News

RNAD Trecwn could be ‘ticking time bomb’ says Greenpeace

Published

5 years ago

April 6, 2021

BUILT just before World War II RNAD Trecwn, during its working life, was used to store and distribute various munitions until 1992, when the MoD placed it on care and maintenance which effectively closed the site.

The entire site was sold to Omega Pacific in 1998 for £329,000, with the stated intention of using the surface buildings for aircraft engine maintenance, while the caverns would be used for the storage of nuclear waste.

A lack of planning consent and fierce local opposition resulted in the site being sold to The Manhattan Loft Corporation in 2002 who planned to turn the site into an industrial estate.

Plans submitted by The Valley (Pembrokeshire) Ltd to build a 25-megawatt biomass energy plant on the site were conditionally approved in 2015, but little, if any, work has taken place.

The most notable thing to happen concerning RNAD Trecwn since then is its inclusion on an NRW list of 1500 sites that contain hazardous waste.

Reacting to the news, Greenpeace branded all 1,572 locations as “ticking time bombs”.

RNAD Trecwn contains a “munitions destruction and phosphorous burning area” from a time before landfill sites were properly lined and contamination from those activities could have affected the environment around the former armament depot.

Gareth Lewis, NRW’s lead waste policy specialist said the agency had “details on the type and quantity of waste deposited”.

“Older permitted sites like these are reviewed consistently by ourselves and local councils to ensure we minimise the risk to people, animals and the environment.”

A spokesman for The Welsh Local Government Association said: “There are responsibilities for managing sites whilst operational and then for dealing with maintenance of closed sites,”.

Gareth Lewis went on to say that “most” landfills were now in private ownership and charged for the dumping of rubbish.

“Natural Resources Wales is responsible for licensing the sites and overseeing compliance with environmental legislation,”.

The nearby village of Trecwn was forced to live off of bottled water in 2019 because tap water was coming out ‘looking like a cup of tea’ and smelling strongly of Chlorine.

Water tests carried out at the time in properties on Barham Road showed iron levels of around 1800 micrograms per litre – nine times the legal limit, those properties get their water from a network of pipes that come from RNAD Trecwn and were built when the armament depot was originally constructed.

Crime

Four deny murder of Caerphilly teenager

Published

2 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people have pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 17-year-old boy.

Ricardo Elliot, aged 27, Connor Palfrey, aged 24, Elexi Manny, aged 24, and Georgie Mears, aged 18, appeared before Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday (March 20), where each denied killing Tristan Shae Kerr.

Emergency services were called to a property in Abertridwr, Caerphilly, at around 5:45pm on Wednesday (Feb 5) following reports that a teenage boy had suffered serious injuries. Despite efforts, Tristan was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court heard that the teenager is alleged to have been attacked with a so-called “zombie knife” measuring approximately nine to ten inches in length.

During the hearing, the four defendants spoke only to confirm their personal details and enter their pleas.

A trial is due to begin on August 3 and is expected to last around six weeks. A further pre-trial review has been scheduled for July 24.

All four defendants were remanded in custody.

Paying tribute after his death, Tristan’s family described him as a “deeply loved son, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend.”

They said he was quick-witted, with a love for motorbikes and adventure, adding that he had a natural energy that lit up every room and drew people towards him.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

21 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.