News
Natural Resources Wales to investigate pollution incident
NATURAL RESOURCES WALES are to investigate a pollution incident near Pembroke Power Station, it has been confirmed.
However RWE Generation UK who run the power station said it was harmless foam from their cooling water outfall, similar to sea foam.
Cliff Benson from Sea Trust Wales took photographs on Sunday (Aug 30) and posted them on the NRW Facebook page. A large amount of what appears to be a white foamy substance was covering an embankment above the high tide line, and also the beach below.
Mr. Benson said: “I have now telephone and reported the matter to the Natural Resources Wales hotline, and it is going to be investigated”
He added: “Natural Resources Wales said that the effluent was a biological emission that was harmless. However I questioned just how innocuous it was. I was told it was organic with no environmental impact. However I wouldn’t want to bathe in it and I wouldn’t want my kids playing in it. It didn’t look good or smell good.
“It’s not a good advertisement for the power station. We are told it’s going to be a nice clean lovely thing. You pass by and see all this gunk coming out of it. They don’t seem to have done much of a job of cleaning it up. The owners of the power station should come clean about what the gunk is and to do a better job of cleansing the shoreline.”
RWE Generation UK said in an official statement: “The foam currently coming from the Pembroke Power Station cooling water outfall is the same as the sea and beach foam which occurs naturally from time to time. It is harmless and is not caused by any form of pollution.
“RWE have commissioned a unique and bespoke project in order to reduce the formation and release of foam from the station. This work is underway with mechanical installation complete and commissioning due to be completed by the end of 2015.”
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
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 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
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.
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ian campbell
August 31, 2015 at 7:24 pm
this foam is a regular occurence and is a conseuence of flushing the cooling system. another reason to object o the operation of the power station
David Robinson
September 1, 2015 at 12:05 pm
http://www.bing.com/mapspreview?FORM=Z9LH3
This is a regular occurrence just as Ian says; check out the BING Maps link above, select “Aerial” mode to see the foam stream going down the harbour.(2013 Map)
The question that needs answering here is how many fish are being killed by this so called “once through” cooling system , when viewed against the original Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to start up of this Power Plant.
A little digging into those figures might prove illuminating.
D.R.
tomos
September 5, 2015 at 1:03 pm
what about the stink that has blighted Pemnbroke Dock? heck of a lot worse than this!
we must again thank PCC for this wonderful new way of dealing with Pembrokeshires (and ceredigions) waste i.e leaving it by the docks for 6 weeks so that people cannot have their
windows open because of the flies and the pong