Community
Plans to redevelop Brawdy for landmark radar initiative a step closer
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
PARENTS and guardians across Pembrokeshire are being urged to take part in a statutory consultation on major infrastructure changes planned for Newgale.
The Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project: Phase 1 Proposals are currently out for public consultation from April 14 to May 11 2025, and the project team is especially keen to engage with families in the local school community to raise awareness of the long-term changes being proposed.
The Herald understands that AtkinsRéalis, the firm leading the project on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council, has contacted schools across the area asking them to help distribute information to parents and carers.
The proposed works involve the construction of a new inland section of the A487, with a bridge over Brandy Brook, to replace the vulnerable coastal stretch of road currently running through Newgale. That section of road has suffered repeated flooding in recent years, and experts say it will become increasingly unsustainable due to sea-level rise and extreme weather linked to climate change.
Once the new inland road is in place, the existing coastal route would be permanently closed and removed.
In addition to the realignment of the A487, the plans include:
- The reclassification of Newgale Hill and Wood Hill, with adjustments to local traffic management;
- A short-term access road (in place for up to ten years) to serve beachfront commercial properties;
- Improved bus stop facilities and turning areas;
- The creation of a traffic-free Shared Use Path, which would replace a portion of the Wales Coast Path, helping to maintain pedestrian and cyclist access through the area.
The works are part of a wider strategy to manage coastal change in a sustainable way, while maintaining access and infrastructure for residents, visitors, and businesses.
Full details of the proposals, including maps, supporting documents, and environmental assessments, can be viewed online at:
https://newgalecoastaladaptation.co.uk/#/Statutory_PAC
Those without internet access can view the documents at St Davids Library, City Hall, St Davids, SA62 6SD, during the following times:
- Tuesday: 10:00am – 1:00pm and 2:00pm – 5:00pm
- Thursday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Anyone wishing to make representations about the proposals must do so in writing before 11th May 2025, either by email to Newgale@atkinsrealis.com, or by post to:
Newgale Coastal Adaptation Project Team
AtkinsRéalis
Floor 4, West Glamorgan House
12 Orchard Street
Swansea
SA1 5AD
The Herald will continue to follow developments on this important project as they progress.
A PETITION call to establish a regular bus service from the Pembrokeshire village of Ludchurch to Narberth was heard by county councillors last week.
The e-petition, on Pembrokeshire County council’s own website, by Ryan O’Shea of The Ludchurch Village Committee, asked: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to implement a minimum of one daily bus service connecting our village to Narberth. This essential service would significantly enhance the quality of life for our residents by providing much needed access to other destinations such as Tenby and Haverfordwest.
“Ludchurch is a small rural village and many of our residents face difficulties in accessing essential services, employment opportunities, and social activities due to the lack of public transportation. A subsidised daily bus service would not only alleviate these challenges but also contribute to the overall well-being and inclusivity of our community.
“We believe that by offering this service, the council would be supporting the mobility and independence of our residents, fostering greater community cohesion, and contributing to a more sustainable and connected Pembrokeshire.”
After meeting the threshold for consideration, the petition was heard at the March meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Speaking at the meeting, Mr O’Shea said the village had no shop, post office, or access to a mobile library, and had not had access to a regular bus service for a number of years, asking for a reinstatement of a service, which he said would help social isolation as well as increased employment opportunities for residents and free younger residents “from a dependence on family and friends”.
He said the two-plus miles walk to the nearest bus services, at Summerhill and Princes Gate, on unlit routes without a pavement was “a significant safety concern,” with a Flecsi Bus service not available, and a once-a-week dial-a-bus scheme run from Narberth’s Bloomfield not addressing the community’s needs.
He suggested three ways of addressing the issue: By extending one of the nearby services to include Ludchurch, by enhancing the Narberth-based service, or by improving pedestrian access to the nearest services.
Members heard from Cabinet Member for Residents Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett the Flecsi service was viewed as the best way forward, constrained by funding and no previous offers to tender for the route; the option of re-routing other services adversely affecting timetables.
He reiterated council financial considerations: “As part of the budget for the forthcoming financial year we have had to take an £80,000 reduction in the bus service budget to make our costs and sums add up.
Committee member Cllr Rhys Jordan said he sympathised with Ludchurch, but said many of the county’s rural areas were disconnected from a service; fellow councillor, and committee chair, Cllr Mark Carter adding: “It’s certainly a desirable thing to have but there must be 30 or 40 villages that have the same.”
Local member – and former council leader – Cllr David Simpson said he had been a local county councillor for 20 years and supported the idea, but neither he nor the local community council had “had any approach for a bus service,” adding: “To get this on board in this day and age would cost a lot of money.”
Members resolved the petition be noted along with the Aspirational Bus Network for Pembrokeshire, which is being developed as part of bus franchising, including the expansion and enhancement of Fflecsi services to ensure all rural settlements, including Ludchurch, have access to a daily local bus service.
POLICE are searching for a 28-year-old man who has been reported missing from the Carmarthen area.
Liam was last seen at around 11:00am on Monday (March 31) in the Burry Port area.
Officers from the Carmarthen, Whitland, and St Clears area say they are concerned for his welfare.
He is described as being approximately 6ft tall, of stocky build, with short dark brown hair and a black beard. He was last seen wearing black Adidas trousers and a black jacket.
Dyfed-Powys Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen Liam, or who has information on his whereabouts, to come forward as a matter of urgency.
Information can be reported online at https://orlo.uk/gzXsk, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by calling 101.
Those contacting police are asked to quote reference number 35 of March 31.
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