MILFORD Haven town councillors have expressed concern over the county council’s decision to centralise registration services in Haverfordwest.

Due to long-term staff illness, people wanting to register a birth or death in Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, Fishguard, Tenby and Narberth since last summer have had to travel to Haverfordwest to do so.

But following falling footfall, and a decline in the number of locally registered births – which comes as a result of special care baby services being moved to Carmarthen – the county council has decided to make this move permanent.

Speaking at a meeting on Monday, Cllr John Cole slammed the move, saying: “More and more services are being relocated in Haverfordwest without thinking of how it affects the rest of the county.”

Highlighting the inconvenience it would create for people – especially the elderly, unwell or those with mobility issues, Cllr Tony Eden described it as “a bad move”.

The council voted to contact the health board, to ‘make it aware’ of the wide-ranging implications of moving services out of the county.

The closures have also been criticised by local undertaker Shane Morgan, of Tom Newing and Sons, who said it would add to the pressure on grieving families.

He said the lack of public transport to the Cherry Grove site would also make things difficult, with many people now having to travel at least 45 minutes to access the registrar's office.