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Haverfordwest: Milford Road bridge replacement on track for scheduled completion

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THE ENGINEERING works for the essential replacement of Milford Road railway bridge is well underway this weekend.

Between Friday 15 and Monday 18 February, Network Rail engineers are demolishing the existing railway bridge deck – which carries the South Wales Main Line – and install a new, more resilient structure as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan to improve the reliability of the railway.

For Network Rail teams to safely deliver the work, the A4076 at Milford Road railway bridge on Dredgeman Hill will be closed to all traffic, with the exception of residents within the road closure and emergency services, from 7pm on Friday 15 until 6am on Monday 18 February. A signposted road diversion route will be in place and a shuttle bus service will be in operation for pedestrians and cyclists needing to to get from one side of the bridge to the other.

Buses will replace trains between Whitland and Milford Haven on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 February, and timetables will be amended so rail passengers are urged to check before travelling at nationalrail.co.uk.

The View From McDonald’s Roundabout With Old Bridge Still in Position. (Pic Malcolm Richards Photography)

Railway Bridge Chugging Up Milford Road On Hydraulic Lifting Gear, Heading For The Scrap Yard. One Of The Empty Pillars Is Seen In The Background. (Pic Malcolm Richards Photography)

Work On The Pillar Foundations For New Railway Bridge. (Pic Malcolm Richards Photography)

Rhys Howells, scheme project manager for Network Rail in Wales and Borders, told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “We thank the local community, road users and rail passengers for bearing with us whilst we complete the essential renewal of Milford Road railway bridge.

“We understand that closing the road and railway for any length of time is inconvenient and we have been working closely with our partners to minimise disruption and to develop the diversionary route.”

The work forms part of the £4.25m upgrade project to improve the reliability of the railway in West Wales, which saw the successful replacement of Pembroke Road railway bridge in January.

Speaking on Monday, Rhys Howells, scheme project manager for Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “We would like to thank the local community and rail passengers for bearing with us whilst we replaced Milford Road railway bridge.

“The previous bridge deck was nearing the end of its serviceable life and has now been replaced with a more resilient structure which will help to keep the railway in West Wales running reliably.”

These essential works form part of a £4.25m upgrade project to replace two bridges in Merlins Bridge, which also included the successful replacement of Pembroke Road railway bridge in January.

Finishing works, which include masonary repairs, track tamping and construction of retaining walls, continue at both Pembroke Road and Milford Road railway bridges.

To ensure all these works can be completed safely and effectively single lane traffic management will be in operation on Pembroke Road at the bridge and the A4076, at Milford Road bridge, intermittently overnight until the end of March 2019.

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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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Firefighters tackle blaze at block of garages in Monkton

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ONE person was injured as a result of a sunday afternoon garage fire in a block of garages in Monkton.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service told The Pembrokeshire Herald said: “At 1.31pm on March 17, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven crews were called to extinguish a fire in an alight central garage and were forced to use two breathing apparatus and two hose reels.

“The firefighters reportedly left the scene at 3.02pm after continuing to dampen the fire and check for fire spread.

“The casualty was treated by ambulance service personnel also in attendance.”

The police confirmed that a garage fire had been dealt with by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Welsh Ambulance Service attended.

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Air ambulance called following incident at Aldi Pembroke Dock

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THE WALES AIR AMBULANCE, along with the Welsh Ambulance Service and police were called on Monday morning to an incident at the Aldi supermarket car park in Pembroke Dock.

The Herald understands that the alarm was raised after a car hit a person in the car park after 9am.

We have been told that the incident involved a local taxi.

The emergency services have been asked for a comment.

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