News

Controversial Fracking spreads UK wide

Published

10 years ago

September 9, 2014

$fracking$ GOVERNMENT legislation early last month decided to push ahead with fracking plans throughout the UK, despite overwhelming opposition. Many areas of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be affected by these changes. Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracking, is the process of drilling down into the earth with hydraulics, before forcing a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the rock at a high pressure, thereby releasing the gas inside.

Fracking is viewed as important because it allows the country access to natural gasses, which are generally sparse and, from the UK’s perspective, require reliance on other nations to provide. The process of fracking is performed on a large scale and is designed to help the country become more self-sufficient; however fracking is not without its issues and controversies. There is a slew of environmental and potential health issues linked with fracking.

The process uses huge amounts of water that must be transported to the sites at huge environmental cost. Additionally there is also the worrying problem of toxic chemicals that are used contaminating the water at the site, which will then spread further afield and affect the population of surrounding towns and cities. Furthermore the process of fracking has been known to cause minor earthquakes, such as the one that hit Blackpool in 2011.

These are some of the primary concerns championed by anti-fracking factions across the UK, however, recently the UK government in its infinite wisdom decided to implement fracking UK wide, which means Wales will also be affected. Indeed, more than half of the Welsh population could find themselves affected by the decision to utilize shale gas drilling in the country.

There have been efforts to prevent fracking from taking place in certain of the country’s areas of natural beauty, and The National Trust has called for a ban on shale gas fracking in national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, including the county’s own Pembrokeshire National Park. However, it appears ministers have decreed that fracking will be allowed in national parks across the UK under “exceptional circumstances”, which presumably means if there is an abundance of shale gas beneath them. Another issue surrounding the UK fracking influx is the fact that it is yet to produce public benefit as expected.

Attempts to follow in the footsteps of our trans-Atlantic cousins have yet to yield the kind of results that people were hoping for. Instead of using this as a cautionary tale and writing the process off as an experiment that seemed like a good idea but was flawed in theory, the government, undeterred, is pushing through even more forcefully now. Perhaps this is an attempt to save face, or perhaps the powers-that-be think that if they cast their nets far and wide they’re bound to catch a lot of fish. On a more practical level, the main problem with fracking from a national perspective is surely that once again the government is overlooking the importance of investment in renewable energy, instead choosing to focus its efforts and reliance on fossil fuels.

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

2 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

3 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

3 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”