THE owner of a business at the heart of Milford Haven’s proposed ‘masterplan’ development has spoken out against plans to demolish one of the town’s oldest buildings.

The Port of Milford Haven wants to knock down the Grade II-listed Old Docks Office to make way for a new entrance into its proposed multi-million pound project.

But Billa Schleicher, who owns All Pets Vet Care, which is housed in the building, says she is disappointed with the Port’s attitude towards Milford Haven’s fishing heritage.

Established in 2009, Billa and her team have transformed the previously abandoned building into a state-of-the-art practice that has been recognised as one of the best-designed in the UK.

But, if the Port’s plans go ahead, the practice will have to move.

Billa says she was only made aware of the plans when she met with the Port to discuss extending her business into a neighbouring building.

“I feel we only found out by accident,” she said.

And Billa says she is unsatisfied with the Port’s offers to re-house them elsewhere.

“Yes we want to grow, but our plan was to grow in this building. We don’t want to move to a shiny new building, we’re happy here,” she said.

“When you come to five years in a business you think the worst is over, you’ve done the hard work and now you can concentrate on doing your job, but now I’ve had to back to the start.

“The whole process has been exhausting. We’ve wasted hours trying to come up with new ideas, meeting with architects and the like. I could have spent this time in different ways.”

As well as the impact on her business, Billa feels the Port is neglecting its heritage duties.

“If you have a listed building you should be a guardian of it, you should look after it,” she said.

“It’s not so much me I’m concerned about; it’s what they’re doing to Milford Haven and its people.”

She believes the Port has also failed to make local people aware that its plans to re-build the building elsewhere may only involve re-building part of it.

“Just be honest. If you are really only going to re-build a third of the building, just say so,” she said.

The practice’s lease runs until 2029, but Billa says her loss of confidence in the Port has prompted her to look at moving her business away from the marina in 2019, when there is a break clause in her tenancy.

“I don’t want them any more as landlords. I just don’t trust them, or what they’ll come up with next,” she said.

Jeff Teague, Estates Director at the Port of Milford Haven, said many options had been explored, but re-locating the building was the only viable option.

"We have been working, with the assistance of heritage experts, on how best to treat the rebuilding of the Old Docks Office in a way that sensitively maintains its character and place in the Docks. These relocation proposals have been accepted by CADW.

"We have also had positive discussions since November 2013 with the owners of All Pets Vet Care who have expressed an interest in the offer of an alternative, purpose built and modern building.
"This includes the preparation of architectural plans to meet the future business needs of All Pets Vet Care.

"As far as we are aware, they are still interested in pursuing this option, which would provide an excellent amenity for any business wanting to be located in a prominent part of the redevelopment.”

Pembrokeshire County Council conservation assistant Matt Pyart, who is dealing with the application, said permission to demolish the building would only be granted if he was happy with the Port’s plans to re-build it further down the marina.

Despite the closing date of December 17 having already passed, Mr Pyart said he is also still happy to receive comments from the public on the proposal.

Members of the county council’s planning committee are due to undertake a site visit to the area next week.