News

Milford Haven: Petition to save Charles Street bus shelter

Published

10 years ago

July 26, 2016

Milford Haven Charles Street Bus Station A PETITION has been started by Milford Haven resident Lorraine Turner to save the Charles Street bus shelter.

Following an act of vandalism which left panes of perspex glass broken, Pembrokeshire County Council failed to fix the damage, which then left the bus shelter open to further acts of vandalism.

According to the petition, the Council have stated that replacement parts are no longer available for the required repairs, and has declared the £2700 cost of replacing the shelter would “not be acceptable”.

Milford Town Council then voted on and approved a plan to remove the bus shelter to be removed entirely.

As of this afternoon (Jul 26) the petition has 104 signatures, and Lorraine has posted an update that indicates a new bus shelter may indeed be on the cards.

She says in her update: “The good news is that a representative of Pembrokeshire County Council visited the site during the day, and indicated that there may be a change of plan regarding the shelter.

“I later attended the Milford Haven Town Council meeting where, thanks to “public concerns raised on social media and in the press” it was agreed to reconsider the decision to allow the shelter to be removed.

“The PCC has offered to pay for the erection of a brand new shelter, on the condition that the MHTC cover the ongoing costs of any repairs. The big issue for them seems to be that of continuing vandalism, which it is hoped can be kept in check by any damage being reported to the police and Town Council as soon as it occurs.

“The question was asked as to the actual costs involved in repairing the perspex panels of the shelter. So, there may need to be more discussion between the two councils, but it looks like we are well on the way to a NEW bus shelter. Please keep the pressure on, by continuing to sign and share the petition – a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has done so, and been part of turning this decision round!”

You can view the petition here.

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3 Comments

Andrew Lye

July 28, 2016 at 1:29 pm

Well done Lorraine, for taking up the issue and getting a replacement arranged, Maybe if it hadnt been for the campaign, there would have been no shelter at all as its easy to remove any facility if its vandalised. It annoyed me, for example, that public toilets were closed due to vandalism. Those idiots are spoiling it for the rest of us and as we are in austerity, maybe PCC thought they could get away with removing the vandalised bus shelter. Lorraine is to be commended for fighting back. Lorraine should be on the Council.
Mikey J

August 1, 2016 at 9:42 am

“which then left the bus shelter open to further acts of vandalism”? How does not replacing the clear sheeting leave the shelter open to further acts of vandalism? I understand that slating the council is a popular blaming choice but missing perspex would not leave the shelter open to more vandalism.

Old block shelters were taken down and replaced with these new shelters with the idea it would reduce vandalism as whatever damage would be done to them would be seen by the public rather than as previously done hidden behind block walls. The fact that this shelter has been damaged multiple times show that the very tiny percentage who are vandalising the shelter don’t care if they are seen and the vandalism will happen again.

If the town council want to get this new shelter installed and not paying the constant almost certain costs repairing the damage done by the idiocy of the tiny percentage of local residents vandalising the shelter multiple times then why don’t the town council fund CCTV cameras as a deterrent? At least that way when it gets vandalised again there would be proof of who did the damage therefore saving them money. Just a thought.
Lorraine Turner

August 18, 2016 at 6:24 pm

I’ve only just seen this article! Thank you for the publicity, and it’s fantastic news that the shelter WILL be replaced AND maintained by Pembrokeshire County Council. I had been trying to get the old shelter repaired for well over a year (with the help of Councillor Stephen Joseph), and I think it very telling that it took a public campaign of barely four weeks to resolve the situation. What really caused me concern, was that questions of how much the shelter was being used, and how much replacing a panel of perspex actually costed, were only being asked as a result of this petition…LONG after the original decision had been rubber-stamped. I’m afraid the responsibility does indeed rest with the councillors, who control any funding for maintaining the fabric of our towns, together with associated services. If the people trusted to make these decisions are out of touch with people’s needs, they at least have a duty of care to FIND OUT before voting on actions that will have such long-term consequences.
And thank you, Andrew, for your kind words, but I really wouldn’t want that job, as I can appreciate that councillors also have their efforts and hard work frustrated by the system much of the time. From what I’ve seen of the local Town Council meetings, it is antiquated to say the least.
On a final note: I heard an anecdotal story of parents who sued a County Council (not far from here), after their son was injured by a rebounding rock he had thrown at a bus shelter. It bounced back off the perspex panel, and hit him on the head. They didn’t succeed in their claim, but the fact that perspex can be fitted which cannot be vandalised is a given. Just like the CCTV camera at the end of Charles Street which faces the bus shelter.

Farming

Plaid urged to move faster on farming reforms amid subsidy concerns

Published

39 minutes ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Welsh Conservatives accuse Plaid Cymru of failing farmers as ministers call for patience over changes to agricultural support

CONCERNS over the pace of farming reforms in Wales have intensified after the Welsh Conservatives accused the Welsh Government of failing to act quickly enough on promised changes to agricultural subsidy schemes.

The criticism comes after Welsh Government Rural Resilience and Sustainability Minister, Llyr Gruffydd, urged farmers to be patient as major changes to support payments continue to be developed.

Speaking to ITV Wales, Mr Gruffydd acknowledged that “change is difficult” as the government seeks to reshape agricultural support across rural Wales. The comments come at a time of growing unease among parts of the farming community over the future of post-Brexit subsidy arrangements and concerns about financial pressures facing farms.

The reforms centre on replacing previous support systems with a new approach intended to balance food production, environmental sustainability and rural resilience. However, some farmers and unions have warned that uncertainty over payments and policy changes risks damaging confidence in the sector.

Reacting to the minister’s remarks, Welsh Conservative Shadow Farming Minister, Andrew RT Davies, said Plaid Cymru was not moving quickly enough to deliver on commitments made to Welsh farmers.

Mr Davies said: “Change is not difficult – contrary to Plaid Cymru separatists’ claims.

“If the will is there, there’s no reason reforms can’t be implemented immediately.

“Plaid Cymru separatists must fulfil their promises to Welsh farmers now.”

The comments reflect wider political tensions over the direction of farming policy in Wales, with opposition parties arguing that delays and uncertainty are creating anxiety for agricultural businesses already facing rising costs and economic pressures.

Farming remains a major part of the Welsh economy, particularly in rural counties such as Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, where many communities rely heavily on agriculture and associated industries.

The Welsh Government has previously said changes to support schemes are aimed at creating a more sustainable long-term future for farming, though ministers have acknowledged the transition period will take time and may prove challenging for some in the industry.

The debate over subsidy reform is likely to remain a key political battleground as the government finalises details of its future support model and seeks to reassure farmers concerned about their livelihoods.

Community

Milford paddling pool could close after rowdy adults seen throwing glass bottles

Published

47 minutes ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL has warned that the town’s paddling pool could be drained and closed if anti-social behaviour continues.

The warning follows an incident today in which rowdy adults were reportedly drinking alcohol from glass bottles inside the pool enclosure and throwing a glass bottle around.

The council also said people were seen smoking cannabis just outside the gate.

In a statement, Milford Haven Town Council said the behaviour was “highly dangerous, irresponsible and inconsiderate” and “cannot and will not be tolerated”.

The council warned: “If this sort of behaviour continues we will have no choice but to consider draining and closing the pool.”

The paddling pool is run voluntarily by a dedicated group of councillors for the benefit of local families and visitors.

The council is now urging people to act responsibly so the facility can remain open and be enjoyed safely by everyone.

Business

WestJet’s first Toronto flight lands at Cardiff Airport

Published

52 minutes ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

New seasonal service restores direct link between Wales and Canada after nearly 20 years

CARDIFF AIRPORT has welcomed the first WestJet flight from Toronto, marking the return of a direct air link between Wales and Canada for the first time in almost 20 years.

The inaugural service from Toronto Pearson International Airport landed at Cardiff on Saturday (May 23), officially launching a new transatlantic route between South Wales and North America.

Passengers on the first arrival were greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, while Penarth choir Criw Canu welcomed the crew and customers with Welsh songs at the aircraft steps.

The new route will operate four times a week using WestJet’s Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. Cardiff Airport said the service would open up new opportunities for tourism, business, investment and cultural links between Wales and Canada.

Toronto Pearson is also a major hub, offering onward connections to more than 100 destinations across Canada and the United States, including Calgary, Halifax, Vancouver and Florida.

Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price MS, attended the launch alongside guests including Vale of Glamorgan Council leader Cllr Lis Burnett, Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan Morfudd Meredith, Ontario’s Agent-General in London Sophia Arvanitis, Visit Wales and aviation industry partners.

Mr Price said: “WestJet’s inaugural flight from Cardiff to Toronto is a powerful signal to the world that our nation is open for business.

“Direct transatlantic connectivity like this is exactly what Welsh businesses need to reach new markets, attract investment and grow and it reinforces our ambition to make Wales one of the best-connected economies in the UK.

“Cardiff Airport is a vital piece of our economic infrastructure, and today’s milestone is something to celebrate.”

Jon Bridge, Chief Executive Officer of Cardiff Airport, described the launch as a landmark moment for the airport and for Wales.

He said: “The arrival of WestJet’s direct service gives customers easier access to Toronto and onward destinations across North America. It firmly strengthens Cardiff Airport’s position as the international gateway for Wales.

“We are proud to welcome WestJet and excited about the long-term potential of this partnership.”

Chris White-DeVries, WestJet Senior Manager Hub Strategy and Airport Affairs, said the route was an important addition to the airline’s transatlantic network.

He said: “WestJet’s new seasonal offering makes it easier for more people to discover everything South Wales and Canada have to offer, while staying closely connected to friends, family and business opportunities.

“Cardiff plays an important role in our growing transatlantic network, and we are proud to offer our guests from Wales more convenient access to Canada.”

The Cardiff to Toronto service departs Cardiff at 11:35am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Toronto to Cardiff flights depart at 10:10pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.