Delays to regeneration projects in two Pembrokeshire towns are being managed but have seen a “fairly significant slip” to both budget and timescales.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet was updated on the authority’s regeneration work at its meeting on Monday, October 4 with head of economic development and regeneration Rachel Moxley presenting members with progress on a number of ongoing projects.

However, in Pembroke the development at South Quay has been delayed by a “fairly significant roof collapse” said Clr. Paul Miller, cabinet member for economic development; and in Haverfordwest the discovery of additional asbestos and its removal had caused delays at Western Quayside.

Cabinet heard that work had progressed at the site with internal stell work now in place.

Clr. Miller added that it was “not a great time to be engaged in lots of building projects” with covid-19 delays, labour availability pressures and increasing construction costs all had an impact.

Decisions on bids for UK Government funding for a new access to Haverfordwest Castle and phase two of the South Quay development, developing a community hub, as well as a potential prototype fusion project are awaited, cabinet heard.

Work is also underway as part of the Welsh Government ‘transforming towns initiative’ as well as projects funded via the ‘enhancing Pembrokeshire grant while green infrastructure projects at Withybush Woods, castle burgage plots and the Cleddau Reaches Walk have also been completed.

Cabinet also heard about broadband developments, the Withybush food park, repair cafe and many other projects with the regeneration work cited as one way to overcome child poverty.

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Cabinet member for finance, Clr. Bob Kilmister, added: “We can’t do anything about poverty unless we tackle the fundamental problem – we haven’t got enough well paid jobs in the county.”