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News

Council leader hits back at regeneration scheme critics

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PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S leader has hit out at criticism of the county town’s regeneration and the much-mentioned “Instagram-friendly” signature bridge, part of a levelling-up scheme for the town.

At the March 11 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members were due to to hold a private and confidential session to discuss the award of the contract for the Haverfordwest footbridge and Western Quayside Phase 2 project.

The signature bridge scheme, in the Haverfordwest’s conservation area, also includes a ‘plaza’ public realm reconfiguration and enhancement as well as the repair, renewal and refurbishment of the former Cleddau Foundry building.

It forms part of the ‘Heart of Pembrokeshire’ regeneration project, which was awarded a Levelling Up Fund grant.

Concerns about the bridge – and potential costs – have previously been raised, and the design of the new bridge has previously been labelled an ‘Instagrammable’ bridge by Councillor Rhys Jordan when raising questions about costs associated with it.

The bridge is also part of a wider regeneration of the county town, which includes the ‘Ocky White’ Western Quayside retail development and a new transport interchange on the site of the former multi-storey car park.

Before the matter went into private session at the March meeting, Council Leader David Simpson said: “Personally, I would like to say a couple of things: as an administration we have been investing in the town centre of Haverfordwest for the last seven years.

“We actually bought a retail complex in the middle of a town, there was a lot of criticism against it, but once we’d done the deal, once we’d got the financial support from Welsh Government the actual complex itself cost us around £600,000, and ever since we’ve owned the buildings we’ve made a profit from the rental and maintenance etc.

“I personally believe we have to, as an authority, invest in our town centres. In 2021 we were given £17m of levelling-up funding from the treasury in London, that, to me, shows they support our business plan for the regeneration of the town centre, what we’ve got to do is give a 10 per cent contribution towards any work that needs to be done within the confines of the grant.

“I explain it to my community councils and they are fully supportive, they can see the business sense behind it, and they are fully supportive.

“The existing bridge has come to the end of its life and that is obvious to anybody that walks over it and to replace it would cost substantially more than what we’re being asked to contribute – 10 per cent of.

“So, I really cannot understand when you get people, members, who do not seem to understand the finances of it, it would cost us more not to do this scheme than to do it. We are getting a really good deal out of it.”

He added: “If we cancelled the actual bridge now we would lose the 90 per cent funding, it would cost us more than for a really nice bridge in the centre of town, and to me is an asset to the community.

“I’d like the members of the public to know we are handling the finances well. We are going to supply a new bridge in the centre of town which is part of the complex, the rebuilding of the centre of town with Ocky Whites and all the other associated buildings.

“We are, as an administration, working towards a way which is financially good for the authority.”

His views were echoed by Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery Cllr Jon Harvey, who said: “There’s been a lot of comment on social media, a lot of comment in the [council] Chamber about the so-called ‘vanity projects’ and ‘Instagramable’ bridges and so-on and so-forth.

“If the UK Government is going to give us a grant of effectively 90 per cent, providing that scheme is wanted, why wouldn’t we take that grant money?”

He added: “We’ve taken flak for it, the council’s taken flak, but regeneration of our town centres is absolutely crucial.”

After the private and confidential break, members agreed the award of the contract for construction services, to Walters Group Ltd, be authorised.

Crime

Domestic violence offender jailed after breaching court order

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A LONG-STANDING Pembrokeshire domestic violence offender has been sent back to prison after breaching a domestic violence protection order.

Paul Webber was arrested on March 18 after being seen kissing his victim outside probation offices in Haverfordwest, despite a court order preventing contact.

A court order imposed by Llanelli magistrates earlier this month prevented him from making any contact with the female after being convicted of threatening to kill her, strangle her, and sexually assault her.

“On March 12, a report was made to police that he’d attended a probation appointment with the female, who remained standing outside the offices,” a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“Police officers viewed the CCTV footage and recognised the female as the victim.

“This was clearly a breach of the domestic violence protection order towards a vulnerable woman, and there’s also concern that she minimises incidents. He’s known as a domestic violence instigator with previous partners.”

Webber, of Winch Lane, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to breaching the domestic violence protection order.

He was sentenced to 28 days in custody.

“You were aware of the terms of the order but you deliberately breached it,” said the presiding magistrate when passing sentence.

“You showed a complete disregard for it.”

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Crime

Arrest warrant issued for charity box theft suspect

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A WARRANT without bail has been issued for a Milford Haven man accused of stealing a charity box from the Castle Hotel in Haverfordwest.

Daniel Fairlie, 29, of Observatory Avenue, Milford Haven, was listed to appear before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, March 18. However, after failing to attend, magistrates issued a warrant for his arrest.

Fairlie is accused of stealing the charity box on November 23, 2024, along with multiple shoplifting offences and drug possession.

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Crime

Bail breacher remanded in custody after ferry trip with victim

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A BAIL breacher has been remanded in custody after traveling to and from Ireland on the Pembroke Dock ferry with a victim he was prohibited from seeing.

Robson Franca, 38, was arrested by port officers after being seen in the presence of the complainant when the Rosslare ferry recently docked in Pembroke Dock.

This week, Haverfordwest magistrates were told that a domestic violence court order imposed by Avon and Somerset magistrates prohibited Franca from having any contact with the complainant pending his trial on May 16.

Franca’s solicitor, Peter Tarr, told the court that the complainant frequently contacts Franca and makes threats if he refuses to see her.

Despite the defense’s arguments, magistrates refused to grant bail, citing concerns that Franca might commit further offences, fail to surrender, or interfere with prosecution witnesses. He was remanded in custody.

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