News

More complaints about ATEB parking tickets at Dew Street car park

Published

9 months ago

December 23, 2023

THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD has received a letter from Andrew Phillips, a concerned parent. He contacted this newspaper to complain about the unexpected and, in his opinion, unfair parking charges imposed by ATEB at the Dew Street car park in Haverfordwest.

The incident occurred during a Christmas concert at St Mary’s Church, where Mr. Phillips, accompanied by his little boy, parked in what was once a free car park, assuming Sundays were exempt from charges.

Shockingly, he said, a £60 fine arrived at his doorstep, a bitter pill to swallow during the already challenging festive season.

Mr. Phillips, who is registered blind, emphasised that he utilised a disabled badge and attended the charity concert, expecting a sense of community support from ATEB, a housing association supposedly dedicated to the welfare of Pembrokeshire residents. Instead, he expressed his disappointment in what he perceived as ATEB’s greed, questioning if the fines were a means to fund their library project.

This recent incident sheds light on a broader issue that has plagued Haverfordwest for some time.

Last year, ATEB’s decision to introduce pay and display at the Dew Street old library car park stirred controversy. The local newspapers, including The Herald, reported that only two out of 17 properties adjacent to the site were granted pick-up and drop-off access, with a mere 15-minute grace period.

ATEB justified this by stating these two properties had a legal right of way.

In response to community concerns, ATEB clarified that other properties with a legal right to access, evidenced in house deeds, could apply for a grace period on a case-by-case basis. However, this solution did little to assuage the growing discontent.

The Dew Street car park, once a symbol of free parking in Haverfordwest, became subject to charges following ATEB’s acquisition from Pembrokeshire County Council in late 2022.

An additional hiccup arose when incorrect tariffs were displayed on the signage in October 2022. ATEB acknowledged the error, attributing it to a miscommunication with ATEB’s contractor, ParkingEye, and assured the public that corrections were underway.

The introduction of parking charges, coupled with mismanagement of tariff displays, has left the community disillusioned.

As locals brace themselves for the end of an era and the imposition of up to £150 annual parking permits, questions arise about the impact on the less fortunate during these challenging financial times.

The Dew Street car park, once a communal space, is now marred by frustration and resentment. As ATEB continues its development plans for the old library complex, the community is left to grapple with the unintended consequences of parking charges that seem to disproportionately affect those who can least afford them.

In the spirit of the season, as families come together to celebrate, the community of Haverfordwest finds itself divided by parking woes, a bitter reminder that the joy of the holidays can be overshadowed by the burden of unexpected fines.

The cry for fairness echoes in Andrew Phillips’ letter, urging a closer look at the impact of ATEB’s parking policies on the people of Pembrokeshire.

Many are asking why does there need to be parking charges at all?

ParkingEye is also striking elsewhere in west Wales. People parking in a Cardigan town centre car park are now in danger of receiving a £100 notice following the introduction of the Parkingeye system in Coleg Ceredigion.

Health

MS Slams Decision to Proceed with GP Surgery Closure

Published

9 mins ago

September 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SENEDD Member Paul Davies has criticised Hywel Dda University Health Board’s decision to
proceed with the transfer of patients from St David’s surgery to surgeries elsewhere in
Pembrokeshire. In a board meeting held on the 26 th September 2024, the Health Board also
confirmed that it is in discussions with Shalom House in St David’s about the establishment
of a branch surgery to deliver some services.

Mr Davies said, “It’s shameful that Hywel Dda University Health Board is pushing ahead with
these plans, despite the vocal opposition shown by the local community.

“The city of St David’s will soon be the only city in the United Kingdom without a GP surgery,
and I’m appalled that the Health Board has allowed this to take place. For many people the
travel to other surgeries from St David’s is just too far and too stressful and a weak
commitment to coordinate surgeries with bus times is just not going to cut it.”

“Residents have been trying to engage with the Health Board and urging the management to
look at a range of other options and it appears as though the Health Board is unwilling to
consider the views of the people of St David’s. The people of St David’s deserve better, and
I hope all political representatives in Pembrokeshire can work together to stand up for the
local community.”

Business

New electric vehicle charging stations installed in Kilgetty

Published

10 mins ago

September 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

TWO new electric vehicle (EV) rapid charging stations have been installed on Carmarthen Road in Kilgetty as part of InstaVolt’s expanding network across the UK. The site includes one fully accessible bay, with an additional 1.2 metres of space on either side, providing ease of use for all drivers.

The chargers are flush with the ground and feature lower screens, along with an improved cable management system for easier manoeuvrability.

Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, expressed his excitement about the new installation: “We’re delighted to bring more of our award-winning rapid chargers to the area, with class-leading reliability. InstaVolt is on hand to offer a fast charge that will get drivers back on the road in no time.”

Lane also highlighted the user-friendly nature of the chargers: “EV drivers can be confident that when they arrive at the site, they’ll find an easy-to-use charger with payment by contactless debit or credit card, as well as on-site driver amenities. With an extensive, fully nationwide network, EV drivers are never far away from an InstaVolt rapid charger. A bit of route planning in advance using search engines or InstaVolt’s app makes long journeys easier.”

InstaVolt, one of the UK’s largest public EV rapid charging networks, continues to expand rapidly. With over 1,560 chargers currently installed nationwide, the company aims to have 10,000 rapid chargers in place by 2030. The new stations in Kilgetty contribute to the growing infrastructure supporting the more than 1.2 million fully electric cars now on Britain’s roads.

Praised as one of Britain’s top rapid charging networks, InstaVolt’s chargers are designed for convenience, accepting contactless payments without the need for a subscription. Drivers can find their nearest charging station, check real-time availability, and pay for their charge all through InstaVolt’s website or app.

Crime

Man charged with possession of offensive weapon and assault

Published

21 mins ago

September 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A MAN has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and common assault following an incident in the Pembrokeshire village of St Dogmaels.

David Rees, 62, is set to appear in court on 9th October in relation to the incident, which took place on 16th September and left one person with minor injuries.

Locals reported that armed police, dog units, and a police helicopter descended on the scene, creating a significant emergency response in the normally quiet village.

In a police update that evening, it was confirmed that the ‘unusual police presence’ was due to an ‘isolated incident’ which had been ‘safely resolved’. Two police patrol cars remained in the village late into the evening to reassure residents and members of the public.

An update issued by Dyfed-Powys Police on Wednesday, 25th September, confirmed they had responded to reports of an assault resulting in injury to the victim. Following their response, officers arrested and charged a man with possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and common assault in connection with the incident.