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Campaigners warn of ‘dangerous experiment’ as nuclear plans face backlash

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Climate Camp Cymru supports Llynfi Valley protest against small modular reactors – campaigners urge Pembrokeshire to stay alert

ENVIRONMENTAL activists from across Wales – including several from Pembrokeshire – joined forces with Climate Camp Cymru this summer to support the No Nuclear Llynfi campaign near Llangynwyd in the Llynfi Valley, South Wales.

The group is opposing plans by American company Last Energy to build four small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) on land within a mile of residential homes and two schools.

The company, a venture capital-backed start-up that has never built a reactor before, is currently seeking UK planning approval. Campaigners say it is deeply concerning that Last Energy is also suing the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, claiming its safety regulations are “overburdensome” – while applying similar pressure in the UK to reduce oversight and speed up development.

Concerns over waste and flood risk

No Nuclear Llynfi campaigners have highlighted several risks, including plans to store radioactive waste on-site indefinitely, and the fact that the proposed location lies below the water table in a Zone 3 flood risk area – the highest flood designation.

Other worries include the need for 24-hour armed security, the site’s proximity to homes and schools, and the potential use of generated power for data centres running artificial intelligence systems, rather than for local homes or industry.

A spokesperson for Climate Camp Cymru said the project “treats post-industrial communities as expendable,” adding that “people in the valleys, and in places like Pembrokeshire too, are being used as testing grounds for risky new energy technologies.”

Raising awareness

The summer camp, set up over the August bank holiday weekend, occupied open land near the proposed nuclear site. Volunteers raised banners along the A4063, distributed flyers, and knocked on around 1,000 doors to alert residents.

Most locals, campaigners said, were unaware of the nuclear proposal – despite claims by Last Energy that it had consulted the community. “There’s a legal duty to inform residents, and that simply hasn’t been met,” organisers said.

An open meeting at Maesteg Rugby Club on September 25 drew strong attendance and marked the beginning of organised local opposition.

Workshops and wider links

Throughout the weekend, the camp hosted workshops and talks from campaigners behind Save Kilvey Hill in Swansea – where activists are fighting a proposed adventure park development – and from CND, the Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC), and academics from Cardiff University.

Discussions focused on linking environmental struggles across Wales, from open-cast mining and deforestation to speculative energy projects. Evenings featured live music and Welsh-language sessions celebrating Wales’ radical protest heritage.

Call for local action

Organisers say the success of the Llynfi camp shows the power of grassroots resistance. The camp was left clean and intact, with the landowner’s permission granted after the first day and support from nearby residents.

Pembrokeshire campaigners are now being encouraged to stay alert to similar proposals in the west. Sites such as Trawsfynydd and Wylfa are already under consideration for future SMR projects, and environmental groups warn that West Wales could be next.

Anyone interested in hosting or seeking support from next year’s Climate Camp Cymru can contact the group via email at [email protected].

 

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Crash on Freeman’s Way causes school-run chaos across Haverfordwest

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Major delays leave pupils stranded, buses running late and traffic backed up across the town after morning collision

ONE person was taken to hospital after a two-vehicle crash caused widespread disruption in Haverfordwest during the morning school run.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were called to the collision on the A4076 Freeman’s Way at around 7:10am on Thursday (June 18).

The road was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident, leading to long tailbacks on routes into town.

Many children were late for school, with some school buses arriving after 10:00am. Some pupils being dropped off at Haverfordwest Bus Station for the St Davids school bus are also understood to have missed their connection.

Police said one person was taken to hospital to be checked over following the collision.

The road reopened shortly before 10:30am.

 

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Motorcyclist, 22, dies in A4075 crash

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A 22-year-old woman remains in hospital after two-vehicle collision

A MOTORCYCLIST has died following a serious two-vehicle crash on the A4075 between Canaston Bridge and Yerbeston.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the collision happened at around 6:20pm on Wednesday (June 17) and involved a grey Kia Sorento and a white Yamaha motorcycle.

The rider of the motorcycle, a 22-year-old man, died at the scene.

A 22-year-old woman who was travelling as a pillion passenger was taken to hospital, where she remains.

Police said the rider’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

The driver of the Kia Sorento, a 60-year-old man, was not injured.

Road remains closed

The A4075 remained closed while collision investigators examined the scene, and motorists were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.

Investigating officers are appealing for witnesses and would like to speak to anyone who was travelling along the A4075 at the relevant time.

They are also asking motorists with dashcam footage from the area to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], by direct message on social media, or by calling 101.

Please quote reference 362 of June 17.

 

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More than 240 organisations back call for fairer Wales

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Senedd statement urges action on rising costs, climate change, nature loss and insecure livelihoods

MORE than 240 organisations from across Wales have backed a Senedd call for urgent action to build a fairer, greener and more resilient nation.

The Statement of Opinion, tabled by Niamh Salkeld MS, supports the Cymru Together campaign and calls on the Welsh Government to respond to the linked crises of rising living costs, insecure livelihoods, climate change and nature loss.

Ahead of the 2026 Senedd election, more than 240 organisations signed an open letter under the Cymru Together banner, urging political parties to work together on Wales’ most pressing challenges.

The statement calls on ministers to invest in warmer homes and cheaper renewable energy, ensure renewable energy creates community wealth and supports workers, and restore nature by supporting farmers to produce food sustainably while making polluters pay.

It also says climate action in Wales can support communities around the world already facing the worst effects of climate change, while delivering practical improvements to everyday life at home.

Niamh Salkeld MS said: “For communities like mine in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, this is about fairness.

“We know that if we get this right, we can tackle the cost-of-living crisis, strengthen our communities and create a more secure future.

“We also know the cost of doing nothing is higher energy bills, more extreme weather and fewer opportunities for future generations.”

Bethan Sayed, Head of Politics at Climate Cymru, said Wales was at a “pivotal moment”.

She said: “Climate action is not a burden on Wales: it is an opportunity to build warmer homes, create good jobs, restore our natural environment, and deliver a fairer future for everyone who calls Wales home.”

Stan Townsend, Head of Policy at Climate Cymru, said the proposals were “practical priorities” that could make a real difference.

He said: “Investing in home efficiency cuts energy bills for households, community ownership of renewable energy gives us the chance to keep more wealth in our communities, and supporting farmers to farm sustainably protects the land and the livelihoods that depend on it.”

Cerith Griffiths, a former firefighter and FBU trade union official, said the campaign connected climate action with lower energy bills, good jobs and healthier communities.

Global Climate Justice Cymru said the statement recognised that “what Wales does matters beyond our borders”, while Race Council Cymru said the campaign showed how climate action could help reduce living costs and create new opportunities.

Cymru Together describes itself as a growing movement of more than 240 organisations calling for a fairer and healthier Wales.

 

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