News

Welsh Ambulance Service go live as a co-responding station

Published

10 years ago

January 11, 2016

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Milford Haven: Part of the co-responding station team

MID AND WEST WALES FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE, in collaboration with the Welsh Ambulance Service (WAST) are pleased to start the new year by announcing that Milford Haven Fire Station is the first Station of 2016 to become a co-responder in the Service area.

For many years Mid and West Wales Fire Authority and WAST have been involved in a co – responding joint scheme that aims to provide the earliest possible response to life-threatening medical emergencies.

Milford Haven is the 15th station to take up co-responding duties, the first having been introduced in 1998. Since that time, Fire Service co-responding crews have attended 14, 610 medical related calls. Milford Haven is the first to go live in 2016, with Llanelli, Port Talbot and Builth Wells to follow suit.

Milford Haven have not had long to wait for their first co-responder incident. Yesterday (Thurs) at 1.16pm the crew were called to attend a female in need of medical attention and were on the scene within minutes, closely followed by an ambulance.

Steve Roberts, First Responder Officer at WAST said: “This is exactly what the scheme is designed to achieve and shows how effectively the Fire Service and WAST can work together for our communities”.

Milford Haven Crew Manager, Alun Griffiths said: “As a station we are very excited to be part of this exciting initiative. We have only been doing it for one day and can already see how beneficial the initiative is to our community”.

The Welsh Government and all public service bodies are committed to improving the quality of services provided to the public of Wales. One of the key enablers of improvement is an enhanced level of partnership in Wales to deliver services which better meet local needs and make a difference to the communities we serve.

Greg Lloyd, Head of Clinical Operations at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Every second counts in an emergency.

“If our fire service colleagues can get to a scene before one of our ambulances they can begin to deliver life-saving treatment – that’s only going to improve that patient’s chance of surviving.

“Co-responders play an important role alongside frontline ambulance staff in making sure patients get appropriate help quickly and efficiently, and they’re very much part of the Welsh Ambulance Service family.”

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Rob Quin said: “We are delighted to be able to offer further support to the Welsh Ambulance Service through the inclusion of these additional locations as co-responder Stations.

“The Geography of Mid and West Wales means that we have many largely isolated towns and communities across the region. This partnership is a vital component to reaching those in isolated communities; during 2013/14 alone MAWWFRS co-responder teams attended 1,875 medical emergencies.

“The fact that MAWWFRS have firefighters located in the heart of these communities means that we are in a perfect position to offer help when it is needed. Our role, in supporting the Welsh Ambulance Service to shorten the time it takes to reach people in need of help can make the difference between life and death for many”.

ACFO Rob Quin continued: “I am also pleased to announce that another initiative is currently under development within the Service to equip front line fire appliances with automatic defibrillators; all donated to MAWWFRS by the charity Cariad.

“The medical response trial will see front line fire appliances at Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, Llanelli, Port Talbot and Rhayader equipped with defibrillators.

“For the first time in Wales, the initiative will allow WAST to mobilise MAWWFRS appliances that are equipped with defibrillators to confirmed cardiac arrests. Whilst firefighters will provide an initial response to certain categories of call, Ambulance crews will also be mobilised to these calls taking over from the firefighters when they arrive”.

Charity founder Mr Anthony Hamilton-Shaw said: “Cariad is delighted to be working closely with MAWWFRS, providing the Zoll AED Plus defibrillator and training to front line appliances and personnel. This partnership including the Welsh Ambulance Service will be vital in achieving the aims of the charity to reduce the number of deaths caused by Cardiac Arrest within our communities. Time is critical when responding to a Cardiac Arrest, having defibrillators with trained fire fighters close by can be the difference between life and death within our communities.

“8000 people will suffer a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital environment each year in Wales. Sadly the current survival rate in Wales is just 3%. Working together we can make a difference”.

ACFO Rob Quin concluded: “Primary responsibility for responding to medical emergencies lies with the Ambulance Service, these initiatives will not replace these services but rather enhance them in a practical way by making good use of medically trained and suitably equipped firefighters who are often closer to the scene of an incident than Ambulance crews.”

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

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

Crime

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

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

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.

Local Government

Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

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.