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Council calms cladding concerns

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PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has moved to reassure residents about the fire safety risks posed by cladding to schools and other public buildings, following the recent tragic events in Kensington and Chelsea.

Local authorities across Wales have engaged in safety tests on buildings since the disaster at Grenfell Tower in London and checks on Pembrokeshire’s buildings have, thus far, revealed no causes for concern.

Councillor Tom Tudor has raised the issue of fire safety in with county Chief Executive Ian Westley and Leader David Simpson.

Cllr Tudor has asked: “With the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire could you ensure that Pembrokeshire County Council looks at all its buildings that use these modern cladding tiles, which may include many of the new built schools; in fact, on the news it was reported that new build schools (along with hotels, motels etc) could well be fitted with these tiles.

“In the event of any building having these cladding tiles in the wall cavities, please could they be removed as soon as possible?”

Cladding has been used to insulate buildings and improve their energy efficiency; however, the cladding used at Grenfell Tower has been blamed for speeding and intensifying the blaze which consumed the block.

The Herald asked Pembrokeshire County Council what steps, if any, it had taken to assess the safety of cladding on its buildings – both new-build and old – in light of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

A spokesperson told us: ‘We are working closely with the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service to carry out a cladding survey on all local authority-owned properties. We have not encountered any cladding issues to date but if we do, the cladding will be tested. Pembrokeshire County Council does not own any high-rise public buildings’.

Moving to the broader issue of fire safety in schools, an issue which has been raised on social media since the London tragedy, we asked the Council which of Pembrokeshire’s schools are fitted with sprinkler systems.

The same spokesperson responded: “All schools built, substantially refurbished or currently under construction as part of Pembrokeshire County Council’s 21st Century Schools programme (Band A) are fitted with sprinklers, as per Welsh Government requirements.

“These schools are; Broad Haven Primary School, Ysgol Hafan y Mor and Tenby Church in Wales VC School in Tenby, Johnston CP School, Ysgol Dewi Sant, Penrhyn Church in Wales VC School  at Hundleton , Pembroke Secondary School, Gelliswick Church in Wales VC Primary School in Hakin/Hubberston, and Ysgol Bro Gwaun.

“The following schools also have sprinkler systems: Portfield School, Neyland Community School, Ysgol Glannau Gwaun in Fishguard, and Cleddau Reach VC School in Llangwm.”

The spokesperson continued: “It is important to note that the fire strategy adopted on education and public buildings is one of ‘everyone out’ as a first measure and that schools all have compliant fire detection systems and a duty to test evacuation procedures once per term.”

We were also told no other buildings owned by the local authority are equipped with sprinkler systems.

Finally, in light of increased residential development of former commercial premises in town centres, we enquired as to the steps the Council is taking to ensure that planning applications for the conversion of premises into either flats or houses of multiple occupation include the provision of sprinkler systems.

We were told: “The requirements for fire suppression systems are set out in the building regulations part B. The building control body overseeing the works will ensure that these requirements are met.”

Milford Haven Councillor, Vivien Stoddart said: “In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy I have received several enquiries about fire safety at the new 500-strong primary school currently being constructed off Gellyswick Road, Hakin. During a recent tour of the new building, school governors, including myself, were pleased to see that there are sprinklers in every room.

“I have been assured by Pembrokeshire County Council’s project officer for the school, that the external timber cladding meets British Standards for fire retardancy, and that the building’s fire alarm system includes fire detection in all rooms. I was also told by the council that it is now mandatory to install sprinklers in all newly constructed homes, not just in public buildings.”

Crime

Police issue update following incident at Tenby multi-storey

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Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed this morning that they are investigating a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby, at around 4pm on Thursday, January 2.

The collision, police said, involved a grey Nissan Qashqai and a young child.

The child remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The family are being supported by specially trained officers.

One man, aged 33, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, drink driving, and drug driving. He remains in police custody.

Police issued a statement saying: “This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation.

“We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances and allow our officers to carry out their enquiries.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to us, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Quote reference 25*6238”

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News

Milford sex offender’s child abuse images ‘most disturbing imaginable’

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A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Pembrokeshire has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found with nearly 40,000 indecent images of children, including some of the most disturbing nature imaginable. Jason Church, a father of young children, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he faced multiple charges related to child exploitation.

The investigation began when police traced suspicious online activity linked to Church’s home in Milford Haven. On August 23, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at his residence, during which Church admitted to having incriminating material on his mobile phone. He explicitly stated to the police, “It’s on my phone, what you’re looking for” when questioned about the nature of the images.

Upon examination of his Samsung device, authorities uncovered a staggering collection: 2,688 images classified as Category A (the most severe), along with 4,160 Category B images and an alarming 32,205 Category C images. Among these horrific images were videos depicting the sexual abuse of very young children, including a baby. Additionally, officers discovered a 170-page manual that provided detailed guidance on how to exploit children and evade detection.

In court, prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton highlighted the graphic content of the material found and emphasised the seriousness of Church’s offences. Despite his previous clean record, Church pleaded guilty to all charges against him. His defence barrister noted that Church was aware of the severity of his actions and had sought help from organizations aimed at preventing child exploitation.

Judge Huw Rees condemned Church’s actions as “unhealthy” and a significant danger to children. He stated, “These are not just images; they represent real victims,” reinforcing the gravity of Church’s crimes and the impact they have on real lives.

In addition to his prison sentence, Church is required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years following his release.

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Community

Welsh Water distribute free cold weather lagging kits

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AS the winter season is in full swing and the temperature drops, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is offering free winter lagging kits to help households across Wales prepare for the colder months. With over 2,500 kits available, the initiative aims to assist residents in protecting their homes against frozen pipes and costly bursts.

Frozen pipes can lead to unwanted damage and unnecessary stress during the winter season, but with the right preparation the risks can be minimised.
The winter lagging kit includes pipe insulation and a tap jacket – with lagging designed to protect exposed pipes and a tap jacket to prevent outdoor taps from freezing and bursting.

“We understand how challenging winter can be for many people, which can be made worse should the unexpected happened – such as a experiencing a frozen or burst pipe,” said Euan Hampton, Water Demand – Delivery Manager at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. “To help ease the pressures winter can bring, we’re offering free pipe lagging kits and tap jackets as part of our ongoing commitment to helping communities stay safe, warm, and secure throughout the colder months.”

In addition to distributing free lagging kits and tap jackets. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water recommends the following tips to help residents prepare their homes:

Locate your stop tap: Knowing the location of your stop tap is essential in the case of an emergency. If your pipes freeze or burst, you’ll want to shut the water off to minimise damage.
Clear your gutters: Blocked gutters can lead to excess water accessing your home, especially during a storm.
Insulate pipes: Not only outdoor pipes need preparing, think of areas that may be at risk to cold weather – attics or uninsulated cupboards.
Fix those drips: Dripping taps can increase the risk of frozen pipes. Fixing it will also save you litres of water every day, saving both energy and money on your water bill.
Away from home? Empty buildings are at particular risk. If you’re leaving your home for a prolonged period, turn off your stop tap and drain down the system – so there is no water in the system to freeze. If you’re away for a short time, if you can, we suggest keeping your heating on low to help keep your home warm and prevent pipes from freezing.
The free kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a free winter lagging kit or tap jacket, customers can visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/winter-ready

Alongside the helpful tips to prepare your home this winter and advice on how to manage any issues should they arise. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water are also offering free water efficiency home visits to all domestic customers – and the free lagging kit and tap jackets can be installed as part of the visit.

If you would like to find out more ways you could start saving, visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/cartref/water-efficiency-home-visit

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