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Council announces major boost to Council housing stock in Haverfordwest

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PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has bought 46 former Ministry of Defence (MoD) properties on the outskirts of Haverfordwest, to be used as Council housing.

The three-bedroomed houses at the Cashfields Estate were purchased using a Land and Buildings Development Grant from Welsh Government, which was gratefully received to assist with the acquisition of these properties.

Eight properties already had tenants, which means that 38 properties will be let, in small batches, over the next few months.

Cllr Michelle Bateman, Cabinet Member for Housing Operations and Regulatory Services, said it was the first significant acquisition of Council housing for more than a generation.

“We are very proud indeed to announce this purchase,” she said. “The properties will be a hugely welcomed addition to our housing stock and provide much needed three bed accommodation for those currently on the Choice Homes waiting list.”

All properties are currently being brought up to Welsh Housing Quality Standards and will be allocated via Pembrokeshire County Council’s Choice Homes weekly list when they are ready to be occupied.

The acquisition will help to reduce the homelessness pressures on the Council, which increased sharply as a result of the pandemic. It will also help reduce the numbers now waiting on Choice Homes Register for social housing.

August 11th marked a significant day for the Council when they handed over the keys to the first two households.

The first householder, who had been homeless for over a year and was in temporary accommodation with the Council, said: “I’m over the moon. The house is lovely, perfect for me and the kids. It is so nice and so private, and a really good size. I feel safe and at peace here.”

The second household, Shaun and Ceri Bevington, became homeless following a family bereavement and have resided in temporary accommodation for the past six months. They said they were very happy.

“This is an absolutely positive move for us,” they said. “There’s plenty of space for the kids and the family can settle and put down roots.  

“The house is twice as much as we expected. We never imagined it to be like this. The location is beautiful and it feels quiet and safe. Everything is fantastic here, we absolutely love this place.”

Cllr Jon Harvey, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, said: “The acquisition of 46 properties at the Cashfields Estate is a welcome addition to the Council’s housing stock and is allied to Pembrokeshire County Council’s ambitious new council house building programme which will see the construction and delivery of much needed new energy efficient properties over the coming years.”

The Council is also continuing to purchase houses where required in order to maximise the numbers of council houses due to the acute shortage of social and affordable homes in the county.

  • Anyone interested in the Cashfields Estate properties or any of the new builds in the Council’s development programme should complete a housing application form to join the housing register.
  • Please email [email protected] or call 01437 764551 for an application form.  
  • If applicants are already on the housing register, they don’t need to do anything else at this stage.
  • When the Cashfields Estate and other properties are nearing completion, they will appear on the weekly Choice Homes advert and will be allocated in line with the Choice Homes Allocations Policy.
  • If you have any queries please contact the Housing Customer Liaison Team via email on [email protected]
  • Please like the Pembrokeshire County Council Housing Services Facebook page for updates on all developments https://www.facebook.com/PCCHousing

Pictured above:

Pictured at the Cashfields Estate are (left to right): Cllr Michelle Bateman, Shaun and Ceri Bevington, and Julie Askew and Martin Peake from the Council’s Housing team.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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