News

Yellow weather warning as Storm Franklin approaches Pembrokeshire

Published

2 years ago

February 20, 2022

A YELLOW weather warning has been issued for very strong winds on Sunday and Monday.

Named Storm Franklin by the Met Office, winds speeds locally could be higher than those brought by Storm Eunice on Friday.

The warning becomes active at 12pm Sunday through to 1pm Monday.

Forecasts show gusts of wind in Pembrokeshire during the active yellow alert period could reach speeds similar to those seen during the Storm Eunice amber alert on Friday.

Locally Storm Franklin will peak between 3am and 7am on Monday with wind gusts forecast in excess of 65mph.

During Storm Eunice on Friday the highest wind speed recorded at the Hawarden airport weather station – as used by the Met Office to gather data – reached 54mph.

The Met Office weather warning states:

“Further periods of very strong winds on Sunday and Monday, with possible disruption.”

What to expect

Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen, along with trees/branches being brought down
Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible
Some roads and bridges may close
Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
Injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties

The Met Office says: “Winds are likely to strengthen across England and Wales on Sunday, as an increasingly squally band of rain moves southeastwards.”

“Gusts of 55-60 mph are expected widely around south and west facing coasts, but possibly also briefly inland.”#

“There is a chance that a few exposed places could see gusts near 70 mph.”

“Strong gusts associated with blustery wintry showers will follow from the north.”

“A swathe of very strong winds will reach Northern Ireland later Sunday evening in association with Storm Franklin.”

“These very strong winds will spread to many other western, central and southern areas of the UK overnight and early Monday, with gusts widely 50-60 mph, whilst west facing coastal districts will see gusts of 65-75 mph and perhaps 80 mph briefly near north coast of Northern Ireland.”

“In the south these strong winds may hamper, or slow, ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of Storm Eunice.”

“Winds will ease steadily from the northwest during the remainder of Monday.”

UPDATE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITY / WESTERN POWER

Western Power has continued to work through the night to restore electricity to customers. This has been the worst storm ever experienced in the region for the utility company in terms of impacts/calls. Engineers are continuing to work to restore power to remaining customers. The latest update is here: https://powercuts.westernpower.co.uk. BT has also worked hard to restore phone lines where cables have been affected.

Latest Situation and reminder of trees to be cleared during working week:

– We have 2 teams out for building maintenance. We are currently dealing with a dozen emergency calls not including remaining calls from yesterday. Yesterday, we had the region of 65 emergency calls that the team dealt with to assess damages as well as remaining requests from Friday. Some repairs will only be undertaken when safe to do so due to inclement weather conditions.

North
o Glandwr – SA34 0YD– Cables on the road posing hazard – road is closed until Western Power can attend.
o Slade Lane – Trees down on footpath – Countryside Access team to assess Monday
o Lotta Park – tree down – to be cleared during working week

South
o Wood Lane – Jeffreyston to Cresselly – Large trees blocking the road – Trees on power lines – Road Closed – To be cleared Sunday
o Tenby – Tiles on the pavements falling off – Pavement barriered off
o WRC Site – team to assess damage to fencing structure
o Tree on roundabout by Technium Centre blocking road – Team on site
o Dangerous tree, Redberth Playground – Playground to be closed until can be assessed next week
o Narberth – tree on the B4314 road to crematorium blocking the road – team on site

Central

o Damage to hedge in St Ishmaels to be addressed during working week
o B4330 Camrose by Callfield Farm – Wire cross road – reported to BT – Awaiting update
o Portfield Gate to Sutton – Tree on side of the road – Road is passable with care and tree has been cornered off
o Havens Head, Hubberston, Milford Haven – Dangerous tree leaning over road/cables – To be assessed next week with contractor

o Haven Road – dangerous structure on house – Assessed by Fire Service – Footpath closed until fixed by private landowner
o Withybush Woods will remain closed due to a number of trees having fallen off – Work will be carried out during the working week

MORE TO FOLLOW

Cover image: Saundersfoot on Friday, by Gareth Davies Photography

Entertainment

St Davids Cathedral Music Festival representatives attend Royal Garden Party

Published

11 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SIMON PEARCE, the esteemed Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Davids Cathedral, was honoured to attend a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The event, celebrating the UK’s Creative and Cultural Industries, featured an array of celebrities, stunning displays of spring gardens, and performances by the Band of The Marines.

Mr Pearce, who attended with his wife Katherine was appointed in 2022 as the Director of Music at the cathedral—a position he has held since 1998 in an assistant capacity—expressed his delight at the opportunity to represent the festival. “Every single moment was to be savoured,” he remarked, noting the “wonderful music, fantastic host of celebs, a sumptuous tea party, stunning gardens and Palace, and glorious British spring weather.”

The St Davids Cathedral Music Festival 2024 will open with a dazzling performance by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales on May 25. The orchestra will treat audiences to Mathias’s Festival Overture and Brahms’ Second Symphony.

Adding to the splendour, award-winning violinist Inmo Yang will grace the stage with his rendition of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto.

This year’s festival will also introduce several new performers. The Choir of Royal Holloway is set to debut on May 27, enchanting attendees with choral arrangements of orchestral classics. Local talent is also in the spotlight, with Pembrokeshire-born horn player Simon Lewis performing alongside Trio Preseli on May 26, showcasing works by Welsh composer Anthony Randall.

Adding a touch of environmental consciousness to the festival, clarinet virtuoso Emma Johnson returns on May 28 with her Orchestra for the Environment.

Their repertoire will include pieces by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Johnson’s own composition, ‘The Tree of Life’.

The festival will kick off with the 150-strong Children’s Festival Chorus on May 24, captivating audiences with their youthful energy and a live band.

Throughout the week, the cathedral musicians will feature prominently in several concerts, with the highlight being the full Cathedral choir performing Choral Evensong live on BBC Radio 3.

This prestigious invitation to Buckingham Palace came just two years after Mr Pearce’s official appointment as the Master of Choristers, a role in which he has pledged to continue enhancing the cathedral’s distinguished musical tradition.

At the time of his appointment, the Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, as Dean of St. Davids, praised Mr Pearce’s exceptional talents, saying, “It has been a pleasure to enjoy the excellence of Simon’s playing and conducting over the years.”

Under his leadership, the Cathedral Choir and Choral Foundation have been furthering their well-deserved reputation for excellence. “St Davids Cathedral is a spiritually inspiring and beautiful place in which to make music,” Mr Pearce said, acknowledging the special connections the cathedral maintains with the local community, school, and the wider Pembrokeshire area.

News

Council works to reduce empty properties in Carmarthenshire

Published

17 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council is reducing the number of empty properties within the county through the introduction of the Empty Properties Framework.

Combining enforcement, the implementation of council tax premiums on empty properties and providing support to help owners bring empty properties back into use, the Empty Properties Framework aims to:

• Reduce the number of long-term empty homes across the county

• Increase the supply of affordable housing to meet demand

• Tackle issues relating to property nuisance, blight and the impact on communities

The following case study is an example of how Carmarthenshire County Council is supporting communities and owners to bring empty properties back into use.

An empty property was reported to the Council with loose rendering falling onto a neighbouring driveway and refuse/waste material in the garden. Investigations revealed that the property had been recorded as empty for seven years and was privately owned by a limited company.

The property was visited by the Council’s Empty Homes Officers and scored as high risk (Category A), requiring enforcement. The owners responded positively to the notice served and assisted with the Council’s formal inspection of the property, during which various category 1 (the most serious) hazards were identified.

As a result, statutory notices were served on the property. These notices provided varying timeframes for work to be carried out. In the event of non-compliance, the Council may choose to undertake works, recovering all costs from the owner.

The owner complied with the work which posed an imminent risk and then sold the property at public auction. The Improvement Notices remained with the property when sold. Upon purchase, the new owners immediately began work to improve the property and this is progressing well.

Cllr Linda Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes said: “The introduction of the Empty Homes Framework aims to be bold in bringing about the improvement and occupation of empty homes, increasing the supply and use of housing to all.

Carmarthenshire County Council is committed to reducing the number of empty properties in the county, with various methods of support in place to assist owners of these properties to bring them back into use including financial assistance, subject to eligibility.”

From 1st April 2024, council tax premiums were also introduced on properties empty for more than 12 months to encourage owners to reflect on whether they could make better use of their property.

For more information on the support available to owners of empty properties visit the Council’s website – Carmarthenshire.gov.wales/housing

News

Free disability sports event heads to Pembroke Leisure Centre

Published

17 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE Leisure Centre will play host to a free disability sports and physical event later this month with lots of sports and activities to try.

The insport series, in partnership with Disability Sport Wales, Sport Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Leisure is an inclusive sport and physical activity event.

It offers opportunities for disabled young people (ages 5 years+) and adults across Pembrokeshire and friends and family are welcome.

On offer to try are: boxing, boccia, swimming (on a separate first come first serve booking basis), football, wheelchair rugby, target shooting, adaptive bikes, cricket, golf, multisport, and more.