PEMBROKESHIRE proposals for a £40m-plus road realignment scheme at flood-hit Newgale, and a far cheaper alternative scheme, are to come under the spotlight at full council next week.

Newgale was hit hard by flooding following storms in early 2014 storms, and later by Storm Dennis in 2020.

In 2014 it even saw a visit by the-then Prime Minister David Cameron following the storms.

A public consultation – through agent AtkinsRéalis – was launched earlier this year ahead of a formal Pembrokeshire County Council application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for Phase 1 of the Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project, which would see the development of a new inland section of road with bridge over Brandy Brook some 2.3km inland, to replace the coastal section of A487 at Newgale that will be closed and removed, among other works.

Varied claims have been made about the cost of this scheme, from £20m upwards, some even saying it could cost as much as £60m, with millions spent on consultation fees to date.

An alternative scheme has been proposed by STUN – Stand Up for Newgale, who have previously said the public has been misled over the need for the new Newgale bypass.

STUN’s far cheaper alternative proposes a section of the shingle bank at Newgale be realigned 10-12 metres seaward leaving an over-wash barrier between it and the A487 to capture any pebbles and sea water.

In a question, on behalf of Solva Community Council, to be heard at the July 17 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, community council chair Gareth Chapman will ask: “The topic of the road diversion at Newgale has been in the news quite a lot recently and it has become apparent that there has been an alternative scheme proposed by the Newgale Community group STUN.

“This proposal has been demonstrated to Solva Community Council and appears to be an under £1m proposal with up to 85 years lifespan compared to the conservative £40m-plus estimate for the PCC proposal.”

The question says “hardly anyone wants this major change in Newgale,” adding: “PCC’s proposal is to counter for road closures that rarely happen and, even then, require little expense to restore the pebble bank. It should also be remembered that on several occasions, flooding at Newgale occurs because the river outlet is blocked preventing water from the valley escaping and not as a result of a high tide or storm.

“It is acknowledged that climate change and coastal issues at Newgale may eventually in many years force a change in the highway arrangements at Newgale but it is felt that all efforts should be made to retain the character of the village and iconic views for as long as possible.

“Given the huge amount of public money that is proposed to be spent, and could well be better spent on other more pressing issues, would Pembrokeshire County Council commit to thoroughly examining the alternative proposal as WelTAG [Welsh Government Transport Appraisal Guidance] suggests they should, and also fully take on board the overwhelming public opinion regarding the future of Newgale?

“Secondly if Pembrokeshire County Council have already given this alternative scheme full consideration, will they also commit to providing their written comments on the alternative scheme to Solva Community Council within 14 days of this meeting?”

The question will be responded to at the meeting.

A NEW environmental arts and music festival brought colour, conversation and community spirit to Scolton Manor Country Park last weekend.

Creative Climate Fest, held on Saturday and Sunday (July 5–6), was a collaboration between Pembrokeshire County Council and local artist Lawrence Mathias. The event blended culture, creativity and climate awareness, with a programme that featured live music, visual art, and activities focused on sustainability.

Attendees included council representatives Mark Thomas, Maureen Bowen and James Silbers, who joined visitors in exploring the exhibitions and performances spread across the Maenordy Scolton estate.

The festival aimed to highlight the urgent challenges of climate change while showcasing positive, community-led solutions. From recycled art installations to discussions on environmental action, the event encouraged both reflection and participation.

Thomas Tudor, who attended the weekend’s activities, said: “It was lovely to attend the Creative Climate Fest at Scolton Manor. What a wonderful event of culture, music and art all joined together in one place. Definitely a great success and I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Creative Climate Fest is expected to return in 2026 following positive feedback from the community and organisers.

CPRW raises concerns over onshore impact as Welsh Government unveils green energy plan

A MAJOR step towards energy independence has been announced with the launch of three new wind farms under Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, the publicly owned renewable energy developer for Wales.

The three proposed sites—Clocaenog Dau in Denbighshire/Conwy, Glyn Cothi in Carmarthenshire, and Carreg Wen in Rhondda Cynon Taf—are set to deliver up to 400 megawatts of clean electricity, enough to power 350,000 homes, equivalent to around a quarter of all households in Wales.

A national push for net-zero

The projects form part of the Welsh Government’s wider ambition to develop 1 GW of renewable energy capacity on public land by 2040, with a target of meeting 70% of Wales’ electricity demand from renewables by 2030, rising to 100% by 2035.

The Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Economy, Rebecca Evans MS, said: “These proposals demonstrate our commitment to harnessing Wales’ abundant natural resources to generate clean energy while ensuring the benefits are felt locally.”

She added that developing the projects on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate, which covers 6% of Wales, ensures public land is being used to combat the climate emergency and generate long-term economic benefits.

Concerns from countryside charity

However, not everyone has welcomed the announcement without reservation. The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) issued a statement on Thursday (Jul 10) expressing concern over the potential landscape and biodiversity impacts of large-scale onshore wind projects.

Dr Jonathan Dean, Trustee of CPRW, said: “We fully support the transition to renewable energy and the goal of retaining profits for the benefit of Welsh communities. However, we remain disappointed that Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru have not chosen to pursue a more effective and publicly acceptable approach offshore.”

Jonty Colchester, CPRW Chairman, added: “Publicly owned renewable energy projects must set the gold standard for sustainable development. This means not only clean energy generation but also protection of Wales’ treasured natural and cultural landscapes.”

The charity is calling for site-specific impact assessments, greater community involvement, and a transparent development process to ensure that renewable energy goals do not undermine the very environment they are meant to protect.

Jobs and investment for Wales

According to Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru Chief Executive Richard Evans, the developments are expected to create hundreds of jobs during both the construction and operational phases, with a strong emphasis on working with Welsh companies and supply chains.

“We will create and support quality jobs, contribute to skills initiatives and ensure funding supports local priorities,” Mr Evans said.

He also confirmed that profits from the projects will be reinvested in Welsh public services and communities.

Labour attacks Farage and Plaid Cymru

In a political aside, Ms Evans took aim at opposition voices, including Nigel Farage, accusing him of wanting to “turn back the clocks” by scrapping green projects and “sending people back down the pits.”

She also criticised Plaid Cymru for supporting net-zero targets while allegedly obstructing the infrastructure needed to achieve them.

“Only Welsh Labour are looking to the future,” she said, “with optimism and ambition to seize the opportunities that come with the green revolution and harness them to deliver for the people of Wales.”