April started with the terrible news that one of its longstanding residents had passed away on April 1st. Shirley Wainwright was such a bubbly character and always had a smile on her face. Shirley was born in the village and I’m sure that all the local residents will have very many fond memories and we all extend to her family our sympathy. I was once told “ that you are judged in life by the number of people at your funeral.” How true the words are. Shirley loved her football and was so popular over the years with all the football players who she looked after and it was fitting that at a recent home game there was a minute’s applause organised by Stu McKay and all the football team in recognition for her support over many years to the club. Also honored was former player and coach Graham Poole.
Over the last two months I have been in contact with the Fisheries Department and residents of the Glen regarding the cockle picking and parking at very low tides. Over the last few weeks the Fisheries Department logged all the vehicle details of the pickers as they will submit a report that has been gathered for the attention of the Police, GLAA, and FSA. The report written after all the information had been gathered found no evidence of any fisheries offence. The advice from the Fisheries department is that if any resident has concerns then call 101 and highlight any issues such as commercial gathering or persons potentially being controlled to work. This way the relevant agency can deal with it [FSA, GLAA, PORT HEALTH etc}.
During my monthly report for March, I published my thoughts on the second homes council tax and the payment to Dyfed Powys Police Force. I will include my previous post regarding the Dyfed Powys Police (DPP), along with detailed account from parties across the board at PCC and from the head of finance who replied to my questions.
During the last few weeks PCC has posted council tax forms for the 2024/2025 year, which will start in April. There has been contact with local residents and second home owners with some queries in relation to their demand. Each letter lists the demands from 3 different authorities. Pembrokeshire County Council, Saundersfoot Community Council & Police & Crime Commissioner Dyfed Powys. The second home premium is charged at 200% in addition to the standard rate on these Council Tax Demands. I question why these properties are paying the surcharges to the Police & Crime Commissioner, Dyfed Powys Police. If I break this down on a Band E property to demonstrate the issues I have with this. On band E the PCC charge is £1846.44, SCC £63.19 and Dyfed Powys Police £404.81. PCC receive £ 5,539.32. SCC receive £189.57 leaving the balance of £1,214.43 going to Dyfed Powys Police. Whilst I understand residents in Saundersfoot must make a fair contribution to the Police service provision I strongly question why this extra amount collected is going to Dyfed Powys Police which covers the whole force area. I feel that the amount of £404.81 should be set aside for the Police and the remaining set aside for Saundersfoot and Pembrokeshire. Saundersfoot is in the top 5 communities in the Dyfed Powys area for the number of second/holiday homes and recently the Police station in the village shut and the Police presence amongst the community doesn’t reflect the income they are receiving from communities such as Saundersfoot.
The reason I have revisited this, is because there has been confusion by some residents as they were unaware of this previously. During April I tried to seek clarification from party members across the chamber along with officers working at PCC. I asked the Chief Finance Officer directly. “Can you please clarify if Dyfed Powys Police receive the full amount collected on a second home council tax invoice?”, Yes was the simple answer and will be paid as part of the DPP precept for Pembrokeshire.
For example,” I understand that if tomorrow there were NO 2nd homes in Pembrokeshire, then the police and crime commissioner rate on the council tax demand would be higher for every single resident as they need to replace that money lost from the 2nd home owners council tax demands which we’re subsidising?” Yes, this is correct.
In summary as I have been contacted by numerous local residents who have a second home, the amount collected on behalf of Dyfed Powys Police, all goes into their pot for the force area. I feel that money collected in Saundersfoot and other high profile coastal communities should be spent locally or in Pembrokeshire. Saundersfoot has lost its local Police Station and the police presence amongst our community is minimal. The second homes council tax collected in Pembrokeshire is used to subsidise the full Dyfed Powys Police Force area.
During the month Councillor Cormack and I, along with other County Councillors were sent the recent updates and proposed road closures for this year’s coming Long Course Weekend. The proposed road closures on Saturday 22nd of June are C3015 Wisemans Bridge to Saundersfoot, Frances Road Saundersfoot. B4316 Wogan Terrace & Cambrian Terrace Saundersfoot. B4316 Station Road, Saundersfoot from its junction with Frances Lane to its junction with Whitlow closed southbound only. B4316 Brewery Terrace, St Brides Hill, Broadfield Hill. B4316 Milford Street Saundersfoot, from B4316 Cambrian Terrace to its junction with High Street. Over the years we have fully supported this event and are keen to work with Activity Wales on this. This year we have the added complication of the coastal path being shut between Wisemans Bridge and Coppet Hall and the works not planned to finish before July 12th. This would mean the only access would be via the road if you were unable to navigate the difficult top path. After talking to residents and businesses in this vicinity and neighbouring communities, it is clear that businesses have clearly struggled since December as a result of the numerous rock falls. The proposed plans were to have a full road closure from 08.30am to 1600 hours. This would mean that residents in Wisemans Bridge/Coppet Hall area would be totally housebound. While we all fully support events, Councillors Cormack, Jordan and I, felt that we needed to engage with PCC highways, businesses and the event organisers to look at solutions to the issues that have been raised. Having talked privately with two main businesses, I fully understand the problems with a full road closure and as councillors we couldn’t support a full road closure this year. Over the last week Councillor Cormack and I, have met the event organisers of Activity Wales to find a suitable resolution for the local residents and businesses. Hopefully the new proposal will see cars allowed to travel in the same direction as the cyclists from Merrixton Cross, down through Wiseman’s Bridge, Coppet Hall before turning right off Frances Road. We feel this is a suitable compromise for all parties and would like to thank PCC, Activity Wales and the businesses for working together on this agreement.
During the month there have been numerous jobs that have been reported and it’s always good to give feedback once completed. I’m sure we’re all aware of the bollards being knocked over at the start of the month at the entrance to the Strand and I would like to thank the local businesses that provided CCTV to support PCC in their quest to identify the vehicle that caused the damage. The Hovis wagon fully cooperated and made payment to Pembrokeshire County Council for all the damage and time taken to repair and replace the paving slabs. Hovis donated 4 full trays of their products to be distributed in the local community. Spar (Saundersfoot) support a local food bank while the remaining trays went to support the James Criddle Foundation. With the heavy downpours in March, a considerable amount of silt and earth were washed down the rear of the Incline onto the tarmac in front of Westfield Court Flats. Such was the amount that it ran to the rear carparks making getting in and out of vehicles very messy. The road sweeper was deployed and cleaned up the mess immediately at the start of the month. During the first week of April we had high tides that did cause some damage to various steps along the main beach front in Saundersfoot along with the main steps at Coppet Hall.
During the month I’ve only been able to get in two litter picks and both were on the Fan Road, up to the main junction and down to St Issell’s church. On one occasion I walked to Whitlow and down Church Terrace while the other occasion walked up to Hean Castle and down through Coppet Hall. On both occasions I filled roughly 3 bags with all the same rubbish collected from glass bottles, take away packaging and for the first time ever I picked up 12 small clear packets that had clearly held a substance and the vehicle occupiers didn’t want this incriminating evidence in their vehicle. All of these packets were collected within a short distance of each other.
The painting of the bollards is going extremely well and I would like to thank all the various volunteers who have given up their time to try and enhance the look around the village. Special thanks to James who has gone above the call of duty, even paying for the sandpaper and the gold paint to complete the job.
During April the fences and gates have been put in place on the coastal path. They are there to protect pedestrians due to the concerns of further rock falls. Unfortunately, this isn’t deterring a minority that have cut the padlocks and made a hole in the fence to gain access. It is a shame that a minority is putting others at risk and with the bank holiday this weekend, I fear this will be a very busy path.
A few local residents have expressed their concerns coming off the Valley Road junction onto the Ridgeway and their vision to the left being impaired with large builders sacks which are causing a potential hazard due to lack of vision. I fully support their views and have asked for their removal from this location. During this winter I have had complaints regarding pot holes and sunken drains on Fan Road. I would like to report, that when the road was shut recently, there were extensive repairs on the left hand side heading to the Ridgeway. I have had enquires regarding the proposed Persimmon site off Sandyhill Road, I have declared a prejudicial and personal interest in this development and have spoken to the NP planner who is dealing with the application. It appears they are still working on the shared access path through the site and I hope to be updated in May.
Fly tipping – This isn’t just a problem in Saundersfoot, but we are certainly in a far better place than in previous years. With the new government guidelines regarding waste and recycling the team from Pembrokeshire county council have been out amongst the community dropping in leaflets and the new green bags to all the larger blocks of flats around the village. The majority of organisations have this in place and the transition period has gone relatively smoothly across the village. There are still a few holiday let properties who continue to flaunt the rules and dispose of their rubbish into the many local bins. One property guest showed me the information that was in the property pack recently, which I will quote – “Alternatively, you may wish to dispose of your non recyclable household rubbish on a daily basis by using the local street bins.” This is totally unacceptable and actions by a very small minority of unscrupulous holiday homeowners are giving the majority a bad name. Disposing of rubbish is a mounting cost and the local residents shouldn’t be supporting these costs. I reported the matter to PCC and it was dealt with immediately and the property in question will now have to provide an agreement for their waste to PCC as they didn’t have one. There are also numerous properties that are on business rates and still put out their waste each Monday for PCC street kerb side collection. If this property is being used as a holiday rental then they don’t qualify for a PCC collection. The environmental team used Saundersfoot as a trial location and had a very difficult job in chasing up all the issues right across the village and I feel that we are definitely heading in the right direction as the number of trade waste agreements signed up to PCC and private waste carriers has vastly increased. Hopefully, in the future they will be able to generate a list detailing every holiday home and how their waste is removed. I would like to thank the environmental team as they are facing challenges on a daily basis and I do feel that their continued approach to tackle these issues will definitely help the village and more importantly reduce costs of emptying the bins.
Whilst we are talking about rubbish, I highlighted last year my concerns of the wheelie bin outside Bethany flats which is one metre away from the pavement on Sandyhill Rd. I was called last week by a local resident who raised concerns again of fly tipping at this location. It appears the wheelie bin was over flowing with at least another 12 black bags thrown all over the front of the property next to the bin. This is regularly being abused and I’ve asked PCC to look at putting in place a small fence on the wall running parallel with the pavement. I have had support on this and it now appears that a fence will be positioned to screen the bin from the roadside preventing opportunists disposing of their waste.
The Cemetery bins. Whilst work was being done on behalf of SCC, at the cemetery, it was noticed that these bins were being added to by cars pulling up and one vehicle was witnessed disposing of their rubbish just over the wall. My view is that the cemetery is a place for peaceful thoughts and everyone who attends their loved one’s graves always clears up their discarded flower and bouquets and disposes them into the bins provided. These bins are for the users of the cemetery and they are collected each week by Saundersfoot Community Council. It appears that the excess bins over the recent months have come from vehicles driving past and disposing of their rubbish. This is a cost that SCC can’t keep covering and they are now potentially looking at moving the bins from the side of the road to a more suitable position in the cemetery for their users, so they don’t get abused. I will fully support SCC on this and welcome its swift action in making the cemetery as clean as possible for anyone who visits.
The 2024 New Year’s Day Swim committee will be holding their annual presentation evening on May 23rd at Saundersfoot Sailing Club, and I would like to personally thank all the swimmers, volunteers, sponsors, landowners, and spectators who have fully supported us over the years. To host the biggest festive swim in the UK takes an awful amount of work, and the small group of volunteers work tirelessly for many months of the year to ensure that the NYDS is a success year on year. This year’s event was particularly challenging, as we had a pay to enter registration for the first time, and had the largest number of swimmers enter (2,500). The upshot of this is that we are still finalising all of the accounts in readiness to make the nominated donations.
Staying on the point of how much work is involved in organising large events, I would like to announce that I will be stepping down from SaundersFEST with immediate effect. This decision hasn’t been taking lightly and I know that we will soon be starting plans for NYDS 2025 straight after the presentation evening along with our other charity event, The TenFoot Swim. Accompanied by an ever increasing workload, County Council demands and supporting the Saundersfoot Festivities, I felt that this was the correct time to take a step back. I would like to express my gratitude to all committee members, volunteers and sponsors who have supported the SaundersFest event over the last two years.
Over the last few months I have had regular meetings with the new CEO of Saundersfoot Harbour Nicola Gandy and this is a good way of finding out what’s going on at the harbour. Recently I have had numerous concerns come to my attention from local residents, regarding parking charges. I will state that I have no authority over this as this is private land/harbour and is being run as a Trust Port. However, I have discussed with Nicola some of the points raised by local residents and, hopefully, I will be able to answer those queries in my next report. I would also like to report the following works that have either been carried out or will be done over the coming weeks.
Harbour activities. As I write this report, the final preparation stages are ongoing for the first large scale live music event on the decking area, a night of entertainment from ‘Tom Jones’ and The Phonics.
You may have seen the works taking place inside the harbour to deal with the build up of sand. This work was successfully completed within a week. The boats are all now being lifted back into the harbour. The tree works on the cliff are coming to an end and the next stage will involve significant work to stabilise parts of the cliff to ensure that the public can continue to enjoy walking around the harbour. The public toilets, provided by the harbour, are due to be painted over the next few weeks.
Fan Road. The active travel project between Saundersfoot Railway Station and Valley Road is advancing with works programmed to be completed by the end of May/ June. The link along Station Road will have the final uncontrolled MUR crossing constructed during May, thus enabling connectivity to the MUR path that is within the remodelled junction. All clearance works are completed on Fan Road/ Station Road junction. Excavations are complete and formation and temporary road surface was installed during last week’s road closure. Other works were programmed and completed along the Fan Road during the closure, these included verge reshaping works, edge of carriageway reconstruction, surfacing to junctions and PCC highway maintenance of drainage. Works to the junction area currently are focused on fencing and landscaping with trees and native species, alongside minor drainage works and the installation of the uncontrolled crossing noted previously. These construction works are being programmed under temporary traffic light operation. A future road closure of Fan Road will be employed the week of 13th May to complete the installation of the final highway and MUR surfacing. Within the road closure the installation of the PRIORITY SYSTEM will be installed. This will form a traffic calming feature, reassign carriageway space for the MUR with vehicular traffic utilising the remaining road space. Final MUR surfacing will then be installed alongside final landscaping to verge and hedgerow sections. The status of the central Fan Road MUR work, near the pond, has advanced to allow for the new path final construction, with drainage and ground profile having been adjusted to the final formation levels. The subsequent fencing and path construction works will be completed alongside the final connecting section of MUR, which links to the substantially completed works at Bonville’s Court. These works are again programmed for completion in June when the link will be operational.
Other Active Travel project works within the village are being considered. These are all part of a strategic corridor which will eventually provide a network of MUR facilities between Tenby, Penally and to the west Saundersfoot, Wisemans Bridge linking into existing National Cycle Network facilities. Feasibility works from the village centre to Stammers Road and along Sandy Hill Road are being developed. These proposals will be shared by the highways team in due course, alongside improvements to Milford Street/ Cambrian Terrace and the mini roundabout junction. Studies are ongoing to connect the primary school at Frances Lane to Frances Road, Coppet Hall and Wisemans Bridge. Further upgrade works between Valley Road and the village centre along Brooklands Place are to be programmed to complete the active travel connection to Saundersfoot Railway Station.
Keeping Well in Pembrokeshire. There will be a keep well roadshow at the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot on Thursday 16th May 10am to 3pm. Please come along and see what your community has to offer. Come and enjoy a free cup of tea/coffee and have a chat with the many available services presented on the day. Health Board clinics, voluntary sector organisations and council services will be there to discuss how they can support you. Also in attendance will be members of Saundersfoot Community Councillors to assist.
I would like to announce that there will be another beach clean planned for Wednesday 8th of May. There will be focus mainly at Monkstone Beach. The plan is to head out to Monkstone at low tide and head back to the village. Low tide is at 13.20 and hopefully looking to be back in the village for 3pm. This event is being orgainsed by Ecoast supporting the Saundersfoot in Bloom campaign. Everyone welcome. Please meet at Saundersfoot Sailing Club 11am
The WALKTALKWALK group has developed over the winter months and there is a healthy amount turning up each week, there have been roughly over 50 different individuals who turn up when they are free to do so – there is no pressure to attend every week. The surgery is keen to keep supporting the local community and would like to hear your thoughts and experiences over this time. Everyone is welcome to attend and if you just want a leisurely walk talking with different people, then please meet at Saundersfoot Surgery, every Friday at 1pm.
Road Closure – Fan Road will be closed for the week of 13th May, to complete the final resurfacing of this road.
The Tunnels – The coastal path between Wisemans Bridge and Coppet Hall scheme, went out to tender, and award of the works was anticipated by 11th April 2024.
Subject to completion of all the pre construction information, it is hoped the site work will commence around 20 May 2024, and it is hoped work will be completed and the path reopened around 12 July 2024. All these dates are provisional, and subject to satisfactory progress of work being achieved.
Speed awareness devices – Unfortunately this has taken longer than anticipated and I feel that the consultation period with residents in the vicinity of the three sites is now completed. This has been passed onto Mr Hooper, Senior Traffic Technician who seems pleased with the information provided. This is now going through SCC and hopefully we will be able to announce shortly on installation at the three proposed sites.
During April a new group has come together from various organisations across the village, representatives have been from Saundersfoot Community Council, Saundersfoot in Bloom, National Park Authority, Saundersfoot Harbour and Advisory group, Saundersfoot NYDS, both the heritage groups with representation also from long term residents of the community. The group is in its infancy and is looking on how they can show case the village’s history as a coal mining and exporting community. The harbour only exists today because of the need to export the rich anthracite from our shores. There are many across the village who know little about our past and the heritage side doesn’t seem to get the recognition it deserves. Both Heritage groups have done an incredible job over the years to highlight our past and over the coming months there could be, potentially, some exciting news of a scheme to showcase our past in the village for all to see.
The activity of Saundersfoot in Bloom members is increasing as they prepare the village for Britain in Bloom judges who will visit Saundersfoot on July 30th. This event is something we should all be supporting, whether it’s volunteering to plant flowers, weeding, dead heading, picking up litter or painting the bollards. We all know how pretty our village is and Let’s make not just the Sensory Garden but the whole village come to life over the coming months. “Ask not what your village can do for you. Ask what you can do for your village.”
Lastly I will finish on the success story of New Hedges Saundersfoot Football Club winning the Pembrokeshire 4th division cup last night. The boys have had an excellent season finishing third in the league and winning the cup. The team have had an excellent following and a fantastic turn out last night to support the team in Monkton. Since its formation last year the team has quickly developed and it’s thanks to all the coaches, players, committee and supporters who have made this enjoyable and, more importantly, having football back in the community. The club is keen to have further junior sides next season and we must also congratulate the current under 14’s team and coaches/manager for winning the league and have two exciting cup finals over the next couple of weeks to contend with.
Cllr Chris Williams
Saundersfoot South