A SIX-WAY battle to contest a Pembrokeshire seat made vacant following the resignation of local county councillor Andrew Edwards during the Christmas period is to take place next month.

Unaffiliated county councillor for Haverfordwest’s Prendergast Ward Cllr Edwards had previously been a Conservative group member, leaving in 2023 when serious allegations of racist ‘slave’ comments emerged, following a recording where he was alleged to have said every white man should have a black slave.

Following that allegation Mr Edwards, a former magistrate and a school governor, withdrew from the political group and referred himself to the Ombudsman for an independent evaluation.

Cllr Edwards, who became a councillor in the 2022 elections, neither confirmed nor denied the allegation when previously asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Since then, Cllr Edwards has tendered his resignation over the Christmas 2024 period saying his position is “untenable” due to “family matters”.

Following Mr Edwards’ resignation, notice was given by Chief Executive William Bramble of a casual vacancy for the county councillor position for the ward, and six candidates have thrown their names into the hat to represent the ward, the election to take place on February 11.

The candidates are: Kaleb Jenkins, Liberal Democrats; Mike Mathias, Conservative; James Purchase, Green Party; Scott Thorley, Reform; Alison Tudor, Labour; and Alun Wills, Independent, with further nominations now closed.

Poll Cards will be sent to electors before the election. The polling station will be at Pembrokeshire Archives, not Meadow Park Day Centre as has been previously used in recent years.

Photographic ID will not be required to vote at this election.

Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 12 midnight on January 24; applications to vote by post or alterations to existing arrangements for postal voting, must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by no later than 5pm on January 27.

Applications to vote by proxy must reach Electoral Registration Officer by no later than 5pm on the February 3.

PLANNERS are to visit the site of the first phase of a proposed scheme for 67 affordable homes in a Pembrokeshire village ahead of any decision.

In an application recommended for conditional approval at the January meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Ateb Group Limited sought permission for a “100 per cent affordable” residential development of 57 houses and 10 bungalows, and associated works, at land off The Kilns, Llangwm, the site already having permission for 54 homes.

An officer report, recommending approval, says a social housing grant has been secured for the first phase of the proposed development, for 25 dwellings, with the mix of the second phase indicative at this stage.

Llangwm Community Council has raised issues including sewerage system capacity, a lack of facilities in the village and at nearby Cleddau Reach School for the size of the development, and potential traffic congestion.

18 letters of concern, including from Cleddau Reach VC school were also received, raising issues including traffic and parking, a loss of privacy, the scale and design of the development, the scheme representing a “fundamental change in the character of the village,” being “in excess of the need for affordable housing in Llangwm and nearby villages,” and “likely anti-social behaviour associated with the development”.

The application was recommended for the council’s head of planning to have delegated powers of approval subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement which includes financial contributions to mitigate the impact of development on local schools Cleddau Reach VC and Haverfordwest High VC.

Speaking at the meeting Barry Childs, on behalf of the community council, said the scheme before the committee “bore little resemblance” to the original proposal, with “limited knowledge of the village and its facilities”.

Local member Cllr Michael John expressed concerns at the size and location of the proposal, saying he could not support the scheme in its current format, calling on Ateb to withdraw it.

Calls were later made to defer the application for Ateb to meet with the community over the concerns raised, with concerns also raised on the impact the development would have on water quality from thew increased foul water draining demands of the scheme.

Members were told no deferral for to seek an amended scheme was possible, a proposal later being moved by Cllr Alan Dennison for a site visit and land drainage concerns, the application returning to a future meeting.

A SCHEME for a battery storage facility near Pembroke Power Station which will put the county at “the forefront of South Wales’ low-carbon future” has been approved by county planners.

In an application recommended for conditional approval the January meeting of Pembrokeshire County council’s planning committee, RWE Generation UK plc sought permission for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of up to 212 battery units including ancillary works, along with a connection to the National Grid on land next to Pembroke Power Station, Pwllcrochan, Pembroke.

An officer report for planners said: “The application site comprises an area of approximately 32 hectares of primarily agricultural land within the countryside, to the south of Pembroke Power Station.

“As well as the main part of the application site that would accommodate the BESS, the application site also includes a linear cable route to connect the BESS to the National Grid substation located adjacent to Pembroke Power Station, temporary construction laydown areas and a new means of access from the main power station access road to the west.”

Members heard that extensive mitigation was planned for visual impacts related to the proposal.

Speaking at the meeting, project manager Victoria Williamson said RWE wanted the Pembrokeshire site to be “at the forefront of South Wales’ low-carbon future,” the battery facility providing storage of excess electrical energy from the ‘grid, contributing to a consistent energy framework by storing energy at peaks and making it available for periods of higher demand.

Members heard local town and community councils had been liaised with, and local households had been informed of the scheme, with “overwhelming support for the proposal”.

Following a request for information from Cllr Alan Dennison, members were told that, if approved, it was hoped the scheme would start at the end of 2025, and be operational by early 2028.

Moving approval, Cllr Brian Hall said: “If we don’t go down this line, to be honest I don’t think the power station will stay there; it’s essential to go down this green energy, with the extra staff and benefits to the Pembrokeshire economy I think it’s marvellous, I have no hesitation whatsoever to move this recommendation.”

The recommendation for conditional delegated approval from the council’s head of planning, once a draft Habitat Regulations Assessment had been ratified, was unanimously passed by committee members.