THERE ARE no current plans to use a Pembrokeshire military training camp to accommodate asylum seekers, the Home Office has said.

Last week, concerns about the potential use of the Castlemartin Training Camp were raised by local Senedd member Samuel Kurtz MS, who wrote to the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, seeking urgent assurances following reports the camp could be used to accommodate asylum seekers.

Speaking in the Senedd Chamber, Samuel Kurtz also raised the issue directly with Welsh Ministers, who confirmed that the Welsh Labour Government has had “no contact” with the UK Government regarding any proposals for Castlemartin.

In his letter, Samuel Kurtz warned that any move to repurpose the site would have serious implications for national defence and local services.

“Castlemartin is one of the United Kingdom’s few facilities capable of hosting live firing exercises at battlegroup level,” he said. “It provides vital training for our armed forces, and any restriction on its use would represent a serious loss of national defence capability at a critical time.”

The MS also raised concerns about the suitability of the location for residential use.

“Castlemartin’s rural setting and limited infrastructure make it completely inappropriate for large scale accommodation. Local health and public services in Pembrokeshire are already stretched, and access to transport and amenities is limited,” he added.

“The site would likely be serviced by local GP practices, such as Argyle Medical Group, where there are already concerns in the community that access to these services is inefficient.”

In the letter, Samuel Kurtz called on the Home Office to rule out the use of Castlemartin, and the nearby Penally Camp, for asylum accommodation, and to ensure full consultation with the Welsh Government, local authorities and elected representatives before any decisions are taken about the use of military or public land in Pembrokeshire.

After the concerns were raised, the Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted the Home Office for a response to concerns raised.

A spokesman for the Home Office, in a short response, stated to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that, despite fears raised, there were no current plans to use the site.

Pembrokeshire has previously seen military facilities used to house asylum seekers.

Penally camp, which has been in existence since 1860 as a military training facility, was prominent in the headlines between October 2020 and March 2021 when it became the controversial base for asylum seekers.

Amid protests from inside and outside its gates, the camp housed up to 250 asylum seekers at the height of its occupancy.

It came under fire from its residents and independent inspectors for its poor living conditions.

After the last of the asylum seekers departed, it was handed back to the MoD by the Home Office, who had previously repurposed it; the camp itself closed in late 2022.

THE COMMUNITY pub in Crymych has relaunched its weekly winter warm room scheme, offering local residents a full roast lunch for just £5 as part of the Cwtsh Cynnes initiative.

The project, based at the Crymych Arms, will run every Thursday afternoon through to the end of March 2026. It forms part of the Keep Warm Keep Well programme supported by PAVS and Pembrokeshire County Council, which funds warm, welcoming community spaces across the county during the colder months.

Staff, volunteers and committee members at the pub say the support has been vital in helping them continue a service that has proved hugely popular in previous years.

A spokesperson for the volunteer committee said: “We are so grateful to PAVS and the Keep Warm Keep Well team for providing the support funding to allow us to deliver the meals at a reduced cost for local people. It’s great that the community has a chance to come together on a Thursday afternoon, enjoy a warm space and share an affordable cooked meal.”

Alongside the weekly lunch, the Crymych Arms will also open on Thursday and Friday afternoons to encourage wider use of the space as a warm community hub.

Anyone wishing to attend the warm room lunch is asked to phone the pub on 01239 831435 before 12:00pm on Thursday to confirm numbers.

Further information about the community pub project can be found at crymycharms.cymru.

THE PEMBROKESHIRE Coast Charitable Trust has launched a major new initiative aimed at widening access to outdoor experiences across the county.

The Get Outdoors Partnership Programme was formally unveiled at the recent Get Outdoors Network Breakfast in Saundersfoot. The event brought together educators, community groups and local businesses to hear more about the new scheme and how they can get involved.

For almost twenty years, the Trust has provided beach wheelchairs and all-terrain equipment to help people of all abilities enjoy Pembrokeshire’s natural spaces. The new programme builds on that work, creating a long-term, sustainable model to support inclusive outdoor access while offering partners a range of benefits in return. Participating organisations will also be able to display new ‘Get Outdoors’ branding to show their support.

Attendees at the breakfast heard from the Trust’s Education Team about how new equipment is enabling more pupils to take part in outdoor learning. Blue Horizons shared insights into the physical and mental benefits of connecting with the sea, while the Get Outdoors Team invited participants to trial equipment first-hand. Discussions also explored the programme’s countywide impact, the kit currently available, and future opportunities for development.

The Partnership Programme will roll out fully in 2026, with wider expansion planned from 2027. A tiered structure will allow partners to join at a level that suits their needs – from basic access to equipment and support, through to enhanced packages that include training, bespoke kit and opportunities to share their organisation’s story.

The Trust thanked all current hosts, supporters, donors and local businesses who have helped provide accessible outdoor experiences over the years, and said it looked forward to welcoming them into the new programme.

Katie Macro, Director of the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust, said: “We are incredibly excited to enhance the Get Outdoors Partnership Programme and look forward to working closely with our partners to provide more people with access to the outdoors. This programme is a fantastic opportunity to build on our work over the past 20 years and ensure these experiences are sustainable for the future.”

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of beach wheelchairs and all-terrain equipment in Pembrokeshire. A special celebration is planned, with further details to be announced soon.

The Get Outdoors Partnership Programme represents a significant step forward in promoting inclusive outdoor access and securing the long-term future of outdoor learning across the region.