As British summer time comes to an end, autumn storms have been battering South Pembrokeshire this week, with heavy rain and gale force winds lashing the county. Torrential rain last weekend, which caused hazardous driving conditions and resulted in a washout of local sporting fixtures, were followed by more downpours and winds of up to 60 mph. The bad weather reached its peak on Wednesday when high winds caused structural damage to properties and buildings, ripping off slates and bringing down trees and fences. Power cuts were also expericened in some areas and with drains failing to cope with the rain, there was also large scale surface water and twigs and debris strewn across many roads. The fire brigade and Pembrokeshire County Council staff were on full alert and were kept particularly busy. Action began for Tenby firefighters shortly before 2 pm when they needed the assistance of the brigade's turntable ladder to make safe the roof at the town's Ocean Hotel. Around the same time, a second crew were called to Dales Music Shop in High Street to deal with an unsafe roof, while a short time later, the firefighters were again in action on the Croft, dealing with similar problems at the County Club. These calls were the start of a busy few hours for both crews. Other shouts included making safe the roof at the old chicken sheds at a property in Hill Lane, Pentlepoir, as well as attending to unsafe aerials at a number of homes in Tenby, including properties at Norton Cottages, Newell Hill, Glenview Crescent, Merlins Gardens and Broadwell Hayes. Slates also came loose at another property in Merlins Gardens as well as one in Warren Street. Elsewhere, Saundersfoot also seemed to bear the brunt of the conditions. High tides sent waves crashing over the harbour wall, sending torrents of water through the adjoining car park, but miraculously no major damage was caused. In the village, however, firefighters from Tenby made safe the roof at the Mermaid Restaurant on The Strand, shortly before 8 pm, while earlier in the evening they dealt with an unsafe window in Beddoes Court. A trampoline was blown into the air landing on an electricty pylon in Cold Blow and in Robeston Wathen, firefighters from Narberth made safe loose slates at 'Bryn Helen' and the Church Hall, while the cladding came loose on the canopy at the village's Dyrham Service Station. It was also a hectic time for Pembrokeshire County Council workmen, and as we were going to press yesterday (Thursday), teams were out with JCBs and mechanical sweepers clearing debris in the Amroth and Wiseman's Bridge areas. The gale force winds also sent trees and branches crashing down onto roads around the area. Three trees blew down between Fountain Head and Saundersfoot, while the roads between Amroth and Llanteg, Llanddewi Velfrey and Llanfallteg and Sardis and Colby Lodge were closed after they became blocked by fallen trees. The council also delivered extra sandbags to properties in the Amroth area. Some areas also suffered blackouts caused by the sheer force of the wind. Western Power Distribution drafted in extra staff to get customers' electricity supplies back on as soon as possible. Meanwhile, ferry passengers were left stranded off Pembroke Dock after the captain of Irish Ferries' 'Isle of Inishmore', which was due to arrive from Rosslare at 2.30 pm, decided conditions were too risky to dock. They were eventually relieved to reach dry land in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday) morning after 17 hours at sea. As we were going to press, more heavy rain was lashing our office windows, but weather experts were forecasting improved conditions for the weekend.
