Council secures grants to cover project overruns without increasing taxpayer burden

TWO key regeneration projects in Haverfordwest are set to move forward without any extra cost to the taxpayer, after Pembrokeshire County Council secured millions of pounds in external funding.

A report going before Cabinet on Monday (Apr 28) reveals that the Heart of Pembrokeshire (HoP) and Western Quayside schemes will benefit from a series of new grants, enabling the projects to progress despite increased costs and unforeseen challenges.

The approved capital budget for the HoP stands at £26.27 million, with £11.62 million earmarked for Western Quayside. Recent difficulties – including the deteriorated state of the historic Gaol building and archaeological restrictions – had left both projects facing a combined overspend of almost £4 million. However, Cabinet members will be told that extra support from Welsh Government and the Shared Prosperity Fund means these costs can be met without increasing the Council’s financial contribution.

Significant new grants secured

The Council has secured an additional £2.7 million from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Fund, and £1.26 million via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This money will allow green infrastructure works at Western Quayside to go ahead, and help improve pedestrian links between Haverfordwest Castle and the town centre.

Councillors will also be asked to approve a technical reallocation of costs: some elements originally delivered under the HoP scheme—such as public realm work around the Foundry—will now be transferred to the Western Quayside project. This move is intended to satisfy grant requirements and simplify project accounting.

The report also notes that consultants working on behalf of the Council are preparing further applications to unlock even more money from the Transforming Towns programme. If successful, this would support a post-HoP “fitout” of the castle site, enhance town centre wayfinding, and deliver improved visitor experiences—again, at no extra cost to the Council.

Castle and Gaol restoration separated

While the HoP scheme is well underway, Cabinet will be asked to separate the later-stage restoration of the Gaol and Governor’s House into a distinct project. That £2 million fitout scheme—currently in development—has already received £368,525 in National Lottery Heritage funding, and further bids are underway. The Council hopes to reduce its match funding requirement significantly.

By listing the HoP and the Castle Fitout as two separate projects within the capital programme, officers say it will offer clearer financial transparency.

Two options on the table

Cabinet members will be asked to choose between two options. The preferred route is to accept the new external funding and reallocate budgets accordingly, delivering the full vision of both regeneration schemes while keeping the Council’s capital contribution unchanged.

Alternatively, councillors could reduce their capital spending by using the new grants to offset current commitments. However, this would render the HoP project unviable, potentially forcing the permanent closure of Castle Back and risking clawback of up to £17.7 million from UK Government and National Lottery funders.

A separate recommendation would give senior officers the power to adjust the budget if further external funding becomes available—again, on the condition that the Council’s own contribution does not rise.

No legal or HR issues raised

The report confirms there are no legal or human resources concerns linked to the proposed changes. While the Director of Resources supported the plan, they also cautioned that work must continue to reduce the Council’s overall borrowing levels.

RESIDENTS in Monkton had the chance to speak directly with their local councillor and police officers this week (Apr 22) during a community engagement event held at Tenby Court.

The “meet the street” event was attended by County Councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, alongside officers from Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Police.

Also present was Danny from Pembrokeshire County Council’s housing team, who offered on-the-spot support to residents dealing with housing-related issues.

Cllr Grimes thanked all those who came out to say hello and take part in the initiative, which aims to bring local services closer to the community.

These “meet the street” events are part of an ongoing effort to improve communication between local authorities and residents, addressing concerns and offering help where needed.

Welsh Affairs Chair demands answers after Herald exclusive reveals shocking officer messages

THE CHAIR of the Welsh Affairs Committee has demanded urgent answers from the leadership of HMP Parc after a Pembrokeshire Herald exclusive revealed prison officers had shared messages joking about violence and mocking prisoners in language described as “offensive and abusive.”

In a strongly worded letter to both Will Styles, Director of HMP Parc, and Gordon Brockington, Managing Director of G4S Care and Rehabilitation Services, Ruth Jones MP said the revelations—first reported by The Pembrokeshire Herald in March—raise serious questions about the culture at the troubled Bridgend prison.

Our investigation, published on March 29, exposed a series of leaked messages exchanged by Parc staff, some of which joked about excessive force, mocked inmates in distress, and included dehumanising language. The messages painted a disturbing picture of contempt and cynicism within the ranks of prison officers—fueling concerns about systemic issues that go beyond poor management or underfunding.

Read the original Herald investigation here

“A sobering reminder”

Jones, who chairs the influential Welsh Affairs Committee, said the messages were “deeply concerning” and highlighted “demeaning and offensive behaviour towards prisoners.”

“Even if many of these messages are historic, they paint an alarming picture,” she said. “That seventeen Parc inmates died last year remains a sobering reminder of the risks if prisoner safety is not made a priority.”

Her committee is now seeking detailed answers from G4S regarding its staff conduct policies, including guidance on social media use and how violations are dealt with. In her letter, Jones also criticised the Ministry of Justice for supplying a quarterly progress report on Parc that was “so lacking in detail we were unable to publish it.”

“This lack of transparency is deeply unhelpful for the confidence Parc needs to rebuild amongst the local community and the families of the men held at HMP Parc,” she added.

From leaked messages to political fallout

The Pembrokeshire Herald was the first news organisation to publish details of the leaked communications, which included jokes about suicide watch, racial slurs, and bragging about rough treatment of inmates. The story prompted widespread concern and has now formed part of the evidence base for the Committee’s intervention.

The messages came to light shortly before the publication of a damning inspection report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons, which detailed how drugs had been found nearly 900 times in 2024, violence was rife, and 17 men had died—many of them after suspected overdoses involving synthetic opioids like nitazenes.

A culture problem, not just a crisis

While new director Will Styles has been praised for halting further deaths since his arrival in mid-2024, the message scandal suggests the rot may go deeper than operational failings.

Jones said her committee would raise these concerns directly with the Ministry of Justice. “Safety at Parc prison remains a top priority,” she said. “I plan to meet with the Ministry to discuss how progress is being monitored and what oversight is in place.”

G4S remains under pressure

A spokesperson for G4S has yet to address the leaked messages specifically but previously told The Herald that the company was “working tirelessly on a comprehensive improvement plan.”

However, with the credibility of that plan now under question, and MPs demanding transparency and accountability, the pressure on G4S and the Ministry of Justice is mounting.

As Ruth Jones warned: “Local communities around Parc, and the families of men held there, must be able to trust that inmates are being treated with dignity.” The Herald will continue to hold those in charge to account—and shine a light on the failures still facing one of Britain’s most troubled prisons.