Pembrokeshire: Space radar site opponents challenge politicians

At a meeting in Solva, Pembrokeshire, on Thursday, campaigners said the plans would hurt local businesses, local wildlife and the health of local residents.

Campaigner Jim Scott claimed that a 100 lorries a day could travel through Newgale to build the site and it was a “huge infrastructure project”.

Five thousand people have signed an online petition opposing DARC in Pembrokeshire.

Roy Jones, founder of the Pembrokeshire Against the Radar movement which campaigned against previous plans for a radar installation at St Davids Airfield in 1990-1991 asked the meeting whether people wanted an “American military installation designed to dominate space” in a “sacred place”.

Keith Griffiths, the founder of three local luxury hotels, was also opposed to DARC, said Emma Bowen, a general manager at his Retreats Group.

Ms Bowen questioned whether visitors would choose to visit an area which had 27 radar structures.

The meeting also heard concerns from health experts.

Professor Paul Heroux claimed that “health impacts were inevitable” from the non-ionising radiation produced by radar.

Michael Peleg, who has studied the impact of the “Iron Dome” radar system in Israel, said in a pre-recorded video played at the meeting there were increased cases of haemolymphatic cancers among 46 IDF soldiers who had served near the radar system.