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Officers thought request for information ‘unreasonable’

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A CONTROVERSIAL application due for consideration by the County Council’s Planning Committee was removed from the agenda of its meeting last Tuesday (Oct 5).
The application due for discussion relates to a massive housing development of 729 houses on land off Slade Lane, Haverfordwest.
Head of Planning David Popplewell sprang the surprise move on the morning of the meeting.
The Committee was asked to consider scrapping an affordable housing commitment in the development under matters reserved from the existing planning permission.
The existing permission contains a condition that 25% of the houses built would be affordable homes.
The applicant now claims meeting that condition would make developing the site commercially unviable.

A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE SCENES

Invited to explain the late decision by a clearly frustrated Cllr Jacob Williams, Mr Popplewell told the Committee: “There has been consideration of a number of matters since publication of the agenda relating to development viability. “We consider the viability study prepared by the district valuer should be before the Committee and the report before members today does not, perhaps, give the full range of information to inform their judgment on the recommendation to approve the changes the developer seeks.”
Cllr Williams responded by lifting the veil on preparations for Planning Committee meetings.
The day before the meeting, it’s Cllr Williams’s practice to review items on the agenda with the Council’s planning officers to iron out any details and grasp the issues that come to the Committee.
He told members – and the watching public – he met with planning officers on Monday (October 4) and expressed concern at the thinness of the report Planning Committee members were supposed to form a judgement on, especially as it related to such a large project. He told members that if the matter came before the Committee as scheduled, he would have moved a motion to defer it pending the delivery of more complete information to them.
“It’s only since then,” he said, “that this matter has been removed from the agenda. My view is that members should see the district valuer’s report, upon which so much hinges. There was a lot of push-back on that and I was told my request was ‘unreasonable’.”

WE MUST SEE THE EVIDENCE AND REPRESENTATIONS MUST BE ALLOWED


Cllr Williams continued: “My position is that where planning officers would have sight of reports to inform their decisions if they decided the matter themselves, it is only right that committee members have the same material to inform them.”
He also outlined that it was only the previous day he’d been contacted by Haverfordwest Town Council informing him they were unaware of this application and had not been notified of it. He explained that the Planning Department’s position was that the Town Council did not need to be told because this was not a planning application but an application to modify existing permission.
Jacob Williams expressed the opinion; “There is something when we don’t notify concerned parties of such a consequent application.
“By the time this comes back to the Committee,” he said, “I hope all those who might wish to speak on this matter will have the opportunity to do so.”

COMMITTEE SHARES CHAIR’S CONCERNS

Cllr Mark Carter supported the Chair. He tartly observed that the Committee was being asked to remove 180 affordable houses from Haverfordwest on the back of a very slim document.
Cllr Tony Wilcox observed that the Committee was being asked to approve something the size of a medium-sized village in Haverfordwest with no affordable housing without any supporting documentation.
Jacob Williams moved a proposal that the decision be deferred.
He wanted Committee members to see all documents and appendices from the District Valuer’s report and a copy of the applicant’s representations supporting scrapping the affordable housing provision.
Cllr Mark Carter seconded the motion.
Cllr Jonathan Preston expressed disbelief and concern that removing the affordable housing provision could have been done “at the stroke of a pen.”
He thanked David Popplewell for ensuring it did come before members to decide.
Cllr Jacob Williams’s motion was carried unanimously.

SIZE AND ECONOMICS THE ISSUES

According to Welsh Government statistics, the average household size in Pembrokeshire is circa. 2.3 people.
The Slade Lane development would add well over 1,600 people to the population of Haverfordwest. That would make the housing estate the size of a whole County Council ward if fully occupied.
While Pembrokeshire faces a housing shortage, the shortage of houses is most acute for those seeking affordable homes or social housing to rent.
When a previous planning committee granted permission, the scheme involved the construction of a new petrol station and supermarket. It was hailed as bringing commercial opportunities and employment to our county town.
That permission hinged on the promise of 500 jobs being brought to Pembrokeshire by Sainsbury’s.
At the time, the then developer’s agent said: “Financial realities have meant there has been little progress with this site in seven years. Sainsburys now makes this possible. The new store cross-subsidises the wider development.”
However, the supermarket scheme went down the drain in 2015, when Sainsbury’s withdrew their interest.
Despite having some infrastructure in place, the site has remained vacant and undeveloped ever since.
The developer’s problem undoubtedly boils down to money.
Supply lines are stretched, material costs have skyrocketed, margins are shrinking, and qualified workers with the appropriate certifications are in very short supply. New Welsh Government regulations on phosphate solutions and the requirement for new builds to be more energy efficient also drive up developers’ costs.
The current Pembrokeshire housing boom is driven by purchasers from outside Pembrokeshire snapping up our county’s relatively cheap housing stock in a limited number of areas for second homes or as holiday-letting investments.
At that end of the market, the ratchet effect has inexorably raised prices elsewhere in the county, where stock is limited. The end result is that many Pembrokeshire residents are unable to get on the property ladder.
Suppose houses at the Slade Lane development are priced out of locals’ reach. In that case, the most likely outcome is that properties would be bought as investments by speculators and private landlords, second homes, Airbnb’s, or even outright holiday lets.
That is not what was originally promised and is not the basis upon which the original permission was agreed in 2013.

Health

Phone calls to reduce GP visits for 42% of patients this winter

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NEW research from the Royal Voluntary Service has shown that a simple phone call could significantly impact well-being, reducing GP visits by 42% among patients who receive regular telephone support.

The charity urges those feeling isolated this winter, particularly the elderly, to use telephone support services as a way to improve health and free up GP appointments, potentially reducing waiting times. It is estimated that if people experiencing loneliness in later life reduced their GP visits by just one appointment a year, this could free up 588,000 appointments annually.

As winter approaches, the Royal Voluntary Service reports that isolation can sharply increase, especially for adults over 75, with nearly half (47%) of people in this age group feeling lonelier in the colder months. Among those who live alone, one in six say they feel forgotten during winter, and 20% report having no one to turn to for emotional support.

In addition to loneliness, older generations face several winter worries, including increased heating costs, cited by 55% of respondents, and reduced ability to go out, which 29% said they dreaded as winter sets in.

To address these challenges, Royal Voluntary Service has launched the Stay Safe, Warm and Well campaign in partnership with Yakult. The campaign provides a guide for practical and emotional winter preparation, encouraging sign-ups for telephone support services and offering access to the Virtual Village Hall online community for events and activities. Practical advice on money-saving and energy-saving tips is also available through the guide.

Royal Voluntary Service Ambassador Elaine Paige, who has herself made support calls for the charity, described the positive impact these calls can have. “A warm, friendly phone call can transform someone’s day. Some conversations leave you smiling long after the call ends—something we could all use, especially in winter. For those facing the season alone, there are amazing people ready to remind you that you’re not alone,” she said.

The charity’s support services match volunteers with individuals across the UK for friendly chats, reducing isolation and boosting mental health. Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “The feedback that conversations with volunteers are helping people to visit their GP less is testament to the value of connection.”

Yakult Marketing Manager Reshma Patel added: “Our research with Royal Voluntary Service shows that one in four adults over 75 feel they’d benefit from practical and emotional support over winter. We are committed to helping people access the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide to support their overall well-being.”

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Crime

Welsh shop workers face ‘surge in shoplifting linked violence and abuse’ says union

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A NEW survey by retail trade union Usdaw has revealed disturbing figures on the abuse, threats, and violence endured by Welsh shop workers, with incidents increasingly linked to shoplifting. Released during Respect for Shop Workers Week, which runs from November 11 to 17, the statistics highlight a troubling trend that is impacting thousands of retail employees.

Usdaw’s survey, based on responses from over 4,000 retail staff, shows that in the past year:

  • 69% experienced verbal abuse.
  • 45% were threatened by customers.
  • 17% were assaulted.

Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis commented on the findings, saying: “Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive. These reports from Welsh retail staff make grim reading. It is shocking to see over two-thirds of our members subjected to abuse, threats, and violence. Seven in ten of these incidents are related to theft, much of it tied to addiction and organised crime.”

Usdaw’s survey suggests that shoplifting is increasingly becoming a flashpoint for violence. Many shop workers report encountering hardened criminals who appear to steal goods “to order” or to fund addictions. According to the union, incidents are on the rise across Wales, with police-reported shoplifting up by 33% in the past year.

Usdaw member testimonies paint a vivid picture of the dangers faced on the shop floor:

  • One respondent described being “spat at, pushed against a wall, punched, and threatened with a knife.”
  • Another reported that, after refusing to sell alcohol, they were told to “F**k off” and threatened with a beating by a group of five.
  • Others spoke of being punched, spat on, and verbally abused, with threats that often left lasting emotional scars.

New measures on the horizon

Usdaw has been calling for greater legal protection for retail workers for years, and it appears these calls are finally being heard. The recent Crime and Policing Bill, announced in the King’s Speech, proposes to:

  • End the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has been a source of frustration for retailers.
  • Introduce town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.
  • Allocate funding for tackling organised shoplifting and increase police presence in shopping areas.

“We welcome these new measures and hope they will provide much-needed protection,” said Mr. Lillis. “After 14 years of neglect under successive Tory governments, we are encouraged by the steps the new Labour government is taking to address the retail crime epidemic.”

As Christmas approaches—a time when retail crime tends to peak—Usdaw is urging the public to “respect shop workers” and remain calm as stores become busier.

Usdaw, which represents around 360,000 members, primarily in retail, launched its Freedom From Fear Campaign to tackle the growing issue of violence against shop workers. The final results of the 2024 survey are expected in March 2025.

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Charity

Milford Haven RNLI celebrates heartfelt donation from Neyland Ladies Choir

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MILFORD HAVEN RNLI Fundraising Group received a generous donation of over £1,000 from Neyland Ladies Choir this October, marking a touching tribute to Mrs. Dorothy Beckett, one of the RNLI’s longest-standing supporters.

The Neyland Ladies Choir held a special concert at St. Mary’s Church on Waterloo Road, Hakin, to celebrate Dorothy Beckett’s 90th birthday. A lifelong supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Dorothy has played a crucial role in lifeboat fundraising in the Milford Haven area, dating back to the 1970s. She was instrumental in establishing the Hakin Point RNLI fundraising group, which has raised over £500,000 to support the RNLI’s lifesaving work.

The concert’s proceeds were presented in a moving ceremony at Bethesda Baptist Church in Neyland. Accepting the donation on behalf of the RNLI were Steve Lewis, Chairman of the fundraising group, and Thomas Kehoe, Deputy Coxswain of the Angle Lifeboat.

Adding to the evening’s celebrations, Alice Coleman, RNLI Community Manager, presented Dorothy with the Long Service Medal, recognizing her fifty years of dedication to the institution. This award, given by the RNLI, honors Dorothy’s unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea.

“Thank you, Neyland Ladies Choir and Dorothy Beckett,” said the RNLI in a heartfelt message to the community. “Your support and dedication mean the world to us.”

The Milford Haven RNLI Fundraising Group encourages supporters to share and spread the word, hoping that Dorothy’s legacy inspires continued community support.

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