News
Drop-in event for railway bridge plans
HAVERFORDWEST residents are being invited to an information ‘drop-in’ session being held by Network Rail regarding essential work to replace the Merlins Bridge railway bridges.
On numerous occasions high sided lorries have caused delays to traffic after colliding with the bridge on Dredgmans Hill.
Earlier in the year, Network Rail announced it would be upgrading that bridge and a second one on Pembroke Road at a cost of £4.25m.
Network Rail engineers will demolish the existing decks at both railway bridges – which carry the South Wales Mainline – and install new, to improve the resilience and reliability of the railway – all part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan. The 80-year-old bridge decks require replacement as are nearing the end of their lifespan.
To ensure the core work is carried out as efficiently and as safely as possible, the A4076 at Milford Road railway bridge and part of Pembroke Road will require short temporary closures early in 2019. To minimise disruption to the local community, the closures will take place at separate times.
Pembroke Road at the railway bridge will be closed from 8pm on Friday, January 18, 2019 until 6am on Monday, January 21. The A4076 at Milford Road railway bridge will be closed from 7pm on Friday, February 15, until 6am on Monday, February 18.
Rhys Howells, scheme project manager for Network Rail in Wales and Borders, said: “We are working closely with Pembrokeshire County Council and other partners to develop the diversionary routes to ensure we minimise disruption to the local communities, motorists and rail passengers.
“Before we begin work, we will engage communities, road users and businesses as well as widely publicise the temporary road closures, traffic management system that will be in operation and construction programme. We will also arrange drop-in events for local residents and business owners, giving everyone the opportunity to discuss the expected work with project managers and Network Rail staff.
“We understand closing these roads for any length of time is inconvenient and we would like to thank the community for their patience and support in advance.”
The ‘drop in’ event will take place on Tuesday, December 4, between the hours of 3.30pm to 6.30pm at the Merlins Bridge Welfare Hall, Pembroke Road, SA61 1JW.
Network Rail will have members of the project team on hand to answer any questions and they are encouraging residents to drop by at any point during this time.
Network Rail care about their railway neighbours and as such, letters inviting them to attend this drop in event have been sent to properties neighbouring the bridges, who may be affected by the work.
Business
First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead
THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.
The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.
A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.
Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.
“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”
The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.
Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.
The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.
A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.
Photo: Martin Cavaney
Crime
Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood
A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.
SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST
Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.
The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.
COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION
Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.
Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.
She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.
The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.
Local Government
Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works
Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure
SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.
County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.
“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.
Urgent works underway
Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.
Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.
Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.
Further updates are expected later this week.
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