News

Afghanistan looms for the Welsh Cavalry

Published

10 years ago

February 6, 2014

SITTING in the back of the army land rover, I am driven through the rough and rugged terrain at the Castlemartin firing range, which is used frequently for training exercises by various regiments of the British army.

Today however we have been invited to observe over a hundred soldiers from the Queens Dragoon Guards as they take part in a 36-hour operation, which consists of various tasks and exercises. The sheer determination and fitness of the soldiers is evident in their energetic and prompt responses to adverse situations, which have been cleverly elaborated and manufactured to recreate the real life scenarios of modern warfare. The regiment are likely to be deployed to Afghanistan sometime in May for possibly 6 months or longer and will be presented with various obstacles and potentially dangerous and hostile situations, so the necessity to prepare them to deal for the unexpected is paramount for them to complete their tasks safely and effectively. All members of the vehicle crews are expected to make decisions on route selection for the vehicle as well as assisting with target acquisition and the decision on whether to fire or not, which is ultimately down to the vehicle commander.

Wooden cutouts with the painted faces of Middle Eastern men have been placed strategically around the range to prepare the frontline soldiers for ambushes, while small explosives, which produce, loud bangs are hidden in the grass verges to recreate the effect of an I.E.D (improvised explosive device). Once the devices are detonated the countless hours of training comes into play as soldiers retaliate with return fire at the wooden cutout targets, panic stricken faces run towards me in an attempt to restore order and bring the situation under control. Live rounds are fired and the scenario seems very real indeed. Captain Rupert Robinson tells The Herald the aims and objectives of the operation:

“The exercise is progressive, initially confirming soldiers’ ability to fire their personal weapons accurately before progressing to more complicated shoots, culminating in more complex scenarios where soldiers in section, troop and squadron-sized groupings undertake live fire ranges with support from mortars and airborne assets.”

Some of those involved will have previous Afghan experience – in 2008, 2009 and 2011/12 –although for some troops this will be the first time they have trained for an operational tour so the experience is invaluable and potentially lifesaving for them with some soldiers having only joined the Army last year.

For Lieutenant Corporal Scott Roystonhalpin from Carmarthen, this will be his second tour of Afghanistan and is all too aware of the dangers that lay ahead.

“I have been trained to an advanced standard as a gunner which leaves me exposed and vulnerable at the top of a battle tank, but I have been trained by the best army in the world so fully comprehend the risks”

He also explains the physicality requirements of a British Soldier serving in Afghanistan

“I lost three stone on my last tour. The conditions are extreme, from 40 degree heat in the day to freezing temperatures at night it certainly takes it’s toll on your body, both physically and mentally”.

Once the range package is complete the QDG will conduct a second exercise in Thetford the following week. The troops will return to home base in Sennelager, Germany, where they will take part in simulated training prior to returning to the UK to carry out other exercises in preparations for a likely operational tour. Left tenant Colonel William Davies reiterates the importance of the British Military presence in Afghanistan

“We are essentially deployed to restore order to the country, one of our objectives for example is to carry on training the Afghan National Army to operate at a brigade level so we can feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can carry on our work once we leave”

The past 50 years have been busy for the Regiment which has seen active service in Borneo, Aden, Lebanon, the 1991 Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, the 2003 Iraq War, two further tours of Iraq and, most recently, deployments to Afghanistan in 2008/09 and 2011/12.

QDG was awarded the Freedom of Cardiff in 1985. Hopefully 2014’s tour of Afghan will be a safe and successful tour for the regiment and will allow them to accomplish their tasks and objectives.

News

Fresh questions over fire that ravaged Manorbier school

Published

29 mins ago

May 3, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A senior Pembrokeshire councillor is to be quizzed on what progress has been made in recouping a £200,000 insurance excess paid by the council following the 2022 fire at a Manorbier school.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire on October 11, 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

Pupils and staff were successfully evacuated with no injuries, and a “school from school” was set up in Jameston Village Hall, after a brief period of sanctuary at the nearby Buttyland caravan site.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s insurers have previously said the fire was accidentally started while “hot works” were being carried out by contractors to renew an adjacent flat roof, but, as has previously been stressed, no liability had been accepted to date.

Councillors have previously heard the majority of costs were likely to be met from the council’s insurers, with the caveat of the unknown issue of liability and its effect on the £200,000 insurance excess.

A submitted question, by Councillor Aled Thomas, to be heard at the full council meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council on May 9, will ask Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham “to update the chamber on what progress the Cabinet have made in recouping the £200,000 insurance excess paid following the devastating non-fault fire at Manorbier school”.

Councillors have previously been told by Cllr Woodham: “The legal issues are not straightforward but will be robustly taken forward.

“At this stage it’s still subject to legal discussion. The excess will be covered by a fund the council holds for insurance excess.”

He said that, if liability was found or accepted, the council would “pursue for the full maximum claim of the costs associated with the fire”.

Crime

Dafydd Llywelyn retains his post as our local commissioner

Published

31 mins ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE result of the election for the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner election has been declared.

Plaid’s Dafydd Llywelyn retains his role as commissioner. He has held the role since 2016.

The result of the election is as follows:

Justin Mark Griffiths (Lib Dem) 7,719
Ian Harrison 19,134 (Con)
Dafydd Llywelyn 31,323 (Plaid)
Philippa Thompson (Lab) 18,353

Before the election, Dafydd Llywelyn promised: “As your current Commissioner, operational, front-line policing has, and always will come before party politics. I have a strong track record of delivering on my promises and of listening to the communities of Dyfed Powys. I am proud of what I have achieved since 2016, but there is still so much to do.

“I am an approachable individual and I believe in listening to all members of the community in order to shape a successful police force.

“Since 2016, I have increased resources whilst also retaining the lowest council tax levels in Wales. During that time, we’ve seen:

150 more Police Officers;

150 more Police Staff;
A CCTV system that is monitored 24/7 by police staff;
A dedicated rural crime team;
A focus on county lines drug dealing to target organised crime;
Investment in Youth Offending Teams to divert young people away from crime;
A new Offender Diversionary Scheme to reduce re-offending.

If re – elected:

I will safeguard Neighbourhood Policing resources retaining a visible local policing presence;
I will invest in the Communications Centre to ensure an accessible service;
I will continue to put the victim at the heart of the service and develop a truly victim led service;
I will work with operational staff to keep local police stations open;
I will invest in a new and refreshed School Police programme to deliver early intervention and preventative work;
I will prioritise working in partnership with organisations and agencies to safeguard the most vulnerable in society.

“Your safety is my top priority. I want to ensure that the Dyfed Powys Police Force remains one of the safest places to live in Wales and England.”

News

Pembroke Power Station hydrogen fuel production hopes rise

Published

34 mins ago

May 3, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A public consultation on plans to develop a green hydrogen production facility next to Pembroke Power Station has been launched by energy company RWE Generation UK.

The technology uses the electrolysis of water to split into its constituent elements, hydrogen for fuel and power, and oxygen.

RWE, in its consultation, says: “RWE is progressing proposals to develop a green hydrogen production facility on RWE’s land adjacent to the existing Pembroke Power Station and has launched a statutory pre-application consultation to inform stakeholders and the community.

“RWE values the input of the local community and feedback will be used to inform the plans. RWE Pembroke Green Hydrogen will facilitate the generation of green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is produced from water, using energy obtained from renewable sources.

“The hydrogen can then be used to decarbonise local industrial activities in South Wales, by displacing their current fossil fuel usage. The facility would be located on RWE’s site to the west of Pembroke Power Station and would benefit from being well-screened from local communities, while being accessed via the current power station access road.”

It adds: “It is expected that hydrogen generated by this facility for use in local industry would directly result in the reduction of approximately 93,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, helping to secure a more sustainable future for South Wales’ long-standing industrial heritage. This CO2 saving is the equivalent of removing 18,600 cars from the road each year.”

The 23.7ha development site proposed comprises of a 4ha main electrolyser area, a 1.5km hydrogen gas pipeline corridor, an electrical connection to a high voltage transformer all located to the west of Pembroke Power Station, and an area for connections into the Pembroke Power Station and a cable corridor for connection into the National Grid Substation.

The consultation documents say: “The proposed development is a green hydrogen electrolysis plant that will consume circa 100-110MW of electricity to produce around 2 te/hr green hydrogen gas for third-party uses unrelated to Pembroke Power Station. Including the balance of plant, the total energy consumption for the proposed development will be approximately 140MW.

“The consequent reduction in use of fossil fuels due to substitution by green hydrogen gas, and avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is a beneficial operational effect of the proposed development.”

It says development of the project is expected to take 24 months, and subject to as-yet unsubmitted full plans’ approval, could be built by early 2027.

The consultation runs to May 20.

A hydrogen fuel plant facility was given the backing of county planners last October, at the former Puma Energy site in Milford Haven.

H2 Energy Ecosystem UK Limited sought permission for the erection of an electrolysis hydrogen generation facility, and associated storage facilities and works at the Amoco Road site.