News

Online petition gains support

Published

10 years ago

February 2, 2016

A PETITION entitled ‘Save the coastal path from Hakin Point to Pointfields’ launched last week, and it currently has over 500 signatures.

The Herald published an article last week, about the lack of repairs made to the coastal path from Hakin Point to Pointfields, which has been closed in excess of two years.

The petiton, which is directed at Pembrokeshire County Council’s Chief Executive, Ian Westley, states: “Pembrokeshire County Council have said they do not want to spend their money on repairing something, which as they seem to believe, is not their responsibility. They say, they are only responsible for the path’s surface, and due to it being in such a poor state, there is no path for them to fix.

“There is a water main that runs directly beneath this path, and Pembrokeshire County Council say that it is Welsh Water’s problem.

“After speaking with Welsh Water, they seem to think the residents are the ones who should repair it. However, because the land doesn’t belong to them, their insurance doesn’t cover the repairs. Therefore, even though it is affecting their homes, they cannot help fix the path.”

Soon after the petition launched, many Milford Haven locals, and people from further afield signed the petition, leaving comments as they were doing so.

Paulene Moore from Penzance, Cornwall, signed the petition and left a comment, saying: “Such a beautiful coastal walk, which has been enjoyed by so many and is now spoilt by having to do a detour. It holds many happy memories for me and so many others. So bad.”

Ross Edwards from Neyalnd also said: “I used to live in Wellington Road and used to play on the path as a kid. Was gutted to see it closed the last time I went for a walk down there. Love to see it open again. Some of my best memories as a kid was playing down Pointfields and going to Hakin Point.”

Christina Spencer from Milford Haven, said: “Pembrokeshire County Council should stop shirking and accept its responsibility. We should all campaign vigorously, we cannot let big organisations ride roughshod over the council taxpayers they are employed to serve.”

Local Sally Hicks launched the petition in the hope that something would be done to help fix the coastal path. She said: “I am absolutely amazed at the huge support from folk far and wide – in fact all over the world – all who have links to Milford Haven and particularly Pointfields, from childhood days and families using the path over all these years.

“I would urge folk to still sign and share if they haven’t already done so. Thank you all for supporting this, and desperately hope there will be light at the end of the tunnel!”

Pembrokeshire County Council were given the opportunity to express their thoughts on the petition, however they did not wish to do so as they had already spoken to The Herald about the issue the previous week.

If you would like to sign the petition, you can do so by visiting: https://www.change.org/p/t-save-the-coastal-path-from-hakin-point-to-pointfields

Community

Stix Noodle Bar in Haverfordwest rewards visitors who park and shop local

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

A POPULAR restaurant is taking on one of the town centre’s biggest frustrations with a new initiative designed to ease parking stress and encourage more visitors into the heart of the community.

Stix Noodle Bar has announced a new scheme offering customers money off their bill when they show proof of paid parking in the town.

Under the initiative, diners who present an active parking ticket or parking app booking will receive the equivalent cost of one hour’s parking deducted from their meal bill.

The business says the idea was created in response to ongoing concerns about local parking pressures, while also supporting neighbouring independent traders and encouraging more people to spend time in the town centre.

In a statement released alongside the launch, the restaurant said: “Tired of Haverfordwest’s parking stress? So are we. That’s why we’re doing something about it.”

The team behind the noodle bar is encouraging visitors to “park up, come in, eat well, then go explore some of the brilliant businesses right on our doorstep,” adding that “Haverfordwest is worth stopping for.”

The scheme has already received support from local representatives, including Reform Councillor, Scott Thorley, who praised the move as a practical way to support the town centre economy.

“This is an excellent idea,” he said. “Tackling parking stress while boosting local businesses and footfall in Haverfordwest — this is exactly the practical support our town centre needs.”

Community

Pembrokeshire named UK’s most photographed coastal national park

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

County’s coastline places sixth in UK-wide photo study

PEMBROKESHIRE has been named the most photographed coastal national park in the UK, according to new data from photo curation app Popsa.

The study, which analysed metadata from millions of customer photos uploaded in 2025, ranked Pembrokeshire Coast National Park sixth overall out of the UK’s 15 national parks.

It was the highest-ranked coastal park in the list, ahead of destinations including the Cairngorms, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the Yorkshire Dales and Dartmoor.

Popsa gave Pembrokeshire a Photo Index Score of 28, representing 5.76% of all UK national park photography included in the study.

The company said the county’s 186-mile coastline, with its limestone arches, sea stacks, beaches and hidden coves, offered “photographic variety that few parks can match”.

Barafundle Bay was highlighted as one of the most photographed locations, particularly at low tide, while Skomer Island was noted for its puffin colonies, which attract photographers between April and July.

Wales performed strongly overall, with all three national parks appearing in the UK top ten. Eryri, formerly Snowdonia, ranked fifth, Pembrokeshire sixth, and Bannau Brycheiniog, formerly the Brecon Beacons, tenth.

Together, the three Welsh parks accounted for 16.46% of all UK national park photography in the study.

The Lake District topped the list, followed by the South Downs, the Peak District and the New Forest.

Popsa CEO Liam Houghton said: “Wales has three genuinely world-class national parks and this data shows they are clearly on photographers’ radar.

“But there’s a real gap between the quality of the landscapes and the volume of photos being taken there compared to the English parks.”

The findings suggest Pembrokeshire remains one of the UK’s standout destinations for landscape, wildlife and coastal photography, while also underlining the continued importance of the national park to the county’s tourism economy.

Crime

Pembroke woman accused of scrap fraud to appear in court

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant accused of dishonestly selling vehicle for scrap in Haverfordwest

A PEMBROKE woman is due to appear before magistrates charged with fraud after allegedly selling a vehicle for scrap in Haverfordwest.

Natalie Morris, aged 42, of Corston Lodge, Axton Hill, is accused of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006.

The allegation relates to an incident said to have taken place in Haverfordwest on Tuesday (Aug 9), 2022, in which Morris allegedly dishonestly made a false representation by selling a silver Toyota Corolla, registration CU52 XBR, for scrap.

The court heard the alleged offence was carried out with the intention of making a financial gain of £313.

The case was listed before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Monday (May 18), where a previously issued warrant was withdrawn.

No plea was entered and the matter was adjourned.

Morris is now due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court at 10:00am on Tuesday (May 26) for a plea hearing, where she will be asked to enter a guilty or not guilty plea.