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Pembroke Dock: Arsonist jailed for setting fire to flat

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A PEMBROKE DOCK woman who set fire to her flat after becoming annoyed with her boyfriend for getting up too early has been jailed for three years.

Hayley James, aged 38, had admitted arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
Helen Randall, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court how by December 2 last year James, formerly of The Green, Pembroke, had been living at Commercial Row, Pembroke Dock, with her partner Christopher Wheeldon.
When he got up at 6am she threatened to start a fire unless he went back to bed.
About 30 minutes later he spotted smoke coming from under the bedroom door and went into the room to see that flames from a burning wardrobe were already touching the ceiling.
Mr Wheeldon took a dog to the home of a neighbour but by the time he had returned the fire was so fierce he thought he would not be able to get back in.
But he managed to crawl into the bedroom and rescue James, who suffered serious burns.
“The property was completely gutted,” said Miss Randall.
After her arrest James told police she could not remember anything about the fire.
Mr Wheeldon told officers: “She is my partner. I am not a victim. I want her to get better.”
Judge Geraint Walters said James had not been well mentally but according to a psychiatrist she did not need care for that, although she needed to address other issues including alcohol.
Judge Walters said that since being remanded into custody James appeared to be taking advantage of the help afforded to her.
“This is a very serious offence. That was an almighty fire,” he said.
Judge Walters told James she owed her life to Mr Wheeldon, who had risked his own life to save hers.
Judge Walters said he accepted that James had been badly injured because of a fire she had started herself, and the scars she would bear for the rest of her life would remind her of how close she came to dying.

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Major traffic jams following accident on M4 near Swansea

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A ROAD traffic accident has closed the M4 in both directions as of Tuesday morning (Mar 19).

Police, paramedics and the fire service were called to the scene of the crash on the eastbound carriageway between Pont Abraham and Hendy at 23:20 GMT on Monday.

A fire which had broken out was extinguished before they arrived.

The motorway remains closed in both directions between J48 and J49.

The affected section is between junction 49 Pont Abraham and junction 48 Hendy, Llanelli, in Carmarthenshire.

As of 8.30am there were 45-minute delays with Traffic Wales saying: “Road continues to remain closed.

https://x.com/DyfedPowys/status/1769963608048378117

“Busy in the area delays showing as approximately 45 minutes in the surrounding areas. Please allow additional time for travel and thank you for your patience.”

Traffic monitors are showing there is already slow traffic in the area and congestion.

There are delays on surrounding routes in the area and on the A48.

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Dredging work set for Tenby Harbour

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TENBY HARBOUR and North Beach users are being asked to be aware of heavy moving machinery from Tuesday March 26 th to Friday 29 th as dredging work is carried out.

Sand will removed from the mouth of the Harbour and deposited at the north end of the beach. The work will not affect vessel movements at the Harbour.

Tenby Harbourmaster Chris Salisbury said a licence for the dredging had been issued after several months of application work.

“We ask that the public please keep clear of the operating area and that dogs are kept on a lead during this time,” Chris added.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “I’m grateful to our officers for securing the licence for this work to go ahead. This dredging is essential
for the operation of Tenby Harbour.

“The timing of the work has been governed by the tide and the dates represented the last opportunity for the work to be carried out before the boats are placed back in the
water.”

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Closure of Tata Steel’s coke ovens sparks political and union backlash

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THE recent announcement by Tata Steel to close the coke ovens at its Port Talbot plant in South Wales has ignited a firestorm of political and industrial action, highlighting the deepening crisis within the British steel industry and the challenges facing the transition to green steel.

Jo Stevens MP, the Shadow Welsh Secretary, expressed her concerns over the impact of the closure on the Welsh steel industry and the workers affected. Stevens emphasized the need for assurances about the workers’ immediate future and pledged that a UK Labour government would invest in the steel industry to support the transition to green steel, harnessing the skills, talent, and ambition of Welsh steelworkers.

The closure, slated for Wednesday due to concerns over the ovens’ “operational stability,” has been criticized by regional Senedd Members for South Wales West, Tom Giffard MS, and Dr. Altaf Hussain MS. They accused the Labour Welsh Government of neglecting its support for the Tata Steelworks in Port Talbot, highlighting a lack of financial assistance since 2019 and calling for a change in response to the current developments.

Unite, the UK’s leading union, has been vocal in its opposition to Tata’s decision, describing it as a shock and a “result of years of betrayal.” The union criticized Tata for not disclosing the imminent risk of closure during recent consultations and announced a ballot for industrial action among 1,500 Tata workers. Unite insists there should be no job losses at Port Talbot or Llanwern and that a blast furnace should remain operational.

Peter Hughes, Unite’s regional secretary for Wales, called for Tata to halt its closure plans in anticipation of Labour’s promised £3 billion investment to rejuvenate the UK steel industry. He accused Tata of managing the decline of UK steel while accepting government subsidies, describing the company’s actions as “deliberate industrial vandalism.”

The closure has not only raised concerns about the future of steel production in the UK but also spotlighted the political and economic strategies required to ensure the industry’s survival and transition towards more sustainable practices. The unfolding situation underscores the need for a collaborative approach between the government, industry stakeholders, and the workforce to navigate the complex challenges ahead.

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