News

Dry fire hydrants challenging fire fighters at recycling centre fire

Published

4 years ago

August 14, 2022

FIRE crews from as far as way as Whitland, Kidwelly, and Tumble in Carmarthenshire tackling a large blaze at a recycling centre in Waterston, but a lack of water in on site fire hydrants is making their job harder.

A large plume of thick black smoke can be seen by them into the air from many miles away, and appears to have started at TBS Skip Hire & Recycling.

There are at least 15 firefighting appliances at the scene with more arriving all the time.

Aerial platform and water bowser have also been dispatched to the scene.

The fire could take days to extinguish, it has been announced (Image MAWWFRS)

There are approximately 100 firefighters tackling the blaze, in extremely hot weather conditions.

Ambipar Response and staff from TBS are providing rescuers bottles of water as they tackle the incident.

The police are also in attendance providing traffic control from the main road from Black Bridge to Waterston which has now been shut to all traffic at Venn’s Yard.

The recycling centre blaze from a distance (Pic: Jack Allerton/Herald)

Welsh Water are also at the scene, assisting firefighters to find a nearby water source. They are currently surveying the main road.

Fire hydrants in the industrial estate appear to be dry, with fire engines being diverted away from the fire to fill up their internal water tanks.

Farmers with a water tankers trailers towed by tractors have dropped what they are doing and turned up at the scene to help supply water to the fire brigade.

Fire officer Criag Thomas from the Mid And West Wales Fire And Rescue Service has thanked all the crews who helped to try tackle the blaze in Milford Haven as well as the local businesses.

“Tremendous work everyone!” he said.

Aerial platform from Haverfordwest fire station tackling blaze (Image MAWWFRS)

TBS Skip Hire & Recycling, who describe themselves as a ‘close family business’ announced the sad passing of owner Phillip Thomas on August 10. Described by many as an awesome guy and true gentleman, hundreds took to social media to leave their thoughts, and to pay their respects.

Farmers were praised on social media for helping with the fire fight (Image: Facebook)

MORE TO FOLLOW ON THIS UPDATING STORY

Editor's Note: Phil Thomas was the Herald's biggest supporter and is the only person to have taken out a full page advertisement in every one of the 471 editions of The Pembrokeshire Herald over the last nine years. As a good friend to us all, it was extremely sad to see the fire at the yard. Of course we are obliged to report this incident, but we would also like to extend our sincere sympathy to his family and friends.

News

Major incident declared after bus crash in Carmarthenshire

Published

1 hour ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Emergency services at scene as A484 closed near Parc y Bocs

A MAJOR incident has been declared in Kidwelly following a collision involving a bus.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were dealing with the incident on the A484 near the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs.

The road has been closed between the Kidwelly roundabout and Llandyfaelog, and motorists are being urged to find alternative routes.

Emergency services are at the scene, and members of the public have been asked to stay away from the area until further notice.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Officers are dealing with a major incident in Kidwelly, following a report of a collision involving a bus on the A484 near the Kidwelly roundabout.

“The road is closed between the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs and Llandyfaelog, and motorists are asked to find alternative routes.

“Emergency services are on scene and members of the public are asked to stay away from the area until further notice.”

More information is expected to follow.

Community

New town map unveiled in Fishguard

Published

15 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW town map has been installed in the heart of Fishguard to help residents and visitors discover more of what the area has to offer.

The map, created by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick’s in-house graphic designer, has been placed on the Abergwaun Hotel tunnel, near Offshore Surfwear’s new shop.

The group said it was “incredibly proud” of the finished result and thanked the building owner for allowing the map to be installed on the premises.

Visit Fishguard & Goodwick is now hoping to create a similar map for Goodwick and is asking for help from a centrally located building owner who may be willing to host it.

Anyone who can help, or knows of a suitable location, is being asked to get in touch with Visit Fishguard & Goodwick.

Community

Tenby Summer Spectacular cancelled amid council row over harbour access

Published

20 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Organisers say popular charity events cannot safely go ahead without clear powers to control crowds

TENBY ROUND TABLE has announced that this summer’s Tenby Summer Spectacular events have been cancelled until further notice amid a dispute with Pembrokeshire County Council over crowd control at the harbour.

The events, which were due to take place on Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 30, have been a major feature of Tenby’s summer calendar for decades, drawing large crowds to the harbour for entertainment, food, drink and fireworks.

In a statement, Tenby Round Table said the decision had been made “with enormous sadness” and claimed it had been forced on organisers because of unresolved issues over the safe management of pedestrian access.

The organisation said it needed the council’s Public Realm department to use statutory powers to temporarily restrict pedestrian access through the event area when capacity is reached.

Organisers said the matter had first been raised with the council in September 2025 and again formally in writing in May 2026.

They said volunteers had attended meetings, commissioned professional health and safety consultants and worked on Event Management Plans, but claimed the council had still not provided a clear answer.

Tenby Round Table said: “PCC’s Public Realm department has had nine months to answer one question on safe and controlled access to the harbour. It has not done so.”

The group also alleged that recent written responses from the council contained factual inaccuracies and misleading statements about the relevant legislation.

It added that the council’s legal advice was understood to be provisional and still under internal review.

The cancellation is currently described as provisional, with organisers giving the council a final deadline of June 25 to provide what they describe as a clear, accurate and legally grounded answer.

Tenby Round Table said that if this is provided, it will do everything possible to reinstate the events.

The group said the Summer Spectacular had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, sports teams, community groups and worthy individuals since it began.

It said the cancellation would be a devastating blow to those who benefit from the funds raised.

The statement added that organisers are still working with Dyfed-Powys Police and other relevant authorities ahead of a council licensing committee meeting in July, which is expected to consider whether the event licence should be renewed, amended or withdrawn.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.