Manorbier Community Council and the campaign group, No! to the Manorbier Missile Campaign! are calling for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to appoint their own noise monitoring consultant to carry out tests into a proposal by the MOD to allow night firing at the village's artillery range. Prior to a meeting on Tuesday night, councillors listened to representations from members of the public and heard letters of objection and arguments against the proposal by the MOD to commence firing during the hours of darkness. Councillors were then invited to make comments about the proposal before taking a vote on the controversial issue. Eight out of the nine councillors eligible to vote stated they were opposed to the night firing application for various reasons. "Some councillors commented that they were not personally opposed, but were mindful of the strength of feeling within the community, and were doing their duty in representing the community and not their own personal feelings," said campaigner Chas Cochrane. He continued: "County councillor Malcolm Calver abstained from the vote, declaring an interest. "Council members then decided on the best way forward and voted to request a deferment and that Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority commission its own noise monitoring consultant, as it was claimed the MOD noise appraisal was found to be fundamentally flawed and presented in a manner favouring the MOD, adding the PCNPA must not rely on these figures. "Additionally, councillors requested a site meeting with the PCNPA when the MOD are firing, this meeting to take place outside the range, possibly at the Youth Hostel, Lydstep, and Skrinkle estate locations." Mr. Cochrane added: "It was demonstrated by members of the public that this was an intensification of the range, as missiles have never been fired during the hours of darkness and therefore contravenes Tan 11 and PCNPA policy guidelines. "Prior to the meeting, members of the public and the pressure group reiterated that they fully support training of British troops, but that this must take place at the alternative site available where there is no impact on the local community and no restrictions on firing during the hours of darkness. "Other members demonstrated that low flying helicopters are a disaster to the bird population, especially skylarks, as stated in the MOD's own environmental magazine. "Again, this was contrary to what the MOD scoping document and appraisal has stated." He concluded: "It was also pointed out to the community council that the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority would leave itself open to a legal challenge and a possible judicial review if it did not commission an independent noise assessment. "Manorbier Community Council and members of the pressure group are now awaiting a response from the National Park Authority's planning officers." Footnote: Night firing at the artillery range also came under the spotlight at a packed public meeting last Thursday. At that meeting, Range Commandant Major Blaize Warburton insisted that it was essential that troops were trained to use night vision equipment. However, he gave an assurance that the army's application would not increase the overall number of firings at the range, as it would cut back on daylight exercises. He would be requesting a two- year trial to allow the community to assess the impact. A maximum of five missiles would be fired on any night and exercises would be cut off at 10 pm in the winter and 11 pm in the summer. Concern was expressed, however, about the detrimental effect on the county's tourism industry and the sleeping patterns of children in the area. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is due to meet on January 25 to discuss the MOD's application.