Councillor calls for action on neglected Pembroke Dock properties

COUNCILLOR Jamie Street, county councillor for Pembroke Dock’s Market ward has raised the condition of these two prominent properties in the town centre with Pembrokeshire County Council.

He has asked officers to consider what enforcement powers are available, including whether Section 215 action would be appropriate.

A Section 215 Notice forces owners to fix, clear, or improve neglected properties and land.

“These buildings have clearly been allowed to deteriorate,” he said. “We have broken and open windows, vegetation growing from parts of the buildings, deteriorating frontages and buildings which quite simply give the appearance of having been abandoned.

“Not to mention both properties have been broken into and used as cannabis farms in recent years.

“For me, this is also an affront to the many hard-working local businesses surrounding them.

“Lack of attention and maintenance raises further concerns as to whether these properties are safe, the condition of their roofs and other structural elements not to mention electrical and fire risks.”

The councillor continued: “I don't expect every vacant property to immediately find a tenant but these properties have obviously been in managed decline for many years and we need owners of prominent town centre properties to take responsibility for them.

“Pembroke Dock deserves better. We should be backing the businesses who invest in our town whilst using the powers available to us where others allow buildings to simply deteriorate around us.”

This announcement receives a thumbs-up from town councillor Claire Francis-Boswell, who is in the process of engaging with townspeople about the improvements they’d like to see.

One local resident opined: “If a landlord has empty properties, there should be a legal requirement for them to keep the exterior of the building in an acceptable condition and not be able to claim grants - ultimately paid for by the tax payer - for exterior upgrades.”