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Pembroke: Construction of new school ‘progressing well’

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Construction: The new school is due to open in September 2018

A SPECIAL ceremony was held last week in Pembroke as work on the new secondary school is progressing well, Pembrokeshire County Council have said.

Known as a ‘topping-out’ ceremony, it is a traditional construction milestone to mark the highest part of the structure being completed.

Guests invited to witness the occasion were asked to sign the one-ton metal beam before it was hoisted by crane and fixed in position.

The ceremony was organised by leading UK construction company Bouygues UK who are the main contractors for the new build – a 1,463 place, 11 to 18 year secondary school and autism centre for 30 learners which is being constructed on the site of the current comprehensive school.

Costing £38.3 million, the flagship project is the largest ever undertaken by Pembrokeshire County Council and is part of the 21st Century Schools investment programme in collaboration with the Welsh Government.

Guests at the ceremony included the County Council Cabinet Member for Education, David Lloyd, Pembroke School headteacher Frank Ciccotti and 16 of his students.

Six-year-old Elly Neville with her collage of the Pembrokeshire flag: Her father, Lyn (right), holds a certificate commemorating the donation of £990 to Elly’s flag fund from Peter Sharp (left) on behalf of Bouygues UK.

The pupils act as ‘construction ambassadors’, meeting regularly with the construction team so that they can keep their peers informed of the new school’s progress.

Guests were welcomed by Bouygues UK Project Director, Peter Sharpe, while the company’s Operations Director, Justin Moore, spoke of the long history and tradition of ‘topping-out’ ceremonies.

The company’s Chief Operating Officer, Craig Tatton, said the project was already in week 38 of a 169-week long schedule.

He said: “We are very proud to be involved in the delivery of this fantastic new learning campus for the community, with the diverse range of facilities it includes.

“Work is progressing well and we are on track to finish on time for the September 2018 academic year.”

County Councillor David Lloyd (left): With Craig Tatton from Bouygues UK sign the ‘topping-out’ beam.

Darren Thomas, the County Council’s Head of Highways and Construction, told guests that some £120 million worth of work was currently being carried out on nine sites around Pembrokeshire as part of the 21st Century Schools programme.

During the ceremony a cheque for £990 was presented by Peter Sharpe to Elly’s flag fund – a charity set up by six-year-old Elly Neville from Pembroke to raise funds for a dedicated cancer ward at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.

The money was donated by Bouygues UK and its sub-contractors working on site.

The new school is due to open in September 2018, when work will begin to demolish the current comprehensive school on the site.

All work is due to finish in August, 2019.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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