A RETROSPECTIVE call for works associated with the new Loungers beachfront venue in Tenby has been given the go-ahead.

In an application approved by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Loungers UK Limited, through agent Richard Pedlar Architects, sought retrospective permission for new fascia signage, a new wall-mount menu board and a free-standing menu board at the new Loungers based at the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, Battery Road.

Back in January, UK-wide hospitality company Loungers plc announced it was planning to open a new beachfront Lansio Lounge at Tenby’s South Beach, with the promise of 30 jobs created, on March 25.

Lansio Lounge is based at the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant on Water’s Edge, South Beach.

The announcement for the Loungers plans for the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant were revealed shortly after the application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for Loungers signage at Salty’s.

Family-run venue Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant announced its closure on social media, confirming that Sunday, January 4 was its final day of trading.

An officer report recommending approval for the signage said the call for the retrospective installation and associated works “has attracted numerous third-party representations, primarily raising concerns in relation to potential light pollution and the colour treatment of the existing windows and doors”.

It went on to say consultation responses from relevant statutory consultees “confirm that the proposed halo illumination is acceptable and would not give rise to unacceptable levels of light pollution, nor would it adversely affect nearby designated sites or sensitive landscapes,” adding: “A planning condition has been attached, requiring the submission and approval of revised details to secure a more neutral colour finish for the external joinery and menu boards, to ensure an appropriate visual appearance in the context of the surrounding area.”

The application was conditionally approved by Park planners.

Cross-party Senedd members and councillors say Welsh public money must not be invested in firms linked to alleged war crimes and apartheid

POLITICIANS from across Wales have called for local government pension funds to stop investing in companies they say are complicit in Israel’s actions against Palestinians.

In a cross-party letter coordinated by Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cymru, Senedd members and councillors from Plaid Cymru, the Greens, Labour and the Liberal Democrats urged the Wales Pensions Partnership to end investments they describe as supporting “genocide and apartheid”.

The Wales Pensions Partnership manages Welsh local government pension funds worth an estimated £26 billion.

In their letter, the politicians said ensuring public investments “are not contributing to grave violations of international law must be an urgent priority”.

The intervention comes as the Wales Pensions Partnership develops an Exclusion Framework, which campaigners say is intended to prevent investments that conflict with climate, human rights and international law commitments.

However, those behind the letter argue that the framework risks falling short of what they describe as a clear democratic mandate from councils across Wales.

According to PSC Cymru, many councils have already passed motions calling for divestment from companies alleged to be complicit in war crimes, apartheid and other breaches of international law. The group says 11 councils in Wales — half of all councils in the country — have now backed such motions.

Research cited by the campaign claims that Local Government Pension Scheme funds in Wales have more than £1.1 billion invested in companies said to be linked to Israel’s actions against Palestinians.

As one example, the campaign says Rhondda Cynon Taf Pension Fund has invested more than £12 million in BAE Systems, which it describes as an arms manufacturer making parts for fighter jets used by Israel in Gaza.

The letter calls on the Wales Pensions Partnership to ensure its Exclusion Framework explicitly excludes all companies said to be enabling grave violations of international law by Israel, and to produce a clear, time-bound plan for divestment.

Bethan Sayed, co-chair of PSC Cymru, said: “Today’s letter sends an unmistakable message: Welsh politicians from across the political spectrum will not allow public money to fund genocide and apartheid.

“The Wales Pension Partnership manages £26 billion on behalf of Welsh workers and communities — not a single penny of it should be profiting from the massacre of Palestinian men, women and children.

“Six out of seven people in Wales support divestment. Eleven councils have passed motions. The democratic mandate could not be clearer. The WPP must act — and it must act now.”

PSC Cymru said the letter reflected growing pressure across Wales for public bodies to review investments linked to the conflict.

James Cartlidge MP highlights strategic role of training area in national security and local economy

JAMES CARTLIDGE, the UK Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, has visited Castlemartin Training Area on Thursday (Apr 16) to meet personnel and discuss the site’s importance to both UK defence capability and the Pembrokeshire economy.

Castlemartin Training Area has a long-established role in the community, having been established in 1938 for tank training by the Royal Armoured Corps. The range was temporarily abandoned following the Second World War but reopened in 1951. From 1961 to 1996 it was also used by German Bundeswehr armoured units under NATO agreements. Today, it is regarded as one of the UK’s premier live-fire armoured training facilities, regularly used to prepare troops for operational deployment.

During the visit, the Shadow Defence Secretary was joined by Paul Davies and Samuel Kurtz, both former Pembrokeshire MSs and Conservative candidates for the Ceredigion Penfro constituency in the upcoming Senedd election on May 7. They highlighted the training area’s role in sustaining skilled local employment, supporting the wider supply chain, and underpinning the presence of the Armed Forces in West Wales.

Discussions also focused on the importance of maintaining strong defence capability amid global instability, alongside the contribution made by defence infrastructure to local communities and businesses across Pembrokeshire.

James Cartlidge MP, Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary, said: “Our Armed Forces rely on world-class training facilities like Castlemartin to ensure they are prepared for the challenges they face.

“It is clear this site plays a crucial role not only in UK national defence but also in supporting local jobs and the wider economy here in Pembrokeshire.”

Paul Davies said: “Castlemartin is an incredibly important asset for Pembrokeshire and for the UK as a whole.

“It supports skilled jobs locally and brings significant economic benefits to the area, as well as playing a key role in training our Armed Forces. We have a proud military history here, with many veterans living in the community.

“We also made clear during the visit that it was the Welsh Conservatives who fought to secure the extension of the 14th Signal Regiment at Cawdor Barracks, protecting jobs and ensuring a continued military presence in the county.”

Samuel Kurtz added: “We are proud of the role Pembrokeshire plays in supporting our Armed Forces. As a former MS with Castlemartin within my constituency, I have worked to build relationships and champion this important military site.

“Facilities like Castlemartin are vital. It is essential they continue to receive the support and investment needed to remain world-leading, and not be repurposed for any other use.”

The visit also underlined Conservative commitments to defence, including increasing defence spending, strengthening the Armed Forces, and ensuring the UK remains secure in an increasingly uncertain world.

It further provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of the defence industry supply chain and the range of businesses across the region that contribute to the sector.