PASSENGERS at Tenby railway station are set to benefit from step-free access as a major £8.3 million upgrade moves into its next phase.

Network Rail, working with contractor AmcoGiffen, is delivering the scheme as part of the UK Government’s Access for All programme. The project will introduce a new footbridge with lifts, providing full step-free access between both platforms.

Bridge removed as work progresses

Earlier this month, engineers removed the station’s existing footbridge using 220-tonne and 60-tonne cranes. A temporary walkway has now been installed to allow passengers to continue moving between platforms while construction continues.

The milestone was marked by a visit from local schoolchildren, who were given the chance to watch the crane operation and learn more about careers in engineering.

Complex infrastructure work underway

Behind the scenes, teams have carried out significant work to relocate and recommission signalling and telecommunications equipment. New ducting has also been installed, and cabling rerouted to support the upgraded infrastructure.

Work will continue over the coming months, with the new accessible bridge and lifts expected to be completed in autumn 2026.

Improving access for all

The Tenby project forms part of a wider national programme to improve accessibility across the rail network. Since its launch in 2006, the Access for All scheme has upgraded more than 200 stations across Britain.

Theo Smith, Senior Portfolio Manager at Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “This is an important milestone for Tenby and the local community, bringing us closer to a station that everyone can use with confidence.

“We’d like to thank passengers and residents for their patience as we continue these major improvements.”

James Gough, Customer Operations Director at Transport for Wales added: “It’s great to see real progress being made at Tenby. This investment will make a lasting difference for both local people and visitors.”

TAXI passengers in Milford Haven are facing a sudden jump in fares, as drivers increasingly switch on their meters and charge full council-approved rates.

One Herald reader said a short return trip from Milford Haven to Neyland cost £30 — around double what he expected to pay.

But drivers insist the prices are not new — they are simply the official tariff now being applied.

Under Pembrokeshire County Council rules, the standard daytime fare starts at £4 for the first mile (£5 after 6pm), rising by around £3 per mile thereafter. Waiting time is also charged, meaning even short return journeys can quickly add up.

Higher rates apply in the evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays.

End of the £3 taxi

Milford Haven has long been known for cheap taxis, with short in-town journeys often costing as little as £3 — far below official rates.

That was down to competition, older vehicles, and the need to keep prices low in a town where many rely on affordable transport.

Drivers say those days are now over.

One local driver told The Herald: “People got used to cheap fares, but that was never the real price. Now we have to use the meter or we’re losing money.”

Fuel costs biting

Most taxis run on diesel, now around 170p per litre locally. For drivers covering long distances each day, the increase has hit hard.

Global tensions in the Middle East have pushed up oil prices, feeding directly into higher fuel costs in the UK.

With fare increases requiring a lengthy council process, many drivers say they have no option but to charge the full tariff.

Vulnerable hit hardest

The change is being felt most by those who rely on taxis the most.

Elderly residents, people on low incomes and those without access to a car are now facing higher everyday travel costs.

There has been no recent increase in Pembrokeshire’s official taxi fares, which have remained broadly unchanged since 2022.

The difference is simple: drivers are now charging them.

As one put it: “We’re not putting prices up — we’re just finally charging what we’re supposed to be charging.”

Support for bereaved children among local causes chosen in Pembroke Dock

LIDL colleagues in Pembroke Dock have chosen a Pembrokeshire children’s bereavement charity to receive a community donation as part of the retailer’s expanded investment programme across Wales.

Staff at the store selected Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity as one of two local organisations to receive a £500 donation. The charity provides specialist support to children and young people up to the age of 25, helping them cope with loss and rebuild confidence.

Sandy Bear was chosen in recognition of its work supporting bereaved families across Pembrokeshire, including more than 20 families in the Pembroke area.

Ben Rees, shift manager at the Pembroke Dock store, said the scheme allows staff to support organisations making a real difference locally.

Martin Jones, business development manager at Sandy Bear, said: “Behind every child we support is a story of loss that no family should have to face alone. Support from local businesses like Lidl means we can continue to be there when families need us most, helping children understand their grief and find a way forward.”

Colleagues also selected Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen Mind, which provides mental health support through community programmes and wellbeing initiatives across the region.

The donations form part of Lidl GB’s wider community investment programme, which has supported more than 145 causes in Wales since 2022, contributing over £188,000 to local charities.

Alongside financial donations, charities linked to Lidl stores also receive support through the retailer’s ‘Feed it Back’ scheme, run in partnership with Neighbourly. The initiative redistributes surplus food, providing the equivalent of more than 2.3 million meals in Wales since 2016.

Lidl GB chief executive Ryan McDonnell said the programme empowers staff to support causes that matter most to their communities.

The retailer says its wider community work in Wales includes investment in initiatives such as its Foodies programme, which promotes healthy eating in schools and has reached more than 25,000 children across the country.