News
Demolition of former Canaston Bowl building almost completed

A PROMINENT Pembrokeshire ‘blot on the landscape,’ once an indoor offshoot of Oakwood Theme Park, is virtually no more as demolition works conclusion.
In its heyday Canaston Bowl, near Narberth, was a thriving bowling alley and home to the popular Crystal Maze game.
A generation of Pembrokeshire people will remember the attraction as a venue for birthday parties and school trips.
But the building, owned by Oakwood Theme Park, fell into a state of disrepair since closing at the end of 2011, with peeling paint work, overgrown bushes and a pot-holed car park.
Since then, the local eyesore has attracted a new breed of visitors, urban explorers keen to seek adventure and create nostalgia by entering the former tourist attraction.
Plant machinery moved on site in early February after a demolition notice was received by Pembrokeshire county Council, and works, by Merthyr Salvage Ltd have been continuing throughout the month.
One of those who has fond memories of the ‘bowl is Dyfed Shire Horse Farm spokesperson, and former Cardigan town mayor, Mark Cole, who used to live just a stone’s throw away at nearby Hungerford Farm.
“For those of an era and of a locale, this was home to the old Cross Hands pub and club where my father would attend dances and country and western evenings with many from near and far over many years, long before my memory took hold,” said Mark.
“In my era, it was Canaston Bowl. It was CC2000. It was of course, The Crystal Maze.”
Mark, who daily caught the school bus next to the site, has many happy memories of playing slot machines, celebrating birthdays, and playing 10-pin bowling at the local landmark before its dereliction.
“The last decade has seen it fall into awful, decrepit decay. A blot on the landscape at a key junction that forms the main entrance way to the villages of Martletwy and Landshipping – the hinterland of my Cole ancestors and where I went to Sunday School.
“It was probably only right in the end that it came to this because the ghastly sight there on the crossroads opposite the turning towards Templeton, truly was a disgrace.”
As Mark pondered the pictures taken of the site by his cousin Patrick Jones, a former prospective Liberal-Democrat MP for the county, he wonders what will replace the ‘bowl.
“The past is a foreign land. The future, a story yet to be navigated.
“Goodbye ‘Canastan Bowl’, ‘CC2000’, ‘The Crystal Maze’ – you will always have a very dear place in my old Pembrokeshire heart.”
Local county councillor, Di Clements, has previously said she was pleased works were taking place.
“It’s been sad to see it left and deteriorate over the years, but I am glad that Oakwood is finally taking action.
“It is something that I have continually raised with the management and am keen to see the site put to better use, or at least tidied up.”
Currently no plans have been submitted for future use of the bowling alley site, but Cllr Clements said she hopes the site might be considered for affordable housing, although the area is not in the local development plan.
Oakwood manager Phil Verbinnin has declined to comment.
Image Caption: Demolition works at the former Canaston Bowl site, once an indoor offshoot of Oakwood Theme Park. Picture: Patrick Jones.
News
A40 closed after serious crash near Wolfscastle

AIR AMBULANCE LANDS AT SCENE AS TRAFFIC DISRUPTED
THE A40 between Wolfscastle and Haverfordwest was closed in both directions on Friday afternoon (Apr 11) following a serious road traffic collision.
The crash, which was first reported at 12:10pm, prompted a significant emergency services response, including Dyfed-Powys Police and the Wales Air Ambulance, which was seen landing at the scene shortly after the incident.
AA Roadwatch confirmed that the road was shut in both directions, with slow-moving traffic and congestion reported in the surrounding area for several hours after the collision.
Police urged motorists to avoid the area and to seek alternative routes while emergency crews dealt with the incident.
At the time of writing, no official update has been given on the number of vehicles involved or whether there were any injuries. Dyfed-Powys Police have been approached for comment.
Traffic disruption remains ongoing, with live road maps showing long delays approaching Haverfordwest from the east.
More updates will follow as information becomes available.
Crime
Police investigate alleged assault at Milford Haven property

OFFICERS from Dyfed-Powys Police have been maintaining a presence at a property on Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, as part of an ongoing investigation into an assault.
The Herald understands that the front door of the property has been boarded up with plywood, prompting concern and speculation from local residents.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Officers have been undertaking scene preservation in relation to an investigation of assault.”
No further details have been released at this stage, and it is not yet known whether any arrests have been made.
Residents told The Herald they noticed police activity at the address earlier this week, with officers attending the property and cordoning off the area.
The Herald will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Business
Haverfordwest opticians celebrate 100 years of long service

WALES’ LARGEST Specsavers store is celebrating a series of individual long service milestones, with nine team members collectively marking a century of long service in 2025.
At the heart of the celebrations is Andy Britton, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Haverfordwest, who has worked at the company for 20 years.
Since becoming a partner in 2006, Mr Britton has overseen the store’s transformation from a small site with just four test rooms to a state-of-the-art £1.2 million premises at 21 Riverside Quay. The enhanced store now boasts 14 test rooms equipped with cutting edge technology and a significantly larger team, growing from 11 to 45 employees.
Haverfordwest residents benefit from Mr Britton’s clinical expertise – he holds multiple postgraduate diplomas that allow him to prescribe medication directly to customers, helping to ease pressure on local GP surgeries and hospitals. He has also led the introduction of enhanced services, including glaucoma monitoring, ensuring more people can access specialist care closer to home.
Reflecting on his career, Mr Britton says: ‘It’s been a privilege to serve the Haverfordwest community over the last 20 years. I’m proud of the team we’ve built and the progress we’ve made – all with the aim of delivering the best possible care for our customers.’
Mr Britton’s anniversary was celebrated alongside colleagues Elise Evans, Gareth Riley and Carrie Lewis-Jones – each marking 15 years with Specsavers – as well as other team members celebrating 10 and five-year milestones.
Fellow director, Wayne Jones, was among those celebrating five years with the business, after joining the Haverfordwest store in 2020. He was named a finalist for Optometrist of the Year at the Optometry Wales Awards in 2023 and then in 2024, joined forces with Mr Britton as retail director of the store.
Commenting on the milestone, Mr Jones says: ‘Our team’s experience and dedication are what makes Specsavers Haverfordwest so special. Reaching 100 years of individual long service milestones in 2025 is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s a real testament to the commitment of our colleagues, and we look forward to many more successful years ahead.’
To mark the occasion, the directors hosted an in-store awards ceremony, presenting certificates and bottles of champagne to the nine long-serving team members celebrating.
Specsavers Haverfordwest is open seven days a week. To find out more information about Specsavers in Haverfordwest, request an appointment or browse the online store, visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/haverfordwest.
Additionally, to make eye health accessible to all, the store offers a Home Visits service for those unable to leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness.
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