News
Annual report shows strong investment from Port
THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN has published its 2016 annual report, showing strong investment in the marine, leisure, tourism and marine renewable energy sectors.
The Port recorded a profit before tax of £5.6m and a turnover of £25.3m. Cargo throughout was slightly lower than the previous year at 34.9m tonnes.
In 2016, the Milford Waterfront brand was officially launched. Milford Waterfront is a flagship development for the Port and has the potential to accommodate approximately 380,000 sq ft of commercial, leisure and premium residential space. It is expected to create in the region of 600 new jobs and provide a significant uplift to the local economy.
Milford Marina celebrated its 25th anniversary during the year. Visitors enjoyed a busy calendar of events, as well as new heritage boat tours that are now operating from the marina.
Significant investment was made on the marine side of the business. A state-of-the-art marine navigation simulation suite was installed, providing the Port’s own marine professionals with training software as well as being able to offer it to external bodies and eventually market it to a global audience.
Investment was also made in a fleet of new pilot vessels – St Brides and St Davids, with St Govans expected to arrive in 2017.
Volumes at Pembroke Dock Ferry Terminal continued to show annual growth on both the freight and passenger side, as did volumes of imports and exports at Pembroke Port.
There is great optimism for the marine renewables sector in Pembrokeshire which was cemented by the creation of a Marine Hub at Pembroke Port. Following the approval of the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal in March 2017 by the UK’s Prime Minister, our Pembroke Dock Marine project can now move forward and activity within the renewables industry as a whole is expected to increase with earnest over the coming months and years.
A significant amount of time was dedicated to engaging with stakeholders throughout 2016 and the results of the annual survey revealed a heightened awareness of the work carried out in the community. As a Trust Port, the Port is committed to helping create a prosperous society and aims to create opportunities for young people through the wide range of projects that it is involved in.
Alec Don, Chief Executive at the Port, said: “Our staff are at the heart of all we do at the Port and they continuously go the extra mile to ensure that we provide a safe and efficient service 24 hours a day, 7 seven days a week, 365 days of the year. It is this dedication and collaboration that has assisted the Port in producing a pleasing set of results in a range of sectors in what can sometimes be turbulent markets.
“2017 is set to be considerably more challenging, with significantly reduced volumes of LNG currently affecting the business. In line with the rest of the market we also experienced a substantial increase in our pension liabilities. It is for these aspects of volatility we have ensured as a business that we have a strong balance sheet and are pursuing growth and development in the infrastructure and property parts of our business.”
The 2016 Annual Report and Financial Statements can be viewed online at www.mhpa.co.uk/annual-report
Crime
Police issue update following incident at Tenby multi-storey
Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed this morning that they are investigating a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby, at around 4pm on Thursday, January 2.
The collision, police said, involved a grey Nissan Qashqai and a young child.
The child remains in a critical condition in hospital.
The family are being supported by specially trained officers.
One man, aged 33, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, drink driving, and drug driving. He remains in police custody.
Police issued a statement saying: “This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation.
“We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances and allow our officers to carry out their enquiries.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to us, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.
Quote reference 25*6238”
News
Milford sex offender’s child abuse images ‘most disturbing imaginable’
A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Pembrokeshire has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found with nearly 40,000 indecent images of children, including some of the most disturbing nature imaginable. Jason Church, a father of young children, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he faced multiple charges related to child exploitation.
The investigation began when police traced suspicious online activity linked to Church’s home in Milford Haven. On August 23, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at his residence, during which Church admitted to having incriminating material on his mobile phone. He explicitly stated to the police, “It’s on my phone, what you’re looking for” when questioned about the nature of the images.
Upon examination of his Samsung device, authorities uncovered a staggering collection: 2,688 images classified as Category A (the most severe), along with 4,160 Category B images and an alarming 32,205 Category C images. Among these horrific images were videos depicting the sexual abuse of very young children, including a baby. Additionally, officers discovered a 170-page manual that provided detailed guidance on how to exploit children and evade detection.
In court, prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton highlighted the graphic content of the material found and emphasised the seriousness of Church’s offences. Despite his previous clean record, Church pleaded guilty to all charges against him. His defence barrister noted that Church was aware of the severity of his actions and had sought help from organizations aimed at preventing child exploitation.
Judge Huw Rees condemned Church’s actions as “unhealthy” and a significant danger to children. He stated, “These are not just images; they represent real victims,” reinforcing the gravity of Church’s crimes and the impact they have on real lives.
In addition to his prison sentence, Church is required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years following his release.
Community
Welsh Water distribute free cold weather lagging kits
AS the winter season is in full swing and the temperature drops, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is offering free winter lagging kits to help households across Wales prepare for the colder months. With over 2,500 kits available, the initiative aims to assist residents in protecting their homes against frozen pipes and costly bursts.
Frozen pipes can lead to unwanted damage and unnecessary stress during the winter season, but with the right preparation the risks can be minimised.
The winter lagging kit includes pipe insulation and a tap jacket – with lagging designed to protect exposed pipes and a tap jacket to prevent outdoor taps from freezing and bursting.
“We understand how challenging winter can be for many people, which can be made worse should the unexpected happened – such as a experiencing a frozen or burst pipe,” said Euan Hampton, Water Demand – Delivery Manager at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. “To help ease the pressures winter can bring, we’re offering free pipe lagging kits and tap jackets as part of our ongoing commitment to helping communities stay safe, warm, and secure throughout the colder months.”
In addition to distributing free lagging kits and tap jackets. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water recommends the following tips to help residents prepare their homes:
Locate your stop tap: Knowing the location of your stop tap is essential in the case of an emergency. If your pipes freeze or burst, you’ll want to shut the water off to minimise damage.
Clear your gutters: Blocked gutters can lead to excess water accessing your home, especially during a storm.
Insulate pipes: Not only outdoor pipes need preparing, think of areas that may be at risk to cold weather – attics or uninsulated cupboards.
Fix those drips: Dripping taps can increase the risk of frozen pipes. Fixing it will also save you litres of water every day, saving both energy and money on your water bill.
Away from home? Empty buildings are at particular risk. If you’re leaving your home for a prolonged period, turn off your stop tap and drain down the system – so there is no water in the system to freeze. If you’re away for a short time, if you can, we suggest keeping your heating on low to help keep your home warm and prevent pipes from freezing.
The free kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a free winter lagging kit or tap jacket, customers can visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/winter-ready
Alongside the helpful tips to prepare your home this winter and advice on how to manage any issues should they arise. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water are also offering free water efficiency home visits to all domestic customers – and the free lagging kit and tap jackets can be installed as part of the visit.
If you would like to find out more ways you could start saving, visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/cartref/water-efficiency-home-visit
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