THE extension of the boundaries of the Haven Enterprise Zone (EZ) has been welcome by local councillors.

At a meeting of the economy overview and scrutiny meeting on Thursday (March 19) members were given an update on activity in the EZ, which has now been extended to include Pembroke Dock’s Martello Quay and Stockwell Road industrial area, Trecwn valley, Goodwick port, Hubberston industrial estate and land belonging to the former Murco site, and Neyland’s Brunel Quay.

Businesses inside the EZ can apply for rate relief – and members were told how Pembrokeshire currently has the second highest take-up of these grants.

Another advantage is they will also be eligible for ‘ultra fast connectivity vouchers’ worth up to £10,000 to help them access faster broadband.

Members heard how the Murco ‘task force’, established when the closure of the refinery was announced, had helped former employees find new work, and supported ‘supply chain’ companies.

They also heard about two Welsh Government grant schemes designed to help companies invest and create jobs to offset the losses at Murco, with more than 40 applications currently being evaluated.

Other projects in the pipeline inside the EZ are the pending sale of the Blackbridge site in Milford Haven, proposals for a food park at Withybush, and plans by the Port of Milford Haven to develop the Royal Dockyard at Pembroke Port as a ‘centre for marine energy development’.

Cllr Gwilym Price said the extension of the EZ was great news for the county, but expressed disappointment over where the boundaries had been drawn.

He said the Fishguard Bay Hotel was ‘outside the line by mere metres’ but the owners had been told by the Welsh Government they were not eligible for any of the EZ benefits.

As one of largest employers in north Pembrokeshire, he said, the hotel was vital to the area, but was unable to expand without assistance.