News
Milford Dock lock gates opened

Alec Don and Stephen Crabb officially open the new lock gates
THE new Milford Dock lock gates were declared open at a ceremony this morning (Friday, June 26).
Many representatives from the Port Authority, Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Milford Haven Town Council were also in attendance.
The Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb, also attended and along with Alec Don, to officially open the new gates.
Milford Haven Port Authority Chief Executive, Alec Don said: “It’s a real pleasure to welcome you here for the opening of the lock gates. This project has involved many people, engineers, our own engineering department, our former engineering director Andrew Brown, Atkins who played a very important role in steering the completion.
“This is an important day for us as Milford Haven, these lock gates are a very substantial investment by the port to basically set up the Milford dock area to be the hub for marine leisure in the sheltered waterway in the heart of Pembrokeshire.
“The project was part funded through the Visit Wales coastal tourism project and we are hugely grateful for their support to help make this project possible.
“Overall we have spent in excess of £6-7million developing these lock gates and it really sets up the port for the next 100 years to be easy to access and a great location to come to and spend time in your boats.
“The Marina is the only 4-gold anchor accredited marina in Wales, we are hoping for five gold anchors and that will be a part of the masterplan project that we are pursuing and so the lock gates really represents, only the first part of what will be a continuous investment into Milford Dock.
“Whether you are talking about fishing, yachting, whether you are simply talking about people coming to Milford Dock as a great place to work, eat, relax and shop, that is the vision for the future that we have for Milford Dock.”
The Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb added: “An awful lot of people have been working incredibly hard over a number of years to make this big, really significant infrastructure project happen for Milford Haven.
“It is of significance, not only for the port and for the town but for the whole of Pembrokeshire when you think that Pembrokeshire is a leading tourist destination for the whole of Wales. Anything that adds to the quality of the offer that Pembrokeshire makes is the quality of infrastructure here, particularly for tourists and leisure users in the Haven, then that has to be a really good thing.
“It is a challenging project at times but we need that kind of investment in Pembrokeshire and this is the biggest investment in the port for more than 50 years.
“I really commend Alec and his team at the Port Authority for their strategic vision. The port is changing and new investment is needed to meet the challenges of the future. The master plan, that this investment represents part of, it has to be a good thing for the long term future of Pembrokeshire.”
The Mayor of Milford Haven, Cllr Stephen Joseph said: “It is a vote of confidence in some ways, that there is a future for Milford Haven and Pembrokeshire. It’s good for tourism, tourism has been there for many years and this can service industry as well as tourism, it’s absolutely super.”
Education
Sam Kurtz quizzed by primary school pupils about how was is governed
PUPILS at St Oswald’s VA Primary School welcomed a visit from local Senedd member Samuel Kurtz on Monday (Feb 2), as children put questions to him about how Wales is governed.
Years five and six pupils took part in an interactive session where the Senedd Cymru member explained the role of the Welsh Parliament, how laws are made, and how elected representatives support local residents.
He outlined what a Member of the Senedd does day-to-day, how decisions affecting communities are taken, and why taking part in democracy is important.
The pupils were then given the chance to quiz him directly, raising questions about politics, local issues and how young people can make their voices heard. Staff said the children showed strong interest and came well prepared.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Kurtz said: “It was a real pleasure to visit St Oswald’s and see such enthusiasm and curiosity from the pupils.
“Understanding how democracy works and how decisions are made is important, and it is encouraging to see young people taking an interest in how their community and country are run.
“I was particularly impressed by the quality of the questions, which showed they had clearly done their research.”
Teachers described the visit as a valuable opportunity to bring lessons about citizenship and Welsh democracy to life.
The school visit forms part of Mr Kurtz’s ongoing programme of meeting with schools, community groups and residents across Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.
Crime
Police confirm teacher was stabbed at school as teenager appears in court
15-year-old charged with Section 18 GBH with intent and possession of a bladed article on education premises
POLICE have confirmed that the teacher injured during Thursday’s lockdown at Milford Haven Comprehensive School suffered stab wounds, as a 15-year-old boy appears in court today (Saturday, Feb 7).
Dyfed-Powys Police said the teenager has been charged with Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article on education premises. He has been remanded in custody and is due before Swansea Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Emergency services were called to the school at around 3:20pm on Thursday (Feb 5) following reports that a member of staff had been assaulted by a pupil. The school was placed into immediate lockdown and police said all learners later returned home unharmed.
The injured teacher has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering with support.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Briggs said: “We are continuing to support the victim whilst they recover from this traumatic event. Following detailed enquiries by specialist officers, injuries initially assessed and described as non-stab injuries have now been confirmed as stab wounds.
“A statement at an early stage of the investigation was based on preliminary information available at the time.
“There will continue to be a higher than usual police presence in the area over the coming days to provide further reassurance. Officers will be working closely with local secondary schools to offer support over the coming week.”
In a joint update issued by the local authority and the school, deputy headteacher Daryl John thanked staff and the small number of pupils who remained on site, saying they acted “with professionalism” and were “calm throughout”. He added that the school community was grateful for the “rapid and effective response” of the emergency services and sent best wishes to the injured colleague for a “full and speedy recovery”.
Pembrokeshire County Council leader Cllr Jon Harvey confirmed the school will reopen on Monday, with additional support available for pupils and staff affected by the incident. He said lockdown procedures are routinely rehearsed so that, in rare cases where they are needed, everyone knows what to do.
The school was closed to pupils on Friday, with the town noticeably quieter than usual as children stayed home.
Police enquiries are continuing and further updates are expected following the court hearing.
News
Local rugby talent Osian Williams selected for Wales Under-20 clash with England
A FORMER Haverfordwest Blues junior has earned international honours after being selected to represent Wales Under-20 rugby union team in their fixture against England.
Osian Williams, who began his rugby journey at Haverfordwest Rugby Football Club, will pull on the red jersey this evening in what marks a proud milestone for both the player and the Pembrokeshire club that helped develop his talent.
Club members said the call-up reflects years of hard work, commitment and steady progress through the ranks, with Williams recognised locally for his determination and performances on the pitch from a young age.
A spokesperson for Haverfordwest RFC said the whole club is “incredibly proud” to see one of their own step onto the international stage.
They added that it is always special to watch former junior players progress to represent their country, describing Williams’ selection as “fully deserved” and an inspiration to the next generation coming through the Blues’ youth setup.
The match against England provides a stern test for the young Welsh side, but for Williams and his family it is also a moment to savour after years of dedication to the sport.
Friends, coaches and former teammates are expected to be cheering him on from Pembrokeshire as he makes his mark in Welsh colours.
Photo caption:
Osian Williams has been selected to play for Wales Under-20s against England (Pic: Supplied).
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