News

New bearings for bridge

Published

11 years ago

June 16, 2014

PEMBROKESHIRE County Council is blazing an engineering trail.

The Council has recently installed new joint bearings on the 820 metrelong Cleddau Bridge to deal with bridge movement. It’s the first use in Britain of innovative German ‘double sliding cylindrical bearings’. The new bearings are capable of rotational as well as longitudinal movement and should suffer less distress over the years from the environment than their predecessors. “The new movement joint bearings replace the bridge’s two original roller bearings, which have lasted for almost 40 years,” said Darren Thomas, head of highways and construction at Pembrokeshire County Council, which is responsible for the bridge upkeep. “Unfortunately the old bearings were beginning to wear and seize up so something needed to be done.” A report by specialists confirmed the need to replace the original bearings and work began on the feasibility of removing and replacing the roller bearings. However, attempts to find companies to supply and fit replacement roller bearings proved difficult as none could be found to provide the quality of the steel used on the originals. Lack of space at the site of the bearings for installation was another daunting factor. The German firm Maurer heard of the council’s predicament and proposed an alternative – their innovative double sliding cylindrical bearing (DSCB) which could be made to fit in the space available and also function well. Installation was contracted to the British structural engineering company Ekspan – the German bearings effectively being assembled in situ in a very cramped space. “The replacement took place over eight days this April and was actually rather simple – a lot of work humping big bits of steel around with some finesse employed at the end,” said PCC bridge engineer, Kevin Lowther. “We kept the bridge fully open to traffic throughout.” He said the new bearings were guaranteed by Maurer for five years but were expected to last at least 50. The total cost of the replacement project was £263,000 – of which £50,000 was for the bearings and their installation.

Crime

Domestic violence offender jailed after breaching court order

Published

4 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A LONG-STANDING Pembrokeshire domestic violence offender has been sent back to prison after breaching a domestic violence protection order.

Paul Webber was arrested on March 18 after being seen kissing his victim outside probation offices in Haverfordwest, despite a court order preventing contact.

A court order imposed by Llanelli magistrates earlier this month prevented him from making any contact with the female after being convicted of threatening to kill her, strangle her, and sexually assault her.

“On March 12, a report was made to police that he’d attended a probation appointment with the female, who remained standing outside the offices,” a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“Police officers viewed the CCTV footage and recognised the female as the victim.

“This was clearly a breach of the domestic violence protection order towards a vulnerable woman, and there’s also concern that she minimises incidents. He’s known as a domestic violence instigator with previous partners.”

Webber, of Winch Lane, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to breaching the domestic violence protection order.

He was sentenced to 28 days in custody.

“You were aware of the terms of the order but you deliberately breached it,” said the presiding magistrate when passing sentence.

“You showed a complete disregard for it.”

Crime

Arrest warrant issued for charity box theft suspect

Published

4 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Sarah Jane Absalom

A WARRANT without bail has been issued for a Milford Haven man accused of stealing a charity box from the Castle Hotel in Haverfordwest.

Daniel Fairlie, 29, of Observatory Avenue, Milford Haven, was listed to appear before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, March 18. However, after failing to attend, magistrates issued a warrant for his arrest.

Fairlie is accused of stealing the charity box on November 23, 2024, along with multiple shoplifting offences and drug possession.

Crime

Bail breacher remanded in custody after ferry trip with victim

Published

4 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A BAIL breacher has been remanded in custody after traveling to and from Ireland on the Pembroke Dock ferry with a victim he was prohibited from seeing.

Robson Franca, 38, was arrested by port officers after being seen in the presence of the complainant when the Rosslare ferry recently docked in Pembroke Dock.

This week, Haverfordwest magistrates were told that a domestic violence court order imposed by Avon and Somerset magistrates prohibited Franca from having any contact with the complainant pending his trial on May 16.

Franca’s solicitor, Peter Tarr, told the court that the complainant frequently contacts Franca and makes threats if he refuses to see her.

Despite the defense’s arguments, magistrates refused to grant bail, citing concerns that Franca might commit further offences, fail to surrender, or interfere with prosecution witnesses. He was remanded in custody.