PLANS to convert a former Pembrokeshire town centre social club into council owned social housing have been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, the authority itself, through agent KEW Planning, sought a change of use of the former Manchester Club social club, Fulke Street, Milford Haven to seven social rented residential units.

The Manchester Club public house/social club closed in March 2024 due to the cost of operations rising to be more than the monetary value that the club delivered, remaining vacant since this time, and was marketed for sale before an offer from the council was accepted.

The council scheme will provide five one-bed flats, one two-bed, and one studio flat; an amended scheme from discarded initial options which included one for 12 apartments and two studio flats. The scheme revised to restrict proposed alterations to the existing building to a minimum.

The proposal includes the demolition of the single storey garage to the front, and a single-storey extension at the rear, which will allow a communal amenity area.

A supporting statement said: “The vision for this project is to provide social housing to address housing stock shortages and to give a new life to a vacant building in a central location of the town. The property will be rented to mixed aged tenants, with PCC as the corporate landlord.”

An officer report recommending approval said the site had been marketed since 2024 at £170,000, with a £150,000 offer made but was unable to be proceeded with, the price later reduced to £150,000, three offers later received including £140,000 from the council, which was accepted in April 2025.

“For the two years that this property has been marketed the market response to the property has been limited with no viable interest in retaining the building for its existing community facility use,” the report said.

It concluded: “The loss of the former community facility has been robustly justified in accordance [with planning policy], and the scheme would deliver social and economic benefits through the provision of additional housing and the re-use of a vacant building.

“The proposal would enhance the visual appearance of the site, provide an acceptable standard of residential amenity for future occupiers without undue harm to neighbouring properties, and would not give rise to unacceptable impacts in respect of highway safety, drainage, biodiversity or the historic environment.”

The application was conditionally approved.

A PORTFIELD GATE man has appeared before magistrates accused of failing to stop after a road accident on the B4329.

Tony Mallon, 32, of Chestnut Tree Cottage, Portfield Gate, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 17).

He is charged with driving a Peugeot Partner without due care and attention on the B4329 Preselly Mountain Road at Tufton on November 12, 2025.

Mallon is also accused of failing to stop after an accident in which damage was allegedly caused to a Toyota Auris, and failing to report the accident to police within 24 hours.

The case was adjourned at the request of the defence for an intermediary report to be prepared.

Mallon is due to appear again at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 8 for a further pre-trial review.

Founding conference to be held at Aberystwyth University with Jeremy Corbyn expected to speak

A NEW political party has formed its first Welsh branch covering Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

The Ceredigion Penfro branch of Your Party Cymru held its inaugural meeting on Sunday, June 7, with members attending in person in Aberystwyth and online from across both counties.

The group says it is the first Your Party Cymru branch to be formally constituted in Wales and will now receive party funding to develop locally and begin campaigning.

Your Party Cymru says it aims to address inequality and injustice, with the new branch planning to stand candidates in elections, launch local campaigns, and support existing causes.

The branch said its priorities would include industrial action, housing campaigns, protecting local health services, environmental issues, Palestine solidarity, and opposing the far right.

Organisers say the party will operate as a member-led movement, giving local members a say in how branches are run and offering opportunities to become active in campaigns.

Dinah Mulholland, Your Party Ceredigion Penfro organiser, said: “We are offering a significant alternative to political parties in the Senedd and in Westminster, who have disregarded the needs of ordinary people for far too long.

“Your Party Cymru will be a new kind of political party. We are rooted in communities, trade unions and social movements, and we are building positive and sustainable change from the ground up.”

Maria Donnellan, Your Party Cymru representative for Your Party UK’s collective leadership, said the formation of the branch was a “historic day” for the party and for Welsh politics.

She said: “Ceredigion Penfro communities have always found ways to look after each other when the state has failed to. It is exactly the right place for Your Party Cymru to take its first steps as a member-led party built from communities, not from the top down.”

The Ceredigion Penfro branch will host the Your Party Cymru founding conference at Aberystwyth University on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19.

Jeremy Corbyn and other socialist figures are expected to speak at the event.