News
National Park planners set to refuse toilet conversion to ice cream parlour
A SCHEME to turn surplus public toilets to a takeaway ice cream parlour/coffee bar is expected to be refused by national park planners despite the offer of a new toilet.
The application, by Mr M Harris, includes a beach-themed retail unit and a small rear extension for a kitchen – and a new public disabled toilet as required by Pembrokeshire County Council – next to Newgale Campsite, Newgale.
The development proposed was part of a wider scheme, intended to be presented in a report to the February meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s Development Management Committee, which was withdrawn following a site visit by members in January.
Repeating an objection to the previous scheme, the National Trust objected on both the design and scale of the proposed building and to the principle of development within the flood zone, while local community council Nolton & Roch, raised no objections.
One letter of objection has been received raising concerns about potential customer safety due to a lack of parking and competition with nearby businesses.
A report for planners stated: “The building has historically been provided and used by Pembrokeshire County Council for the purpose of providing public toilets with the land on which it is built being under freehold ownership of the applicant.
“It is unclear from the planning statement submitted with the planning application if the toilets are currently in use. Whilst the county council may have relinquished the site, the use of the building remains sui generis as public toilets and they have been in situ since the 1970s.
“PCC has advised that they will relinquish the toilets at the request of the landowner following protracted discussions in relation to the ownership of land on which the toilets are constructed.
“It has been suggested that this will come with the proviso that a single cubicle, accessible for all is retained for public use within the building and open daily from Easter to the autumn half-term holiday, although it is not clear whether this will only be the case if the proposed development takes place or not.”
It is recommended the application be refused by national park planners at their June meeting on the grounds the proposal is in a flood risk area, it seeks “to increase and intensify development uses within the coastal change management area” contrary to adopted policy, and other criteria including being outside a retail centre and in a countryside location.
The report finishes: “The policy conflicts are not outweighed by other material considerations, including for the avoidance of doubt, the provision of an accessible toilet facility at this location.”
News
Closure of Tata Steel’s coke ovens sparks political and union backlash
THE recent announcement by Tata Steel to close the coke ovens at its Port Talbot plant in South Wales has ignited a firestorm of political and industrial action, highlighting the deepening crisis within the British steel industry and the challenges facing the transition to green steel.
Jo Stevens MP, the Shadow Welsh Secretary, expressed her concerns over the impact of the closure on the Welsh steel industry and the workers affected. Stevens emphasized the need for assurances about the workers’ immediate future and pledged that a UK Labour government would invest in the steel industry to support the transition to green steel, harnessing the skills, talent, and ambition of Welsh steelworkers.
The closure, slated for Wednesday due to concerns over the ovens’ “operational stability,” has been criticized by regional Senedd Members for South Wales West, Tom Giffard MS, and Dr. Altaf Hussain MS. They accused the Labour Welsh Government of neglecting its support for the Tata Steelworks in Port Talbot, highlighting a lack of financial assistance since 2019 and calling for a change in response to the current developments.
Unite, the UK’s leading union, has been vocal in its opposition to Tata’s decision, describing it as a shock and a “result of years of betrayal.” The union criticized Tata for not disclosing the imminent risk of closure during recent consultations and announced a ballot for industrial action among 1,500 Tata workers. Unite insists there should be no job losses at Port Talbot or Llanwern and that a blast furnace should remain operational.
Peter Hughes, Unite’s regional secretary for Wales, called for Tata to halt its closure plans in anticipation of Labour’s promised £3 billion investment to rejuvenate the UK steel industry. He accused Tata of managing the decline of UK steel while accepting government subsidies, describing the company’s actions as “deliberate industrial vandalism.”
The closure has not only raised concerns about the future of steel production in the UK but also spotlighted the political and economic strategies required to ensure the industry’s survival and transition towards more sustainable practices. The unfolding situation underscores the need for a collaborative approach between the government, industry stakeholders, and the workforce to navigate the complex challenges ahead.
News
Firefighters tackle blaze at block of garages in Monkton
ONE person was injured as a result of a sunday afternoon garage fire in a block of garages in Monkton.
A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service told The Pembrokeshire Herald said: “At 1.31pm on March 17, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven crews were called to extinguish a fire in an alight central garage and were forced to use two breathing apparatus and two hose reels.
“The firefighters reportedly left the scene at 3.02pm after continuing to dampen the fire and check for fire spread.
“The casualty was treated by ambulance service personnel also in attendance.”
The police confirmed that a garage fire had been dealt with by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Welsh Ambulance Service attended.
News
Air ambulance called following incident at Aldi Pembroke Dock
THE WALES AIR AMBULANCE, along with the Welsh Ambulance Service and police were called on Monday morning to an incident at the Aldi supermarket car park in Pembroke Dock.
The Herald understands that the alarm was raised after a car hit a person in the car park after 9am.
We have been told that the incident involved a local taxi.
The emergency services have been asked for a comment.
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