CABINET members have given their backing to the Haverfordwest Masterplan which will see the county town transformed by a number of new developments.

Councillors have already supported the development of the new library at the Riverside Market and at Monday’s (Sept 12) meeting, Cabinet endorsed four more flagship projects.

Those four projects include a River Cleddau corridor and riverside promenade, a market re-development on the Western Quayside,: a Riverside Shopping Centre on the Eastern Quayside and a Heritage Centre for the town.

Cllr Keith Lewis said: “This has taken a significant amount of time and to get to the position where we are now we have to go back to the work done by Overview and Scrutiny some four years ago in laying the foundation to how we are going to approach the regeneration of town centres.

“It’s a long process and it’s one that can only lead to success if we can bring the relevant components of our towns together.

“This is specific to Haverfordwest, the county town, and I feel it rightly deserves the priority of being the first.

“The vision and objectives of the masterplan are complimentary to the council’s local development policy.

“Haverfordwest Town Centre has not been at its best for a number of years and there have been a number of pressures including being subject to abnormally high rate charges and there is a review ongoing so hopefully that situation will be rectified.

“We have to work with developers, we have identified certain people, certain developers who have an interest and I hope we can progress that relationship.

“We have committed, and it was very pleasing that the new library went through planning, so that involves substantial investment by this authority in the town centre and there are other projects which I would like to see moved forward quickly.

“It is a critical document and essential to the future of Haverfordwest.”

Head of Regeneration Mr Martin White said: “The vision statements and the objectives clearly identify four or five areas along the river where investment is required to bring forward a development for a mix of uses.

“They will be culture and leisure based to enhance and compliment the retail offer in the town centre.”

Cllr Simon Hancock asked about the re-use of vacant properties saying that some had suffered from poor architectural practices in the 60’s and added that a number of historic buildings were empty.

Martin White responded: “The historic environment is absolutely key and a number of other assets are the base on which we should build on.”

Cllr Huw George added: “A thriving county town affects the whole county and we all look forward to this and for the other towns in the county.”

The recommendation to endorse the masterplan was approved unanimously.