A LONG-STANDING Haverfordwest councillor has called on Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) to create a new market in the town centre.

Cllr Peter Stock, who has been in public office for 41 years and is chairman of PCC’s planning and rights of way committee, wants the former Ocky White building to be converted and spearhead a rejuvenation programme in the town.

“The idea would be to purchase the building,” he said.

“You could have a butcher, a baker, a greengrocer and delicatessen. Haverfordwest has got the population to sustain it.

“I know we already have a farmer’s market, but people like to walk around a market other days but Friday.”

Cllr Stock, who won’t be standing for re-election this May, has been brainstorming ideas to give the town centre a boost. He believes this market could be what is needed.

“Whatever is going to happen with the town centre, it has to be a concerted effort,” he said.

“Not one person can do it or one organisation.

"It’s got to be the town’s people supporting it, local traders prepared to move ahead on it and the county council backing it 100 per cent to get things moving.”

Work is now underway on an ambitious scheme to transform the former Riverside indoor market – which closed last year – into a new county library and gallery.

PCC hopes this flagship project will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the county town.

Cllr Stock believes the previous indoor market was not suitable for Haverfordwest.

“That market was not quite right,” he said. “It didn’t look right.”

He envisages the river playing a key role in the regeneration and hopes the proposed market and new library will give the town the boost in needs.

“If you’ve got something that’s working successfully, people will want to go next door to that,” he said.

“Then you’ll see things starting to move again.”