News
RNAD Trecwn could be ‘ticking time bomb’ says Greenpeace
BUILT just before World War II RNAD Trecwn, during its working life, was used to store and distribute various munitions until 1992, when the MoD placed it on care and maintenance which effectively closed the site.
The entire site was sold to Omega Pacific in 1998 for £329,000, with the stated intention of using the surface buildings for aircraft engine maintenance, while the caverns would be used for the storage of nuclear waste.
A lack of planning consent and fierce local opposition resulted in the site being sold to The Manhattan Loft Corporation in 2002 who planned to turn the site into an industrial estate.
Plans submitted by The Valley (Pembrokeshire) Ltd to build a 25-megawatt biomass energy plant on the site were conditionally approved in 2015, but little, if any, work has taken place.
The most notable thing to happen concerning RNAD Trecwn since then is its inclusion on an NRW list of 1500 sites that contain hazardous waste.
Reacting to the news, Greenpeace branded all 1,572 locations as “ticking time bombs”.
RNAD Trecwn contains a “munitions destruction and phosphorous burning area” from a time before landfill sites were properly lined and contamination from those activities could have affected the environment around the former armament depot.
Gareth Lewis, NRW’s lead waste policy specialist said the agency had “details on the type and quantity of waste deposited”.
“Older permitted sites like these are reviewed consistently by ourselves and local councils to ensure we minimise the risk to people, animals and the environment.”
A spokesman for The Welsh Local Government Association said: “There are responsibilities for managing sites whilst operational and then for dealing with maintenance of closed sites,”.
Gareth Lewis went on to say that “most” landfills were now in private ownership and charged for the dumping of rubbish.
“Natural Resources Wales is responsible for licensing the sites and overseeing compliance with environmental legislation,”.
The nearby village of Trecwn was forced to live off of bottled water in 2019 because tap water was coming out ‘looking like a cup of tea’ and smelling strongly of Chlorine.
Water tests carried out at the time in properties on Barham Road showed iron levels of around 1800 micrograms per litre – nine times the legal limit, those properties get their water from a network of pipes that come from RNAD Trecwn and were built when the armament depot was originally constructed.
News
Man remanded in custody following alleged assault in town centre
A PEMBROKE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged assault against a woman in Pembroke town centre last Thursday.
Morgan Ralph, 38, is accused of assaulting a female, occasioning her actual bodily harm during the alleged altercation on March 14.
Ralph, who appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday morning via a video link from Swansea Prison, pleaded not guilty to the offence.
His solicitor Tom Lloyd, informed magistrates that Ralph was acting in self defence during the alleged incident.
The matter was adjourned to May 23 when Ralph, of St Oswalds, Main Street, Pembroke, will be tried before Haverfordwest magistrates.
He was remanded in custody.
News
Retaining wall collapse in Haverfordwest crushes van
A RETAINING wall at Spring Gardens Lane, behind the site of the former Pembroke House Hotel in Haverfordwest, has collapsed following a period of heavy rainfall, causing damage to vehicles parked in the vicinity.
The incident has left two vans damaged, one severely.
The collapse of the wall sent debris sprawling across the car park, illustrating the force of the collapse and the substantial volume of water contributing to the structural failure.
Witnesses described hearing a loud rumbling noise before discovering the aftermath of the collapse.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
The collapse serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and the importance of maintaining and monitoring ageing infrastructure.
Business
People in Wales are worried about running out of money in retirement
FEAR of running out of money in retirement is rising among those in Wales with more than half (55%) concerned their savings will not last them through retirement, new research from Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) shows (please see the attached press release).
In general, women are more worried about running out of money compared to men. More than half (54%) of women surveyed are concerned about how long their money will last in retirement, compared to only 44% of men. Around 46% of men who are not worried about running out of money in retirement say it is because they have a final salary pension scheme – compared to just 38% of women who have this.
The study by Investec Wealth & Investment (UK), part of Rathbones Group, among people with stock market investments including pensions, paints a bleak picture – around 55% of those living in Wales are concerned they do not have enough money for retirement. This is similar to the UK average of 56%.
Women are more worried than men that they do not have enough money for retirement. Almost two thirds (61%) of women surveyed are concerned, with 18% of these very concerned they do not have enough money for retirement. This compares to just over half (53%) of men surveyed, with 14% of these very concerned they do not have enough money for retirement.
The Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) study shows that those living in Wales who have yet to retire are realistic about what will happen to their incomes in retirement – 64% expect their monthly incomes to drop on retirement and 36% did not know.
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