CAMPAIGN group ‘PARC Against DARC’ – launched in 2024 in opposition to the proposed US military radar installation at Brawdy – is calling for a county wide response to the official consultation on DARC Radar. 

As part of statutory public engagement obligations, London Based PR corporation Cascade Communications announced the opening of the public consultation on February 22, which will close four weeks later on March 22. They say the MOD will then submit an official planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council after which the local authority is expected to run its own public engagement and consultation process with agencies, stakeholders and the general public.

As a result, PARC Against DARC has launched what they describe as ‘a massive community led response of opposition’ which offers several ways of actively opposing the plans.  They are urging people to visit the consultation page on their website www.parcagainstdarc.com and take part in the consultation response via what they describe as ‘an accessible action-tools with simple one-click’ options to email the consultation and register opposition to the Radar plans. Emails can also be sent to Cascade Communications at: [email protected] directly.

The campaign group has already made significant inroads to stalling the plans in its first two years, with Plaid Cymru and the Green Party firmly supporting the campaign at national Party levels. Thirty eight elected politicians have also supported motions in both the Senedd and Westminster opposing the plans, with many pledging to escalate opposition through parliamentary procedures in both Cardiff and Westminster.

A spokesperson said: “There is already a massive momentum of opposition to this dangerous radar which if ever built would unquestionably be the most powerful, most high-radiation installation ever imposed on British soil. With residents a stone’s throw away from the edge of the base, the MOD’s absolute stone-cold refusal to publish any data for public scrutiny is disgusting, and we deserve better from our government, and the Labour Party. 

“When questioned about this and thousands of studies showing health risks, all the MOD does is trot out one widely-criticised research group that ignores the modern research body on radiation and is under intensive military lobbying influence, and expects residents here to shut up.”

PARC Against DARC claims their petition has been signed by over 18,000 people,while local politicians have pledged to fight the proposals in the High court.

“This is set to be a serious ‘vote killer’ in the upcoming Senedd elections this May,” said the spokesperson.

Council votes to discontinue Ysgol Llansteffan after months of opposition

CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council has approved plans to close Ysgol Llansteffan, despite a sustained campaign by parents and community supporters to keep the village school open.

The decision was confirmed at a council meeting held today (Wednesday, March 4).

Under the plans, Ysgol Llansteffan will close on August 31, 2026, with pupils transferring to Ysgol Llangain from September 1. The existing catchment area currently served by Ysgol Llansteffan will also be absorbed into the Ysgol Llangain catchment.

Parents and guardians will still be able to apply for places at other schools in Carmarthenshire through the council’s usual admissions process.

The school was identified for closure under Carmarthenshire County Council’s Modernising Education Programme, approved by Cabinet on November 18, 2024. Officials cited extremely low pupil numbers, a high number of surplus places, and financial pressures including a projected deficit budget.

Council leaders also noted that many children living within the school’s catchment area already attend other schools, limiting demand for provision in the village.

Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Glynog Davies said the decision had been difficult.

“The decision to close Ysgol Llansteffan is difficult for everyone involved and it is with sadness that this has been agreed,” he said.

“Following a robust process, the discontinuation of Ysgol Llansteffan will enable the school to combine with Ysgol Llangain to provide safer staffing, the wider sharing of the Welsh language among pupils and a more sustainable rural community.”

Campaigners’ concerns

The decision follows months of opposition from parents and campaigners who argued the case for closure was flawed.

The school’s Parent Teacher Association, supported by Welsh language campaigners, had urged councillors to delay the decision, saying important evidence remained unresolved. Campaigners also raised concerns about the language impact assessment used to support the closure proposal.

Parents argued that pupil numbers had recently increased and that projections used by the council were outdated. They said the school roll had risen earlier this year, challenging claims that numbers would remain extremely low.

During the consultation process, the council received more than 200 responses, with the majority opposing the closure. Residents raised concerns about transport arrangements, the potential impact on pupils’ wellbeing, and the effect on the wider village community if the school were lost.

Supporters of the school also argued that small rural schools play an important role in maintaining Welsh language use and community life, warning that once the village school is lost it would be unlikely to reopen.

Despite these objections, councillors ultimately approved the proposal, meaning Ysgol Llansteffan will close at the end of the summer term.

Independent councillors warn of job losses, safeguarding risks and declining public services

INDEPENDENT councillors have criticised Pembrokeshire County Council’s newly agreed 2026/27 budget, warning that £2m of cuts to education could lead to the loss of around 50 teaching and support posts.

The Independent Group says it opposed the budget because now is not the time to implement what Cabinet has described as “efficiency savings”, particularly after three Pembrokeshire schools were recently placed into special measures with safeguarding concerns identified.

Group members said they had contacted teaching unions and received what they described as a clear response that education funding should not be reduced in the current climate.

Public service pressures raised

The councillors also highlighted what they say are growing pressures on frontline council services, including Contact Centre response times and staffing shortages.

Following the budget meeting, Cllr Huw Murphy reported witnessing a member of the public at County Hall attempting to pay rent, only to find the payment counter closed because of staffing issues. As reception does not accept cash payments, the individual — who had travelled from North Pembrokeshire — was unable to complete the transaction.

The Independent Group believes some of the council’s projected £4m underspend, or its £2m contingency allocation, should instead be used to protect education funding and strengthen front-desk and Contact Centre staffing to improve public access to services.

Political tensions over vote

The budget passed with support from councillors across the chamber who were present, with one abstention.

Independent members have criticised what they describe as a lack of meaningful political opposition, arguing that councillors from multiple parties ultimately supported Cabinet proposals.

They also noted the absence of several Conservative councillors during what is widely regarded as the most important council meeting of the year, including Conservative Group Chief Whip Aled Thomas and councillors David Howlett and Jonathan Grimes.

Accountability pledge

The Independent Group says it will continue to scrutinise council decisions and press for improvements, particularly where safeguarding concerns have been identified in recent Estyn inspections.

They say they remain committed to representing Pembrokeshire residents independently of party political influence while holding decision-makers to account for the impact of the 2026/27 budget.