Iconic crossing unites north and south of county

THIS WEEK (Mar 25) marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Cleddau Bridge – a key part of Pembrokeshire’s transport network that now carries over 4.4 million vehicles each year.

Spanning the wide and deep Milford Haven estuary, the bridge links the north and south of the county, connecting Neyland and Pembroke Dock. Before its construction, the journey between the two towns was a 28-mile detour by road, or a ferry crossing operated by the former County Council.

At 820 metres long with a main span of 213 metres and standing 37 metres above high water, the Cleddau Bridge remains one of the longest box girder bridges in the world.

The need for a 24-hour fixed crossing emerged during the 1960s, with the growth of the port at Milford Haven and the development of petrochemical facilities in the area. Construction of the Cleddau Bridge, along with the smaller Westfield Pill bridge, began soon afterwards under a £2.1 million contract.

However, the project was marred by tragedy. On June 2, 1970, a 60-metre cantilever section collapsed on the south bank, killing four workers. The disaster prompted a major review of design and safety standards for box girder bridges across the UK.

Despite the setback, the bridge was eventually completed and opened to traffic in 1975. In its first year, around 885,900 vehicles used the crossing. By March 2009, that number had risen to a record 4.6 million.

For 44 years, from opening until March 28, 2019, the bridge operated as a toll crossing, with drivers paying a charge each way. Pembrokeshire County Council successfully negotiated the removal of the tolls, securing a funding agreement with the Welsh Government. Since then, the benefit has been widely felt by local communities and businesses.

Maintenance of the bridge has been the responsibility of Pembrokeshire County Council since April 1996, with a dedicated team of engineers and operatives based at the 24/7 Bridge Office. Staff respond rapidly to weather events, including high winds, and ensure the safe operation of the crossing year-round.

Over the years, major works have included:

Gantry replacement (1993)

Repainting (1994 and 2011)

Pier-top strengthening (2001)

Waterproofing and resurfacing (2003/4)

Replacement of roller bearings with sliding (rocker) bearings (2014)

The bridge’s upkeep currently costs around £3.1 million per year, based on its projected 120-year lifespan. A replacement today would cost over £140 million.

Council Leader Cllr Jon Harvey said: “The Cleddau Bridge is a key route in our county’s road network and we are remembering today the hard work, and sadly the lives lost, in the construction of this vital piece of infrastructure.

“Fifty years on from its opening, use of the Cleddau Bridge has not diminished, and its important contribution to the economy of the county cannot be understated.”

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, added: “For many people in Pembrokeshire, the Cleddau Bridge is just part of the landscape, but there are still many residents who remember the long drive around the Haven before it was built.

“Indeed, I also remember my father taking me on the ferry across from Neyland to Hobbs Point in the sixties – an exciting trip for a young child in those days.

“Within the engineering community, the Cleddau Bridge is well-known for its unique design and for being the longest bridge of this type in the world.”

THIS April, the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven welcomes a dynamic cast of Welsh talent to the stage with 3Drama — a trio of powerful new Welsh-language plays presented in one unmissable evening of theatre.

Taking to the stage are Siôn Emyr, Mali O’Donnell, Mark Henry-Davies, Elena Carys-Thomas, and Gareth John Bale, performing three original plays born from ‘Sgen ti Syniad? — a vibrant platform nurturing new and established voices in Welsh theatre.

Audiences on Wednesday 9 April will be treated to:

Wisgi by Carwyn Blayney

Dishgled ‘da Del by Cai Llewelyn Evans

99’er by Ceri Ashe, a Pembrokeshire native and familiar face at the Torch, last seen as the Evil Fairy Shadowmist in the 2023 pantomime Beauty and the Beast.

The Torch Theatre is especially proud to welcome back Gareth John Bale, best known for his celebrated one-man performance in Grav, which tells the story of Welsh rugby legend Ray Gravell. For 3Drama, Gareth not only acts in one of the plays — he also takes the director’s seat for another.

The plays:
Wisgi by comedian, actor and writer Carwyn Blayney, follows Gwion, who is down on his luck after breaking up with his girlfriend, Wini. Unable to afford living alone, he invites his old friend Iwan to move in. But are things really over with Wini? This sharply written comedy explores love, selfishness, and surviving the cost-of-living crisis.

Dishgled ‘da Del by rising comedy talent Cai Llewelyn Evans — a So You Think You’re Funny finalist and runner-up in the 2023 Max Turner Award — introduces Del Tozer, a controversial radio host who keeps her loyal listeners hooked with her no-holds-barred take on modern life. But when a young guest with a different perspective enters the studio, Del’s own past may come under scrutiny.

99’er by Ceri Ashe tells the story of Elen, who rushes home to Pembrokeshire following her father’s sudden death, only to find herself working in the family’s ice cream shop. Reflecting on life in her thirties, Elen faces the gap between youthful expectations and adult reality:
“When you’re young and imagine being thirty, you think, wow, everything will be sorted — a house, a job, no overdraft… blink — and bam, it’s your thirties and not much has changed!”

These compelling new plays are touring Wales this spring, with English précis available for non-Welsh-speaking audience members.

3Drama comes to the Torch Theatre on Wednesday 9 April at 7:30pm.
Tickets: £15.
Age guidance: 14+ (contains strong language).
For tickets and more information, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

A MIDWIFE team from Hywel Dda University Health Board has won a prestigious national award for their work improving safety for mothers and babies.

The Maternity and Neonatal Governance and Risk Team took home three awards at the 2025 Maternity Unit Marvels (MUM) Awards, organised by the charity Baby Lifeline.

The team had already been told they would receive two accolades in the workforce category: the Promoting Collaboration and Team Working award, and the Achieving Excellence Through Service Improvements award.

But they were surprised to also be named national winners of the workforce category, beating strong competition from NHS teams across the UK.

The ceremony took place at the Palace of Westminster in London on Thursday (Mar 13), with awards presented by Call the Midwife star Linda Bassett and hosted by Lord Darzi of Denham.

Representing Hywel Dda on the night were Cerian Llewellyn (Interim Head of Midwifery), Dr Tipswalo Day (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist), Dr Mathew Pickup (Consultant Paediatrician), Angela Morgan (Midwife), Bethan Osmundsen (Senior Nurse Manager for Acute Paediatrics), and Leah Andrew (Senior Nurse).

The awards celebrate excellence in maternity and neonatal care and are judged by senior representatives from NHS England, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and other key health bodies.

Dana Scott, Director of Midwifery at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “Winning these awards has been a fantastic recognition of the collective efforts of our team at Hywel Dda.

“Knowing that all the hard work of our multi-disciplinary team to make one of the most precious moments in life a safe and positive experience for mums and their families has been recognised by a prestigious panel of expert judges means so much to us.”

Sharon Daniel, Interim Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience at Hywel Dda, said: “I’m delighted for the team – they’ve worked incredibly hard over the years to support members of our communities.

“Pregnancy can be both an exciting and a worrying time, and our teams try their very best to ensure that they treat all mums, birthing people and their families with compassion and the best care possible.

“Thank you to every member of the team who has played their part in achieving the award.”

Nearly 3,000 babies are born every year in the Hywel Dda region, with the midwifery team supporting families at home, in the community, and in local hospitals.

To find out more about the MUM Awards, visit: www.babylifeline.org.uk/mum-awards