Community

Fears of Traffic Chaos as Debenhams Opening Looms

Published

12 years ago

October 22, 2013

Prendergast Ward County Councillor and IPPG Group member, Mark Edwards, has attempted this week to allay fears that the opening of Debenhams will not see the levels of traffic chaos that could spell months of misery for many of the Town’s motorists.
Speaking with The Herald he discussed his fears, balancing them with solutions he saw as reasons for his Ward electorate to be optimistic. He said,
“Debenhams is in my electoral division of Prendergast and, although I welcome its arrival to the town, it does have major implications for local residents who are my constituents. Plus the size of the car park is insufficient even before Debenhams arrives”.
He went on to explain that the Council’s Head of Highways, Darren Thomas, had spoken with Prupim who own and manage the Withybush Retail Park. In that conversation Mr Edwards alleged that Prupim had confirmed they would use traffic on site stewards to ‘help with the flow of cars’. The management company have also apparently assured customers that staff will have their own car park and when this is full, employees can park in the town car parks and take a shuttle bus, funded by Prupim, to their place of work.
Mr Edwards also stated that discussions were well in advance in relation to Prupim building a multi-story car park to the rear of the Debenhams store.
When asked if the car park on the retail site would remain a free car park, he confirmed this to be the case, prompting the question as to whether customers would, therefore, avoid using paying car parks in town, rather than adopt the common practice of entering the retail park and simply waiting for a space to become free, thus clogging up the car park and surrounding roads. On this point, he conceded that this was a possibilty until a multi-story car park was erected, and said that the suggestion would be made to Prupim that they erect a temporary multi-story facility, similar to that used by Tesco during its redevelopment several years ago. However, when pressed on the issue of a date for completion for any type of multi-story car parking facility, he was unable to provide one as yet.
Len Mullins, Press and PR manager at Pembrokeshire County Council, responded to questions posed to Darren Thomas. When asked about the issues of a multi-story car park, permanent or temporary, and on who would pay for any changes to road structure required to accommodate an increase in traffic volumes, he simply stated that,
“As you will appreciate, Withybush Retail Park is a privately owned site and therefore our options are limited. Discussions on options to address potential car parking issues at the Withybush Retail Park are currently being considered”.
The Herald also contacted Prupim, property managers of the retail park, who advised us that they are in fact called M & G Real Estate, and on this occasion, and at this moment in time, were unable to offer any comment.

Community

Young people shine at Pembrokeshire Spotlight Awards

Published

23 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

YOUNG people from across the county were recognised for their courage, talent and community spirit at this year’s Pembrokeshire Spotlight Awards.

The fourth annual celebration, organised by Pembrokeshire Youth, the Children and Young People’s Rights Office and Pembrokeshire County Council Children’s Services, honours children and young people who achieve exceptional things and make a real difference in their communities.

Originally planned for November, the event was postponed due to severe weather but successfully went ahead on Thursday (Feb 6) at the Merlin Theatre, Pembrokeshire College, thanks to support from sponsors BAM Nuttall, Milford Haven Port Authority, Pure West Radio and Ascona Group.

Councillor Marc Tierney, Cabinet Member for Young People, Communities and the Wellbeing of Future Generations, praised those taking part.

He said: “It was a privilege to hear how our young people have triumphed within their own lives and within their communities. Huge thanks go to the organisers and sponsors who made this celebration possible.”

Chair of council Cllr Maureen Bowen added: “The evening was a joy to attend. It highlighted the incredible talent of Pembrokeshire’s young people and gave real hope for the future of the county.”

The ceremony opened with a video message from First Minister Eluned Morgan, who offered her congratulations despite being unable to attend in person.

Award winners

Among those recognised on the night were:

Welsh Language – Emma Nicholas
Fundraising – Ben Stanton (winner); Jack Gray and Milford Haven Youth Council (runners up)
EcoChampion – Tomos Roberts
Achieving Positive Change – Alfie Harper (winner); Amber Allerton and Thomas John
Arts – Dawn Clark (winner); LillieMai Radcliffe and Kali Flux
Education – Yuliia Bedyk and Andrii Volkov (joint winners); Courtney Waugh and Leo Credland
Making a Difference in the Community – Off The Streets Youth Forum (winner); Megan Mathias, Kyra Mottram, Lexi Jenkins and Pembrokeshire Youth Assembly
Most Inspiring Story – Kai Williams (winner); Carly Sharif, Caitlin Griffith and Berat Sahin
Music – Dylan Harwood (winner); Toby Draper and the cast of Bugsy Malone 2025 – Ysgol Harri Tudur
Sports – Samantha Barton (winner); Mary Falconer, Alannah Field and Destiny John
Voice – Young Voices for Choices Youth Forum
Young Leader/Peer Mentor – Caiden Meacham (winner); Amélie Houghton and Brooke Jenkins-McNamara

Overall Spotlight Award

The top honour went to the We Know Our Journey Youth Project, a collaboration between the You Should Know Girls Project and His Path His Journey Boys Project.

The group was recognised for promoting inclusion, challenging harmful attitudes and encouraging open conversations around violence against women and girls, domestic abuse and men’s mental health.

Members organised the countywide “Men Make It Safe” event and raised £1,600 for local mental health and domestic abuse charities through a sea swim and a 10k run involving 24 young participants.

Judges said the project demonstrated the powerful role young people can play in creating positive change.

Thanks and support

Organisers thanked presenters, nominators, performers and supporters, along with staff at Pembrokeshire College and event leads Nadine Farmer, Bethany Roberts, Nicky Edwards and Angie Moore. Businesses including National Grid, Princes Gate, Tan y Castell, Greggs and The Vine also backed the evening.

More information is available via the Children and Young People’s Rights Office social media pages.

Community

Museum acquires rare Tudor gold ring for collection

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Valero donation helps secure historic ‘Memento Mori’ treasure found near Uzmaston

A RARE Tudor gold ring dating back more than four centuries has been added to the collection at Haverfordwest Town Museum, thanks to a donation from Valero Pembroke Refinery.

The 6.38-gram gold ring was discovered by a metal detectorist at Uzmaston and Boulston in 2021 and has since been formally declared treasure.

Stylistically dated to between 1550 and 1650, the ring bears the inscription ‘Memento Mori’ – the Latin phrase meaning ‘Remember you must die’ – alongside a small skull motif filled with cross-hatched detailing. Such rings were commonly worn during the Tudor and early Stuart periods as a symbolic reminder of the brevity of life.

Museum curator Dr Simon Hancock said the piece offers a rare and personal glimpse into the beliefs of the period.

He explained: “Such rings, worn by a merchant or member of the gentry, reminded the wearer of the shortness of life. This was a very popular theme during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

“The ring was declared treasure and we are very grateful to Valero for providing a grant towards the treasure valuation, allowing us to secure it for the museum and the people of Pembrokeshire.”

The acquisition ensures the artefact will remain in the county where it was found and will go on public display as part of the museum’s growing local history collection.

Pictured are Ted Sangster, chair of Haverfordwest Castle CIO; Lesley Turner, museum treasurer; Tim Evans, chair of trustees; Stephen Thornton of Valero; Dr Simon Hancock, curator; and Bethany Hope, museum volunteer and social media manager.

Community

Editor shares personal Sea Empress memories on BBC Radio Wales

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Milford Haven tug master’s son recalls chaos, courage and family legacy thirty years on

THE EDITOR of The Pembrokeshire Herald has spoken on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast about his family’s connection to the Sea Empress disaster, thirty years after the tanker ran aground off Milford Haven.

Tom Sinclair appeared on the morning programme between 8:00am and 9:00am, reflecting on how the 1996 oil spill unfolded both as a major national story and as something happening outside his own front door.

Sinclair told listeners how he first learned of the grounding while on a school trip abroad, switching on the television in a hotel room to see Milford Haven dominating international news coverage.

***Tom Sinclair, Pembrokeshire Herald’s editor***

He also described how his late father, Thomas Sinclair, was directly involved in the response.

At the time, Mr Sinclair was a senior tug master with Cory Towage and remained at sea to assist with the salvage operation alongside other local crews.

Speaking after the programme, Sinclair said the disaster had always felt “very personal”.

“Our house overlooked the Haven, so everything was happening right in front of us,” he said. “Dad was out there working on the tugs while we were watching it on the news at home.”

He recalls aircraft flying low over the water to spray dispersants and the constant anxiety ashore as storms battered the stranded tanker.

As a teenager, he also helped his father prepare documents relating to escort towing procedures in the aftermath of the incident, typing reports on a home computer in the family attic.

“It was strange talking about it on the radio,” he added. “Dad can’t be here to tell those stories himself now, so it felt like an honour to share some of those memories.”

The Sea Empress spill, which released tens of thousands of tonnes of crude oil, remains one of the worst environmental disasters in British waters and had a lasting impact on Pembrokeshire’s coastline and maritime operations.