Haverfordwest Seats Two New Councillors

Two new faces will soon be attending Haverfordwest Town Council meetings after being elected unopposed.

The town council recently announced two vacancies on its Castle ward, two in the Priory Ward, and one each in the Garth and Portfield wards.

An uncontested seat in the Garth ward will see independent Chris Black of High Street joining the council, with independent Ed Lewis of Castle Bank being uncontested in the Castle Ward.

Priory Ward sees a three-way battle between Independents Tasha Jones and Johnny Palser, and Conservative Peter Lewis.

Portfield Ward sees a two-way challenge between Buzz McInnes and Roy Thomas.

Nomination papers for the seats closed on August 22, and the contested wards polls will take place on September 19.

In July, six-times mayor of Haverfordwest Alan Buckfield resigned after nearly 20 years on the town council.

Back in March, scenes of pandemonium, including three councillors resigning and Cllr Buckfield – as then-mayor – being called a disgrace to the town, broke out during the March town council election of the mayor for the forthcoming year.

Councillor Jill Owens, a decorated former police sergeant who was once forced to resign after falling for an armed robber, replaced Cllr Buckfield as mayor at that meeting.

Cllr Owens, had previously served as deputy mayor, a role traditionally seen as leading to becoming mayor the following year.

Despite there been no argument about Cllr Owens’ fitness for the role, the March meeting of the town council contained an agenda item considering applications for the 2023-24 mayor, with both Cllr Owens and Cllr Rhys Evans – who has since resigned from the council – listed.

After an at-times heated meeting Cllr Owens became mayor for the ’23-’24 year.