A LOCAL petrol station has been named the best in the UK.

MFG St Clears Service Station, located in St Clears, Carmarthenshire, has won the prestigious Forecourt Trader of the Year Award for 2024.

Karen Doyle, the manager, expressed her excitement at the accolade. “We’re absolutely over the moon,” she said. “We’ve only been open for nearly twelve months, so to achieve this is truly remarkable.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Ms Doyle added, “We’re all thrilled – it’s such a fantastic accomplishment, and we’ve worked really hard to get here.”

The forecourt, which features a coffee shop and a well-stocked food store, faced tough competition from service stations across the UK. According to Ms Doyle, the station’s toilets are a notable attraction. “The loos are fantastic,” she said. “We’ve got murals of fish all over the walls – they’re absolutely brilliant.”

However, the Best Forecourt Loo award went to Essar Lea Gate Service Station in Preston this year.

The Forecourt Trader Awards are judged across several categories, with the overall best forecourt title reflecting excellence in multiple areas, including customer service, facilities, and quality offerings.

Ms Doyle emphasised the importance of great customer service. “We see many returning customers, especially lorry drivers who regularly stop by for fuel or a chat. The relationships we build with them are crucial for our business,” she explained.

Other Welsh service stations also received recognition at the awards. Ascona Machynlleth was shortlisted for Best Food To Go Outlet and Best Valeting Services. Lewis of Llandrinio, based in Llanymynech, was nominated for Best Forecourt Team, while Rontec Cardiff West Service Station was a contender for Best Motorway Services Outlet.

Looking ahead, Ms Doyle has set her sights high for next year’s awards. “We’re aiming for a clean sweep next time!” she declared.

PLANS to rebuild and renovate a fire-ravaged Pembrokeshire seaside pub have been given the go-ahead by the national park.

In an application before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners, Pleasure Inns Ltd sought permission for alterations and refurbishment works to the Duke Of Edinburgh Inn, Newgale, including a change of use of first floor manager accommodation and letting units to a bar/restaurant area.

The Duke of Edinburgh was severely damaged during a blaze in the early hours of January 16.

The fire burned through the roof of the two-storey building which consisted of the ground floor pub with accommodation above, causing significant damage.

It took fire crews from St Davids, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven and Fishguard crews around six hours to bring the blaze under control.

Local community council Nolton and Roch has supported the proposed the works to the pub, saying: “Community Councillors feel the plans are well-considered, attractive and will certainly enhance Newgale, both visually and as an excellent service for tourists and locals alike.

“The Duke of Edinburgh public house is synonymous to Newgale and has been enjoyed by tourists and locals for several generations, and the local community look forward to the planned refurbishments and normal business resuming at the property in the near future.”

A supporting statement, through agent A D Architectural Design Consultants Ltd, said: “As part of the proposal, the entire internal layout will be re-arranged and given a complete re-vamp. The ground floor layout will remain as existing, apart from the introduction of a new staircase and lift, providing access to the proposed first floor bar and restaurant areas.

“The entire provision of first floor accommodation will be omitted from the proposed scheme, minimising any risk of impact from the flood zone.  Additionally, the overall footprint of the building will be reduced as part of the proposal, with the existing front entrance porch being demolished and replaced with a ‘post-supported’ balcony above, providing an external seating area to the proposed bar and restaurant areas.

“With the afore-mentioned existing entrance porch being demolished, the proposed main entrance will be located as part of the proposed southern corner glazing, providing an internal glazed lobby, which then provides access into the proposed entrance bar.”

An officer report said amended plans “to incorporate a more traditional appearance to the central part of the public house” had been submitted.

The report, recommending approval, said: “The pub dates back to the turn of the century, having been previously built on the other side of the road according to a historic newspaper article and was moved to the landward side of the road after storm damage.

“The use of the site as a public house has not been lost as result of the fire, and so the principle of restoring the building to its original use is acceptable, and although it is in a flood plain, as it is an existing use and is not being extended beyond the existing footprint, it does not contravene the principles of building in the flood plain.”

It added: “If this were a new-build application, it would be contrary to the principles of the Local Plan, but as it is the refurbishment of an existing building with an existing lawful use, it can be supported.”

National Park planners granted approval with a long string of conditions.

Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) immediately undertook a fire investigation to determine the cause of the fire earlier this year.

“The outcome of the fire investigation was inconclusive due to the extent of damage in the area of the building where the fire most likely first started,” a spokesperson for the service said.

“There were no suspicious circumstances so it will be recorded as accidental undetermined.”

A SCHEME for eight holiday lodges in a village close to the seaside town of Tenby has been given the go-ahead by Pembrokeshire planners.

In an application recommended for conditional delegated approval when it came before the October 8 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Noel Flanagan sought permission to site the eight lodges at Penally Grange, Penally, adjoining an existing site.

A report for planners said: “Penally Grange is an existing holiday park located within the settlement boundary of Penally, on the eastern side of the C-class highway. It consists of 50 self-catering holiday lodges and is accessible from the junction with the highway through Penally.

“The application site is a vacant parcel of land in the countryside immediately adjoining the holiday park. It is separated from the existing holiday park by a hedge bank boundary with an access leading from the existing internal road network.”

It added: “Each lodge would be supported by blockwork support walls and steel chassis to be welded to steel angle brackets fixed to a concrete foundation. As such the lodges are considered to be buildings.

“The lodges would be sited around a new internal road layout with a turning head and each would have two parking bays and a grassed amenity area. Access into the site would be from the existing road network within the holiday park to the east.”

It finished: “The lodges would be of similar scale and design to the existing lodges on the site and would be accessible from the existing internal road network. The proposal would be seen in context of the existing holiday park and is considered to be of a scale and nature compatible with the location.”

The application for delegated approval, moved by Cllr Brian Hall, was unanimously supported by planning committee members.