THE CONTENTIOUS DARC ‘space radar’ scheme in Pembrokeshire is to be decided by Welsh Government rather than county planners, just days before it was to be debated by them.

In an application submitted earlier this year to Pembrokeshire County Council following a public consultation, the Ministry of Defence wants to install 27 radar antenna and a long list of associated works at Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy for a worldwide network of sensors called the Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept (DARC) to track active satellites and other objects which would utilise three sites worldwide, part of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership, in the USA, the UK and Australia “enabling 360-degree coverage of the sky at all times of day and under any weather conditions”.

In late 2023, Cawdor Barracks was identified as the preferred UK site by the-then UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps.

A supporting statement says of the DARC scheme: “This capability is critical to protect and defend the services provided by satellites, ensuring continuity and resilience against collisions or debris-related incidents.

“Without DARC, the UK faces a significant risk of losing access to these vital services, which would have severe consequences for national security, economic stability, and public safety.”

St Davids City Council members unanimously opposed the pre-application consultation proposals, and public objectors have raised concerns with protests taking place outside the barracks and County Hall, Haverfordwest earlier this year, and the scheme before county planners attracted more than 1,000 objections.

Pembrokeshire-based Jerome Flynn, famous for his roles in Soldier Soldier, Robson & Jerome and more recently Game of Thrones has described the scheme as “the most unspeakably abominable planning application led by the US military, backed by Donald Trump to place 27 radar dishes right on the edge of our beloved coastal national park”.

Campaign group PARC against DARC, set up in 2024 to oppose the scheme which it has described as the militarisation of space, submitted an official request to ‘call in’ the application for DARC radar to the newly formed Plaid Cymru Welsh Government.

A ‘call-in’ means the application could be decided at Welsh Government level rather than by county planners.

The application was due to go before Pembrokeshire County Council’s next planning committee, on July 28, but has now been ‘called in by Siân Gwenllian MS, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.

The Cabinet Minister’s letter to Pembrokeshire County Council calling in the application says: “The proposed development raises national security issues given the strategic defence nature of the proposal and is a novel planning issue.

“The proposal potentially conflicts with national policy in relation to landscape, ecology, sustainability and placemaking.

“A decision on the proposal may be controversial beyond the immediate locality, and there is already considerable public interest in the proposal.

“All these matters lead the Cabinet Minister to conclude the development is of more than local importance and the application should be determined by the Welsh Ministers.”

A PARC against DARC spokesperson, welcoming the ‘call-in,’ said: “As we made in our case to Welsh ministers, the DARC proposal is part of a weapons system designed to track and target satellites belonging to other countries around the world.

“It is being developed for the US Space Force, which was created under Donald Trump, at a time when US military spending has doubled since he took office. That is why DARC has been described as a significant escalation in the militarisation of space.”

A planned demonstration at County Hall, Haverfordwest, due to be held on July 28 when Pembrokeshire planners were to deliberate on DARC, is to go ahead as “a vigil in support of Welsh Government’s call-in decision,” PARC against DARC has said.

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said the call-in had been received on July 21.

“As such the application is transferred to the Welsh Ministers for a decision and the application will no longer be presented to the council’s planning committee at its meeting scheduled for July 28.

“The council now awaits confirmation from the Welsh Ministers regarding the procedure and timetable that will be adopted for their consideration of the application.

“Further information will be provided once the council has been formally notified of the next steps in the decision-making process.”

GOODWICK Sea Scout Group has praised its young members, leaders and volunteers after they helped brighten up the area outside the group’s headquarters.

The team rolled up their sleeves ahead of the town’s recent Wales in Bloom judging, clearing overgrown vegetation and transforming an old boat into an eye-catching flower bed filled with colourful plants.

The group said the work had made a real difference to the front of the hall and thanked everyone who gave their time to help.

A spokesperson said: “Our Scout group worked hard to tidy up the front of our hall in time for the town’s Wales in Bloom judging.

“Well done to all the young people, leaders and volunteers who helped.”

The group is now hoping to build on the improvements and would like to hear from anyone with gardening experience who could volunteer to help care for the land surrounding the hall.

Anyone interested in lending a hand is encouraged to contact Goodwick Sea Scout Group directly.

New bursary schemes will support up to 19 qualified planners, with a particular focus on tackling workforce shortages in mid and west Wales

COMMUNITIES across Wales are set to benefit from stronger local planning services following the announcement of almost £450,000 to train and retain the next generation of planners.

The Welsh Government has confirmed £447,400 for two bursary programmes which could support up to 19 people to gain professional planning qualifications.

The existing Pathways to Planning bursary scheme will receive £126,000, enabling up to seven junior planners to complete fully funded postgraduate study.

A further £321,400 will be invested over three years in a new Mid and West Wales Rural Planners bursary scheme, designed to address recruitment and retention difficulties in rural authorities.

The programme will support up to 12 graduates and existing local authority staff to study for Royal Town Planning Institute-accredited postgraduate qualifications while continuing to live and work in their local communities.

It will operate across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Eryri National Park.

The scheme will also place a strong emphasis on supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and developing locally based professionals with an understanding of the communities they serve.

Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning Siân Gwenllian said effective planning departments were vital to the future of communities across Wales.

She said: “Good planning services are the backbone of thriving communities. They shape where homes are built, where businesses grow and how we protect our natural environment, but too many rural areas in Wales are struggling to recruit and retain the planners they need.

“That is why I joined a roundtable at the Royal Welsh Show this week with rural council leaders, including the leaders of Ceredigion and Powys, to hear directly about the pressures they face.

“These bursary schemes are a direct response to what we heard, investing in local talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and growing the planning workforce from within the communities it serves.”

Ceredigion County Council will lead the delivery of the rural programme in partnership with the other participating authorities.

Council leader Cllr Bryan Davies said the initiative demonstrated what rural authorities could achieve by working together to tackle shared workforce challenges.

He said: “Ceredigion has been proud to lead the development of this regional initiative, working with our partners to create new opportunities for local people to build professional careers in planning while remaining in rural Wales.

“By investing in home-grown talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and strengthening the skills we need for the future, we are helping to ensure that mid and west Wales has the capacity, expertise and local knowledge required to shape thriving, sustainable communities for generations to come.

“We thank the Welsh Government for the opportunity to develop this ‘grow your own’ planners approach.”