News

Haverfordwest: Developer ‘extremely disappointed’ as cinema plan collapses

Published

7 years ago

June 5, 2017

The proposed site: Withdrawn this week

THE COMPANY behind the plans to build a brand new multiplex cinema and retail park in Haverfordwest, Conygar Haverfordwest Ltd, have said they are ‘extremely disappointed’ to have withdrawn the proposal.

The complex would have been built on the site which Sainsburys formerly planned to build on near Slade Lane.

The plans included a five-screen cinema, ten shops and a hotel with 60 beds.

In a letter to the council, the company said “Further to a recent email correspondence, we have been instructed by our client, Conygar Haverfordwest Ltd, to withdraw the above-referenced planning applications, and should be obliged if you would take this letter as a formal request to do so, on their behalf.”

Today (May 5) A Conygar spokesperson expanded further on the reasoning, saying: “We are extremely disappointed to have had to make the difficult decision to withdraw our planning applications for the Slade Lane site in Haverfordwest. The site currently benefits from detailed planning permission for a 95,000 square foot superstore and hence we have already invested £4 million on facilitating the infrastructure.

“In the aftermath of Sainsbury’s decision to abandon their plans for Haverfordwest, the applications we submitted last year sought to alter the development to include a 124,000 square foot retail park, a cinema and a hotel. We already have tenants for this alternative scheme, which would not only deliver employment and opportunity at the site, but also attract visitors and spending to the town centre and wider community. These tenants have space requirements which the town centre cannot provide. We are also confident that this initial injection of economic activity would act as a catalyst to bring forward the main residential development at Slade Lane.

“Over the last 10 years, Conygar has been a significant investor in Wales and South West Wales in particular. We have a number of substantial projects on Anglesey, a large-scale retail scheme in Llandudno Junction (which we are developing in conjunction with Conwy County Borough Council) and we are soon to complete a 106,000 square foot retail development in Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire. This latter scheme was another site that Sainsbury’s chose not to develop. However, in that instance, Carmarthenshire Council chose to encourage our investment in the site, on the basis of the jobs and other local benefits that would be created, and adopted a more pragmatic position in terms of the planning permissions that were needed to bring the scheme forward.

“In Pembrokeshire, apart from Slade Lane, we are progressing a major project in Fishguard, which will see a significant improvement to the existing Port and the creation of a new marina and a residential development, for which we are also presently seeking various permissions.

“Up until last year, we also had a £4.8 million investment in the Martello Quays project in Pembroke Dock. Sadly, however, we were forced to write this off, due to us not being able to reach agreement with Pembrokeshire County Council. It is most unfortunate that we have, again, been unable to find common ground with the Council on Slade Lane, where we believe that our plans would considerably benefit both the residents and the business community of Haverfordwest.

“Conygar has £46 million of cash and no debt. Our shareholders are keen for us to use our funds, not only to develop the investments we already have, but also to find new opportunities both in England and in Wales. We understand that there will be different opinions, locally, on the projects we promote, but it is logical that any institution will choose to invest where the local community welcomes its interest and involvement, without which it is difficult to make progress.

“The Slade Lane site is one of our key strategic ownerships and we remain committed to delivering a successful development to the economic benefit of the entire region.”

Concept of the new cinema: At the existing Wilko site

A second cinema proposal has also been submitted by Fairacre, who own the Wilko shop and the Riverside Quay Shopping Centre.

Their development, which would see the existing Wilko store on Old Bridge partly demolished, would house five cinema screens and four restaurants, as well as an outdoor seating area.

There would be a loss in parking spaces, dropping to 106 down from its current 153.

Business

Expansion for Ashmole & Co with acquisition of Jones Ward Accountants

Published

10 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CHARTERED, Certified Accountants, Ashmole & Co, are delighted to announce their expansion following the acquisition of JonesWard accountancy firm in Carmarthen.

Ashmole & Co Carmarthen has today taken over JonesWard who have closed their office in Lammas Street, Carmarthen. All JonesWard staff, including Ian Jones and James Ward, have transferred over to Ashmole & Co and will be based in the Old School, the Quay, Carmarthen.

JonesWard informed their clients that the administrative burden of running a practice had increased significantly over recent years due to the constant changing money laundering and tax regulations, software requirements and so on. Over the past 12 months it had become more challenging to maintain the level of service they had been used to providing.

Ian Jones said, “We feel Ashmole & Co share the same values as us and have the necessary expertise and resources to ensure we can continue to provide the personal touch and level of service clients have been accustomed to. Myself and James are not retiring but we will be supported by Ashmole & Co’s partners and staff from now on in their Carmarthen office.”

Ashmole & Co partners Sharon George, Carwyn Morgan and Vinal Patel will strive to ensure JonesWard clients will continue to receive the high quality of service they are used to.

Vinal Patel, Partner with Ashmole & Co said, “It is our priority to make the transition as smooth as possible with all employees of JonesWard having already transferred to Ashmole & Co and are now based in our office on the Quay in Carmarthen. We look forward to meeting our new clients and working closely with them to meet their needs in the future.”

Ashmole & Co Chartered and Certified Accountants have been established since 1897 and are one of the largest accountancies and auditing practices in south Wales, now operating from thirteen offices throughout south and west Wales including Swansea, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Ammanford.

Charity

Fundraiser to take on epic 87k steps challenge to raise funds for Withybush

Published

10 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SAM Faulkner is challenging himself to walk 87,000 steps in one day to raise funds for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in memory of his father.

Sam will be walking along the Brecon and Monmouth Canal from Brecon to Rogerstone in Newport.

Sam said: “Since losing my Dad last year, I made a personal commitment to do something to raise money every year for the Cardiac Care Unit at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest who looked after my Dad so well in his final days.

“I will be challenging myself to complete 87,000 steps in a day on July 20th 2024 – 1,000 steps for every year of my Dad’s life. I’ll be walking around 40 miles in about 10 hours.

“Canal walks were always a firm favourite of mine and my Dad’s, with many days spent walking along the Grand Union in Northamptonshire when I was growing up.

“My family and I, and the unit at the hospital, would be beyond grateful for anything supporters could give. Thank you ever so much in advance.”

Katie Hancock, Pembrokeshire Fundraising Officer, said: “We’d like to say a huge good luck to Sam with his challenge. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to raise more funds for the Cardiac Care Unit.

“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

You can donate to Sam’s fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sam-faulkner-1712508280259?newPage=true&fbclid=IwAR2tyVVQVea0DLQelSsrp7Ie2CKjX0jXGnwndR_tBKL-Av2kv8f5nchEolw

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk

Business

Dragon LNG explores integration of LNG and CO2 liquefaction processes

Published

10 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DRAGON LNG, based in Waterston, Milford Haven, recently announced a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions.

The company awarded a contract to Worley, global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study.

The study is focussing on exploring the potential benefits of integrating LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
regasification and CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) liquefaction processes at Dragon LNG’s facilities. This integration holds promise for a more efficient operation, with the potential to reduce energy consumption, carbon intensity and the levelized cost of CO2 export not only at the Dragon site but also for Haven industry companies.

If feasible, the technology at Dragon would support wider collaboration with RWE Pembroke Net Zero Centre, whose CO2 would be transported to the Dragon facility for processing before being shipped via non-pipeline transport (NPT) to carbon sequestration sites.

Key aspects to be addressed in the feasibility study include:

Technical Solutions: Worley will evaluate various technical approaches to seamlessly integrate LNG and
CO2 liquefaction processes, ensuring optimal energy efficiency and effectiveness.
Carbon Intensity Reduction: Dragon LNG is committed to sustainability, and the study will assess how the integration of processes can contribute to lowering the carbon intensity of operations, aligning with broader environmental goals.
Economic Viability: Understanding the financial implications is crucial. The study will delve into the levelized cost of CO2 and other economic factors to determine the feasibility and financial benefits of the proposed integration.

Commenting on the partnership, a spokesperson for Dragon LNG stated, “We are excited to collaborate with Worley on this important initiative. As a responsible energy provider, Dragon LNG is continuously seeking innovative ways to enhance our operations while minimizing our environmental footprint. This feasibility study represents a significant step towards achieving those objectives.”

Worley’s expertise in engineering and consultancy services including in the CO2 and LNG sectors makes them an ideal partner for this endeavour. Their track record of delivering sustainability solutions aligns perfectly with the ambitious goals of Dragon LNG.

This collaboration underscores Dragon LNG’s commitment to driving sustainable practices within the energy sector. By exploring the integration of LNG regasification and CO2 liquefaction processes, the company aims to pave the way for a cleaner, more efficient energy future with their ambition of a net zero terminal by 2029.