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Labour and Tory lack of response to space radar slammed by campaigners

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CAMPAIGNERS fighting against proposals to build a DARC space radar facility at Brawdy have expressed their concerns at a lack of response from both Labour and the Conservatives after quizzing all candidates for their position.

The UK/US military plans for a 27-dish Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept (DARC) at Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy is part of AUKUS, a three-way security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to build three DARC radar installations around the world, one in each of the three countries.

The radars would track foreign countries’ communications and military satellites in space, so that British, US and Australian aircraft could then destroy them with anti-satellite missiles at will.

A scoping report was submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council early last year, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which said the United States Space Force (USSF)-led DARC would track active satellites above the Earth.

Late last year, Cawdor Barrack was identified as the preferred UK site by the-then UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps.

Following a packed public launch meeting at Solva Memorial on June 27 with hundreds in attendance the newly launched PARC (Pembrokeshire Against Radar Campaign) Against DARC campaign issued a public challenge to all 15 candidates standing in both Mid and South Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion Preseli.

PARC asked the candidates: “Where do you stand on DARC Radar at Brawdy?”.

PARC has said that “only the Labour and Tory candidates remain silent on this issue”.

Campaigner Jim Scott said: “This isn’t a difficult issue to formulate a position on, we have had responses now from all other parties spanning across the political spectrum. The silence is now deafening, especially from the Labour candidate Henry Tufnell who polls suggest will beat Stephen Crabb in the Mid and South Pembrokeshire seat.

“The new Ceredigion Preseli constituency boundary also falls within a mile of the proposed site at Brawdy so this issue will affect both Pembrokeshire constituencies equally.

“We know from the responses we’ve received from all the other parties that they all have grave concerns about this proposed development, for example, Cris Tomos who’s standing for Plaid Cymru in Mid and South, has told us that he wishes to help build the case for DARC to be taken to a high court hearing, The Greens are also vociferously against it.”

He added: “All the information is on our website for candidates to educate themselves on the issue so why is Labour who are expected to win the General Election remaining silent? They are duty bound to disclose to their prospective voters where they stand on this before polling day rather than waiting till afterwards to reveal their Party’s position. The silence is so deafening now that it’s almost like they’ve been told to ‘keep quiet on DARC’.”

Responses either in support of the campaign or raising concerns about the proposals have been received from both Plaid Cymru candidates, Liberal Democrat Mark Williams, Taghrid Al-Mawed of the Workers Party, Stuart Marchant of Reform, and both Green Party candidates, DARC has said.

Labour candidate Henry Tufnell said: “On the DARC issue, we are currently awaiting the environmental impact assessment and town planning application. I have raised the concerns of local residents with Labour’s shadow defence policy team.

“I understand that the site is of significant concern for local residents and it is important that their views are represented throughout the process.”

Fellow candidate Jackie Jones said her response aligns with Mr Tufnell’s

Conservative candidates Aled Thomas and Stephen Crabb have been contacted for a response.

Community

Tenby pollution warning removed after repair work to broken rising main

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A POLLUTION warning at four designated bathing waters in Tenby has been removed.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has been informed by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water that the burst rising main near Tenby, which resulted in sewage entering the River Ritec on 1 July, has been repaired.

Results from water samples taken on 3 July indicate that there is now only a slight impact downstream.

NRW are now lifting the Abnormal Situation, which was declared in line with the Bathing Water Regulations.

The investigation began on 1 July, when Dŵr Cymru informed NRW of a burst rising main near Tenby, which resulted in sewage entering the River Ritec.

NRW had concerns around the impact on water quality at designated bathing waters in the area. Pembrokeshire County council installed signage to alert members of the public of the possible pollution impact at Tenby South Beach, Castle Beach, Tenby North Beach and Penally Beach.

Pembrokeshire County Council will remove signage they’d installed warning the public of the pollution risk.

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Community

International audience for Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir

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VISITORS from Canada and Australia were among the large audience when Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir staged at St John’s Church, Tenby, on Tuesday June 25.

They were invited to add their voices to mark the 95th birthday of the choir’s senior member, second tenor Frank Harries, who has been a chorister for 67 years.

Frank and colleagues were in excellent form, the varied and thoughtful programme chosen by Musical Director Juliet Rossiter being warmly applauded.

Soloists were singer/songwriter and first tenor Peter Halifax, on guitar, and flautist Alyson Griffiths, and Alyson joined MC Matthew John in a duet of well remembered wartime songs.

Matthew, renowned for his jokes, chose one about Scottish football, luckily without any of the audience confessing to be from ‘north of the border’!

Following the retirement of their accompanist the choir has been fortunate to call on the support of Peter Griffiths, already accompanist to a number of county musical groups, to stand in for this and further concerts. He was warmly thanked by choristers and audience.

The choir is keen to hear from pianists who would like to be a key part of this well regarded and successful music team. Further information available from the choir secretary on 07572 080401.

Choristers were especially pleased to welcome Caroline, wife of their first tenor colleague, the late David Asparassa.

Thanks from the church were extended by Liz Storey and church ladies later provided fine refreshments in the schoolroom. They were thanked by Choir Chairman Huw Morgan.

Next concert is on Sunday July 21 at Angle Church.

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Charity

Paul Sartori receives donation to continue support to Dementia patients

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PAUL SARTORI Hospice at Home, a local charity, supporting end of life and palliative patients, their families and carers have recently been awarded a grant from Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust. The grant of £10,000 has been given to extend its previous support given to patients living at home with dementia in Pembrokeshire.

“This funding has come at a crucial time for us. We had funding for a few trails where we recognised a need for support. We know the difference this care makes to local families supporting a relative with dementia at home. It can be exhausting. Quite often they cannot leave their loved one unattended and they get very little time to themselves, which can have a great impact on the family carer. This project will increase the resilience of the family carer and support the patient in a familiar environment where they feel comfortable and secure,” said Laura Hugman, Clinical Team Manager at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

The award will fund up to 232 hours of hands-on home nursing care, allowing day and night-time respite for those families who are struggling. Families can access support during the day – so they can address their own care needs, attend appointments, catch up with friends, enjoy their hobbies or just rest. Families who need respite can also access support during the night. They will have peace of mind knowing that their loved one is looked after by Paul Sartori staff who are experienced and trained in many complex medical conditions.

“We were delighted to hear that the Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust have agreed to support this much-needed provision in Pembrokeshire,” said Judith Williams, Grant Development Officer at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

“The Elise Pilkington Trust were delighted to be able to support this important work at Paul Sartori in supporting end of life patients with advanced dementia. This fits very well with our aims of supporting projects dedicated to addressing the needs of older people with advanced dementia (and their carers) in domestic, community and formal care settings,” said Ruth Tarry, Chairman from the Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust.

This follows on from support provided by NFU Mutual’s Agency Giving Fund and the Hywel Dda University Health Board, where both trials proved invaluable for local families. Although Dementia was not recognised until recently as something you can die of. According to the Office for National Statistics, Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was recorded as one of the leading causes of death in Wales in April 2023. The Paul Sartori Hospice at Home Clinical Staff Team are aware of the difference supporting those living with Dementia and the impact on families and will work with the Admiral and Marie Curie Dementia Nurses to enhance the support locally.

The Paul Sartori Team play an important part in supporting end of life patients and their families, which also enhances the provision of other local services. With the team’s flexible and rapid approach, they support the patient’s wish to be cared for in their own home. They offer a patient-centred approach to care – assessing patients, referring to other internal services, work closely with other healthcare providers and are available as advisors. They provide a wide range of other services, including home nursing care, 24-hour support, standby service, complementary therapy, bereavement and counselling support, physiotherapy, future care planning and training. These services enable people in the later stages of any life limiting illness to be cared for and to die at home with dignity, independence, pain free and surrounded by those they hold most dear if that is their wish. Further information on the charity and its services can be obtained by visiting their website www.paulsartori.org, or by phoning 01437 763223.

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