The precept paid by the people of Haverfordwest pays for a variety of services provided by the Town Council and some of these is to:

* Maintain possession of land and property, which is in the sole ownership of the community of Haverfordwest.

The townspeople can be proud that they contribute to the fact that the following remain in Haverfordwest's ownership and are not lost to Pembrokeshire stock. With the help of others, these are maintained and administered to a high standard:

1) The Racecourse - 87 acres of common land, which accommodates five football, pitches, three cricket grounds and many acres of open space to be enjoyed by people and wildlife.

2) The Bridge Meadow -13.2 acres of land near the centre of town which houses a recently developed children's park (costing in excess of £200,000) and one of the best football complexes in Wales.

3) The Picton Centre -a spacious Community Centre that offers facilities to people of all ages and persuasions at prices that are not prohibitive.

4) Sports Pavilion -situated on the edge of the Racecourse. Cricketers and footballers of all ages, both male and female, use these facilities extensively. 5) St. Martin's and Prendergast Burial Grounds. These are maintained to a very high standard by the Council, thus ensuring that our community can be responsible for its dead.

* Promotion of the town as a place to be enjoyed by the inhabitants and visitors alike.

Haverfordwest is the County Town. The holiday industry accounts for a large portion of the county's prosperity and as such, the Council is sensitive to the need to project an image to visitors that will encourage them to enjoy themselves and want to return.

1) Maintaining a high standard of grass cutting in and at the approaches of the town with a view to forming in the minds of our visitors a picture of a proud town that keeps itself highly presentable.

2) Decorating the main streets in the summer.

3) Providing Christmas illuminations to lift the spirit of the local townspeople and visitors. This is done at an annual cost in excess of £10,000.

4) Playing a major role in the development of a successful Town Museum. To this end in excess of £40,000 has been granted and the Town Council meets the annual running costs of the Castle House.

5) Helping to maintain the presence of a first class swimming pool in the town. £20,000 has been granted in recent years.

6) Helping to provide play areas for the very young children. Over £25,000 has been granted towards play equipment that is dotted around the town.

7) An annual contribution to the Haverfordwest Town Centre Partnership of £5,000.

*Assistance given to the organisations of the town.

The Town Council has been able to make substantial contributions towards the development of projects undertaken by: -

1) The churches of St. Mary, St Thomas, St. David and St. Martin.

2) Bethesda, Tabernacle and Ebenezer.

3) The Football Club, the Cricket Club, the Rugby Club, the Bowling Club, Tennis Club and the Golf Club.

4) Numerous charities that add to the well being of our town have benefited from assistance. They are Kidney Research, Cancer Research, Heart Appeal Wales, Friends of the Community, Paul Sartori Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis.

* Promotion of the cultural life of the town.

Annual grants are made to the Haverfordwest Ladies Choir, the Glancleddau Dancers and the Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir. When special projects are undertaken by these excellent organisations they are often encouraged by further financial assistance.

Our schools are given assistance in forging links with the schools of our twin town Oberkirch

* Promotion of the youth of the town.

Many of the ways in which the town uses its taxes to further the development of our young children have already been highlighted in this document, either directly or indirectly.

Those of our high flyers who represent the town at national and international level are given assistance.

Some who are handicapped have been given help with much needed holidays.

Perhaps one of the ventures that our tax payers can be most proud of is the opportunity that has been given to at least a dozen of our youngsters to take part in the once in a lifetime character building experience of travelling the high seas on training ships such as the Malcolm Miller and the Winston Churchill.

THE TOWN COUNCIL ACTS AS AN IMPORTANT FOCUS GROUP

Perhaps the most important role of a Town Council is to act as a focus group through which the concerns and ambitions of individuals and the community can be expressed.

Such organisations as Pembrokeshire County Council, the Health Authority, Dyfed-Powys Police and Welsh Water could become complacent or be persuaded to concentrate their energies in other directions if there is the total absence of a focus group. There can be small concerns or large ones such as crime, depreciation of trade, planning matters and road safety.

It is right that communities make sure that their concerns are made known to the authorities that make the decisions. However, it is important that the community is positive in its approach. It must not only indicate the problem, it should try to present a solution and some times make a positive contribution towards that solution.

Such an approach is adopted by the Town Council of Haverfordwest. Two good examples are the £4,000 given towards CCTV in attempt to make our town centre a safer place, and the £5,000 being given towards the Haverfordwest Town Centre Partnership with the view of helping to make Haverfordwest a better place to live, visit and conduct business.

SPORTS PAVILION, LOWER RACECOURSE, HAVERFORDWEST

The Sports Pavilion situated on the lower racecourse, near Glenover Park, Haverfordwest is shortly to be refurbished by the Town Council with a grant from the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme and will boast the following facilities:

Quiet, rural location on edge of Public Park
Safe, fenced garden area
Reception Area and kitchen
Home and away changing facilities with showers and toilets
Disabled access via ramp
Disabled toilet

This facility will not only be suitable for use by sporting clubs and organisations but also for small meetings, playgroups, children's parties, barbeques etc. at reasonable charges.

For further information and booking please contact Haverfordwest Town Council on 01437 763771 or e-mail jane.clark@haverfordwest-town-council.co.uk