News
Murco: Workers told to down tools following Herald probe
THE MANAGEMENT of the firms contracted to decommission the former Murco Oil Refinery site in Milford Haven are remaining tight lipped about work stopping on the site on Tuesday (Nov 7).
Several workers and contractors at the refinery, which is being dismantled and shipped to Pakistan, have contacted this newspaper to say that they were told to down tools and were sent home. Workers told The Herald that they were not sure if or when they would be going back to work.
SOLICITORS TRY TO SILENCE HERALD
In a separate development, following the exposé in The Herald on 22nd October, WRD Ltd have instructed Manchester based solicitors Farleys LLP to try and gag The Pembrokeshire Herald from printing any further articles, and have threatened us with legal action for publishing what workers said, claiming they are libellous defamatory statements.
They also want the article Murco: Someone is going to die taken of the Pembrokeshire Herald website, presumably because it is not good for business.
The Health and Safety Executive is currently investigating a serious accident which took place in May, the worker involved is still at home recovering/ having received what a family member has described, as life changing injuries.
But the solicitor’s letter went on to seemingly pass the buck from WRD Ltd to the other contractor REM Engineering Ltd. It said: “The stark reality is that the statements [in the article], regardless of their veracity in all likelihood relate to REM Engineering Ltd and not WRD.”
But WRD and REM have denied that work had come to a stop for health and safety reasons, and that the present time they were in compliance with health and safety rules. Through their solicitor they said: “Our clients confirm that work at the site has not been stopped due to any health and safety breaches. Our clients confirm that neither company are currently in breach of any health and safety regulations.
INSPECTION FOLLOWING HERALD ARTICLE
One worker on site who telephoned The Pembrokeshire Herald on Tuesday said: “Top engineers and bosses walked around site last week after your story was printed, and were happy with everything – but three days later everyone sent off site.
Attributing what had happened to “client and health and safety issues”, he told this newspaper that sixty three people were sent home from the former refinery.
Our source added: “My boss said to me to blame the whistle-blowers… ‘Blame your friends who talked to The Herald’ he said.
“They said they would be in touch [about getting back to work], but it is not great this side of Christmas.
“Another employee asked how long [the shutdown was] for, but he was told it was a zero hour contract. It wasn’t true.”
This was also confirmed by a secondary source
PROBE CONTINUES
Jack Rimmer from the Health and Safety Executive told The Herald on Tuesday: “We have spoken with our inspectors regarding your enquiry.
“HSE’s investigation into the incident in May is ongoing, and HSE is not aware of the reasons why work has stopped.
“HSE does not have any involvement in commercial or contractual decisions are a matter for the company.
Business
Stena announces redundancy plan amid uncertainty for Pembrokeshire
FREIGHT carrier and ferry operator Stena Line, which runs services between Fishguard and Pembroke Dock, has announced plans to cut up to 80 staff members following an internal review.
Uncertainty looms over whether any of these redundancies will impact staff operating our local ferry services.
Stena CEO Paul Grant shared the news in an email to employees on Monday, citing a need to “future proof the company.” He explained that an internal assessment revealed the company’s current organisational structure as “too big and expensive” compared to its revenue.
The decision comes amid rising costs and increased competition in the freight and travel sectors.
According to Mr. Grant, “Cost pressure due to higher inflation has led to our customers having less money to spend, and with the introduction of the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), increasing our prices, we see a decline in volumes for both travel and freight.” Additionally, disappointing sales during the summer season and unmet market growth expectations for 2024 contributed to the restructuring.
The program, designed to strengthen Stena’s long-term business viability, includes a reduction of costs, prioritization of investments, and staff cuts that will primarily impact support functions and consultants. The workforce will be reduced by 80 positions by early 2025, along with 30 consultants also set to leave the company. Discussions with unions and work councils are expected to last several months, with all affected staff to be informed of their status by January 31, 2025.
In response to this announcement, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has demanded a meeting with Stena Line to clarify the impact of these cuts, particularly on their members.
TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust expressed disappointment over the handling of the announcement, stating: “Our members are shocked by this news and outraged that Stena has chosen to sidestep established industrial relations processes. Stena must meet with us urgently to clarify who is at risk and address the potential impacts on our members.”
The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at securing Stena Line’s future amid sustainability challenges. CEO Niclas Mårtensson acknowledged the difficult decision, stating, “Stena Line has been a successful company over the past few years; however, we need to ensure a lower cost base to be able to future proof the company. With 40 vessels in Europe and the Mediterranean, we have significant sustainability challenges ahead of us, and this program will enable us to make necessary investments for the future.”
The TSSA’s letter to Stena reiterates the union’s commitment to supporting affected employees and calls for an immediate discussion to clarify the situation, especially for staff at Fishguard who may be impacted.
News
UK government to appoint first Wales Crown Estate Commissioner
FOR the first time, the UK government will appoint a Crown Estate Commissioner dedicated to advising on matters in Wales, further integrating Welsh interests in board-level decisions. This move supports existing efforts to ensure that Wales benefits from the push for clean energy, following an agreement facilitated by the Welsh Secretary.
An amendment to the Crown Estate Bill, with cross-party backing from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats, and crossbenchers, will be accepted at today’s Lords Report Stage (Nov 5). This change mandates the appointment of a Wales-specific Commissioner through the Public Appointments process, with input from the Welsh Government. The appointee will bear “an additional responsibility” to represent Welsh conditions and interests, amplifying Wales’s voice within the Crown Estate.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has collaborated with the Treasury, The Crown Estate, House of Lords members, and the Welsh Government to secure this legislative advancement. The Crown Estate, instrumental in drawing international investment to Wales, supports projects like Floating Offshore Wind in the Celtic Sea, which promises cleaner energy and job creation.
The introduction of a Wales-specific Commissioner strengthens The Crown Estate’s mission to serve the entire UK while averting potential market fragmentation and protecting international investor confidence critical to the net-zero transition.
In a related effort, Great British Energy, the government’s new public energy firm, recently partnered with The Crown Estate to expedite renewable energy advancements. This initiative could attract up to £60bn in private investment, boosting the UK’s journey toward energy independence.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens stated: “This is a landmark step toward ensuring that Welsh prosperity is at the heart of the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower. Our nation stands to benefit hugely from investment in floating offshore wind, and we now have the representation we need to help seize that moment. This demonstrates how Wales benefits directly from its two governments working together, and I’m grateful to Lord Livermore, The Crown Estate, and others for helping to make this happen.”
Sir Robin Budenberg CBE, Chair of The Crown Estate, said: “In seeking to increase the number of Commissioners from eight to twelve, The Crown Estate welcomes the opportunity now presented by this amendment to bring even more direct knowledge and understanding of the areas in which we operate and further strengthen our ability to deliver benefit to the whole of the UK.”
Crime
Arrests made after large-scale cannabis operation raided in Pembroke Dock
POLICE in Pembroke Dock have uncovered yet another large-scale cannabis operation, as part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal farms in the area. On Monday (Nov 4), Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at a property on Dimond Street, where officers found over 500 cannabis plants in a sophisticated cultivation setup.
Two men, aged 26 and 34, have been arrested in connection with the investigation and are currently in police custody. The raid follows a series of similar operations in Pembrokeshire, targeting properties used for illegal drug cultivation.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
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