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£35m A40 improvement to go ahead between Llanddewi Velfrey and Penblewin

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IMPROVEMENTS to the A40 between Llanddewi Velfrey and Penblewin will go ahead following uncertainty.

Doubts were cast on the long-discussed plans after construction giant, and chosen contractor for the job, Carillion, collapsed earlier this year.

Today (Jun 19), Ken Skates, Cabinet Member for Economy and Transport, wrote to AMs and confirmed that the 35m project will go ahead.

Arup will now be in charge of the project, which will have a 2+1 layout, and £22m of the £35m budget will be funded by the European Union.

The 2+1 layout is similar to improvements made on the A40 at Robeston Wathen, and the A477 between Llanddowror and St Clears.

The project is described on the Welsh Government website: “The A40 between St Clears and Haverfordwest is mostly single carriageway with few places for overtaking. The road has poor visibility and a large number of accesses opening straight onto the road. This means that journey times are poor, and drivers make risky overtaking manoeuvers. During summer traffic volumes can increase by over 30% making these problems worse.

“The A40 runs through Llanddewi Velfrey where there is a 40mph speed limit. The road also splits the community.”

The scheme consists of:

  • a 2.5km bypass from Bethel Chapel to Ffynnon Wood
  • 2.5km improvements west of Ffynnon Wood
  • 1.4km extra overtaking eastbound
  • 1km extra overtaking westbound

In his letter to AMs, Ken Skates said: “The outline design and detailed environmental impact assessment for the scheme is nearly complete and will very much form the basis of the project taken forward.

“Draft Orders are due to be published towards the end of this year with construction commencing around summer 2019, subject to the statutory process.

“We are currently looking at when these can be delivered alongside other priorities in the National Transport Finance Plan and will develop a programme in due course, although site work is expected to start between 2020 and 2023. EU funding has also been earmarked for these improvements.”

Eluned Morgan AM said: “Since the collapse of Carillion, infrastructure schemes across Wales have been thrown into chaos. I welcome this £50 million investment by the Welsh Government supported by the EU to improve safety and journey times on this important national route.

“The use of a 2+1 scheme as we’ve seen on the A477 will allow for further upgrading in future. With work set to begin next year, I very much hope the residents of Llanddewi Velfrey and the thousands of commuters who use the A40 every day will also welcome this positive development.”

Labour’s councillor in Narberth, Cllr Vic Dennis, said: “The A40 is a vital route for the economic prosperity of our county but I have particularly concerned about safety at the Redstone Cross junction on behalf of the residents of Narberth.

“I have held discussions at County Hall and elsewhere to ensure action is taken on improving safety to prevent any further fatalities at this busy cross roads. I am pleased that the Welsh Government is looking seriously at these concerns and I will continue to lobby for improvements to take place as quickly as possible using the EU funds that have already been earmarked.”

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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