This update covers some of the work I carried out in December, 2024 and January 2025. During the last few months there have been a few bad weather warnings that did cause disruption, not only in Saundersfoot, but across our county. We have experienced two major storms, Darragh and Eowyn with fences, sheds and many trees being uprooted. The team at PCC was at hand to deal with the issues as they were reported. Hean Castle Estate also experienced many mature trees falling and others requiring attention. Some roads were blocked and I would like to thank everyone involved in making sure the trees and debris were dealt with swiftly so that the roads were opened when safe to do so.
Burst pipe
Early in December, I received a call from Welsh Water regarding an issue with one of their pipes outside their pumping station at Brooklands Place. I met staff of Welsh Water on site, who explained they have an issue with a leaking pipe that was buried 4 meters down under the newly laid footpath. The immediate concern was dealing with this pipe swiftly and closing the path for works to continue. Young brothers came in and excavated the hole, but due to the depth additional support had to be fitted to enable safe access to the broken pipe. The contractors, working with Welsh Water, did an excellent job and reinstated the path with fresh tarmac and removed all the waste material. We all appreciate that this was vital work and Welsh Water apologised for any disruption caused to residents while this work was completed.
New bus services as introduced
I attended a recent meeting regarding the Regional Transport Plan and found this very helpful. I am well aware of the need for a good public bus route in Saundersfoot and our county to link communities and residents. Many residents heavily rely on a good public transport link and this is often their only way of getting out to shop, visit the doctors or more importantly use this service to visit family and friends. Not everyone has the luxury of a car or individuals who are at hand to pick you up and take you where you need to go. Having a reliable bus service is extremely important to the majority of the residents and I urge you to attend the public consultation commencing on February 10th. This will give you an opportunity to raise any concerns you may be experiencing and try to shape future services.
A number of changes to key local bus services in Pembrokeshire were introduced in January 2025. The changes are designed to improve punctuality and service performance on key routes. In addition, several services that had been reduced in recent years will be reinstated. Passengers using Fflecsi Pembrokeshire services may also notice that the Fflecsi app now provides details of bus timetables where a fixed route bus service is available for the journey they have requested. This will help improve the availability of the Fflecsi service for journeys where there is no other public transport option.
Please see our press release for further information: https://newsroom.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/news/new-year-new-bus-services-as-changes-introduced To download copies of the new timetables, please visit https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/bus-routes-and-timetables/planned-bus-service-changes or contact public.transport@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
The Regional Transport Plan (RTP) is about to launch a public consultation commencing February 10th. A drop-in session will be held in Saundersfoot on 3rd March at the Saundersfoot Coal Building from 2pm to 8pm. Please do come out and speak to representatives.
By way of background: The new RTP is being developed by the Corporate Joint Committee for South West Wales and has involved considerable input from officers over recent months. The draft RTP sets out what needs to be done over the next five years to ensure the transport network across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire is reliable, connected, affordable, convenient and accessible. It includes a policy framework and a list of potential schemes for investment. The Plan is currently in draft, but once approved will replace the existing Joint Local Transport Plan. An 8 week public consultation will be launched on 10th February. This will be an opportunity for everyone to help shape the final Plan. The consultation will also be hosted online.
If you have questions or queries about this session or the RTP process please contact the project email address: regional.transport@swansea.gov.uk
Speed awareness indicators
The speed indicators are now in place around the village. These are currently set at 20mph as you drive into the village. The three locations are Ridgeway, as you come off the Fan Road, Stammers Road coming down from Sandy Hill Road and also on Rushy Lake, coming down from Broadfield Hill. These are positioned to warn drivers of their speed as you’re entering the village. Thank you to all the community councilors who have worked on this during the last few years and especially Councillor Cormack. I do know the residents at these locations have pushed for improvements over this time and hopefully they are seeing the benefits.
Tunnels
This is a topic that is on everyone’s mind. It was really disappointing to receive calls and emails in December and January regarding a few land slips on the coastal path between Coppet Hall and Wiseman’s Bridge. The first slip was a relatively small landslide between the second and third tunnel heading away from the village. I do know that the team at PCC dealt with this immediately and we are grateful for their support in reopening the path. Unfortunately there was another major landslip that has caused the path to close in January. This has been a significant landslip that has resulted in many discussions with officers and meetings on site to look at how this can be dealt with. Councillor Cormack and I attended a meeting to discuss updates from the officers and consultants dealing with surveying the recent rock falls. A detailed survey will be undertaken of the slope to determine the nature and depth of the ‘failed mass’. This will allow a solution to be worked up, which could include removal and regrading of the failed mass, plus the potential of a catch fence. The remedial work costs will be dependent on the designed remedial works, and at this stage there is no indication of the costs. The works carried out in 2024 dealt with the sections of cliff requiring repair at that time, mainly the section near Coppet Hall and the larger slip near Wisemans Bridge. This is a new slip in a different location. I am well aware of the importance of this path to the local communities. I am aware that there are some strong business and local tourism interests in this area as well. Saundersfoot, Coppet Hall, Wisemans Bridge and other local communities suffered last year when this path was shut for 8 months. The feedback from businesses is that the village had a quiet year last year and this has certainly added to their concerns and we as a community want a positive solution. This path in 2023 was used by nearly a million individuals and the three local communities would have benefitted greatly from this. This path is also fully accessible for those with Motability issues and is regularly used by every ability across our community. I fully appreciate there is a coastal path at the top of the cliffs and for some this is ideal to walk between the villages. Sadly for the majority this isn’t accessible and they are missing out.
Councillor Cormack and I, were reassured that PCC are looking into this as quickly as they can and are dealing with contractors, timescales, costs, with the foresight to open up this path when safe to do so. There is no timescale at present and we both hope to get updates over the next few weeks. PCC know the importance of this path and hopefully we will be able to give you some more positive news in the weeks ahead. Councillor Cormack and I would personally like to thank Darren Thomas and his team on this. It’s been refreshing to deal with officers with a positive approach.
Smelt/coal trucks
This is a brief update regarding the coal trucks at the Sensory Garden. The coal trucks have been ordered and the contractors are ready to commence work. This has already discussed by Saundersfoot Community Council back in October, hoping that works would be completed by spring 2025. Unfortunately the SCC weren’t able to push on as there were more important issues to deal with. I am glad to say the Community Council is now viable and hopefully keen to push this on for the village. This would certainly tidy up an unsightly area in the garden and would also show our historical history of coal mining in Saundersfoot.
News
In January there was flooding at the lower end of Westfield road with sections of the road totally submersed due to the heavy rainfall. Mr Harris reported that the outlet was blocked and water was back filling, causing the road to flood. We both removed large branches and debris that was causing the blockage and it quickly drained away, with the water receding into the culverts. I reported this and PCC have confirmed that it’s in their action log to clear with a small machine. There are still a few potholes that haven’t been dealt with, especially the two currently on the Ridgeway and the one in Ragged Staff. This is ongoing and I will continue to update you as soon as I have news. I am delighted to say that large areas of the road surface at Brooklands Place will now be resurfaced and any potholes further up the path will be dealt with over the next few weeks. I can also report that significant improvements are being made in Pennant Avenue with repairs to the pavements and hopefully the remaining drop curbs fitted for accessibility in the estate. The moss has been removed from the pavement on Stammers Road and is now totally accessible without the fear of slipping. I have also reported a small bank slip on to the pavement heading down from Pentlepoir towards the railway station and this has been added to the works programme. Residents have raised concerns regarding the stream that flows alongside Westfield Road and the issues it causes when we receive heavy consistent downpours. I have a meeting with Welsh Water in February to look at the concerns that these residents have raised. Residents in the village had reported large number of rats seen at a location in the village that housed wheelie bins. Unfortunately these bins are visible and are open to exploitation from people passing this site. When these bins are full, additional bags are apparently being dumped by passing individuals, who simply want to get rid of their waste. With so many bags in the bins with lids left open, rubbish left on the floor, it’s understandable that rats have thrived and now have to be dealt with. I contacted the environmental team immediately who came out and worked with the owner on site. This was dealt with swiftly, with the owner now going to construct a fence and improve the management of these bins to prevent potential fly tipping. Work has started on the new housing development at the top of Sandy Hill. Persimmon homes have now taken ownership. The developers are in the process of tidying up the site before making a formal site presence in weeks to come, where they will be setting up their compound etc. Permission has been granted by National Park Authority to also create the new opening into the estate. There will be a time window for this work to be completed due to birds nesting. If there are any residents who have any concerns, please contact me.
It is extremely disappointing to hear from residents on Stammers Road and Bevelin Hall that the woodland area known as The Plantation is being left untidy with rubbish and poo bags left on lower branches or left on the floor. I have received contact from National Park on this matter and I will try to work with residents and NP on this. Unfortunately, again, it’s a very small minority of dog owners who find are the culprits. Hopefully all dog owners will be responsible for making sure the area is left clean and tidy for the next residents who may walk through.
During January I received calls and emails regarding the new charging prices on Saundersfoot Harbour. If anyone has concerns please contact the Harbour directly as this has nothing to do with Pembrokeshire County Council. Saundersfoot harbour is private land. I attended a meeting on the 31st of January with residents of Incline Way, Saundersfoot, regarding the proposed active travel link through their estate. During February I will be meeting further residents and PCC officers. Hopefully I will be able to update everyone in the weeks ahead.
PCC has been contacted by the developer of the residential development on Sandyhill Road, Saundersfoot in regard to the new addresses. Persimmon homes have proposed the new street name of ‘Dol y Pabi’. The translation of this is Poppy Meadow. If any residents want to make any comments regarding the proposed name, please contact snn@pembrokeshire.gov.uk by 19th February 2025.
What’s On/Events
To local residents, there are beach cleans planned for the following dates. There will also be village litter picks to coincide. Back Beach to Monkstone Point Cleans for 2025 diary.
All litter picks will be starting/ meeting at Saundersfoot Sailing Club. Equipment will be provided, but please bring your own gloves.
- Sunday 2nd March – 11am
- Sunday 30th March – 11am
- Sunday 27th April – 10.30 am
- Tuesday 27th May – 10.30 am
- Sunday 24th August – 11 am
- Tuesday 9th September – 11am
- Wednesday 8th October – 11am
- Wednesday 5th November – 9am
- Sunday 7th December – 11am
Please follow @pembrokeshirebeachcleans for updates and details of other beach cleans in South Pembrokeshire.
Get ready to celebrate EVERYTHING Welsh this St David’s Day (March 1st). Join us for a fantastic day filled with Welsh culture, crafts, delicious treats, and beautiful music. We’ll have a celebration of all things Welsh, beautiful Welsh crafts to admire and buy, award-winning Cawl to warm you up, freshly made Welsh Cakes, cooked to order. A Fancy Dress Competition for all children (so get those costumes ready!). The ever-popular Dragon Trail around the village and two outstanding choirs, Cor-y-Mor and Pop Voices. This event is being organised by the Regency Hall with the help of the wonderful Saundersfoot in Bloom.
A date to put in your diary… March 1st! More details to follow soon from the Regency Hall.
2024 was a very busy year for Saundersfoot Rotary Club, and they delivered numerous events in and around the village with the help of the community, which enabled the Club to support good causes including; Tenderfoot Disabled Sports, Saundersfoot Playgroup and Day Care, Wisemans Bridge Junior Rowers, Tenby & Saundersfoot First Responders, Saundersfoot Youth Club as well as local schools.
2025 “kicked off” – literally, with the Rotary Club sponsoring Kilgetty AFC Women’s new playing kit and seeing them storm to an 18-0 win in their first game of the year. Once again Saundersfoot Rotary have a packed programme of events for all the family, with the next one being a Treasure Hunt on Tuesday 25th February, starting (with registration) at Saundersfoot Sailing Club at 1:00pm. Keep an eye out for news of other events during the year including their iconic Duck Races, Pig Roasts and Sandcastle Competitions.
Learn Welsh with us! *DATE TO BE CONFIRMED*. Join our friendly Welsh conversation sessions every Wednesday between 10am-11am. Perfect for beginners, we’ll cover basic Welsh phrases and help you build confidence in speaking the language.
Cost: £1 per person (includes tea and coffee) this will be held at the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot. Everyone is welcome, so please come along, enjoy a cuppa, and immerse yourself in the beautiful Welsh language. For more details please contact Emma at info@regencyhall.org.uk or 01834 811700
Show the RNLI some love on Valentine’s Day with lunch out – RNLI Saundersfoot Branch are holding a Soup Fundraiser at the Hean Inn public house for £10 pp. 12 – 2.30pm. If you can’t stay for lunch maybe you’d like to buy from our jigsaw and bookstall. All details on the branch Facebook page – RNLI Saundersfoot Branch.
The Hean Inn will also be hosting the very popular Saundersfoot Cawl Trail. This will be taking place on Saturday March 1st, 3-7pm, mugs can be collected from The Hean Castle Inn, Saundersfoot. Please look out for posters and the list of pubs/restaurants that are taking part.
The New Year’s fireworks this year were organised by the Hean Inn, Saundersfoot and I would like to take this opportunity in thanking Suzannah for organising this year’s spectacle. I fully appreciate the work that goes into organising an event especially when the weather isn’t looking particularly good. This was an excellent display and I have had lots of positive feedback from the local community. I do hope that Saundersfoot can look at trying to reform the Chamber in some sort of capacity. Since the millennium night, 25 years ago, a group was set up in the village called The Chamber for Tourism. This group worked throughout the year to bring new trade into the village and support the local residents, especially on events out of season. We had many fantastic events such as The New Year’s Eve fireworks, Christmas Market, Halloween Trail & children’s disco at the Regency Hall, the Cawl Trail, Big Bang Weekend and the lighting of the village with Christmas lights. While the Big Bang remains and is a massive success for the village, there are other events that are starting back and hopefully these will grow during the years ahead. There is a growing feeling amongst the community that something has to be done to coordinate all the events and a meeting has been arranged at The Regency Hall on Thursday 20th of March. This is open for anyone to attend from the community and will be inclusive for businesses, organisations and residents.
Over the years the Christmas lights around the village have been exceptional and that was everyone working together for the community. Unfortunately the 2024 lights weren’t up to previous standards. The Tenby lights this year were excellent and this shows what can be achieved with businesses all pulling in the same direction. With the possibility of a new group, with a clear plan of the year ahead and how the New Year’s Eve Fireworks can be costed and paid for,I do hope that an independent group can come forward with the emphasis on working collectively for the village.
The New Year’s Day Swim had its biggest swim to date with 2635 swimmers entering the water on January 1st. This year we had the added pressure of the weather forecast that wasn’t looking particularly good for the first day of 2025. As it transpired, the weather changed and the safety team held their nerve throughout which enabled the Swim to safely take place. This event wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support from its residents and businesses and the wider support it receives from the event partners. The weather changed and we ended up with a dry Swim especially for those watching. Businesses experienced a busy period leading up to the Swim and this continued until the children went back to school. This was an important boost especially as November and December were relatively quiet. For the last 12 years we had the Vehicle Mitigation in place at the entrance of the Strand, due to the thousands in the village on the day of the Swim. Thank you to Caldey Construction for supplying the large vehicle and the Dyfed Powys Police Officer who remained at this location during this time. The Strand remained closed from 10am and was opened back up at 13.45 when the police confirmed it was safe to reopen. I would like to thank all the residents on the Strand for their support with the road closure and if anybody has any concerns, that they can contact Councillor Cormack or myself with any issues relating to the road closure or the event in general. Lastly if anyone has any sponsor money, can you please drop it off at Salt on the Strand or let us know, as we are looking at organising a presentation evening in March, where local and national charities/organisations will benefit from the 2025 swim.
Saundersfoot Harbour is putting on another night of entertainment, where the Oasish tribute band will be performing on the events decking. They will be supported by tribute Manic Street Preachers – a throwback to Knebworth 1996 lineup. This will be on Friday, 2nd May. This promises to be another great night in Saundersfoot with tickets selling fast.
LCW
Following the 2024 Long Course Weekend (LCW), I received a significant number of negative comments regarding the event’s impact on Saundersfoot. In response, I invited residents and businesses to share their feedback, receiving 27 detailed representations. As a councillor, I have a duty to listen to and support the concerns of my community. After extensive discussions and attempts to work on improving issues over the last 2 years, I concluded that progress with PCC & Activity Wales Events (AWE) had been insufficient. As a last resort, I submitted a Notice of Motion (NOM) to Pembrokeshire County Council, expressing my opposition to full road closures through Saundersfoot for the 2025 event.
The NOM was debated at full council in December, and it was decided that it was best placed to be discussed at an extraordinary Overview & Scrutiny (O&S) meeting in January to give AWE an opportunity to present to members of the committee. It was then presented to the Cabinet committee. It is important to stress that neither residents nor businesses in Saundersfoot oppose LCW or major events. The concerns raised are specifically about the full road closure from Summerhill to New Hedges, which isolates Saundersfoot for approximately eight hours on the last Saturday in June, significantly impacting local businesses and accessibility.
In the weeks following the NOM, I attended meetings with PCC’s Public Realm Manager and representatives from AWE to explore solutions that would improve access and mitigate the negative effects. I am pleased to report that we have made significant progress, For the 2025 event: Thanks to St Brides Spa Hotel for providing the venue for these meetings, greatly appreciated.
Limited Road Closures: Full closures will now be restricted to Wogan Terrace, Cambrian Terrace, and St. Brides Hill, reducing the previous impact on Saundersfoot.
Restored Village Access: Residents of Amroth will have full access to enter and exit their village. At the Summerhill junction, they can travel along the coast road towards Saundersfoot or turn right towards Llanteg.
Wisemans Bridge residents will be able to follow the bike route out of the village, with access to Sardis Road or Saundersfoot through Coppet Hall.
Glen residents (near St. Brides Hotel) can travel towards New Hedges or turn onto Stammers Road.
Residents in Rushy Lake, Swallow Tree Woods, and Broadfield Hill will have full access and be able to enter the village via Stammers Road and Brewery Terrace, using a managed traffic flow system that allows cyclists and vehicles to coexist safely.
Additionally, I organised a well-attended meeting for residents and businesses that had raised their concerns, with the Public Realm Manager and AWE representatives. The discussion was constructive, with businesses strongly supporting Saundersfoot’s participation in LCW while calling for meaningful improvements. Key issues raised included:
Economic Impact: Many businesses reported a big decline in trade during LCW 2024. The perception that the village is closed led to reduced footfall, negatively affecting both businesses and the event atmosphere.
Improved Communication: AWE must provide clear and early communication to residents and businesses, including signage directing visitors to open village areas and car parks.
Volunteer & Map Support: Residents requested local volunteers with strong area knowledge to assist with access queries and provide better maps, highlighting available routes.
Barrier Management: The indiscriminate placement of barriers created the impression that the village was entirely shut off, discouraging visitors and isolating businesses. Removing unnecessary barriers should be a priority.
Event Timing: While recognising constraints due to water temperatures and tides, businesses emphasised that LCW takes place during peak tourism season. Unlike other Saundersfoot events—such as the Big Bang Weekend, Saundersfoot Triathlon, Ironman Wales, and the New Year’s Day Swim—which are held outside the peak season and largely benefit local charities and businesses. LCW’s current timing adds pressure to an already busy period.
Despite the challenges, I do believe that both PCC and AWE have taken these concerns seriously. The proposed changes to road access represent a significant improvement, and I would like to thank all residents and businesses that participated in discussions. With these measures in place, I hope to see a return to pre-full road closure visitor numbers, ensuring that LCW remains a successful event that benefits athletes, businesses, and the wider community. There will be additional meetings over the coming weeks and will keep you updated on developments.
Beach Clean
35 people turned up on Sunday 2nd Feb for Saundersfoot’s first Surfers Against Sewage beach clean of 2025 organised by Sam from the ECoast shop on the High Street. Although the plan was to clean Back Beach to Monkstone Point, a strong onshore wind coupled with a miscalculation of low tide meant that the focus switched to Main Beach and Coppet Hall, while a few hardy souls battled on to Swallowtree and Monkstone. Thanks to everyone who attended as they managed to recycle 3.5kg of plastic and had 26.3kg collected by the PCC Environment Team on the Monday. Thanks to Saundersfoot Harbour, Saundersfoot Sailing Club and the team at PCC for their help and support. The next organised Saundersfoot beach clean will be on 2nd March, meeting at 11am at the Sailing Club and everyone is welcome to attend. In the meantime, if you would like to carry out your own clean, there is Keep Wales Tidy equipment available to loan at the Ecoast shop.
The ‘Beach HeART Project‘ hearts are back! In time for Valentine’s Day, coloured hearts will appear in shop windows in the village for a Beach HeART Shop Window Trail lasting through half term. There are 14 hearts to be found… all made from plastic that has washed up on Saundersfoot beaches. The hearts have been made by visitors on the beach and by local groups such as Saundersfoot Youth Club, Saundersfoot Social and the Coffee Morning group at New Hedges Hall. Can you find them all? Pick up an entry form and fill in the shop names next to the colour of the hearts they have in their window. Hunt for hearts for fun and see what piece of plastic surprises you most or fill in your contact details and return forms to Ecoast to be entered into a prize draw. All details on The Beach Heart Project Facebook page.
Road Closures
Public right of way SP42/38 Coppet Hall to Wiseman’s Bridge – from Coppet Hall Point, northeast to its junction with the access road leading towards Hean Castle. This is from Thursday 6th of February 2025 for 21 days. Emergency closure to ensure the safety of the public, from eroding cliff face. The alternative route will be determined and signed accordingly as works progress. The restrictions imposed by this notice will not apply to those persons associated with the works, emergency service personnel where practicable and will only apply during such times and to such extent as indicated by traffic signs. This notice extends a previous notice dated 16th January 2025 by a further 21 days after which time its provision may be extended by an Order under the same act if necessary.
Tempoary road closure – St Brides Hill, Saundersfoot. Pembrokeshire County Council Highway Infrastructure Management want to implement resurfacing works on the carriageway. Location – St Brides Hill & Brewery Terrace (B4316) Saundersfoot – from the access to St Brides Hotel north to a point near the access to Regency Car Park. This will be on Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th of March 2025 for two days. Pedestrian and emergency access will be maintained where practical.
Kind Regards
Cllr Chris Williams
Saundersfoot South
07979 197936