PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has accepted an insurance settlement which leaves it with just £63,777.07 after the catastrophic fire which destroyed Manorbier School.

The figure, confirmed in a director’s decision notice dated Tuesday (Jun 23), is likely to appal parents, taxpayers and campaigners who have fought to save the village school.

The council accepted the insurer’s full and final settlement offer of £263,777.07.

But after a £200,000 excess was deducted, the net payment to the authority was only £63,777.07.

The fire broke out on October 10, 2022, during roofing works at the school. The council’s own document states that the blaze followed the use of flame torches and caused extensive damage to the original school building and adjoining schoolhouse, destroying the pitched roof structures.

Nearly four years later, the school has been discontinued, the building has not been rebuilt, and the insurance payout left to the council is less than the price of many family homes in Pembrokeshire.

The revelation raises devastating questions about how a public building used by young children could be left so exposed.

It also raises wider concerns about whether other schools and council-owned public buildings in Pembrokeshire are properly insured against catastrophic loss.

Council leader calls for review

Council leader Cllr Tessa Hodgson has now written to Dr Norma Barry, chair of the Governance and Audit Committee, formally requesting a wider review of the authority’s insurance arrangements.

In her letter, Cllr Hodgson said it was “difficult to explain and to understand” how there could be such a wide gap between the value of the damage to the asset and the value of the settlement figure.

She asked the committee to undertake a “formal, thorough and more general review” to provide assurance that insurance arrangements across the authority are “fit for purpose and robust”.

That request will now place the council’s insurance policies, risk management and decision-making under intense scrutiny.

Church dispute

The issue is made even more explosive by the fact that Manorbier School is a Church in Wales voluntary controlled school.

The Church has previously made clear that it expects the building to be reinstated, and solicitors acting for the Diocese have already accused the council of using the school closure process to avoid responsibility for rebuilding the fire-damaged premises.

The Diocese has demanded full structural reinstatement and has warned that legal action, including judicial review, could follow.

If the Church continues to insist that the school must be returned to its pre-fire condition, the council could yet face a much larger bill than the £63,777.07 it will receive from the insurer.

Contractor questions

There are also unanswered questions about the roofing contractor working at the site when the fire broke out.

The council document states that the fire occurred during roofing works following the use of flame torches.

Former Schools Overview and Scrutiny Committee chair Cllr Huw Murphy has questioned where the contractor’s public liability insurance was, and why the consequences of the fire appear to have fallen back on the council.

He said there were “serious concerns” over the lack of insurance cover in place for such a catastrophic incident.

Cllr Murphy said the fire not only rendered the school unusable, but also destroyed an attached schoolhouse, leaving a tenant requiring rehousing by the local authority.

He said: “If there was a template on how not to deal with a catastrophic incident then Pembrokeshire wrote it for Manorbier.”

Wider public concern

The Manorbier case now raises a stark question for every parent in Pembrokeshire: if another school suffered a major fire tomorrow, would the council be able to rebuild it?

A large insurance excess may not be unusual for a local authority, but residents will want to know whether the council had the right cover, the right reserves, and the right legal protections in place.

Had Manorbier School been rebuilt, Pembrokeshire would at least have retained a valuable public asset capable of serving future generations.

Instead, the community has lost its school, the building remains unrestored, and the council is left with a net insurance payment of just £63,777.07.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council whether all school buildings are insured for full reinstatement value, what excesses apply, whether any claim has been pursued against the contractor or its insurers, and what legal advice has been received in relation to the Church in Wales’ position.

THE ARMED FORCES flag is flying proudly at County Hall this week ahead of Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 27.

Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Tessa Hodgson, and the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Simon Hancock were among those who marked the flag raising on Monday morning (June 22).

Also present were the Chairman of Council, Cllr Delme Harries, the Chief Executive, Will Bramble and the Regional Armed Forces Covenant Liaison Officer, Hayley Edwards.

Cllr Hancock said: “It is always a very proud moment to see the Armed Forces Flag flying over County Hall.

“Armed Forces Day is a chance to show our deep appreciation for the men and women who serve, as well as the families and communities who support them.

“Our county has a rich history of connection with the Armed Forces, and we are proud to uphold and strengthen that bond.

“As a Council we are committed to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community in Pembrokeshire receive the recognition and support they truly deserve and we are proud to be a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award holder.”

HAVERFORDWEST residents will have the chance to raise ideas, concerns and local issues directly with the town’s mayor this week.

Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner will hold a Talk to Your Mayor session on Thursday, from 12:00pm until 2:00pm.

The initiative is aimed at giving residents an opportunity to speak directly with the mayor about matters affecting the town and wider community.

Cllr Thomas-Turner said communication and engagement were “vital”, adding that the session was about listening to local people, working together, and ensuring every voice had the opportunity to be heard.

Anyone wishing to book an appointment is asked to contact the Haverfordwest Town Council town clerk.

The mayor said: “Together, we can continue building a stronger and more connected community. Together we can make Haverfordwest the best in the west.”