News

Joyce Watson MS visits Dragon LNG on women in engineering day

Published

3 years ago

July 3, 2023

SENEDD Member Joyce Watson marked International Women in Engineering Day (Jun 23) with a visit to Dragon LNG’s new solar farm.

Located at the operator’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Milford Haven, the project is part of the site’s transition to renewable energy, as it aims to become Net Zero by 2029.

Speaking after the visit, the Labour Mid and West Wales politician said: “Today is International Women in Engineering Day. But in the UK only 16.5% of engineers are women. Three quarters of our STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) workforce are men – and only 20 per cent of women science graduates go on to STEM careers, compared with 44 per cent of men.

“Girls generally outperform boys in science GCSEs and A-levels, but that success is not translating into careers.

“It’s not just a gender imbalance problem. Britain is short of 173,000 STEM workers – it costs the UK economy £1.5 billion a year. We cannot afford to waste female talent and potential.

“That is why initiatives like the Engineering Education Scheme Wales, which encourages girls from year 8 up to contact employers and higher education institutions, are so important – helping girls make informed choices about their options.

“Climate change, food security, global pandemics – the big challenges we face demand STEM-based solutions. We need more women to help solve them.

Mrs Watson, who chairs the Welsh Parliament’s cross-party construction group, added: “Dragon LNG, through its award-winning Darwin project, is doing fantastic work with Pembrokeshire College, the Pembrokeshire Education Authority and local stakeholders to engage around 3,500 learners every year – over 70,000 since it started in 2005.

“This month, Lamphey School pupils will take part in the company’s first renewables workshop. I hope it inspires the next generation of STEM specialists – boys and girls.”

Left to Right: Karen Wood; Joyce Watson; Laura Callan, commercial officer; and Priscilla Wilson, Health and Safety Executive lead

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

7 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

7 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

7 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.