Report due in September on replacing appointments with ANPR and CCTV monitoring

A PLAN to remove the booking system at Pembrokeshire’s waste and recycling centres is set to be brought before Cabinet later this year.

Council Leader Cllr Tessa Hodgson has confirmed that it is the intention of her administration to scrap the current system, which requires residents to book before using the county’s waste and recycling centres.

She has asked Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, to work with officers on a report setting out the options for a new approach.

Cllr Hodgson said Pembrokeshire had a strong record on recycling, but added that the booking system remained a regular concern for local residents.

She said: “Pembrokeshire is consistently one of Wales’ best performing local authorities when it comes to waste and recycling, and I thank our staff and the people of Pembrokeshire for helping us continue to improve.

“However, the booking system is an issue that is raised with me time and time again by residents, and so removing the booking system is a priority for me and my administration.

“With modern technology such as number plate recognition and CCTV monitoring, I see no reason why we cannot ensure the sites are used appropriately and safely by council taxpayers, while minimising any unauthorised use, without the need for a booking system.”

Cllr Hodgson said the current arrangements could be “time-consuming and bureaucratic” and that the council should be able to protect the service while making it easier for residents to use.

She added: “I believe we can create a system that maintains high standards of waste disposal, provides value for money for taxpayers, and continues to maximise recycling, all without unnecessary bureaucracy.

“It is our administration’s intention that a report is brought to the September Cabinet meeting with a clear plan to remove the booking system from our waste and recycling centres.”

Cllr Rhys Sinnett said the council would look at a practical replacement which keeps sites safe and prevents misuse.

He said: “We know how important it is for residents to have straightforward, convenient access to their local waste and recycling centres, and I welcome this work to explore how we can make that happen.

“Our focus will be on developing a practical, modern approach that improves the experience for residents while maintaining safety, protecting the service from misuse, and continuing to deliver strong recycling performance for Pembrokeshire.

“I look forward to bringing forward proposals that strike the right balance for our communities.”

Any change would be subject to Cabinet considering the report and agreeing the next steps. The report is expected to go before members in September.

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S Deputy Leader has launched a major bid to halt controversial plans to close Stepaside School.

Cllr Paul Miller, who took over responsibility for education on May 15, has submitted a motion asking councillors to rescind two previous decisions which authorised officers to begin statutory consultation on closing Saundersfoot and Stepaside schools and replacing them with a single 3-11 primary school on the Saundersfoot site.

The proposal, backed by council in December 2025 and reaffirmed in March 2026, would have seen consultation begin in September.

But in a significant change of direction, Cllr Miller has now told members he no longer believes the proposal to discontinue Stepaside School is “the right one”.

In an email sent to all county councillors, he said he had reviewed the council’s school modernisation and reorganisation plans since taking on the education portfolio.

He said the authority’s work to date had focused mainly on surplus places, which he described as an “interesting estates and facilities metric” but one which “tells us very little about the educational experience of the children inside those buildings”.

Cllr Miller said he accepted that very small schools could become unviable, not only financially but educationally, because of pressures on leadership, staff capacity, mixed-age classes, peer groups and pupil wellbeing.

However, he said Stepaside was in a “materially different position” from schools with exceptionally low pupil numbers.

With around 100 pupils on roll, he said the school was “substantially larger than schools previously deemed unviable”.

He added that decisions affecting larger schools required a broader assessment of educational sustainability, leadership capacity, workforce resilience and pupil experience before closure could be justified.

Cllr Miller also raised the possibility of alternatives, including shared leadership arrangements or formal federation, which he said could strengthen the sustainability of both schools.

He further noted that the planned temporary full decant of Tenby VC School may use a significant proportion of existing surplus places at Saundersfoot School, potentially weakening the case for closing Stepaside as a response to surplus capacity in the Tenby cluster.

His motion asks council to rescind its decisions of December 12, 2025 and March 5, 2026 and to discontinue the proposed statutory consultation process relating to the closure of Saundersfoot and Stepaside schools.

He has asked for the motion to be dealt with at July’s full council meeting, describing it as the final ordinary meeting before the planned September consultation.

The move is likely to be welcomed by campaigners and parents who have opposed the closure of Stepaside School, but it also raises fresh questions about the future of the wider Saundersfoot proposal and the council’s school modernisation programme.

The Herald has previously reported strong local concern over the plans, with parents and residents arguing that Stepaside remains a viable village school and plays an important role in the community.

Pembrokeshire County Council has consistently said school reorganisation must take account of pupil numbers, surplus places, Welsh Government guidance, building condition, long-term sustainability and the need to provide high-quality education.

If accepted onto the agenda, Cllr Miller’s motion could force councillors to revisit one of the most sensitive education decisions currently facing the authority.

South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell welcomed the development, describing it as “absolutely fantastic news” and “a massive victory for our community”.

He said the council had listened following serious concerns raised by local parents, residents and community representatives.

Mr Tufnell added: “When a community stands together, raises its voice, and refuses to be ignored, this is exactly what can be achieved.”

He also thanked those who attended meetings, backed the campaign and spoke up for the future of local children.

VOTERS in Pembroke Dock’s Market Ward will head to the polls on Thursday, July 9, to elect a new county councillor, with seven candidates standing.

The by-election has attracted candidates from across the political spectrum, alongside three independents, with priorities including healthcare, education, regeneration, cleaner streets, social care and community services.

Independent Hayley Wood says her campaign is centred on listening to residents and ensuring their concerns are represented. She has pledged to support community groups and volunteers, improve transparency and accountability, protect local services, including healthcare, and work collaboratively for the benefit of Pembroke Dock.

She has also highlighted dog fouling as a priority, calling for targeted patrols, mobile CCTV in problem areas and closer working with residents to identify hotspots.

Independent Paul Haywood Dowson is highlighting what he describes as a strong record of campaigning on local issues. He says he helped defeat proposals for a waste storage site at Pembroke Port, opposed plans for a fuel tanker depot on Criterion Way, tackled problems linked to a rogue landlord at the former Coronation School and Commercial Row, worked to remove fly-tipping and overflowing bins, and campaigned on issues surrounding Penally Camp.

Independent Claire Francis-Boswell is focusing on community involvement and volunteering. She says she has worked alongside organisations including Pater Hall Community Trust, Pembrokeshire Pride, Pennar Hall, Friends of Pembroke Pool, the neighbourhood policing team and the town council.

She highlighted her continued work with Pembroke Dock’s Warm Rooms initiative, describing it as an important source of support for vulnerable and isolated residents. She also says she works with local businesses to promote the town centre, while campaigning on issues including antisocial behaviour, dangerous driving and dog fouling.

Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate Lee Herring has identified cleaner and safer streets as a key priority, including repairing potholes and damaged pavements. He is also calling for greater support for young people, improved healthcare services at Argyle Street Surgery, better standards at Ysgol Harri Tudur and stronger accountability from elected representatives.

Reform UK candidate Ryan Morgan says his experience working in social care and running a business has shaped his priorities. He has pledged to campaign for improved social care provision, support the regeneration of neglected sites and empty properties, and improve additional learning needs provision.

Morgan, who is also a local authority school governor, says his personal experience as the parent of a child with autism has given him first-hand insight into the challenges facing families seeking support.

Plaid Cymru candidate Chloe Louise Richards says her background as a registered nurse and clinical practice educator has equipped her with leadership, communication and problem-solving skills. She also serves as a trade union steward, representing colleagues and negotiating on their behalf.

Richards says she wants to see stronger local services, greater opportunities for residents and businesses, and a council that listens to local people.

Welsh Conservative candidate Jamie Street says being part of an established Conservative group at Pembrokeshire County Council would provide access to experience and support while enabling him to raise local issues effectively.

Street says he wants to challenge what he describes as wasteful council spending, arguing that greater focus should be placed on core services including schools, roads, housing and social care. He has pledged to scrutinise council decisions, ensure value for taxpayers’ money and put Market Ward’s interests first if elected.

The by-election was called following the death of veteran county councillor Brian Hall in April. Cllr Hall had represented Pembroke Dock’s Market Ward since 1996 and served in a number of senior roles during three decades of public service.