Community

Plans to redevelop Brawdy for landmark radar initiative a step closer

Published

1 year ago

August 8, 2024

The Ministry of Defence has released a second press release regarding plans to redevelop Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire, Wales, to host a groundbreaking radar initiative.

The reannouncement gives a chance for the new Defence Secretary John Healey to express his support for the project, and also announces two community outreach events designed to allow officials to discuss the proposals with local residents.

Known as the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC), the initiative, which was first announced last year, aims, according to the Government, to secure long-term employment and enhance the protection of essential satellite communication and navigation networks. DARC will establish a network of ground-based radars across Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, enhancing the AUKUS nations’ capacity to detect, track, and identify objects in deep space up to approximately 36,000km from Earth.

This capability will significantly benefit these nations’ land, air, and maritime forces, protect critical infrastructure, and support domestic construction and space industries. DARC will play a crucial role in bolstering AUKUS nations’ ability to ensure safety and security in the Indo-Pacific region and globally.

Defence Secretary John Healey commented: “The proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks secures jobs at home and enhances our defence capabilities for the future. Space plays a crucial role in our daily lives, utilised by everything from our mobile phones to banking services. It also supports UK Defence in conducting vital tasks such as military operations, navigation, and intelligence gathering. This new radar programme will enhance our awareness of deep space and protect our space assets alongside our closest partners.”

The former RAF Brawdy base, currently known as Cawdor Barracks, has a rich history of supporting the UK’s Military, as both a Royal Air Force flying station and a Royal Navy base.

Currently home to the 14 Signal Regiment, the Ministry of Defence announced in 2016 that the barracks would close no earlier than 2028. The site’s redevelopment for DARC would ensure it remains operational, with up to 100 personnel permanently stationed to operate and maintain the radar capability.

Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, added: “The proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks will secure jobs in the area while protecting our national security. This is an important project for Pembrokeshire, and the government is committed to working with the local community to ensure its success.”

The Ministry of Defence is dedicated to completing all necessary planning and environmental processes to gain consent for the site’s redevelopment and its safe operation. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, including a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, is underway to support a planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council. The Council’s approval will be conditional on DARC meeting all required safety standards.

Safety processes will ensure that DARC complies with international environmental and health standards set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World Health Organisation. This is standard practice for all MOD installations.

Community engagement will be integral to developing proposals for DARC, with two public information events scheduled before the statutory consultation period required by Pembrokeshire County Council. Members of the MOD DARC programme team will attend these events to discuss proposals, answer questions, and gather local community feedback.

Local opposition to the plans

In June, a public meeting at Solva Memorial Hall was ‘packed to the rafters’ last night as hundreds of concerned residents gathered to discuss the dangers posed by the proposed Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) project at Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire. Campaigners are urging local communities to lobby all general election candidates against a project they successfully opposed decades ago.

Following the digital launch of the campaign group PARC Against DARC, which aims to halt the UK/US military’s plan to establish a 27-dish high-power radar station, a public meeting in Solva saw a substantial turnout. Organisers reported that the hall was filled with residents ready to challenge the radar initiative.

Speakers at the event reiterated key arguments against DARC, pointing to a similar campaign in the 1990s that forced then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to cancel a related project. The meeting featured a campaign video and presentations that highlighted the community’s readiness to oppose the radar station.

Emma Bowen, general manager of the Retreats Group of local hotels, spoke about the potential negative impact on tourism:
“As an accommodation provider set in the UK’s only coastal national park, we rely on tourists who come to enjoy the coast path, beaches, history, and culture. If you were looking for a holiday location, would you choose somewhere next to 27 enormous radar structures? If DARC goes ahead, it would jeopardise our business, putting 75 jobs at risk and affecting over 40 suppliers and contractors.”

Two short films presented at the meeting, created by leading scientists in non-ionising radiation, outlined severe health risks associated with radar installations. Dr. M. Peleg’s study on Israel’s Iron Dome radar revealed a significant increase in cancer cases among soldiers stationed near the radars. The same type of non-ionising radiation expected from the DARC installation has been linked to haemolymphatic cancers.

One Israeli soldier described the effects: “When you’re near a radar, you literally feel your body boiling from the inside out… like being in a microwave. Israeli soldiers have nicknamed the Iron Dome ‘the toaster’ due to its harmful effects.”

Dylan Lewis-Rowlands, CND Cymru’s secretary, expressed concerns over military escalation: “CND Cymru supports PARC against DARC. We oppose the militarisation of space and Cymru. The DARC initiative is part of the AUKUS alliance’s military ambitions. Our campaign prioritises the needs of Pembrokeshire and Wales over US military interests.”

Michial Davies of the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust discussed the potential harm to Manx Shearwaters and other wildlife: “Lights and Manx shearwaters don’t mix. Brawdy is visible from Skomer, the most important site for these seabirds. DARC will exacerbate the problem, leading to more bird deaths.”

On Thusday (Aug 8) Local campaigner Jim Scott urged attendees to take action: “The MOD acts as if this project will easily pass through local councils, but this is far from a ‘done deal’. We need to ensure our elected County Councillors reject this carcinogenic, military monstrosity. Email the General Election Candidates and make our voices heard.”

Before concluding, attendees replicated an iconic photograph from a previous campaign, holding up NO RADAR placards, symbolising their unified stance against the DARC project.

PARC Against DARC launched a just few weeks ago and already boasts a petition nearing its next target of 15,000 signatures. The public launch meeting was the biggest in Solva’s history.”

With this huge level of public support behind them, campaigners told us; “We are extremely confident that public pressure will put a halt to these ill thought out military proposals.”

Adding: “The MOD’s own scoping report admits that the project would mean 100 heavy lorry trips per day up our coast road and through Newgale itself. That would mean 200 lorry trips per day including the return journey!”

“We know the people of Pembrokeshire wont go along with this, but in any case the road infrastructure simply does not exist for this level of project.”

“As a campaign we have every confidence that this military monstrosity will never see the light of day. We repeat our call for our local MP and MS’s to declare their personal position on this. The issue is likely to be a big vote-loser in the 2026 Senedd elections with some major parties such as Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Greens already having come out staunchly against DARC.

This is no good for Pembrokeshire, this is no good for anywhere. Local Politicians need to get on the right side of this before they are publicly forced to, not afterwards!”

About DARC

Space is crucial for the nation and plays a critical role in our daily lives. Space services, including those delivered by satellites, underpin many aspects of modern life, from enabling navigation, monitoring the climate, forecasting the weather, supporting our emergency services, supporting our Critical National Infrastructure and protecting the public. Understanding what is in space is crucial for the UK’s interests, especially as space becomes more congested with satellites and debris.

The proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks (former RAF Brawdy) for the DARC programme would help to protect our present and future prosperity and national security. By enhancing our awareness and understanding of what is happening in space, we can continue to ensure it remains safe, sustainable and accessible to all.

The MOD announced in 2016 that Cawdor Barracks, home to 14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), would close and this is currently planned to take place no earlier than 2028. The development of the site for DARC helps keep the site open, with a permanent presence of up to 100 personnel to operate DARC.

The proposals

The MOD says it is committed to undertaking all necessary planning and environmental processes required to gain planning consent for the proposed site and for its safe operation. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (including a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment) is underway in support of our planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council and their granting of planning permission is conditional on DARC meeting all the required safety standards.

In particular, the MOD safety processes will ensure that DARC meets international environmental and health standards as set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World Health Organisation, and this is standard practice for all MOD installations.

Public engagement

There will be two public information events before the statutory consultation period that is required by Pembrokeshire County Council. Members of the DARC programme team will attend these events to discuss the proposals, answer any questions and hear local community views.

Public information events will be hosted over the period 13-14 September 2024:

Friday, 13 September 2024

4pm-7pm
Solva Memorial Hall
39 High St
Solva
Haverfordwest
SA62 6TE

Saturday, 14 September 2024

10am-2pm
St David’s City Hall
High St
St Davids
Haverfordwest
SA62 6SD

Community

Pembrokeshire Lottery makes Superdraw winner’s Christmas extra special

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

ONE lucky Pembrokeshire Lottery player has scooped a festive windfall after winning the £10,000 Christmas Superdraw held on Wednesday 3 December.

The winner, Mr Damon McGarvie, formerly of Milford Haven and now living in Llangwm, was selected with lucky number 41475. He plays through a salary-deduction scheme run by his employer, Pembrokeshire County Council.

Mr McGarvie’s name was announced live on Radio Pembrokeshire, after which the Pembrokeshire Lottery team made contact and presented him with his cheque later that day.

Speaking after the win, Mr McGarvie said he and his wife will be jetting off on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday over the festive period, thanks to the surprise Christmas windfall.

Pembrokeshire Lottery Manager Abigail Owens said:
“I am so pleased for Mr McGarvie. He has contributed to the Pembrokeshire Lottery for many years, and it is only by the continued support of our players that we are able to assist so many local businesses with interest-free funding from the loan fund.”

The regular weekly £2,000 draws continue in the run-up to the January Superdraw, which will offer a £4,000 prize.

To sign up or order Pembrokeshire Lottery gift subscriptions for Christmas, call 01646 690800.

Photo caption: Damon McGarvie with his winner’s cheque.

Community

Care home fees in Wales remain among the lowest – but families still face crippling bills

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

WALES continues to offer some of the most affordable care home places in the UK, with residents paying hundreds of pounds less each week than in London or Scotland, new figures reveal.

The average weekly cost of a residential care home place in Wales stands at £1,156 – £392 cheaper than in London (£1,548) and £142 below the UK average of £1,298, according to data published by the country’s largest care home reviews website, carehome.co.uk.

Even when nursing care or specialist dementia support is required, Wales remains significantly cheaper than most of the UK. A week in a Welsh nursing home with dementia care costs £1,440 on average – £327 less than in London and £124 below the national figure.

The figures, based on self-funder fees collected on 9 September 2025, underline a stark north-south divide that has persisted for years.

London is by far the most expensive region, with basic residential care now averaging £1,548 a week. Scotland, where care workers benefit from a higher minimum wage settlement, comes a close second at £1,539. In contrast, the North East of England remains the cheapest area at just £1,112 a week for residential care – almost £200 below the UK average.

Sue Learner, editor of carehome.co.uk, said the regional variations were only part of the story.

“Wales is the third most affordable region for most types of care, which will come as a relief to many families here,” she said. “But even at £1,156 a week, the bills add up to almost £60,000 a year. For the 49 per cent of residents who pay for their own care, these costs are devastating.”

The financial pressure is compounded by differing rules on state help across the UK. In Wales, anyone with assets below £50,000 qualifies for local authority support – more than double England’s £23,250 threshold and well above Scotland’s £35,000 limit.

Ms Learner warned that rising staff wages and looming increases in employer National Insurance contributions would push fees higher everywhere.

“Local councils are already stretched to breaking point,” she said. “Without genuine reform of the social care system – something governments have been promising for decades – more and more families will have no choice but to sell the family home to fund care.”

The website, which carries 390,000 independently verified reviews, is urging people to plan early and seek expert advice. Its free Care Helpline (01488 501 499) is available to anyone looking for a home that offers both quality and value for money.

As the population ages and demand grows, campaigners say the latest figures are another reminder that the postcode lottery in care costs shows no sign of disappearing.

UK care home fees at a glance (average weekly self-funder rates)

London: £1,548
Scotland: £1,539
South East England: £1,446
Wales: £1,156
North East England: £1,112 (cheapest)
UK average: £1,298

Source: carehome.co.uk, 9 September 2025

Community

Folly Farm marks second birth of critically endangered rhino

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2025

Luke Sinclair

FOLLY FARM is celebrating the birth of another critically endangered eastern black rhino calf – and it’s a boy!

This is the second rhino calf to be born at the family-run zoo, and the second in Wales as part of a managed breeding programme through its membership with EAZA (the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria).

After a 15-month long pregnancy, mum Dakima gave birth to a healthy male calf on Thursday 27 November. With only an estimated 39 eastern black rhinos born in the UK in the past 25 years, it’s a significant achievement for the captive European Endangered Breeding Programme (EEP) for black rhinos.

Eastern black rhinos are classed as critically endangered due to poaching and loss of habitat. There is thought to be an estimated 1471 Eastern black rhino left in the wild and around 109 in zoos across Europe, including Folly Farm’s newest addition.

The calf made its appearance at 6.34am and within a couple of hours was standing up, following mum around the enclosure and had started suckling.

12-year-old eastern black rhino Dakima arrived at Folly Farm in May 2017 as part of a European breeding programme and met her mate, 14 year-old male Nkosi.

Mating rhinos can be unpredictable, but their relationship blossomed and Dakima gave birth to her first calf at the start of 2020. Male calf Glyndŵr was Dakima’s first born and the first rhino calf to have been born in Wales. Glyndŵr was named after Folly Farm’s Founding Director, the late Glyndŵr Williams, and has since moved onto another animal collection to continue the breeding programme for the species.

Eastern black rhinos are solitary animals and therefore usually reside in their own paddocks. But when the time was right, Dakima and Nkosi were reintroduced again for some carefully planned ‘date nights’ – and keepers predicted she fell pregnant sometime in August 2024. After having Dakima’s stool sample analysed at a specialist lab in Chester Zoo, who run the breeding programme for Eastern black rhino, it was confirmed that baby number two was on the way, with a due date of mid-November 2025.

Conservation Officer, Jack Gradidge, said: “It’s always heart-warming to welcome new arrivals as part of the European Breeding Programme through our membership with EAZA (The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) – but it’s even more special when it’s such a significant animal and one who’s wild cousins are under threat.

“Dakima was a great mum with Glyn so it’s wonderful to see these instincts are still just as strong the second time around. She’s being very protective of her new baby, showing they have a strong bond already.

“This is such a monumental event for all the staff here and the zoo team have worked incredibly hard to create an environment where the rhinos felt comfortable enough to mate.

“Not only is this calf helping to increase numbers of a critically endangered species, he’s also the second rhino ever to be born in Wales – with his brother being the first!”

Along with other zoos across Europe, Folly Farm is part of a breeding programme to help increase the numbers of Eastern black rhino in captivity and, ultimately, the wild. They support a number of conservation projects alongside various animal charities – including their new partnership with ‘Helping Rhinos’, a UK based organisation who, amongst various other conservation initiatives, support a rhino orphanage in South Africa, caring for young calves who have become victims of the poaching crisis.

Simon Jones, the CEO of Helping Rhinos was delighted with the zoo’s happy news; “We are absolutely delighted to welcome news of this beautiful eastern black rhino calf at Folly Farm.

We are grateful for their support of Helping Rhinos’ efforts including the care of young calves orphaned by poaching.”

Most animals give birth at night under the cover of darkness – and Dakima gave birth early in the morning, just before the keepers arrived to start their day.

Jack explains: “Our rhino keeper opened up the rhino house and the first thing he saw was the security camera footage where a tiny newborn rhino was seen happily padding about the enclosure. After quietly taking a sneaky peak at the beautiful new calf to confirm what he had seen – he let the team know the happy news that baby had arrived!

“We then left Dakima alone with her new bundle of joy, giving them both some space to bond – but continued to monitor them on the cameras and did regular spot checks to ensure baby was starting to feed.

“For us, the next steps are just to keep an eye on Dakima and make sure the calf stays healthy and gets everything he needs from mum. Our goal is always to let nature take its course and interfere as little as possible.

“Nkosi will be a bit of an absent father, but that’s perfectly normal as male rhinos don’t have anything to do with their offspring in the wild. It’s unlikely we’ll introduce him to the calf for some time.

“In the wild, rhino calves can stay with their mums for up to four years, after that there’s a possibility this new addition could one day be released into the wild to help boost population numbers – or move to another zoo to continue the breeding programme in Europe just like his brother.

“It’s exciting to be playing our part in helping to safeguard these amazing animals for future generations.”

Folly Farm’s rhino keepers will monitor mum and baby closely over the coming weeks and they will be back out in the enclosure in due course.

Visitors shouldn’t expect to see the calf for a while but Folly Farm will be posting updates on their social media channels.

Folly Farm’s Kifaru Reserve welcomed rhinos to the park ten years ago almost to the day! It is a £500,000 purpose-built exhibit which tells the story of the role of modern zoos in conservation and highlights Folly Farm’s hands-on commitment to conservation through the projects it supports in the wild and closer to home.

For further information please visit https://www.folly-farm.co.uk/.