News

City Deal scheme uncertainty as Port and Council argue over interest payments

Published

7 years ago

October 30, 2019

TIME is fast running out for vital funding for Pembrokeshire’s part of the controversial Swansea Bay City Deal.
The deadline for obtaining European funding, upon which the Pembroke Dock Marine project depends, is December this year, when European funding ends. The final business case for it is yet to be submitted, let alone approved.
If the business case is not approved by then, the future of the project – or at least its size – will be cast into doubt.
Next week, the County Council’s Cabinet is likely to approve the submission of the project’s business case.
The Port of Milford Haven, in partnership with Marine Energy Wales, ORE Catapult and Wave Hub, aims to develop what it calls ‘a world-class centre for marine energy research and development, fabrication, testing and deployment’.
History is not in its favour.
A key project at Ramsey Sound, Delta Stream, failed catastrophically. The submerged device claimed to be the forerunner to a major tidal power investment stopped working after three months. The company behind it, Tidal Energy Ltd, went bust. The scheme was extensively supported by the Welsh Government and EU funding.
A briefing document shows consideration of the Pembroke Dock Marine project has now become time-critical because of the probable loss of significant European funding if the project is not fully approved by the end of the calendar year.
A source close to the City Deal told The Herald getting the business case fully approved before the December deadline is ‘unrealistic’.
The Council will have to borrow up to £28m for the Pembroke Dock Marine project and will be ‘paid back’ (capital only, no interest by the Governments) over 15 years, with payments ‘theoretically linked to delivery and performance’.
The cost of borrowing for the Pembroke Dock Marine project is estimated to be £2.35m.
Wrangling between Milford Haven Port Authority and Pembrokeshire County Council over the interest on the money the Council will borrow to bankroll the Port Authority’s £76m Pembroke Dock Marine project has caused rancour between the partners.
The Port Authority says it cannot afford the interest charges, while the Council faces having to put money intended for other projects into the pot to make up the shortfall.
It is little secret Council leader David Simpson has misgivings about pouring such a large sum of public money into a single project instead of using the money to regenerate the wider local economy.
His concerns are shared by others involved in the City Deal’s governance and underlined by views expressed in the Deal’s external review that little evidence existed to show proposed projects would deliver the tangible benefits the Deal originally intended.
Certainly, Pembrokeshire will get the least out of the City Deal whether it succeeds or fails.
The City Deal, which is in the middle of reorganisation and is yet to recruit a programme director, has been plagued by governance problems and scandal almost since its outset.
An external review, by consultants appointed by the Welsh and UK Governments, concluded the City Deal’s governance system was unfit for purpose. It also found the Deal’s central control was so lax that incomplete proposals were treated as fully worked up plans.
A report prepared by Pembrokeshire County Council found failure by some City Deal participants to declare either personal or corporate interests and concluded: ‘It was evident through meetings with stakeholders that there is insufficient trust within the Partnership’.
The re-arrangement of governance and the need to build bridges left broken by internal strife across four local authorities, mean not a single penny of the millions promised by the UK and Welsh Governments has been received for any of the projects under the City Deal.
Individuals and companies formerly involved in Carmarthenshire County Council’s controversial Llanelli Wellness Village are under investigation by Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Local Government

Youngest mayor in century takes office in Haverfordwest

Published

3 minutes ago

May 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner makes history as town’s first millennial mayor and first from a diverse background

HAVERFORDWEST has welcomed a new mayor after Councillor Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner officially took office, marking several historic firsts for the county town.

Councillor Thomas-Turner said he was “incredibly honoured” to become Mayor of Haverfordwest, describing the moment as bigger than one individual and a sign of the town’s changing future.

He is believed to be the youngest Mayor of Haverfordwest in the twenty-first century, the first millennial to hold the role, and the first mayor from a diverse background in the town’s history.

The mayoral ceremony was attended by more than 100 pupils from Fenton Primary School and Prendergast School, who performed during the event.

Speaking after the ceremony, Cllr Thomas-Turner said: “This moment is far bigger than one individual. It is a reflection of how far our community has come and the future we are building together — a future based on unity, opportunity, compassion and community spirit.”

He thanked residents, supporters and local organisations involved in the event, including catering company The Platter Box Co, and announced that his chosen charity for the year will be Snap Specialist Play.

A raffle held during the day raised £387 for the charity.

Giving back

Following the mayor-making ceremony and luncheon, the new mayor, Sheriff of Haverfordwest Cllr Dani Thomas-Turner, Deputy Mayor Adam Benson-Davies, Mayor’s Crier Gareth Jones and Town Clerk Vanessa Lewis-Camacho visited Withybush Hospital to donate leftover food from the event to NHS staff.

Cllr Thomas-Turner said the gesture was intended as a small thank-you to healthcare workers for their dedication to the people of Pembrokeshire.

“Our NHS staff are heroes within our community, and it was important to me that today’s celebrations also gave something back,” he said.

The new mayor pledged to serve residents with “dedication, humility and pride” during his year in office.

Caption:

New mayor: Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner during his mayor-making ceremony in Haverfordwest (Pic: Supplied)

Community

Pembroke Fair set to return after last year’s success

Published

1 hour ago

May 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

STALL HOLDERS INVITED AS HORSE DRIVE PLANNED

PEMBROKE Fair is set to return this weekend following the success of last year’s event, which drew families, visitors, horses and stalls to Monkton.

The fair will take place on Saturday (May 23) at the Community Centre Field, Pembroke, SA71 4LS, with free entry and everyone welcome.

Last year’s gathering was praised locally for its community spirit, with Pembroke Street Pastors paying tribute to organiser Charlie Price and county councillor Aaron Carey describing it as “very well organised”.

The event brought together horse owners, stall holders and local families, despite poor weather at times.

This year, organisers are again inviting stall holders to take part. A horse drive is also planned from 12:00pm on Sunday (May 24).

Anyone interested in further information or hosting a stall is asked to contact Charlie Price.

Community

Local lettings policy helps sustain rural communities and Welsh language

Published

6 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

NEW affordable housing developments in North Pembrokeshire are helping local people remain in their communities while supporting rural schools and the Welsh language.

Since 2022, West Wales Housing Association has completed new social housing schemes at Parc Brynach in Dinas Cross and Golwg y Llan in Eglwyswrw.

A further development, Parc Nantwen in Dinas Cross, is nearing completion, with new tenants expected to move in within weeks.

The homes have been welcomed locally in an area where affordability remains a significant challenge for many residents.

West Wales Housing Association introduced a local lettings policy giving priority to applicants with strong links to Eglwyswrw and Dinas Cross.

For the Parc Nantwen development, applicants from the Dinas, Newport and Bro Gwaun communities were prioritised.

The approach has meant a number of local people have been able to secure homes who may otherwise have lost out to applicants with weaker links to the area.

The policy is also seen as important in communities where the Welsh language remains strong. Eglwyswrw and Dinas are served by Welsh-medium primary education at Ysgol Eglwyswrw and Ysgol Bro Ingli in Newport.

The impact is already being felt. Following the completion of Parc Brynach, pupil numbers at Ysgol Bro Ingli rose from 86 to more than 100.

Newport and Dinas county councillor Huw Murphy praised West Wales Housing Association for working closely with Dinas Community Council on the lettings policy.

Cllr Murphy said: “The recent lettings policy developed by WWHA, following close liaison with Dinas Community Council, has worked well in enabling houses to be allocated to local people with strong links to their community, where in the past they may have lost out to applicants with more tenuous connections.

“The benefit of a robust local lettings policy has resulted in increased pupil numbers at Ysgol Bro Ingli, while also placing a strong emphasis on protecting the Welsh language, which is very much welcomed.

“I hope that any future affordable housing developments will mirror the recent lettings policy implemented in Dinas Cross and serve as a template elsewhere in Pembrokeshire.”

Supporters say the developments are helping young people and families stay in rural Pembrokeshire, supporting village schools and safeguarding the social and linguistic fabric of North Pembrokeshire’s communities at a time when many rural areas face an ageing population.