News

100 firemen at recycling centre blaze which will take ‘days to extinguish’

Published

4 years ago

August 14, 2022

OFFICIALS from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have said that a fire at TBS Recycling in Waterston could take ‘days to extinguish’.

The 999 call came at 2pm on Sunday (Aug 14).

100 firemen and 14 appliances were sent to the blaze, which put a high strain on resources, the Herald has been told.

The industrial estate fire coincided with grass and crop fires in the St Davids and Newgale areas of the county, caused by the dry weather and soaring temperatures.

Rescuers have confirmed that a large storage unit has been destroyed by the fire, which spread to an adjacent waste recycling centre.

“Crews are working to extinguish the fire at both locations and mitigate further spread”, a spokesperson for the fire brigade said.

Significant smoke is billowing from the scene of the fire, and residents in the Johnston, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, and Neyland areas as well as the other side of the estuary are advised to keep windows and doors closed, and remain indoors until further notice.

A Public Health Wales spokesperson said: “Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep their air vents closed.

“Smoke can irritate air passages, skin and eyes, resulting in coughing and wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain, so individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, such as asthma, should carry any necessary medication or inhalers with them at all times and seek medical advice if their symptoms worsen by contacting their GP or NHS 111.

“We are currently at heat health alert level 3 and it is important that you protect yourself from smoke, whilst also keeping cool. Further information on how to stay safe during periods of warm weather can be found on Public Health Wales website: https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/environmental-public-health/extreme-hot-weather/

“When sheltering indoors, open windows that are on the opposite side to the plume/smoke when it is safe to do so and when the air feels cooler outside than inside to get air flowing through the home, for example, at night. Once the smoke has moved away, consider opening doors and windows to allow properties to cool down, being mindful of changing conditions and that the smoke could return.”

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have approximately 100 staff on scene, with 14 appliances, specialist assets including a drone to provide situational awareness and tactical officers tackling the blaze. Senior officers on scene are liaising with Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, Dyfed-Powys Police, Pembrokeshire County Council and local contractors to establish a plan to extinguish the fire in the next few days.

No one has been injured, and no adverse effects have been reported in the area at this time. There are no particular concerns for any nearby dwellings and therefore no evacuations are being considered at this time.

The B4325 road is closed, so the public are asked to avoid the area and take an alternative route.

Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas, who attended the scene said: “Crews have worked extremely hard tackling the fire in hot and challenging conditions, to mitigate against the effects to the environment and from a public health perspective. Crews are also attending a large grass fire in Newgale, meaning approximately 20 appliances have been in attendance in the area tackling fires. This has placed a great deal of strain on our local resources.”

We thank the public in the area for their cooperation and understanding whilst every effort is made to bring this to a safe conclusion as soon as possible.

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

2 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

2 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.