News

Council has only recovered £25,000

Published

9 years ago

October 28, 2016

Cllr Stoddart: Still hasn’t received an answer

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has only recovered £25,000 of the £189,224.26 which was paid to Mr Cathal McCosker in relation to the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Commercial Property Grant Sche me.

That was the revelation at Thursday’s (Oct 20) Full Council meeting, where it was also revealed that, in a letter sent in April 2014, Mr McCosker had offered to pay back the full amount.

Mr McCosker stated in his letter that he was prepared to pay off one of the projects before paying the rest back within 12 months.

The police were also handed a series of documents in 2014 but nothing has happened and Cllr Mike Stoddart suspects that another cover-up is going on.

WEFO has also removed £309, 603.73 of funding, but that came out of the council’s resources and was unbudgeted.

When asked why only £25,000 had been recovered, Council Leader Jamie Adams said he did not know and said he would write to Cllr Mike Stoddart with the answer. At the time of going to press, Cllr Stoddart had still not received an answer.

At Thursday’s council meeting, Cllr Stoddart asked: “How much of the £189,224.26 that the council is seeking to recover from Mr Cathal McCosker and companies under his control in respect of irregular payments under the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Commercial Property Grant Scheme (CPGS) has the council received to date?

“What was the total amount removed by WEFO from the Authority’s CPGS allocation as a result of irregular payments to Mr McCosker and companies under his control?”

Council Leader Jamie Adams answered: “£25,000 of the £189.224.26 has been repaid to date. It should be noted that as charges were based on all properties, the council will not be financially disadvantaged.”

Cllr Stoddart responded: “I’m aware that Mr McCosker wrote this council a letter in April 2014, in which he offered to pay back £180,000 that he had in grants and he offered to pay one project back immediately – that was 10 Meyrick Street, Pembroke Dock – and the rest within 12 months.

“Now we’re two-and-a-half years down the road and he’s paid back £25,000. Why wasn’t that offer taken up when he made it?”

Cllr Adams said he did not know the reason why the offer was not taken up.

In response to Cllr Stoddart’s second question, Cllr Adams answered: “The WEFO approval for the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock regeneration scheme included an amount of expenditure for a commercial property grant scheme. Under EU funding rules, expenditure claimed against that approval but later found by WEFO to be ineligible is excluded from the claim but also acts to reduce the approved amount of eligible expenditure during the operation as a whole.

“The whole of the expenditure declared in relation to the properties owned by Mr McCosker or properties under his control was £309,603.73; therefore, the reduction in the approved expenditure was the same amount. This equates to a reduction in the ERDF grant approval of £220,262.29.”

Cllr Stoddart responded: “As this money was taken out of the council’s allocation and has never been claimed back from Mr McCosker, save £25,000, I think it follows that this money has come out of this council’s own resources. The money that’s been paid out on these projects in Pembroke Dock – it should have come out of WEFO’s resources and it’s come out of this council’s resources, so how was that budgeted for?”

Chief Finance Officer John Haswell said: “It wasn’t budgeted for but when the money was reclaimed, we had no choice but to pay it back.”

Cllr Stoddart replied: “As we’d already paid it out to Mr McCosker, it came out of this council’s resources.”

Community

New foal born at Dyfed Shire Farm as rare breed season begins

Published

4 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Suffolk Punch mare gives birth to strong colt foal ahead of May bank holiday farm opening

DYFED SHIRE FARM has welcomed its first foal of 2026, with a Suffolk Punch mare giving birth to a strong colt.

The new arrival was announced on Saturday by the Pembrokeshire farm, which said the foal is from mare Dixie and is doing well.

In a social media post, the farm said: “Mother nature working 100% as we would want.”

The birth will be seen as a boost for the farm and for supporters of traditional horse breeds, with the Suffolk Punch regarded as one of Britain’s rarest native working horse breeds.

Dyfed Shire Farm has not yet chosen a name for the colt and has invited the public to send in suggestions.

The farm is preparing to open to visitors over the early May bank holiday weekend, with opening times announced for Friday, May 1 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, and again on Sunday, May 3 and Monday, May 4. Visitors are expected to be able to see Dixie and her foal during the open days.

The Pembrokeshire attraction also used the announcement to promote stays at its campsite as interest grows around the latest addition.

Images shared online show the foal standing close to its mother in a field, as well as resting in the spring sunshine.

Photo caption: New arrival: Dyfed Shire Farm has announced the birth of its first foal of 2026, a Suffolk Punch colt born to mare Dixie (Pics: Dyfed Shire Farm).

Climate

National emergency film screening in Narberth calls for urgent climate action

Published

4 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Campaigners warn climate and nature crisis is already affecting communities and say stronger government action cannot be delayed

PEMBROKESHIRE FRIENDS OF THE EARTH has renewed calls for urgent action on climate change and nature loss following a recent film screening and discussion at the Bloomfield Centre in Narberth.

The event focused on the growing threat posed by climate change and the decline of the natural environment, with campaigners warning that the challenges facing the country are more immediate and serious than many people realise.

The film featured broadcaster and environmental campaigner Chris Packham introducing presentations from a range of experts, including climate scientists and military voices. They called on the Government to launch a national response to the climate and nature crisis, showing the same level of leadership seen during World War Two and the financial crisis.

Those involved in the campaign say the aim is to push for a much stronger national effort to reduce emissions, protect wildlife and prepare communities for the effects of a more dangerous climate.

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth said extreme weather, including heavier rainfall, is only the beginning of what lies ahead if urgent action is not taken.

They warned that climate and nature breakdown could increasingly damage public health, food systems, infrastructure, national security and economic stability.

The group says there is strong evidence that bold action would not only cut emissions and improve resilience, but also create jobs and improve lives.

Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth is calling for emergency legislation to speed up cuts in climate-changing emissions while investing in measures to help communities adapt.

For further information, contact Bettina Becker at Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth on [email protected]or 01437 563657.

Local Government

Dog bin misuse causing mess at Haverfordwest Racecourse

Published

4 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Town council says general litter is blocking dog waste bins and leaving walkers with nowhere to dispose of bagged waste properly

HAVERFORDWEST TOWN COUNCIL has urged Racecourse users to dispose of rubbish responsibly after repeated misuse of dog waste bins.

The council said it provides both general waste and dog waste facilities at the Upper and Lower Racecourse, as well as at most other green spaces it owns or maintains.

However, it has received ongoing reports — backed by photographic evidence — of general litter, including coffee cups and other rubbish, being placed in dog waste bins at Haverfordwest Racecourse.

Council officials say this misuse is causing the bins to become blocked and appear full when they are not. As a result, dog walkers are sometimes left with no option but to place bagged dog waste beside the bins, creating what the council described as an avoidable and unpleasant environment for everyone.

The council said this was not acceptable and could easily be avoided.

Dog waste bins are intended for bagged dog waste only and should not be used for general litter.

The council is asking all users to avoid putting general rubbish in dog bins and instead either take litter home or use the appropriate general waste bins available elsewhere on the Racecourse.

The town clerk thanked the majority of responsible users for their cooperation and said their support helps keep the Racecourse clean and welcoming for everyone.