Pembroke Dock police station to relocate to new base
A CALL to move Pembroke Dock's police station from its Water Street location to a former council building has been narrowly backed despite safety fears raised by local residents.
In an application recommended for approval at the April meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council's planning committee, Dyfed Powys Police, through agent Asbri Planning Ltd is seeking a change of use of the former Public Information Centre, Argyle Street, Pembroke Dock to a police station.
A supporting statement says the former council public information centre has been deemed surplus to requirements due to changes in working patterns, with Dyfed Powys Police declaring a strong interest in purchasing the property 'to enable a more efficient building to house their new model hub for policing' than its current building in nearby Water Street.
It adds: 'Should planning be approved, Dyfed Powys Police will progress with the sale of the current police station with the property then being advertised for sale on the open market.'
The application had been recommended for approval at the March meeting but was deferred pending a site visit after concerns were raised by local residents that the scheme would have 'a significant impact on working families and children,' with emergency vehicles potentially leaving at high speed from the busy road.
Speaking again at the April meeting on behalf of local residents, Lucy Cawley said the move would lead to 'constant streams of traffic' from emergency vehicles, with restricted access from the site.
'The primary concern is around safety, the access in and out is restricted with poor visibility,' she told committee members.
A sticking point for members was a previous initial recommendation – since removed – of a second entrance for the site, with Cllr Tony Wilcox calling for further negotiation with Dyfed-Powys Police over that.
His views were echoed by Cllr Micheal Williams who called for a deferral for discussions to 'satisfy everyone'.
However, members were told they must decide on the application before them, with the applicants not intending to provide a second access.
Local member Cllr Brian Hall had previously asked: 'Do we want a police station in Pembroke Dock, or do we want it to be like Milford Haven without one?'
Cllr Mark Carter, who had seconded local member Cllr Brian Hall's move to approve and had previously proposed the site visit, said: 'We've got to take this, I'm sorry for the residents but we as members have got to grow up her and make a decision on this one way or another; if we do anything else it's just going to go round in circles.'
The application was approved by eight votes to six.
Dyfed-Powys Police was recently granted permission for a police unit for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) at a former carpenter's unit in Feidr Castell, Fishguard.
The force also announced it is to sell Narberth Police Station and relocate to a new base with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services (MAWWFRS) in nearby Spring Gardens.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fashion United
9 hours ago
- Fashion United
UK retailers welcome two billion pound funding for police
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined a more than two billion pound increase in police spending as part of the government's latest two trillion pound Spending Review. Reeves outlined the plans during a speech on June 11, in which she said the funding reflected a 2.3 percent per year increase in police spending power 'to protect our people, our homes and our streets'. The funding also backs the government's 'Plan for Change' initiative, which aims to put 13,000 additional police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles within England and Wales. The uptick in financing was welcomed by director of business and regulation at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), Tom Ironside, who noted that the organisation supported the plans outlined by Reeves, particularly 'with the huge rise in retail theft and the continued impact of violence and abuse on retail colleagues". Ironside did call on the chancellor, however, to funnel additional policing resources into directly addressing these issues, 'with over 2,000 incidents every day, and shoplifting, which costs retailers and their customers over four billion pounds a year'. Elsewhere, Ironside said the BRC further welcomed Reeves' plans to increase funding for skills and training, given that retail was 'one of the biggest spenders on upskilling its workforce'. He added that the organisation looks forward to seeing more detail on the planned Skills & Growth Levy. Reeves announced a 1.2 billion pound 'record investment' for skills a year, which she said would support 'over a million young people into training and apprenticeships'. 'We've seen growing businesses eager to recruit, look elsewhere. Potential wasted and enterprise frustrated,' she added.
Pembrokeshire Herald
7 days ago
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Petition launched over Reform councillor's co-option
Anti-racism campaigners challenge appointment as Cllr Scott Thorley hits back A PETITION has been launched calling for a review of co-option procedures at Haverfordwest Town Council after a Reform UK candidate was appointed to a vacant seat. Scott Thorley, who stood for Reform UK in February's Prendergast by-election, was co-opted to the town council on Thursday (Apr 17). Just two days later, political graffiti appeared at Withybush Retail Park—where he works—prompting further controversy. Scott Thorley: Now co-opted as a town councillor he had stood for election onto Pembrokeshire County Council The petition, organised by campaign group West Wales Stand Up to Racism, claims Thorley's appointment is incompatible with Wales' national commitment to building an anti-racist society. It calls on Pembrokeshire County Council to reaffirm its support for the Welsh Government's Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (AWAP), and for the town council to review its procedures to ensure future co-options reflect 'ethical governance and inclusivity'. Campaigners have highlighted Reform UK's opposition to the AWAP, which they describe as a key equality strategy aimed at eradicating systemic racism in Wales by 2030. The party has publicly criticised aspects of the plan, including measures designed to increase ethnic minority representation in teaching and public life. Graffiti messages reading 'KEIR STARMER OUT, REFORM IN! GOD SAVE US' and 'VOTE REFORM' were found sprayed in large letters across retail park walls on Saturday (Apr 19), two days after Thorley's appointment. Speaking to The Pembrokeshire Herald, Thorley strongly condemned the vandalism: 'Whoever has done this, it is vandalism plain and simple. It doesn't help us—it's embarrassing.' In response to the petition, Thorley issued a statement in full: 'As I have been invited to help on the anti-racist action plan by Councillor Randell Thomas-Turner, I'm really confused by their comments. I'm very much looking forward to helping integrate communities together in Haverfordwest using food, drink, culture, music and talking. 'In my experience from dealing with them they are far from fighting racism. Just because they say they're anti-racist doesn't mean they are—just as much as Jim Jones said he was the messiah. 'They don't stand for election or try and join the town councils—they are cowards and try to bully people into changing their opinions. 'Politics is about talking and helping people. They need to grow up, take their Che Guevara posters off their walls at home, and stop acting like stroppy teenagers.' Reform UK has been openly critical of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan, arguing that it promotes what they describe as divisive 'identity politics.' The party objects to measures such as offering higher education grants to ethnic minority trainee teachers, which they claim amounts to racial preference and undermines equality based on merit. Reform figures have also criticised proposals to alter public spaces to accommodate cultural sensitivities, saying such policies are impractical and distract from core public concerns. Supporters of the plan argue it is a necessary step to address systemic racism and promote fairer opportunities across all sectors of Welsh society. The petition, remains open and has been circulated online by local campaigners, comes just days after Reform UK achieved a significant breakthrough in West Wales. On May 29, Michelle Beer won a by-election in the Lliedi ward of Llanelli, becoming the first Reform UK councillor elected to Carmarthenshire County Council. Her victory marked a notable gain for the party in a traditionally Labour stronghold, reflecting its growing presence in Welsh local politics. Reform UK has not issued a separate comment. PHOTO CAPTION: Under fire: Scott Thorley, pictured earlier this year with local police, says critics are more interested in 'bullying' than dialogue (Pic: Reform/Facebook)
Pembrokeshire Herald
7 days ago
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Proposed wind turbines could tower over Bluestone resort
A PETITION calling for a full review and debate of Pembrokeshire's 'not fit for purpose' county farm policy has been launched by tenants being forced to leave their council-owned farm which is host to a Good Food Guide accredited restaurant. Paternoster Farm near Hundleton, which has a restaurant in the old milking shed, has featured in the Good Food Guide for the last three years. The restaurant is run by former family solicitor, Michelle Evans, with this year's Good Food Guide describing Paternoster Farm as 'earthy and rustic' with deliciousness, warmth and strength of recommendation all described as good, while the restaurant's uniqueness was rated as very good. However, the acclaimed business built up over the last four years is now under threat, as the ten-year farm tenancy with Pembrokeshire County Council comes to an end. In an e-petition submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council, which has already attracted more than 1,300 signatures to date, Leum Evans asks: 'We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to conduct a full and thorough review of county farm policy. 'We call for a declaration that current county farm policy is not fit for purpose when it fails to encourage diversification in a way that adds value to a farm's own produce, keeps the produce within the farm, and feeds the local community, when policy fails to support a holding such as Paternoster Farm. 'We call for a motion of no confidence in both county farm policy, and the county farm estate department. We call upon Pembrokeshire County Council to commission an independent review of farm policy by suitably qualified (independent) third parties. 'We call for a full debate on the future of the county farm estate, and whether its continued existence, in its current form, can even be justified. We call upon Pembrokeshire County Council to commission how Public Procurement Policy could effect a link between county farms, and school meals in the county.' The petition goes on to say: 'Current county farm policy has been shown to support neither farm diversification nor integration into the community. This has been illustrated by the recent treatment of the current tenants of Paternoster Farm. 'If county farm policy does not support and encourage our type of farming enterprise, one which farms the holding to its fullest whilst caring for the land, farms regeneratively, provides employment, fosters community links, supports a wealth of local businesses, supports local schools, feeds farm produce to the community every single week of the year, then it cannot possibly be said to be fit for purpose.' It claims £50m of public money is invested in county farms for 42 tenants, adding: 'Is this a fair and equitable distribution of local authority resources when county farm policy does nothing to encourage any benefit to the wider community?' It finishes: 'It is all very well to seek to help new entrants into farming, but what are the authority really trying to achieve? Farming for farming's sake is not enough. The authority has to ask, who will benefit, and to what extent?' Pembrokeshire County Council has previously said that proposals at Paternoster were in line with council policy, with novice farmers being offered a smaller farm while they get established in the industry before moving on to bigger establishments. 'Pembrokeshire County Council owns a farm estate for the expressed purpose of providing those who wish to farm a way of entering into the industry,' said a council spokesman. 'To fulfil this function, tenancies are not for life but are for a fixed term, to enable tenants to 'move on' to larger farm holdings, as these tenants are being offered the opportunity to do.' The council said that the 10-year lease entered into with Michelle and her family reflected this policy, with them now offered a tenancy at a larger council farm holding. The online petition runs until July 26.
