable and isolated residents. She also says she works with local businesses to promote the town centre, while campaigning on issues including antisocial behaviour, dangerous driving and dog fouling.

Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate Lee Herring has identified cleaner and safer streets as a key priority, including repairing potholes and damaged pavements. He is also calling for greater support for young people, improved healthcare services at Argyle Street Surgery, better standards at Ysgol Harri Tudur and stronger accountability from elected representatives.

Reform UK candidate Ryan Morgan says his experience working in social care and running a business has shaped his priorities. He has pledged to campaign for improved social care provision, support the regeneration of neglected sites and empty properties, and improve additional learning needs provision.

Morgan, who is also a local authority school governor, says his personal experience as the parent of a child with autism has given him first-hand insight into the challenges facing families seeking support.

Plaid Cymru candidate Chloe Louise Richards says her background as a registered nurse and clinical practice educator has equipped her with leadership, communication and problem-solving skills. She also serves as a trade union steward, representing colleagues and negotiating on their behalf.

Richards says she wants to see stronger local services, greater opportunities for residents and businesses, and a council that listens to local people.

Welsh Conservative candidate Jamie Street says being part of an established Conservative group at Pembrokeshire County Council would provide access to experience and support while enabling him to raise local issues effectively.

Street says he wants to challenge what he describes as wasteful council spending, arguing that greater focus should be placed on core services including schools, roads, housing and social care. He has pledged to scrutinise council decisions, ensure value for taxpayers’ money and put Market Ward’s interests first if elected.

The by-election was called following the death of veteran county councillor Brian Hall in April. Cllr Hall had represented Pembroke Dock’s Market Ward since 1996 and served in a number of senior roles during three decades of public service.

Crime

Historic Vagrancy Act repealed as rough sleeping is decriminalised

Published

9 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A 200-year-old law which criminalised rough sleeping and begging has been repealed in England and Wales.

The Vagrancy Act 1824, long criticised by homelessness charities as outdated and inhumane, was formally repealed today, Monday, June 29.

The change means people can no longer be criminalised simply for sleeping rough or begging, although existing laws remain in place to deal with criminal behaviour or anti-social behaviour where necessary.

Welsh homelessness charity The Wallich welcomed the repeal, describing it as a major step away from punishment and towards support.

Sian Aldridge, Interim Chief Executive at The Wallich, said: “If you are forced to sleep on the streets, you are not a ‘vagrant’, you’re a human being who needs support and love.

“Experiencing homelessness is extremely traumatic and the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act was altogether cruel, inhumane and actively prevented people from breaking repeated cycles of homelessness. It’s been a long fight get it repealed.”

The charity said it had campaigned for years alongside Crisis, Liberty, Shelter Cymru, St Mungo’s, Centrepoint, Cymorth Cymru and Homeless Link for the law to be scrapped.

Ms Aldridge added: “The final repeal of the Vagrancy Act shows that when we speak out together, change is possible. Change that could be transformative to tackling homelessness in Wales.

“We only hope now that policing and local authorities in Wales do not use other means to unnecessarily penalise people for sleeping rough.”

The Wallich said it remained concerned about the use of dispersal orders, public space protection orders and “hostile architecture”, such as anti-sleep benches or doorway spikes, where these are used to move people on rather than address the causes of homelessness.

The repeal comes after years of pressure from charities and campaigners, who argued that criminalising rough sleeping pushed vulnerable people further away from help.

The UK Government said the move marked a shift from punishment to prevention, with ministers saying homelessness should be treated as a social issue requiring support rather than prosecution.