A meeting called to discuss the impacts of Brexit in Pembrokeshire has been deemed a success by organisers.

Over 40 people attended Pembrokeshire for Europe’s successful open meeting at the Bloomfield Centre, Narberth last Thursday to discuss the impact of Britain leaving the European Union.

Three distinguished speakers gave their views on the situation. Edward Perkins spoke about agriculture, Jeremy Percy spoke about fishing and Gwyn Evans spoke about Pembrokeshire County Council’s Brexit preparations.

Questions were raised from what the farming industry could look like to what PCC have done in terms of their planning.

There were also questions relating to Operation Yellowhammer, the UK government’s official documentation relating to Britain’s preparations for No-Deal.

Pembrokeshire for Europe’s Alistair Cameron, said: “From a Pembrokeshire for Europe view it was a success.

“I think people will have learnt a lot. The problem is this has raised a lot more questions that we don’t have answers to and this is the problem.

“Lots of questions came up here and there aren’t any answers to them.

“I think people are rightfully concerned, the fact is we are going to this cliff edge now.

“It seems to me that central government has been totally negligent in the lack of preparedness. It’s not prepared at all, which is an absolute disgrace.

“The Prime Minister says do or die which is totally irresponsible of him. He is responsible for the welfare of the people in this country and the safety of everything.

“He seems to be totally ignoring it.”

After the meeting, Mr. Cameron sat down with Tenby Observer’s Jack Simpson for an interview.

In the interview he rejected PCC’s Brexit planning officer Gwyn Evans’s claims that tourism would be one of the more ‘resilient’ sectors, if Britain left the EU without a deal.

“There could be problems with a lack of labour in tourism. Hotels in Tenby rely on European labour,” stressed Mr. Cameron

“We’ve also had lots of money that’s gone into tourism. If you think of Saundersfoot Harbour, to give you an example.

“A lot of our beaches and seas have been cleaned up by European regulations that force us to clean our seas in Pembrokeshire. I worry and I want to be assured that we can have the same standards if we leave.”

Farming also plays a huge role in South Pembrokeshire, with meat and livestock being exported to places like Ireland from ports such a Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock.

On the issue, Mr. Cameron said: “ If we leave the EU, particularly without a deal, our farmers could be subject to tariffs which could be as high as 40 per cent for lamb.

“At the same time, we could be flooded with cheap food supplies from outside the EU which would drive many farmers out of business.

“It will destroy their livelihoods, there is no doubt about it.”

He also laid out his concerns for care homes and the elderly.

“I think with the rising prices due to us falling out of the EU and the difficulties in recruiting labour, rising costs we are going to experience.

“These are the most vulnerable people who are relying on care homes and certainly I can see in the New Year care homes going out of business.”

‘We are doing all we can,’ says Brexit planning officer

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Brexit planning officer says his team are doing “all they can” to prepare themselves for Brexit.

At a Pembrokeshire for Europe meeting held last Thursday, Mr. Gwyn Evans reassured the audience that preparations were well underway for a No Deal Brexit.

During his presentation, Mr. Evans said that a No Deal Brexit was not a “stable situation for a state” and the economy would collapse if a free trade deal wasn’t agreed.

He also mentioned that the council prosecutes people under EU law, meaning that there could huge legal issues if Britain leaves without an agreement.

There was more bad news to come as Mr. Evans said there could be an increase in shoplifting and petty crime due to food shortages.

Furthermore, PCC’s Brexit planning officer added that children who have parents from the EU could be ‘bullied’ in school

A possible increase in trafficking of drugs because of Brexit was also mentioned by Mr. Evans.

Additionally, there could be problems with PCC exporting waste, if a No Deal Brexit happens.

After the meeting, Mr. Evans spoke to Tenby Observer reporter Jack Simpson where he discussed a range of Brexit-related topics.

On the impact on tourism in Tenby, he mentioned that tourism would be one of the more ‘resilient sectors’ and dismissed suggestions that there could be a sharp fall in visitors if a No Deal Brexit occurs.

“I think tourism will be one of our more resilient industries, if I’m honest,” said Mr. Evans. “We foresee the pound weakening which will make the UK a more attractive destination in a financial sense for overseas visitors.

“We’ve seen the stats for the summer season which showed an increase in staycations. The exchange rate will continue to make the UK an attractive destination.

“Tenby is a charming place anyway, and I’m sure that will continue post Brexit. I’m not too alarmed at the moment by the impact on tourism; I do think there are more sectors that are more vulnerable.”

Mr. Evans said the council was concerned about what could happen at ports such as Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven where goods and passengers cross the Irish Sea to the Republic of Ireland. He added that there had been discussions with the ferry companies and with the port authority.

“There is a concern that Irish hauliers may cut out the UK as a land bridge to the continent. We’re already seeing a ferry service set up between Cork and Santander to do just that.

“We believe that there is increase investment in Northern France to speed up lorries along that route.

“So there is a concern that ferry traffic may diminish to the Welsh port, but there is so much that’s uncertain, we’ll just have to see how that pans out.”

Under the leaked Operation Yellowhammer, the government document outlining Britain’s preparation for No Deal, it mentioned that the oil refinery in Pembroke could be shut, if Britain leaves without an agreement.

On this issue, Mr. Evans said the council had no ‘resolution’ at this present time and could not give reassurances that people would still be in work.

“Our leader (Clr. David Simpson) has been in touch with the Treasury. We understand that the Treasury is considering the position and the impact on the UK refinery capability. Although they’ve expressed a desire to protect UK consumers from price rises, they intend not to charge tariffs on imports.

“I’m sure that there will be further discussions, but we don’t have a resolution or answers at the present time.

“I’m not in possession of any facts that would allow me to make such an assertion (people keeping their jobs). Other people may have those facts and may be able to give that sort of guarantee.”

Mr. Evans then added that there would be price increases as high as 10per cent, which could see families close to the poverty line being put under more strain.

But he said the council was planning to support anti-poverty schemes.

“We do expect to see price increases as a result of tariffs, as a result of a weakened pound and as a result of shortages.

“So we do anticipate that families who are close to poverty line may find themselves in further difficulty. We are planning to see what we can do to support anti-poverty initiatives in the county.”