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AM fears marina 'gated community'

3:01pm Tuesday 8th January 2008

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A Welsh Assembly Member has questioned if a £100m marina is the best way to regenerate Pembroke Dock.

South county AM Angela Burns said she feared the marina at Front Street could become a "gated community", having little connection with the town.

She told the Western Telegraph: "Absolutely anything that helps Pembroke Dock grow and become more vibrant, increase jobs and create a better quality of life for the town's residents has got to be a good thing. But I'm just not sure a marina is the best way to do it.

"My big reservation is the Western Way road. Could it create a situation with the wealthy people on one side and everyone else on the other side?

"Will it become like a gated community where people will stay there day after day? Will there be real benefits to the town?"

Mrs Burns said she had been strongly against the casino development from the start.

"I'm dead set against the casino, I'm worried that all you will get is day trippers from Ireland going into the hotel, spending all their money and going back on the ferry".

Is Mrs Burns right? Have your say in the comments box below.

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Walter, Pembrokeshire says...
6:13pm Tue 8 Jan 08

I agree with the problem of the casino, but not with the other problems she mentions.


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John Doe, Pennar says...
6:18pm Tue 8 Jan 08

Oh yes, most people in Pembroke Dock have a MASSIVE need for a MARINA, have been PRAYING for a CASINO for many years and will I'm sure appreciate the token working class provision of a CINEMA.

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Mike, says...
6:24pm Tue 8 Jan 08

Didn't they say the only reason for adding a casino would be to attract a larger hotel chain, so the chances of there actually being one aren’t that great anyway it’s just the lure? Roll on not having to travel to Swansea to watch a film in a decent cinema! But I also understand how it impacts those who live in the street that will be impacted, but something did need to be done to try and re-generate the town.

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John Doe, Pennar says...
6:41pm Tue 8 Jan 08

Yes, the cinema will be a very welcome addition. The marina and casino though....well I guess all of the unemployed croupiers in Pembroke Dock will be taken off the unemployed list!!!

Bigger news that all of this though is an extract from Old Grumpy's column this week which seems to indicate that Cllr Hall will not be seeking re-election......

The flash of lightening overhead at about 5.30 pm persuaded me to shut down my computer as a precaution, while the minor earthquake has had my phone ringing constantly.
This concerns a statement made by Cllr Brian Hall during today's planning committee debate on the proposed marina in Pembroke Dock.
According to my several moles, who all tell a slightly different story, Cllr Brian said that this "could/would/might be his last involvement in major improvements at Pembroke Dock".
All my moles took this to signal Cllr Hall's intention to stand down at the next election.
Whether this column; still reeling from the loss of Eddie Setterfield at the 1999 election could/would/might survive such a blow, only time will tell.


http://www.oldgrupmy
.co.uk

Nothing to do with the fact that he knows he got zero chance of being re-elected after his filthy dealings and carrying on recently.

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sIAN, Pembroke says...
7:41pm Tue 8 Jan 08

Can't quite see how its going to bring lots of wealthy people into Pembroke Dock town. A marina hasn't helped Neyland town centre and with all the investment in Milford Marina it doesn't seem to have made much difference to Milford town either.

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John Doe, Pennar says...
8:38pm Tue 8 Jan 08

Excellent point Sian, but Pembs County Council has a huge marketing budget and marketing is a wonderful tool.

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John Doe, Pennar says...
10:47pm Tue 8 Jan 08

WHAT A **** SHAME CLLR HALL COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THIS "SUCCESSFUL" IN KEEPING 24 HOUR COVER AT HAVERFORDWEST FIRE STATION. WONDER HOW PRETTY ALL WHITE MARINA YACHTS WILL LOOK COVERED IN SOOT SHOULD, GOD FORBID, TEXACO OR THE LNG PLANT SUFFER A MASSIVE DISASTER......

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Jenny, Pembroke Dock says...
11:00pm Tue 8 Jan 08

Certainly something is needed to regenerate Pembroke Dock. We need something like this, I think the statement made "wealthy people on one side and everyone else on the other side of Western Way" a ridiculous and negative one. We need to generate "life" back into the town which has become a very grey and dismal looking one. Why is everyone always so negative about new things instead of welcoming and embracing the idea and making things better for everyone to enjoy. I think that the Marina and all the extras will be splendid for Pembroke Dock and I can't wait for it to happen.

Mandurah Western Australia is somewhere to compare with what Pembroke Dock could be like.........with the correct planning and forethought. Mandurah is a clean, beautiful, lovely place to visit and live. It has brought great wealth to the community with plenty of jobs and opportunities available. Why can't the same happen for Pembroke Dock.

Perhaps also the other parts of Pembroke Dock can be made more presentable and the "weeds" removed from the cobble stoned areas including Commercial Row, and the broken pavements repaired. I remember stating at a pubic meeting in the Pater Hall ten years ago or more.....that enhancement to the town is fine but it would only be as good as the maintenance afterwards is.........there never seems to be enough money available for that........will things change once we have the Marina?

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John Doe, Pennar says...
1:45am Wed 9 Jan 08

The reason that the weeds and pavements can't be sorted out is because the council and the like of Brian Hall are only interested in their egos and public image associated with big projects that can raise their profile, NOT doing the little things that matter to each individual living in the town. A marina and casino......what need do the public of Pembroke Dock have for such amenities? Really......and what if such a development had been suggested for the Defensible Barracks, with a thoroughfare being planned through Presely View where Counciller Hall lives......selfish, conceited with no thought of the effect of these projects on people who have lived in the same houses their whole lives.

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billy bob, says...
8:37am Wed 9 Jan 08

john doe...get over it and move with the bloody times will you. if things didnt change we would still be throwing our crap out of our windows into the street. welocme the development for the positives it will bring to our town.

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Steve, Birmingham says...
10:11am Wed 9 Jan 08

It seems no news can be regarded as good news even if it is really good news.

Forget Hall, he did not do this on his own, god knows how he suddenly became the spokesman, maybe this goes to show how poorly the council manages its relationship with its electorate, but that is a different argument.

But the simple fact is that there is 100M of investment being proposed, that investment will bring further business and wealth into the area, the point of a casino is mute, it is mearly a proposal, if there is a demand it will happen and hopefully it will, because if it happens it means there is disposable income in the area which means there is wealth in the area.

Break the normal pembrokeshire habit and be happy that we have a clear focus and possible way to regenerate the town. Stop knocking it and get behind it then and only then can you influence the bits you do not like.

As for Angela Burns comments, this is obviously not somebody who lives or has lived in Pembroke Dock, she has her thoughts and she is allowed to air them, when voting time comes we will see if the electorate agree with her.

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charles wilson, pembroke dock says...
10:31pm Wed 9 Jan 08

yet another example of the council lining thier own pockets with backhanders. A casino, a cinema, a f**king marina (hmmmm i wonder how many locals have mooring at neyland marina with the prices charged there?). Then theres the apartments that no local will be able to afford. Scrap this now and put your resources into affordable housing for the local community. All those locals with moorings off Front Street at the moment, i bet they get thrown out cause they cant afford the fees. A DISGRACE no other word for it.Councillor hall the man who claimed travelling expenses while not on council business. How he aint in jail where he should be beggars belief, and as for standing down mark my word, he will never stand down he is a bully, out for what he can get and loves publicity too much. Then again that sums up most of the council.

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billy bob, says...
8:12am Thu 10 Jan 08

i fear all of you claiming the council have taken backhanders are entering into the world of slander and defamation. i hope you have evidence to back up your claims!

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Andrew Parsell, Pembroke Dock says...
10:14am Thu 10 Jan 08

A marina hasn't worked in Neyland, no jobs for locals, just more people coming in to work in building/creating the marina for something that 'may' work for a while and then be unemployed here with the rest of us creating an even bigger blackspot for unemployment.

Also, what will happen to the Cambridge Gun Tower on Front Street. If the tide is in around it all year, there are fears that the tide will seep through the stone and flood the place below sea level. The place is a museum and there is no other place in Pembroke Dock where one could be kept as all of the dockyard buildings are taken.

Don't even think of suggesting the Garrison Theatre/Chapel that was redone a few years ago. What a dead duck that is! No electricity, no water. What was the point of it? Anyone wanting to run any sort of business from there would have to renovate it again to put in afore mentioned electricity and water before anything else could be done to it to run a business from it. The marina like the garrison chapel will be another waste of money just to employ people for a couple of years with no real end product!

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macgirl, The Dock says...
10:22am Thu 10 Jan 08

I am all for regeneration here. The Marina will be a positive step in that direction, and a local employment boost is needed in Pembs generally. I can't see there being a gated community, depending on the prices of the new houses/apartments, it will be like any other tourist town where most of the houses will become holiday homes. With regards the cinema, I really hope that takes off, look how Tenby's Playhouse is struggling and will people from the other side of the bridge travel here when they have their own cinemas. But enough of the negatives.. a big thumbs up from me for people giving Pembroke Dock a spit and polish!

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2 college students, Pembroke Dock says...
10:55am Thu 10 Jan 08

We are doing a project for college, and we both think its a good and bad idea. For people our age we could benefit from it as it would give youngsters more choice to do something other than, sitting in the park drinking cider!!
but.....
front street is one of the only nice streets left! instead of concentrating on bringing a new development they should take a look around the dock and clean up the old places for example the old silcox garage! what a mess! i mean what sort of impression is that to tourists! and make use of the old baracks!and as for a casino people around here have enough problems never mind getting in gambling debt!
my family moved down here because it was more peaceful and pretty than were we come from. There will be a class divide and the less wealthy will suffer. our conclusion is that we do not agree with it as we will be in a worse condition! toodles x

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Duncan Griffiths, Pembroke Dock says...
11:25am Thu 10 Jan 08

Regeneration needed, Marina maybe, even Casino ok, My concerns lie with the proposed number of houses, nearly 500 apartments surrounding and blocking views to the marina, it's just an excuse to build a housing estate and potentially creating 1000 cars (2 per house) Looking at the plans less than one space per house have been allocated, also imagine the bottle neck down Criterion way on a Friday Evening with 1000 cars and the traffic from the proposed hotel, cinema and other facilites,
P. Dock traffic problems are only just starting to grow now at Tesco's etc.
Swansea Marina houses were swept up by investors only then struggling to resell as competing against the developers forcing them let out to everyone and anyone it's like gurnos upon sea.

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Cllr Sue Perkins, llanion ward, pembroke dock says...
2:21pm Thu 10 Jan 08



As someone who has lived in the town for many years and last year had the honour of being Mayor, I am appalled by Angela Burns' dismissive attitude to Pembroke Dock when she talks of the marina development.
Has she ever actually been here? We have beautiful Pembrokeshire cottages, a Victorian grid system layout which gives us lovely, wide streets, and some magnificent landmark buildings. We have the lowest unemployment rate we have had for decades, testament to the efforts and application of our young people and older people returning to work.
There are aspects of the development which concern me too, and I will continue to work with the developers,planners and my fellow councillors so that Pembroke Dock gets the very best we can out of the development. But we won't attract interest and business by talking down our town.

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Andrew Parsell, pembroke dock says...
2:53pm Thu 10 Jan 08

Councillor Sue Perkins, I hear you don't even know where our Memorial Park by the Blue School is, so the less you say about other people not knowing our area the better.

As to the marina, it will be an eyesore.

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Walter, Pembrokeshire says...
11:12pm Fri 11 Jan 08

Andrew Parsell, Shut up you bufoon You seem to have plenty of opinions, yet put nothing into your community, Instead of being a keyboard Warrior, get off your **** and get something done !.

As For Mrs Burns !!, Well if anyone knows what a gated community is, she would. Lady of the Stackpole Manor, Landed Gentry, Pro Hunt etc Real Old Fashioned TORY !!!.

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Neyland Boy, Neyland says...
3:25pm Sun 13 Jan 08

Oh yes, most people in Pembroke Dock have a MASSIVE need for a MARINA, have been PRAYING for a CASINO for many years and will I'm sure appreciate the token working class provision of a CINEMA.

Nice to see your thinking of yourselves again I'm from Neyland what have we got? F**K all. We got a card shop and a co-op, and thank god a couple of pubs.
We aint even got a bank or a sports centre or a decent shopping centre. I'm sure if the council put money into Neyland i can assure you half the youngsters would have something to do rather than smoking the weed.

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Andrew Parsell, Pembroke Dock says...
11:29am Mon 14 Jan 08

Walter/lowlife

If you have nothing to say it don't say it! Do something for the community yourself like volunteering for the Gun Tower! Though with all the mannequins already in there, they'd not notice one more like yourself, just difficulty telling everyone what you represent. No, I am talking about the actual mannequins in the gun tower not the hardworking volunteers. So now then Wally by name Wally by nature, get a life yourself and leave these comments to those who care about the community and do something for it!

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ChrisE, London says...
12:54pm Mon 14 Jan 08

I am a pembroke dock old boy and visit as much as I can. Having a marina makes sense only if it provides an amenity for the people who live in Pembroke Dock. Cinema would be good but I hate the idea of a casino and the potential for it to become a gated community. Shops , bars, places for locals to launch their boats and meet socially is whats needed not some exclusive development with a stuffy yacht club mentality. The river is there to use and enjoy and I would hate to see access points limited to local people. I really hope it works out for you all.

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keith, pembroke says...
4:20pm Mon 14 Jan 08

I was broadly in favour of the new marina/housing development. But since reading that Brian Hall supports it I have changed my mind. Is there any way we can stop it or at least make sure that all promises are carried out and that certain people have not and will not benifit from this?

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Walter, pembrokeshire says...
7:38pm Mon 14 Jan 08

Andrew Parsell wrote:
Walter/lowlife If you have nothing to say it don't say it! Do something for the community yourself like volunteering for the Gun Tower! Though with all the mannequins already in there, they'd not notice one more like yourself, just difficulty telling everyone what you represent. No, I am talking about the actual mannequins in the gun tower not the hardworking volunteers. So now then Wally by name Wally by nature, get a life yourself and leave these comments to those who care about the community and do something for it!
"If you have nothing to say it don't say it!" perhaps you should check over your posts before clicking the little clicky thing !!

As for serving my community, let me tell you little boy, i serve my community in ways you could only dream of !!! So you sit in the gun tower for a few hours a day, good on you. Tell Dai i said hello ?, This is the same Gun Tower you were moaning about being surrounded by Water if the marina developement takes place...Doh..

Walter, Lowlife, Wally by name Wally by nature ? which is it to be. Oh who ate all the pies ???

Now developement means money, Money means people, people means further developement, Further developement means more investment, which in turn goes full circle......

Or would you rather Pembroke Dock resembled the inside of the Gun Tower, 19th century, I think you need to get out, get a job in the sunlight, and look at Modern Britain.

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May 2008, Pembrokeshire says...
12:45pm Wed 16 Jan 08

Well at least the local elections this year should be interesting as there seems to be a few potential candidates in this thread who are unhappy with the way things are being run. I look forward to seeing their names on the ballot papers, and faces out in the public eye.

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Walter, Pembrokeshire says...
1:33pm Wed 16 Jan 08

The main person who seems to get a lot of stick is Hall, Yet i feel those who slam the man wont stand against him, and will actually vote for him in the end.

Its about time that candidates who stand should live in the area they represent. But and this is a big but, Brian Hall like it or not does try to do things for the Dock, You just have to put all the other Dross to the side. Politicians are the most currupt individuals as they go, And i mean that to all the Assembly and MP's, just look at their expenses for the year. Its just Hall suffered at the hands of Old Grumpy, and i hope he finds more individuals to highlight, such as the Leader of the Pembs County Council who earns more than the Prime Minister.

I want to know why my Rates for the Fire Service hasn't gone down since there now are 30 WT Firefighters less in Pembrokeshire ?.

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Jean, wigan says...
9:18pm Wed 16 Jan 08

Wonder what the occupants of Front St feel about this? We have had holidays in the area for many years and we have always loved parking up there and watching the boats go by etc. We dreamt of one day living there and having that view from our bedroom window. What will happen to their pricless views? Freshwater East was ruined down at Trewent with strangers and their big ideas that didn't work out as far as I can see. The place was never the same for us holiday makers anyway.

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walter, pembrokeshire says...
1:00am Thu 17 Jan 08

A view of the celic jetty, Storage 4, Criterian Way ?, Mud Flats, A view blocked by yachts opposite their front doors. Front Street is quite nice when the waters in, but bleak when its not.

A question which i have posed on this site has been well and truely ignored, where were the people to fight the developement at Essex road, then 30 houses lost their views to the cleddue river ?, could it be the fact it didn't involve them ?.
There isn't that much sympathy im afraid, the quote told was, A view isn't a right, its a luxury.

I think the article in this weeks Telegraph says it all really, Check out the editors column on the letters page.

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jan reed-harrison, pembroke Dock says...
3:43pm Fri 18 Jan 08

sympathy? who's asking for sympathy for goodness sake? our town needs regenerating, but is this regeneration? I don't think so. More like a large scale property development with a marina thrown in. plenty of water for a marina around here, but just how many locals will benefit from it - especially our children. at the moment, OUR town has got free access to a waterfront that could do with developing, but that will be lost. why not develop Front Street to attract visitors - like walling the water in and laying down a deep bed of sand (drainage gates could allow for frequent water changes). having a sandy beach hasn't done Tenby any harm has it? can you imagine the number of businesses that could spring up out of such a venture - ice cream parlour, burger bar, tea rooms, beach shops, watersports lessons etc etc.... Does anyone really believe the carrot of a 5 screen cinema - do we have that much faith in our councillors....?????
[[/

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Walter, Pembrokeshire says...
10:33pm Sun 20 Jan 08

Because someone would moan their **** off.

Why would anyone want to develope Front Street like you say ?, Fort Road would be better for what you suggest.

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keith, pembroke says...
1:42pm Wed 23 Jan 08

Does anyone seriously believe that will improve the life of those of us who live here? Will it put police on the streets (one would be nice)? Will it get rid of the gangs of racers and youths who patrol the streets after dark, knowing they will never be caught.
Will it improve the derelect and run down children's play areas? The Dock is a slum, a marina will do what to help? It's a housing development and unless we are carefull the developers will forget to add the other bits. Brian Hall says the benifits for the dock are enormous, I wonder what benefits he means and who stands to recieve them.

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Walter, Pembrokeshire says...
3:41pm Wed 23 Jan 08

But Keith, we've loads of New Shiney Plastic Coppers, surely thats good enough ??.

As a whole this country is on the brink, it wont be long before the population take matters into their own hands, and sort out this social problem. As for the Marina, Pembroke Dock Council NEED to be allowed to take an active role in this scheme. Hall now really is only a Town Councillor, in no supporter of the man, but if people of the Dock could work with him and the Town Council control him !, then we will get somewhere.

I dont like the fact that PCC have their hands in the pie one little bit, Thats why we as residents need to support the smaller shops in PD, and attend all meetings, and force funding into the area. AND not allow money to be filtered off into Haverfordwest !!!!

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Duncan, P.Dock says...
5:05pm Mon 28 Jan 08

How about swapping the cinema for an ice rink, cinema's are dying due to the rise of home entertainment, an ice rink is a healthier activity, it would have more of a draw from various age groups and other communities to see ice shows, hockey leagues, dancing etc..
Just a thought!
I'm still concerned at number of dwellings.. TOO MANY & TOO HIGH!

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