First Minister Rhodri Morgan has backtracked on the Welsh Assembly's commitment to an Ebbw Vale - Newport rail link. Travelling on the Cardiff based version of the service he stated that a link between Ebbw Vale and Newport had been the original plan, but had not proved viable due to a problem where lines would have to cross. However, a link with Cardiff was developed. “After the news the line could not go to Newport, the fact that the alternative was that it could go to Cardiff was a bonus,” said Mr Morgan. In a comment to the Gwent Gazette he confirmed that Newport Railway Station also needs to be brought up to standard for the Ryder Cup golf tournament. Mr Morgan failed to give a firm commitment to a Newport link stating that he hoped the National Assembly and Network Rail could look “seriously” at the possibility of extending the Ebbw line into Newport
WORK TO START ON POWER STATION
Carron Energy has signed contracts with Siemens AG and Siemens for the design, engineering, construction, commissioning, testing and completion, operation and management of the 850MW Severn Power Combined Cycle gas turbine plant at Uskmouth. This follows the award of planning permission for the project by DBERR (The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) in August 2007, and the announcement on 4 March 2008 that Welsh Power Group Limited has mandated three banks, Calyon, ING and The Royal Bank of Scotland, to lead arrange and underwrite up to £550m debt financing in support of the development.
Commenting on today’s news, Alex Lambie, Chief Executive of Welsh Power, owners of Severn Power said: “We are delighted to have concluded these critical negotiations. We are looking forward to commencing construction, and are confident that Siemens’ expertise will bring Severn Power on line on schedule in 2010.“There have been concerns raised that the UK will be unable to build new plant, to meet the generation shortfall resulting from older plant retiring, due to the global demand for turbines. The Severn Power project will play an important role in delivering efficient and competitive energy for GB customers in the coming years. Severn Power will create more than 650 skilled jobs, provide vital electricity generation for South Wales, and contribute to the Welsh Assembly’s aim of energy self-sufficiency for Wales.”
POLICE CAMPAIGN REDUCES CITY BURGLARIES
A police operation launched to catch prolific burglars in Newport has been hailed a "complete success". Due to unusually high amounts of burglaries being committed in the city, a dedicated team including three detectives, a researcher and an analyst was set up under Operation Chase. Since the operation began six weeks ago, 181 house burglaries have been solved and six males aged between 14 and 30 from the Newport area have been arrested. Three have been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and the others charged with specific burglaries. Five have been remanded in custody until they appear in court.
Crime figures show that the recent arrests have significantly reduced the numbers of burglaries happening in the city. Since the beginning of the year, the amount of burglaries each week has ranged between 25 and 36 - but two weeks ago the number fell to 24 and last week the figure dropped further to 18. Officers now expect burglary figures to fall further now burglars they caught are behind bars.Detective Inspector Steve Webber, who led the operation, said:
"The team that was set up worked very hard to find additional witnesses to burglaries and to enhance forensic evidence to bring charges against suspected culprits. I'm confident that those responsible for the majority of burglaries in Newport over the last six months have been stopped. It was great to see the house burglary figures fall to 24 two weeks ago and then drop again to 18 last week. We now aim to keep this downward trend going by continuing to do the things that have made Operation Chase a complete success."
