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New-build Pembrokeshire home part-collapses raising safety concerns

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EMERGENCY SERVICES responded to Oak Grove estate in Twycross on the outskirts of Tenby, when a newly-built home’s side wall collapsed unexpectedly.

This occurred while the owner, Scott Ferney, was fortunately away on holiday. The unsettling incident has sent shockwaves through the community and cast shadows over the safety of the other properties on the estate.

Kevin Ferney, Scott’s father, voiced the family’s distress, stating, “As a parent, we want him [Scott] away from here just in case something else becomes unsafe. If he’d been here, there could’ve been a fatality.” This incident is reportedly the second of its kind in recent months on the estate developed by Mill Bay Homes. Earlier, a porch from a property on the same estate was reported to have detached without any warning.

Pembrokeshire county councillor for the area, Rhys Jordan, who has been fervently active in voicing concerns over the estate’s safety, said he would be “fighting tooth and nail” to ensure the residents have peace of mind about the safety of their homes. Jordan declared his intentions to commission a full structural survey for all the properties in the estate, partnering with the developer, Mill Bay Homes, to determine the cause of the collapses.

Built around 2020, the Oak Grove estate, primarily consisting of privately-owned homes, seems to have been plagued with issues. Residents claim they’ve been grappling with repeated flooding issues in some regions of the estate. Intriguingly, the wall collapse on September 27 preceded the arrival of Storm Agnes. According to Councillor Jordan, it was a fortunate coincidence that the owner was away during the incident, as the tumbling bricks “decimated” a garden cabin, which Scott Ferney typically uses as a workspace during the day.

The emergency response was swift with fire crews from the Mid and West Wales Fire Service attending the scene at around 4.30pm. A representative from the service detailed the damage, stating, “A section of a property’s gable end had collapsed onto a garden building as well as a car parking area on the nearby roadway.” The area was promptly cordoned off, with the electricity supply to the property being cut off and a structural engineer evaluating the extent of the damage.

The local councillor, Rhys Jordan, in an address to the residents of Oak Grove, reassured them saying, “The fire brigade has promptly attended the scene and ensured the area is safe. Further investigation into this incident will commence as soon as the ongoing storm subsides. At this moment, the cause of the property failure is unknown.”

Photos Courtesy: Rhys Jordan

News

Visitor levy and accommodation register proposals to boost tourism

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THE Welsh Government has announced plans to introduce new legislation to support the tourism industry and local communities across Wales. Two proposed Bills aim to give local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy and create a national register for visitor accommodation.

The announcement, made by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford and Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans, outlines a Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill set to be introduced to the Senedd on 25 November, pending approval.

Under the new proposal, local councils would have the authority to introduce a small levy for overnight stays in visitor accommodations, generating additional funds to support sustainable tourism initiatives. Each local authority would decide on the levy based on local needs, potentially easing the burden on resources in popular tourist areas.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said that the levy would be “a small charge,” intended to help councils manage the impacts of tourism and invest in community infrastructure. “This will support the long-term sustainability of our tourism industry,” he added, emphasising that the approach is in line with the Welsh Government’s commitment to collaborative tax development.

Consultations led by the Welsh Revenue Authority highlighted the importance of a registration system to support the proposed levy. Feedback from stakeholders led to the decision to include a national register of all visitor accommodation providers in Wales as part of the Bill, aimed at ensuring quality standards across the sector.

In addition to the visitor levy, the Welsh Government previously consulted on a licensing scheme for visitor accommodation to create a fair playing field for providers and ensure visitors receive high-standard services. The proposed registration scheme within the Bill marks a first step toward this broader licensing framework.

The second phase of the initiative will involve a separate Bill aimed at establishing a statutory licensing scheme for visitor accommodations. This would allow providers to demonstrate compliance with certain conditions, enhancing transparency and standards. Welsh Government representatives confirmed they would continue discussions with tourism stakeholders, accommodation providers, and local authorities as the proposals progress.

If approved, the Bills will mark a significant shift in how Wales manages its tourism sector, balancing visitor demand with community needs and sustainable practices.

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Business

Small business briefing hosted by Local MS

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A BRIEFING event which considered how to best support small businesses in Wales has been hosted by Preseli Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Paul Davies. Mr Davies hosted the event in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales, Economic Intelligence Wales and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. The theme of the event was ‘productivity’, given that Wales has had a persistent productivity gap with the UK as a whole and with other international competitor regions.

Mr Davies said, “It’s always a pleasure to help facilitate discussions on how we can support small businesses across Wales. 99.3% of businesses in Wales are small or medium enterprises (SMEs) and it’s important for us to explore the opportunities there are to boost SME growth.”

“Business-friendly policies are needed to address Wales’s persistent productivity gap, and we heard from the speakers today that more support is needed in areas like skills development, infrastructure enhancements and planning.”

“As I’ve said before, the Welsh Government has some significant economic levers, and it must now use those levers to create conditions for growth in Wales. We know that when small businesses thrive, they create jobs, spread prosperity and keep our communities vibrant and it’s crucial that governments at all levels do more to support our small businesses and enable them to grow.”

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Business

Bristol Trader to temporarily serve menu at the Castle Hotel

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The team of a popular riverside pub in Pembrokeshire, devastated by a recent fire, will relocate to a new town centre location while repair work is carried out on the original site.

On Wednesday, 6 November, a fire broke out at The Bristol Trader, situated on Haverfordwest’s riverside, causing significant damage to the building. The fire affected two floors of the pub as well as the roof space, forcing its closure. Smoke from the blaze was visible across the town as firefighters from Haverfordwest and Milford Haven worked for two hours to extinguish the flames.

Following the incident, the pub’s owners expressed their sadness, describing the team as “absolutely heartbroken” but determined to reopen and come back stronger. They extended their gratitude to the regulars, locals, friends, and family who have offered their support during this difficult time.

In the meantime, The Bristol Trader team will continue operating from an alternative venue. Beginning Monday, 18 November, the pub will relocate to the restaurant of the Castle Hotel, located on Haverfordwest Square, where they’ll serve the same menu.

“While repairs are being made to The Bristol Trader, Team Trader are being temporarily relocated to The Castle Hotel Restaurant from Monday the 18th of November,” announced the team in a social media post. “All our menus are attached to our Facebook page, and the phone lines are being redirected.”

Anyone with a booking at The Bristol Trader who hasn’t been in touch since the fire on 6 November is encouraged to contact the team at 01437 762122.

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