News

Milford Haven: Outline plans for Docks Master Plan approved

Published

11 years ago

February 25, 2015

docks MEMBERS of Pembrokeshire Council’s Planning and Rights of Way committee meeting have given outline planning consent for the Milford Docks Master Plan.

The application before Tuesday’s Committee meeting surrounded the potential uses as part of the developments including commercial, retail and fishing uses.

The plans also included a new proposal to rebuild the old docks office in full and move it to a new location to account for the new access into the site.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the plans which are subject to a number of planning conditions.

These include a further three applications which have been delegated to the director of development. These are for the extension of the existing Dock Wall and erection of a Marina Services Building, demolition of the former Docks office and the demolition of the Burnyeates building.

Speaking on the one change to the application, agent Rob Peters said: “The new safe access into the site will be accompanied by a full rebuild of the listed building in response to consideration by the committee in December.

“It will be rebuilt in whole in close proximity to the existing listed buildings to create a group value that exists already.

“The development will create 600 new jobs across its lifetime. It will provide new retail apartments which will provide a modernised offer within Milford and bring significant economic benefits to both parts of the town centre.

“It will provide 16 affordable houses which will benefit local people. It will improve pedestrian, cycling and public transport links as well as vehicle movements into the site.

“Investment will also be made in the fishing industry, creating 56 new jobs. There will also be new public areas, gardens, seated places, local areas for playing.

“The Torch Theatre has objected on the basis of a cinema being included but as the officer confirmed, what’s being applied for is a class D2 leisure use which can accommodate a range of uses and not a cinema necessarily.

“The regeneration benefits are substantial. It represents a multi-million pound investment for Milford. It will enhance the town and it will create a destination for local people and tourists and this will be good for the Torch Theatre as well as for Milford”.

Objecting to the plans, Alison Hardy said: “I can’t understand how one of our historic buildings is going to face demolition, even if it is being rebuilt in a new place. The office is part of my heritage; it is an integral part of the heritage of the town. It’s a much loved grade two listed building that should not be demolished.

“There was also a majority vote against the demolition at Milford Haven Town Council last night. If a grade two listed building is demolished and rebuilt it will not then be the old Docks company office. The history will be gone from the landscape and confined to the memories of the older people of the town.”

Cllr Brian Hall moved the recommendation for approval and added: “This is the most important planning application in relation to Milford Dock. It is essential to the town of Milford in a time of recession.

“The Port Authority is one of the major sponsors for the Torch Theatre so the last thing they want to do is cause them a problem.

“This will bring an additional spend of £45million to the town. This is a £90million development which is absolutely fantastic”.

Cllr Peter Stock added: “Recession is one of the reasons put forward for the demise of our town centres. It is vital for the redevelopment of our towns and each town must play to its strengths. In Milford that is the docks area and the waterways, this is so important. It is a tremendous amount of money that is there to be spent in this county”.

Cllr Gwilym Price said: “It is a fantastic sum of money; this is so good for the area. One of my concerns is with the Torch Theatre and I believe more consultation could resolve this matter and I would hope that they can come to an agreement”.

Cllr Jacob Williams said: “It is a shame that the docks office is going to be moved. It is an optimistic project but there aren’t really any objections to it. I do share the concerns of the Torch Theatre but we are here today to discuss the use as part of the development”.

Speaking after the meeting, Chief Executive of the Port of Milford Haven, Alec Don, said that it was a significant milestone in a long-term strategy. “Our investment in Milford Dock, and indeed Pembroke Port, is part of a wider Port strategy that seeks to diversify the business by strengthening trade in areas not connected to oil and gas. We want to maximise the contribution these two assets make to the business and to the local economy.

Alec concluded, “This is a massive new opportunity for the town and we look forward to working with others to make this vision a reality”.

Jeff Teague, Estates Director for the Port of Milford Haven has been leading the master planning process and was delighted with the decision. He said: “Now that Outline Planning has been approved we can move forward with marketing this exciting development opportunity. We are already talking to a number of development agents who are interested in working with us. They will carry out extensive market testing and it is at this stage that detailed plans will begin to define and shape the specific parts of the development.

“In the meantime, work is progressing in other key areas of the destination. New buildings are emerging that will house modern, food grade units for the local fishing industry and create new opportunities for them to expand and diversify. On the marina side, the new £6m lock gates are in commissioning and final testing phase, soon to be launched in readiness for this year’s boating season. We won’t stand still. This investment is much needed in Milford Haven and we are committed to making it a success”.

News

Emergency response after person enters water at Milford Haven marina

Published

24 minutes ago

April 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Casualty recovered as police, coastguard and lifeboat crews attend

A MAJOR emergency response was launched at Milford Marina in Milford Haven on Sunday (Apr 12) after a person was reported to have entered the water.

Police, ambulance crews, HM Coastguard and lifeboat teams were called to the scene at Milford Docks shortly after 1:00pm.

The casualty was recovered from the water by emergency services. However, at the time of publication, their condition has not been confirmed.

Eyewitnesses described a significant multi-agency presence, with crews working together in a coordinated rescue operation.

The Herald understands that the incident prompted a rapid response from all emergency services in the area.

No further details have yet been released regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Crime

Over 500 arrests at latest Palestine Action protest in London

Published

1 hour ago

April 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

The Herald understands demonstrators from Pembrokeshire were among those in London as 523 people were detained at Trafalgar Square vigil

MORE than 500 people were arrested in Trafalgar Square on Saturday during a mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action, in what campaigners say has pushed the total number of arrests linked to the group’s proscription to more than 3,300 since July 2025.

The Herald understands that a number of those attending had travelled from Wales, including some protesters from Pembrokeshire.

The Metropolitan Police said 523 people were arrested during the demonstration, where protesters staged what organisers described as a silent vigil against the war in Gaza and the use of terrorism laws against pro-Palestinian activism.

Those detained were said to range in age from 18 to 87. Among those arrested was Robert Del Naja, the Massive Attack musician and artist, who was identified by national media as being among those detained during the protest.

The latest mass arrests come amid continuing legal and political controversy over the Government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action under terrorism legislation.

The group was banned after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in July 2025 and damaged military aircraft in protest at Britain’s support for Israel. The proscription came into force on July 5, 2025, making it a criminal offence to belong to the group or to express support for it.

However, in February this year, the High Court ruled that the ban was unlawful. Despite that decision, the proscription remains in force while the Government pursues an appeal, which is due to be heard later this month.

That legal uncertainty has fuelled criticism of the Metropolitan Police, which had initially indicated it would not arrest people simply for holding signs while the case remained unresolved. The force later reversed that position and resumed enforcement.

The handling of Saturday’s protest has drawn further scrutiny after former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu said the “optics” were “very challenging for the police” when faced with hundreds of peaceful demonstrators willing to be arrested.

Campaigners say the arrests raise serious questions about free speech, peaceful assembly and the practical enforcement of the law, particularly while the ban itself remains under appeal.

The protest was organised by Defend Our Juries, which said many of those detained were elderly or disabled and claimed the latest arrests showed the ban was becoming increasingly difficult to enforce consistently.

There was further controversy after reports that Devon and Cornwall Police did not make arrests at a similar protest in Truro on Friday, despite demonstrators there reportedly holding the same signs as those seen in London.

With the Court of Appeal due to hear the case on April 28 and 29, the latest arrests are likely to intensify pressure on both ministers and police over how far terrorism laws should be used in response to peaceful public protest.

News

Senedd election candidates confirmed as vote.wales goes live

Published

23 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Voters can now check who is standing in their constituency ahead of polling day on May 7

A TOTAL of 675 candidates will contest the Senedd election on May 7, with voters across Wales now able to see exactly who is standing in their area through the newly launched vote.wales website.

The nomination period for candidates closed at 4:00pm on Thursday (Apr 9), and full details of all confirmed candidates are now available online.

At this year’s election, Wales has been divided into 16 constituencies, with each one electing six Members of the Senedd under a closed-list proportional voting system. Voters will receive one ballot paper and will be able to vote either for a political party or for an individual independent candidate.

Under the new system, the number of seats won in each constituency is intended to broadly reflect each party’s share of the vote. That means, for example, that a party receiving around half the vote in a constituency would be expected to win three of the six available seats.

Political parties were allowed to put forward up to eight candidates in each constituency, while individuals were also able to stand as independents.

In total, the 675 candidates standing for election are competing for 96 seats in the next Senedd. They represent 16 political parties, along with 30 independent candidates.

Voters can use the postcode search on vote.wales to find out who is standing in their constituency. The website also allows users to check where their polling station is, what accessibility features are available there, and which constituency they belong to.

People wanting to see who is standing in other parts of Wales can do so through the site’s “Browse by constituency” section.

Vote.wales is a new website created for this year’s Senedd election and is intended to give voters clear and reliable information before polling day. It is managed by the Electoral Management Board for Wales, which is part of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.

From Thursday, April 16, candidates’ leaflets will also be published on the site, allowing voters to see not only who is standing, but what they are standing for.

The website also includes information on how to vote, who is entitled to vote, and what powers and responsibilities the Senedd has.

Shereen Williams MBE OStJ, Chief Executive of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, said: “We created vote.wales to give people all the information they need before the Senedd election on May 7.

“Now that candidates have been confirmed across Wales, people can find out exactly who they can vote for with a simple postcode search.

“We’re grateful to all the Returning Officers and election staff across Wales who are working so hard to deliver this election. It’s thanks to their hard work that people can now go to vote.wales to see who is standing in their constituency.

“If you have any questions about this election, vote.wales is the place to go. Voting confidence starts here.”

Who is standing?

In the Ceredigion Penfro constituency, voters will be choosing from candidates representing the Welsh Conservatives, Gwlad, the Heritage Party, Plaid Cymru, Plaid Werdd Cymru, Reform UK, Welsh Labour and the Welsh Liberal Democrats, along with three independents.

For the Welsh Conservatives, the candidates are Paul Windsor Davies, Samuel Deri Kurtz, Claire Victoria George, Brian Andrew Murphy, Gill Evans and Claire Malaina Jones.

Gwlad has selected Gwyn Wigley Evans, while the Heritage Party candidate is Elizabeth Davies.

Plaid Cymru has put forward Elin Jones, Kerry Ferguson, Anna Nicholl, Cris Tomos, Colin Nosworthy, Clive Davies, Owain Jones and Matt Adams.

Plaid Werdd Cymru is standing Amy Nicholass, Tomass Jereminovics, James Henry Purchase, Morgan Hope Phillips, Rosie O’Toole and Kezia Autumn Hine.

Reform UK’s candidates are Susan Claire Archibald, Paul Marr, Michael Timothy Allen, Elisa Bessie Gonzalez Randall, Peter Martin John and Bernard Holton.

Welsh Labour has selected Eluned Morgan, Marc Tierney, Joshua Phillips, Margaret Greenaway, Tansaim Hussain-Gul, Luke Davies-Jones and Peter Huw Jenkins.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are standing Sandra Louise Jervis, Alistair Ronald Cameron, Tom Hughes, Lee Dennis Thomas John Herring, Andrew Christopher Lye and Maggie Robinson.

The independent candidates in the constituency are Aaron Carey, George Alexander Chadzy and Paul Haywood Dowson.

Voters have until April 20 to register to take part in the election. Unlike some other polls, photo ID is not required to vote at Senedd elections.