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West Wales family raises funds for daughter’s life-changing surgery

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A FAMILY originally from West Wales is appealing for support as they raise £40,000 for life-changing surgery for their six-year-old daughter, Phoebe.

Wyn Dakin, from Five Roads, and his wife Rachel, from Llandysul, now live in Lyneham, Wiltshire. Wyn will run the Tata Steel Llanelli Half Marathon next February as part of the fundraising effort. Meanwhile, a group of Year One pupils at Lyneham Primary School is preparing to complete the 2km Junior Park Run in support of their classmate.

Phoebe and her identical twin sister, Mia, were born ten weeks early. Phoebe suffered a bleed on the brain shortly after birth and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She is a wheelchair user.

Mum Rachel, 33, a paediatric nurse originally from Carmarthen, said: “Phoebe loves to play games like Uno, to help around the house and to play with her little sister Bella. She is often in pain but inspires us daily with her strength and bravery.”

Phoebe has been assessed as suitable for a specialist procedure called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). The operation reduces the muscle tightness that causes pain and restricts mobility. With intensive physiotherapy, the family hopes Phoebe will gain greater control of her movements, improved strength, and more independence.

However, the surgery is not funded by the NHS, and the full cost — including rehabilitation and essential therapies — is expected to exceed £40,000.

The family has already raised nearly half the amount through community events and company sponsorship. Upcoming fundraisers include Wyn and colleagues taking part in the Llanelli Half Marathon, a team completing the CarTen 100-mile cycle ride next May, and a bingo night at Lyneham Community Centre on 22 November.

Rachel said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has taken on events for us and everyone who has donated — every penny counts. We are hoping Phoebe can have her surgery next summer as the younger she is, the better.

“She often wakes in the night with leg cramps and we hope the procedure will help alleviate that. At the moment she can walk a short distance with a frame, but after the operation she will need intensive physio. The first two years are the most important, and we hope she will eventually be able to walk much further.”

The family is being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope, which helps families fund medical treatments and healthcare services not available through the NHS. The charity provides fundraising guidance, financial management, campaign development and emotional support.

Tree of Hope CEO Becky Andrew said: “We wish Phoebe and her family all the best with their fundraising activities. We are pleased to be supporting them as they work towards their fundraising goals.”

To find out more or to donate to Phoebe’s campaign, visit Tree of Hope: Help Phoebe Walk With Confidence.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

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THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

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Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

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A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.

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Local Government

Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works

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Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure

SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.

“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.

Urgent works underway

Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.

Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.

Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.

Further updates are expected later this week.

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