Haverfordwest Castle is being transformed – and it’s time for you to have your say!

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL in partnership with Haverfordwest Castle CIO are planning a brand new visitor experience across three floors of the old County Gaol that sits within the Castle’s grounds; sharing the stories of Pembrokeshire’s past, present and future.

Funding for this stage of the project is from The National Heritage Lottery Fund.

We want to hear what you would like to see and do at the Castle.

You can find the questionnaire at www.haverfordwestcastle.wales  or pick up a paper copy of the questionnaire at the reception of County Hall, Pembrokeshire County Council in Haverfordwest.

Spend just five minutes sharing your thoughts, memories, and stories from across Pembrokeshire.

While Haverfordwest Castle will be central to the experience, the stories told there will reflect the whole county — its people, places, past and future. Whether you grew up in the shadow of the Castle, have family roots in another part of Pembrokeshire, or simply care about preserving and sharing our shared heritage and highlighting Pembrokeshire’s uniqueness today – your insight is invaluable.

We want to create something distinctive, authentic, and deeply rooted in Pembrokeshire’s heritage and present day — not just a story about Haverfordwest Castle, but a story told through it.

Within the county’s old Goal, we wish to build an experience that resonates with people across the county and with visitors from further afield. Whether your connection is to the Castle or a corner of Pembrokeshire miles away, your stories, ideas, and memories will give this new attraction its heart.

The project has been in the making for almost 10 years and has been developed in conjunction with an active group of community stakeholders. When open, the attraction will be run by Haverfordwest Castle CIO, an independent charitable organisation that has emerged from the stakeholder group.

Work is currently underway for the first stage of the project to restore to the Castle and the old Gaol, funded by LUF to a state ready for the fit out of an exciting exhibition.

Elinor Wyn Reynolds becomes first woman and layperson to lead denomination in a century

A CARMARTHEN author and broadcaster has made history by becoming the first woman — and the first layperson in over 100 years — to be elected as the chief officer of one of Wales’ largest Christian denominations.

Elinor Wyn Reynolds has been chosen as the new General Secretary of the Union of Welsh Independent Churches, a body representing more than 300 Nonconformist chapels across the country. She was elected to the post by a ballot of churches and individual members.

The role has, until now, been held exclusively by ordained male ministers for the past century.

Speaking after her election, Elinor said: “It’s an exciting privilege to be elected to this post. Together, there’s great work to be done at this most challenging time for Christian churches in Wales, and I’m looking forward to it eagerly.”

She succeeds the Revd Dyfrig Rees, who is stepping down after seven years in the role.

A PROPOSED new ‘traveller site’ on the outskirts of a Pembrokeshire village, which has seen a petition of nearly 300 objections, has been refused by national park planners.

The Authority has served an Enforcement Notice on the site, which requires its return to its previous condition.

The scheme for the creation of one traveller site incorporating one static caravan, one touring caravan, day/utility room and ecological enhancements (partly retrospective) on land at Froghall Yard, Moreton Lane, Saundersfoot, was recommended for refusal at the May 21 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, having previously been deferred for a site visit by members.

Nearly 300 people have signed a petition against the scheme and the objection to the site is also being shared by the village’s community council.

Around 50 people attended a recent meeting of the community council when members voted unanimously to object to the application by Dai Evans of Pontypool, through agents Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd.

Saundersfoot Community Council has pointed out that the site is agricultural land, with no caravan or other use in over 30 years.

There was also concern that the site – where two previous planning applications had been rejected – is overlooked from Incline Way above and cannot be screened.

Members have said granting permission “would be gross overdevelopment setting a precedent for development literally anywhere throughout the national park”.

The community council’s objection finished: “The applicant lives in Pontypool and claims no connection to the area.  There is no rationale as to why the applicant chose a site approximately 100 miles away from their home.”

A supporting statement accompanying the application stated: “The applicant belongs to a long-standing Romany Gypsy family and generations have lived a traditional and cultural lifestyle living in caravans all their lives.

“Mr Evans and his partner currently reside on an overcrowded Traveller site in Pontypool where living conditions are poor. They currently only live in rented accommodation and its brick and mortar and not in keeping with their cultural preference, as they prefer to live in a caravan.”

It says Mr Evans and family have stayed in a touring caravan at the site during the summer months since the late 1980s when it was owned by another gypsy family, later purchased by Mr Evans in 2023, clearing and refurbishing the site.

“The application’s aspirations are to continue his Gypsy culture and traditions residing in a caravan on site.”

A park officer report recommending refusal says the applicant has accommodation and is not currently homeless, giving only moderate weight “to the existing level of outstanding unmet need for Gypsy Traveller accommodation in Pembrokeshire,” adding: “That level of need should be weighed against the likely impact of development on the National Park landscape and habitat in this area.”

It says there has been “significant site clearance undertaken prior to the submission of the application, and the impact on the landscape, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience has been assessed as negative,” with officers considering further caravan development “would exceed landscape capacity”.

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of local residents, Helen Williams questioned the need for the applicant to have a site in Saundersfoot when he lived in Pontypool, adding that residents did not recall any caravans on-site since 1993.

Agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries said he had hoped the application, with a recently revised landscape plans offering additional landscape mitigation, could have been deferred.

He said any refusal would give his client the option of either appealing or “having a free go” for any amended future application.

Mr Vaughan-Harries said that while Pembrokeshire was better than many authorities in the provision of traveller sites there was a need to deliver more.

“It’s premature to make an application today but I still think this site has some merit. The applicant wants to go back to his traveller roots.”

Saundersfoot councillor Chis Williams moved members support the officer recommendation of refusal, adding he supported Mr Vaughan-Harries call for more provision for traveller sites but stressed: “however, I do not think this is the correct location.”

Members backed the recommendation of refusal by 13 votes to two abstentions.

Responding to the refusal after the meeting, Mr Vaughan-Harries said: “To deliver Traveller sites is always a planning challenge but as discussed the essential need more sites is clearly there for the whole of Wales and Pembs. The opportunity of private sites also eases the burden on LPA’s to fund traveller sites

“We respect that site is in PCNP, but there is a policy to still allow Traveller sites in their area subtext to criteria being met.

“The full impact on the ecology and visual impact was not completed by ourselves and applicant due to availability of suitable local  surveyors and conflicts of interest. So it’s likely we will resubmit to improve on the scheme and see if all ecology impacts can be mitigated even if it has to be off-site. This site has remnants of previous use and not a virgin greenfield site.

“I still feel the site can deliver a single traveller poach with up the date assessment and redesigning.”