#milfordhaven — Public Fediverse posts

MILFORD HAVEN: Former Puma fuel terminal to shut down commercial operations at the end of December

The former Puma Energy fuel terminal in Milford Haven will stop its commercial operations at the end of December.

Its owner, Impala Terminals, says it tried and failed to land a new contract for the site, and has entered a formal consultation with the staff affected.

The company said it had tried to avoid the closure: “We have worked hard to avoid this, but sadly there is no economic alternative.”

It has not given a number for the jobs affected.

A wind-down of up to two years after December

The site will not close overnight. Once commercial work ends, Impala says it will begin “a demobilisation and decommissioning transition period over the next 18 to 24 months”.

Some staff will stay on for that work, the firm added: “We will retain a core number of employees for this work during this period.”

It put the decision down to “the wider global geopolitical backdrop, fuel market economics, and customer demands”.

A former refinery site, and a fire in July

The terminal sits on the site of a former oil refinery at Robeston West, storing and distributing petroleum products. It operated as the Puma Energy terminal before it became part of Impala.

In July, a fire at the terminal involving a decommissioned oil tank led to a major incident being declared, later stood down.

MorGen hydrogen plant not affected, says Impala

Impala says the decision does not affect the MorGen Energy green hydrogen scheme planned for the site.

MorGen said in March that the £50m plant would be running by early 2028, producing about 2,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen a year.

The developers said it would create 60 jobs during construction and up to 10 permanent roles once complete, and that it is backed by a 15-year government revenue guarantee.

What next for the rest of the site

Impala says it has launched a review of what the rest of the site could be used for.

Its spokesperson said the company was “conscious of the history of the site and [has] launched a review to assess future uses for it”.

The review “does not solve the present issue”, Impala admitted, but “aims to preserve the site’s legacy for future generations”.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

MILFORD HAVEN: £50m hydrogen green energy ‘revolution’ to create 70 local jobs
The MorGen green hydrogen plant planned for the Impala site.

MILFORD HAVEN: Major incident declared as fire sends black smoke over town
July’s fire at the terminal.

More Milford Haven news
Everything from the town and the Haven waterway.

TRADING STANDARDS: Garden clearance pair admit fraud and pressuring customers into paying up

Customers who hired two Merlins Bridge men for garden and ground clearance work were given false claims about how much needed doing, asked for money again and again, and pressured into agreements they were then discouraged from cancelling, according to Pembrokeshire County Council.

Two men from Merlins Bridge have now admitted fraud and consumer protection offences over it, and will learn their sentences next month.

Billy Lovell, 38, and Timothy Lovell, 36, both of Under The Hills, pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court on 18 September to seven offences between them.

The council, whose Trading Standards team brought the case, says the offences were committed across west Wales, including in Crymych, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest, and that the victims were vulnerable people left out of pocket and distressed.

When the pair first appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates in June they faced 26 charges between them, over alleged frauds totalling almost £80,000, the court heard. The alleged victims included a couple from Sardis, a woman from Mathry, and two men from Penygroes and Ty Croes in Carmarthenshire.

Both were bailed on condition they did no gardening or landscaping work. The council’s statement does not say what happened to the charges that were not admitted.

What Billy Lovell admitted: one fraud, three failures to tell customers their rights

Billy Lovell admitted one count of fraud. The council says it covered dishonestly making false representations for financial gain: false claims about the amount of work required, and repeatedly taking money for that work.

He also admitted three counts of misleading omissions under consumer protection law. In plain terms, the council says, he failed to give customers information they were legally entitled to, including their right to cancel, under the Consumer Contracts Regulations.

What Timothy Lovell admitted: pressure tactics that distorted customers’ decisions

Timothy Lovell pleaded guilty to two counts of aggressive commercial practices and one of an unfair commercial practice, under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.

The council says those offences included aggressive practices which distorted customers’ ability to make informed decisions, and a failure to meet the standards of professional diligence expected of traders.

‘Sustained pressure and manipulation’

Cllr Aaron Carey, the council’s cabinet member for public protection, said the case had vulnerable people at its heart who “suffered both financially and emotionally”. “Victims were subjected to sustained pressure and manipulation, leaving them distressed and facing significant financial losses,” he said.

The guilty pleas showed “the serious consequences that can follow when individuals seek to exploit members of our communities for financial gain”, he added, and should “serve as a warning to anyone considering similar conduct”.

Cllr Carey said the council would “pursue offenders robustly” where evidence of this type of offending exists. “We are committed to protecting residents from rogue traders and unfair trading practices, particularly those who target vulnerable people,” he said.

The two men will be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on 16 November.

The court has dealt with a run of Trading Standards prosecutions this year, including a Neath roofer jailed for 32 months in July after turning gutter cleans into around £40,000 of fraudulent roofing work.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

‘Garrulous charmer’ who turned gutter cleans into £40,000 of ruined roofs is jailed
The Neath roofer a judge called a classic example of a rogue builder.

Builders jailed after defrauding Ystalyfera pensioners out of life savings
A £1,000 roof clean that spiralled to £33,200.

Rogue traders crackdown targets the gutter-clean con that fleeced valley pensioners
The UK Government’s new protections for home improvement work.

More Pembrokeshire news from Swansea Bay News
Every story from across the county.

Onlookers left stunned as rare humpback whale sighting made off Pembrokeshire

‘This really is some of the best that nature has to offer’Rare humpback whale stuns crew off the…
#NewsBeep #News #Wildlife #environment #MilfordHaven #Pembrokeshire #Science #UK #UnitedKingdom
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/786986/

https://www.europesays.com/videos/60163/ Over 30 families unable to return home after major wildfire on Conwy Mountain | ITV Cymru Wales #ALN #army #Conwy #ConwyFire #ConwyWildfire #drones #Gorseinon #itv #ItvNews #ITVNewsInFull #MilfordHaven #Powys #swansea #UkrainianFootball

MILFORD HAVEN: Major incident declared as fire sends black smoke over town — the second major industrial blaze in the region in weeks

A major incident was declared after a fire broke out at the Impala terminal in Milford Haven on Monday evening, sending a large plume of black smoke over the town.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service was called at 5.11pm on Monday 6 July to reports of a fire at Impala Terminals Infrastructure UK Ltd, at Robeston West.

Crews from Milford Haven, Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock were sent to the scene, where thick black smoke was visible for miles around.

The fire service said the blaze involved a decommissioned oil tank and around 60 gas cylinders. “The fire involves a decommissioned oil tank containing residual crude oil and approximately 60 cylinders including a mixture of propane and oxygen cylinders,” a spokeswoman said.

A major incident was declared but was later rescinded as crews brought the situation under control. All persons at the site were accounted for.

Dyfed-Powys Police received reports of the fire at around 5.10pm. A spokesperson said officers “attended swiftly, working alongside emergency service partners as part of a coordinated multi-agency response.”

One casualty was reported, believed to have suffered minor injuries, and received care at the scene. The Welsh Ambulance Service sent resources to support the response but was not required to take any patients to hospital.

Pembrokeshire County Council emergency planning officers joined the multi-agency response, while the council’s highways staff helped emergency crews with road closures around the Impala facility. Those roads have since reopened.

Residents in the immediate area were advised to keep windows and doors closed while thick smoke lingered, and the public was asked to avoid the area to allow access for emergency vehicles.

The fire service said there was not believed to be a wider risk to the public. Crews left the scene late on Monday after the fire was extinguished, a spokeswoman confirmed on Tuesday morning.

In a statement, Impala Terminals confirmed an incident had occurred at its Milford Haven terminal at 5.10pm on Monday. “The site emergency team and emergency services are managing our response to the emergency,” the operator said, adding that all employees and contractors were accounted for.

The company said its “first priority is to protect the safety of our people, the surrounding community and the environment,” and that it was not able to confirm further details at this stage.

The Impala terminal, formerly the Puma Energy site, sits at a former oil refinery and is used to store and distribute petroleum and hydrocarbon products.

It is also the intended location for a new green energy scheme. The site is earmarked for a £50m green hydrogen production facility that developers say could create up to 70 local jobs, with a hydrogen pipeline linked to the project approved by planners earlier this year.

Monday’s blaze was the second serious industrial fire in the region in a matter of weeks. In June, a fire at the Tata Steel works in Port Talbot prompted reassurances from the company over supply and its £1.25bn furnace project.

The fire service said further updates would be provided as information became available.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

MILFORD HAVEN: £50m hydrogen green energy ‘revolution’ to create 70 local jobs
The Impala terminal is earmarked for a major green hydrogen plant set to create up to 70 jobs.

GREEN STEEL: Tata ‘confident’ supply will hold after Port Talbot fire
The region’s other recent major industrial fire, at the Tata Steel works in June.

More Dyfed-Powys Police news
The latest incidents and appeals from across the force area.

Boy, 15, stabbed teacher in head with look of ‘pure hatred’ – key points from attempted murder trial

Need to knowA teenager is accused of following a teacher into an empty classroom and launching a ‘sustained…
#EuropeSays #Britain #Europe #EU #UK #Courts #Crime #MilfordHaven #Pembrokeshire #UnitedKingdom
https://www.europesays.com/britain/78095/

https://www.europesays.com/britain/78095/ Boy, 15, stabbed teacher in head with look of ‘pure hatred’ – key points from attempted murder trial #Courts #Crime #MilfordHaven #Pembrokeshire #UK #UnitedKingdom

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1072946/ Black smoke fills the air as fire breaks out at former oil refinery #Fires #IYAAlertCounty #MilfordHaven #News #Pembrokeshire #SouthWestWales #UK #UnitedKingdom

Black smoke fills the air as fire breaks out at former oil refinery

A major incident was declared after a fire broke out at a former oil refinery in Pembrokeshire. Images…
#EuropeSays #Britain #Europe #EU #UK #Fires #IYAAlertCounty #MilfordHaven #Pembrokeshire #South-WestWales #UnitedKingdom
https://www.europesays.com/britain/77905/

https://www.europesays.com/britain/77905/ Black smoke fills the air as fire breaks out at former oil refinery #Fires #IYAAlertCounty #MilfordHaven #Pembrokeshire #SouthWestWales #UK #UnitedKingdom

https://www.europesays.com/videos/56006/ School boy launched knife on teacher in a ‘sustained attack’ Crown Court heard | ITV Cymru Wales #A&E #CARDIFF #charity #Conwy #CROWNCOURT #Farmers #Fiji #fire #itv #ItvNews #ITVNewsInFull #LillyJones #MenaiCrossing #MilfordHaven #news #Pylon #Rugby #school #swansea #tax #TourDeFrance #tourist #Wales

PORT TALBOT: Green jet fuel plant scrapped — as blast furnace closure kills off decade-long project

A long-planned green jet fuel plant for Port Talbot has been scrapped, the company behind it has confirmed — ending a project it had been working on for well over a decade.

LanzaTech said it had taken the “difficult decision” not to go ahead with its sustainable aviation fuel facility, known as DRAGON I, “at this time.”

The plant would have turned waste gases into ethanol, then processed that into cleaner fuel for aircraft.

The company had been pursuing the project since 2012, and won planning approval in March 2024 after a series of steps that began when the £25m facility was first announced at the end of 2022.

But the ground shifted under the scheme. The plant had been designed to capture waste gases from Tata Steel’s blast furnaces and convert them into ethanol.

When Tata closed those blast furnaces in 2024, with the loss of around 2,000 jobs, that source of waste gas disappeared.

LanzaTech said it then looked at an alternative — bringing in imported ethanol to convert into fuel at the site instead.

But its managing director for the UK, Jim Woodger, said that even with that change, the Port Talbot site remained “significantly more expensive” for production than rival locations.

He said the capital costs were “not competitive” with sites that already had the right infrastructure in place, and that even with public funding on offer, the project did not reach the threshold needed for a viable investment.

The company also explored producing ethanol elsewhere in Wales to feed the plant — including a facility at Milford Haven that would have used captured carbon dioxide and green hydrogen.

That option has also been dropped. Mr Woodger said the high cost of green hydrogen in the UK made the route “economically unviable,” and that despite talks with government departments, there had been no policy changes sufficient to bring those costs down.

As a result, the firm said it had “ceased developing all UK ethanol production facilities” that would have used that method.

Mr Woodger thanked local stakeholders, along with the Welsh and UK governments and Neath Port Talbot Council, for their support over the years.

“We appreciate that not moving forward with the DRAGON I project will be a disappointment in Port Talbot and Wales,” he said.

“It is a conclusion reached only after sustained technical, commercial and policy work to make the project viable.”

The company said the lessons learned had been fed into a second project, DRAGON II, in Humberside, which it said was now “moving forward at pace” — with a final investment decision hoped for in 2027.

The collapse of the scheme is a fresh blow to the green-jobs ambitions tied to Port Talbot’s industrial future, coming the same week that Tata warned new UK steel import rules left the site exposed.

It also lands as the town’s wider transition continues to face hurdles, with Tata’s replacement electric arc furnace itself facing possible delays over a grid connection hold-up.

The project had also been part of the wider clean-energy ambitions for the area, including the Celtic Freeport, which aims to draw green industry and jobs to Port Talbot and Milford Haven.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Planning approved for Port Talbot sustainable aviation fuel factory
The high point of the project, given the green light in March 2024.

Tata warns new UK import rules leave Port Talbot exposed
A tough week for the town’s steel and green-energy future.

Celtic Freeport officially launched
The wider plan to bring green industry to Port Talbot and Milford Haven.

Milford Haven: cargo growth and continued investment http://dlvr.it/TSlpN1 #Business #FinanceFinancialResults #MilfordHaven #PortAuthorities

RAIL: Transport for Wales wants to run trains to Bristol — and it could mean direct services from Milford Haven, Swansea and Carmarthen

Passengers from across west Wales could soon have a direct rail link to Bristol – after Transport for Wales applied for permission to run a new cross-border service to Bristol Temple Meads.

TfW has submitted an application to the rail regulator to launch the route, which it hopes to get off the ground as soon as September 2026. The Office of Rail and Road said it could not give any timeframe for when a decision would be made.

The plans are ambitious. West of Cardiff, TfW wants services to run all the way from Milford Haven or Fishguard – meaning passengers at Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Carmarthen and Bridgend could all potentially board a train straight through to Bristol without changing.

In Cardiff, TfW is targeting two services an hour to Bristol Temple Meads, calling at Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction and Stapleton Road. One train an hour would also run via Bristol Parkway on Monday to Saturday.

It is a significant step for the operator, which already runs cross-border services from south Wales to Manchester but has never operated on the Cardiff to Bristol route.

It is worth noting that the Lumo service — confirmed this week as launching in December 2027 between Carmarthen and London Paddington — will also call at Bristol Parkway, giving west Wales passengers another option for reaching the Bristol area from late 2027. TfW’s proposed service would add Bristol Temple Meads itself to that picture, and significantly earlier if approved.

There is one complication. GWR already runs twice an hour between Cardiff and Bristol Temple Meads – around 34 services a day. CrossCountry also operates a small number of early morning services on the route, though GWR is overwhelmingly the dominant operator.

GWR said it welcomed enhancements on the route but cautioned that any new services should not be detrimental to existing services or to future services already agreed. A spokesperson said the company would continue working with industry partners to ensure railway services were developed in the best way for passengers and taxpayers.

GWR is itself in the process of being absorbed into Great British Railways as part of the UK Government’s rail nationalisation programme – a transition that will affect services across south-west Wales, though the full impact is not expected to be felt here for some time.

The Bristol application is one of the more tangible near-term steps in TfW’s wider rail ambitions for the region. A £14 billion long-term pipeline of improvements – including a Swansea Bay Metro and upgrades to the south Wales mainline – has been identified, but rail campaigners have questioned where the money will actually come from to deliver it.

For now, the Bristol route represents something more immediate – a practical improvement that could be running within months, if the regulator gives the green light.

Our transport coverage

£14bn metro dream for Swansea — but will West Wales finally get its share?
TfW’s long-term rail vision and what it means for south-west Wales.

Rail campaigners demand funding answers from next Welsh Government
The wider debate over how Wales’s rail ambitions will be funded.

Union flag rail designs unveiled — south-west Wales impact comes later
What GBR nationalisation means for rail in our region.

CARMARTHEN: Lumo to launch direct Carmarthen to London Paddington service in December 2027 — with stops at Llanelli and Gowerton

The long-awaited direct rail service between Carmarthen and London Paddington is set to launch in December 2027, after train operator Lumo confirmed it has five new Hitachi trains on order for the route.

The route was first approved by the rail regulator in 2022 after a drawn-out battle with Great Western Railway, which operates its own south Wales to London Paddington services and had opposed the application. The original proposals were submitted by Grand Union Trains, which secured regulatory approval before selling its rights to the route to FirstGroup in 2024.

Lumo – FirstGroup’s open access train brand – will now operate the service, running five return journeys a day between Carmarthen and London Paddington. The service will call at Llanelli, Gowerton, Cardiff, Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Parkway.

A Lumo spokesperson confirmed the launch plans. The service will use single-class standard seating across all five new trains, with the operator describing its aim as bringing affordable open access travel to even more communities.

The route puts Lumo in direct competition with GWR on the south Wales to London corridor – and there is an added layer of complexity to that rivalry. Both Lumo and GWR are owned by FirstGroup, meaning the parent company will effectively be competing with itself on the route.

GWR is also scheduled to be absorbed into Great British Railways as part of the UK Government’s rail nationalisation programme – though the timeline for that transition remains unclear.

GWR said it welcomed enhancements on the route but cautioned that any new services should not be detrimental to existing services or to future services already agreed.

A spokesperson said the company would continue working with industry partners to ensure railway services were developed in the best way for passengers and taxpayers.

Carmarthenshire County Council threw its support behind the original Grand Union proposals when they were being considered by the regulator, making the case that a direct London service would bring significant economic benefits to west Wales.

The confirmation of a December 2027 launch date comes as Welsh Labour separately pledged a direct Milford Haven to London service as part of its Senedd election manifesto, backed by £50 million of investment in the Milford Haven to Carmarthen line.

The Lumo service would not serve Milford Haven or Pembroke Dock directly, but would give passengers at Carmarthen, Llanelli and Gowerton a genuine alternative to GWR on the London route for the first time.

Lumo declined to provide projected passenger numbers for its first years of operation.

Our coverage of the Carmarthen to London rail route

Regulator approves new Grand Union train service from Carmarthen to London Paddington
The 2022 decision that set the route on its current path.

Grand Union Trains submits fresh proposals to run service from Carmarthen to London
The original proposals that started the process.

Council throws support behind new intercity train service between Carmarthen and London Paddington
Carmarthenshire County Council’s backing for the route.

Union flag rail designs unveiled – south-west Wales impact comes later
What GBR nationalisation means for rail services in our region.

RAIL: Campaigners demand funding answers from next Welsh Government — as Labour pledges direct Milford Haven to London train service

Rail campaigners are calling on the next Welsh Government to press Westminster for a fairer funding deal – warning that ambitious plans for a Swansea Bay Metro and other major upgrades risk remaining on paper without a clear financial commitment.

Railfuture Cymru, an independent organisation representing rail users across Wales, has published a manifesto ahead of Thursday’s Senedd election calling for what it describes as a “customer-centred, boringly reliable railway.”

The group’s Wales chair, Richard Wilcock, said Transport for Wales’s long-term strategy raised fundamental questions about money. Referring to TfW’s vision document Today, Tomorrow, Together – which sets out an ambitious £14 billion pipeline of rail improvements – Wilcock said the key question remained unanswered. “The question is, where is the money?” he said.

The concern is a familiar one across south-west Wales. When TfW published Today, Tomorrow, Together in February, it included a Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro among its long-term ambitions – covering metro services between Swansea and Pontarddulais via Neath, a new Cockett station, Swansea Bay area electrification and enhanced services to Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven.

But Carmarthenshire councillors were quick to raise concerns that the vision was too Swansea-centric, with communities further west potentially left behind.

Welsh Labour has sought to address those concerns directly, pledging a direct rail connection between Milford Haven and London as part of its wider transport programme.

The direct service would build on £50 million of investment to upgrade rail services to the town, with work already underway to transform Milford Haven railway station into a modern public transport interchange in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council. The upgrade works would also pave the way for an hourly service and level crossing safety improvements.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said the pledge was about more than infrastructure. “This is about opening Pembrokeshire up – bringing more people to one of the most beautiful parts of Wales, strengthening our tourism sector, and creating new opportunities for local businesses to grow,” she said.

Welsh Labour’s lead candidate for Ceredigion Penfro, Marc Tierney, described the pledge as a potential game-changer for the constituency, calling the combination of investments the kind of infrastructure that communities in west Wales had been waiting for.

Railfuture argues that decades of underinvestment have left the Welsh rail network lagging significantly behind comparable networks in England and Scotland. Its manifesto sets out proposals the group believes could be delivered within the next Senedd term – including more frequent services, improved rolling stock, and better integration between rail and bus networks.

Among the priorities is a minimum service frequency of one train or connecting bus every two hours across the network, alongside action to tackle overcrowding and reliability issues on busy routes. The group also backs further development of metro-style systems in both north and south Wales, including the Swansea Bay area.

A Labour Senedd candidate had already called for a metro link to Ammanford and Llanelli earlier in the campaign, reflecting growing political pressure to extend any metro system beyond Swansea itself. And the future of a potential St Clears station – promised for years but still without a confirmed funding commitment – has also become an election issue.

The funding question is central to all of it. While the UK and Welsh governments jointly endorsed the Today, Tomorrow, Together document in February – with ministers suggesting the pipeline could total up to £14 billion – only £445 million was earmarked from the 2025 Spending Review for Welsh rail enhancements in this spending period.

Critics pointed out that much of the longer-term programme, including the Swansea Bay Metro, remains dependent on future funding decisions that have not yet been made.

Plaid Cymru’s manifesto commits to bringing forward Phase 1 of the Swansea Bay Metro if elected, alongside feasibility studies into reopening the Amman Valley line to passengers. But with no party able to guarantee the full £14 billion pipeline without Westminster funding, Railfuture’s central question remains live whoever wins on Thursday.

Our transport coverage

£14bn metro dream for Swansea — but will West Wales finally get its share?
Our report on the TfW Today, Tomorrow, Together vision and what it means for south-west Wales.

Metro row: Carmarthenshire councillor blasts ‘Swansea-centric’ transport vision
The concerns raised about communities further west being left behind.

Labour candidate backs metro link to Ammanford and Llanelli
The political pressure to extend any metro system beyond Swansea itself.

Candidate demands action on stalled St Clears station after five years of promises
The future of a promised new station that remains unconfirmed.

MILFORD HAVEN: Mum who turned tragedy into hope receives top royal honour for mental health foundation

A Pembrokeshire mother whose response to devastating personal loss has helped transform the lives of young people across the region has been honoured with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service — an accolade equivalent to an MBE and the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Megan’s Starr Foundation, based in Milford Haven, received the award for its work supporting young people facing mental health challenges across Pembrokeshire. The foundation was set up by Nicola Harteveld following the death of her daughter Megan in 2017, and has spent nearly a decade building a community of care and support for some of the most vulnerable young people in the area.

The award was presented at the Dizzy Bear Café on Milford Haven Waterfront on Monday, March 30, by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Miss Sara Edwards, who joined Nicola, her family and Megan’s Starr volunteers for the ceremony. The opening address was given by Deputy Lieutenant Dr Chris Martin OBE DL, with the High Sheriff of Dyfed, Mr Andrew Phillips, and Lord Lieutenant Cadet Aeron James also in attendance.

Nicola said the honour belonged not just to the foundation but to Megan herself. “We are incredibly proud to share that Megan’s Starr Foundation has been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025,” she said.

Nicola Harteveld, founder of Megan’s Starr Foundation:

“This prestigious national honour reflects the dedication, compassion, and tireless commitment of our incredible volunteers, who give their time and energy to support young people through some of life’s toughest challenges.

“And most of all, it belongs to Megan, whose beauty, kindness, and love lives on in everything we do.”

For 2025, Megan’s Starr was one of just five organisations across the whole of Wales to receive the award — an extraordinary achievement that underlines the scale and quality of the work being done in Milford Haven.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, previously known as the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Unlike many honours, the award is given for life — meaning Megan’s Starr Foundation will carry this recognition permanently.

Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Miss Sara Edwards:

“It was a pleasure to present the King’s Award for Voluntary Service to a truly deserving group of volunteers. The work Nicola and the Megan’s Starr Foundation does has an important impact on the area’s young people and they should be extremely proud.”

Nicola is well known in Milford Haven as a community figure — she also serves as a Milford Haven Town Councillor — and her commitment to the welfare of young people in the area extends well beyond the foundation’s formal activities.

The foundation’s work focuses specifically on mental health support and education for young people, helping them build resilience, confidence and understanding in an area where specialist services can be harder to access than in larger urban centres.

The King’s Award presentation marks a landmark moment for a charity that has been built, year by year, on the dedication of unpaid volunteers who give their time out of commitment to their community and to Megan’s memory.

If you are struggling with your mental health, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 116 123, free of charge.

More from Swansea Bay News

Latest Pembrokeshire news
All our coverage from across Pembrokeshire — people, places and communities making a difference.

Watchdog called in after armed police fire gun ‘not aimed at any individual’ in Milford Haven

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed a single shot was fired on Saturday evening (March 28) following a call about disorder in the Bunkers Hill area of Milford Haven.

Officers were called to the scene at around 5.45pm after concerns were raised about an individual allegedly in possession of a knife.

Firearms officers were among those deployed as police moved to contain the situation.

A police spokesperson said that during the incident, at approximately 6.32pm, an officer discharged a single shot.

Dyfed Powys Police have stressed that the firearm was not aimed at any individual, and no injuries were reported.

The force say that a police presence remained in the area into the following day as enquiries continued.

The incident has now been referred to the watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which will decide whether to launch an independent investigation.

Deputy Chief Constable Gary Phillips said an investigation is already underway.

He said:

“We have initiated a prompt investigation into the circumstances that led to the firearms being discharged, and have referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

“We will work with them as we continue to establish the circumstances leading up to the discharge.”

Police have not released further details about the individual involved in the reported disorder.

It is also not yet clear what led to the decision to discharge the weapon, although officers had been responding to reports involving a knife.

Incidents involving the discharge of police firearms are rare in Wales and are subject to strict oversight.

The watchdog will now assess the circumstances and determine the next steps in the investigation.

Dyfed Powys Police say that residents in the area may continue to see an increased police presence while enquiries are ongoing.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

West Cross man arrested after imitation firearm incident
Armed police response after reports a weapon was brandished in a Swansea street.

160 guns handed in during police amnesty
Dozens of firearms taken off the streets as part of a major safety campaign. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Llanelli man charged after explosive device found
Residents evacuated as police deal with a serious firearms and explosives incident. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Shots fired near horses spark safety fears
Gunshots near a rural community leave residents shaken and raise safety concerns. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Wife and lover jailed after armed caravan ambush plot
Disturbing case sees weapons used in a planned attack uncovered by police. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Abergwynfi man admits weapons stash after major incident
Homes evacuated as officers uncover a cache of dangerous weapons in the valley. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

https://www.europesays.com/uk/858225/ Armed officer fires weapon after reports of person with knife #Britain #Crime #DyfedPowysPolice #GreatBritain #IYAAlertCounty #MilfordHaven #Pembrokeshire #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales

MILFORD HAVEN: £50m hydrogen green energy ‘revolution’ to create 70 local jobs

Construction is expected to kick off this year on the hydrogen-generating facility, in what is being described as a “defining milestone” for the West Wales energy sector.

The plant, developed by MorGen Energy, will be built on the site of a former oil refinery at the Impala terminal, previously Puma Energy.

MorGen say this “significant investment” is poised to create 60 jobs during the construction phase alone, providing a major boost to the local economy.

The company say that the new plant will be up and running by early 2028, and is set to produce approximately 2,000 tonnes per annum of low-carbon hydrogen, compliant with the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

Once completed, the facility will support up to 10 permanent, highly skilled roles, according to the developers.

The hydrogen will be used across a broad range of applications, including port decarbonisation, industrial heating, manufacturing and chemical feedstock.

The West Wales Hydrogen project is among the first in the UK to receive the green light from investors, backed by a 15-year government revenue guarantee.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens hailed the project, stating it will “create jobs and help grow the Welsh economy.”

Luciana Ciubotariu, CEO of Celtic Freeport, welcomed the move, noting its importance for the local tax site.

“MorGen Energy’s decision is another major step forward for the hydrogen economy in South West Wales,” she said.

Ms Ciubotariu added that projects within the Milford Haven Tax Site demonstrate how the Celtic Freeport is accelerating decarbonisation while creating high-value jobs.

The 20MW plant is expected to produce approximately 2,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen annually, powered primarily by UK windfarms.

This hydrogen will be used to decarbonise heavy industry, including port operations, industrial heating, and manufacturing across South Wales.

The plant will produce hydrogen through electrolysis, a process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity.

Sheffield-based ITM Power has been selected to supply the electrolyser system, providing a further boost to UK manufacturing and technology.

This clean energy process is expected to achieve more than 15,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions savings annually, according to the developers.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks emphasised the importance of hydrogen in the UK’s energy strategy.

He said backing hydrogen was “crucial in de-carbonising industry, driving investment, boosting our energy security and creating hundreds of jobs in our industrial heartlands.”

Shanks added that this investment demonstrates how Wales is embracing the clean energy transition, creating new opportunities for local communities.

Werner Lieberherr, CEO of MorGen Energy, described the investment decision as a “defining milestone” for the company and the UK hydrogen sector.

He highlighted that it shows green hydrogen projects in the UK can be delivered as “bankable infrastructure investments.”

The project’s location within the Celtic Freeport area means it will benefit from existing infrastructure in Milford Haven, including 63 storage tanks and a comprehensive network of pipelines.

This development marks a significant step forward for renewable energy in West Wales, positioning the region at the forefront of the green technology revolution.

Local contractors are expected to play a key role in the construction, providing a direct boost to the Welsh economy and creating further opportunities.

Teen charged with GBH after Milford Haven school stabbing as police confirm injuries were stab wounds

Detectives say the teenager has been charged with Section 18 Grievous Bodily Harm and possession of a bladed article on school premises. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Swansea Magistrates Court today.

It comes after officers revealed that injuries initially described as “non‑stab injuries” have now been confirmed as stab wounds following detailed medical assessment.

‘Victim being supported after traumatic event’

Senior Investigating Officer DCI Matthew Briggs said the early description of the injuries was based on “preliminary information” available at the time, but specialist enquiries have since confirmed the wounds were caused by a blade.

He said the victim — understood to be a member of staff — is continuing to receive support as they recover from what police described as a “traumatic event”.

The school went into lockdown on Thursday after the incident, with pupils kept in classrooms while officers secured the site. Staff were praised for their calm and professional response.

Increased police presence to continue

Police say there will be a higher‑than‑usual presence around the school and surrounding area over the coming days to reassure pupils, parents and staff.

Officers will also be working with local secondary schools next week to offer support and guidance.

The school is expected to reopen as planned on Monday, with the headteacher previously telling parents that safety measures and wellbeing support will be in place.

A community still reeling

The incident has shocked Milford Haven, with parents describing the lockdown as “terrifying” and pupils reporting a heavy police presence around the site.

It follows two days of intense speculation online, which police have repeatedly urged the public not to fuel while the investigation continues.

This latest update confirms the most serious charge available for an assault of this nature, signalling the gravity of the incident and the scale of the ongoing investigation.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Teacher injured as Milford Haven school goes into lockdown
The first details after the school was locked down and a teenager was arrested.

Milford Haven school to reopen on Monday after lockdown incident
Staff praised for their calm response as the school prepares to welcome pupils back.

Milford Haven School to reopen on Monday as staff praised for ‘professional and calm’ response after lockdown incident

Police were called to the site on Thursday afternoon after a teacher was injured in an incident involving a weapon. A 15‑year‑old was arrested at the scene. Pupils were kept safely inside classrooms while officers secured the area, with only a small number of learners still on site at the time.

In a new statement, Deputy Headteacher Daryl John praised the way staff and pupils handled the situation.

“On behalf of the school staff and governors, I would like to thank and praise all of the staff and the small number of pupils who remained on site,” he said.

“They all conducted themselves with professionalism and were calm throughout. We are extremely grateful to the emergency services for their rapid and effective response.

“Our heartfelt best wishes go out to our colleague, and we look forward to their full and speedy recovery.”

Council leader: ‘Safety and wellbeing remain the highest priority’

Pembrokeshire County Council leader Cllr Jon Harvey said he was pleased the school would reopen on Monday and reassured families that support is available for any pupils affected.

“If there are any pupils who have been affected by the incident and require additional support, please ask teachers or staff who will be able to help with well‑being provision,” he said.

“I would once again like to thank staff and pupils at Milford Haven School for their immediate response to the incident. Thanks also go to the wider school family across the community for their support following this challenging period.”

Cllr Harvey stressed that the safety of pupils and staff remains the council’s top priority across all Pembrokeshire schools.

“Along with our partners we want to reassure the learners and parents of Milford Haven School, and all schools across Pembrokeshire, that the safety and well‑being of everyone is the highest priority. This, of course, includes our dedicated teachers and other school staff.”

‘Lockdowns are routinely rehearsed’

The council also emphasised that lockdown procedures are regularly practised so that staff and pupils know exactly what to do in the rare situations where they are required.

“As a Local Authority we will of course continue to support Milford Haven School in whatever way possible following this awful incident,” Cllr Harvey added.

Further updates are expected to be issued to parents ahead of the school’s reopening on Monday.

Teacher injured as Milford Haven school goes into lockdown after ‘weapon’ incident – 15‑year‑old arrested

Dyfed‑Powys Police were called to the school at around 3.20pm on Thursday after reports that a pupil had assaulted a teacher while brandishing a weapon. Officers confirmed the teacher’s injury was not a stab wound.

The school was immediately placed into lockdown as armed officers and emergency services rushed to the scene. The lockdown was lifted later in the afternoon, with all pupils confirmed safe and sent home.

Police: “Swift action safeguarded pupils and teachers”

In an update issued this morning, Superintendent Chris Neve said police were no longer on site but would maintain a visible presence in the area over the coming days.

“The teacher has now been discharged from hospital and is being supported by specialist officers,” he said. “All pupils at the location were safe, and all returned home unharmed. A 15‑year‑old boy has been arrested and remains in police custody as enquiries continue.”

He added that parents would receive further updates directly through the school’s app.

School to remain closed — support offered to pupils and staff

Pembrokeshire County Council leader Cllr Jon Harvey praised staff and pupils for their “swift and effective” response to the emergency.

“While the school will be closed to pupils tomorrow, any learners who require additional support are welcome to attend and there will also be support for staff on site,” he said.

“We’d like to reassure learners, parents and the wider community that all measures to ensure safety are being taken.”

The incident comes just weeks after the school was placed in special measures following an Estyn inspection, with the local authority pledging to work closely with the school to drive improvements.

First Minister: “Violence has no place in our schools”

First Minister Eluned Morgan said she was “deeply concerned” by the incident, having visited the school only last week.

“My thoughts are with the injured teacher, their family and the entire school community,” she said. “I want to pay tribute to the emergency services and school staff for their swift and professional response.”

She added that violence “of any kind” must not be tolerated in Welsh schools.

Local MP: “Deeply concerned”

Henry Tufnell, MP for the area, also issued a statement praising the response of staff and emergency services.

“My thoughts are with the teaching staff and the whole school community,” he said.

Mental health support available

Hywel Dda University Health Board urged anyone needing urgent mental health support to call 111 and press option 2, with 24/7 access to trained professionals.

Police patrols will remain in the Milford Haven area to reassure pupils, parents and residents as the investigation continues.

Pembrokeshire woman banned from keeping animals after dog found with shocking untreated facial wound

Dog found with infected wound and “skin hanging off”

The RSPCA said officers were called to a property in Milford Haven on 5 April last year after Dyfed‑Powys Police reported concerns about a dog in distress. When they arrived, the charity said they found Andy, a black labrador, with a large piece of skin hanging from an infected wound on the side of his mouth.

The charity said the injury may have been caused by a burst abscess and that Andy was also underweight when he was examined by vets.

Pictures of Andy’s injuries are too graphic to publish, but the RSPCA said the wound had a “strong smell of infection” and required urgent veterinary treatment.

Owner admits failing to meet dog’s needs

Andy’s owner, Candice Mottram, 32, from Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of her dog under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. She was sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on 15 January.

As well as the 10‑year ban, Mottram received an 18‑week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. She must complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and agreed to wear an alcohol tag for 120 days. The court also ordered her to pay £400 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

“A huge flap of skin hanging from his face”

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Paula Milton said the condition Andy was found in was deeply concerning.

“Andy had a huge flap of skin hanging from the left side of his face. There was a very strong smell of infection and where the skin had come off his mouth was bright red.”

The RSPCA said Mottram told officers the dog had last seen a vet two weeks earlier, but checks later revealed Andy had not been examined since 2021.

A vet who assessed him said Andy was in poor body condition, scoring two to three out of nine, with his ribs and pelvic bones visible.

Surgery and recovery

Andy underwent surgery to remove the damaged skin and treat the wound. He was then taken into RSPCA care, where he has since put on weight and recovered well.

RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben, who investigated the case, said the dog’s condition was avoidable.

“It was a shock to see how bad Andy’s facial wound was. The wound was obvious and the defendant had plenty of time to get the poor dog to a vets.”

He said Andy has been doing well in foster care and is expected to be ready for rehoming soon.

“Inexcusable and shocking”

The district judge who sentenced Mottram said her behaviour was “inexcusable and shocking”, noting that she had failed to seek help for an injury that caused prolonged suffering.

Andy is now recovering in a foster home, with the RSPCA saying he has healed well and is “a lovely dog” who deserves a fresh start.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Couple jailed after 52 animals found living in filthy home
A shocking cruelty case saw dozens of neglected animals rescued from appalling conditions.

Haverfordwest man banned for seven years after RSPCA rescues extremely thin rottweilers
Two severely underweight dogs were removed from a property after concerns were raised.

Carmarthenshire man sentenced over collie neglect
A collie in poor condition was rescued after welfare concerns were reported to the RSPCA.

Crackdown on Carmarthenshire puppy farms sparks call for national dog breeding law overhaul
A major investigation has renewed calls for tougher rules on dog breeding across the UK.

Tributes paid to ‘fearless’ councillor and former Milford Mercury founder Mike Stoddart

Cllr Stoddart, who represented the Hakin ward for more than two decades, was widely regarded as one of the most outspoken and principled figures in local public life. A former journalist, he founded the Milford Mercury with his family in the 1990s, establishing a fiercely independent local newspaper that became a fixture of the town’s civic identity.

Alongside his wife, Cllr Vivien Stoddart, and daughter, Cllr Tessa Hodgson, he was part of a family deeply embedded in public service. All three went on to serve as county councillors, with Cllr Hodgson also holding the role of Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

“A fearless campaigner for truth and justice”

Across Pembrokeshire, tributes described Cllr Stoddart as a man of conviction, courage and unwavering commitment to accountability.

Milford Haven Town Council said he was a “well‑known figure around the town and community,” adding that both Mike and Vivien had served the area “for many years as public servants and previously in running the former Milford Mercury.”

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Presiding Member, Cllr Simon Hancock, said members were “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news.

“For 22 years Mike has been a highly effective member of the authority, passionate, fearless and always exercising the greatest scrutiny in holding authorities to account,” he said. “He was a man of high principles, and he will be sorely missed.”

A formidable presence in County Hall

Council Leader Cllr Jon Harvey said he was “deeply shocked” to learn of Cllr Stoddart’s passing.

“Mike was the prime example of what someone in local politics should be – working for and demanding better for his constituents,” he said.

“Mike was unashamedly forthright. He would argue his corner with conviction and always with facts on his side. He has kept me and many predecessors as Leader firmly on our toes. The chamber and Pembrokeshire as a whole will be much poorer for his loss.”

Cllr Tim Evans described him as a “big presence” whose knowledge and experience would be greatly missed.

A journalist at heart

Before entering politics, Cllr Stoddart helped establish the Milford & West Wales Mercury, a family‑run newspaper launched at a time when independent local journalism played a central role in community life. The title later changed ownership several times before ceasing print publication in 2020.

Even after leaving the newsroom, he continued to scrutinise local decision‑making through his well‑read Old Grumpy website, where he wrote candidly — and often critically — about council business, governance and public accountability. His writing was known for its directness, sharp analysis and refusal to shy away from controversy.

“I couldn’t have wished for a better friend”

Cllr Jacob Williams, a close friend and fellow blogger, said Cllr Stoddart’s influence stretched far beyond the council chamber.

“Mike leaves a formidable legacy, and was very highly respected,” he said. “Not just because he was a prominent councillor for over 20 years with a record of fearlessly campaigning for truth and justice, but also the range of things he did in his thoroughly fulfilled life.

“To say he was my mentor wouldn’t do him justice – I couldn’t have wished for a better friend, and I’ll miss him dearly.”

A lasting legacy

Cllr Stoddart’s career spanned journalism, business, community activism and more than two decades of public service. Whether admired or challenged, he was a figure whose voice was rarely ignored and whose presence shaped political life in Milford Haven and beyond.

He is survived by his wife Vivien, daughter Tessa, and extended family.

Swansea Bay News extends its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.

https://www.europesays.com/uk/639180/ Weather and flood warnings in place as Wales braced for more rain #Bridgend #Britain #Cardiff #DerekBrockway #GreatBritain #Haverfordwest #MetOffice #MilfordHaven #NeathPortTalbot #Swansea #Tenby #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales #WalesWeather

Milford Haven shortlisted for new UK munitions factory

The Government has committed to building at least six new factories across the UK, producing weapons components including propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics. Officials say the investment will restore onshore energetics production for the first time in nearly two decades.

Pembrokeshire on the shortlist

Potential sites include Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, alongside Grangemouth in Scotland and Teesside in Northeast England. Other areas under consideration are Monmouthshire, Cumbria, Dumfriesshire, Ayrshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Essex, Worcestershire and Hampshire.

The Ministry of Defence has already commissioned feasibility studies and engineering design work, with construction expected to begin on the first site within the next year.

Jobs and investment

The Government says the programme will create at least 1,000 new jobs nationwide, with Defence Secretary John Healey describing the initiative as “building the factories of the future in Britain.”

He added:

“We are making defence an engine for growth, unambiguously backing British jobs and British skills as we make the UK better ready to fight and better able to deter future conflicts.”

Wider defence investment

Alongside the munitions programme, two new drone factories are opening this week — Helsing’s “resilience factory” in Plymouth and STARK’s new production line in Swindon.

The Government argues that the investment will not only strengthen the UK’s Armed Forces but also deliver a “defence dividend” in the form of skilled jobs and industrial growth across the nations and regions of the UK.

#armedForces #explosives #milfordHaven #ministryOfDefence #munitions #munitionsFactory #propellants #pyrotechnics #ukGovernment

Council officers visiting homes after bird flu case confirmed near Milford Haven

The Welsh Government’s Chief Veterinary Officer has declared a 3km protection zone and a wider 10km surveillance zone around the affected premises. These zones are designed to stop the spread of the disease, which has been identified as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

Officers checking where birds are kept

Pembrokeshire County Council says its Public Protection officers will be visiting homes and businesses inside the 3km zone to find out where poultry or other captive birds are being kept. They will also be giving advice on the restrictions that now apply.

Signs are being put up on local roads to show where the zones begin and end. These will stay in place until restrictions are lifted.

The council says its staff are working alongside vets from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, who are leading the response.

Bird keepers urged to stay vigilant

Officials are urging anyone who keeps birds to be extra careful about biosecurity – the steps taken to stop disease spreading. This includes keeping housing, equipment, vehicles and clothing clean and making sure wild birds cannot contaminate feed or bedding.

Keepers are also reminded that from October 2024 it became a legal requirement to register all poultry and captive birds, no matter how small the flock. Registration means owners can receive direct updates about outbreaks and rules that affect them.

What to look out for

Bird keepers are asked to watch for signs of illness such as sudden deaths, breathing problems, or drops in food, water or egg production.

Anyone who suspects bird flu must report it immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency Wales on 0300 303 8268.

The council says the risk to the public is very low, and food safety agencies advise there is also a very low risk to consumers.

Public asked to report dead wild birds

Members of the public who don’t keep birds can still help. Dead wild waterfowl (such as swans, geese or ducks), gulls or birds of prey should be reported to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

People are warned not to touch or pick up sick or dead birds. Sick or injured wild birds should instead be reported to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

Dead birds found on private land remain the responsibility of the landowner.

#avianInfluenza #birdFlu #MilfordHaven

Two Pembrokeshire takeaways with 1 star hygiene ratings prosecuted for displaying much higher scores

Court told of misleading displays

Seven Spice in Pembroke Dock and USA Fried Chicken in Milford Haven were both found to be misleading customers by showing hygiene ratings of 3, 4 or 5, despite their most recent inspections giving them the lowest possible score above zero.

At Seven Spice, inspectors first visited in November 2024 and found the menu failed to include the required bilingual statement directing customers to the official hygiene rating. A fixed penalty notice was issued but not paid.

When officers returned in January 2025, the business was displaying stickers showing ratings of 4 and 5, even though its official rating was 1. Further penalty notices and letters went unanswered.

At USA Fried Chicken, an inspection in November 2024 found a sticker showing a rating of 3, when the correct rating was 1. Again, a fixed penalty notice was issued but not paid, and letters from the council were ignored.

Fines imposed by magistrates

Both cases were heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on 16 October.

• Arkan Ullah, of Seven Spice, pleaded guilty. He was fined £660, ordered to pay £800 costs and a £264 victim surcharge.
• Kamuran Babahan, of USA Fried Chicken, failed to appear. The case was proved in his absence and he was fined £1,000, with £400 costs and a £400 victim surcharge.

Both were convicted of displaying invalid food hygiene stickers, contrary to the Food Hygiene (Rating) Wales Act 2013.

Council: ‘We will take action’

Cllr Jacob Williams, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said:

“The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is designed to help consumers make informed decisions about where to eat or buy food. An essential part of that is displaying the rating where it is visible so potential customers can see clear information on the hygiene standards of the business.

“Where a business fails to display the correct rating they are committing an offence and we will take action.”

What it means for customers

The council said the prosecutions underline the importance of businesses displaying their official hygiene ratings accurately. Customers are encouraged to check the Food Standards Agency’s online ratings database if they are unsure about a venue’s score.

Related food hygiene stories

Cockroach infestation shuts Singleton Hospital kitchen for a month
A major hospital kitchen in Swansea was forced to close for four weeks after inspectors discovered a cockroach infestation.

Port Talbot restaurant shut down over cockroach infestation and filthy conditions
Environmental health officers closed a Port Talbot restaurant immediately after uncovering cockroaches and poor hygiene standards.

Rodent‑infested Clydach food business shut down on the spot by hygiene inspectors
A Clydach takeaway was closed immediately when inspectors found evidence of a rodent infestation.

Council issues food safety advice for Swansea businesses after fines handed out
Swansea Council reminded businesses of their legal duties after a series of prosecutions for food hygiene offences.

#1StarHygieneRating #CllrJacobWilliams #foodHygiene #foodHygieneRating #MilfordHaven #PembrokeDock #PembrokeshireCouncil #SevenSpiceRestaurant #USAFriedChicken

Milford Haven woman jailed over knifepoint robbery attempt at Pill Corner Stores

Jessie Thompson, aged 31, appeared at Swansea Crown Court charged with attempted robbery and possession of a bladed article following the incident at Pill Corner Stores on Pill Lane on 11 July.

“Give me all your money”

The court heard that Thompson and her accomplice, Bethan John, 25, entered the store wearing masks and brandishing a kitchen knife. One of the pair threatened the shop worker, demanding money.

The worker defended herself with a milk crate, forcing the pair to flee empty-handed. No money or items were stolen.

CCTV and community tip-off

Dyfed-Powys Police launched an investigation after a member of the public reported a bag of clothes dumped in their garden. Officers matched the clothing to CCTV footage of the suspects.

Thompson and John were later arrested and told officers they had planned to hand themselves in. They admitted discarding the knife in a hedgerow near the Mount Estate.

Sentence and police response

Thompson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. John also admitted the offences and will be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Constable Dean Chilcott said:

“We are pleased that the seriousness of this incident has been recognised by the court, and that Thompson has been suitably sentenced for the part she played.

This shop has persistently been targeted by criminals, while the owners and workers are just trying to do their jobs in providing a service for the local community. They should never be made to feel fearful for their safety while at work.”

A shop repeatedly targeted

Pill Corner Stores has reportedly been targeted multiple times in recent months. Police said they would continue to take robust action against those responsible for violent incidents in the community.

Swansea Bay News will continue to follow developments as sentencing concludes.

Related Articles

• Ifan Charles named preferred candidate for Dyfed‑Powys Police Chief Constable
• Thousands of shoplifting cases go unsolved in South Wales and Dyfed‑Powys as charge rates remain low
• Milford Haven man jailed after e‑scooter crash reveals £15k drug stash
• Teen driver who crashed into Pembrokeshire campsite given suspended sentence

#attemptedRobbery #DyfedPowysPolice #knifeCrime #MilfordHaven #MountEstate #PillCornerStores #PillLane #possessionOfABladedArticle #retailTheft #robbery

Welsh Government launches ports prospectus highlighting Swansea, Port Talbot and Milford Haven in offshore wind push

The Welsh Government today (Tuesday 7 October) launches its Ports Prospectus at the Future Energy Wales conference in Newport, setting out how the nation’s coastline and industrial heritage can underpin the UK’s clean energy revolution.

Economy, Energy and Planning Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans said offshore wind could create 29,000 jobs, generate £4.5bn for the economy and power more than four million homes across Wales by 2030. Capacity is forecast to exceed 20 gigawatts by 2045.

Swansea and Port Talbot

Associated British Ports (ABP) said its Swansea and Port Talbot sites were “uniquely placed” to support both fixed‑bottom and floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. Ashley Curnow, ABP’s divisional port manager for Wales and the South West, said the ports’ proximity to development areas, large areas of developable land and strong transport links made them ideal to provide the infrastructure and supply chain capability needed.

Milford Haven and Celtic Freeport

At the Port of Milford Haven, chief executive Tom Sawyer said Pembroke Port offered a “prime gateway” to floating offshore wind, boosted by the investment incentives of the Celtic Freeport, which spans Port Talbot and Pembroke Dock. He said the port was ready to support the build‑out of floating offshore wind (FLOW) and anchor a world‑class supply chain in Wales.

Celtic Freeport chief executive Luciana Ciubotariu added:

“The Welsh Ports Prospectus rightly highlights the scale of opportunity for Wales in floating offshore wind, building on the momentum of The Crown Estate’s recent Celtic Sea leasing round. Celtic Freeport is advancing FLOW terminal capacity and supply chain opportunities at Pembroke Dock and Port Talbot.”

National context

The prospectus also highlights opportunities off north Wales, where more than 500 turbines have already been deployed from the Port of Mostyn.

Rebecca Evans said: “Wales stands at the heart of the clean energy transition – with a coastline that delivers natural deep‑water harbours, proximity to major wind lease zones, and an agile, ready‑to‑scale supply chain we represent one of Europe’s most strategic locations for offshore wind development.”

Next steps

The Welsh Government said its Freeports in south west and north Wales provide investors with tax incentives, streamlined customs processes and development‑ready sites, alongside investment in renewable energy skills.

The Ports Prospectus will now be used to showcase Wales’ offer to global investors as the Celtic Sea leasing round gathers pace.

Related Articles

More on Celtic Freeport and Wales’ offshore wind opportunity:

• Economy Minister congratulates Celtic Freeport consortium on winning bid
  Vaughan Gething hails Port Talbot and Milford Haven’s successful freeport bid, expected to create thousands of green jobs.
• Neath Port Talbot councillors approve next stages in 16,000‑job Celtic Freeport project
  Council signs off on governance and funding steps to progress the transformational freeport scheme.
• Crown Estate funds new offshore wind supply chain programme in South Wales
  £100k programme to boost SMEs in the Swansea Bay City Region reignites calls for devolution of the Crown Estate.
• Swansea, Port Talbot and Milford Haven ports in running for huge offshore wind contracts
  Welsh ports shortlisted as potential assembly hubs for floating wind turbines in the Celtic Sea.

#AssociatedBritishPorts #CelticFreeport #CelticSea #FutureEnergyWales #MilfordHaven #offshoreWind #PortOfMilfordHaven #RebeccaEvansMS #Swansea #WelshGovernment #WindPower #windTurbines

https://www.europesays.com/uk/471163/ Buses to replace trains on Welsh line for second weekend running #Britain #Carmarthen #GreatBritain #GreatWesternRailway #MilfordHaven #PembrokeDock #TrainLine #Trains #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales

New images reveal plans for Milford Haven’s £multi‑million transport interchange

The scheme, led by Pembrokeshire County Council with support from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund, will overhaul the existing station to create smoother, better‑connected journeys and improve rail links to the town and the wider county.

What the plans include

The latest images show a complete redesign of the station area, with:

• Relocation of the existing train platform to make space for a new bus interchange
• Better walking and cycling links to connect the station with the town
• A dedicated taxi rank and improved parking
• Upgraded, fully accessible passenger facilities
• More welcoming public spaces designed to encourage greener travel

📌 Milford Haven Transport Interchange – Key Facts

• What is it? A £multi‑million redevelopment of Milford Haven railway station into a modern public transport interchange.
• Main features:
  • Relocated rail platform to allow direct intercity/high‑speed services (including potential London link)
  • New bus interchange for smoother transfers
  • Dedicated taxi rank and formalised car park
  • Improved walking and cycling links (Active Travel)
  • Fully accessible passenger facilities
  • Upgraded public realm with safer, more welcoming spaces
• Why now? Around 42% of households in Pembrokeshire don’t drive, and 15% have no car at all — making public transport vital for connectivity.
• Funding: £6m Welsh Government investment (as part of a wider £27m South West Wales transport package) plus £1.4m capital funding from Pembrokeshire County Council.
• Timescale: Procurement notice published May 2025; construction expected Jan 2026 – March 2027.
• Partners: Pembrokeshire County Council, Welsh Government, Network Rail, Transport for Wales, Milford Haven Port Authority, AtkinsRéalis.

Boost for connectivity

Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller said the project could pave the way for the return of direct services between Milford Haven and London, including new high‑speed trains.

“This exciting project we hope will allow the return of direct travel from Milford Haven to London and back, helping travellers reach more destinations with ease. It is an important project, not just for Milford Haven, but the county as a whole.”

Backed by partners

The £1.4m capital investment is being delivered with design support from AtkinsRéalis and in partnership with Network Rail, Transport for Wales and Milford Haven Port Authority.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said:

“These plans are fantastic for Milford Haven and improving transport options for residents.”

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders Route Director, added:

“This project is about more than infrastructure; it’s about creating opportunities, encouraging greener, safer travel, and delivering a station the community can be proud of.”

Next steps

Detailed designs are being finalised, with construction expected to follow once approvals and funding are in place. The council says the interchange will complement wider regeneration in Milford Haven and help unlock the region’s economic potential.

More information, including timescales and detailed proposals, is available on the Milford Haven Transport Interchange website.

Related transport stories

Transport Interchange planned for Milford Haven railway station
Initial plans set out how the station could be transformed with a relocated platform, new bus interchange, taxi rank and Active Travel links.

Public transport use surges across South West Wales — but challenges remain
Rail journeys are up 20% and bus franchising is on the way, but questions remain over funding, staffing and delivery of active travel schemes.

“Don’t fix what isn’t broken”: Neath Transport Hub feedback
Residents voice concerns over plans to relocate Neath’s bus station, with many questioning cost, practicality and town centre impact.

Councils in South West Wales to get £27m boost to improve local transport
Welsh Government grants will fund road safety, bus upgrades, active travel routes and major projects including the Milford Haven interchange.

#AtkinsRéalis #busInterchange #CllrRhysSinnett #MilfordHaven #MilfordHavenTrainStation #MilfordHavenTransportInterchange #NetworkRail #PembrokeshireCouncil #TransportInterchange

https://www.europesays.com/uk/368879/ I went on a Welsh staycation with great food, plenty of castles and beach walks #Britain #EmilyDavison #GreatBritain #HarbourTown #MilfordHaven #MilfordWaterfront #PembrokeCastle #Pembrokeshire #PembrokeshireCoastalPath #PopularBeaches #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales

Milford Haven man jailed after e-scooter crash reveals £15k drug stash

Justin Cadwell, 29, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on 24 July, where he was sentenced for multiple drug offences and possession of criminal property. He also received a two-year driving ban for failing to provide a blood sample.

The charges stem from a collision at Hakin Point on 1 March, when Cadwell and another rider were found unconscious next to an e-scooter. While waiting for paramedics, officers spotted a bag of herbal cannabis hanging from Cadwell’s coat. As paramedics cut open the coat, they inadvertently sliced into a concealed bag of white powder. A second bag of powder and £570 in cash were also recovered.

The powder was confirmed to be cocaine, with a street value estimated between £7,080 and £9,200. Cadwell was charged with possession of cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply.

At the time of the crash, Cadwell was already under investigation following a stop check in Hampshire in August 2024, where officers found large quantities of nitrous oxide, cocaine, cannabis and ketamine in his vehicle. He claimed the substances were for personal use.

A subsequent search of his home in Observatory Avenue, Milford Haven, uncovered further drugs, cutting agents and over £25,000 in cash. The additional haul had an estimated street value of £5,031 to £6,191.

Detective Sergeant Vinny Barrett, Dyfed-Powys Police, said:

“This was a very thorough investigation by our officers, who were proactive in stopping Cadwell’s vehicle out of the force area, and conducted a subsequent search of his home in Pembrokeshire. We believe this sentence will have disrupted the supply of cocaine, ketamine and cannabis in the Milford Haven area, which is a positive result for the community.”

#Cannabis #cocaine #drugs #DyfedPowysPolice #eScooter #HakinPoint #ketamine #MilfordHaven #NitrousOxide

UK Government launches ports policy consultation http://dlvr.it/TLxjFy #legislation #MikeKane #MilfordHaven #Planning

Pembrokeshire PCSO honoured for protecting vulnerable adult from Harry Potter scam

PCSO Rachel O’Neill, who serves with the Milford Haven Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team, was crowned winner of the We Care Award at the Dyfed-Powys Police Force Awards on 4 July 2025, following a public vote.

Rachel was praised for her early action in safeguarding a man who believed he was speaking to Hermione Granger, the fictional character from the Harry Potter series. The scammer had been requesting money and manipulating the conversation, but Rachel’s gentle, informed approach helped prevent serious emotional and financial harm.

“Through the good relationship I have in the community, I was able to sit with the man who believed Hermione from Harry Potter wanted to be his friend online,” she said. “The fraudster was asking to lend money, and while it took a while for the penny to drop, I was able to convince him the person was not who they said they were. I was able to educate him about scammers and how they operate.”

“If he hadn’t had that trust with me, then he may have fallen prey to the scammer and this type of crime may have slipped through the net.”

Rachel’s actions prevented what could have been lasting harm to the victim and underscored the importance of building trust in vulnerable communities.

A trusted face in Milford Haven

Over the past six years, Rachel has become a well-known and respected face in Milford Haven, leading on community outreach, safety education, and safeguarding. She regularly delivers talks on issues such as online scams, substance misuse, abuse and healthy relationships, and has helped secure funding for a range of local projects.

She has organised community litter picks, helped fund a sensory room for vulnerable adults, and arranged a Christmas dinner for residents who were previously afraid to engage with the police.

One person who voted for her described Rachel as “always looking for ways to help people and improve her patch,” while another praised her ability to make each person “feel seen, heard and understood.”

“Our job is not just ticking boxes”

Rachel’s approach reflects a deeper philosophy about policing and community care.

“When people see a familiar face, they learn to trust you,” she said. “One time, a person approached me to say they could smell a strange smell in the toilet. It turned out to be someone smoking marijuana and we found drugs paraphernalia associated with heroin. That person recognised something was wrong from our drug education chats, and he had the confidence to confide in me.”

“I am so privileged to do this job. Our job is not just ticking boxes; it’s about doing everything possible to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Her work has helped vulnerable residents feel safer, more informed, and empowered to speak up.

Recognised by the community she serves

The We Care Award was voted for entirely by the public and celebrates police officers, staff, or volunteers who make a difference in their communities. Rachel was joined at the awards ceremony by more than 20 individuals and groups recognised for their contributions to policing, including:

• PCSO Jonathan Crayford, Cross Hands — described as the “backbone of the community”
• PCSO Matthew Kieboom — praised for going “above and beyond” even when not on duty

Rachel said she was “privileged and humbled” to receive the award, especially knowing it came from the community.

“Everybody knows how much I love and value my job. Not many people can say they make a difference in their work and I am proud to do a job that helps others.

To be recognised by the community feels incredibly special. It means I am doing my job right — and that drives me to be even better.”

#awards #DyfedPowysPolice #HarryPotter #HermioneGranger #MilfordHaven #PCSO #scammer

Milford Haven schools set for £141m transformation under new education investment plans

The plans include a combined new primary and secondary school building on the existing secondary school site, featuring shared facilities such as kitchen and sports areas, a 40-place Flying Start centre, and a 36-place secondary Learning Resource Centre. The proposal replaces earlier options to refurbish Milford Haven School and Milford Haven CP School, aiming instead for a modern, co-located campus.

A Strategic Outline Case will also be submitted to Welsh Government for the development of a new 3–11 Welsh medium school, responding to growing demand in the area and supporting the Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) targets.

Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “The Milford Haven Schools redevelopment represents the largest investment in the school estate undertaken by the Council. It will address significant concerns regarding the condition of the two current schools and will enable Milford Haven CP School to operate on a single site. The co-location of the English medium primary and secondary schools will bring economies of scale by combining certain facilities and will provide an opportunity to develop an ‘all-through’ school if desired at some point in the future.”

The total estimated cost of the preferred options is £141,598,965, with £46.5 million to be funded through Pembrokeshire County Council’s Capital Programme.

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and local member, said: “This is a great day. I think this has been such a long time coming, the redevelopment can’t come quickly enough.”

Cabinet members unanimously backed the proposals, which are expected to deliver long-term educational, linguistic and community benefits for the Milford Haven area.

#CllrGuyWoodham #CllrRhysSinnett #education #MilfordHaven #MilfordHavenSchool #newSchool #PembrokeshireCouncil

The Art of Stones (12 Photos by Jon Foreman)

https://streetartutopia.com/2026/01/24/sculptures-by-jon-foreman/

Health board offers ‘artificial pancreas’ to expectant mothers with Type 1 Diabetes

Women who are already pregnant or are planning a pregnancy are being offered an ‘artificial pancreas’ which is made up of an insulin pump, a glucose sensor, and an advanced algorithm running on a mobile phone application.

The artificial pancreas will then calculate and deliver precise insulin dosages required before and during pregnancy.

Dr Lisa Forrest, Consultant Physician, Diabetes and General Medicine at Hywel Dda said: “Women with Type 1 diabetes often have difficulties managing their glucose levels before and during pregnancy. This can result in complications for newborns, such as premature birth, high birth weight, and the need for intensive care.

“However, reducing blood glucose levels before and during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of serious adverse outcomes, including birth defects, stillbirth, and neonatal death.”

“This ‘artificial pancreas’ can transform these women’s experience of pregnancy – helping to make this special time in a woman’s life less stressful and more enjoyable.”

The Hywel Dda diabetes team underwent training on this technology during July and November 2024 and were excited to be one of the first hospitals in Wales to be routinely offering the technology to all new pregnancies affected by Type 1 Diabetes.

In December 2024 eight women living with Type 1 diabetes who were pregnant or planning pregnancy were started on the Ypsopump (insulin pump) alongside the hybrid closed loop CAM APS FX Algorithm.

Lisa continued: “A report published in 2023 looked at the use of ‘artificial pancreas’ technology with the insulin pump and the CAM APS FX hybrid closed loop algorithm during pregnancy. 

“Compared to traditional insulin therapy methods, women who used the technology during pregnancy spent more time with their glucose levels in the pregnancy target range, were less likely to have blood pressure complications during pregnancy and gained less weight. 

“They also reported that using the system lessened the physical, mental and emotional demands of managing their diabetes and increased their confidence to reach glucose targets, improved sleep and decreased their stress and anxiety.”

Michelle Jones from Milford Haven is one of the mums-to-be who have benefitted from the artificial pancreas treatment.

“I did have concerns about pregnancy. I got diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was about 19 and I’m 36 now. When I was in my 20s, I was warned about my blood sugar levels and how controlled they’d need to be during pregnancy, because there is a risk for you and the baby. My main concern was for the baby – things like miscarriages and stillbirths or you can get birth defects.

When Michelle told the diabetes team that she wanted to try for a baby, she was using a diabetes pen.

“The team were monitoring my blood sugar levels to ensure that they were in the best place that they could be. But I couldn’t get the results that I needed with the pens, so they put me then onto the pump. It was a trial, but my levels improved drastically. So that really supported me and helped me.

“The artificial pancreas just changed everything really. Sometimes if your blood sugar levels aren’t in range, it gives you that confidence, that bit of reassurance that it’s going to help you correct your levels. It’s given me tighter control with my glucose levels.”

Another advantage for Michelle is that the Hywel Dda diabetes team can monitor her levels remotely, which means she doesn’t have to travel to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen for every appointment.

“The team can monitor me through the app, so they can download all my data,” Michelle explained. “Every two weeks they can bring up my data on the computer and I can just have a phone call appointment which saves travelling an hour in the car to Glangwili. I still go to appointments but not so often.

“I hope other women have the same opportunities that I’ve had.”

National roll out of the ‘artificial pancreas’ technology began in October 2024 with the aim of offering all pregnant women living with type 1 diabetes being offered this technology by March 2027.

The technology is also available to any individual planning pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes and for further information speak to their specialist team.

Mark Henwood, Interim Medical Director at Hywel Dda said: “I am very proud of the ground-breaking work being done by our amazing diabetes team. The artificial technology will transform the experiences of women living with Type 1 Diabetes and help make their pregnancy a safer, less stressful experience.”

#diabetes #HywelDdaNHS #insulinPump #maternity #MilfordHaven #pregnancy #Type1Diabetes

Pembrokeshire mum first NHS patient to get ground-breaking MS drug

The newly approved medication, ublituximab, is given through an intravenous (IV) infusion and used to help treat relapses of MS.

Compared to other treatments, the drug can be given much faster through an IV infusion, allowing more patients to be treated sooner.

MS, a lifelong condition, happens when a person’s immune system attacks their brain and spinal cord.

The immune system creates cells that attack and kill viruses in the body but for those with MS, the cells attack the nerves instead.

Fiona Creelie, from Milford Haven, was the first patient to be treated with the new drug at the Jill Rowe Neurology Ambulatory Unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

“I started experiencing pins and needles and sharp shooting pains in my face in September,” the 35-year-old said.

“They initially thought it was trigeminal neuralgia, which is sudden, severe facial pain.

“In November, I started to get the same sensations down my right arm, so I went to A&E and had an MRI scan and lots of other tests and then was referred to Morriston Hospital.”

The mum-of-one only officially received her diagnosis of MS and just two weeks later received her first IV treatment of the new drug.

Fiona added: “I was offered a selection of three drugs, but I picked this one because it fitted in with our family life.

“This treatment will be once every six months for just an hour each time, so it was the best fit for me.

“It’s a bit crazy to have been the first person to receive the treatment but it’s also really exciting.”

With the new treatment able to be given much quicker, it will help to reduce the time patients wait for treatment.

Dr Owen Pearson, consultant neurologist at Morriston Hospital, said: “The drug itself is a new version of an already approved drug, but the advantage is that it’s given faster, through an IV infusion.

“It allows us to treat more patients per day and that allows us to shorten the waiting time for treatment.

“It is a highly effective treatment which helps to stop focal inflammation, which is new lesions appearing on an MRI, or having new relapses of MS.

“The unit was starting to operate above capacity so the introduction of this drug will help with that.

“Clinical trials for the drug were done in other centres in the UK, including Cardiff, and it has recently been approved for use on the NHS.

“Being able to offer it so quickly to our patients in Swansea Bay involves a lot of working together with the pharmacy department.

“We have a dedicated clinical pharmacist within our team which allows us to deliver new treatments like this to our patients.”

Charles-Henry Her, the team’s clinical pharmacist, added: “The consultants are really proactive in finding out about these new drugs and then they provide me with all of the information I need.

“I learn about the new drugs and how they work and make sure our systems are ready for us to introduce them.”

Around 2,200 MS patients are supported in Swansea Bay, with the service seeing patients from Machynlleth, in Powys, right across to Cowbridge, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Dr Gillian Ingram, consultant neurologist, said: “The fact that the treatment is much shorter will allow more MS patients to come through.

“It is also beneficial for patients to have a choice of treatment, so they can choose the option that’s right for them.

“There are always new developments in treatments for MS and it is really nice to keep Wales at the forefront of that.”

Alexandra Strong, Jill Rowe Neurology Ambulatory Unit manager, said: “It is exciting for both patients and our unit to have another treatment available for MS, and it was exciting for us to be the first to give the treatment in the NHS.

“It is another option for patients to help improve their treatment and health.

“It will allow more flexibility for patients as it will make it much easier to fit in with their lifestyle, while it will also allow us to be more flexible with the treatment we can offer too.”

#JillRoweNeurologyAmbulatoryUnit #MilfordHaven #MorristonHospital #MS #MultipleSclerosis #SwanseaBayNHS

This is much needed. No idea what the plan is, but shifting the railway onto the bed of the Armaments Depot branch, so the platform and station carpark is on the same side as (and adjoined to) Havens Head Retail Park, with its petrol station and cafe, all the buses, taxis, and everything else, would seem to me to be the way to go... #MilfordHaven #TfW

Swansea, Port Talbot and Milford Haven ports in running for huge offshore wind construction contracts

Plans for a new generation of floating wind farms off the coasts of Wales and South West England moved a step closer as the leasing round for three sites in the Celtic Sea entered its final stages.

The Crown Estate – which manages the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland –also revealed that, as part of the process, companies bidding to build the new wind farms shortlisted a range of potential locations in Wales and South West England for the assembly and deployment of the new turbines.

Research published last year by The Crown Estate showed these new wind farms could support the creation of more than 5,000 jobs and deliver a £1.4 billion boost to the economy, with further opportunities through the supply chain.

As part of their bid proposals, Bidders have set out which ports they intend to work with to support the delivery of projects if they are successful. This refers specifically to ‘integration ports’ where turbines will be mounted on large floating platforms before being towed out to sea. 

The Crown Estate say the development of ports to support the new wind farms are expected to lead to the creation of significant new opportunities for jobs and economic growth.

The turbines could be as much as 300 metres tall, around the same height as The Shard in London, and sit on a floating platform similar in size to a football pitch.

Bidders have put forward a range of ports at this stage which are in relative proximity to the Celtic Sea. These are Port of Milford Haven, Port of Swansea, Port Talbot, Port of Bristol, Port of Plymouth, Falmouth Port and the Port of Brest.

The Crown Estate say that at this stage, the information provided by Bidders indicates a strong potential for Port Talbot and/or Port of Bristol to play a key role in the delivery of Round 5 projects.

Gus Jaspert, Managing Director, Marine at The Crown Estate, said: “The advent of floating offshore wind offers a generational opportunity for the UK to be at the forefront of an exciting new global industry. Developing this new technology in the Celtic Sea will open up transformational opportunities for new jobs, investment and growth across Wales, South West England and beyond.

“With Government backing to secure the long-term success of the UK as a global leader in floating wind, we can lay the foundations for future generations to reap the rewards of a decarbonised, energy-secure and prosperous future.

“We look forward to continuing our work with governments and the industry to secure the investment and commitment needed as we move forward, for the benefit of coastal communities and the UK as a whole.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The UK is a world leader when it comes to floating offshore wind, and by unlocking the untapped potential of the Celtic Sea we will reap the benefits of economic growth and thousands of jobs in Wales and the South West, delivering on our Plan for Change.

“Since taking office, we have approved the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm project, and we are backing the industry even further so this cutting-edge technology can continue to thrive off the UK coastline.

“More floating turbines in our waters means more clean, homegrown power that we control, delivering energy security for families and businesses.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “Today’s announcement shows that Wales is ready to seize the golden opportunity of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, and secure more than 5,000 jobs and billions of pounds of investment this has the potential to bring.

“Wales will play a key part in delivering clean power as part of our Plan for Change, boosting economic growth, lowering energy bills and putting more pounds in people’s pockets.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “The UK is open for business, and this leasing round will help unlock vital new investment in our world-leading floating offshore wind industry to create jobs and prosperity in our coastal communities.

“Backed by our Industrial Strategy, which will place the clean energy sector at the heart of our growth plans, we’re driving forward our missions to make the UK a clean energy superpower and secure economic growth – delivering on two of the foundations of our Plan for Change.”

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: “This milestone represents a significant opportunity for Wales. Floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea will not only advance our clean energy goals but create valuable jobs and investment across Wales’ coastal communities. Our ports are well positioned to support this growing industry and we’re committed to ensuring such developments deliver lasting economic benefits for Wales whilst continuing to strengthen our position as a renewable energy leader.”

RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said: “We welcome this step forward towards the crucial final stages of this landmark leasing round which will kickstart the industrial development of floating offshore wind projects and supply chains at scale in the UK. Today’s announcement on the ports which could host new wind turbine assembly facilities will provide confidence for investors in port facilities around the country, including those in south Wales and the south west of England who are focussing on new floating windfarms in the Celtic Sea. 

 “By 2050, floating turbines could provide a third of the UK’s offshore wind capacity with 40 gigawatts fully operational – enough to power every home in the country. By then, our analysis shows that the UK’s floating wind industry will employ 97,000 people, contributing £47 billion to our economy by building and supplying projects here as well as exporting our cutting-edge technology worldwide. Maximising the capacity of floating wind to be delivered in future leasing rounds would enable the UK to make the most of these exciting opportunities.” 

Richard Ballantyne, Chief Executive of the British Ports Association, said: “Floating offshore wind will bring jobs and prosperity to UK shores, whilst moving us closer to net zero. Ports are critical to securing the social and economic benefits of the energy transition and we welcome this step forward in making floating wind a reality in UK waters. As an industry we will continue to work closely with Government, The Crown Estate and the renewable energy sector to deliver on our shared ambitions for offshore wind.”

(Lead image: Crown Estate)

#CrownEstate #MilfordHaven #offshoreWind #PortOfMilfordHaven #PortOfSwansea #PortTalbot #renewableEnergy #Swansea

New Men’s Shed for South Wales railway station http://dlvr.it/THgS50 #MilfordHaven #Network #RailNews #TransportforWales

Transport Interchange planned for Milford Haven railway station

Subject to confirmation of further funding contributions from Welsh Government, work could start to begin on site next year and be completed in 2026.

Cllr Paul Miller, Deputy Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council said: “We have been working closely with Welsh Government, Network Rail and the train operating companies for some time now and am delighted to be able to bring these proposals forward.

“This project is important in its own right but it’s also a key enabler for dramatically improving rail connectivity for Milford Haven and Pembrokeshire as a whole.

“A new station will do much more than simply improve the station. It will also allow for more frequent services to and from Milford Haven.

“As well as more frequent services, we are working hard with Welsh and UK Governments as well as Great Western Railways to secure the return of direct, high speed, intercity services to the town and this project includes the realignment of the platform to allow the new Hitachi High Speed Services to serve Milford Haven directly.”

The scheme involves improvement works to the existing Milford Haven train station to create a new public transport interchange by relocating the existing rail platform and providing a dedicated bus interchange between the station and retail area, along with a, taxi rank, formalised car park, public realm spaces and improved Active Travel links.

The scheme will also work in synergy with the Port Authority’s initiatives to improve walking and cycling access to the Milford Haven Dock, further encouraging tourism and urban development and links to the pre-existing retail area within the town.

Local Member and Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett added: “If this bid is approved by Welsh Government, it will be fantastic news for Milford Haven and go a long way towards increasing and improving transport connectivity both for those visiting the town but more importantly for the residents of the area.

“The associated works with the scheme to enhance safety and parking measures as well as provide a focal point for a public transport interchange with bus services much needed in our town.”

The scheme, if supported by Welsh Government, will be delivered by Pembrokeshire County Council.

A draft design package was developed and submitted to Network Rail in December 2023 with a revised design ready for resubmission.

Cabinet approved the inclusion of the Milford Haven Public Transport Interchange as part of the Local Transport Fund Bids Grant application for 2025/26 for the sum of £6million to continue the development and phased delivery of the project.

Capital funding totalling £1.4million over 2025-26 and 2026-27 has been committed by the Cabinet.

Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell said: “It’s fantastic to see changes being made to Milford Haven Train Station. Good public transport and associated facilities are vital to communities in Pembrokeshire. I am pleased to be working alongside the Council and Welsh Government to positively impact Milford Haven.”

(Lead image: Pembrokeshire Council)

#MilfordHaven #MilfordHavenTrainStation #PembrokeshireCouncil #Transport #TransportInterchange

It was a fantastic walk around St Annes Head from Dale in the gorgeous summer sunshine. Views across Milford Haven harbour, Angle and Skokholm. Highly recommended! #Aberdaugleddau #Pembrokeshire #Fungi #Parasol #Wales #Dale #MilfordHaven #Angle #Skokholm #Cymru #WalesCoastpath

#Ships calling at the #UK’s most #polluted #ports produce more #NitrogenOxide #pollution (#NOx) than all the cars registered in the same cities or regions, analysis has shown.

#MilfordHaven, #Southampton and #Immingham top list for emissions of #HarmfulGases and #particulates
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/19/ships-pollute-port-cities-more-than-all-cars-in-the-region-analysis-shows
#AirPollution

“Mrs Edwards said she used to bang her trowel on the bomb to remove earth after gardening.” #MilfordHaven https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67602627

Managed to sneak in a cheeky Slow Ways from Milford Haven to Haverfordwest before the rain started. Other than a few routes from Narberth, South Pembrokeshire is conquered with over 72 miles of Slow Ways surveyed this week. Over to others to walk and get them verified! 🥾🥾#SlowWays #MilfordHaven #Aberdaugleddau #Haverfordwest #Hwlffordd #Narberth #SirBenfro #Cerdedd #Cymraeg #Cymru #Wales #SheepOfMastodon

MilfordHaven to Newgale Slow Ways adventure today. Beautiful views and weather over the area. Highlight was joining the Wales Coast Path a few miles from Newgale. My highlights include a paraglider and panaramic views across St Brides Bay. #MilfordHaven #WestWales #Newgale #Wales #Cymru #Paraglider #CoastPath #Cerdded #SlowWays #StBridesBay

Another Slow Ways adventure after a sudden change of plans. Linking up the surveyed routes by doing the short route to Pembroke to Pembroke Dock. That links up Tenby through to Milford Haven. Hopefully others can get involved to verify routes. #Pembrokeshire #HolidayWalk #Pembroke #PembrokeDock #MilfordHaven #Tenby #SlowWays #Wales #Cerdded #Cymru #DynbachyPysgod #Aberdaugleddau #Penfro #WestWales

Ventured to the Wild West today in Pembrokeshire for a Slow Ways; Neyland to Milford Haven. It’s definitely not conventional beauty, but I loved the unusual landscape and scenery between the oil refinery and estuary. #SlowWays #Pembrokeshire #Neyland #MilfordHaven #OilRefinery #Wales #industrial #Cymru #Cerdded #Verigo

#PaddleSteamer
#Waverley
#Glasgow
#MilfordHaven

We are going on a paddle steamer today, the Waverley, boarding at Milford Haven, and going round the islands.

Wales freeports for Milford Haven-Port Talbot, Anglesey

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65044061

#Freeport #Freeports #Wales #MilfordHaven #PortTalbot #Anglesey #Jobs #Investment