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Carew hold off Narberth to book quarter final place

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CAREW booked their place in the quarter finals of the Harrison Allen on Wednesday night (May 26) as they beat Narberth by 2 runs.

Carew won the toss and chose to bat first before reaching a total of 151-4 from their 22 overs.

Tim Hicks and Nick Davies shared 28 runs for the first wicket before Hicks was caught by Daniel Hughes off the bowling of Ben Quartermaine on a score of 20.

Rhys Davies came in and shared 30 runs with Nick but that partnership was broken by Ben Hughes who caught and bowled Rhys on a score of 10.

Nick Davies and Brian Hall then had another good partnership worth 41 runs as they took the score up towards three figures.

Davies had hit three fours and three sixes in a score of 54 from 45 balls but he was then bowled by Matthew Johns.

Hall and Whitfield continued the good partnerships adding 35 for the fourth wicket.

Whitfield hit a four and two sixes as his score of 29 came off 17 balls but he was caught by Richard Adams off the bowling of Quartermaine.

Brian Hall finished not out on 21 while Luke Hicks hit a four and a six in a late 4-ball spell to finish not out on 11.

That set Narberth 152 to win but they soon found themselves in trouble in their reply.

Hadliegh Luff hit a four and a six in a score of 13 but he was then bowled by Rhys Davies.

Shaun Whitfield caught and bowled Jamie McCormack and Davies returned to bowl Richard Adams to leave Narberth struggling on 19-3.

Jordan Howell and Kyle Quartermaine looked to steady the innings with a stand of 24 for the fourth wicket.

Whitfield then bowled Howell on a score of 9 to leave Narberth on 43-4.

Quartermaine and Lewis Hough continued to rebuild the innings with a stand of 31 before Hough was bowled by Iori Hicks on a score of 15 (1 six).

Kyle was joined by brother Ben and the pair shared the best stand of the innings worth 47 runs.

Kyle hit five fours and four sixes as he reached his half century before falling to Iori Hicks on a score of 65.

Narberth scored 21 runs in the penultimate over to leave themselves needing 10 runs to win off the last.

Ben Quartermaine picked up 5 runs off the first three balls but on the fourth, Quartermaine was run out by Nick Davies. His four and two sixes saw him score 29 from 15 balls but his wicket was a big blow.

Ben Hughes then got two runs off the fifth meaning they needed three off the final ball to win.

Hughes went for it but saw his shot caught by Rhys Davies to give Hicks his third wicket and the win to Carew.

It was another thrilling end but it was Carew who were celebrating as Narberth finished two runs short on 149-8.

Business

Stena announces redundancy plan amid uncertainty for Pembrokeshire

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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.

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UK government to appoint first Wales Crown Estate Commissioner

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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.”

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Crime

Arrests made after large-scale cannabis operation raided in Pembroke Dock

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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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