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Pembrokeshire College appoints new Principal

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Pembrokeshire College Principal, Dr Barry Walters

PEMBROKESHIRE COLLEGE is pleased to announce Dr Barry Walters as its new Principal following a rigorous two-day selection process. Barry took up the role with immediate effect after a period as Interim Principal following the retirement of Sharron Lusher at the end of June last year. He takes over the helm at an exciting time for the College with plans in place for a £7 million development at the Merlins Bridge campus.

Following the appointment by the Corporation Board, the Chair of the Board, Caroline Oakley, commented: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Barry Walters as the new Principal of Pembrokeshire College. We are confident that Barry will continue to work to ensure that the learners of Pembrokeshire receive the best educational opportunities possible and to lead the College in its next stage of growth and development.”

With a PhD in Electrochemistry, Barry has undertaken research projects in universities in China and Sweden. Prior to joining Pembrokeshire College, he worked for Kingston University with his final role as Head of School of Business and Information Management. He joined Pembrokeshire College in 2000 as Head of Faculty for Business, progressed to the role of Assistant Principal in 2002 and Deputy Principal in 2011.

Barry has a broad range of experience in both further and higher education sectors and is a Director of the College University Skills Partnership with Swansea University and the Darwin Centre for Biology and Medicine and is Vice Chair of a Local Primary School Governing Body. He sits on a number of other boards including the City & Guilds National Advisory Panel for Wales, Pembrokeshire’s Public Services Board and the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership’s Provider Group.

Speaking after the announcement, Barry commented: “I am extremely proud to have been chosen to lead one of the best performing colleges in Wales. We have a strong Estyn profile for both further education and work-based learning and continue to put learners at the heart of everything that we do.“

“There are challenging times ahead for post-compulsory education and training but we have an outstanding team of staff who are committed to helping our learners to achieve the skills that will allow them to progress to higher levels of study or to employment. I am particularly keen to continue the partnership work with the local authority to ensure education in Pembrokeshire offers the best opportunities to the young people of the county. At the same time, we are committed to working alongside local employers to ensure that we are doing everything we can to support them to prosper and grow.”

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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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