ASSEMBLY MINISTER Edwina Hart visited the Mount Estate in Milford Haven last week for a 'fact-finding mission' into problems facing the troubled housing complex.

Her visit came a week after Pembrokeshire County Council director of housing Jon Skone failed to turn up for an arranged tour of the estate, and eight days after Councillor Bill Roberts, cabinet member for housing, pulled out of a meeting with residents.

Mrs Hart - who is minister for social justice and regeneration - attended a meeting at the Mount's Community Resource Centre, accompanied by Assembly housing director John Baydor and local Assembly Member Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey.

"I used this meeting to have off-the-record discussions to help me do my job better," said Mrs Hart. "This was just a fact-finding day for me to find out what is going on in Pembrokeshire."

Mrs Hart highlighted the need for local authorities to 'listen to the people'. "The local Assembly Member needs to take this issue up with residents," she said. Mrs Dunwoody-Kneafsey plans to work with all parties involved with the Mount to 'bring the issue of the estate forward'.

"It's critical people feel safe in their home environment and I'm confident Pembrokeshire County Council will be completely active in the process," she said, adding that it was 'unfortunate' that the county council had failed to keep their appointments.

Mount development worker Colin Robbins felt the meeting was a positive step towards improving life for the Mount's residents.

"Edwina Hart is now fully aware of the situation on the estate and I think she will do everything she can to address the issues," he said.

Mr Robbins also praised Mrs Dunwoody-Kneafsey for her interest in the Mount. "She has a feeling for the people on the estate," he said. "And she's more accessible than people on the local authority."

A SPOKESMAN for Pembrokeshire County Council said Jon Skone missed the 'walkabout' of the Mount - an idea Mr Skone put forward himself - because a full council meeting over-ran.

"Thursday's full council meeting continued far longer than anticipated," he said. "When this became apparent, Councillor Barrie Woolmer left the meeting to telephone Colin Robbins and explain that neither he, nor director of social care and housing Jon Skone, would be able to attend the meeting."

Councillor Bill Roberts failed to make his appointment with Mount residents because he was 'preparing for his son's wedding' and had 'things to do'.

"I'm not saying I can't meet the residents, just that circumstances won't allow me at this precise moment in time," he said.

Pictured: Assembly Minister Edwina Hart at the Mount Estate with Preseli AM Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey. PICTURE: Western Telegraph.*