YOUNG people have helped bring new colour and creativity to Haverfordwest Railway Station as part of a wider project to improve one of the town’s key gateways.

A partnership involving local services, transport organisations and community groups has worked together to refurbish parts of the station and install new artwork, with a strong focus on youth engagement and creative participation.

The project involved South West Wales Connected, Pembrokeshire County Council Youth Justice, The Edge Youth Centre and Regeneration Teams, Kier, Transport for Wales, Dyfed-Powys Police, The VC Gallery, Haverfordwest Action Forum and local artists.

As part of the Welsh Government-funded Haverfordwest Public Transport Interchange scheme, Kier carried out refurbishment works at the station, including cleaning and improvements to the waiting area and public facilities.

An unused building on Platform 2 was also cleaned and prepared for the display of artwork. The art installations were funded through the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.

Young people supported through Pembrokeshire County Council services produced a series of artworks which are now on display in the station waiting area and on the Platform 2 building. Additional pieces created by local artists have also been installed.

The scheme is intended to create a more welcoming environment for passengers and visitors, while giving young people the chance to take part in meaningful creative activity.

The improvements form part of wider efforts to enhance key gateways into Haverfordwest, from the railway station to the new Haverfordwest Public Transport Interchange, and support town centre regeneration.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “It’s great to see art and culture brought to people as opposed to them actively seeking it out and we have a great tradition in Pembrokeshire of young people producing public art in this form.

“The fact that this is a wide-ranging partnership of groups only adds to the value of the project. I hope people take an opportunity to have a look at what has been created.”

Ian Rees, Regional Director for Kier Construction Western and Wales, said: “We’re proud to have supported improvements at Haverfordwest Railway Station through our work on the wider public transport interchange project, and to be leaving such a positive legacy for the local community.

“It’s been fantastic to see so many stakeholders come together to support and celebrate the creative young people involved in this project, providing a more welcoming space for passengers and visitors.”

Philip Merchant, Project Manager for South West Wales Connected, said: “As South West Wales Connected, we took on this project as a response to community feedback that the station was not a welcoming place, in its environment and for passenger wellbeing.

“It was a challenge and an opportunity to take this on as a blank canvas and it was so enjoyable to work with many partners who all had the same vision and reasons to upgrade this important railway station.”

Nathaniel Owen, Senior Customer Operations Manager for Transport for Wales, said: “Transport for Wales are delighted to have worked closely with Pembrokeshire County Council, Kier Construction, South West Wales Connected and local artists and stakeholders to deliver some small but important improvements to the station environment at Haverfordwest.

“We hope customers will enjoy looking at the artwork done by local people for local people when they travel with us.”

The partners said the initiative reflects a shared commitment to supporting young people, improving public spaces and making Haverfordwest railway station a more attractive and welcoming place for the wider community.

MULTIPLE emergency services took part in a major missing person exercise at Ynys Lochtyn, Llangrannog, earlier this week.

The exercise was organised by New Quay Coastguard and involved HM Coastguard Teifi (Cardigan), the Area 13 Coastguard Drone Team, Dyfed-Powys Police, and both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats from New Quay Lifeboat Station.

Llangrannog Urdd Camp hosted the exercise, which was designed to test and improve joint working between agencies during coastal emergencies.

New Quay Coastguard thanked the camp, the local community and all emergency services involved.

A spokesperson said exercises of this kind were “critical” for testing and improving partnership working during emergencies along the coastline.

New plans aim to cut delays, reduce costs and stop house sales collapsing

THOUSANDS of homebuyers across Wales could save time and money under a major overhaul of the property-buying process announced by the UK Government.

The reforms are designed to tackle long-standing problems in the housing market, including lengthy delays, failed transactions and unexpected costs which can leave buyers and sellers out of pocket.

Ministers say the changes could reduce the average time taken to buy a home by around four weeks and save first-time buyers an average of £650.

Under the proposals, sellers and estate agents would be required to provide key information about a property when it is listed for sale. New “sales packs” would include details about a home’s condition, leasehold charges and the status of any buying chain.

The Government also plans to introduce earlier legally binding agreements between buyers and sellers to reduce the number of transactions which collapse late in the process.

A major part of the reforms will focus on replacing paper-based systems with digital property logbooks, electronic signatures, online identity checks and AI-assisted conveyancing.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said: “Thousands of people across Wales will benefit from these reforms which will make buying a home faster, simpler and fairer.

“For too long the system has been difficult and complex. This government’s changes will save working people and families valuable time and money when they are buying their new home.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the current system leaves many families “in limbo” and makes home ownership more difficult than it should be.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said buying or selling a home should not be “a drawn-out nightmare of delays, hidden costs, and failed deals.”

The Government says the reforms will be introduced in stages, with a new Code of Practice for property agents expected later this year.

From 2027, ministers plan to consult on mandatory qualifications for estate agents and the wider use of digital tools.

Legislation requiring sales packs, binding contracts and digital property information systems is expected before the end of the current Parliament.