News

Council will ‘use powers if necessary’ to improve High St

Published

3 years ago

February 16, 2022

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL will use its powers, when necessary, to help improve the condition of some buildings in Haverfordwest’s High Street.

Numerous complaints have been made to councillors about the state of some of the town’s shops, some of which are empty and/or in need of repairs.

Speaking at a meeting of the Cabinet on Monday, February 14, Cllr Paul Miller said that they would not be afraid to use the powers available to them, if it came to that.

He told the meeting of a number of initiatives which the council has already undertaken and said that the regeneration of Haverfordwest was one of the council’s main priorities.

The Council now owns the Riverside Shopping Centre and is also looking to demolish the multi-storey car park and replace it with a new one.

Cllr Miller said he was confident that by putting money into the town centre, it would encourage the private sector to do so as well.

He said: “We’ve made this a priority as an administration and we’ve made significant efforts to support the transformation and transform the fortunes of Haverfordwest.

“A planning decision is imminent in relation to the demolition and re-provision of the multi-storey car park and transport interchange and that’s all about making visiting the town more easier, more convenient, more welcoming.

“We now own the Riverside Shopping centre and occupancy has risen since we have secured that site and we’ve also secured some important service tenants.

“Based on our current projections we’re going to be a long way from our worst case scenario and in the financial year 21/22 we’d expect to see a surplus equal to around 30% of the council’s contribution to the purchase in the first place.

“We’re committed also to more than £20m investment in linking the castle with the town, that’s a new iconic pedestrian crossing of the river and new arcade through Bridge Street to directly link the castle and it’s the regeneration of the castle itself to create event space.

“In relation to the High Street, we’ve designated the High Street as an intervention area for the latest realms of grant support, including the Welsh Government’s targeting and investment programme. That scheme includes support for residential units in town centres and commercial property improvement grants.

“We recently awarded significant grant awards under the programme for both Haverfordwest and Pembroke.

“It’s important to note that those activities are already underway so I am genuinely convinced that we’re doing everything we possibly can to support the transformation and regeneration of Haverfordwest.”

Cllr Miller also said he had spoken to someone who was looking at purchasing a building on High Street and said he was determined to make Haverfordwest something that people can be proud of.

He went on to say there may be some occasions who don’t want to do any work on their buildings but said that they would not be afraid to use their powers if it came to that.

Cllr Tom Tudor said he had had ‘years of complaints’ about High Street and that it was reassuring that the use of specialist powers to ensure that property owners do bring their ‘houses in order’.

Cllr Jon Harvey said it was a problem in most towns and said that putting money into town centres could only be ‘beneficial’.

Education

South Hook delivers vital safety lessons to Pembrokeshire children

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE’S CRUCIAL CREW event returned earlier this month, delivering essential safety lessons to year six pupils from across the county.

Now in its 31st year, Wales’ longest-running Crucial Crew programme hosted nearly 1,300 children from 44 schools at Scolton Manor Park’s Barn – the event’s first time at this venue. The initiative, organised by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Road Safety Team, is supported by South Hook LNG Terminal.

Since its inception in 1993, more than 40,000 Pembrokeshire schoolchildren have taken part in the interactive workshops designed to teach critical safety skills. Aimed at year six pupils, the programme continues to play a key role in preparing children for a safer future as they transition to secondary school.

Covering a wide range of everyday scenarios, the workshops provide guidance on water, fire, road, and rail safety, as well as school bus evacuation, electrical hazards, internet safety, and handling dogs. The programme also addresses serious topics such as domestic violence. Through these hands-on scenarios, children develop practical knowledge that can stay with them for life.

Hamad Al Samra, General Manager of South Hook LNG Terminal, expressed pride in supporting the initiative: “Having backed Crucial Crew for the past fifteen years, we are incredibly proud to continue our involvement in a programme that teaches our children such diverse and valuable safety skills. Our thanks to all the dedicated individuals from various agencies who make this event possible.”

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, echoed this sentiment: “Pembrokeshire County Council is proud to be a partner in this fantastic scheme, supporting our young people to be safer now and in the future. We are grateful for the commitment of everyone involved in delivering Crucial Crew.”

This year’s event featured contributions from key organisations, including:

Pembrokeshire Domestic Abuse Services
Road Safety and School Transport teams
National Grid and Network Rail
Welsh Ambulance Service
Dyfed Powys Police
Mid and West Wales Fire Service
John Burns Foundation
HM Coastguard and the RNLI

Charity

Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society donate £1,400 to all-Wales charity

Published

4 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

WALES AIR AMBULANCE has continued to benefit from being the chosen charity of Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s president Adam Thorne.

Throughout the year the society has come together to raise much-needed funds for the Wales Air Ambulance.

Adam chose the Wales Air Ambulance Charity because of how valuable the service is to the rural and farming community in West Wales.

Following a successful harvest festival service and pre-Pembrokeshire County Show service, donations were made towards the charity of £1,400.

Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. For the patient, this can mean hours saved when compared to standard care and is proven to greatly improve survival and early recovery.

This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.

As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.

The Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every ensure to keep its helicopters in the air and its rapid response vehicles on the road.

Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s fundraising journey will continue, with a carol concert on 16 December and a luncheon in February.

Mike May, the Charity’s Regional Fundraising Manager for West Wales said: “Firstly a huge thank you to President Adam Thorne for picking our Charity as Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s Charity of the Year. Thank you to everyone who has helped to raise the funds and will continue to assist with fundraising events for Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society.

“The Charity relies on donations, like these to be able to continue to provide our lifesaving service for the people of Wales. We hope the up and coming concert and luncheon is just as successful as their previous fundraisers.”

Business

Millin Brook Luxury Dog Boarding wins three top industry awards

Published

4 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MILLIN BROOK Luxury Dog Boarding, a family-run business in Wiston, has received three major industry awards this year, cementing its place as a leader in pet care services.

The first accolade came in September when the business was named Business Service of the Year at the PetQuip Awards. Co-owner Sian Smith said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded Business Service of the Year. We put our heart and soul into providing the highest possible level of service to our wonderful clients, and it’s great to have this recognised by industry experts.”

THE UK’S BEST

On November 7, Millin Brook was crowned Best Kennels in the UK at the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) Awards. These awards, which celebrate excellence across the pet care sector, saw Millin Brook score highly in customer satisfaction.

Nigel Baker, CEO of the Pet Industry Federation, said:

“Millin Brook particularly impressed the judges. They scored very highly on their customer satisfaction scores.”

Co-owner Dave Smith added: “This is the biggest accolade we can receive in the pet industry, and we are so very proud.”

A LONDON CELEBRATION

The year was rounded off on November 21, when Millin Brook won the Kennel and Home Boarding category at the Dog Friendly Awards, held at the Kennel Club in Mayfair, London.

Mrs Smith reflected on the occasion, saying: “It is such a beautiful venue and full of history. Following the award ceremony, we were treated to a fabulous spread of afternoon tea. One of the highlights was meeting Ted, the dog from Gone Fishing. We finished the day with a tour around the Kennel Club museum and enjoyed a few celebration drinks.”

These three awards highlight Millin Brook’s commitment to providing outstanding pet care and confirm its status as a standout name in the UK pet industry.