Pembroke councillor calls for action on Monkton safety concerns

A Pembroke town councillor has called on Pembrokeshire County Council to take action in the Monkton community concerning public safety and amenities, with one major concern surrounding the frequent discovery of discarded hypodermic needles in various locations.

Cllr Lee Herring who represents the ward of St Mary South, told the Observer: “The reason I have submitted these petitions is straight forward - I believe Monkton's residents deserve better, and I want Pembrokeshire Council to take a more proactive approach to some persistent problems affecting our community.

“They are not four unrelated complaints. Taken together, they raise a wider question about public safety, basic amenities and the standard of the environment residents are expected to live in.”

The four issues Cllr Herring would particularly like addressed are:

• Discarded hypodermic needles - “Needles have been found in various locations around Monkton, including near the existing play area, on roads and in alleyways,” he continued.

“My petition calls for proactive sweeps of known hotspots at least twice per week, alongside prompt responses to reports and coordinated work involving Pembrokeshire County Council, Dyfed-Powys Police and appropriate drug and mental health support services.

“Residents should not have to discover potentially life-changing needles themselves before any action is taken!”

• Children's safety must come first - “I am asking the Council to relocate the proposed upgraded play area from its current proposed location opposite Back Terrace to the land alongside the existing ball court between Tenby Court and Long Mains,” explained Cllr Herring.

“Concerns have been raised about the current site's isolation, discarded needles, drug and alcohol misuse, and whether parents and caregivers feel confident allowing their children to use it. The alternative location is more visible, more accessible and offers better opportunities for supervision. A play area is only an investment in our children if families feel safe using it.

• Monkton needs adequate litter bins - Cllr Herring said that the community currently has just one public bin on the main road, according to the case set out in my petition.

“Litter and broken glass remain concerns,” he continued. “I understand that bins can be misused for household waste, and Pembrokeshire County Council appear to hold double-standards with this matter, but removing facilities altogether is not a satisfactory long-term answer.

“We need properly positioned bins, recycling provision, and collections appropriate to demand, with misuse addressed directly.

• Dog-waste bins need to be reinstated - “The removal of these facilities, reportedly because of seagulls getting into the waste, has made responsible disposal more difficult,” explained Cllr Herring.

“If the previous dog-waste bins were unsuitable, surely the answer is to install better-designed, secure bins and maintain them properly, rather than leave residents without adequate facilities.”

Cllr Herring said that the common thread running through all four petitions is ‘accountability and prevention’.

“I want Pembrokeshire County Council to look at the problems residents are experiencing, consider practical solutions and take action before issues are allowed to persist or worsen.

“My concern is that Monkton residents should not have to accept these conditions as simply part of everyday life,” he added.