Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Community

Neighbourhood Watch coordinates response to Mount Estate rubbish crisis

Published

on

JUST over a week ago The Pembrokeshire Herald reported on the deteriorating conditions in Milford Haven’s Mount Estate, where residents were grappling with mounting rubbish, health hazards, and an overall decline in their living environment. The situation had become so severe that a concerned father reported his young son finding a hypodermic needle near their home. Overflowing bins, litter-strewn streets, and the presence of large vermin were among the serious issues facing the community, prompting calls for immediate action from local authorities.

In response to these concerns, Dyfed-Powys Neighbourhood Watch has taken the lead in coordinating a comprehensive response. While the estate continues to face challenges, there has been a concerted effort to work with Pembrokeshire County Council to ensure that the situation improves.

Over the past week, Dyfed-Powys Neighbourhood Watch has been in close communication with the council’s environmental team, with the aim of developing a strategic plan to tackle the ongoing issues. Initial progress has been made, including the clearing of some rubbish and improvements to the general cleanliness of the area. However, these actions represent only the beginning of what is expected to be a sustained effort to restore the estate.

Ajay Owen and Jordan Rice, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Neighbourhood Watch, are leading these efforts. They are planning a joint visit to the Mount Estate with council representatives in the coming days. This visit will focus on further assessing the situation, engaging with residents, and ensuring that the improvements are both maintained and expanded upon.

The community’s involvement is crucial to the success of these initiatives. The Neighbourhood Watch group has been actively encouraging residents to remain vigilant and report any ongoing issues. A confidential email line has been provided for those who wish to share their concerns anonymously, ensuring that everyone in the community has the opportunity to voice their concerns.

While much work remains, the coordination between Dyfed-Powys Neighbourhood Watch and Pembrokeshire County Council represents a positive step forward. The collaborative efforts of local governance and community action offer hope that Mount Estate can be transformed into a cleaner, safer place for its residents.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will continue to monitor and report on the progress at Mount Estate, keeping our readers informed as the situation evolves.

Community

Holiday let yacht in Pembrokeshire garden refused

Published

on

Plans for a holiday accommodation yacht in a Milford Haven garden have been turned down by Pembrokeshire County Council.

In an application to county planners, Phil Howe, through agent Hughes Architectural, sought permission to site the Sea Ray 290 yacht in the garden of The Cellar, Cellar Hill, near the foreshore to Castle Pill.

An officer report, recommending refusal, said: “The application seeks planning permission for the installation of a Sea Ray 290 yacht to be permanently mounted within the side garden, to provide holiday accommodation.  Foundations would be constructed, and bracing pillars provided to support the yacht.  The yacht would comprise two bedrooms gallery, and toilet/shower on the lower deck with steps to the upper deck.”

It adds: “The proposed yacht would be small and simple in scale.  The site is clearly visible, however, during the planning site visit it was observed that the foreshore and coastline of Castle Pill contains a mixture of boats of different shapes and sizes which are anchored or stored there.  Given the context of the site and its location, it is considered that the proposal would be viewed within the context of the built form and the nature of the waterway and would therefore have a limited visual impact.”

However, it says that, while the proposal would provide economic benefits through additional tourism facilities, it would lead to a “loss of green infrastructure as a result of the development,” with officers saying proposed ecological mitigations are insufficient.

The report also says there are insufficient parking spaces available for the proposal, and it “fails to demonstrate that acceptable foul drainage has been provided”.

The application was refused on grounds including foul waste disposal concerns, the site being in a flood zone without a Flood Consequences Assessment, insufficient parking provision, and the scheme “fails to demonstrate how green infrastructure has been incorporated into the design of the proposed development,” adding: “Furthermore, the application proposes the loss of green infrastructure as a result of the development and the proposed ecological mitigations are not considered to be sufficient for the scale of the development proposed.”

Continue Reading

Community

Pembroke Dock day centre to close despite stay of execution

Published

on

Pembroke Dock’s Anchorage day centre will close in less than a month, after a final decision was backed by senior councillors.

Last month, a successful ‘call-in’ by Independent Group leader Cllr Huw Murphy at an extraordinary meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s social care overview and scrutiny committee, was supported by fellow group members.

The county council is currently changing care provision for older adults and those with learning disabilities, with identified budget saving included in the 2024-’25 budget, and closure of Pembroke Dock’s Anchorage day care centre was agreed by senior councillors at the September 9 meeting of the council’s Cabinet, despite an earlier petition and impassioned pleas to keep it open.

At an earlier full council meeting a plea by local councillors Tony Wilcox and Brian Hall to give the Anchorage a breathing space ahead of a potential service move to an as-yet-unbuilt facility at Pembroke’s South Quay development, expected to open in 2026.

The November 1 Anchorage closure was backed along with wider changes in the service; establishing social enterprise models in Crymych’s Bro Preseli and Narberth’s Lee Davies Centre with effect from April 1 of next year.

The anchorage building is council owned while the other two are not.

After that Cabinet decision, the later ‘call-in’ asked for the decision to be referred back to Cabinet for further discussion on the social enterprise model, with a potential piloting in Bro Preseli, along with what bridging options could be considered for the Anchorage while awaiting the South Quay development.

A report at Thursday’s special Cabinet meeting of October 3, presented by Cllr Tessa Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Safeguarding, said, in relation to the first part of the ‘call-in’: “The Day Centre provision in Crymych and Narberth will remain open under current SLAs until March 31, 2025. A social enterprise will be supported to engage with the local community, service users, their families, and other stakeholders to develop and pilot alternative models of delivery.”

In relation to the Anchorage, it said: “The South Quay development will open in 2026, providing a co-located and integrated health and care setting, with further day opportunities and supported employment options for local residents.

“The Anchorage is open four days a week, providing services from the base 3.5 days with people attending alternative settings on a Friday. With regards to bridging alterations, the Cabinet report on September 9 set out a number of alternatives to attendance at the Anchorage.

“All of these alternatives constitute bridging options for those that wish to attend South Quay from 2026 onwards.”

Those alternatives include day opportunities at the Meadow Park Centre, Community-based activities in the Pembroke Dock Community Hall, and community-based activities at the VC Gallery, Pembroke Dock, the report added.

Members heard the anchorage day centre needed a new ceiling, roof, fire doors and electrics, which would cost some £500,000 to completely refurbish, or £295,000 to bring it up to standard to remain open for two years before the South Quay development was ready, with fears that rate could be even higher.

The council will be exiting service level agreements with the Bro Preseli Day Centre in Crymych and the Lee Davies Day Centre in Narberth and as one of many alternatives, will be working in partnership to promote social enterprise alternatives. Work is now underway to establish a suitable pilot which will see further strengthening of links between PCC and the Third Sector.

Continue Reading

Charity

Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station celebrates refurbishment and RNLI bicentennial

Published

on

The Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station recently marked two significant milestones with a grand reopening after extensive refurbishment and a special visit as part of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary celebrations.

On Saturday, 7th September, RNLI volunteers, supporters, and crew members gathered to celebrate the lifeboat station’s official reopening following major refurbishment work carried out over the winter months. The updated facilities, designed to bring the station into the 21st century, were unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by the children of the operational crew and supporters. This heartwarming gesture symbolised the passing of responsibility to the next generation of lifesavers.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Andy Grey, expressed his pride in the station’s transformation and the success of the event: “The station opening was extremely successful. Not only did the weather hold out, but personnel from the station, including officers and crew, branch members, and shop volunteers, were in attendance, along with guests from our neighbouring RNLI stations. The occasion truly represented the ‘One Crew’ philosophy. To make it even more special, the children of the crew were invited to formally open the new refurbishment of the station. A lovely gesture but also a great memory.”

The upgraded station now provides state-of-the-art facilities, including a modernised lifeboat shop, which will improve working conditions for the dedicated volunteers. Roger Bryan Smith DL, Area Operations Manager, also highlighted the importance of the refurbishment: “I am absolutely delighted that Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station has been refurbished to such a high standard. The crew devote an immense amount of their spare time to training to save lives at sea, and it’s marvellous that they now have such great facilities.”

Among the attendees were Gemma Gill, Coxswain of Fishguard Lifeboat, and Will Chant, Coxswain of St Davids Lifeboat Station, who showed their support and helped with presentations. The day was filled with a sense of community and celebration of the station’s lifesaving mission.

Later that month, on Wednesday, 25th September, Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station received a special visit as part of the RNLI’s bicentennial year. The RNLI 200 ‘Connecting our Communities’ scroll, which bears the lifeboat pledge, arrived at the station as part of its seven-month journey around 240 RNLI locations across the UK and Ireland. The pledge, printed in Welsh, English, and five other languages, celebrates the dedication of RNLI volunteers and their mission to save lives at sea.

Andy Grey, along with other key members of the station, including Shireen Thomas from the shop, Peter Erte from the fundraising branch, and Water Safety Officer Sue Christopher, had the honour of signing the scroll on behalf of the Little and Broad Haven lifeboat community. The scroll, made from materials significant to the charity, will conclude its journey in October on the Isle of Man, where RNLI founder Sir William Hillary was born. Once the journey is complete, the scroll will bear around 700 signatures and be displayed at the RNLI College in Poole.

Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, overseeing the 200th anniversary programmes, said: “The Connecting our Communities relay is one of the most significant events of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary year as it’s all about our people. For 200 years, it is people who have made the RNLI what it is – from our brave lifesavers who risk their lives to save others, to the committed fundraisers and generous donors who fund our lifesaving work.”

By coincidence, the RNLI Porsche 911 Challenge also arrived at the station on the same day. Belinda and James Richardson, who are travelling 8,500 miles in their Porsche 911 to visit all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations within 911 hours, were delighted to encounter the scroll for the first time on their journey. The couple is raising funds for a new D class inshore lifeboat, which is critical to the RNLI’s lifesaving work. In 2023 alone, D class lifeboats saved 96 lives and assisted over 2,000 people in distress.

Andy Grey reflected on the unique timing of the two events: “Today we had a special visit from the RNLI 911 Challenge and the RNLI Scroll. To happen at the same time and on the same day was unique in itself. The beautiful Porsche of the 911 Challenge presented a jigsaw and a special RNLI-themed version of Top Trumps in memory of their visit to all lifeboat stations in the UK. Four members from the station were asked to sign this wonderful scroll, which will be a memory and recognition of the 200-year celebration of the RNLI.”

Jayne George, RNLI Director of Fundraising, expressed her gratitude for the Richardsons’ efforts: “We are so grateful to Belinda and James for taking on this huge challenge and look forward to welcoming them at all our lifeboat stations around the coast. We are only able to save lives at sea thanks to the generous support of people taking on challenges like this.”

As the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea, Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station continues to play a vital role in this enduring mission, with new facilities and a strong community spirit driving them forward into the future.

Continue Reading

Crime11 hours ago

Pembrokeshire chef admits causing taxi driver’s death

A CHEF from Pembrokeshire has admitted causing the death local taxi driver, Christopher Boyle. Mateusz Sikorski, 30, formerly of Manorbier...

News13 hours ago

Buddha Buddha restaurant fined for failing to display correct food hygiene rating

A TENBY restaurant displayed a hygiene rating of 5 when the current rating for the premises was actually a 1,...

News3 days ago

Woman charged over death of four paddleboarders in Haverfordwest

NERYS Bethan Lloyd, aged 39, from Aberavon, has been charged with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence...

Entertainment4 days ago

Anna Ryder Richardson roars back to Manor Wildlife Park after six-year break

ANNA RYDER RICHARDSON, the celebrity founder of Pembrokeshire’s Manor Wildlife Park, has returned to lead the zoo after a six-year...

Business4 days ago

Milford Haven regeneration could return it to 50s glory days

Pembrokeshire could be “on the cusp” of an economic opportunity as great as the petrochemical industry investment in the county in the...

Crime4 days ago

Police raid cannabis grow at former Woolworths building in Pembroke Dock

POLICE in Pembroke Dock have shut down a large-scale cannabis grow in Pembroke Dock. Nearly 600 plants have been recovered,...

Charity5 days ago

Tenby’s lifeboats launch to reports of person missing on coast

BOTH of Tenby’s lifeboats were launched shortly before 6pm on Wednesday, 2nd October, following a report of a person missing...

Community5 days ago

Portfield Fair is back with a bang as mayors check out rides

THE HISTORIC Portfield Fair made a grand comeback this week – and this time the fair is at Rifleman’s Field...

Crime5 days ago

Caldey Island monk suspended amid investigation over explicit photos

A 76-YEAR-OLD monk from Caldey Island has been arrested on suspicion of sending indecent images to a local woman, Dyfed-Powys...

News5 days ago

Trust in politics ‘perilously low’ after donations scandal

CAMPAIGNERS called for greater openness, warning trust in politics is perilously low following controversy surrounding donations to the former first...

Popular This Week