Anti space radar campaigners in Pembrokeshire have continued to slam the Military of Defence’s handling of public consultation meetings over proposals surrounding plans to redevelop Cawdor Barracks to host a landmark radar initiative

Protests were held outside each of the MOD’s Public engagements events in Solva and St Davids recently with the PARC Against DARC campaign group mobilising a large crowd of opponents against the 27 dish Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability proposals.

A large number of anti-DARC locals attended the PR meetings inside and asked questions, but labelled the meetings as quite visibly an ‘utter shambles’.

Invitation leaflets sent out to locals by the MOD had even got local place names of Newgale, Middle Mill and Penycwm incorrect – referring to them as ‘Newgate’, ‘Middle Hill’ and ‘Penycwn’.

Those opposing the plans said they asked a series of technical questions at the consultation events on safety and other issues, but stated that that they received no responses of any meaningful value or reassurance.

Now, PARC Against DARC campaigners have accused the MOD of taking down its own public engagement feedback from online sites, calling it a ‘gross failing’ in terms of their public engagement obligations under ‘National Principles of Public Engagement in Wales’.

Campaigner Jim Scott stated: “The MOD’s handling of this engagement process has just gone from bad to worse.

“First they got the names of our towns wrong, then they put on a consultation - it’s fair to say was widely described as a shambles. But now, when we as residents get together to send the feedback they wanted from us as a community, they take their own form off the internet altogether!

“Anyone would think they’re looking pretty afraid of what people around here have to say about the proposal!

“We’re sure the idea of running a public engagement process is that you want people to engage with it, so it’s strange to us that the MOD seems to be doing as much as it can to make sure as few people say anything about DARC in the area as possible,” he added.