The campaign against DARC just hit a first political milestone…
… As 12 Members of the Senedd now back a statement of opinion recognising the significant level of public opposition to DARC, and calling for a Welsh Government commission!
A statement of opinion against DARC, worked on by PARC and negotiated with several parties, has been tabled by Cefin Campbell MS, gone live—and already has the backing of a fifth of the Senedd, with support from Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats!
The statement of opinion reads:
‘This Senedd
1. Notes:
a) the opposition by Pembrokeshire residents to the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) proposal by the Ministry of Defence;
b) concerns regarding the visual and tourism impact of 27 large radar dishes in view of a coastal national park of significant UK importance and national heritage in nearby St Davids;
c) concerns regarding unaddressed health risks and regional security implications; and
d) the petition of 16,000 signatures against the proposal.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to commission an authoritative impact assessment of the plan to better inform residents and decision-makers’
This is a brave new step into uncharted territory for PARC. Last time we were fighting the radar, there was no Senedd—and now it exists, and a fifth of it supports us!
Currently supporting the statement: Cefin Campbell (Plaid Cymru), Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats), Luke Fletcher (Plaid Cymru), Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru), Peredur Owen Griffiths (Plaid Cymru), Siân Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru), Mabon ap Gwynfor (Plaid Cymru), Mike Hedges (Welsh Labour), Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru), Rhys ab Owen (Independent), Jenny Rathbone (Welsh Labour), and Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru).
The support from Plaid Cymru here out of the blocks is obviously fantastic. And yet as we have always said, this campaign is not, and has never been partisan—all the way back to the 1990s: we do not just welcome, but actively and conscientiously seek support from all parties, people of all beliefs, and everyone for whom the St Davids peninsula and the economy of Pembrokeshire matters. Protecting our landscape and environment is truly an issue that belongs to everyone.
The groundswell of opinion for a Pembrokeshire free of DARC is growing all the time, and we believe that voters, in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion and increasingly all around Wales, want to see our Senedd parties side with the people, against a project that is speculative, not vital infrastructure; a vanity favour to Trump, not a plan by the Senedd; and a planning proposal that, in the end, is simply widely agreed not to be right for its surroundings, whatever else is said.
Of course, at PARC we have never wanted this to be the people versus the parties. We want this to be our Senedd recognising the facts of the case, acting in the best interests of local constituents, and taking into regard the unpopularity of the proposal for this particular area.
We thoroughly and sincerely appreciate the support of all Senedd Members—and we look forward to making our case to all of them.
Check out the statement live online now...
... And don't forget to take your first steps to support Dewisland now with these four easy actions—lobbying being the key one right now, at our dedicated page helping you to write to all Senedd Members to ask them to sign the all-important statement of opinion on opposition to DARC!
