Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Business

Edwards Bros sale to council completes

Published

on

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has completed the purchase of the assets of Edwards Bros Coaches of Tiers Cross. The move allows the local authority (LA) to “maintain its statutory duty to provide public and school transport” and to reduce costs “as part of an invest to save strategy,” it says.

Conclusion of the deal ends a long-running affair that began in 2021 when “it became clear that the operator was planning to withdraw from the bus market,” PCC continues. At that time, the county had lost five operators in the prior seven years, including Silcox Coaches of Pembroke Dock in 2016.

The potential withdrawal of Edwards Bros Coaches caused concern with the LA that a retendering exercise in a smaller market and with accelerating operational expenditure could have led it to incur “substantial increased costs for the same services.”

Loss of a further operator would have created a “high risk” that others would not be found for all of Edwards Bros’ contracts had it exited the market. That could have forced PCC to bring more work in-house but without suitable facilities to do so. The Edwards purchase includes its operating centre.

Papers from a PCC Cabinet meeting on 10 January 2022 show that at that point, it was paying Edwards Bros a claimed annual sum of “in the region of £900,000” for 23 home-to-school routes and six public services. PCC estimated that retendering would have seem an increase of £300,000 on that.

PCC’s Cabinet backed the acquisition of the Edwards Bros assets at that meeting a year ago. Since then, the LA has undertaken “a huge piece of due diligence.” Completion of the deal came in December 2022. PCC already operates some contracts in-house, which the LA previously said was a practice that had been initiated where “there is no competition, or, in fact, no interest” from commercial operators.

Speaking about the conclusion of the purchase, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett, said: “We have a statutory duty to provide these important services in as sustainable and cost-effective a way as possible. In this case, that has been to bring these assets in-house.
“Former Edwards Bros staff are now being employed by the council, with management being undertaken by existing officers from within the Transport Department who have the necessary qualification to manage a bus company.
“I would like to thank officers in the council for the hard work done on the due diligence, and the former proprietor of Edwards Bros and his team for reaching this milestone. It is especially poignant for Mr Edwards, given the family run nature of the business over many years.”

Edwards Bros Coaches held an international O-Licence for 34 vehicles, with Robert Edwards and Jayne Edwards as its Directors. That licence is currently under consideration for surrender, according to the Vehicle Operator Licencing Service. In its papers of 10 January 2022, PCC said it was to operate the acquired services under both Section 19 and Section 22 community bus permits.

The business was founded in 1946 as a garage, later moving to operating a private hire car before the arrival of the first mini coach and coach in the 1960s.

It should be noted that Edwards Bros Coaches of Tiers Cross has no connection with any other coach or bus operator in Wales of a similar name, including Edwards Coaches of Llantrisant, which remains in family ownership.

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

on

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Continue Reading

Business

52 homes to be built in Roch as scheme gets final sign-off

Published

on

THE FINAL stage of approval for a near-£10m Pembrokeshire residential development of 52 homes has been given the go-ahead.

Back in April, members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee backed an application by Wakefield Pembrokeshire Ltd for the development, which includes four one-bed affordable housing units, on land near Pilgrims Way, Roch.

18 objections to the scheme were received, raising concerns including an “inadequate” affordable housing level, it being a high density development for a rural area, a loss of green space, the size of some of the homes, and pressures on existing services and facilities, and fears it may lead to an increase in second homes.

Nolton & Roch Community Land Trust (N&RCLT) has raised its concerns about a lack of affordable homes at the development, calling for a 20 per cent affordable homes element, as recommended by policy.

An officer report for members, recommending conditional approval, said: “It is apparent that the proposed development is not fully policy compliant, insofar as it cannot deliver the indicative 20 per cent affordable housing sought [by policy].

“However, a substantial positive social impact will arise through the provision of housing, including four one-bed affordable housing units, in meeting identified needs for both market and affordable housing.

“Financial obligations identified to mitigate adverse impacts arising from the proposed development cannot be met in full. However, [policy] acknowledges that in such circumstances contributions may be prioritised on the basis of the individual circumstances of each case.”

Speaking at the meeting, agent Gethin Beynon said the project had a “significant economic value” of around £10m, and the local applicant had “a sense of stewardship to the local community,” offering affordable housing and community infrastructure towards highways and education.

Approval was delegated to the council’s head of planning to approve the application, subject to the completion of a Section 106 planning obligation, making community financial contributions.

The Section 106 agreement was recently agreed, with the application now formally approved.

Continue Reading

Business

World of engineering and welding SPARCs interest in Ysgol Harri Tudur’s female learners

Published

on

AN EVENT hosted by Ledwood Engineering gave girls from Year 8 and 9 at Ysgol Harri Tudur first-hand experience of the world of engineering recently. 

Engineering is a booming sector in Pembrokeshire with a high demand for skilled workers in exciting career pathways associated with the development of low carbon and renewable energy industry and the Celtic Freeport. 

The young women heard from industry experts on the importance of engineering in Pembrokeshire, and had hands on experience using a welding simulator, at the company’s Pembroke Dock site. 

The learners are part of the County’s SPARC (Sustainable Power and Renewable Construction) initiative aimed as inspiring and empowering young females to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathways where females are under-represented in the workforce. 

SPARC is funded through an alliance comprising Blue Gem Wind, Ledwood Engineering, Port of Milford Haven, RWE Renewables, Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire College and the Swansea Bay City Deal. 

Mrs Laura Buckingham, SPARC practitioner at Ysgol Harri Tudur said: “Our learners had a fantastic experience at Ledwood Engineering.  They were given lots of advice by industry experts on the different career options and pathways within the engineering sector.  

“They appreciated the opportunity to ask their questions and found the session very informative. Having the chance to trial their welding skills on the simulator was an experience they continue to talk about and has definitely piqued their interest.”

Poppy Sawyer, Year 8 SPARC learner added:  ‘It was a really good trip. Talking to the different people there has helped me know more about the jobs we could get which will be very useful when making choices for my future.”  

 “They helped us a lot by giving us lots of information. We were able to look around and try welding. It was really fun,” added Tianna Marshall, Year 8 SPARC learner.

The Regional Learning and Skills Partnership also launched its Explore Engineering interactive website at the event.

Continue Reading

Business1 day ago

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure...

Community1 day ago

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation...

News2 days ago

Ferry accident causes delay on new Dublin-Fishguard route

IRISH Ferries’ Isle of Innisfree sustained damage during arrival on Friday (Dec 20) at Fishguard port. The incident occurred as...

Entertainment3 days ago

River-themed lanterns light up Cardigan in spectacular parade

THOUSANDS of people flocked to Cardigan on Monday (Dec 18) for the much-anticipated Giant Lantern Parade, hosted by Small World...

Business3 days ago

Pembrokeshire care home group hit by £150,000 budget blow

A COMPANY with six care homes in Pembrokeshire has revealed it is facing a £150,000 financial hit due to controversial...

News5 days ago

Rift between Neyland councillors now ‘as wide as Grand Canyon’

THE DIVISIONS within Neyland Town Council deepened further this week after a controversial attempt to block an Extraordinary General Meeting...

Politics5 days ago

Pembrokeshire Long Course Weekend changes could be made

PEMBROKESHIRE’S annual Long Course Weekend triathlon event could be run on a different route in future, in an attempt to...

Business6 days ago

Wales’ biggest Specsavers store opens in Haverfordwest

SPECSAVERS HAVERFORDWEST has relocated to a larger, state-of-the-art premises in the Riverside Shopping Centre, becoming the largest Specsavers store in...

News7 days ago

Engine room fire caused by loose fuel pipe connection previously flagged

AN INVSTIGATION has been published into a fire that broke out in the engine room of the roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry...

News1 week ago

Heroes of the storm: How Council workers rallied during rare red wind warning

PEMBROKESHIRE experienced a weekend of extreme weather as Storm Darragh brought chaos to the region, prompting an extraordinary display of...

Popular This Week