Pembroke town councillor Lee Herring recently submitted four petitions through the county council’s online system.
Petitions with 100 to 499 signatures trigger a debate by an overview and scrutiny committee, while those with more than 500 go to full council.
Cllr Herring’s four petitions include calling on the county council to “tackle the persistent problem of discarded hypodermic needles in Monkton,” calling for waste and dog waste bins to be reinstated in the community, and for the relocation of a proposed play area from its current site to a more suitable one.
Cllr Herring said: “For too long it appears that Monkton residents have been swept aside into silence, and I seek to change that by amplifying their voices.”
“The reason I have submitted these petitions is straightforward: I believe Monkton’s residents deserve better, and I want Pembrokeshire County Council to take a more proactive approach to some persistent problems affecting our community,”
“These are not four unrelated complaints. Taken together, they raise wider questions about public safety, basic amenities and the environment residents are expected to live in.”
He added: “Children’s safety must come first. I am asking the council to move the upgraded play area from its proposed site opposite Back Terrace to land beside the existing ball court between Tenby Court and Long Mains.
“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.”
On discarded needles, he said: “Discarded hypodermic needles cannot be treated as an occasional problem. Needles have been found in various locations around Monkton, including near the existing play area, on roads and in alleyways.
“My petition calls for proactive sweeps of known hotspots at least twice a week, prompt responses to reports and co-ordinated 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.”
On the bins, he said the community had just one public bin on the main road, while the removal of dog-waste bins had made responsible disposal more difficult, reportedly because seagulls got into the waste.
He added: “The common thread running through all four petitions is accountability and prevention. I want Pembrokeshire County Council to examine residents’ problems, consider practical solutions and act before they persist or worsen.
“I am not asking for unlimited spending or unrealistic promises. I am asking for sensible, proportionate measures that make Monkton safer, cleaner and a better place to live.”
He finished: “My concern is that Monkton residents should not have to accept these conditions as part of everyday life. Families should be able to use public play facilities with confidence, people should not have to worry about discarded needles, and residents should have reasonable facilities for disposing of street litter and dog waste.”
Cllr Aaron Carey, joint county councillor for Monkton & St Mary South and a cabinet member, said the council should respond proportionately to the scale of the problem, while recognising the potential risks to children.
He said the council needed to address reported incidents, identify recurring hotspots and work with relevant services to tackle the underlying issues.
On the proposed play area relocation, Cllr Carey said investigations had identified utility infrastructure beneath the alternative site, but he remained open to exploring other safe and accessible locations.
He said bin removal had followed misuse by people disposing of household waste, and suggested better provision and regular emptying could remove the need for separate dog waste bins.
