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Green light for £60 million Pembrokeshire marine energy project

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A £60 million marine energy project that will help tackle climate change while reviving Pembrokeshire’s economy in the wake of Covid-19 has been given the green light.

The UK Government and Welsh Government have now approved the business case for the Pembroke Dock Marine project, which is expected to generate £73.5 million a year to the Swansea Bay City Region’s economy.

Pembroke Dock Marine is led by the private sector, with support from Pembrokeshire County Council. The project is expected to generate more than 1,800 jobs in the next 15 years.
The project is made up of four elements:

·         The Marine Energy Test Area within the Milford Haven Waterway led by Marine Energy Wales, enabling technology developers to test their marine energy devices close to their base of operation

·         The largest facility of its kind in the world, a 90 square kilometre Pembrokeshire Demonstration Zone delivered by Wave Hub Limited that will enable the deployment of future energy generating technologies, including floating wind

·         Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence – a technology, innovation and research centre delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult

·         Redevelopment of land at Pembroke Dock, led by the Port of Milford Haven, to deliver the infrastructure needed by the industry as it continues to mature

Cllr David Simpson, Leader of Pembrokeshire Council, said

“The impact of Covid-19 has further heightened the importance of Pembroke Dock Marine, so the project’s approval is very welcome news for Pembrokeshire’s residents and businesses.

“Worth £73.5 million a year, Pembroke Dock Marine will also make our economy more resilient in future by transforming Pembrokeshire and the City Region as a whole into a global example of best practice for zero carbon, marine energy innovation.

“With phase one of the Marine Energy Test Area having already opened last year, we now stand ready and wholly committed to accelerate working with our partners to deliver the project. This project will place Pembrokeshire and the City Region at the heart of a growing global industry, helping further raise the region’s profile as a place to do business and invest in.”

Andy Jones, Chief Executive of the Port of Milford Haven, said: “This is an exciting step – not just for Pembrokeshire and the region but also for our economy, our communities and our environment as we work towards net zero decarbonisation targets.

“As well as having application across other blue economy industries, Pembroke Dock Marine will create the right conditions to support the growth of the marine energy industry.

“Developers, who are already attracted by Pembrokeshire’s energy resources and high-skill supply chain, will benefit from Pembroke Dock Marine’s drive to maximise innovation and operational efficiencies as they seek to drive down the cost of marine energy. It will also act as a foundation project that will support the growth of new initiatives in the region.

“I am personally delighted that Pembroke Dock will be the home of this new industry. With a history of supporting the nation in times of need, Pembroke Dock will be at the heart of a new globally important industry.”

Lee Waters, the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, said: “This announcement signals a significant step forward for the Swansea Bay City Deal. It also clearly demonstrates our commitment to the development of a Centre of Excellence for marine technology here in Wales.

“The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on our economy and projects such as Pembroke Dock Marine will be key in returning us to the economic growth we were seeing before the virus.

“As a Welsh Government, we will continue to work with partners to deliver the City Deal for the benefit of the region and its people.”

Commenting on the news that the business case has been signed off for the Pembroke Dock Marine project, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Member of the Welsh Parliament, Angela Burns MS said

“I am delighted that the Welsh and UK Government have given the go ahead to this project which is fantastic news for our area at a time when Covid-19 is causing such economic uncertainty.

“The project will deliver the perfect mix of providing jobs, sustainable energy and the growth of a centre of excellence for marine energy generation along the Haven waterway.

“I look forward to hearing more about these plans in the coming months and congratulate the Councils, Welsh and UK Government teams for their collaborative approach to enable these projects to move forward.”

David TC Davies, UK Government Minister for Wales, said: “As we look to bounce back economically from the coronavirus pandemic, the development of clean energy projects will help to drive a green and resilient economic recovery and create new jobs.

“Pembroke Dock Marine is an important development in the progress of the Swansea Bay City Deal which will enable the wider region to benefit from the financial investment and diversity of projects within the scheme, as well as from the opportunities a low-carbon economy will bring in future.”

Cllr Rob Stewart, Chairman of the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Joint Committee, said: “This is great news for Pembrokeshire, the region and our City Deal.

“More projects are expected to receive final approval soon, which will be hugely important in helping our economy to rebound following the coronavirus pandemic.”

Pembroke Dock Marine is the third Swansea Bay City Deal project to be approved, following on from the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District, and the Canolfan S4C Yr Egin digital and creative hub at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Carmarthen.

The business case approval means Pembroke Dock Marine can now start accessing the £18 million of funding that the UK Government and Welsh Government have already released the City Deal programme as a whole.
A further £18 million of City Deal programme funding will soon be secured once the City Region has met all recommendations arising from reviews into the City Deal, with detailed work on-going.

The £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal is being funded by the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the public sector and the private sector.

Pembroke Dock Marine is seeking £28 million from the City Deal programme in coming years, which will help leverage a further £32 million of public and private funding.

The Swansea Bay City Deal programme is led by Carmarthenshire Council, Neath Port Talbot Council, Pembrokeshire Council and Swansea Council, in partnership with Swansea University, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea Bay University Health Board and Hywel Dda University Heath Board.

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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News

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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