A CHARITY tractor road run across the Llŷn Peninsula will take place later this spring, raising money for two important health causes in north Wales.

The Welsh National Tractor Road Run (WNTRR) 2026 is scheduled for Sunday (May 31), starting at 10:00am from Crugarn Farm in Llanbedrog, near Pwllheli.

Organised by the Llŷn and Eifionydd Tractor Enthusiasts, the popular event will bring together tractor owners from across Wales and beyond for a scenic drive through the countryside while supporting charity.

This year’s run will raise funds for two beneficiaries: the Wales Air Ambulance and the Alaw Cancer Ward at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

Support for vital services

The Wales Air Ambulance provides lifesaving emergency treatment across Wales, often reaching patients in remote rural areas where rapid response is critical. Meanwhile, Alaw Ward at Ysbyty Gwynedd supports cancer patients and their families across north Wales.

Organisers say the tractor run offers a chance for the farming and rural community to come together while raising money for causes that make a real difference.

The event has become a highlight in the calendar for vintage tractor enthusiasts, with tractors of all makes and sizes expected to take part.

Entry details for participants

Entries are open to tractor owners who wish to take part in the run. Entry costs £20 if submitted before the closing date of May 20. On-the-day entries will be accepted at £25.

Participants are asked to ensure their tractors are fully insured and road legal, and that drivers hold the appropriate licence.

All tractors are welcome, although larger machines will be grouped together at the rear of the convoy. Transport boxes and trailers with safe seating will be permitted, but standing passengers or bales are not allowed.

Caterers will be present at the start point and again during the lunch break, with toilet facilities available.

Late entries may be accepted, although organisers say drivers submitting forms after the closing date might not receive a souvenir or have their names included in the official programme.

How to enter

Drivers wishing to take part can request an entry form or further details from the event secretary, Anne Bates, by emailing [email protected] or calling 07721 910405.

Entry forms should be returned to Little Gigrin, Rhayader, Powys LD6 5NU.

Organisers say the run promises a relaxed day out for tractor enthusiasts and supporters alike, while helping to raise funds for two vital Welsh healthcare charities.

CONCERNS have been raised about the future of a distinctive Haverfordwest building after a car crashed into it last week, leaving part of the frontage badly damaged.

Two people were taken to hospital after a vehicle collided with the former County Library building in Dew Street during the early hours of Sunday (Mar 1).

The impact caused significant damage to the front of the building. Campaigners who want the structure protected are now calling for urgent repairs and greater transparency about what will happen to the site.

Dyfed-Powys Police have been asked to comment on the condition of those involved in the collision.

The crash is believed to have followed a medical emergency.

The former library is widely regarded as an important example of post-war public architecture in Pembrokeshire. Built in the 1960s and designed by architect Gilbert Ray, the building is often described as a notable piece of modernist – sometimes labelled brutalist – design.

Its distinctive appearance includes bold concrete forms and a striking sculpture representing an open book, created by artist David Tinker.

The library closed to the public on Saturday (Oct 13, 2018).

In April 2022 the building and around 3.3 acres of surrounding land were purchased from Pembrokeshire County Council by housing association ateb for £250,000.

The organisation intended to relocate its headquarters from St Thomas Green to the Dew Street site. Plans also included commercial office space within the building and a street-level café.

A second phase of the development proposed housing on the former car park area behind the building, previously used by the library and community education centre.

However, a local campaign group known as Save the Library Action Group (SLAG) is seeking to have the building formally listed because of its architectural and historical importance.

Members of the group say the recent damage highlights the need for urgent protection and repairs.

Retired architect Mike Daffern said the group hoped the damaged section would be rebuilt rather than simply secured.

He added that residents would welcome a clear timetable from ateb for delivering the refurbishment plans approved in 2023, which would see the building converted into the organisation’s headquarters.

Mr Daffern said that if the project was no longer going ahead, the community should be involved in considering alternative uses for the building that could help revitalise that part of Haverfordwest’s conservation area.

The campaign group has also contacted Cadw about listing the building and plans to provide photographs and a report detailing the recent damage.

They argue the building could potentially be reused for community education, arts, or other cultural activities.

A spokesperson for ateb confirmed the organisation was aware of the damage caused by the collision.

“Our immediate priority is to ensure the building is safe and secure,” the spokesperson said. “The damage will be addressed to maintain appropriate safety measures.”

The spokesperson added that the former library site remained a complex redevelopment project and that ateb was continuing to work with Pembrokeshire County Council to explore possible options for the site’s future, including funding and potential redesign of the building.

“We recognise the strong interest in the building from members of the community and local groups,” the spokesperson said.

CAMPAIGNERS opposing the proposed Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) project on the St Davids peninsula have accused the Ministry of Defence of attempting to push through associated infrastructure in separate stages in order to avoid proper planning scrutiny.

The group PARC Against DARC (Pembrokeshire Against Radar Campaign) claims the approach resembles a practice sometimes referred to as “salami slicing”, where elements of a large development are split into smaller projects and considered separately rather than as a single scheme.

Campaigners say several developments linked to the radar proposal appear to be progressing outside the main planning process.

“We haven’t come across a single person who doesn’t think the whole story behind the RDF aircraft tracker relocation proposal, the high-security undersea cable landing station, the Newgale bypass scheme and major power upgrades simply doesn’t add up,” the group said.

“After thirty-seven Senedd and Westminster politicians publicly opposed DARC, a petition gathered 18,000 signatures and demonstrations gained widespread attention online, the MOD now appears to be attempting to ‘salami slice’ the project and push it through piece by piece.”

Follow the DARC money

PARC claims documentation submitted as part of the MOD’s environmental screening request confirms that relocating an RDF aircraft tracker forms part of the wider DARC project.

Campaigners argue that although the relocation is described as operationally separate, it appears closely linked to the radar development.

“The MOD’s screening document acknowledges that relocating the RDF was part of DARC planning and suggests the work would be completed before construction begins,” campaigners said.

“This raises serious questions about why the relocation is being treated as an entirely separate development.”

They also claim the screening request does not assess the potential cumulative impact of radiofrequency radiation from both the relocated tracker and the proposed DARC radar installation.

Campaigners say they have identified more than four thousand scientific studies linking similar radiation exposure to health risks, including cancer, although regulators including the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) currently consider such installations safe within guideline limits.

Cable station raises further questions

Campaigners also point to a new undersea cable landing station being built close to the gates of Cawdor Barracks at Brawdy.

Although described as civilian infrastructure, PARC says the facility’s security measures — including fencing, razor wire and CCTV — have fuelled local speculation that it could support the radar project by carrying data from overseas.

The group notes that Brawdy previously hosted installations connected to the Cold War-era SOSUS submarine detection network.

“If these cables are intended to support DARC operations, then the infrastructure should be assessed alongside the radar project itself,” campaigners said.

Newgale bypass and power upgrades

The campaign group also suggests the long-planned Newgale bypass scheme could be indirectly connected to DARC, arguing that large-scale construction traffic would struggle to access the proposed radar site using existing rural roads.

They also say discussions between the MOD and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority suggest significant electricity supply upgrades may be required to power the radar installation.

Campaigners claim that neither the bypass nor potential power infrastructure has been fully assessed alongside the main DARC proposal.

Political issue ahead of Senedd election

With the Senedd election approaching, campaigners say opposition to the radar project could become a key political issue.

Both Plaid Cymru and the Wales Green Party have publicly opposed the proposal.

“Local communities feel this project has been pushed forward without transparency and without proper engagement,” campaigners said.

“With the Senedd election approaching, DARC is likely to become a major issue for voters across Pembrokeshire.”