SOCIAL or affordable housing in Pembrokeshire is one of the key challenges which the local authority is currently having to negotiate. But with over 8,000 people currently on the ‘choice housing’ selection process, the local authority’s task is a tough one.

The answer, according to property analyst Tom Rees, is staring Pembrokeshire firmly in the face. There are currently no fewer than 750 empty properties scattered throughout the county, with many located in the towns which are most in need – Haverfordwest and Milford Haven.

“We have a huge number of redundant properties in our county town alone, many of which are Grade II listed,” Tom Rees told The Pembrokeshire Herald.

“By talking to the landlords and integrating with the prospective developers, we can begin thinking outside the box and devise restoration plans which will enhance the buildings but, most importantly, will also provide accommodation and commercial opportunities for the benefit of local people.

“The aim is to generate as much interest and awareness as possible and develop these buildings in a sensitive, architecturally sound way which will not only boost the towns’ heritage but which will also help address so many of our social and housing issues.”

Properties which Tom has already helped regenerate include the Old Snooker Hall in Haverfordwest and the town’s magnificent Wesleyan Chapel which has blighted Barn Street with its unsightly decay for many years. After extensive consultations with the planning authorities and their respective developers, both buildings will now house a number of social residential flats.

“Millions of pounds are currently being invested in Haverfordwest, yet throughout the town we’re seeing so many buildings with enormous potential being left to rot,” he said.

“My aim is to get Haverfordwest back to where it deserves to be by entering into conversation with the landlords and the developers on how this can be achieved.

“There are currently around 750 empty units in Pembrokeshire alone, and 90% of these are salvageable. The local authority is definitely on the same page as me and is doing as much as it can with compulsory purchases, but this process can be lengthy.

“This is why it’s important to start thinking outside the box and devise solutions to how these properties can be salvaged and put, once again, to good use.”

Tom’s initial discussions take place with the landlords.

“It’s important they understand how their property has reached whatever state it’s in and subsequently decide on the way forward. This can either be with a cash sale or entering into a joint venture.

“Around 99% of the properties in Haverfordwest High Street are owned by a few big landowners, so naturally considering the various ways forward can result in some tricky conversations.”

One way in which Tom seeks to alleviate the issue is by enhancing each property’s portfolio, particularly if the landlord is considering retirement.

“So many big time developers are being driven by how many new properties they can fit into a particular field, which isn’t remedying the social housing issues that are confronting Pembrokeshire,” continued Tom.

“Latest figures confirm that there are over 5,000 households on Pembrokeshire’s social housing waiting list, which has increased by more than 50% since 2018, so surely by renovating all those empty problems, this figure could be reduced considerably. And given their size, many of our empty buildings can accommodate up to 15 people”

The Wesleyan Chapel project was first started by its previous owner following planning consent in 2014 but is now undergoing fresh listed building consent applications with the local authority.

“So not only will the town now have new, much needed accommodation, but it will also have a beautiful looking building which will help improve the heritage of Haverfordwest,” said Tom. “And all these important architectural elements are being done correctly, such as the lead flashing, the slate roof, the correct windows and the proper woodwork, with the result that the chapel is being brought back to its former glory,”

A native of Llangwm, Tom trained as a commercial pilot, securing a job with Aer Lingus after a trial flight at Haverfordwest airfield when he was 16,

“I obviously enjoyed it because from then on I had two or three jobs to finance my flying lessons and got my full private pilot’s licence when I was 18.”

But the covid pandemic and its subsequent reduction in commercial flights brought him back to Pembrokeshire where he began taking an interest in property and set up Williams Property Investment.

“This is why I’m trying to do as much as I can to save some of the wonderful properties around us here in Pembrokeshire,” he said. “The solution to our housing shortage isn’t to build more houses. It’s to look around at what we already have and ensure everything is done to salvage them and bring them back to serve our towns and our county as they were originally intended.”

TWO well-known Welsh entrepreneurs have teamed up to provide a unique offer for the tourism and hospitality sectors in Wales.

PR and marketing expert Robert Petersen and sustainable tourism specialist Nicki Page are working together to transform the way businesses in the sectors promote themselves and their sustainability.

Using their knowledge and experience, the pair plan to offer tailored packages of support to government bodies, charities and tourism and hospitality businesses in Wales to help them shout about their climate credentials and attract visitors and investment from across the world.

Nicki Page said: “Climate change is having a significant impact upon the world, driving businesses and organisations of all sizes to adopt more sustainable practices.

“Unless tourism and hospitality businesses accelerate their implementation of sustainable operations, they risk regulatory intervention and the loss of customers and investment.

“Our mission is to help tourism and hospitality businesses and organisations in Wales to change the way they think, to help them rewrite their narratives to promote themselves and their sustainability.”

Rob Petersen said: “Tourism is a vital industry for Wales, bringing hundreds of millions of pounds into the Welsh economy every year. But since Covid the industry has struggled and visitor numbers are down, and the planned visitor levy could impact this further.

“That’s why it’s vital that Wales’s tourism and hospitality brands, from hotels and restaurants to campsites and cafes, commit to a sustainable agenda that is good for people and planet.

“Most importantly, they must tell the world what they are doing and why they are doing it, and that’s what Nicki and I are here to help them with.

‘’With the emergence of AI as a key tool in planning and delivering marketing and PR campaigns, we will use all the relevant media channels to ensure that the sector’s key messages are delivered to target audiences in Wales and beyond.’’

Ms Page is the founder of TLC Harmony, a consultancy business that helps tourism, travel and hospitality businesses comply with sustainability requirements by measuring and addressing their impacts on climate and biodiversity.

She has worked with governments and tourism providers across the world, delivering solutions that balance the demands of business with the needs of local communities.

In Wales, she recently worked on a sustainability programme with Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, evaluating the resort’s environmental impact and its greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Petersen has had a long career in marketing, advertising and public relations, and ran one of Wales’ oldest public relations firms, Petersens PR, for more than 20 years. He has worked with many tourism and hospitality clients, including Bluestone Resort, the former Wales Tourist Board, and most recently the Mercure Hotel Newport.

Mr Petersen and Ms Page first met in the 1990s when they worked together on an award-winning communications and marketing campaign for the launch of the St David’s Hotel and Spa in Cardiff Bay, Wales’s first 5-star hotel.

Ms Page said: “I have known Rob for more than 30 years, and over that time I have seen him lead the marketing and PR scene in Wales with his professional and innovative approach to strategy and content.

“I am delighted we are once again working together to shake up the Welsh tourism and hospitality sectors with the aim of putting sustainability at the top of the agenda.

“Together, we will bring our shared passion and creativity to this purpose-driven transformation mission.”

DWR CYMRU has been slammed by a councillor who warned people “could have died” after thousands were left without water.

Tens of thousands of residents across the county were left without water after a mains burst at a treatment plant in Dolgarrog last week.

Welsh Water said supplies were restored to homes and businesses on Monday morning.

The chairwoman of Conwy’s finance committee slammed Dwr Cymru during a meeting at the council’s Bodlondeb HQ on Monday.

Old Colwyn councillor Cheryl Carlisle thanked volunteers and council staff for pulling together before calling for a public inquiry into the crisis.

Security guards

Cllr Carlisle claimed those in poor health had been left without water and said security guards at water stations had turned people away with small children.

“I’d like to take the time to thank everyone that’s being involved in the crisis in Conwy over the last six days, the selfless volunteers, everyone that provided water and help to the elderly and vulnerable, and also the engineers for fixing the problem and our social care staff and the other staff who have helped keep our nursing homes going, our care homes, and (looked after) the most vulnerable,” she said.

“On a different note, there will need to be an inquiry, won’t there, into the crisis response from Dwr Cymru.

“You cannot fault the engineers, but the delays in basic organisation, like setting up the water stations.

“It was 48 hours in my particular community. Without the volunteers, it would have been very, very serious, indeed, for those with health conditions.”

She added: “The priority lists of Dwr Cymru did not work.

“There were people on it that were still undelivered (not had water delivered) as was last night [Sunday], cancer patients, dialysis patients. This is completely unacceptable.

“Security guards turned away members (of the public) with little children. That was absolutely unacceptable as well.

“I think this has brought out the very best in people and, in just a few, the very worst. There needs to be a clear disaster plan going forward.”

Cllr Carlisle then insisted an inquiry was needed after Cllr Goronwy Edwards suggested a review.

She added: “I think it needs to be something more than a review, given the seriousness.

“People could have died, those with (serious health conditions). I don’t think we should downplay anything until everyone has come through this intact.”

Conwy Council leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey also thanked those councillors and members of the public “who had gone above and beyond to look after their communities”.

He added the authority was now in a recovery phase with some households still without water and some schools affected.

“Clearly, with any major incident, questions need to be asked about could this have been prevented, was the response adequate, and what happens in the future in terms of how we coordinate things and prevent incidents like that happening again?”

Cllr McCoubrey said he was working with Welsh Government to get answers from Dwr Cymru.

Report by Richard Evans, Local Democracy Reporter