Milford Haven | Archive | 2006 | March | 23
From the archive, first published Thursday 23rd Mar 2006.
AS EFFORTS are made to challenge the council decision to sell the old Blackbridge mine depot to Milford Haven Port Authority, the Mercury can reveal the sale was actually agreed in principle over 18 months ago.
The county council cabinet's decision to sell the site to the port authority provoked anger and astonishment from the local businessmen who had actually offered the most money when the deadline for bids expired.
In response to criticism that the council completely disregarded its own tender process to sell the site to the port authority, the council maintained they had to consider all offers right up until exchange of contracts.
Fresh information obtained by the Mercury, however, suggests the sale of the site to the port authority was not only agreed in principle long ago, plans were also hatched to make sure no `change of policy' within the council could interfere with that agreement.
The arrangement is recalled by port authority chief Ted Sangster in a letter to director of development Roger Barrett Evans. The letter was prompted by Mr Sangster's surprise and concern at seeing a `for sale' ad for the site.
Back in the summer of 2004, Mr Sangster reminds Mr Barrett-Evans, discussions took place resulting in agreement that it was council and port authority policy that the site should be reserved for developments which required access to the waterway.
Mr Sangster goes on: "We also agreed that whilst this might be currently accepted by both parties, there was perhaps some risk in it remaining in the ownership of the county council whilst appropriate developments were sought as there could be a change of policy within Pembrokeshire County Council, whereas this was much less likely if the ownership with whatever covenants were appropriate, was with the port authority. Thus, Andrew and I started discussions with yourselves so as to acquire the site."
Those discussions were overtaken by negotiations to sell the site to Porthcawl-based consultant Peter Scott, but the port authority was quite happy with that because they were talking to Mr Scott and what they wanted for the site fitted nicely with his plans.
In response to Mr Sangster, Mr Barrett-Evans explains that the council was effectively pushed into advertising the site for sale because details of the proposed sale to Mr Scott had leaked into the local press and prompted other offers.
"As a result, it was concluded that we would need to advertise the site so that other interest could be considered in order that the council can be seen to be fulfilling the requirements of Section 123 of the Local Government 1972 act" writes the director.
Local member, Cllr Martin Davies, said: "I find it surprising that the county council officers and the port authority sat down in 2004 and decided amongst themselves what exactly should be done with the mine depot. It appears as if they made a decision to sell it to the port authority and nothing else was going to sway them.
"It takes a lot of work to put a proper bid together. Why waste people's time and effort if they've no hope of winning the site, and what's the point in having a tender process if, six weeks after the end of it, they're sitting down with the port authority with the aim of obtaining another offer?
"Mr Sangster's letter makes it clear they were worried about a change of council policy. The people who decide policy are the councillors, so the attitude here seems to be `We know best, and we're going to carry on as we are."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008