News

Setting the scene: Haverfordwest’s new multiplex

Published

9 years ago

October 21, 2016

The new facilities: What the new complex could look like

HAVERFORDWEST’S latest commercial development, the proposed multi screen cinema and restaurant complex to be sited at Wilko car park, was further discussed by Haverfordwest Town Council (HTC) on Wednesday (Oct 19).

A public presentation by Fairacre, the company behind the ambitious project, was previously held on Monday (Oct 17).

During the presentation on Monday, it was revealed that the development will include a five-screen cinema, as well as four restaurants; building work is set to begin by either autumn 2017 or early 2018. It was also estimated that the development will bring up to 180,000 people to the town each year, and furthermore provide around 80 new jobs.

With reference to the presentation given early in the week, Town Councillors initially appeared to show unanimous support for the build.

Mayor Alan Buckfield said: “It seems to be a very good thing.”

Cllr Roy Thomas echoed this sentiment, adding: “I think we should welcome the whole project.”

While Cllr Barbara Morgan initially appeared of the same opinion, adding: “They were selling it very well,” she went on to raise concerns over the lack of car parking facilities if the development goes ahead. She made reference to the predicted loss of 47 parking bays at the Wilko site, the downsizing of Scotchwell to make way for the newly extended Aldi store, and the proposed restructuring of the multi-storey car park in the town centre.

Cllr Morgan said: “I think we’re going to be a bit short on car parking again.”

Other councillors also raised concern over the increased traffic that the roundabout outside Morrisons will likely experience.

Cllr Chris Blakemore said: “That Morrisons roundabout is already highly dangerous.”

Present at the meeting and attempting to allay the concerns raised by councillors was Head of Highways and Construction for Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC), Darren Thomas.

Mr Thomas (who had also been present at the Fairacre presentation three days before) said: “It’s more than just the Fairacre development.”

He went on to say that the multi-storey car park is increasingly unused by motorists due to the difficulties of navigating the narrow ramps inside (a point which was also raised by members of the public at the Fairacre presentation), and went on to present the proposed renovations to counter this issue, which will involve a £1.2m – £1.5m transformation project.

The project will see parking bays lost in order to improve access and circulation around the ramps of the car park. Mr Thomas also added that if plans go ahead, the car park will receive better signage to the town centre, and perhaps the biggest development of all, a roof over the top floor. With reference to anti–social behaviour, Mr Thomas also added that the project will involve ‘improving stairwells’.

With regard to the Morrisons roundabout, Mr Thomas admitted that the council had, at one point, looked at moving it by around 50 metres; however, the cost associated with such a job would have likely been around £2m, money which Mr Thomas suggested was better spent elsewhere in the town.

He went on to add that lesser improvements will be made, which included ‘regulating the roundabout’ by ‘remarking the lanes to better direct people’.

In his closing statements to councillors, Mr Thomas said: “It’s good to see the Fairacre development coming along. It would be useful to get your understanding so far… we need to prioritise what needs to be done.”

During the Fairacre presentation on Monday, the company proposed incorporating outward facing vistas of the river, something that members of the public raised concern over given the amount of detritus that has become a feature of the river.

Speaking at the presentation on Monday, PCC Leader Cllr Jamie Adams acknowledged the concerns raised about the river and, while he admitted it was neither the responsibility of the County or Town Councils to maintain it, he recognised it as an issue.

With reference to this part of the presentation, Mayor Alan Buckfield said: “We will convene a meeting with all the stakeholders involved.”

He added: “We need to find out exactly who is responsible for maintaining the river.”

The Mayor suggested that the meeting would involve Milford Haven Port Authority and Natural Resources Wales amongst other bodies.

He also appeared eager to receive public opinion on the matter, adding: “Then we can go out to the public.”

Crime

Woman stabbed partner in Haverfordwest before handing herself in

Published

17 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Court Reporter

A WOMAN who stabbed her partner during a drug-fuelled episode walked straight into Haverfordwest Police Station and told officers what she had done, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

Amy Woolston, 22, of Dartmouth Street in Milford Haven, arrived at the station at around 8:00pm on June 13 and said: “I stabbed my ex-partner earlier… he’s alright and he let me walk off,” prosecutor Tom Scapens told the court.

The pair had taken acid together earlier in the day, and Woolston claimed she believed she could feel “stab marks in her back” before the incident.

Police find victim with four wounds

Officers went to the victim’s home to check on him. He was not there at first, but returned shortly afterwards. He appeared sober and told police: “Just a couple of things,” before pointing to injuries on his back.

He had three stab or puncture wounds to his back and another to his bicep.

The victim said that when he arrived home from the shop, Woolston was acting “a bit shifty”. After asking if she was alright, she grabbed something from the windowsill — described as either a knife or a shard of glass — and stabbed him.

He told officers he had “had worse from her before”, did not support a prosecution, and refused to go to hospital.

Defendant has long history of violence

Woolston pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding. The court heard she had amassed 20 previous convictions from 10 court appearances, including assaults, battery, and offences against emergency workers.

Defending, Dyfed Thomas said Woolston had longstanding mental health problems and had been off medication prescribed for paranoid schizophrenia at the time.
“She’s had a difficult upbringing,” he added, saying she was remorseful and now compliant with treatment.

Woolston was jailed for 12 months, but the court heard she has already served the equivalent time on remand and will be released imminently on a 12-month licence.

News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines
docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon last week, marking the start of physical
deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock on
shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 26th November, bringing tower sections and other heavy
components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the
existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, has arrived in Pembroke Port today is
due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-
loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through
Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the
latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived last week yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are
expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be
blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with
a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG
terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to
power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven
throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock.

Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

The Weather conditions are currently were favourable for this morning’s the arrival of
the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are
expected to begin early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-
bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery
programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney