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Politics

Plaid Leader: Prove UK is ‘partnership of equals’

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PLAID CYMRU Leader Leanne Wood has urged Prime Minister Theresa May to demonstrate that the UK is a ‘partnership of equals’, as her party has repeatedly claimed.

Leanne Wood’s call comes following her meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis, where she introduced her party’s joint White Paper on the EU with the Welsh Government.

The meeting also included the First Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales, Mark Drakeford AM and Steffan Lewis AM.

Ahead of the Joint Ministerial Committee, the Party of Wales Leader said that the voices and views of each constituent part of the United Kingdom must be heeded and honoured during the negotiations to leave the EU, and that failure to do so would have ‘major constitutional consequences’.

Ms Wood said: “This morning, a healthy exchange of views took place between representatives of the UK Government, Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

“The Secretary of State for Exiting the EU was left in no doubt over the importance of single market participation. I also raised agricultural exports and subsidies, and the need for freedom of movement to avoid skills shortages.

“Focus must shift now to the Joint Ministerial Committee, whose agenda will naturally be dominated by the vote to leave the EU.

“The Prime Minister would do wise to grasp the potential impact of these negotiations on the future constitutional landscape of the United Kingdom.

“Different views were expressed in different parts of these islands during the referendum on June 23. If the UK is truly a partnership of equal nations then Theresa May will take heed of these differences and shape her negotiating strategy accordingly.

“While Wales may have voted to leave, no one voted to give the Tories a blank cheque to wreck the Welsh economy by dragging us out of the Single Market and jeopardising 200,000 jobs.

“At the same time, the wishes of the majority who voted in favour of Remain in Scotland and Northern Ireland must also be respected.

“Last week, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government united for the sake of the national interest to publish a set of comprehensive proposals designed to protect Wales as we prepare to leave the EU.

“I hope the Prime Minister gives careful consideration to those proposals or risk confirming Wales’ status as a second-class nation within the UK.”

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News

Fresh questions over fire that ravaged Manorbier school

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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”.

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Crime

Dafydd Llywelyn retains his post as our local commissioner

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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.”

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News

Pembroke Power Station hydrogen fuel production hopes rise

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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.

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