News

Update on housing developments by Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

3 years ago

July 4, 2023

THERE are new updates for the Pembrokeshire County Council housing development programmes at Old School Lane, Johnston and Tudor Place, Tiers Cross.

Old School Lane, Johnston

Unfortunately, underground investigations have identified faults with the utility infrastructure that provides drainage throughout the site.

Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) has been working with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to resolve these issues before the site is occupied. This will avoid causing extensive disruption and inconvenience to contract holders after completion.

This has resulted in a further delay to the programme, but solutions have been identified allowing the remedial works to commence imminently.

As works are continuing on site, PCC plan a phased handover of the Old School Lane properties and anticipate that the first phase of properties will be available before Christmas 2023.

This will include mainly general needs properties, allowing a selection of homes to be allocated before the development is fully completed.

It is anticipated that the handover of the remaining properties in Old School Lane will take place in Spring 2024, signalling the completion of the development.

Cllr Jon Harvey, Cabinet member for Housing Delivery, said: “We regret that further delays have occurred in completing the Old School Lane development due to circumstances outside our control, but the completion of these works are considered essential in order to avoid any further disruption to contract holders at a later date.

“We have been working closely with the developer to ensure that these final works are completed as swiftly as possible and for these much needed properties to be made available to our residents, hence why we have agreed to a phased handover of properties as they become available.”

This development contains a selection of general needs, adapted and supported living homes. The allocation of the adapted properties has already taken place to applicants who were registered on the Accessible Housing Register in November 2022; both the successful and unsuccessful applicants for the adapted homes will shortly be notified by letter.

When Old School Lane is closer to completion, general needs properties will be advertised via Choice Homes @ Pembrokeshire with preference given to applicants with a local connection to the community council area of Johnston.

Further updates on the development will be shared when they become available.

Tudor Place, Tiers Cross

Work has been progressing well in Tudor Place in recent months, with scaffolding imminently due to be taken down, which will allow for the external hard and soft landscaping to commence. A completion date of Autumn 2023 has been agreed with the contractor.

When Tudor Place is closer to completion, general needs properties will be advertised via Choice Homes @ Pembrokeshire with preference given to applicants with a local connection to the community council area of Tiers Cross.

At this time the Council will also write to applicants who are registered on the Pembrokeshire Accessible Housing Register (PAHR) to ascertain their local connection to the community council area of Tiers Cross. Further updates on the development will be shared when they become available.

Cllr Michelle Bateman, Cabinet Member for Housing Operations said: “As both Old School Lane and Tiers Cross are nearing completion, we expect a lot of interest in these properties and allocations will take place at different times.

“To be considered for allocation, it is therefore important to be registered with Choice Homes @ Pembrokeshire. Keep a close eye out on our social media pages, letters from the council and publicity about allocations of these developments.”

Please follow the PCC Housing Services Social Media for further development updates on facebook.com/PCCHousing.

If you have any queries, please contact the Customer Liaison Team via [email protected] or 01437 764551.

Community

Concern grows after child hospitalised following Tenby sea swim

Published

11 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PARENT SAYS BOY BECAME SERIOUSLY ILL AFTER SWIMMING DURING FAMILY VISIT

CONCERN is growing in Pembrokeshire after a parent claimed their child was admitted to hospital after swimming in the sea at Tenby.

The post, shared in a local Tenby Facebook group, said the family had visited the resort between Monday and Thursday, with the boy swimming in the sea on Tuesday (May 6).

His parent wrote: “My son swam in the sea on the 6th and the next morning came down with terrible sickness and diarrhoea — he’s been very unwell since and has tonight been admitted to hospital.”

They added: “It’s terrible we can’t swim in our seas and rivers safely anymore. Please be aware.”

The post prompted hundreds of reactions and dozens of comments, with many people expressing sympathy for the family and others raising wider concerns about sewage pollution and water quality around the Pembrokeshire coast.

One commenter said: “This is a national disgrace, please put in a written complaint to Dŵr Cymru and Natural Resources Wales.”

Another asked: “Why were there no signs put up on the beaches to warn people it was unsafe to swim in?”

Others claimed they or family members had suffered illness after swimming at locations including Tenby, Amroth, Newgale and Coppet Hall.

One person wrote: “I got sepsis from a cut in Newgale surfing. Took six weeks in hospital and seven months recovery and still not right to get over it.”

Another said: “Please check with your son’s doctors regarding E.coli and a condition called HUS, which can develop from E.coli. My daughter swam at Amroth in 2022 after a sewage incident in the area and became seriously ill.”

No medical evidence has been published linking the latest reported illness directly to seawater exposure, and there is currently no official confirmation that conditions at Tenby caused the child’s illness.

However, the post has reignited anger over sewage discharges, pollution alerts and the information available to visitors and local people before entering the water.

Lydstep warning

The concern follows a recent warning at Lydstep Haven after Natural Resources Wales informed Pembrokeshire County Council of an “abnormal situation” which could temporarily affect bathing water quality.

Pembrokeshire County Council said officers from its Pollution Control Team had placed warning notices at various locations around the beach, temporarily advising against bathing while the matter was investigated.

Some residents questioned whether warnings were clear enough, particularly during busy holiday periods.

One commenter wrote: “Why aren’t there any warnings to holiday makers and visitors to our local area? It’s not fair that they find out information after someone becomes ill.”

Another said: “There should be notices and announcements on the beaches if there is an outage.”

Others pointed out that Surfers Against Sewage’s water quality app was not showing an active alert for Tenby itself, and suggested some online comments may have confused the current Lydstep warning with previous pollution notices affecting beaches in the Tenby area.

Protest at Broad Haven

The issue comes less than a week before campaigners stage a Surfers Against Sewage paddle-out protest at Broad Haven.

The protest is due to take place on Saturday, May 16, at 1:30pm, as part of a UK-wide day of action calling for an end to sewage pollution in rivers and seas.

Surfers Against Sewage says communities across the UK will gather on beaches, riverbanks and in the water to demand stronger action on sewage pollution.

The campaign group said: “We are sick of it. Sick of the lies, sick of the greed and sick of a system that’s rigged against us.”

A large banner has already been placed on Broad Haven seafront encouraging people to attend the protest.

Tourism concerns

The row has also raised concerns about the potential impact on Pembrokeshire’s tourism industry, with Tenby, Broad Haven, Newgale and other seaside communities heavily dependent on visitors during the spring and summer months.

One commenter wrote: “Not very good for a holiday destination is it.”

Another said: “Tourism will be massively affected by incidents like this, and people’s health and lives are being put at risk.”

Others called for stronger action from Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.

The Herald has approached Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water for comment.

Community

Milford Haven remembers those lost at sea

Published

12 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

National Fishing Remembrance Day marked by Port

MILFORD HAVEN came together on Sunday (May 10) to remember those who have lost their lives at sea.

The Port of Milford Haven joined the Fishermen’s Mission, Stella Maris – Apostleship of the Sea and members of the local community for a National Fishing Remembrance Day service at St Katherine’s and St Peter’s Church.

The service was followed by a gathering at the Fisherman’s Memorial on The Rath, where those who never returned home from the sea were remembered.

Canon Chancellor John Cecil and Reverend Paul Osunyikanmi led what was described as a moving service of remembrance.

The Port of Milford Haven said it was honoured to take part in the event, paying tribute to fishing families and the wider maritime community.

The annual day of remembrance holds particular significance in Milford Haven, a town with deep fishing and seafaring roots.

Local Government

Jonathan Grimes becomes 647th Mayor of Pembroke

Published

13 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

JONATHAN GRIMES has said he is “incredibly proud and deeply honoured” after becoming the 647th Mayor of Pembroke.

Cllr Grimes, county councillor for Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, thanked those who had placed their trust and confidence in him.

He said: “With the support, commitment and dedication of Pembroke Town Council and our wonderful community, I am confident we can meet every challenge together, celebrate our successes, and continue building a brighter and more inclusive future for Pembroke.

“It is a true privilege to serve as Mayor, and I look forward to working alongside the people of Pembroke in the months ahead.”

Cllr Grimes said he was also looking forward to attending this afternoon’s service at St Mary’s Church in Pembroke for the Blessing of the Bells.

He added that he hoped to meet as many people as possible as the town celebrates the return of the historic bells.