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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 arrest suspects following vehicle interferences in Haverfordwest

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HAVERFORDWEST police responded swiftly after reports of multiple vehicle interferences in the Tasker Way area on Sunday night/early Monday morning (Nov 4).

Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPPT) conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, gathering evidence and reassuring the community. These efforts led to the identification of two suspects.

Both NPPT and Response teams acted promptly, locating and arresting the suspects, who are now in police custody.

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Ancient Welsh hymns brought into 21st century with unique collaboration between Lleuwen Steffan and National Eisteddfod

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Some of Wales’ long-forgotten hymn tunes are being brought vividly back to life this month, thanks to award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Lleuwen Steffan and her unique collaboration with the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Performing as ‘Tafod Arian’ (Silver Tongue), the collaboration pays homage to the lost voices of the past, and infuses these timeless melodies with some highly contemporary electronic arrangements.

The project originated in 2012 when Lleuwen was working on a music project at St Fagan’s National History Museum where she came across some long-forgotten recordings of hymns which had been left in the sound archives.  None of these hymns could be found in the official hymn books nor the older hymnal editions, possibly as the result of their informal, conversational lyrics, or because they often delved into the world of addiction, mental illness and the darker side of the psyche.

But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited by Tafod Arian.

With translations and insights, the tour breathes new life into archive recordings, ensuring these cherished sacred songs rightfully claim their place in today’s spotlight. Lleuwen masterfully combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, seamlessly blending the past with the present, and takes the stage alongside a dynamic quintet of international musicians including Sioned Webb and Gethin Elis from Wales, and Nolwenn Korbell and Brieg Guerveno from Brittany.

Despite the hymns’ long-distant past, the music is firmly in the present as Lleuwen uses various instruments to provide angular electronic accompaniment as well as her soulful vocals and guitar.  She provides translations and explanations as she proudly puts the archive recordings of the lost |Welsh hymns on centre stage.  As a result, these sacred songs are being passed on orally rather than via the hymn book which is precisely how Welsh folk music was conveyed.

The long-forgotten hymns will be heard once again in all their glory at Tabernacle Chapel, Maenclochog on Sunday, November 17 at 6.30pm.

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Crime

Suspended sentence for Goodwick man who sent sexual messages to young girl

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THE FATHER of a young girl sent sexual messages to an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online, Swansea Crown Court heard this week.

An undercover police officer posed as a 12-year-old girl on the website RandoChat, with the decoy’s profile stating they were 18.

James Roberts messaged the decoy on 9 August, stating he was “looking for a naughty girl”.

The decoy promptly informed him that she was 12 years old; however, the defendant continued to send messages referencing sexual acts and self-gratification.

Roberts added the decoy on Snapchat, claiming to be 19 and living in England.

He again sent sexualised messages and, referring to the decoy’s age, said they were “never too young to start sending pictures”.

The defendant also told the decoy that he was having similar sexual conversations with a 14-year-old, Mr Dickens said.

Police attended Roberts’ home in Goodwick on 17 August, and he was arrested. He denied having a mobile phone, claiming he “had sent it off to Samsung to be fixed” but was “extremely vague” when asked for further details. Mr Dickens said no phone was ever recovered by police.

The 28-year-old Roberts pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. The court heard that he had no previous convictions.

Hannah George, in mitigation, said the defendant showed “some degree of remorse” and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

“In the 13 months since he was interviewed there have been no further offences,” she said.

Ms George said Roberts had suffered “significant” shame and embarrassment as a result of the offences, and it had led to him losing his job.

He had previously been diagnosed with PTSD and suffered “deep periods of depression”, Ms George said.

She added that his contact with his young daughter “has been diminished” following these offences.

“You were in contact online with who you firmly believed to be a 12-year-old girl,” said Judge Paul Thomas KC, addressing Roberts.

“You have a two-year-old daughter. Just think how you would feel if a man in his thirties tried to have that sort of conversation with her in 10 years’ time.”

Roberts was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 35 days of an accredited programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement programme days.

He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and was made the subject of a three-year sexual harm prevention order.

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