A SIGNIFICANT injection of public cash – more than £1m - is likely to be used to help bring a cinema and leisure development to Haverfordwest town centre, the Western Telegraph has learned.

A source told the Western Telegraph that a ‘seven figure’ amount had been agreed between Pembrokeshire County Council and Fairacre, the developers planning a cinema and leisure development for the town centre.

The council said while no such formal offer had been made, meetings had taken place, money was potentially available and that councils in other parts of the country had put in money to help bring similar schemes forward.

The Fairacre plan is for a five-screen cinema and restaurants alongside the river in Haverfordwest town centre, based upon what is currently the Wilko store site.

Development company Conygar is planning a separate, out of town multiplex cinema, hotel and retail complex at Thomas Parry Way.

Conygar has already said it will require no public funds to bring its project to fruition.

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “The council can confirm that it has been involved in preliminary discussions with Fairacre and that the authority is awaiting a planning application relating to a multiplex cinema development.

“Regenerating town centres is a corporate priority for the council and work to deliver the recently adopted Haverfordwest town centre masterplan is progressing.

“The masterplan is being part-funded by a re-aligned council capital programme that will support projects which encourage a distinctive, sustainable and vibrant town centre.”

Council leader Jamie Adams said a town centre scheme was attractive because of the benefits it would bring to other businesses in the area: “There has to be recognition of the positive impact that a multiplex cinema has had on towns like Carmarthen.

“And I recognise that there has been an appetite from many Pembrokeshire residents for a similar facility over a long period of time.

“We now have a situation where we have two competing schemes, one of which has an application that’s currently being considered and we are expecting another application before too long.

“One of the applications – the developer says it can deliver without external funding.

“We also have to address concerns over the future and economic health of the town and, regards that, a successful multiplex cinema can contribute to the well being of the town.”

Final details of the first project – the conversion of the former Riverside market in to a 21st Century library, tourist information centre and national gallery – are due to be announced before Christmas.